Q1Written answer
Who is the speaker in the poem?
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Worked solution
A daily wage earner who is looking for a job is the speaker of the poem.
NCERT · Class 8 · English
Unit 4: Poem – The Last Bargain
Practice each question, then open the answer or worked solution.
Working with the poem (
Textbook page 74 · 5 questionsQ2Written answer
“The king, sword in hand” suggests
(i) wealth
(ii) power
(iii) more power than wealth.
Mark the appropriate item in the context of stanza 1.
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(ii) power
Q3Written answer
The old man offered the speaker a lot of money. Why did he turn down the offer?
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The old man offered the speaker a bag of gold. From his words, it’s evident that the speaker desired job satisfaction and happiness at work, which he felt wasn’t possible if he offered his services to the old man who was busy counting his gold coins and weighing them one by one. Due to this reason, the speaker turned down the offer because he valued his freedom more than becoming a slave for money.
Q4Written answer
Find in the poem, lines that match the following. Read both one after another.
(i) I have nothing to give you except goodwill and cheer.
(ii) Her happiness was no more than sorrow in disguise.
(iii) The king’s might was not worth much.
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Worked solution
- “I hire you with nothing.”
- “Her smile paled and melted into tears.”
- “But his power counted for naught.”
Q5Written answer
How did the speaker feel after talking to the child on the beach?
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Worked solution
When the speaker met the child who was playing with sea shells near the beach, he talked with the little one. After talking with the child, the speaker realised that he might not earn a penny, but this made him extremely happy and free and gave him great satisfaction.