Std 10 English chapters › Unit 2
In short: The poem warns that we slowly stop truly living when we avoid new experiences, get stuck in routine and refuse to follow our dreams.
(नवे अनुभव टाळले, रोजच्या चाकोरीत अडकलो आणि स्वप्नांचा पाठलाग केला नाही, तर आपण हळूहळू खऱ्या अर्थाने जगणे थांबवतो, असा इशारा ही कविता देते.)
- Type: Poem in free verse (no rhyme scheme)
- Poet: Pablo Neruda, as credited in the textbook (the poem is also widely credited online to the Brazilian writer Martha Medeiros; in the exam, use the name printed in your textbook)
- Speaker: The poet, speaking directly to the reader
- Unit: 2
2.1 You Start Dying Slowly: English Workshop Question Answers
Answers to every activity in the Std 10 English Kumarbharati textbook (Maharashtra Board), written by a practising English teacher. Read the poem in your textbook first, then try each activity here before you check the answer.
Warming up
✍️ Discuss in your group: what will happen if…?
Show sample answers
- If I do not study well, I will get poor marks and lose good chances in the future.
- If I wake up late on a working day, I will miss the bus and reach school late.
- If I do not exercise regularly, I will become weak and lazy and may fall ill often.
- If I eat too much junk food, I will gain unhealthy weight and harm my health.
- If I do not take part in school activities and games, I will miss the joy of teamwork and new skills.
- If I ignore a friend in need, I may lose a true friend.
Things I can do in my life: help the needy, keep my locality clean, care for old people, share my things with friends, work hard for my family, and serve my nation.
My wish (web paragraph): My biggest wish is to travel in space one day. I want to see the Earth from above, float without gravity and look at the stars up close. To make this wish come true, I will study science seriously, stay fit and learn about astronauts like Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams.
Think, discuss and answer
- What makes life worth living? Travelling to new places, reading good books, loving and respecting ourselves, making new friends, following our dreams, and helping others.
- What things can lead to a slow death? Living the same dull routine every day, not valuing ourselves, refusing help, hiding our feelings, staying in a job or situation we dislike, and never taking any risks.
- A line to complete the last stanza: “…you start dying slowly.” The last stanza lists more habits but does not end with the refrain, so the reader can add it.
Q1. Choose the best message the poem conveys
👉 Tap the best answer.
The best message of the poem is:
Answer: Be yourself and do what your heart tells you. The poem asks us to break our dull routines, value ourselves, follow our dreams and, at least once, run away from “sensible advice”. That means listening to our own heart.
Q2. State
- Theme / central idea: To live a full and meaningful life, we must keep learning, changing, taking risks and following our dreams. A dull routine, fear and low self-esteem make us “die slowly”, even while we are alive.
- A line that supports the theme: “You start dying slowly” (repeated), and the advice to go after a dream instead of always playing safe.
- Three characteristics that make a person dull and uninteresting: (1) becoming a slave of habits and walking the same paths every day, (2) not changing their routine or the colour of their clothes, (3) refusing to speak to people they do not know.
Q3. Pick out adjectives from the poem and the nouns they describe
🎯 Game: tap an adjective and the noun it describes in the poem.
Adjective + noun pairs from the poem
Answer key
turbulent → emotions · same → paths · different → colours · sensible → advice
Q4. Compare the structure of the poem with poems 1.1 and 1.3
The structure of “You Start Dying Slowly” is most like:
Answer: 1.3 Basketful of Moonlight. Both are in free verse with no rhyme scheme and stanzas of unequal length. “A Teenager’s Prayer” has five equal stanzas and the rhyme scheme abcb.
- Like “Basketful of Moonlight”, it is in free verse with no rhyme scheme.
- Its stanzas are of unequal length (about 4, 2, 5, 4 and 8 lines).
- It uses a refrain (“You start dying slowly”) that the other two poems do not.
- It speaks directly to the reader (“you”), while 1.1 speaks to God and 1.3 to the moon.
Q5. Which expression is repeated? How many times? Why?
How many times does the expression “You start dying slowly” appear in the poem?
Answer: four times. It ends stanzas 1 to 4. The last stanza does not repeat it.
Why the poet repeats it: The repetition works like a warning bell. It stresses that these habits slowly kill our joy and spirit, and it makes the message stay in the reader’s mind.
Q6. Write the opposite of the statements, in the form of advice
✍️ Write your own advice for (b), (d), (e), (f) and (g) first.
Show answers
- You do not travel. → You should travel as much as you can. (given)
- You do not appreciate yourself. → You should appreciate yourself and value your strengths.
- You kill your self-esteem. → You should keep up your self-esteem. (given)
- You become a slave of habits. → You should break free from dull habits and try new things.
- You refuse to speak to strangers. → You should talk to new people and make new friends, while staying safe.
- You do not change your life. → You should be ready to change your life when you are not happy with it.
- You refuse to take a risk. → You should take sensible risks to follow your dreams.
Q7. Write a paragraph and give it another interesting title
✍️ Write your own paragraph with a new title first.
Show model paragraph
Small Steps to a Happy Life
A better life does not come overnight; it comes from small, steady changes. The best way is to get rid of one bad habit at a time instead of trying to change everything at once. We should keep away from negative thoughts and replace them with hopeful ones. Spending time with cheerful, positive people also lifts our mood. Reading, travelling and learning new skills keep our minds fresh. Most importantly, we should accept each new day with a smile and be thankful for what we have. When we live like this, we truly live, instead of dying slowly.
Q8. Complete the table: “If I do this, I shall…”
✍️ Complete each line yourself first.
Show sample answers
| If I… | I shall… |
|---|---|
| travel | learn about new places, people and cultures, and my mind will grow. |
| read | gain knowledge, improve my language and develop my imagination. |
| change my bad habits | become healthier, more confident and more successful. |
| play continuously on a mobile phone | miss the pleasures of playing outdoor games. (given) |
| don’t make friends | feel lonely and miss the joy of sharing. |
Q9. Sources of inspiration
✍️ List at least 5 sources first.
Show sample answers
- Stories (given)
- Biographies of great people
- Parents and teachers
- Nature
- Sportspersons and their struggles
- Good films and songs
Q10. Complete the web diagrams
👉 Word bank: sea waves, turbulent, storm, sensible, eyes, advice, glistening. Which adjective goes with each noun?
Answer key
| Noun | Adjective | Why |
|---|---|---|
| sea waves | turbulent | Waves can be rough and unsteady. |
| storm | turbulent | A storm is wild and violent. |
| emotions | turbulent | From the poem: "turbulent emotions". |
| advice | sensible | From the poem: "sensible advice". |
| eyes | glistening | Passion makes the eyes glisten (shine). |
Q11. Write about a happy day in your life (at least 100 words)
✍️ Use the 8 guiding questions and write your own first.
Show model answer
The Day I Won the Prize
The happiest day of my life was Monday, 26 January 2026, our school’s Republic Day function. I had taken part in the district-level elocution competition a week earlier, and that morning the results were to be announced. When the principal called out my name as the first-prize winner, I could hardly believe my ears. My heart was beating fast and my eyes were glistening with tears of joy. My classmates clapped and cheered loudly, and my English teacher patted my back proudly. I walked up to the stage and received a trophy and a certificate. In the evening, my parents took me out for dinner to celebrate. I felt proud, grateful and a little shy at the same time. That day taught me that hard work and practice are always rewarded.
Q12. Find four inspirational quotes related to the poem
✍️ Find your own quotes first.
Show sample quotes
- “Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.” – Swami Vivekananda
- “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” – Helen Keller
- “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
- “Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action.” – Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Poem appreciation: “You Start Dying Slowly”
The poem “You Start Dying Slowly” is credited in our textbook to Pablo Neruda. It is written in free verse, so it has no rhyme scheme, and its stanzas are of unequal length. The poet speaks directly to the reader. He says that a person “starts dying slowly” if he does not travel or read, does not value himself, refuses help, becomes a slave of habits and never takes a risk. The central idea is that we must live life fully by learning, changing and following our dreams. My favourite part is the advice to run away from sensible advice at least once in a lifetime, because it encourages us to listen to our own heart. The poet uses repetition (“You start dying slowly”), which works like a warning. Expressions like “turbulent emotions” and eyes that glisten with passion make the poem lively. The language is simple but powerful, and the tone is serious and motivating. I like this poem because it makes me think about my own habits and inspires me to live with courage and joy.
मराठी टीप: Appreciation मध्ये: शीर्षक, कवी (textbook प्रमाणे Pablo Neruda), free verse, मध्यवर्ती कल्पना, आवडती ओळ आणि का, अलंकार (Repetition), भाषा व भावना, तुमचे मत.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the poem 'You Start Dying Slowly'?
The Std 10 Kumarbharati textbook credits the poem to Pablo Neruda. It is also widely credited online to the Brazilian writer Martha Medeiros. In the exam, write the name printed in your textbook.
What is the central idea of 'You Start Dying Slowly'?
To live a full life, we must keep learning, changing, taking risks and following our dreams. A dull routine, fear and low self-esteem make us die slowly while we are still alive.
Which expression is repeated in 'You Start Dying Slowly'?
The expression 'You start dying slowly' is repeated four times, at the end of stanzas 1 to 4.
What is the rhyme scheme of 'You Start Dying Slowly'?
The poem is in free verse, so it has no rhyme scheme.
What does 'turbulent emotions' mean in the poem?
Strong, restless feelings like passion and excitement, which make our eyes glisten and our heart beat fast.
Summary in English
The poet speaks directly to the reader and lists the ways in which a person ‘starts dying slowly’, not in body but in spirit. It happens when we stop travelling, stop reading, stop listening to the sounds of life and stop appreciating ourselves.
It also happens when we become slaves to habit, walk the same road every day, never change our routine, never take a risk and never talk to people we do not know. We die slowly when we avoid strong feelings, stay in a job or a situation that makes us unhappy, and never follow a dream.
The poem ends by urging us to act now: to take risks, change, feel deeply and live fully, instead of wasting life in fear and routine.
मराठीत सारांश (Summary in Marathi)
कवी थेट वाचकाशी बोलतो आणि माणूस ‘हळूहळू मरायला’ कसा लागतो ते सांगतो; हे मरण शरीराचे नसून मनाचे आहे. आपण प्रवास करणे, वाचणे, जीवनातील आवाज ऐकणे आणि स्वतःचे कौतुक करणे थांबवतो तेव्हा असे घडते.
आपण सवयींचे गुलाम होतो, रोज त्याच वाटेने जातो, दिनक्रम कधीच बदलत नाही, धोका पत्करत नाही आणि अनोळखी लोकांशी बोलत नाही, तेव्हाही असे घडते. तीव्र भावना टाळल्या, दुःखी करणाऱ्या नोकरीत किंवा परिस्थितीत अडकून राहिलो आणि कधीच स्वप्नाचा पाठलाग केला नाही, तर आपण हळूहळू मरत जातो.
कवितेच्या शेवटी कवी आपल्याला आत्ताच कृती करायला सांगतो: धोका पत्करा, बदल स्वीकारा, मनापासून अनुभवा आणि भीती व चाकोरीत आयुष्य वाया न घालवता पूर्णपणे जगा.
Theme and Message (मध्यवर्ती कल्पना)
Real life means growth, change and courage. A life of fear, habit and routine is a slow death of the spirit.
खरे जीवन म्हणजे प्रगती, बदल आणि धैर्य. भीती, सवयी आणि चाकोरीतील जगणे म्हणजे मनाचे हळूहळू मरणे.
Figures of Speech (अलंकार)
- Apostrophe (संबोधन): the poet speaks directly to ‘you’, the reader.
- Repetition (पुनरावृत्ती): the same opening words are repeated again and again to build a strong warning.
- Antithesis (विरोधाभास): living and dying are set against each other throughout the poem.
- Metaphor (रूपक): ‘dying slowly’ stands for losing the joy and energy of life, not physical death.
Tip: for the appreciation question, pick your favourite line from the poem in your textbook and say which figure of speech it uses.
Useful Words (शब्दार्थ)
| Word | मराठी अर्थ | Use it in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| routine | दिनक्रम, चाकोरी | Break your routine and try something new. |
| habit | सवय | Reading daily is a good habit. |
| passion | तीव्र आवड, उत्कटता | She plays the violin with passion. |
| uncertain | अनिश्चित | The future is always uncertain. |
| dream | स्वप्न | Work hard to follow your dream. |
| risk | धोका, जोखीम | Sometimes you must take a risk to succeed. |
For the Exam (परीक्षेसाठी)
- Know that this poem is in free verse (no rhyme scheme) and that its key device is repetition.
- Each warning is really a condition: If you do not travel…. Revise if-clauses in Lesson 11: Conditionals and practise in the conditionals practice set.
Think and Write (विचार करा, लिहा)
- Which habit in your daily routine would you like to change? Why?
- Write about one new thing you want to try this year.
- Do you agree that a life without change is ‘dying slowly’? Give your opinion in 5 sentences.
🎮 Practice Games: You Start Dying Slowly
Extra practice for revision, beyond the textbook activities. Play every game, then check your total score and stars! (उजळणीसाठी खेळ.)
⚖️ Living fully or dying slowly?
🗂️ According to the poem, does this help you live fully, or make you ‘die slowly’?
Sort the habits
🔤 Word meanings
🎯 Tap the English word and its Marathi meaning.
English ↔ मराठी
⚡ Quick quiz
👉 Tap the correct answer.
‘Dying slowly’ in the poem means dying ___.
Answer: A dull, fearful life is a slow death of the spirit.
Which figure of speech is used in the repeated line ‘You start dying slowly’?
Answer: It works like a warning.
What is the structure of the poem?
Answer: No rhyme scheme.
Which is the best message of the poem?
Answer: The poet urges us to act now.
✏️ Turn it into advice
👉 Tap the positive advice.
‘You start dying slowly if you do not travel.’ As positive advice:
Answer: Write the opposite as an imperative.
Online test · 15 questions
2.1 You Start Dying Slowly...: Lesson Test
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शिक्षकांसाठी: धडा शिकवून झाल्यावर ही test वर्गाला पाठवा. प्रत्येक विद्यार्थ्याचे गुण तुम्हाला आपोआप मिळतील.
These are original study notes and answers by englishresources.in to help you revise. Read the chapter in your Balbharati textbook first: these notes do not replace it. Only short phrases from the poem and the activities are quoted, for reference.