ARIVARK’S TNPSC GROUP 2 DREAM BATCH

TNPSC GENERAL ENGLISH MATERIAL

The Ant and the Cricket Adapted from Aesop’s
Fables

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Poem Explanation:
1. A silly young cricket, accustomed to sing
o The cricket is described as carefree and used to spending his time singing.
2. Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring,
o The cricket sings throughout the warm and pleasant months of summer and
spring.
3. Began to complain when he found that, at home,
o As winter starts, the cricket realizes his home has no food, and he starts to
complain.
4. His cupboard was empty, and winter was come.
o His storage is empty just as winter arrives, indicating he has made no
preparations.
5. Not a crumb to be found
o There is absolutely no food available.
6. On the snow-covered ground;
o The ground is covered in snow, making it impossible to find food.
7. Not a flower could he see,
o There are no flowers in sight, indicating a barren environment.
8. Not a leaf on a tree.
o The trees are bare, emphasizing the harshness of winter.
9. “Oh! what will become,” says cricket, “of me?”
o The cricket is worried about his survival through the winter.
10. At last by starvation and famine made bold,
o Hunger and desperation drive the cricket to take action.
11. All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold,
o The cricket is suffering from the cold and wet conditions.
12. Away he set off to a miserly ant,
o The cricket decides to ask a known miserly ant for help.
13. To see if, to keep him alive, he would grant
o He hopes the ant will help him survive the winter.
14. Him shelter from rain.
o He asks for shelter from the rain.
15. And a mouthful of grain.
o He also asks for some food to eat.
16. He wished only to borrow;
o The cricket promises to borrow and not take the food permanently.
17. He’d repay it tomorrow;

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o He assures he will return the food the next day.
18. If not, he must die of starvation and sorrow.
o Without help, the cricket fears he will die.
19. Says the ant to the cricket, “I’m your servant and friend,
o The ant addresses the cricket politely.
20. But we ants never borrow; we ants never lend.
o The ant explains that ants neither borrow nor lend, indicating self-reliance.
21. But tell me, dear cricket, Did you lay anything by When the weather was warm?”
Quoth the cricket,
o The ant asks if the cricket saved any food during the warm months.
22. “Not I!”
o The cricket admits he did not save any food.
23. My heart was so light
o The cricket explains he was carefree.
24. That I sang day and night,
o He spent all his time singing.
25. For all nature looked gay.” “For all nature looked gay”.
o He was joyful because the environment was pleasant and inviting.
26. “ You sang, Sir, you say?
o The ant reminds the cricket of his previous actions.
27. Go then”, says the ant, “and dance the winter away”.
o The ant suggests that if the cricket could sing through summer, he can "dance"
through winter, implying he should endure the consequences of his actions.
28. Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket,
o The ant quickly closes the door.
29. And out of the door turned the poor little cricket.
o The cricket is turned away, left to face the winter.
30. Folks call this a fable. I‘ll warrant it true:
o The narrator suggests that while this story is a fable, it holds true in real life.
31. Some crickets have four legs, and some have two.
o This metaphor suggests that the story is applicable to humans (two-legged
"crickets") as well as to actual crickets.
The moral is about the importance of foresight and preparation, highlighting the
consequences of failing to plan ahead.

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Poetic Devices in " The Ant and the Cricket Adapted

from Aesop’s Fables"
Rhyme Scheme
The rhyming scheme of the poem "The Ant and the Cricket" by Aesop is irregular and varies
throughout the poem.
Rhyming Words:
• Sing, Spring
• Home, Come
• Found, Ground
• See, Tree
• Bold, Cold
• Ant, Grant
• Rain, Grain
• Borrow, Tomorrow
• Light, Night
• Gay, Say
• Wicket, Cricket
• True, Two
Alliteration
• The repetition of initial consonant sounds adds a lyrical rhythm:
o "A silly young cricket, accustomed to sing"
▪ The repetition of the 's' sound in "silly" and "sing" connects the cricket's
carefree nature to his actions, emphasizing his habitual singing which
ultimately leads to his downfall.
o "Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring"
▪ The 's' sound repeats in "sunny," "summer," and "spring," enhancing the
description of the time period when the cricket was happy and carefree.
This creates a contrast to the difficult winter months that follow.
o "His cupboard was empty, and winter was come"
▪ The 'w' sound in "was," "winter," and "was" links the emptiness of the
cricket’s cupboard to the arrival of winter, highlighting the severity and
suddenness of his situation.
o "Folks call this a fable. I'll warrant it true"
▪ The 'f' sound in "Folks," "fable," and "I'll warrant it" connects the narration
to the moral lesson, emphasizing the truth and universal applicability of
the story's message.

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Metaphor
• The entire fable serves as a metaphor comparing the behaviors of animals to human
traits:
o "Some crickets have four legs, and some have two" – Here, crickets
metaphorically represent people.
o Crickets are compared with human beings, suggesting that like crickets, some
humans are prepared, and some are not.
Personification
• The cricket and the ant are given human-like qualities, such as speaking, asking
questions, feeling emotions, and making moral judgments. Animals are given human
qualities, emphasizing the moral lessons of the fable:
o The cricket and ant converse, make decisions, and express emotions like
humans.
Anaphora
• Repetition at the beginning of successive lines emphasizes scarcity and desperation:
• The use of "Not" at the beginning of successive lines emphasizes the lack of resources
available to the cricket:
o "Not a crumb to be found"
o "Not a flower could he see"
o "Not a leaf on a tree"
o "Not I!"
o "If not, he must die of starvation and sorrow"
Refrain
• In "The Ant and the Cricket," the line "For all nature looked gay" is repeated. This
refrain emphasizes the cricket’s carefree attitude during the warmer months when
food was plentiful, and nature was inviting. The repetition of this line underscores the
contrast between the cricket's past happiness and his current dire situation,
highlighting the moral of the fable about the importance of foresight and the
consequences of negligence.
• A repeated line that reinforces the theme of past carelessness:
o "For all nature looked gay."
Imagery:
• The use of descriptive language that appeals to the senses, painting vivid pictures of
the scenes and actions. Examples include:
• "Not a crumb to be found on the snow-covered ground;" conjures visual images of a
barren, snowy landscape.
• "All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold;" provides a sensory experience of
the cricket's physical discomfort.

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Antithesis
• Contrasting ideas are juxtaposed to highlight differences between the cricket and
the ant:
o "But we ants never borrow; we ants never lend."
• The contrast between "day" and "night" in the same breath emphasizes the cricket’s
constant singing, regardless of the time, showcasing his perpetual negligence and
joyous disregard for the coming hardship.
o "That I sang day and night,” [ The phrase "day and night" hyperbolically
suggests that the cricket was singing continuously, without stopping. This
exaggeration highlights the cricket's carefree attitude and lack of preparation
for the future.]
Assonance
• Repetition of vowel sounds creates internal rhyming and enhances the poem's
auditory appeal:
Example 1: "Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence"
o Assonance: The repetition of the "u" sound in "dust," and "outrage."
Example 2: "And out of the door turned the poor little cricket"
o Assonance: The repetition of the "or" sound in "door," "turned," and "poor."
Repetition
• Words or phrases are repeated to stress key themes or characteristics:
Example 1: "But we ants never we ants never. borrow; we ants never we ants never."
o Repetition: The phrase "we ants never" is repeated multiple times.
Example 2: "Some crickets have four legs, and some have two. - some."
o Repetition: The word "some" is used to begin each comparative clause.

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Extra Facts:
1. Aesop's existence is uncertain, and some scholars believe he may have been a
legendary figure rather than a real person.
2. The fables attributed to Aesop were originally passed down orally and were only
written down centuries after his supposed lifetime.
3. The earliest known collection of Aesop's fables was compiled by Demetrius of
Phalerum, a Greek philosopher, around 300 B.C.E.
4. Many of the fables feature animals as the main characters, often representing
human qualities and behaviors.
5. Aesop's fables have influenced countless writers, poets, and artists throughout
history, including Jean de La Fontaine, whose fable collections popularized Aesop's
stories in France during the 17th century.
6. Some famous fables attributed to Aesop include "The Tortoise and the Hare," "The Fox
and the Grapes," and "The Lion and the Mouse."
7. Aesop's fables often end with a moral lesson or proverb, making them valuable
teaching tools for children and adults alike.
8. In ancient Greece, Aesop's fables were used by orators and politicians to make their
points more persuasive and memorable.
9. The Greek historian Herodotus mentions Aesop in his "Histories," further suggesting
the storyteller's existence and influence in ancient times.

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10. Aesop's fables have been translated into countless languages and have been
adapted into various forms of media, including plays, films, and animated series.

1. There are over 900 species of crickets found worldwide, living in a variety of
habitats, including grasslands, forests, caves, and even underground.
2. Male crickets produce their characteristic chirping sound by rubbing their wings
together, a process called stridulation. Each species has its own unique song, which
is used to attract females and ward off rival males.
3. Crickets have excellent hearing thanks to their tympanal organs, which are located
on their front legs just below the knee joint.
4. Some species of crickets, such as the mole cricket, live primarily underground and
have adapted powerful front legs for digging.
5. Crickets are omnivores and will eat a variety of organic materials, including plants,
fruits, seeds, and even other insects.
6. In some cultures, crickets are considered a delicacy and are eaten as a source of
protein. They are also used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments.
7. Crickets are often kept as pets and are popular in the exotic pet trade. Some
species, such as the common house cricket, are also used as food for other pet
animals like lizards and spiders.
8. In Chinese culture, crickets are seen as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. They
were once kept in small cages and were even used in cricket fighting matches.
9. Crickets have a relatively short lifespan, with most species living for about a year.
However, some species, such as the greenhouse camel cricket, can live up to two
years.

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10. Crickets play an important role in many ecosystems as a food source for various
predators, including birds, bats, and small mammals.

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1. A silly young cricket accustomed to sing Through the warm, sunny months of gay
summer and spring.

a) What was the routine of the cricket?

The cricket’s routine was to sing throughout the warm and sunny months.

b) Name the seasons mentioned here.

The seasons mentioned are summer and spring.

2. Began to complain when he found that, at home, His cupboard was empty, and winter
was come.

a) Who does he refer to?

"He" refers to the cricket.

b) Why was his cupboard empty?

His cupboard was empty because he did not store any food during the warmer months
when he was busy singing and enjoying himself.

3. Not a crumb to be found On the snow-covered ground;

a) What couldn’t he find on the ground?

He couldn’t find a crumb of food on the ground.

b) Why was the ground covered with snow?

The ground was covered with snow because it was winter.

4. At last by starvation and famine made bold, All dripping with wet, and all trembling
with cold,

a) What made the cricket bold?

Starvation and famine made the cricket bold, pushing him to seek help despite his usual
nature.

b) Why did the cricket drip and tremble?

The cricket was dripping with wet and trembling due to the cold, harsh conditions of winter.

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5. Away he set off to a miserly ant, To see if, to keep him alive, he would grant Him shelter
from rain, And a mouthful of grain.

a) Whom did the cricket want to meet? Why?

The cricket wanted to meet the miserly ant to ask for shelter and food to survive the winter.

b) What would keep him alive?

Shelter from the rain and a mouthful of grain would keep him alive.

6. But we ants never borrow; we ants never lend.

a) Why do you think ants neither borrow nor lend?

Ants neither borrow nor lend because they believe in self-reliance and preparing ahead,
which ensures they always have enough resources.

b) Who says these lines to whom?

The ant says these lines to the cricket.

7. ‘‘Not I! My heart was so light That I sang day and night, For all nature looked gay.”

a) Who does ‘I’ refer to?

'I' refers to the cricket.

b) What was the nature of the cricket? How do you know?

The cricket was carefree and joyful, as indicated by how light-hearted he felt and his
constant singing.

8. Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket, And out of the door turned the poor little
cricket,

a) The ant refused to help the cricket. Why?

The ant refused to help because he believed in the principle of self-reliance and thought
the cricket should face the consequences of his lack of preparation.

b) Explain the second line.

The second line describes how the ant quickly closed the door, leaving the cricket outside
alone.

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9. He wished only to borrow; He’d repay it tomorrow;

a) Pick out the rhyming words in the above lines.

The rhyming words are "borrow" and "tomorrow."

b) Give more examples of rhyming words from the poem.

Sing and spring, home and come, found and ground.

10. My heart was so light that I sang day and night, For all nature looked gay. “You sang,
Sir, you say”?

a) Mention the rhyme scheme employed in the above lines.

The rhyme scheme in these lines is AABB. "Night" rhymes with "light" and "say" rhymes with
"gay".

Based on the poem "The Ant and the Cricket" and the provided phrases, here is the
completed summary of the poem:

In this narrative poem, the poet brings out the idea that saving for future is essential for
every creature. He conveys this message to the readers through a story of an ant and a
cricket. The ant spends all its summer saving some grains. The cricket sings and dances
happily in the summer. He doesn’t save anything for the winter. When winter comes, he is
worried that his kitchen cupboard is empty. So, he seeks the help of the ant to have some
grains and a warm place to stay. The cricket was even prepared to repay it in the future.
The ant made it clear that ants never borrow or lend. He also enquired the cricket if it had
saved anything when the weather was fine. The cricket answered that it had sung day and
night enjoying the pleasant nature. The ant threw the cricket out and stated in a stern voice
it should dance in the winter season too. In his concluding lines, the poet affirms that this is
not just a fable but it is true and applicable to human beings also.

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