The Hawker

Q: At what time of the morning does the speaker meet the hawker?

At ten in the morning. The poem clearly states 'When the gong sounds ten in the morning and I walk to school by our lane, Every day I meet the hawker.'

Q: What does the word 'vocation' mean?

A person's job or work. Vocation refers to a person's job or the work they do regularly in their life.

Q: What tool does the gardener use in the poem?

A spade. The poem mentions 'He does what he likes with his spade' when describing what the gardener does.

Q: What does the watchman carry while walking at night?

A lantern. The poem states 'The watchman swings his lantern and walks with his shadow at his side.'

Q: What does the child compare the street lamp to?

A giant with one red eye. The poem says 'the street-lamp stands like a giant with one red eye in its head.'

Q: When does the speaker see the watchman?

In the evening when it gets dark. The poem begins the third part with 'Just as it gets dark in the evening and my mother sends me to bed, I can see the watchman.'

Q: What does the hawker cry while walking in the lane?

'Bangles, crystal bangles!'. The poem clearly states that the hawker is 'crying, Bangles, crystal bangles!'

Q: Fill in the blank: A _______ is a narrow path where people walk.

lane. Lane is a narrow path mentioned in the poem; it is where the hawker walks and where the speaker meets him.

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Chapter Notes

Overview

This chapter is a poem by Rabindranath Tagore about a child who wishes to be a hawker, a gardener, and a watchman instead of going to school. It explores the theme of 'Work is Worship' by showing how every job has its own freedom and appeal. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that all vocations are valuable and that children often see only the fun part of others' work, not the hard work behind it.

Key Concepts (11)

Vocation

A person's regular occupation, profession, or trade that they do for a living.

e.g. A hawker selling bangles, a gardener digging the ground, or a watchman walking at night are all examples of vocations.

Hawker

A person who travels around selling goods, often by calling out or crying their wares in the street.

e.g. The hawker in the poem cries, 'Bangles, crystal bangles!' while walking through the lane.

Gong

A metal disc that produces a loud sound when hit with a small hammer, used to signal time or events.

e.g. The gong sounds ten in the morning, telling the speaker it is time to go to school.

Lane

A narrow path or road, often between buildings or fields.

e.g. The speaker walks to school by 'our lane' every day.

Spade

A tool used for digging, especially in gardening.

e.g. The gardener uses his spade to dig the ground as he likes.

Lantern

A case that holds a candle or light in any form and can be easily carried.

e.g. The watchman swings his lantern while walking up and down the dark lane.

Giant

An imaginary man-like creature of great height and strength.

e.g. The speaker compares the street-lamp to a giant with one red eye in its head.

Crystal

A clear, transparent mineral that looks like glass; used to describe high-quality bangles.

e.g. The hawker cries, 'Bangles, crystal bangles!' meaning the bangles are shiny and clear.

Shadow

A dark shape made when light is blocked by an object or person.

e.g. The watchman walks with his shadow at his side, and chases shadows with his lantern.

Digging

The action of breaking up and moving earth using a tool like a spade.

e.g. The gardener is digging the ground with his spade when the speaker returns from school.

Crying (in context)

Calling out loudly to sell goods or attract attention.

e.g. The hawker is crying, 'Bangles, crystal bangles!' to sell his bangles.

How It Works

The Speaker's Daily Schedule

Step 1: At ten in the morning, the gong sounds and the speaker walks to school by the lane.
Step 2: On the way to school, the speaker meets the hawker crying 'Bangles, crystal bangles!'
Step 3: At four in the afternoon, the speaker comes back from school and sees the gardener digging the ground through the gate.
Step 4: In the evening, just as it gets dark, the speaker's mother sends him to bed.
Step 5: From his open window, the speaker sees the watchman walking up and down the dark lane with his lantern.

💡 Students often confuse the order of events. Remember: morning (school) → afternoon (back from school) → evening (bedtime). The hawker is seen in the morning, the gardener in the afternoon, and the watchman at night.

The Child's Wish to Be Each Worker

Step 1: The speaker sees the hawker and wishes to be a hawker because there is no hurry, no fixed road, no fixed place, and no fixed time to come home.
Step 2: The speaker sees the gardener and wishes to be a gardener because the gardener does what he likes with his spade, soils his clothes, and nobody scolds him if he gets baked in the sun or wet.
Step 3: The speaker sees the watchman and wishes to be a watchman because the watchman walks all night, never goes to bed, and chases shadows with his lantern.

💡 The child sees only the freedom and fun in each job, not the hard work or boredom. This is the central irony of the poem.

Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes

⚠ Confusing the Speaker's Identity

✗ The speaker is Rabindranath Tagore himself.

→ The poem is written by Tagore, but the speaker is a child (a school-going boy or girl) who narrates the experiences. The speaker is not the poet.

✓ The speaker is a school-going child who walks to school and observes people with different vocations.

⚠ Mixing Up the Time of Day for Each Worker

✗ The speaker sees the hawker in the afternoon and the gardener in the morning.

→ The poem clearly states the hawker is met at ten in the morning (while going to school), and the gardener is seen at four in the afternoon (while coming back from school).

✓ The speaker meets the hawker at ten in the morning on the way to school, and sees the gardener at four in the afternoon on the way back from school.

⚠ Misinterpreting 'Crying' as Weeping

✗ The hawker is crying because he is sad.

→ In this context, 'crying' means calling out loudly to sell goods, not shedding tears. It is a common usage in Indian markets.

✓ The hawker is crying out or shouting 'Bangles, crystal bangles!' to attract customers.

⚠ Thinking the Child Actually Becomes a Hawker/Gardener/Watchman

✗ The child becomes a hawker, gardener, and watchman at the end of the poem.

→ The poem only expresses the child's wish ('I wish I were...'). It does not say the child actually changes his vocation. It is a daydream.

✓ The child wishes or imagines being a hawker, gardener, and watchman, but does not actually become them.

⚠ Confusing the Street-Lamp Comparison

✗ The street-lamp is compared to a giant with a red eye.

→ The comparison is correct, but students often forget that the giant has 'one red eye in its head'. The exact phrase matters in exams.

✓ The speaker compares the street-lamp to a giant with one red eye in its head.

Compare & Contrast

Time of day observed by the speaker

Hawker

Gardener

The hawker is seen at ten in the morning (on the way to school), while the gardener is seen at four in the afternoon (on the way back from school).

Freedom from rules

Gardener

Watchman

The gardener can do what he likes with his spade and nobody scolds him if he gets baked in the sun or wet; the watchman never goes to bed in his life and walks all night, but he is tied to his duty of walking up and down the lane.

Exam Focus

Marks pattern: 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 Short Answer (2-3 marks), 1 Long Answer (5 marks) on the theme or the child's perspective

Most asked: The speaker's wishes and why he wants to be each worker · The daily schedule of the speaker · Comparison of the street-lamp to a giant · Meaning of 'crying' in the poem · The central theme of 'Work is Worship'

Don't skip: Why does the speaker want to be a hawker/gardener/watchman? (3-5 marks); What is the daily schedule of the speaker based on the poem? (3 marks); Explain the comparison of the street-lamp to a giant. (2 marks)

One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)

The poem 'Vocation' is written by Rabindranath Tagore.
The speaker is a school-going child who wishes to be a hawker, a gardener, and a watchman.
The hawker cries 'Bangles, crystal bangles!' at ten in the morning.
The gardener digs the ground with his spade at four in the afternoon.
The watchman walks up and down the dark lane with his lantern at night.
The street-lamp is compared to a giant with one red eye in its head.
The child wishes to be a hawker because there is no hurry, no fixed road, and no fixed time to come home.
The child wishes to be a gardener because he can do what he likes and nobody scolds him.
The child wishes to be a watchman because he walks all night and never goes to bed.
The word 'crying' in the poem means calling out loudly to sell goods, not weeping.
The poem teaches that all vocations are valuable and should be respected.
The child sees only the freedom in each job, not the hard work or difficulties.
The gong sounds at ten in the morning to signal the start of school.
The watchman swings his lantern and walks with his shadow at his side.
The lane is dark and lonely when the watchman is on duty.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. At what time of the morning does the speaker meet the hawker?

A. At ten in the morning ✓
B. At eight in the morning
C. At noon
D. At two in the afternoon

Answer: A — The poem clearly states 'When the gong sounds ten in the morning and I walk to school by our lane, Every day I meet the hawker.'

Q2. What does the word 'vocation' mean?

A. A school subject
B. A person's job or work ✓
C. A type of sport
D. A holiday place

Answer: B — Vocation refers to a person's job or the work they do regularly in their life.

Q3. Why does the child wish to be a gardener?

A. Because the gardener has a lot of money
B. Because the gardener can do what he likes with his spade and nobody stops him ✓
C. Because the gardener wears nice clothes
D. Because the gardener lives in a big house

Answer: B — The poem says the gardener 'does what he likes with his spade' and nobody tells him what to do or when to work.

Q4. What tool does the gardener use in the poem?

A. A hammer
B. A saw
C. A spade ✓
D. A hoe

Answer: C — The poem mentions 'He does what he likes with his spade' when describing what the gardener does.

Q5. What does the watchman carry while walking at night?

A. A torch
B. A lantern ✓
C. A candle
D. A lamp

Answer: B — The poem states 'The watchman swings his lantern and walks with his shadow at his side.'

Q6. What does the child compare the street lamp to?

A. A man with one eye
B. A giant with one red eye ✓
C. A bird with red wings
D. A tree with red flowers

Answer: B — The poem says 'the street-lamp stands like a giant with one red eye in its head.'

Q7. When does the speaker see the watchman?

A. In the morning while going to school
B. In the afternoon when returning from school
C. In the evening when it gets dark ✓
D. At midnight

Answer: C — The poem begins the third part with 'Just as it gets dark in the evening and my mother sends me to bed, I can see the watchman.'

Q8. What does the hawker cry while walking in the lane?

A. 'Flowers, fresh flowers!'
B. 'Bangles, crystal bangles!' ✓
C. 'Vegetables, fresh vegetables!'
D. 'Toys, new toys!'

Answer: B — The poem clearly states that the hawker is 'crying, Bangles, crystal bangles!'

Q9. Fill in the blank: A _______ is a narrow path where people walk.

A. road
B. lane ✓
C. highway
D. street

Answer: B — Lane is a narrow path mentioned in the poem; it is where the hawker walks and where the speaker meets him.

Q10. Why does the child not want to go to bed like other children?

A. Because the bed is uncomfortable
B. Because he wishes to be like the watchman who walks all night and never goes to bed ✓
C. Because his mother is angry with him
D. Because there is too much light in the room

Answer: B — The poem states the child wishes 'I were a watchman walking the streets all night, chasing the shadows with my lantern' and the watchman 'never once goes to bed in his life.'

Flashcards

What is a vocation?

A vocation is a person's job or the work they do every day.

Who is the speaker in the poem?

The speaker is a school child who walks to school and back home.

Why does the child want to be a hawker?

Because the hawker has no fixed time, no road to follow, and can spend the day freely crying 'Bangles, crystal bangles!'

What does the gardener do in the poem?

The gardener digs the ground with a spade and does what he likes without anyone stopping him.

What does the child compare the street lamp to?

The child compares the street lamp to a giant with one red eye in its head.

What does the watchman carry while walking?

The watchman carries a lantern while walking up and down the lane at night.

What time does the child see the hawker?

The child sees the hawker at ten in the morning when walking to school.

What word means a narrow path?

Lane is a narrow path, like the small street where the hawker walks.

What is a spade used for?

A spade is a gardening tool used for digging the ground and moving soil.

Why does the child admire people with different jobs?

Because each person has freedom in their work and does things the child wishes to do.

Important Board Questions

Who wrote the poem 'Vocation'? [1 mark]

The poet's name is mentioned at the end of the poem. Look for the name of a famous Indian poet.

Match the following workers with their tools: 1. Hawker — a) Lantern 2. Gardener — b) Spade 3. Watchman — c) Bangles [2 marks]

Read the poem carefully to see what each worker uses or carries. Hawker sells bangles, gardener digs with spade, watchman carries lantern.

Why does the child in the poem admire people with different vocations? Explain with two reasons from the poem. [3 marks]

Think about what freedom each worker has. The hawker has no fixed time or place; the gardener can do what he likes; the watchman never goes to bed. Look for the phrases 'I wish I were' in the poem.

The speaker in the poem sees three different workers at three different times of the day. Describe what the speaker sees and feels about each worker. (You may draw and label a picture of one worker with your answer if you wish.) [5 marks]

Part 1: Hawker at 10 a.m. — why does the child want to be like him? Part 2: Gardener at 4 p.m. — what freedom does he have? Part 3: Watchman at night — what does the child think about him? Use the phrases from the poem to support your answer.

True or False: The child wants to be a hawker because he will earn a lot of money. Give a reason for your answer. [2 marks]

Read the first part of the poem again. The child says 'There is nothing to hurry him on, there is no road he must take, no place he must go to.' Money is not mentioned. The child wants freedom, not money.

Assertion-Reason Questions for The Hawker

Q1. Assertion (A):

The speaker in the poem wishes to be a hawker because hawkers have complete freedom in their work.

Reason (R):

Hawkers have no specific road to take, no fixed place to go, and no fixed time to come home.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true. The reason correctly explains why the speaker wishes to be a hawker—because of the freedom hawkers enjoy without restrictions or schedules.

Q2. Assertion (A):

The gardener in the poem is someone the speaker admires.

Reason (R):

The gardener earns more money than other workers.

Answer: C — A is true but R is false — The assertion is true because the speaker clearly says 'I wish I were a gardener,' showing admiration. However, the reason is false because the poem does not mention anything about the gardener earning more money. The real reason for admiration is the freedom to work without restrictions.

Q3. Assertion (A):

The watchman works during the night and never goes to bed.

Reason (R):

He needs to guard the streets and keep them safe while people sleep.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — Both assertion and reason are true statements. The poem confirms the watchman works all night and never sleeps. However, the reason is not the correct explanation from the poem—the poem focuses on the speaker's admiration for the watchman's freedom, not on the purpose of his work.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for The Hawker

Case Study:

Every morning, Priya walks to school through the busy market near her home. She sees a vegetable seller arranging tomatoes and onions on his cart, a flower seller with colorful flowers tied in bunches, and a woman selling fresh milk from her doorstep. Priya watches them work and feels they are all so free to do their jobs as they wish. She often thinks how nice it would be to work like them instead of going to school with homework and tests waiting for her.

Q1. How is Priya's experience similar to the speaker's in the poem 'Vocation'?

A. Both see workers on their way to school and wish they had their freedom ✓
B. Both work as street vendors
C. Both go to sleep late at night
D. Both sell vegetables and flowers

Answer: A

Q2. What vocations does Priya observe on her way to school?

A. Teacher, doctor, and nurse
B. Vegetable seller, flower seller, and milk seller ✓
C. Gardener, hawker, and watchman
D. Engineer, pilot, and driver

Answer: B

Q3. Why does Priya think the street workers are free?

A. Because they do not have to pay money
B. Because they can do their jobs as they wish without homework and tests ✓
C. Because they live near the market
D. Because they work only in the morning

Answer: B

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