Question

Stanza3 : “I would not intrude on him;
A dime, another ball, is worthless.
Now He senses first responsibility
In a world of possessions. People will take
Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.
a. Who is ‘I’ in the stanza? What does he mean by ‘intruding’?
b. Why doesn’t ‘I’ wish to intrude on ‘him’?
c. Why does the poet think it will be useless to offer the boy another ball?
d. Explain ‘He senses first responsibility’.
e. What does ‘In a world of possessions’ mean?
f. What advice does ‘I’ give to the little boy in the last line?

Answer 1

Answer:

Main Points of the Poem

1. The young boy lost his ball.
2. He was playing and saw the ball bouncing down the street.
3. Then, in the end, the ball fell down into the water and lost forever.
4. The boy sees everything happening before his eyes but he is helpless.
5. He only stands there helplessly moaning at the loss of the ball.
6. The loss of the ball may appear to be an ordinary incident.
7. It seems that boys lose such balls many times while they are playing.
8. The boy should not make a fuss over it.
9. The loss of ball is symbolic. It has a deeper meaning.
10. The loss of the ball is the loss of childhood and the loss of his dreams. And if it is lost, it never comes back again.
11. Similarly, we can’t console the child that he can have another ball.
12. Actually, he is sad that the ball he has lost can’t be brought back.
13. The innocent childhood that he has lost can’t be replaced or bought back with money.
14. Wealth can’t buy life and time.
15. Ultimately, a change comes in the grieving boy.
16. He comes to know that losing is a part of life.
17. The loss must not break his spirits.
18. There is no use of grieving over what has been lost.
19. He must stand up to face such losses with courage and determination.
20. Life has to be lived and not wasted in grieving and mourning over the losses suffered in the past.

Answer 2

Answer:

Stanza3 : “I would not intrude on him;

A dime, another ball, is worthless.

Now He senses first responsibility

In a world of possessions. People will take

Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.

a. Who is ‘I’ in the stanza? What does he mean by ‘intruding’?

b. Why doesn’t ‘I’ wish to intrude on ‘him’?

c. Why does the poet think it will be useless to offer the boy another ball?

d. Explain ‘He senses first responsibility’.

e. What does ‘In a world of possessions’ mean?

f. What advice does ‘I’ give to the little boy in the last line?