Chapter: 02. Great Wide Beautiful Wonderful World
A. Answer these questions.
How does the speaker describe the wind? The speaker describes the wind as “wonderful,” shaking the tree, walking on the water, whirling the mills, and talking to itself on the tops of the hills. Name some of the natural elements of our world that are mentioned in the poem. The natural elements mentioned are water, grass, air, wind, wheat-fields, rivers, cities (human-made structures but part of the landscape), cliffs, and isles (islands). Why does the world make the speaker tremble? The world makes the speaker tremble because he recognizes how “great” and immense the Earth is compared to his own smallness, leading to a feeling of awe and slight insignificance. List some of the adjectives that the speaker uses to describe the world. The speaker uses the adjectives “Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful” to describe the world. B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
With the wonderful water round you curled, And the wonderful grass upon your breast-
a. Who or what is the speaker referring to in these lines?
* The speaker is referring to the World (Earth), personifying it as a being that can be “drest.”
b. What does the speaker mean to say in these lines?
* The speaker means that the Earth is beautifully adorned or decorated with its natural elements like water and grass, as if they are elegant clothing or ornaments.
c. Why do you think the speaker says these lines?
* The speaker says these lines to express deep admiration and wonder for the Earth’s beauty and how perfectly it is formed or “dressed” by nature. ‘You are more than the Earth, though you are such a dot: You can love and think, and the Earth cannot!’
a. Who is the speaker referring to in these lines?
* The speaker is referring to human beings (himself/herself, and by extension, all humans) in these lines.
b. Why does the speaker compare the person to a dot?
* The speaker compares the person to a dot to emphasize their physical insignificance and smallness when compared to the vastness and grandeur of the Earth.
c. What can the person do that the Earth cannot?
* The person can love and think, abilities that the Earth, as a non-living entity, does not possess. C. Think and answer.
Do you think the speaker loves the Earth? Which words or phrases make you think so? Yes, the speaker clearly loves the Earth. Words and phrases such as “Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful World,” “beautifully drest,” the repeated use of “wonderful” for its elements (water, grass, air, wind), and calling the Earth “You friendly Earth!” all convey a deep sense of affection, awe, and appreciation for the planet. Why does the speaker ‘tremble’ when he thinks of the world? The speaker “trembles” when thinking of the world because he feels incredibly “small” compared to the Earth’s immense “greatness.” This trembling expresses an overwhelming feeling of awe and perhaps a touch of humility or even fear in the face of such vastness and power. Human beings are causing damage to the Earth. We have been using the natural resources carelessly and with a complete disregard for other living things that live on our planet. How can we preserve the beauty of the Earth and conserve our natural resources? Explain. To preserve the Earth’s beauty and conserve natural resources, we can adopt several practices: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Minimize waste by consuming less, finding new purposes for items, and properly recycling materials. Conserve Energy and Water: Turn off lights, electronics, and water taps when not in use, use energy-efficient appliances, and take shorter showers. Support Sustainable Choices: Opt for products and services that have minimal environmental impact, such as buying local, seasonal food, and choosing reusable items over disposables. Protect Biodiversity: Avoid littering, participate in clean-up drives, plant trees, and respect wildlife habitats. Educate and Advocate: Learn more about environmental issues and share this knowledge with others to inspire action, and support policies that promote environmental protection and sustainability.
By making conscious, everyday choices and collectively advocating for larger systemic changes, we can help ensure the Earth remains beautiful and its resources are available for future generations. 
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