This chapter introduces you to **"The Kites,"** a beautiful poem by Daphne Lister that captures the joy of kite flying through a child's perspective. The poem explores imagination, freedom, and the cultural significance of kites in India.
Before diving into the poem, the chapter guides you through **Pre-Reading Activities** that help prepare your mind for understanding the text.
**Activity I - Personal Experience Questions:**
**Activity II - Kite Festival Research:**
**Activity III - Picture Description:**
**Poem Summary:**
The poem describes a child watching colorful kites flying in the wind-swept sky. The child wishes to be small and light enough to climb on a kite and fly away. From this height, the child imagines drifting on paper wings, hearing the wind's songs, and looking down at the park and town below. The child envisions people staring up in wonder and wishing they were in the air too.
**Structure of the Poem:**
**Definition:** A **simile** is a comparison between two things using the words "like" or "as." It helps us imagine and understand one thing better by comparing it to something familiar.
**Examples from the Poem:**
1. **"Like coloured birds"** (Stanza 1)
2. **"Light as air"** (Stanza 2)
**Exam Important Point:** When you see "like" or "as...as" in poetry or prose, always identify it as a simile. Similes make reading more interesting and help us create better mental pictures.
**Definition:** **Alliteration** is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words that are close together. It creates a musical or rhythmic effect.
**Examples from the Poem:**
**Other Examples for Practice:**
**Exam Important Point:** Alliteration is used to make poetry sound more musical and memorable.
**Definition:** **Rhyme** is when words have the same ending sound. **Rhyme scheme** is the pattern of rhyming words at the end of lines.
**Rhyme Pattern in the Poem:**
Stanza 1: sky/fly, air/there
Stanza 2: air/there, things/sings, down/town
**Words That Do NOT Rhyme:** Some words in the stanzas do not follow the rhyme scheme and stand alone.
**Exam Important Point:** Always identify and underline rhyming words when asked in the exam. This shows understanding of poem structure.
**Definition:** **Repetition** is when the poet uses the same word or phrase more than once to emphasize an idea or create a stronger effect.
**Example from the Poem:**
**Answer:** The poet describes the kites as "coloured birds" in the "wind-whipped sky." The poet uses the simile of birds to show that kites are beautiful, colorful, and fly gracefully like real birds do.
**Answer:** The child wants to be small and light as air because only then can they climb on a kite and sail up into the sky. Being light would allow them to fly without weighing the kite down.
**Answer:**
**Answer:** The people would stare because they would see a child flying high in the air on a kite—something impossible and magical. They would wish they were the child having such an amazing experience.
**Answer:** The poem expresses:
**Understanding Kite Components:**
When discussing kites, it is important to know the names of different parts:
1. **Nose:** The pointed tip of the kite at the front
2. **Spine:** The vertical stick that runs down the center of the kite
3. **Cover:** The paper or fabric stretched over the kite frame
4. **Kite Line:** The string that connects you to the kite
5. **Tail:** The long piece of paper or fabric attached at the end to balance the kite
6. **Reel:** The device that holds and wraps the kite line
**Example Dialogue:**
Student A: "I like the long tail at the end of my kite."
Student B: "My kite's cover is bright. The spine is black."
Student A: "My kite's line is attached to the reel that wraps it."
**Exam Important Point:** You may be asked to identify or name parts of a kite. Practice using these terms in sentences.
**Words Describing How a Kite Moves:**
The poet uses specific verbs to describe the kite's movement:
1. **"Fly"** - Quick, active movement through the air
2. **"Drift"** - Slow, gentle, floating movement
**Characteristics of "Drift" Movement:**
**Other Movement Words and Their Types:**
**Exam Important Point:** Be able to categorize movement words as fast/slow, upward/downward, or round and round.
**Idiomatic Expressions Used:**
1. **"Up in the air"** - High in the sky above ground
2. **"Look right down"** - Gaze directly downward from a height
3. **"Stand and stare"** - To watch something with amazement
4. **"High, high in the air"** - Very far above the ground
**Using These Expressions in Sentences:**
**Definition:** A **cinquain** is a five-line poem that describes a person, place, or thing. Each line follows a specific pattern.
**Structure of Cinquain:**
**Example from the Chapter:**
Kite
Pretty, colorful
Flying, floating, soaring
Quickly, happily
Paper-bird
**Another Example:**
Moon
Bright, silver
Rising, shining, glowing
Slowly, peacefully
Night-light
**Steps to Write Your Own Cinquain:**
1. Choose a subject (animal, object, person, place)
2. Think of two describing words
3. List three action words related to your subject
4. Add two adverbs that describe the actions
5. Find a synonym or poetic word for your subject
6. Arrange them in the correct format
**Location:** Mainly celebrated in **Gujarat**, but also observed in **Maharashtra** and **Telangana**
**Time:** Celebrated during the month of **January** (specifically around January 14th)
**What Happens:** During this festival, people fly kites of different shapes, sizes, and colors
**Historical Reference:** The tradition of kite flying is mentioned in ancient Indian texts, including the poetry of **Namadeva**, a thirteenth-century Marathi saint and poet. In his poems (called **gathas**), he referred to kites as **"gudi"** and mentioned that kites were made from **"kaagad"** (paper).
1. **Basant Panchami and Baisakhi** - Celebrated in **Punjab region** with kite flying
2. **Karnataka Kite Festival** - Organized by the Tourism Department
**Important Note:** While Earth Day (April 22) is not traditionally a kite-flying festival, many people enjoy flying kites on various festivals and celebrations.
**Common Kite Designs:**
1. **Diamond-shaped Kite** - Most common and traditional design
2. **Box Kites** - Cube-shaped, more stable
3. **Delta Kites** - Triangle-shaped, easier to fly
4. **Parafoil Kites** - Dome-shaped, requires no frame
5. **Rokkaku** - Japanese rectangular fighting kite
**Diamond-shaped kite** is the most commonly seen type in India and during festivals.
**Guidelines for Speaking:**
When sharing your kite-flying experience, follow these steps:
1. **Where:** Mention the location (rooftop, park, field)
2. **When:** Specify the time (morning, afternoon, during festival)
3. **Why:** Explain the reason (celebration, fun, learning)
4. **How:** Describe how you flew the kite (technique, challenges)
5. **Details:** Add emotions and observations
**Example Response:**
"Last month during Uttarayan, I flew a diamond-shaped kite on the terrace of my house with my father. The kite was red and yellow, and it had a beautiful tail made of paper. The wind was strong, and I had to hold the reel firmly. It was exciting to see my kite soar high in the sky. I felt so happy when it reached above the trees. I will never forget this wonderful experience."
**Exam Important Point:** Always use complete sentences and add specific details to make your answer interesting.
**Instructions for Writing:**
Before writing, discuss these points in pairs:
1. **Description of Yourself:**
2. **Life and Activities:**
3. **Message for Humans:**
**Writing Guidelines:**
**Sample Answer (90-100 words):**
"I am a Kite
I am a beautiful diamond-shaped kite, painted in bright red and yellow colors. My spine is strong, and my cover is made of thin paper. I belong to a ten-year-old boy named Arjun who loves flying me every evening. When the wind blows, I dance high in the sky like a graceful bird. My long tail flows behind me as I soar above the park and buildings. I am friends with the other kites and the gentle breeze. Flying with me, Arjun learns about freedom and joy. I want to tell all children: don't lose your imagination. Fly like me and touch the sky!"
**Steps to Create a Kite:**
1. **Gather Materials:** Paper, sticks, string, glue, scissors
2. **Make Frame:** Create a diamond shape using two sticks
3. **Attach Paper:** Cover the frame with thin colored paper
4. **Add Tail:** Attach a long paper tail at the bottom
5. **Attach String:** Tie the kite line to the frame
6. **Decorate:** Write a message or draw designs on the paper
7. **Test:** Carefully test your kite in an open space
**Message Ideas:**
**Exam Important Point:** This activity helps you understand kite construction and the cultural message-carrying tradition.
**Verbs from the Poem:**
**Conditional Structure:** "I wish I were" / "I would be" - Shows imaginary situations
**Exam Important Point:** Notice how the poet uses different tenses to show real action (what the child sees) and imaginary action (what the child wishes to do).
**Word: "Fun"**
**Word: "High"**
**Word: "Drift"**
**Statements and Correct Answers:**
1. **The child is looking at the kites** - **TRUE** (The poem begins with "See the kites fly")
2. **The kites look like birds of different colors** - **TRUE** (Compared to "coloured birds")
3. **It was a rainy day** - **FALSE** (It was windy, not rainy)
4. **The child wants to be like a kite** - **TRUE** (The child wishes to climb on a kite)
5. **The child wishes to climb on a kite** - **TRUE** (Stated clearly in Stanza 2)
6. **The kite is made of cloth and plastic** - **FALSE** (The poem mentions "paper wings" - kites are made of paper)
7. **The child wants to ride the kite** - **TRUE** (The child wishes to sail and drift on it)
8. **The child knows they would have fun** - **TRUE** (States "What fun it would be")
9. **The child wants to look at the kite from a rooftop** - **FALSE** (The child wants to look DOWN from the kite)
10. **The child would like to look at people down below** - **TRUE** (States "look right down, over the park and the rooftops of town")
11. **The child knows that the people would stare** - **TRUE** (States "The people below would stand and stare")
**Exam Important Point:** Always refer back to specific lines in the poem to support your answers to comprehension questions.
1. **Simile** is a comparison using "like" or "as" that helps us visualize better
2. **Alliteration** is repetition of beginning consonant sounds in nearby words
3. **Rhyme** and **rhyme scheme** create musical patterns in poetry
4. **Repetition** emphasizes important ideas and feelings
5. Kites in India have cultural significance celebrated through festivals like **Uttarayan**
6. **Cinquain poetry** follows a five-line structured format for creative writing
7. **Movement verbs** (fly, drift, soar, glide) create vivid imagery
8. The poem expresses themes of **imagination, freedom, and joy**
9. Understanding **kite parts** and **construction** helps appreciate the craft
10. Using **complete sentences, specific details, and sensory language** makes your writing stronger
This comprehensive understanding will prepare you to answer any exam question on "The Kites" chapter successfully.
Q1. What does the poet compare the kites to in the poem?
Answer: A — The poem's first lines clearly state 'See the kites fly, Like coloured birds In the wind-whipped sky.'
Q2. Which of these is a simile?
Answer: B — A simile compares two things using 'as' or 'like', and this sentence uses 'as air' to compare being light.
Q3. What would the child see if they looked down from the kite?
Answer: B — The poem states 'To look right down, Over the park And the rooftops of town.'
Q4. Fill in the blank: A five-line poem describing a thing is called a _________ poem.
Answer: C — The lesson teaches that a cinquain is a five-line poem that describes a person, place, or thing.
Q5. Which words rhyme in the first stanza?
Answer: C — Rhyming words have the same ending sound; 'fly' and 'sky' both end with the 'y' sound.
Q6. In the line 'See the kites fly, Like coloured birds In the wind-whipped sky,' which words show alliteration?
Answer: B — Alliteration is the repetition of starting consonant sounds; 'wind-whipped' repeats the 'w' sound.
Q7. Why would the people below stare at the child flying on the kite?
Answer: B — The poem says 'The people below Would stand and stare, And wish they were me High, high in the air.'
Q8. Which word describes the kite's movement as slow and gentle?
Answer: C — The lesson explains that 'drift' describes slow, gentle movement, while words like swoop and dive show fast movement.
Q9. Look at the kite parts shown: nose, spine, tail, reel. Which part holds the string?
Answer: D — From the lesson's kite diagram, the reel is the part that wraps and holds the kite line (string).
Q10. In the cinquain poem about a kite, which line contains action words?
Answer: C — The cinquain formula teaches that line 3 contains three action words or verbs like 'flying, floating, soaring.'
What does the poet compare the kites to in the first stanza?
The poet compares the kites to coloured birds flying in the wind-whipped sky.
What literary device is used when the poet says 'like coloured birds'?
This is a simile because it compares two things using the word 'like'.
What does the child wish to be in the poem?
The child wishes to be small and light as air so they can climb on a kite and sail up in the sky.
Name the literary device: 'See the kites fly, Like coloured birds In the wind-whipped sky.'
This is alliteration because 'wind-whipped' repeats the 'w' consonant sound.
What would the child see if they looked down from the kite?
The child would see the park and the rooftops of the town below.
What is the name of a 5-line poem that describes a thing or person?
A cinquain poem is a 5-line poem where line 1 is a noun, line 2 has adjectives, line 3 has verbs, line 4 has adverbs, and line 5 is a synonym.
Find the rhyming words in: 'See the kites fly, Like coloured birds In the wind-whipped sky.'
The words 'fly' and 'sky' rhyme because they have the same ending sound.
What parts of a kite are mentioned in the lesson?
The main parts of a kite are the nose, spine, cover, tail, kite line, and reel.
Which kite festival is celebrated in January in Gujarat?
Uttarayan, also called the International Kite Festival, is celebrated in January in Gujarat and other Indian states.
What type of movement does the word 'drift' describe?
The word 'drift' describes slow, gentle, and floating movement without much speed or force.
Name one colour mentioned in the poem 'The Kites' that the kites could be. [1 mark]
The poem says kites are 'like coloured birds' but does not mention a specific colour. Any colour you imagine would show you understood the poem. Or mention 'coloured' as the answer.
Fill in the blanks: The poet uses the word __________ to compare the kites with birds. This is called a __________. [2 marks]
The comparison word is 'like'. The literary device is called 'simile' because it compares two things using 'like' or 'as'.
Why does the child wish to be small and light as air? Explain with reference to the poem. [3 marks]
The child wants to climb on a kite and sail up into the sky. Then they could drift on the paper wings and hear the wind singing, seeing everything below like the town's rooftops.
Describe the feelings of the child in the poem 'The Kites'. How do the literary devices like simile, alliteration, and repetition help you understand the child's dreams? [5 marks]
The child feels excited and dreamy. Simile (kites like birds) makes it visual. Alliteration (wind-whipped) makes it musical. Repetition (high, high) stresses the height and makes you feel the wonder.
True or False: The word 'drift' and 'swoop' describe the same type of movement. Give one reason. [2 marks]
False. 'Drift' means slow, gentle movement. 'Swoop' means fast, diving movement. They are opposite types of movement.
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