25. Little Words | English | Class 4

Paraphrase:

The poem “Little Words” written by Benjamin Keech, describes an argument between two friends who use harsh language such “Yes, you did” and “I did not.” They become angry over this and break up as friends. Subsequently, the disagreement is resolved when they both apologize. Their hearts reunite and their friendship is restored via the use of gentle words. The poem shows us that friendships can be repaired by saying sorry and speaking kind words to one another.

New words Meanings:

1. fond friends : close friends.
2. parted : separated.
3. bonded : joined securely.
4. mended : repaired

Questions and answers:

Q1. Rewrite this poem as a short story.

Rohan and Soham were two friends who lived as neighbours. A small quarrel occurred between them one day.

Rohan said, “I did not,” to Soham’s said, “Yes, also.” They became angry, saying hurtful things. It’s unfortunate that a few remarks caused them to break up.

Later on, Rohan expressed regret by saying, “I apologize.” Soham expressed his similar feelings by saying, “So am I.” With those apologies, their small argument was over. The power of tender little words became clear to them and they became best friends there after.

Q2. Form pairs or groups. Discuss the reasons why you have quarrels with other people. Then discuss what you can do to end the quarrel. Write short conversations on those ideas and present them.

Discussion Topic: Reasons for Quarrels

1. Child A: Why do we sometimes fight with others?
2. Child B: Maybe because we don’t agree on things or don’t understand each other.
3. Child A: Yes, we also have expectations from others. We expect many things, and when they don’t happen, we get sad.
4. Child B: That’s true. Expecting too much from others can lead to fights.
5. Child A: Stress is another reason, right? When we bring bad moods or language into our talks.
6. Child B: Yes, stress can cause irritation and cause fights.

Discussion Topic: Ending Quarrels

1. Child A: How can we stop fights and be friends again?
2. Child B: Maybe by talking gently and understanding each other’s feelings.
3. Child A: Saying sorry is important, right?
4. Child B: Yes, admitting mistakes and apologizing can help a lot.
5. Child A: And maybe taking a break when things get too bad?
6. Child B: Yes, sometimes we need a break to cool down and talk later.

Q3. Punctuate the following :

1. yes, you did, too : “Yes, you did, too.”
2. i am sorry : “I am sorry.”
3. i did not : “I did not.”
4. so am i : “So am I.”

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