2.3 - Connecting the Dots - Std 10 - Kumarbharati

Author: Steve Jobs

Genre: Autobiographical Speech / Inspirational Talk

Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Std X

Board: Maharashtra State Board

Summary:

This inspiring speech by Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., is structured around three personal stories from his life.In the first story, he talks about how dropping out of college gave him the freedom to explore his interests, like calligraphy, which later helped him design the first Macintosh computer.The second story is about love and loss. Jobs narrates how he was fired from Apple, the company he had founded, but used that setback as an opportunity to begin again. He started NeXT and Pixar, and later returned to Apple, leading its revival.The third story deals with death. Jobs shares his experience of being diagnosed with cancer, and how it taught him the value of time and following one's heart.

Throughout the speech, Jobs emphasizes the importance of trusting in life, following your intuition, and staying passionate about your goals.

Theme / Central Idea:

The central idea of the speech is to inspire students to follow their passion, trust their journey, and make the most of their time. Jobs conveys that even setbacks have value, and that true success comes from loving what you do and staying hungry for knowledge and innovation.

Character Sketch – Steve Jobs

• Visionary and creative thinker

• Courageous risk-taker

• Humble and open to learning from failure

• Highly intuitive and self-aware

• Passionate about his work and ideas

• Strong belief in destiny, karma, and personal purpose

• Resilient in the face of challenges (like being fired and facing cancer)

• Motivating and influential speaker

Word Meanings

Grammar Questions (with answers)

Q1. Identify the infinitive and its function: “I decided to start over.” → Infinitive: to start → Function: It expresses the purpose of the verb "decided."

Q2. Change to passive voice: Jobs designed the first Macintosh computer.

→ The first Macintosh computer was designed by Jobs.

Q3. Identify the modal and state its function:

You can’t connect the dots looking forward.

→ Modal: can’t

→ Function: Expresses impossibility.

Q4. Rewrite in indirect speech:

He said, “Don’t be trapped by dogma.”

→ He advised not to be trapped by dogma.

Q5. Identify the tense and aspect:

I have been facing death.

→ Tense: Present Perfect Continuous

→ Time: Present

Personal Response Questions (2 marks each, formal tone)

Q1. What lesson do you learn from Steve Jobs’ experience after being fired from Apple?

→ Steve Jobs teaches us that failure is not the end. When he was fired from Apple, he didn’t give up. Instead, he used the opportunity to explore new paths, leading to the creation of NeXT and Pixar. This experience made him stronger, more creative, and eventually brought him back to Apple. It shows that setbacks can be a turning point for future success.

Q2. Do you agree with Steve Jobs’ advice to ‘follow your heart and intuition’? Why?

→ Yes, I agree with this advice. Our heart and intuition guide us toward what we truly want in life. Jobs believed that these inner voices already know what we want to become. When we follow them, we feel fulfilled and motivated. His own life is proof of this idea, as he achieved great success by trusting his instincts.

Q3. How does Steve Jobs’ experience with cancer change his view of life?

→ After being diagnosed with cancer, Jobs realized that life is short and unpredictable. It taught him not to waste time living someone else’s life. He understood the importance of living with purpose, courage, and sincerity. This experience made him more focused on doing what truly mattered to him.

True or False

1. Steve Jobs studied calligraphy in a professional design institute. → False

2. Jobs was able to design the Mac’s typography because of a course he took after dropping out. → True

3. Jobs closes his speech by encouraging students to “stay hungry, stay foolish.” → True

Probable Board Questions

Q1. How did calligraphy classes influence Steve Jobs’ future work?

→ The calligraphy class he took after dropping out helped Jobs design beautiful typography for the Macintosh computer. This gave the Mac a unique look and set a new standard in personal computing.

Q2. What does Steve Jobs mean by “You can’t connect the dots looking forward”?

→ Jobs means that we cannot predict how our actions today will affect the future. We can only understand their value when we look back later. Therefore, we must trust that our efforts will make sense eventually.

Q3. What message does Steve Jobs give through his three life stories?

→ Jobs tells us to trust ourselves, love what we do, and never give up. He reminds us to live with passion, to keep learning, and to be brave even in the face of failure or death.

Q4. Why does Jobs mention “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish” in his closing?

→ He uses this phrase as a farewell message to encourage students to always be curious, never be overconfident, and to keep exploring new ideas. It sums up his philosophy of continuous learning and creativity.

Reflection / Appreciation Paragraph

Steve Jobs’ speech Connecting the Dots is a powerful and inspirational message. Through three stories, he shares life-changing lessons about trust, resilience, and passion. I liked how he explained that we can only understand our journey by looking back. His advice to follow our heart and never settle is very motivating. The way he turned failures into opportunities and learned from setbacks makes this speech unforgettable. His closing words, “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish,” are a perfect reminder to stay curious and humble throughout life.

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