Chapter: 08. Ode To A Butterfly
English Literature: Ode to a Butterfly
Total Marks: 30
Section A: Comprehension (15 Marks)
Part I: Short Answer Questions (5 Marks)
How does the poet describe the pursuit of the butterfly by children? What simple act gives the “daintiest reveller” satiety, according to the poem? Why does the poet call the butterfly the “soberest sprite”? What does the butterfly symbolize for the “soul of man” when facing “death’s arrest”? What comparison does the poet draw between the butterfly and other small animals like birds and field mice regarding their living arrangements? Part II: Reference to the Context (6 Marks)
“Thou winged blossom, liberated thing,
What secret tie binds thee to other flowers,”
a. What characteristic of the butterfly is highlighted by calling it a “liberated thing”?
b. What “secret tie” is the poet wondering about?
c. What is the poet’s implied wish for the other flowers? “Thy feast no orgy shows;
Thy calm eyes never close,”
a. What is contrasted with the butterfly’s “feast”?
b. What does “Thy calm eyes never close” suggest about the butterfly’s state?
c. What quality of the butterfly is emphasized by this description? Part III: Think and Answer (4 Marks)
The poem explores the idea of freedom. In what ways is the butterfly’s freedom described as being absolute or unique compared to other creatures? (2 Marks) The poet ends by asking the butterfly to “endow” him with faith. What kind of “faith” do you think the poet is seeking, and why is the butterfly a fitting symbol for it? (2 Marks) Section B: Vocabulary (5 Marks)
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate word from the box below.
(spark, beguiled, sumptuous, unfettered, aspiration) a. The magician’s tricks easily _________ the audience.
b. His lifelong _________ was to climb Mount Everest.
c. The king lived in a _________ palace with golden ornaments.
d. After passing all exams, she felt _________ and free to pursue her dreams.
e. Even a small _________ of kindness can brighten someone’s day. Match the following words with their Antonyms.
Section C: Literary Devices & Appreciation (5 Marks)
Identify the figure of speech in the phrase “Thou daintiest reveller of the joyous earth!”. The line “The garden one wide banquet spreads for thee” is an example of which literary technique? What specific sense does the imagery “The sweetness spiced on every blossomed spray” appeal to? Why might the poet have chosen to use archaic words like ‘thou’ and ‘thy’ instead of modern equivalents? Explain how the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly adds to its symbolism of hope for “new career that springs”. Section D: Language & Grammar (3 Marks)
Identify if the conjunction used is Coordinating (C) or Subordinating (S).
a. We waited for hours, but the bus never arrived. (______)
b. Although it was raining, they decided to go for a walk. (_______)
c. She can either sing or dance very well. (______) Fill in the blanks with a suitable coordinating or subordinating conjunction.
a. He was tired, _________ he continued to work.
b. We won’t leave _________ you are ready.
c. You must study hard _________ you want to pass the test. Section E: Pronunciation (2 Marks)
In each set of words, circle the word where the ‘gh’ sound is NOT silent.
a. night, bright, cough
b. through, tough, though
c. high, laugh, sigh Write two words from the poem where the ‘gh’ is silent. 
Practice Paper
