Here you will find all the questions and answers for NBSE class 10 Alternative English poem Prayer of the Meek by Lhusi Haralu. The additional question and answers will be added later. However, these notes should be used only for references. These materials should be modified/changed as per the needs.
If you notice any errors in the notes, please mention them in the comments
Summary
The reference to the meek in the title is from the Bible: Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. This poem is in the form of a prayer to God, the Lord of all creation. On behalf of her countrymen, the poet asks God to be merciful to His people who have tried to follow His commands as best as they humanly can by offering the other cheek instead of fighting back when enemies have struck them; by giving their cloaks to those who have snatched their shirts; and by being extra patient with those who have harassed them, thus suffering persecution meekly.
But their peaceful resistance to war has been mistaken for weakness. They have been considered cowards and scorned for not retaliating with guns. Despite being misunderstood by their enemies, they thank God for keeping them humble and preventing them from doing wrong in His sight. In their helplessness in the face of war and persecution, they look towards God for strength to bear their sufferings. They do not ask God to punish their enemies. Instead, they ask Him to give them the grace to see how wrong they are to take control of the lives of their victims as if they were God. They pray that God may forgive their enemies and rid their hearts of hatred. They ask God to rid the world of war and to establish peace; to rid the world of pain and to protect everyone, even their enemies from bloodshed.
They ask God to give them the grace to forgive those who hate them so that the loving God may forgive them their sins. They hope that the love of Christ may be revealed in their relationship with their enemies. They ask that God may reign in their hearts and their land and they profess their belief in the sovereign kingship of God over all creation.
Textual questions and answers
Choose the correct option
1. What is the tone of the poem you have just read?
A. Pious B. Fearful C. Melancholic D. Desperate
Answer: A. Pious
2. Which of the following words is not a synonym of ‘high-handed’?
A. Bossy B. Desperate C. Autocratic D. Overbearing
Answer: B. Desperate
3. What is the poet praying for?
A. For God to take vengeance upon those who have committed sins. B. An end to all strife in the poet’s land. C. For everyone to worship Lord Jesus Christ D. For the means and resources to get through the troubles unharmed.
Answer: B. An end to all strife in the poet’s land.
4. What is the strength that the poet looks to God for?
A. The ability to bring peace to their land. B. The strength to survive, to get through the struggles unharmed. C. The strength to stick to their principles in trying times. D. The strength to carry out God’s will and command.
Answer: C. The strength to stick to their principles in trying times.
Explain with reference to context
1. Lord of Heaven and earth, look down in mercy
And remember that we have tried, though imperfectly,
All our days
To live by Thy given code:
a. Who is the poet talking to?
b. What does the word ‘imperfectly’ imply?
c. What is the ‘given code’?
Answer: a. The poet is talking to God.
b. The word ‘imperfectly’ here implies that though they failed at times, but they did try to follow the commands of God.
c. The ‘given code’ is to turn the other cheek to someone who strikes us, to take our cloak off for someone who took our shirt, and walk weary miles along with someone who would harass us.
2. Yet we thank Thee, Lord, our Father for this lack
That has perforce stayed our hands fro* doing wrong
a. What does ‘lack’ mean here?
b. Why does the poet thank God?
c. Is the situation a happy one?
Answer: a. The ‘lack’ here means the inability of the poet and her family to pay back wrong for wrong and pain for the pain to those who caused harm to them.
b. The poet thanks God for not allowing their hands to do any wrong and to keep themselves humbled and broken in spirits. She is thankful for the strength they found to bear all in God.
c. The situation is not a happy one as the poet and her family suffered enough losses, but it certainly is a contentful one as they did what is right in the eyes of God by showing restraint.
3. The wrong they have done and
The waste they have caused
By their high-handed acts of playing God
a. Who is the poet talking about?
b. What is the waste that has been caused?
c. What does the phrase playing God mean?
Answer: a. The poet is talking to God.
b. The waste they have caused was taking the life of her brother during an internal conflict.
c. The phrase playing God means doing things that only God is sovereign enough to do. In the poem Prayer of the Meek, the poet is talking about the death of her brother at the hands of some people who didn’t have the authority to take one life.
Answer the following
1. Why were the people mocked as cowards?
Answer: The people were mocked as cowards as they didn’t retaliate guns with guns. They instead tried to follow the commands of God and showed resistance to war after the brother of the poet was gunned down, which others mistook as cowardice.
2. What is the prayer for the enemy?
Answer: In the poem Prayer of the Meek, they do not ask God to punish their enemies. Instead, they ask Him to give them the grace to see how wrong they are to take control of the lives of their victims as if they were God. They pray that God may forgive their enemies and rid their hearts of hatred.
3. What is the poet’s idea of hell.
Answer: The poet’s idea of hell in the context of the poem Prayer of the Meek is the hatred that one has for another fellow man that many carries with them and cause pain for themselves and others. She asked God to cleanse their hearts and wipe those spots of hell.
Think and answer
1. Discuss the significance of the metaphor ‘Cleanse the bloodstain from hands that killed, wipe the spot of hell from hearts that hate.’ What emotions and ideas does this imagery evoke, and how does it relate to the poem’s overall message?
Answer: The metaphor ‘Cleanse the bloodstain from hands that killed, wipe the spot of hell from hearts that hate’ significantly evokes the emotions of hope for redemption and forgiveness. It conveys the idea that those who have caused harm and spread hatred can still be purified and rehabilitated. This imagery relates to the poem’s overall message of peace, forgiveness, and the possibility of transformation from a state of conflict and hatred to one of understanding and love. The poet’s appeal for divine intervention to remove the remnants of violence and hate highlights a profound belief in the power of mercy and forgiveness to heal and restore peace.
2. Examine the title of the poem and the poet’s choice of language and tone in addressing sensitive issues like forgiveness and conflict. How does the use of a prayer-like tone impact the reader’s reaction to the poem?
Answer: The title of the poem and the poet’s choice of language and tone effectively address the sensitive issues of forgiveness and conflict by enveloping them in a prayer-like tone. This approach impacts the reader by invoking a sense of solemnity and reverence towards the subject matter. The prayerful tone elevates the discourse from mere political or social commentary to a spiritual or moral plea for change, thereby making the reader more receptive to the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. It encourages contemplation on the power of prayer and faith to overcome adversity and conflict, fostering a more empathetic and understanding response to the poem’s message.
3. Imagine the poem’s speaker as a character in a book. What words or phrases from the poem help you understand this character’s personality and beliefs? Read the poem again. Do you notice any changes in how this character thinks as the poem progresses, or do they stay the same?
Answer: Words and phrases such as “Lord of Heaven and earth,” “forgive those who hate us,” and “let the beauty of Christ be seen in this broken land” help in understanding the speaker’s personality and beliefs. These phrases reveal the speaker as deeply spiritual, compassionate, and committed to the principles of forgiveness and peace. Upon reading the poem again, it becomes apparent that the character’s beliefs remain steadfast throughout the poem. The unwavering faith in divine mercy and the consistent plea for peace and forgiveness indicate a strong and enduring commitment to these values, without any noticeable change in the character’s outlook or principles as the poem progresses.
Going beyond
1. Teach us to forgive those who hate us. How would this principle work in your context?
Answer: Although it can be a difficult and challenging process, forgiving those who harbour hatred for us can also be a strong and transformative act. When someone wrongs us, it is normal to feel angry, hurt, or upset; therefore, it is critical to recognise and respect these feelings. Self-compassion training and accepting that we are all fallible human beings who make mistakes are equally important, though. If the circumstances allow, we can attempt to express our emotions and comprehend the other person’s viewpoint. Even though practising forgiveness and letting go of the desire for vengeance can be challenging, doing so can ultimately result in harmony and healing in both our interpersonal relationships and our own hearts.
Extra MCQs
1. What does the poet refer to with the word “meek” in the title?
A. Those who are weak and fearful
B. Those who inherit the earth according to the Bible
C. Those who seek revenge
D. Those who have power and control
Answer: B. Those who inherit the earth according to the Bible
15. What is the ultimate source of strength and guidance for the poet and their people?
A. Their own inner strength
B. The support of their community
C. The grace and guidance of God
D. The fear of their enemies
Answer: C. The grace and guidance of God
Extra questions and answers
1. How does Lhusi Haralu’s personal loss influence the message of “Prayer of the Meek”?
Answer: Lhusi Haralu’s personal loss deeply imbues “Prayer of the Meek” with a message of peace and resilience. The loss prompts a reflection on the futility of violence and the strength found in forgiveness and peace, guiding the poem’s plea for healing and reconciliation.
10. How does the poem “Prayer of the Meek” reflect broader themes of social justice, peacebuilding, and the human capacity for empathy and forgiveness in the face of violence and division?
Answer: “Prayer of the Meek” reflects broader themes of social justice, peacebuilding, and the human capacity for empathy and forgiveness by advocating for a compassionate response to violence and division. It emphasizes the importance of understanding, reconciliation, and the pursuit of justice as foundations for peace and human connection.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger. He manages Online Free Notes and reads Victorian literature. His favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and he hopes to travel the world. Get in touch with him by sending him a friend request.
Get notes of other boards, classes, and subjects
well framed extra questions and answers. Good work with the extra MCQ Kudos!
V. Going Beyond
1. answer : Lovely answer