Chapter: 05. Foreign Lands
Comprehension Exercises - Answer Key
A. Answer these questions.
What specific type of tree did the poet climb in the poem? The poet climbed a cherry tree. According to the poet, what time do all the children dine in fairy land? According to the poet, all the children dine at five in fairy land. Besides the next-door garden, what other real-world landscape features did the poet observe from the tree? The poet observed the dimpling river and dusty roads with people tramping into town. What type of transportation is suggested by “tramping in to town”? “Tramping in to town” suggests that people were walking or going on foot. What magical event happens to playthings in the fairy land the poet envisions? In the fairy land the poet envisions, all the playthings come alive. B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
“I held the trunk with both my hands / And looked abroad on foreign lands.”
a. What does the phrase “abroad on foreign lands” tell us about the poet’s immediate feeling or perception from the tree?
* It tells us that the poet immediately felt a sense of vastness and unfamiliarity, transforming his known surroundings into exciting, unexplored territories through his imagination.
b. What does holding the trunk “with both my hands” suggest about the poet’s position or age?
* It suggests that the poet is small or young, needing both hands to hold onto the tree for stability, reinforcing the image of a child. “To where the grown-up river slips / Into the sea among the ships,”
a. What does “grown-up river” suggest about the river’s journey or size at this point?
* “Grown-up river” suggests that the river has become larger, wider, and more mature as it has flowed a long distance and is now nearing its final destination, the sea.
b. What might the mention of “ships” add to the sense of adventure or distant lands?
* The mention of “ships” adds to the sense of adventure and distant lands by evoking images of long voyages, trade, exploration, and connection to places far beyond the immediate horizon. C. Think and answer.
How does the poem suggest that you don’t always need to travel far to have an adventure or discover new things? Use examples from the poem in your answer. The poem strongly suggests that adventure and discovery can be found close to home, primarily through the power of imagination and a change in perspective. When the poet climbs just a cherry tree, his familiar “next door garden” becomes a “foreign land,” and he sees “many pleasant places more / That I had never seen before.” This shows that simply looking at ordinary things from a new angle or with a fresh mind can transform them into exciting new discoveries, without needing to physically travel far. Imagine you climbed a tree or a tall building in your own neighborhood. What “foreign lands” or new perspectives might you discover from that height that you don’t usually notice? Describe at least two. (Answers will vary based on individual creativity. Here’s an example):
If I climbed to the top of my apartment building, I might discover a “foreign land” where all the roofs of the houses in my street look like giant, colourful Lego bricks, each with its own secret garden or satellite dish antennae that look like tiny alien communication devices. I might also notice how the roads below twist and turn like long grey ribbons, connecting distant, unseen neighborhoods, making my familiar street feel like just one small thread in a much larger, complex tapestry of the city. The poem speaks of imagination transforming the ordinary. What are some ways you use your imagination in daily life to make things more interesting or to explore new ideas? (Answers will vary based on individual experience. Here’s an example):
I often use my imagination when I’m reading a book, picturing the characters and settings so vividly that I feel like I’m right there in the story. Sometimes, when I’m walking to school, I imagine the cracks in the pavement are lava, and I have to step carefully, turning a simple walk into an adventurous quest. I also use my imagination to come up with new ideas for my drawings or stories, thinking about fantastical creatures or different worlds they could live in. 
Answer key