4.1 Sleep, My Treasure - Class 6 - Kumarbharati

Author: Edith Nesbit

Genre: Poem (Lullaby / Descriptive)

Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Class 6

Board: Maharashtra State Board

English Summary

The poem Sleep, My Treasure by Edith Nesbit is a gentle lullaby in which a mother lovingly asks her child to go to sleep. The poet describes how the birds are tired after the long day and have gone back to their nests. The garden is still glowing with lilies, but the daisies have closed their eyes in sleep. The mother urges her darling to sleep like the daisies until morning. She describes dawn as the time when starlings wake and sparrows stir to welcome the day, while the meadow lies wrapped in shadow. Just like the daisies, the child must also rest peacefully until daybreak. The poem is full of soft and soothing images, creating a calm atmosphere of night.

Theme / Central Idea

The poem highlights a mother’s love and care for her child. It uses nature’s examples—flowers, birds, and the night—to create a soothing picture of peace and rest.

Character Sketches

The Child (Treasure/Darling)

• Addressed lovingly as treasure by the mother.

• Asked to sleep peacefully until the daisies wake.

• Symbol of innocence and comfort.

The Mother (Speaker)

• Loving and gentle, full of care.

• Encourages her child to sleep with tender words.

• Uses imagery from nature to create calmness.

Word Meanings

Grammar Questions (5)

1. Infinitive / Gerund

   Sentence: “The mother wants her child to sleep.”

   Answer: The infinitive is to sleep. It shows the purpose of the mother’s words.

   
   

2. Passive Voice

   Change the voice: The lilies light up the garden.

   Answer: The garden is lit up by the lilies.

   
   

3. Modal Auxiliary

   Use ‘may’ in a sentence based on the poem.

   Answer: The child may sleep peacefully till dawn.

   
   

4. Tense Change

   Change into past tense: The sparrow stirs at daybreak.

   Answer: The sparrow stirred at daybreak.

   
   

5. Wh-question framing

   Make a Wh-question for the underlined part: The daisies are fast asleep.

   Answer: What are the daisies doing?

   
   

Personal Response Questions (5)

1. Question: What picture of nature do you find in this poem?

   Answer: The poem gives a picture of birds resting, lilies glowing, daisies asleep, and a meadow covered in shadows. It is a calm and peaceful image of night.

   
   

2. Question: Why do you think the poet uses nature to describe sleep?

   Answer: The poet uses nature because it is soothing and gentle. Comparing the child’s sleep to flowers and birds makes the poem soft and comforting.

   
   

3. Question: What role do lullabies play in a child’s life?

   Answer: Lullabies calm children and help them sleep. They also show the love and care of parents and create a bond between parent and child.

   
   

4. Question: Do you have a favourite time of the day? Why?

   Answer: My favourite time of the day is evening because the sky looks beautiful, and it is a time to relax after school. It also feels peaceful.

   
   

5. Question: How do you feel when you read this poem?

   Answer: Reading this poem makes me feel calm and relaxed. The soft words and natural images give a sense of peace and care.

   
   

True or False (5)

1. The daisies in the poem are asleep at night. → True

2. The poem describes the bright light of afternoon. → False (It describes evening and night.)

3. The sparrow wakes up at dawn. → True

4. The meadow is full of sunlight in the poem. → False (It is wrapped in shadow.)

5. The poem is a lullaby sung by a mother. → True

   
   

Probable Board / Exam Questions (5)

1. Question: How does the poet describe the night in the poem?

   Answer: The poet describes the night as peaceful, with birds resting in nests, lilies glowing, daisies asleep, and the meadow wrapped in shadow. It is a calm time for sleep.

   
   

2. Question: What do the daisies in the poem symbolise?

   Answer: The daisies symbolise innocence and natural rest. They close at night and wake in the morning, just as the child is asked to do.

   
   

3. Question: Who is the speaker in the poem and to whom is it addressed?

   Answer: The speaker is the mother, and the poem is addressed to her child, whom she lovingly calls her treasure or darling.

   
   

4. Question: What is the message of the poem Sleep, My Treasure?

   Answer: The poem conveys the message of love, care, and peace. It reminds us that sleep is natural and soothing, just like the resting of flowers and birds.

   
   

5. Question: Why is the poem considered a lullaby?

   Answer: The poem is a lullaby because it is sung by a mother to put her child to sleep. Its soft words, imagery, and tone create calmness and comfort.

   
   

Appreciation / Reflection Paragraph

The poem Sleep, My Treasure by Edith Nesbit is a gentle lullaby that reflects a mother’s deep love for her child. The poet beautifully uses images from nature—birds, lilies, daisies, and meadows—to create a calm and soothing atmosphere. The rhyme and rhythm make the poem musical, just like a real lullaby. The affectionate words “treasure” and “darling” highlight the mother’s tenderness. The poem is memorable because it is simple, sweet, and full of love. It leaves the reader with a feeling of peace and the message that love and care make life beautiful.

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