3.1.Why? - My English Book - Std 8 - Marathi and Semi-English Medium - Maharashtra Board
- Jul 4
- 10 min read
Updated: Jul 7
Chapter Information / पाठ परिचय
Chapter: | Unit 3 — Chapter 3.1: "Why?" |
Type: | Poetry |
Poet: | Anonymous (Unknown) |
Textbook: | My English Book, Std 8, Maharashtra State Board |
Assessment: | School-level examination following MSBSHSE guidelines |
मराठी टीप: हा पाठ शालेय परीक्षेत येतो. हे पाठ्यपुस्तक इयत्ता ८ वी साठी आहे — MSBSHSE च्या मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वांनुसार तयार केलेले.
About the Poet / कवी परिचय
This beautiful poem is written by an anonymous (unknown) poet. The poem is about a very curious little boy who always asks questions about the world around him[cite: 3]. Students should notice the simple, questioning style of the poem, which shows how children learn by observing nature.
मराठी टीप: ही कविता कोणी लिहिली आहे हे माहीत नाही. यात एका लहान आणि जिज्ञासू मुलाचे वर्णन केले आहे, जो निसर्गातील गोष्टींबद्दल सतत प्रश्न विचारतो. मुलांची जिज्ञासा कशी असते हे यातून दिसते.
Exam Tip: As the poet is not mentioned, questions will focus purely on the boy's curiosity and the central idea of the poem.
Full Text / पूर्ण कविता
Stanza 1
I know a curious little boyWho is always asking, "why?"Why this, why that, why then, why now,Why not, why by-and-by?
Stanza 2
He wants to know why wood should swim,Why lead and marbles sink;Why stars should shine and winds should blow,And why we eat and drink.
Stanza 3
He wants to know what makes the clouds,And why they cross the sky;Why sinks the sun behind the hills,And why the flowers die.
Stanza 4
He wants to know why wind should comeFrom out the bellows' nose;Why pop-guns should go pop and whyThe ocean ebbs and flows.
Stanza 5
He wants to know why fish have gills,And why boys cannot fly;Why steam comes from the kettle's spout,And rain falls from the sky.
Stanza 6
He wants to know why coal should burn,And not a bit of stone;How seeds get in the apple-core,And marrow in the bone.
Stanza 7
He wants to know why ice should melt;Why spiders eat the flies;Why bees should sting and why the yeastShould make the dough to rise.
Stanza 8
Some of his whys are not too hardTo answer, if you'll try:But other no one ever yetHas found the reason why.[cite: 3]
Stanza-wise Meaning / कडव्यांचा अर्थ
Stanza 1
I know a curious little boyWho is always asking, "why?"Why this, why that, why then, why now,Why not, why by-and-by?
English Meaning: The poet knows a small boy who is full of curiosity. He never stops asking questions about everything he sees around him.
मराठी अर्थ: कवी एका जिज्ञासू (curious) लहान मुलाला ओळखतो. तो मुलगा नेहमी "का?" असे विचारत असतो. तो प्रत्येक गोष्टीवर प्रश्न विचारतो.
Exam Tip: The adjective used for the boy (curious) is a very common question
Stanza 2
He wants to know why wood should swim,Why lead and marbles sink;Why stars should shine and winds should blow,And why we eat and drink.
English Meaning: The boy asks why light wood floats on water, but heavy things like lead and marbles go down He also wonders why stars shine, wind blows, and why humans need to eat and drink.
मराठी अर्थ: लाकूड पाण्यावर का तरंगते आणि शिसे व गोट्या का बुडतात, हे त्याला जाणून घ्यायचे आहे. चांदण्या का चमकतात, वारा का वाहतो आणि आपण का जेवतो यावर तो प्रश्न विचारतो.
Exam Tip: Direct matching questions about what 'swims' and what 'sinks' are asked here.
Stanza 3
He wants to know what makes the clouds,And why they cross the sky;Why sinks the sun behind the hills,And why the flowers die.
English Meaning: He questions how clouds are made and how they move in the sky. He also asks why the sun sets behind the hills and why beautiful flowers die.
मराठी अर्थ: ढग कसे बनतात आणि ते आकाशातून कसे जातात हा प्रश्न त्याला पडतो. सूर्य डोंगरामागे का मावळतो आणि फुले का कोमेजतात हेही त्याला समजून घ्यायचे आहे.
Exam Tip: Questions about events in the sky (clouds, sun) come from this stanza.
Stanza 4
He wants to know why wind should comeFrom out the bellows' nose;Why pop-guns should go pop and whyThe ocean ebbs and flows.
English Meaning: He asks why air comes out of the bellows and why toy guns make a 'pop' sound. He is curious about the high and low tides (ebbs and flows) of the ocean
मराठी अर्थ: भात्यातून हवा का बाहेर येते आणि खेळण्यातील बंदुकीचा 'पॉप' आवाज का येतो हे त्याने विचारले आहे. समुद्राला भरती आणि ओहोटी (ebb and flow) का येते याचे त्याला कुतूहल आहे.
Exam Tip: The meaning of 'bellows' and 'ebb' are important vocabulary words.
Stanza 5
He wants to know why fish have gills,And why boys cannot fly;Why steam comes from the kettle's spout,And rain falls from the sky.
English Meaning: The boy wonders why fish use gills to breathe and why boys cannot fly like birds. He asks why steam comes out of a tea kettle and why rain falls
मराठी अर्थ: माशांना श्वास घेण्यासाठी कल्ले (gills) का असतात आणि मुले उडू का शकत नाहीत? किटलीतून वाफ आणि आकाशातून पाऊस का पडतो हेही त्याला जाणून घ्यायचे आहे.
Exam Tip: Pay attention to the breathing organ of the fish (gills)
Stanza 6
He wants to know why coal should burn,And not a bit of stone;How seeds get in the apple-core,And marrow in the bone.
English Meaning: He is curious why black coal burns easily but a stone does not[cite: 3]. He wonders how seeds get inside the center of an apple and how soft marrow gets inside bones
मराठी अर्थ: कोळसा का जळतो आणि दगड का जळत नाही असा प्रश्न त्याला पडतो. सफरचंदाच्या आत बिया आणि हाडांच्या आत मज्जा (marrow) कशी जाते हे त्याला बघायचे आहे.
Exam Tip: The comparison between coal and stone is a key question.
Stanza 7
He wants to know why ice should melt;Why spiders eat the flies;Why bees should sting and why the yeastShould make the dough to rise.
English Meaning: The boy asks why ice melts into water and why spiders eat small flies. He also wants to know why bees sting and how yeast makes bread dough swell up
मराठी अर्थ: बर्फ का वितळतो आणि कोळी माश्या का खातात हे त्याला समजून घ्यायचे आहे. मधमाश्या का चावतात आणि यीस्टमुळे कणीक का फुगते (rise) याचे त्याला आश्चर्य वाटते.
Exam Tip: The action of the yeast on the dough is frequently asked.
Stanza 8
Some of his whys are not too hardTo answer, if you'll try: But other no one ever yetHas found the reason why.
English Meaning: The poet says that some questions are easy to answer if we tryHowever, there are some difficult questions for which no one has found the exact reason yet
मराठी अर्थ: कवी म्हणतो की प्रयत्न केला तर यातील काही प्रश्नांची उत्तरे देणे सोपे आहे. पण काही प्रश्नांची उत्तरे जगातील कोणालाही अद्याप सापडलेली नाहीत.
Exam Tip: The conclusion that some questions remain unanswered is important.
Poetic Devices / काव्यात्मक उपकरणे
Device / उपकरण | Example from poem | Simple Effect | मराठी स्पष्टीकरण |
Rhyme (यमक) | sink / drink sky / die | Creates a musical rhythm in the poem. | कवितेच्या ओळींच्या शेवटी येणारे समान उच्चारांचे शब्द. |
Repetition (पुनरावृत्ती) | "Why this, why that, why then, why now" | Emphasizes the boy's endless questioning. | मुलाची अनेक प्रश्न विचारण्याची सवय दाखवण्यासाठी 'Why' शब्दाची पुनरावृत्ती. |
Alliteration (अनुप्रास) | "why wood should swim" | The repetition of the 'w' sound makes it pleasant to read. | एकाच अक्षराच्या (w) ध्वनीची पुनरावृत्ती. |
मराठी टीप: या पाठातील अलंकार लक्षात ठेवा — परीक्षेत नाव आणि एक उदाहरण विचारले जाऊ शकते.
Central Theme and Values / केंद्रीय भाव आणि मूल्ये
Theme Table / विषय सारणी
Theme / विषय | How it appears |
Curiosity (कुतूहल) | The poem shows how a child's mind is naturally full of questions about the world |
Mysteries of Nature (निसर्गाची रहस्ये) | Some natural things are easy to understand, while others are still unexplained |
Values / मूल्ये
Inquisitiveness (जिज्ञासा): The boy shows that asking questions is the best way to learn new things.
Observation (निरीक्षण): The boy deeply observes small details in nature and daily life.
Central Message / केंद्रीय संदेश
The central message is that we should always keep our curiosity alive just like the little boy. Asking 'why' helps us understand the beautiful and mysterious world around us.
मराठी टीप: लहान मुलांप्रमाणेच आपणही नेहमी जिज्ञासू राहिले पाहिजे. प्रश्न विचारल्यानेच आपल्याला जगाविषयी नवीन गोष्टी समजतात.
Practice Questions / सराव प्रश्न
The questions for Types 1 to 6 are based on Stanza 1 and Stanza 2 of the poem (Lines 1 to 8).
TYPE 1 — True/False (1M each)
1. State True or False: 'The little boy in the poem is very curious.
Answer: True
2. State True or False: 'The boy never asks any questions.'
Answer: False
3. State True or False: 'According to the boy, wood swims on the water.'
Answer: True
4. State True or False: 'Lead and marbles also swim on water.'
Answer: False
5. State True or False: 'The boy wants to know why stars shine.'
Answer: True
मराठी टीप: कवितेतील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या. (उदा. गोट्या पाण्यात बुडतात (sink), तरंगत नाहीत.)
TYPE 2 — Choose the Correct Alternative (1M each)
1. What kind of boy is described in the poem?
(A) lazy (B) angry (C) curious (D) quiet
Answer: (C)
2. What does wood do in water according to the boy?
(A) sink (B) swim (C) burn (D) melt
Answer: (B)
3. Which of the following sinks?[cite: 3]
(A) wood (B) stars (C) marbles (D) wind
Answer: (C)
4. What does the boy want to know about winds?
(A) why they blow (B) why they stop (C) why they are hot (D) why they cry
Answer: (A)
5. The word 'by-and-by' rhymes with:
(A) now (B) swim (C) why (D) drink
Answer: (C)
मराठी टीप: चुकीचे पर्याय ओळखून बरोबर उत्तरापर्यंत पोहोचा.
TYPE 3 — Answer in One Word/Phrase (1M each)
1. Who is always asking "why"?
Answer: A curious little boy
2. What does the boy want the wood to do?
Answer: swim
3. What does the boy say lead and marbles do?
Answer: sink
4. What should shine in the sky according to the boy?
Answer: stars
मराठी टीप: उत्तर एका शब्दात किंवा वाक्यांशात द्या.
TYPE 4 — Complete the Lines (1M each)
1. Complete the line: 'I know a curious little _____'[cite: 3]
Answer: boy
2. Complete the line: 'Why not, why by-and-_____'[cite: 3]
Answer: by
3. Complete the line: 'He wants to know why wood should _____'[cite: 3]
Answer: swim
4. Complete the line: 'And why we eat and _____'[cite: 3]
Answer: drink
मराठी टीप: यमक जुळणारे शब्द आठवा (उदा. why आणि by, sink आणि drink).
TYPE 5 — Answer in 2-3 Sentences (2M each)
1. What does the curious little boy always do?
Answer: The curious little boy is always asking questions. He repeatedly asks "why" about everything he sees around him
मराठी टीप: तो जिज्ञासू मुलगा नेहमी प्रत्येक गोष्टीवर "का?" असा प्रश्न विचारत असतो हे सांगा.
2. What does the boy want to know about lead and marbles?
Answer: The boy wants to know why heavy things like lead and marbles sink in the water. He wonders why they do not float like wood.
मराठी टीप: शिसे (lead) आणि गोट्या पाण्यात का बुडतात हे त्याला जाणून घ्यायचे आहे.
3. What questions does the boy ask about the sky and air?
Answer: The boy asks why the stars should shine in the sky. He also asks why the winds should blow in the air.
मराठी टीप: आकाशातील तारे का चमकतात आणि वारा का वाहतो हे त्याचे प्रश्न आहेत.
4. What does the boy ask about our daily habits?
Answer: The boy observes human habits and asks a very simple question[cite: 3]. He wants to know why we need to eat and drink.
मराठी टीप: आपण रोज अन्न का खातो आणि पाणी का पितो यावर तो प्रश्न विचारतो.
5. What does the poet say about the boy's nature in the first stanza?
Answer: The poet says that the boy is very curious[cite: 3]. His mind is always active, and he wants to know the reasons behind everything, asking "why then" and "why now"
मराठी टीप: तो मुलगा खूप जिज्ञासू आहे आणि त्याला प्रत्येक गोष्टीमागचे कारण जाणून घ्यायचे आहे.
TYPE 6 — Answer in 4-5 Sentences (3M each)
1. Describe the different things the boy wants to know in the second stanza.
Answer: In the second stanza, the boy asks questions about nature and daily life
First, he wants to understand the rule of floating and sinking by asking why wood swims but lead and marbles sink. Then, he looks at nature and wonders why stars shine and winds blow Finally, he even questions our basic needs, asking why we must eat and drink to survive.
मराठी टीप: १) लाकूड का तरंगते व गोट्या का बुडतात. २) तारे का चमकतात व वारा का वाहतो. ३) आपण जेवतो आणि पितो का, या सर्व प्रश्नांचे वर्णन करा.
2. What does the repetition of the word "why" tell us about the boy?
Answer: The repetition of the word "why" tells us that the boy has a highly inquisitive mind. It shows that he is never satisfied with just looking at things. He wants to deeply understand how the world works. His endless questions show the natural curiosity that all children have when discovering new things.
मराठी टीप: १) मुलाचे मन अत्यंत जिज्ञासू आहे. २) फक्त बघून त्याचे समाधान होत नाही. ३) त्याला जगातील प्रत्येक गोष्टीचे कारण शोधायचे आहे.
3. Explain what the boy wants to know about floating and sinking.
Answer: The boy has observed that different objects act differently in water. He asks why a piece of wood should swim or float on the water's surface. At the same time, he is confused why heavy things like lead and round marbles immediately sink to the bottom. He wants to know the scientific reason behind this difference
मराठी टीप: १) लाकूड पाण्यावर का तरंगते. २) शिसे आणि गोट्या तळाशी का बुडतात. ३) यामागील वैज्ञानिक कारण त्याला समजून घ्यायचे आहे.
TYPE 7 — Word Meanings / Vocabulary in Context (1M each)
(Questions are based on the whole poem)
1. The word 'bellows' means...
Answer: an apparatus for blowing air
मराठी अर्थ: हवा फुंकण्याचा भाता
मराठी टीप: जाळ करण्यासाठी हवा फुंकण्याचे साधन.
2. The word 'ebb' means...
Answer: tidewater moves away from the land
मराठी अर्थ: समुद्राची ओहोटी
मराठी टीप: जेव्हा समुद्राचे पाणी मागे जाते.
3. The word 'gill' means...
Answer: the respiratory organ of fish
मराठी अर्थ: माशांचे कल्ले
मराठी टीप: ज्याच्या मदतीने मासे पाण्यात श्वास घेतात.
4. The word 'marrow' means...
Answer: a soft fatty substance in the cavities of bones
मराठी अर्थ: हाडांच्या आतील मज्जा
मराठी टीप: हाडांच्या आत असलेला मऊ पदार्थ.
5. The word 'dough' means...
Answer: a thick mixture of flour and water ready to be baked
मराठी अर्थ: मळलेली कणीक किंवा पीठ
मराठी टीप: भाकरी किंवा ब्रेड बनवण्यासाठी मळलेले पीठ.
TYPE 8 — Personal Response (2M each)
(Questions are based on the whole poem)
1. Do you think it is good to ask questions like the little boy? Why?
Answer: Yes, it is very good to ask questions. Asking questions helps us learn new things and clears our doubts. If we do not ask "why", we will never find out how the world works.
मराठी टीप: होय, प्रश्न विचारणे चांगले आहे कारण त्यामुळे आपल्याला नवीन गोष्टी शिकायला मिळतात. (तुमचे स्वतःचे मत लिहा.)
2. Which question asked by the boy in the poem did you like the most, and why?
Answer: I liked the question "why boys cannot fly"the most. I liked it because it is a very innocent question. Every child dreams of flying high in the sky like a bird.
मराठी टीप: कवितेतील तुम्हाला आवडलेला कोणताही एक प्रश्न लिहा आणि तो का आवडला याचे एक साधे कारण द्या.
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