Federal G11 English Chapter 3 Good Timber

Table of Contents

Q.1) What is the significance of the title of the poem ‘Good Timber?’

Answer:
The title of the poem ‘Good Timber’ holds significance with respect to the message of the poem. The poet has artfully compared good timber with good men. He believes that it is not easy for both timber and men to become good without going through hard times. It is a bare fact that the more they suffer, the more they become worthwhile and beneficial for society.

Q.2) What is good timber? How does tree grow into good timber?

Answer:
Good timber faces adversity and hard times with bravery. It is the one that encounters the forces of nature such as strong winds and unfavorable conditions throughout the life, due to this it becomes vital, good, and beneficial. A tree can only grow into good timber when it passes through the tough test of scorching sun, cold and hot weather, snow, rain.

Q.3) What, according to Douglas Malloch, is the fate of those people who do not work hard in life?

Answer:
According to Douglas Malloch, those people who do not work hard never excel in any field of life. They can not have strong personality and can never develop their social, moral, and economic position. Such people live and die without achieving anything significant in their life.

Q.4) How can a person achieve his/her true potential in life? Illustrate it with examples from the poem ‘Good Timber.’

Answer:
A person can achieve his true potential only when he faces hardships, difficulties and tough times with courage and determination. According to the poet, a man becomes strong when encounters and overcomes adversity in life. Hardships, unfavourable conditions, difficult situations polish our abilities and capabilities thus, help us in becoming good human beings. A person does not become strong if he gets everything easily without putting hard work. Douglas compares good timber with men as timber has to bear harsh winds, rain, sunshine, and snow to become good and beneficial, same is the case with men.

Q.5) What is the central idea of the poem ‘Good Timber?’

Answer:
The central idea of the poem ‘Good Timber’ is that in order to become good and beneficial one has to face hardships and difficulties in life. Both timber and man have to overcome adversity with courage and determination. Struggle is a key to success to live a perfect, valuable life otherwise both of them die without achieving anything worthwhile in their life.

Q.6) What is the rhyme scheme of the poem ‘Good Timber?’

Answer:
‘Good Timber’ is one of the outstanding works of Douglas. It comprises of four stanzas, each having six lines. The poem is well-structured and follows a beautiful, consistent rhythmic pattern. The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABBCC.

Q.7) An extended metaphor is a poetic device in which two unlike things are compared in a series of lines of a poem. Give the example of extended metaphor from the poem ‘Good Timber.’

Answer:
The whole poem is an example of extended metaphor as the poet has skillfully compares good timber with man. He is of the opinion that both timber and man have to go through tough times of life to become good and beneficial. If they do not do so they would not be able to achieve anything significant in their life.

Q.8) What is alliteration? Give its examples from the poem ‘Good Timber.’

Answer:
Alliteration is the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. The poet has used this literary technique of alliteration quite beautifully throughout his poem ‘Good Timber,’ for instance, sun and sky, manly man, storm and strength, sun and snow, good and grow, and broken branches.

Writing

A. Write a paraphrase of the following lines.

Where thickest lies the forest growth
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife
This is the common law of life.

Paraphrase:
Good timber and good man select the thickest part of the forest growth as their abode, both of them are the leaders of their species. From their chosen place, they are able to communicate with stars and hold counsel with them. Their broken branches and scars on their bodies are the clear reflection of the fact that they have faced harsh winds and struggled really hard as this is the common law of life.

B. Read the poem ‘Good Timber’ carefully and write a paragraph in retrospection about the feelings that the poem evoked in you.

Answer:
After reading the poem, I feel quite motivated and energetic. The reason behind is that the poet has beautifully compared man’s life with that of timber. He has given a clear message through the lines of ‘Good Timber’ that one has to bear hardships in order to get success in life. Yes, it is true. Similarly, those who lead an easy going life are unable to achieve anything worthwhile. They just came and go from this world without any recognition or appreciation. I feel that if we apply this simple rule in our lives we would be able to excel and develop a strong personality that may impress or motivate others.’