At last by starvation and famine made bold,
All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold,
Away he set off to a miserly ant,
To see if, to keep him alive, he would grant.
(i)What made him bold?
(ii) Where did he ‘set off do?
(iii) What did he call ant?
(iv) What was the reason ‘if is used in the lines?
Answers
Answer:
The cricket had not saved any food for the future, and he wondered what will happen to him if he did not have food. He would have to starve without food if he did not do anything now. He was soaked wet and shaking because of the extreme cold weather. He gathered courage from the fear of being without food; he started his journey to visit the ant and ask his help. The cricket wanted to borrow from the ant and repay it in the future (tomorrow refers to the future, not the next day)
a staying place for the winter
a mouthful of grain (the quantity of grain that is sufficient for insects like cricket)
If the ant does not give him food and shelter, the cricket will die of lack of food and disappointment. The poet refers to the ant as "miserly" here. Miser refers to people to save a lot and spend very little. It can be given a positive meaning here, to praise the ant's quality of thinking about the future and preserving food for the cold days