Class 7 ‘Try Again’ Poem Question Answers | Book Poorvi for Grade 7

CBSE Class 7 students would find solutions and answers to the exercises and questions for the poem “Try Again” in the NCERT English Book ‘Poorvi’ for Grade 7. They can also see ‘Try Again’ Poem’s line by line explanations and Notes on ‘Try Again’ Poem.

‘Try Again’ Poem Question and Answers

The poem ‘Try Again,’ written by Eliza Cook, is included in the NCERT English textbook ‘Poorvi’ for Grade 7 students in CBSE-affiliated schools. The poem is accompanied by exercises and questions, and this section provides the answers and solutions to those textbook exercises.

Let us discuss

I. Complete the summary of the poem by filling in the blanks with suitable words from the text given in the box below. Share your answers with the teacher. An example has been given.

The poem, written in a narrative style, tells the story of King Bruce of Scotland, who was feeling 1. ____ after failing multiple times to achieve something 2. ____ for his people. In a moment of 3. ____, he observed a spider trying to reach its web high above. The spider 4. ____ every time it fell after getting close to its goal. It made nine 5. ____ and finally succeeded. The king said that the spider had 6. ____ and so would he. Inspired by the spider’s determination, King Bruce decided to 7. ____. When he 8. ____ this time, he ultimately succeeded.

Answer:
The poem, written in a narrative style, tells the story of King Bruce of Scotland, who was feeling 1. low after failing multiple times to achieve something 2. great for his people. In a moment of 3. despair, he observed a spider trying to reach its web high above. The spider 4. mounted every time it fell after getting close to its goal. It made nine 5. attempts and finally succeeded. The king said that the spider had 6. conquered and so would he. Inspired by the spider’s determination, King Bruce decided to 7. strive. When he 8. tried this time, he ultimately succeeded.

II. Complete the following sentences suitably

1. We can say that the poet uses the narrative style because ____.
2. The central idea of the poem is _____.

Answer:

1. We can say that the poet uses the narrative style because the poem tells a story about King Bruce and the spider in a clear and simple way, like a small tale. / OR the poem tells a clear story of King Bruce and the spider, with events unfolding one after another.
2. The central idea of the poem is that we should never give up and should keep trying again and again until we succeed. / OR to never give up and to keep trying until you achieve success.

III. Pick three examples from the poem for each of the following:

1. lines that describe the spider’s efforts
2. alliteration (the repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of closely connected words)

Answer:

1. Lines that describe the spider’s efforts

• It soon began to cling and crawl
• Again it fell and swung below, but again it quickly mounted
• Nine brave attempts were counted
• Steadily, steadily, inch by inch, higher and higher he got

OR (Another Answer)

“It soon began to cling and crawl / Straight up with strong endeavour;”
(The spider starts climbing with strong effort.)

“But down it came with a slippery sprawl, / As near to the ground as ever.”
(The spider falls but keeps trying.)

“Till up and down, now fast, now slow, / Nine brave attempts were counted.”
(The spider tries many times, showing its perseverance.)

2. Alliteration examples

• his heart → The repetition of the “h” sound – (Stanza 1)
• cling and crawl → ‘k’ sound – (Stanza 6)
• slippery sprawl → ‘s’ sound – (Stanza 6)

IV. Why does the poet repeat the following words or phrases in the poem?
      tried and tried; steadily, steadily; up, up

Answer:

The poet repeats the words “tried and tried,” “steadily, steadily,” and “up, up” to show:

“tried and tried,” – how hard the spider was working,
“steadily, steadily,” – how patiently it kept trying, and
“up, up” – how it never gave up even after falling.

OR (Another Answer)

1. “tried and tried”

• Why repeated: To show that King Bruce (and the spider) made many efforts—over and over—without stopping. It makes us feel how hard they worked.
  यह दिखाने के लिए कि राजा ब्रूस (और मकड़ी) ने बार-बार कोशिश की थी। इससे हमें पता चलता है कि उन्होंने कितनी मेहनत की।

2. “steadily, steadily”

• Why repeated: To emphasize the slow but sure pace of the spider’s climb. It tells us that even small, steady steps lead to success.
  यह बताने के लिए कि मकड़ी धीरे-धीरे पर विश्वास से चढ़ रही थी। इससे सिखने को मिलता है कि छोटे-छोटे निरंतर कदम भी सफलता दिलाते हैं।

3. “up, up”

• Why repeated: To give a sense of excitement and motion as the spider climbs again. It makes the action feel more lively and urgent.
  यह दिखाने के लिए कि मकड़ी फिर से ऊँचा चढ़ रही है। इससे कविता में जोश और गति का एहसास होता है।

(Repetition in poetry helps us feel the action better—it shows hard work, steady movement, and excitement, and makes the poem more musical and memorable.)

V. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct answer from within the brackets.

1. The rhyme scheme of the poem is __. (AABB/ABBA/ABAB)
2. ‘Bravo’ is an example of __. (conjunction/interjection/ adjective)
3. The poet uses ‘twas and ‘tis for the sake of __. (rhythm/ rhyme/contraction)

Answer:

1. The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABB.
2. ‘Bravo’ is an example of interjection.
3. The poet uses ‘twas and ‘tis for the sake of contraction.

VI. The spider’s climbing is compared to King Bruce’s own struggles. Just as the spider repeatedly attempts to reach its web, Bruce is trying to achieve a great deed for his people. This poetic device is called metaphor. It strengthens the poem’s message about perseverance—keep trying till we succeed.

1. Read the following sentences and identify metaphors and similes. Write M for metaphor and S for simile.

Answer:

(i) He ran as fast as a cheetah. → S (simile)
(ii) The world is a stage. → M (metaphor)
(iii) The night was as dark as coal. → S (simile)
(iv) He sang like an angel. → S (simile)
(v) Her voice was music to his ears. → M (metaphor)
(vi) The classroom was a zoo. → M (metaphor)
(vii) The baby slept like a log. → S (simile)
(viii) Her smile was as bright as the sun. → S (simile)
(ix) The lake was a mirror, reflecting the sky. → M (metaphor)

2. Read the following sentences and transform the similes to metaphors and metaphors to similes. Two examples have been given.

(i) Knowledge spreads like the branches of a mighty tree.
Knowledge is a spreading branch of a mighty tree.
(ii) His courage was a beacon, guiding us through the storm.
• His courage was as bright as a beacon guiding us through the storm.
• His courage was like a beacon guiding us through the storm.

(iii) The book was a treasure chest, filled with endless adventures.
(iv) Her laughter was a melody that brightened the darkest days.
(v) The mountain stood as a guard, watching over the valley below.
(vi) The night was like a velvet cloak, wrapping the world in mystery.
(vii) Her thoughts were like butterflies in a summer meadow.

Answer:

(iii) The book was a treasure chest, filled with endless adventures.
➡ Simile: The book was like a treasure chest, filled with endless adventures.

(iv) Her laughter was a melody that brightened the darkest days.
➡ Simile: Her laughter was like a melody that brightened the darkest days.

(v) The mountain stood as a guard, watching over the valley below.
➡ Metaphor: The mountain was a guard, watching over the valley below.

(vi) The night was like a velvet cloak, wrapping the world in mystery.
➡ Metaphor: The night was a velvet cloak, wrapping the world in mystery.

(vii) Her thoughts were like butterflies in a summer meadow.
➡ Metaphor: Her thoughts were butterflies in a summer meadow.

Let us think and reflect

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. He flung himself down in low despair,
   As grieved as man could be;
   And after a while he pondered there,
   “I’ll give it all up,” said he.
   Now just at that moment a spider dropped,
   With its silken, filmy clue;

(i) Select the phrase which shows the physical expression of the King’s emotional state.
Ans. The phrase is: down in low despair.
(It shows how the King’s sadness is shown through his action.)

(ii) Why does the poet use the word ‘low’ before despair?
Ans. The poet uses the word ‘low’ before despair to show that the King was feeling very, very sad — at his lowest point of hopelessness.

(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

Ans. B. thought (‘pondered’ means the King was thinking.)

(iv) Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets.
The phrase ‘silken filmy clue’ creates an image of something that is _________ (long and light/very delicate and soft).
Ans. very delicate and soft (The spider’s silk thread is light, thin, and soft.)

2. “…when it toils so hard to reach and cling, And tumbles every time.”
   But up the insect went once more,
   Ah me! ‘tis an anxious minute;
   He’s only a foot from his cobweb door,
   Oh say, will he lose or win it?

(i) Choose the correct option to complete the analogy.

Ans: A. roll: tumble
(Just like toil means hard work, roll is connected to tumble.)

(ii) List any two characteristics of the spider highlighted in the line,
‘But up the insect went once more’.

Ans: Two characteristics of the spider shown in the line ‘But up the insect went once more’ are:
1. Determination (दृढ़ निश्चय)
2. Perseverance / Never giving up (हिम्मत न हारना)

(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

Ans: B. stress
(‘Ah me!’ shows the poet is feeling worried or anxious.)

(iv) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.
Readers are able to relate to this extract because _______ .

Ans: Readers are able to relate to this extract because it shows how everyone faces struggles and failures, but the key is to keep trying despite the difficulties.
Or
they have also faced difficulties and kept trying again, just like the spider.

II Answer the following questions.

1. How does the first stanza help in setting the mood of the poem?
2. Describe how King Bruce’s attitude changes from the beginning towards the end of the poem.
3. The poet describes every action of the spider in great detail. What does this tell us about his attitude towards the spider?
4. How does the spider inspire us to overcome despair and not give up?
5. The poem teaches us that failures are stepping stones to success. Explain.
6. The spider’s journey tells us that anyone can be a source of inspiration in our lives. Elaborate.

Answers:

1. How does the first stanza help in setting the mood of the poem?

Ans.
The first stanza shows that King Bruce is sad and hopeless. It sets a sad and serious mood for the poem and helps us understand how disappointed the King is.

2. Describe how King Bruce’s attitude changes from the beginning towards the end of the poem.

Ans.
In the beginning, King Bruce feels sad and wants to give up. But by the end, after watching the spider, he feels inspired, brave, and ready to try again.

3. The poet describes every action of the spider in great detail. What does this tell us about his attitude towards the spider?

Ans.
This shows that the poet admires the spider. He respects the spider’s hard work, patience, and bravery.

4. How does the spider inspire us to overcome despair and not give up?

Ans.
The spider falls many times but keeps climbing up. It shows us that if we keep trying and don’t lose hope, we can succeed even after failing many times.

5. The poem teaches us that failures are stepping stones to success. Explain.

Ans.
The spider fails many times but keeps trying, and finally succeeds. King Bruce learns from this that failures help us learn and make us stronger, and they can lead us to success.

6. The spider’s journey tells us that anyone can be a source of inspiration in our lives. Elaborate.

Ans.
Even though the spider is small, it teaches a big lesson to the King. This shows that anyone — even a small insect — can inspire us and give us courage.

Another Set of Answers:

1. How does the first stanza help in setting the mood of the poem?

Ans:

• The first stanza shows King Bruce lying down “in a lonely mood,” even though he is a king.
• Words like “low despair” and “heart was beginning to sink” make us feel his deep sadness.
• This sad, thoughtful mood prepares us to understand why he needs encouragement.
• पहले चरण में राजा ब्रूस को “अकेले मूड” में लेटा दिखाया गया है, जबकि वह राजा हैं।
• “गहरी निराशा” और “दिल डूबने लगा” जैसे शब्द उनकी बहुत बड़ी पीड़ा दिखाते हैं।
• इस दुखी मूड से हमें समझ आता है कि उन्हें उत्साह की ज़रूरत है।

2. Describe how King Bruce’s attitude changes from the beginning towards the end of the poem.

Ans:

• Beginning: He feels hopeless and decides “I’ll give it all up.”
• Middle: Watching the spider climb and fall, he becomes curious and anxious.
• End: Inspired by the spider’s success, he “braced his mind,” tried again, and finally succeeded.
• Change: From despair and giving up → to hope, determination, and victory.
  • शुरुआत: वह निराश था और सोचता है “सब छोड़ दूं।”
  • बीच में: मकड़ी को चढ़ते और गिरते देख वह उत्सुक और चिंतित होता है।
  • अंत में: मकड़ी से प्रेरित होकर उसने अपना मन संबलित किया, फिर कोशिश की, और सफल हुआ।
  • परिवर्तन: निराशा और हार मानने से → आशा, दृढ़ निश्चय, और सफलता तक।

3. The poet describes every action of the spider in great detail. What does this tell us about his attitude towards the spider?

Ans:

• The careful, repeated details show that the poet respects and admires the spider’s effort.
• He wants us to focus on each try, each fall, and each rise.
• This detailed attention tells us the spider is not just a small insect, but a hero in the poem.
  • हर क्रिया को विस्तार से दिखाकर कवि मकड़ी के प्रयास की प्रशंसा और सम्मान दिखाता है।
  • वह हमें हर कोशिश, हर गिरावट, हर चढ़ाव पर ध्यान देने के लिए प्रेरित करता है।
  • इस विस्तार से पता चलता है कि मकड़ी सिर्फ एक कीट नहीं, बल्कि कविता की साहसी नायक है।

4. How does the spider inspire us to overcome despair and not give up?

Ans:

• The spider climbs nine times, failing each time, yet it never complains.
• It shows patience, courage, and steady effort (“steadily, steadily”).
• We learn: even when we fail, if we keep trying, we can succeed.
  • मकड़ी नौ बार चढ़ती है, बार-बार गिरती है, फिर भी शिकायत नहीं करती।
  • यह धैर्य, साहस, और निरंतर प्रयास दिखाती है (“धीरे-धीरे, धीरे-धीरे”)।
  • हमें सीख मिलती है: असफल होने पर भी अगर हम कोशिश जारी रखें, तो हम सफल हो सकते हैं।

5. The poem teaches us that failures are stepping stones to success. Explain.

Ans:

• Each time the spider falls, it learns balance and grows stronger.
• Its “nine attempts” build experience and confidence.
• Similarly, our failures help us learn and improve until we finally achieve our goal.
  • हर बार गिरने के बाद मकड़ी संतुलन सीखती है और मजबूत होती है।
  • उसके “नौ प्रयास” उसे अनुभव और आत्म-विश्वास देते हैं।
  • इसी तरह, हमारी असफलताएँ हमें सीख देती हैं और सुधार करती हैं, जब तक हम अपने लक्ष्य तक नहीं पहुँच जाते।

6. The spider’s journey tells us that anyone can be a source of inspiration in our lives. Elaborate.

Ans:

• The spider is a tiny, common creature, yet King Bruce learns a big lesson from it.
• This shows inspiration can come from anyone or anything, no matter how small or simple.
• We should keep our eyes open to learn from people, animals, or events around us.
  • मकड़ी एक बहुत छोटी साधारण चीज़ है, फिर भी राजा ब्रूस को इससे बड़ी सीख मिलती है।
  • यह दिखाता है कि प्रेरणा किसी भी व्यक्ति या वस्तु से मिल सकती है, चाहे वह कितना भी छोटा या साधारण क्यों न हो।
  • हमें अपने आसपास से, लोगों, जानवरों या घटनाओं से सीखने के लिए हमेशा खुला रहना चाहिए।

Let us learn

I. Write the opposites of the following words taken from the poem.

Answer:

1. up → down
2. fast → slow
3. glad → sad
4. win → lose
5. succeed → fail

II. Choose the correct meaning of the underlined words in the following sentences from the box given below. Frame sentences of your own for these words.

(i) Please make every endeavour to arrive on time.
(ii) Ants toil tirelessly to save food for rainy season.
(iii) We encourage all students to strive to do their best.
(iv) The sailors braced themselves against the strong wind.

Answer:
Here’s the matching of words with their correct meanings from the box:

(i) endeavour → 3. an attempt to do something new or difficult

(ii) toil → 1. work very hard and/or for a long time

(iii) strive → 4. to try very hard to achieve something

(iv) braced → 2. prepared themselves for something difficult

Now, here are sentences for each word:

1. endeavour → I will make every endeavour to win the race.
   (मैं दौड़ जीतने की पूरी कोशिश करूंगा।)
2. toil → The farmers toil in the fields all day long.
   (किसान सारा दिन खेतों में मेहनत करते हैं।)
3. strive → We should always strive to be kind and honest.
   (हमें हमेशा दयालु और ईमानदार बनने की कोशिश करनी चाहिए।)
4. braced → The players braced themselves for the tough match.
   (खिलाड़ियों ने कठिन मैच के लिए खुद को तैयार किया।)

One more set of Sentences:

1. endeavour: I made every endeavour to finish my homework before the deadline.
2. toil: The workers toiled for hours to finish the construction on time.
3. strive: She always strives to be the best student in her class.
4. braced: The team braced themselves for the tough match ahead.

III. The poem uses words that show distance.

a long way up, inch by inch, higher and higher, half-yard higher

Classify the words or phrases in the box given below based on the distance (far or near) and write in the space provided. You may take the help of a dictionary.

Answer:

IV. Read the following line from the poem.

‘Twas a delicate thread it had to tread,

Now repeat the lines five to six times. Are you able to say it clearly? Create more tongue twisters of your own.

Answer: Here are some tongue twisters you can create or use:

1. Silly snakes slide swiftly south.
2. Tiny turtles tiptoe to the top.
3. Big brown bears bake berry bread.
4. Seven slippery snails slowly slid south.
5. Five fat frogs found fresh flies.

OR

1. Six slippery snails slid slowly south.
2. Tiny tigers tiptoe through tall trees.
3. Peter Panda picked a pile of pretty pebbles.
4. Fuzzy frogs flap fast for flies.
5. Seven silly sheep slid silently.
6. Betty’s blue balloon bounced by the bridge.
   

Let us listen

I. You will listen to a story about an ant. Read the questions given below and before you listen, guess the answers to these questions. (Transcript for the teacher on pg. 40)

Answer:

Based on the transcript of the story about the ant, here are the correct answers to the questions:

II. Now, listen to the story once again and as you listen, check whether your answers are correct.

Answer: Yes, all answers are correct.

Let us speak

Narrate a personal experience about a time when you were motivated by someone or something to carry on and never give up. Your perseverance helped you.
Use the following sentence prompts as a guide for your narration.
Use as per your topic.

Answer: sample Answer:

Here is a sample narration using the given prompts.

I remember a time when I felt like giving up.
It was when I was learning how to ride a bicycle. I was very excited at first, but then something happened.

The challenge I faced was that I kept falling again and again.
I was struggling with keeping my balance, and I got hurt a few times.
The problem seemed too big because I felt I would never learn it like other kids.

At first, I felt discouraged and thought about giving up because my knees were bruised and I felt scared.
I didn’t think I could succeed because every time I tried, I fell.

But then, my elder brother inspired me to keep going.
He told me that he also fell many times when he was learning. He even showed me his old marks!
He said, “Don’t quit. Try one more time.” His words gave me courage.

After feeling inspired, I decided to try again.
I gathered my strength and asked him to help me. He held the seat of my cycle and ran with me.
With his support, I kept trying again and again.

In the end, I was able to ride my bicycle all by myself!
Thanks to standing firm and never giving up, I finally learned to ride it.
I felt proud because I didn’t quit.

This experience taught me that falling is okay, but giving up is not.
I learned that perseverance is the key to success.
Now, I always remember to keep trying even if I fail at first.
The lesson I learnt from this is: never give up!

OR

Introduction:
I remember a time when I felt like giving up. It was when I was preparing for my final exams in school.

Describe the challenge:
The challenge I faced was the difficult subjects and a heavy workload. I was struggling with math, and no matter how much I studied, I could never understand some of the concepts. The problem seemed too big because I had little time left and felt overwhelmed with everything I had to learn.

Feeling disheartened:
At first, I felt discouraged and thought about giving up because I was not seeing any progress. I didn’t think I could succeed because math felt like an impossible subject. I felt upset and wanted to leave my books aside and forget about the exams.

The source of motivation:
But then, I remembered the poem “Don’t Quit,” which teaches that even when things get tough, we should never give up. It inspired me to keep going and face my difficulties head-on. I also remembered how my teacher encouraged me to keep trying, no matter how hard it seemed.

Taking action:
After feeling inspired, I decided to focus on one topic at a time. I gathered my strength and studied daily without distractions. With a new sense of willpower, I asked my friends and teacher for help with the parts I didn’t understand. I worked with them and practiced as much as I could.

The result:
In the end, I was able to pass my exams with good marks. Thanks to standing firm and never giving up, I achieved something I thought was impossible. I felt proud because I didn’t let my doubts stop me from working hard.

Reflection:
This experience taught me that perseverance is the key to success. I learned that even when things seem hard, if we keep trying, we can reach our goals. Now, I always remember to keep going, even when I feel like giving up. The lesson I learned from this is that persistence pays off, no matter how tough the challenge.

Let us write

Write a letter to your cousin on how you plan to overcome any difficult situation. Also, advise not to quit and persevere.

Remember to use transition words like ‘To begin with…,’ ‘Next…,’ ‘After that…,’ ‘Then…,’ ‘Finally…,’ to share the steps of your plan.

Answer:

Here are two Sample Letters for students

Letter 1

20, Rajendra Nagar
Jeevanpur
23 August 20XX

Dear Monika,

Thank you for your letter asking me about how I plan to overcome a difficult situation.

To begin with, I will stay calm and not panic. Next, I will think about the problem carefully and understand what went wrong. After that, I will make a simple plan to fix the problem, step by step. Then, I will ask for help from my parents or teachers if I need it. Finally, I will keep trying and not give up, just like the spider in the story.

Remember, we should never quit. If we keep trying, we can surely win!

Yours affectionately,
Deepa

Letter 2

20, Rajendra Nagar
Jeevanpur
23 August 20XX

Dear Monika,
Thank you for your letter asking me about how I plan to overcome difficult situations.

To begin with, when I face a challenge, I always try to stay calm and think carefully about the problem. Next, I break the problem into smaller tasks so that it becomes easier to handle. After that, I make a plan and follow it step by step. If I face any hurdles, I remind myself not to quit, because every challenge has a solution if we keep trying.

Finally, I stay positive and believe that hard work will lead to success. Just like the spider in the poem, who kept trying until it reached its goal, I too will not give up. I am sure with patience and perseverance, I will overcome any difficulty.

Yours affectionately,
Deepa