Students often prefer our concise Class 8 English Poorvi Worksheet and Class 8 English Chapter 11 Harvest Hymn Worksheet with Answers Pdf for quick practice.
Class 8 English Chapter 11 Harvest Hymn Worksheet with Answers
Class 8 English Harvest Hymn Worksheet
Class 8 English Chapter 11 Worksheet – Class 8 Harvest Hymn Worksheet
Let us do these activities before we read
I. Work in pairs and share your response with your classmates.
1. (i) What is a harvest festival?
(ii) Why do we celebrate harvest festivals?
(iii) Which are the harvest festivals celebrated in India?
(iv) How do we celebrate harvest festivals?
2. (i) What is a hymn?
(ii) Why do we sing a hymn?
(iii) Write any hymn in your mother tongue.
(iv) From where did you learn it?
II. Archaic words are those that were once commonly used but are now rarely used or considered outdated. They can include old words, grammatical forms, or even specific meanings of words that have since changed. Examples include “thou,” “thee,” “thy,” “wherefore,” and “anon”.
1. Match the archaic word in Column A with its correct modern meaning in Column B.
| Food items | Taste words |
| 1. Thee | (a) Before |
| 2. Thou | (b) You (object) |
| 3. Thy | (c) You (subject) |
| 4. Thine | (d) Yours |
| 5. Ere | (e) Your |
2. Use the correct archaic word to complete each sentence.
1. I give this gift to __________, my friend.
2. __________ art brave and noble!
3. Let us meet __________ the sun rises.
4. What is __________ name, noble knight?
5. This book is not mine, but __________.
III. Read the paragraph and select the correct meaning for each highlighted word from the options given below.
In a quiet village nestled between green hills, lived a munificent farmer known for sharing his harvest with anyone in need. Over the years, his farm prospered, thanks to his hard work and the fertile soil. Every season, he would offer a part of his crop as a bounty to the poor and ‘fa wandering travelers. As he grew older, his once stern face began mellowing, and he spent his evenings sitting under the glow of the setting sun, a soft radiance lighting up his fields. Leaning on his trusted scythe, he would smile, knowing his life had been one of purpose and kindness.
1. Munificent
(a) Talkative
(b) Generous
(c) Lazy
(d) Mysterious
2. Prospered
(a) Failed
(b) Succeeded
(c) Traveled
(d) Diminished
3. Bounty
(a) Punishment
(b) Trap
(c) Reward or generosity
(d) Curse
4. Mellowing
(a) Becoming softer and gentler
(b) Becoming angry
(c) Getting spoiled
(d) Turning sour
5. Scythe
(a) A musical instrument
(b) A tool for cutting crops
(c) A measuring stick
(d) A sword
6. Radiance
(a) Darkness
(b) Brightness or light
(c) Sadness
(d) Silence
Let us discuss
I. Write the stanza number for the main idea of each stanza of the poem given below.
| Main idea of the stanza | Stanza No. |
| The farmers offer a prayer for future peace, protection, and continued prosperity. They seek divine favour to keep their homes safe from sorrow and their fields ever fruitful. It reflects a deep spiritual connection to nature and God. | |
| The stanza expresses gratitude for the abundant harvest. The poet glorifies the bounty of nature and acknowledges the role of divine blessings in transforming seeds into ripe crops. The farmers rejoice in the fruit of their labour and the kindness of nature. | |
| The speaker thanks and praises the Earth, the rain-bearing , clouds, and the Sun for their roles in the growth of crops. They are invoked as sacred powers who bless the seeds and help the harvest to grow. | |
| The speaker expresses deep gratitude and surrender, acknowledging God as the creator, the end, and the spirit behind human effort, seeking divine guidance, help, and blessings. |
II. Fill in the blanks by choosing the appropriate words or phrases from within the brackets on the theme, structure, tone, and poetic devices of the poem.
1. The poem “Harvest Hymn” is a __________ (prayer/debate/complaint) to the divine powers for a successful harvest.
2. The tone of the poem is __________ (angry/joyful/devotional) as the poet expresses gratitude to nature and God.
3. The poet refers to nature as a __________ (machine/friend/sacred force) that helps the crops grow and prosper.
4. The poem is written in the form of a __________ (diaiogue/hymn/story), which is a song of praise and worship.
5. Sarojini Naidu uses the poetic device of __________ (simile/personification/irony) by addressing Earth, Rain, and Sun as if they are divine beings.
6. The structure of the poem is made up of __________ (paragraphs/stanzas/ chapters) that each present a different aspect of gratitude and prayer.
7. The repeated references to divine powers show that the poem has a strong element of __________ (humour/spirituality/rebellion).
8. The phrase “Thou art the Seed and the Scythe” is an example of __________ (contrast/metaphor/exaggeration), showing God as both creator and destroyer.
9. The poet uses musical language like “cymbal and prayer” to give the poem a __________(comic/celebratory/sad) rhythm and mood.
10. Overall, the poem blends elements of __________ (nature and divinity/politics and anger/war and peace) in a harmonious way.
III. Identify the poetic device used in the following lines from the poem.
1. ‘0 giver of mellowing radiance
0 sender of rain and the dewfall
0 source of our manifold gladness 0 Earth!’
2. ‘The gold of our fields and the gold of our food’
Ans. 1. __________________________________
2. __________________________________
IV. Match the poetic device with the expression used in the poem.
| Poetic Device | Expression used in the poem |
| 1. Imagery | (i) “Thine is the mercy…” |
| 2. Alliteration | (ii) “We hail thee, 0 Earth, with our chant and our cymbal” |
| 3. Repetition | (iii) “Thou art the Seed and the Scythe of our harvests” |
| 4. Metaphor | (iv) “Lord of the rainbow, Lord of the harvest” |
| 5. Personification | (v) “Thine is the mercy that cherished our furrows,/Thine is the mercy that fostered our grain” |
V. Anaphora is a literary device where a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines of poetry. It’s used to create emphasis, rhythm, and emotional impact.
Repetition of particular word or phrase has been used to add an artistic effect in the poem.
Find two such repetitions used in the poem.
1. __________________________________
2. __________________________________
VI. Questions on Symbolism
Question 1.
What does the “Seed” symbolize in the poem?
(a) A grain of rice
(b) The beginning of creation and life
(c) A farmer’s tool
(d) The sun’s power
Question 2.
Why is God referred to as both the “Seed and the Scythe”? What does this symbolism suggest about divine power?
__________________________________
Question 3.
In the poem, the Earth, Rain, and Sun are personified and addressed as divine forces. What do they symbolize?
__________________________________
Question 4.
What does the use of the word “Scythe” symbolize in the context of harvest and divine will?
(a) A farming machine
(b) The destruction of crops
(c) The end of the harvest and life’s natural cycle
(d) A symbol of war
Think beyond
I. Read the given stanzas and answer the questions that follow.
1. Queen of the gourd-flower, queen of the harvest,
Sweet and omnipotent mother, O Earth!
Thin e is the plentiful bosom that feeds us,
Thine is the womb where our riches have birth.
Questions:
(i) Who is referred to as ‘The queen of Harvest’?
__________________________________
(ii) Which are the two adjectives used by the poet in the given extract to describe mother Earth?
__________________________________
(iii) What is the tone of the poem?
__________________________________
(iv) Why is mother Earth called the ‘Queen of the gourd-flower’?
__________________________________
2. Lord of the rainbow, lord of the harvest,
Great and beneficent lord of the main!
Thine is the mercy that cherished our furrows,
Thine is the mercy that fostered our grain.
Questions:
(i) Complete the sentence.
The poet addresses God as the Lord of the rainbow and the harvest because
__________________________________
(ii) What does the phrase “cherished our furrows” suggest?
(a) Decorated the fields
(b) Planted new seeds
(c) Nourished and cared for the land
(d) Measured the farmland
(iii) Fill in the blank.
In the stanza, the rainbow is a symbol of __________ and divine blessing.
(iv) What role does God play in the process of harvest according to this stanza?
__________________________________
II. Answer the following questions.
Question 1.
What is the central message of the poem “Harvest Hymnu?
__________________________________
Question 2.
How does the poet portray the relationship between nature and divinity in the poem?
__________________________________
Question 3.
What tone does the poet adopt in the poem, and how is it conveyed through the language?
__________________________________
Question 4.
Explain the significance of the line uThou art the Seed and the Scythe of our harvests.
__________________________________
Question 5.
In what ways does the poem reflect the traditional Indian agrarian culture?
__________________________________
Question 6.
Discuss the role of imagery in the poem. Give two examples.
__________________________________
Question 7.
If you had to write a modern version of this hymn, what new elements would you include, and why?
__________________________________
Let us Learn
I. Match the following farming implements with their names and uses.
II. Choose the words from the paragraph which can be substituted by the following words used in the poem.
| munificent, beneficent, omnipotent, ineffable, cymbal |
The generous king was known throughout the land for his kind-hearted nature and selfless deeds. People believed he was blessed by an all-powerful force that guided his actions. His palace echoed with the sound of metallic instruments, played during grand celebrations. The beauty of the gardens and the peace of the kingdom created a feeling that was simply beyond description.
1. __________________________________
2. __________________________________
3. __________________________________
4. __________________________________
5. __________________________________
III. Choose five archaic words used in the poem. Refer to a dictionary to find their meaning.
__________________________________
Let us listen
The teacher will read out a paragraph to describe the process and steps in the crop production. Based on your understanding answer the questions.
(Read the Transcript at the end of this book Pg. No. 154)
Question 1.
Which is the first step in crop production?
(a) Irrigation
(b) Sowing
(c) Preparation of soil
(d) Harvesting
Question 2.
Which tool is commonly used for ploughing the soil?
(a) Harvester
(b) Sprayer
(c) Plough
(d) Combine
Question 3.
What is the process of supplying water to crops called?
(a) Fertilization
(b) Weeding
(c) Irrigation
(d) Harvesting
Question 4.
Fill in the Blank.
The process of cutting and gathering mature crops is called __________
Question 5.
Arrange the following steps in the correct order of crop production:
(a) Irrigation
(b) Harvesting
(c) Preparation of soil
(d) Sowing
(e) Adding manure and fertilizers
(f) Threshing and winnowing
(g) Storage
Let us speak
I. Silent Letters
In English, some letters are not pronounced in certain words. For example, in words like ‘knife’, ‘knowledge’, and ‘know’, the first letter ‘k’ is not pronounced.
Let us look at a few more such examples
1. Debt — The “b” is silent
2. Subtle — The “b” is silent
3. Doubt – The “b” is silent
4. Knight — The ak” is silent
5. Honour – The “h” is silent
6. Hour — The “h” is silent
7. Wrath — The “w” is silent
8. Ca’m — The “I” is silent
9. Half – The “l” is silent
10. Island — The “s” is silent
11. Listen — The “t” is silent
12. Castle — The “t” is silent
Now, say these words aloud.
II. Make a presentation on any popular dish made during the harvest festival in your region. Use the guidelines to make your presentation.
Presentation Guidelines
1. Title Slide
- Write the name of the dish.
- Mention the harvest festival it is associated with (e.g., Pongal, Makar Sankranti, Bihu, Lohri, etc.).
- Include your name, class, and date.
2. Introduction Slide
- Talk briefly about the harvest season in India.
- Mention how different regions celebrate it with food.
- Explain why food is an important part of these celebrations.
3. Dish Overview
- Name of the dish (e.g., Pongal, Tilgul, Pitha, Makki ki Roti & Sarson ka Saag).
- The state or region where it’s popular.
- When is it usually prepared (which harvest festival)?
4. Ingredients Slide
- List the main ingredients used.
- Use bullet points and clear pictures of the ingredients.
- Mention if they are harvested locally during the season.
5. Steps to Prepare the Dish
- Use simple step-by-step instructions.
- Add photos or drawings for each step (if possible).
- You can show the cooking method (boiling, frying, steaming, etc.).
6. Cultural Importance
- Why is this dish important to the festival?
- Does it have any symbolic meaning (e.g., sweetness, warmth, unity)?
- Is it shared with family or the community?
7. Fun Facts
- Add any fun or surprising fact about the dish or the festival.
- For example: “In Assam, Pitha is made in different shapes and filled with coconut and jaggery!”
Let us Write
A slogan is a short, catchy phrase used to grab attention and make a message memorable.
Example:
- “Save Water, Save Life”
- “Eat Healthy, Live Healthy”
- “Clean India, Green India”
Instructions:
1. Choose a topic.
2. Think of a short message (5-10 words) that is catchy, rhythmic, and positive.
3. Write your slogan in bold and colourful letters.
4. Draw or paste a small picture related to the slogan.
Now, draft a creative slogan to thank the farmers of our country for feeding us and making our country independent on crop production.
Let us explore
I. Read the information on the importance of millets and find out if millets are a part of your cuisine and in which form they are being used in our households.
Millets are small-seeded grains that have been grown in India for thousands of years. They include jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet), ragi (finger millet), and others. These grains are very nutritious, rich in fiber, protein, iron, and calcium, making them an excellent choice for a healthy diet. Millets are especially good for people with diabetes because they help control blood sugar levels. They also aid in digestion and keep us full for longer.
Millets are important not just for health but also for the environment.
They require very little water and can grow in dry areas, making them ideal for Indian farmers. Unlike rice and wheat, they do not need chemical fertilizers or pesticides, so they are more eco-friendly and sustainable.
In recent years, millets have gained popularity as “smart foods” around the world. The Government of India has also declared 2023 as the “International Year of Millets” to promote their use. Including millets in our daily meals can improve our health, support farmers, and help protect the environment. So, whether it’s millet dosa, upma, or rotis-millets are a smart and traditional choice for everyone.