Try Again by Eliza Cook Class 7 English Poorvi - Summary, Analysis and Question Answer

Introduction to the Poem "Try Again" Class 7 NCERT ENGLISH POORVI

"Try Again" by Eliza Cook is a narrative poem that tells the inspirational story of King Robert the Bruce of Scotland and how he learned the value of perseverance from watching a spider's determined efforts. The poem serves as a moral lesson about the importance of persistence in the face of repeated failures.

Try Again by Eliza Cook Class 7 English Poorvi - Summary, Analysis and Question Answer

English Summary of the Poem "Try Again" Class 7 NCERT ENGLISH POORVI

The poem depicts King Bruce in a state of deep despair after multiple failed attempts to free Scotland from English rule. As he contemplates giving up entirely, he observes a spider attempting to climb up its silken thread to reach its web. The spider fails repeatedly, falling down after each attempt. King Bruce counts nine failed attempts and assumes the spider will quit, just as he plans to do.

However, the spider makes a tenth attempt and finally succeeds. This demonstration of perseverance inspires the king to try one more time. The poem concludes with the king gathering his courage and eventually achieving victory in his own efforts, illustrating the powerful message that success often comes to those who persist despite failures.

हिंदी सारांश (Hindi Summary) "Try Again" Class 7 NCERT ENGLISH POORVI

यह कविता स्कॉटलैंड के राजा रॉबर्ट ब्रूस की प्रेरणादायक कहानी है। अंग्रेजों के शासन से स्कॉटलैंड को मुक्त कराने के कई असफल प्रयासों के बाद राजा ब्रूस निराशा में हैं। जब वह पूरी तरह से हार मानने का विचार कर रहे होते हैं, तो उन्हें एक मकड़ी दिखाई देती है जो अपने जाले तक पहुँचने के लिए बार-बार कोशिश कर रही है।

मकड़ी नौ बार गिरती है, लेकिन दसवीं कोशिश में सफल हो जाती है। यह दृश्य देखकर राजा ब्रूस को नई प्रेरणा मिलती है। वह फिर से कोशिश करने का निर्णय लेते हैं और अंततः सफल होते हैं। कविता का संदेश स्पष्ट है: असफलताओं के बावजूद लगातार कोशिश करते रहना चाहिए।

Line by Line analysis of "Try Again" Class 7 NCERT ENGLISH POORVI

Stanzas 1-3:

"King Bruce of Scotland flung himself down

In a lonely mood to think;

'Tis true he was monarch, and wore a crown,

But his heart was beginning to sink.

For he had been trying to do a great deed,

To make his people glad;

He had tried and tried, but couldn't succeed

And so he became quite sad.

He flung himself down in low despair,

As grieved as man could be;

And after a while he pondered there,

"I'll give it all up," said he."

Word Meanings:

flung: threw himself down forcefully

monarch: king or ruler

sink: to become discouraged or lose hope

deed: act or action

succeed: to achieve desired results

despair: complete loss of hope

grieved: deeply saddened

pondered: thought deeply

Analysis: These opening stanzas establish King Bruce's emotional state and the reason for his despair. Despite his royal status and crown, he feels completely defeated after repeated failures in his attempts to accomplish something meaningful for his people. The repetition of "tried" emphasizes his persistent efforts, while words like "sink," "sad," and "despair" progressively deepen the sense of hopelessness. The physical action of flinging himself down mirrors his emotional collapse, and his declaration "I'll give it all up" shows he has reached his breaking point, ready to abandon his efforts entirely.

Stanzas 4-6:

"Now just at that moment a spider dropped,

With its silken, filmy clue;

And the King, in the midst of his thinking, stopped

To see what the spider would do.

'Twas a long way up to the ceiling dome,

And it hung by a rope so fine;

That how it would get to its cobweb home,

King Bruce could not divine.

It soon began to cling and crawl

Straight up with strong endeavour;

But down it came with a slippery sprawl,

As near to the ground as ever."

Word Meanings:

silken: silk-like, delicate

filmy: very thin

clue: here meaning the spider's thread

divine: to guess or predict

endeavour: earnest effort

sprawl: to fall awkwardly

Analysis: These stanzas introduce the turning point in the poem. Just as the king reaches his lowest moment, a spider appears, diverting his attention from his own problems. The description of the spider's "silken, filmy clue" and the "long way up to the ceiling dome" emphasizes the difficulty of the task ahead. The king's inability to "divine" how the spider might succeed mirrors his own feelings of hopelessness. The spider's initial failure, despite its "strong endeavour," parallels the king's experiences, creating a connection between their struggles and setting the stage for the lesson in perseverance.

Stanzas 7-9:

"Up, up it ran, not a second to stay,

To utter the least complaint;

Till it fell still lower, and there it lay,

A little dizzy and faint.

Its head grew steady - again it went,

And travelled a half-yard higher;

'Twas a delicate thread it had to tread,

And a road where its feet would tire.

Again it fell and swung below,

But again it quickly mounted;

Till up and down, now fast, now slow,

Nine brave attempts were counted."

Word Meanings:

utter: to speak

complaint: expression of dissatisfaction

faint: weak or dizzy

tread: to walk on

tire: to become weary

mounted: climbed up

attempts: efforts to accomplish something

Analysis: These stanzas detail the spider's persistent efforts despite repeated failures. The spider's actions are notable for their immediacy ("not a second to stay") and absence of complaint, contrasting with the king's despair. Each attempt shows slight progress ("travelled a half-yard higher"), but the difficulty remains emphasized by the "delicate thread" and tiring road. The counting of "nine brave attempts" builds suspense while highlighting the spider's courage and determination. The pattern of falling and mounting again creates a rhythmic quality that underscores the theme of persistent effort despite setbacks.

Stanzas 10-12:

"Sure," cried the King, "that foolish thing

Will strive no more to climb;

When it toils so hard to reach and cling,

And tumbles every time."

"But up the insect went once more,

Ah me! 'tis an anxious minute;

He's only a foot from his cobweb door,

Oh say, will he lose or win it?"

"Steadily, steadily, inch by inch,

Higher and higher he got;

And a bold little run at the very last pinch

Put him into his native cot."

Analysis: These stanzas mark the poem's climax and turning point. The king's assumption that the spider will give up reflects his own defeated mindset. However, the spider's decision to try "once more" creates dramatic tension, emphasized by the "anxious minute" as it nears success. The description of its final approach - "steadily, steadily, inch by inch" - builds suspense until the triumphant moment when it reaches its "native cot." This successful attempt, following nine failures, serves as the powerful lesson that breaks through the king's despair.

Stanzas 13-14:

"Bravo, bravo!" the King cried out,

"All honour to those who try;

The spider up there, defied despair;

He conquered, and why shouldn't I?"

"And Bruce of Scotland braced his mind,

And gossips tell the tale,

That he tried once more as he tried before,

And that time did not fail."

Word Meanings:

strive: to try hard

toils: works hard

tumbles: falls

anxious: worried or nervous

pinch: critical moment

native cot: home (spider's web)

Analysis: The final stanzas show the king's transformation and the poem's resolution. His exclamation "Bravo, bravo!" marks his shift from despair to admiration and understanding. He recognizes the universal value of trying ("All honour to those who try") and directly applies the spider's lesson to his own situation ("why shouldn't I?"). The poem concludes with the king strengthening his resolve ("braced his mind") and ultimately achieving success through renewed effort. The mention of "gossips tell the tale" gives the story a timeless, legendary quality, emphasizing that this lesson in perseverance is worth remembering and retelling.

Also Read:

The Day The River Spoke Class 7 English Poorvi Summary Explanation Questions Answers

Three Days to see Class 7 English Poorvi Summary, explanation Questions answers

Animals, Birds and Dr DoLittle Class 7 English

Inquiry Letters Format Tips Sample
Essay Writing
Paragraph Writing
Letter to the Editor
Diary Writing
How to Write Business Letters
Modal Verbs
Tense Definition, use and examples

Questions Answers of Try Again Class 7 English Poorvi

Let us discuss

1. Complete the summary of the poem by filling in the blanks with suitable

words from the text given in the box below. Share your answers with the

teacher. An example has been given.

tried

conquered

mounted

despair

attempts

low

strive

great

The poem, written in a narrative style, tells the story of King Bruce of Scotland, who was feeling 1. _____________ after failing multiple times to achieve something 2. _____________ for his people. In a moment of 3. _____________, he observed a spider trying to reach its web high above. The spider 4. _____________ every time it fell after getting close to its goal. It made nine 5. _____________ and finally succeeded. The king said that the spider had 6. _____________ and so would he. Inspired by the spider’s determination, King Bruce decided to 7. _____________. When he 8. _____________ this time, he ultimately succeeded.

Answer: The poem, written in a narrative style, tells the story of King Bruce of Scotland, who was feeling 1. low after failing multiple times to achieve something 2. great for his people. In a moment of 3. despair, he observed a spider trying to reach its web high above. The spider 4. mounted every time it fell after getting close to its goal. It made nine 5. attempts and finally succeeded. The king said that the spider had 6. conquered and so would he. Inspired by the spider’s determination, King Bruce decided to 7. strive. When he 8. tried this time, he ultimately succeeded.

II. Complete the Following Sentences Suitably

We can say that the poet uses the narrative style because it tells a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, involving characters and events.

The central idea of the poem is to never give up, no matter how many times you fail, and to keep trying until you succeed.

III Pick three examples from the poem for each of the following:

1. lines that describe the spider’s efforts

2. alliteration (the repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of closely connected words

Examples from the Poem

1. Lines that describe the spider’s efforts:

"It soon began to cling and crawl straight up with strong endeavour."

"Again it fell and swung below, but again it quickly mounted."

"Steadily, steadily, inch by inch, higher and higher he got."

2. Alliteration (repetition of consonant sounds):

"silken, filmy clue" (repetition of the "s" and "f" sounds).

"brave attempts" (repetition of the "b" sound).

"native cot" (repetition of the "n" and "c" sounds).

IV. Why Does the Poet Repeat These Words or Phrases?

"tried and tried": To emphasize King Bruce’s persistent efforts despite repeated failures.

"steadily, steadily": To highlight the spider’s careful and determined progress.

"up, up": To show the spider’s continuous effort to climb higher each time.

V. Fill in the Blanks

Question: The rhyme scheme of the poem is ____________. (AABB/ABBA/ABAB)

Answer: AABB

Question: ‘Bravo’ is an example of ____________. (conjunction/interjection/adjective)

Answer: interjection

Question: The poet uses ‘twas and ‘tis for the sake of ____________. (rhythm/rhyme/contraction)

Answer: rhythm

VI. Metaphor and Simile Identification

1.Question: Read the following sentences and identify metaphors and similes. Write M for metaphor and S for simile.

(i) He ran as fast as a cheetah. → S

(ii) The world is a stage. → M

(iii) The night was as dark as coal. → S

(iv) He sang like an angel. → S

(v) Her voice was music to his ears. → M

(vi) The classroom was a zoo. → M

(vii) The baby slept like a log. → S

(viii) Her smile was as bright as the sun. → S

(ix) The lake was a mirror, reflecting the sky. → M

2.Read the following sentences and transform the similes to metaphors

and metaphors to similes. Two examples have been given.

(i) Knowledge spreads like the branches of a mighty tree. Knowledge is a spreading branch of a mighty tree.

(ii) His courage was a beacon, guiding us through the storm. • His courage was as bright as a beacon guiding us through the storm. • His courage was like a beacon guiding us through the storm.

(iii) Metaphor to Simile: The book was like a treasure chest, filled with endless adventures.

(iv) Metaphor to Simile: Her laughter was like a melody that brightened the darkest days.

(v) Simile to Metaphor: The mountain was a guard, watching over the valley below.

(vi) Simile to Metaphor: The night was a velvet cloak, wrapping the world in mystery.

(vii) Simile to Metaphor: Her thoughts were butterflies in a summer meadow.

Let Us Think and Reflect

I. Read the Extracts and Answer the Questions

Extract1:

"He flung himself down in low despair,

As grieved as man could be;

And after a while he pondered there,

'I'll give it all up,' said he.

Now just at that moment a spider dropped,

With its silken, filmy clue;"

(i) Select the phrase which shows the physical expression of the King's emotional state.

Answer: He flung himself down

(ii) Why does the poet use the word 'low' before despair?

Answer: The poet uses 'low' to show the extreme depth of the king's sadness and hopelessness.

(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

In the line, 'And after a while he pondered there', the word 'pondered' means:

Answer: B. thought

(iv) Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets.

The phrase 'silken filmy clue' creates an image of something that is:

Answer: very delicate and soft

Extract 2:

"'...when it toils so hard to reach and cling, And tumbles every time.'

But up the insect went once more,

Ah me! 'tis an anxious minute;

He's only a foot from his cobweb door,

Oh say, will he lose or win it?"

(i) Choose the correct option to complete the analogy.

toil: hard:: :

Answer: A. roll: tumble

(ii) List any two characteristics of the spider highlighted in the line, 'But up the insect went once more'.

Answer: determination and persistence

(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

The expression 'Ah me!' in the extract indicates a sense of:

Answer: B. stress

(iv) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.

Readers are able to relate to this extract because:

Answer: it shows how even small creatures can teach us important lessons about never giving up

II. Answer the Following Questions

1. How does the first stanza help in setting the mood of the poem?

The first stanza establishes a melancholy tone by describing the king's deep disappointment after repeated failures, creating a sense of hopelessness that draws readers into his emotional state.

2. Describe how King Bruce's attitude changes from the beginning toward the end of the poem.

Initially ready to surrender, King Bruce transforms into a determined leader after witnessing the spider's persistence, finding renewed hope and resolve to try once more.

3. The poet describes every action of the spider in great detail. What does this tell us about his attitude toward the spider?

The detailed descriptions reveal the poet's deep admiration for the spider's relentless effort and resilience, highlighting its perseverance against overwhelming challenges.

4. How does the spider inspire us to overcome despair and not give up?

The spider demonstrates that persistent effort despite repeated failures can lead to success, teaching us to continue striving through difficulties without losing hope.

5. The poem teaches us that failures are stepping stones to success. Explain.

Each failure provides valuable experience and brings us closer to our goals, showing that setbacks are part of the journey toward eventual achievement.

6. The spider's journey tells us that anyone can be a source of inspiration in our lives. Elaborate.

The spider's story illustrates how profound inspiration can emerge from humble sources, reminding us that wisdom and motivation often appear in unexpected forms.