🧠 Vocabulary Booster (20 words) — सरल हिंदी अर्थ

Tip: Read the Word and then the Meaning aloud. It helps memory! 😊

📝 Summary (English) — ~250 words

Eliza Cook’s narrative poem “Try Again” retells the famous anecdote of King Bruce of Scotland. Although a monarch crowned with authority, Bruce is dejected because repeated attempts at a great deed for his people have failed. In deep despair, he throws himself down and even considers giving up altogether. At that tense moment, a tiny event arrests his attention: a spider drops from the ceiling, hanging by a thin, silky thread.

The spider tries to climb back to its cobweb home high above. Its path is long and delicate, the thread is fine, and the task is tiring. Again and again it clings, crawls, slips, and falls—sometimes lower than before. Yet it never complains. It mounts “up and down, now fast, now slow,” making nine brave attempts. The king doubts it will try again, but the little creature does. Inch by inch, steadily, it rises. In the final pinch, a bold little run takes it safely into its “native cot.”

Overjoyed, Bruce exclaims “Bravo!” and salutes all who keep trying. The spider has conquered despair through perseverance; so why shouldn’t he? Strengthened in mind, King Bruce resolves to make another attempt—and this time he does not fail. Through this moving parallel between a mighty king and a tiny spider, the poem teaches that setbacks are temporary. Steady effort, patience, and courage in the face of repeated falls lead to eventual success. The refrain of motion—“steadily, steadily,” “inch by inch”—becomes the poem’s heartbeat and a timeless life lesson: try again.

📝 सारांश (Hindi) — ~250 शब्द

एलाइज़ा कुक की कविता “Try Again” स्कॉटलैंड के राजा ब्रूस की प्रेरक कथा को काव्य रूप में प्रस्तुत करती है। राजा, अनेक प्रयासों के बावजूद अपने लोगों के लिए एक महान कार्य पूरा न कर पाने से बेहद निराश है। वह हताश होकर सोचता है कि सब छोड़ दे। तभी उसकी नज़र एक छोटी-सी घटना पर टिक जाती है—एक मकड़ी पतले रेशमी धागे से छत से लटककर नीचे आई है और अपने जाले तक वापस चढ़ने की कोशिश कर रही है।

जाला ऊँचाई पर है, रास्ता नाज़ुक है और धागा बहुत महीन। मकड़ी बार-बार चढ़ती है, फिसलती है, गिरती है—कभी पहले से भी नीचे—फिर भी बिना शिकायत के दोबारा कोशिश करती है। “कभी तेज़, कभी धीमे” वह नौ साहसी प्रयास करती है। राजा सोचता है कि अब वह नहीं चढ़ेगी, परंतु मकड़ी फिर कोशिश करती है। “इंच-इंच” आगे बढ़ती हुई वह आख़िरी कठिन पल में ज़ोर लगाकर अपने “घर” तक पहुँच जाती है।

राजा उल्लास से कह उठता है—“ब्रावो!”—और उन सबकी सराहना करता है जो निरंतर प्रयास करते हैं। मकड़ी ने हिम्मत न हारकर विजय पाई; तो वह क्यों नहीं? उसका मन दृढ़ हो जाता है, वह फिर प्रयास करता है—और इस बार असफल नहीं होता। कविता शक्तिशाली राजा और छोटी मकड़ी के समानांतर से यह सिखाती है कि असफलताएँ अस्थायी होती हैं; धैर्य, निरंतर परिश्रम और साहस से सफलता मिलती है। “Steadily, steadily” और “inch by inch” जैसे दोहराव कविता की धड़कन बन जाते हैं और जीवन का शाश्वत संदेश देते हैं—फिर से कोशिश करो।

🎯 One-Word Answers (10)

1. Poet of the poem — Eliza Cook
2. Country of the king — Scotland
3. King’s name — Bruce
4. Creature watched by the king — Spider
5. Spider’s home — Cobweb
6. Thread material — Silk
7. King’s initial feeling — Despair
8. Number of counted attempts — Nine
9. Key virtue taught — Perseverance
10. King’s final action — Tried (again)

✍️ Very Short Answer (10) — 2–3 lines

1. Why was King Bruce sad?
   He had tried many times to do a great deed for his people but failed repeatedly, so his heart began to sink.
2. What distracted the king from despair?
   A spider dropped on a fine silken thread and began climbing back to its cobweb, catching his attention.
3. How does the poet show the spider’s patience?
   By repeating phrases like “steadily, steadily,” “inch by inch,” and describing each fall and fresh attempt.
4. What did the king predict about the spider?
   He thought the “foolish thing” would stop trying after so many tumbles—but it still tried again.
5. What happens on the spider’s final attempt?
   It climbs inch by inch and makes a bold little run at the end, reaching its native cot (web).
6. What does “Bravo!” express here?
   Admiration and praise for courage and perseverance.
7. What lesson does the king learn?
   Not to give up; to defy despair and keep trying like the spider.
8. How does the king change by the end?
   He braces his mind, tries once more as before, and succeeds.
9. What is the tone of the poem?
   Inspirational and encouraging, moving from sadness to hope.
10. What does “inch by inch” symbolize?
    Slow, consistent progress that leads to success.

🧩 Short Answer (10) — 3–4 lines

1. How does the first stanza set the mood?
   It shows a crowned king in deep despair—“his heart was beginning to sink.” The contrast between his status and sadness creates a powerful, sympathetic mood.
2. Explain the metaphor between Bruce and the spider.
   The spider’s climb mirrors Bruce’s struggle: repeated falls, renewed effort, and eventual success. It’s a living lesson for the king.
3. Why does the poet detail every fall and climb?
   To highlight perseverance. Each attempt builds tension and admiration, proving that persistence beats repeated failure.
4. What do the repeated words convey (“steadily, steadily”; “up, up”)?
   Rhythm of effort, steady progress, and determination. The repetition makes readers feel the persistence.
5. How is the line “Ah me! ’tis an anxious minute” effective?
   It captures suspense as the spider nears its goal, making readers emotionally invested in the outcome.
6. What does “defied despair” mean in context?
   To challenge hopelessness and refuse to give in; the spider fights back against discouragement, inspiring Bruce.
7. Why is the thread called “delicate” and the road tiring?
   To show difficulty: the path is fragile and exhausting, so success needs focus and grit—no shortcuts.
8. What transformation occurs in Bruce?
   From quitting (“I’ll give it all up”) to motivated action (“braced his mind”) and success—an internal victory first.
9. What central message does the poem teach students?
   Failures are steps, not stops. Keep trying, learn, and move again—small, steady efforts win.
10. How does the ending reinforce the theme?
    Bruce tries again and “that time did not fail.” The inspirational cycle—from observing to acting—completes.