Class 6 English Notes Chapter 6 (Who I Am; The Wonderful Words) – HoneySuckle Book

Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 6 from your HoneySuckle textbook. This chapter has two distinct parts: 'Who I Am' and the poem 'The Wonderful Words'. Both are important for understanding different aspects of expression and identity, which can be subtly tested in exams.

Chapter 6: Who I Am; The Wonderful Words - Detailed Notes

Part 1: Who I Am

• Theme: This section explores the concept of individuality and diversity. It shows that every person is unique, with different likes, dislikes, aspirations, feelings, and ways of looking at the world. It encourages understanding and acceptance of these differences.

• Structure: The text presents short narratives from the perspectives of six different children: Radha, Nasir, Rohit, Serbjit, Dolma, and Peter. Each child shares something personal about themselves.

• Key Characters and Their Traits/Aspirations:

  • Radha:
    • Interest: Loves climbing trees, especially the mango tree outside her house.
    • Feeling: Feels free and like she rules the world when she's high up in the branches.
    • Challenge: Her mother tells her it's not sensible for girls to climb trees, but Radha enjoys it anyway (along with her mother who also climbs). This subtly touches upon gender stereotypes.
  • Nasir:
    • Aspiration: Wants to become a seed collector.
    • Reason: His family has cotton fields, and his father spends a lot of money on new seeds every year. His grandfather told him they used to collect seeds from their own plants. Nasir wants to learn how to preserve seeds to save money and be self-sufficient.
    • Focus: Practicality, connection to family occupation, sustainability.
  • Rohit:
    • Interest: Loves travelling.
    • Aspiration: Wishes to see the mountains of New Zealand, the Amazon River, Lakshadweep beaches, Konark temple, Old City in Beijing, and the Pyramids in Egypt.
    • Feeling: Enjoys seeing different places and nature more than buildings.
    • Focus: Wanderlust, curiosity about the world.
  • Serbjit:
    • Emotion: Gets very angry easily, especially when people don't believe him.
    • Challenge: Others think he is telling lies when he is truthful, which makes him angry. He tries to control his anger by looking down at his shoes and counting to ten.
    • Focus: Managing emotions, dealing with misunderstanding, self-control.
  • Dolma:
    • Aspiration: Wants to become the Prime Minister of India.
    • Reason: Believes she can make things better for everyone. Wants good hospitals, roads, schools, and scientists to cure diseases and send a spaceship to Mars. She sees problems and wants to solve them.
    • Trait: Confident, good leader (according to her classmates and teacher), helpful.
    • Focus: Ambition, leadership, social responsibility, problem-solving.
  • Peter:
    • Favourite Day: The second Sunday of the month.
    • Reason: His whole family goes to the cinema hall, enjoys peanuts afterwards, and feels lucky to be such a happy family.
    • Focus: Family bonding, simple joys, happiness, appreciation.

• Overall Message of Part 1: Everyone is different ("multiple intelligences" concept). Our interests, feelings, and dreams shape who we are. It's important to understand ourselves and respect the uniqueness of others.

Part 2: The Wonderful Words (Poem by Mary O'Neill)

• Theme: The power, beauty, and necessity of words and language for expressing thoughts.

• Central Idea: Thoughts are trapped inside our minds until we find the right words to express them clearly and effectively. Language is a tool to give life and form to our ideas.

• Stanza-wise Analysis & Key Concepts:

  • Stanza 1: "Never let a thought shrivel and die / For want of a way to say it".
    • Meaning: Don't keep your ideas hidden because you can't find the words. Thoughts need expression to live.
    • Concept: Importance of communication. Unexpressed thoughts are wasted.
  • Stanza 2: "For English is a wonderful game / And all of you can play it."
    • Meaning: Language (specifically English here, but applicable to any language) is accessible and can be mastered. It's like a game where you match words to meanings.
    • Concept: Language learning is achievable and engaging.
  • Stanza 3: "All that you do is match the words / To the brightest thoughts in your head / So that they come out clear and true / And handsomely groomed and fed—"
    • Meaning: The task is to find the precise words ("match") that accurately represent your best ideas ("brightest thoughts"). This makes the thoughts understandable ("clear and true") and well-presented ("handsomely groomed and fed").
    • Metaphor: Words "groom" and "feed" thoughts, making them presentable and substantial.
    • Concept: Clarity, precision, and beauty in expression.
  • Stanza 4: "For many of the loveliest things / Have never yet been said."
    • Meaning: There are countless beautiful ideas and feelings still waiting to be articulated.
    • Concept: The potential of language is vast and unexplored. Encourages creative expression.
  • Stanza 5: "Words are the food and dress of thought / They give it its body and swing—"
    • Metaphor: Words are essential nourishment ("food") and appearance ("dress") for thoughts. They give thoughts substance ("body") and life/rhythm ("swing").
    • Concept: Words make thoughts tangible and dynamic.
  • Stanza 6: "And everyone’s longing today to hear / Some fresh and beautiful thing;"
    • Meaning: People desire to hear new, original, and well-expressed ideas.
    • Concept: The value of originality and effective communication in society.
  • Stanza 7: "But only words can free a thought / From its prison behind your eyes—"
    • Metaphor: The mind is a "prison" for unexpressed thoughts.
    • Meaning: Words are the key to liberating thoughts and sharing them with the world.
    • Concept: Language as liberation.
  • Stanza 8: "May be your mind is holding now / A marvellous new surprise!"
    • Meaning: Encourages the reader, suggesting they might possess a wonderful, unique idea waiting to be expressed.
    • Concept: Belief in the reader's potential for creative thought.

• Overall Message of Part 2: Words are essential tools. Don't hesitate to use them to express your thoughts clearly, beautifully, and honestly. Language allows ideas to be shared, understood, and appreciated.

Relevance for Government Exams:

• Reading Comprehension: Tests ability to understand different perspectives (Part 1) and interpret poetic language/metaphors (Part 2).
• Vocabulary: Introduces words related to interests, feelings, aspirations, and the nature of language (e.g., sensible, preserve, wanderlust, furious, aspiration, shrivel, groomed, marvellous).
• Understanding Themes: Questions might relate to themes of identity, diversity, ambition, communication, and the importance of expression.
• Inferential Skills: Deducing characters' feelings or the poet's message.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Here are 10 MCQs based on Chapter 6 for your practice:

1. Why does Radha enjoy climbing the mango tree?
   a) To get mangoes for her mother.
   b) Because her mother asks her to.
   c) She feels free and powerful high up in the branches.
   d) To hide from her friends.

2. Nasir wants to become a seed collector primarily to:
   a) Start a new business selling seeds.
   b) Help his father save money spent on buying new cotton seeds every year.
   c) Conduct scientific experiments on seeds.
   d) Travel to different places to find rare seeds.

3. Which child expresses a strong desire to travel and see various places around the world?
   a) Dolma
   b) Peter
   c) Rohit
   d) Serbjit

4. What does Serbjit do to control his anger when people don't believe him?
   a) He shouts loudly.
   b) He walks away from the situation.
   c) He looks down at his shoes and counts to ten.
   d) He complains to his teacher.

5. Dolma aspires to become the Prime Minister because she wants to:
   a) Become famous and powerful.
   b) Travel the world representing India.
   c) Solve problems and make life better for people (e.g., build hospitals, roads).
   d) Follow her parents' wishes.

6. According to the poem 'The Wonderful Words', what happens to a thought if it is not expressed?
   a) It becomes stronger.
   b) It finds another way to come out.
   c) It might shrivel and die.
   d) It turns into a dream.

7. In the poem, English (or language) is compared to a:
   a) Difficult puzzle
   b) Wonderful game
   c) Locked prison
   d) Flowing river

8. What does the poet mean by "Words are the food and dress of thought"?
   a) Thoughts need to be eaten and clothed.
   b) Words make thoughts substantial (like food) and presentable (like dress).
   c) Good thoughts require expensive words.
   d) You should think about food and clothes when choosing words.

9. According to the poet, what can "free a thought / From its prison behind your eyes"?
   a) Only deep meditation
   b) Only sleeping and dreaming
   c) Only words
   d) Only forgetting the thought

10. What is the main theme of Part 1: 'Who I Am'?
    a) The importance of education.
    b) The diversity and uniqueness of individuals.
    c) The challenges of growing up in India.
    d) The best professions to choose.

Answer Key:

1. c) She feels free and powerful high up in the branches.
2. b) Help his father save money spent on buying new cotton seeds every year.
3. c) Rohit
4. c) He looks down at his shoes and counts to ten.
5. c) Solve problems and make life better for people (e.g., build hospitals, roads).
6. c) It might shrivel and die.
7. b) Wonderful game
8. b) Words make thoughts substantial (like food) and presentable (like dress).
9. c) Only words
10. b) The diversity and uniqueness of individuals.

Study these notes carefully. Understand the perspectives in 'Who I Am' and the message about language in 'The Wonderful Words'. Pay attention to the vocabulary used. Good luck with your preparation!