StudyOSStudyOS CBSE Study Material, Class 5–12

The Winner

NCERT Class 6 · English Based on NCERT Class 6 English textbook · Free CBSE study kit

Everything you need to ace this chapter, in one place.
Notes · Mind Map · Quiz · Assertion-Reason · Case Studies · Question Bank · Past Papers

Get Full Study Kit →
Studying with friends? Send them this chapter.

Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter is a poem titled 'The Winner' by Georgia Heard, which describes children playing outdoors in the evening until nightfall. It is part of the 'Sports and Wellness' unit in the NCERT Class 6 English syllabus, aiming to connect the joy of play with physical activity and the natural cycle of day and night. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that play is fun and healthy, but it must end when night comes, and the poem uses vivid imagery and personification to show this transition.
Key Concepts (12)
creek
A small, narrow stream or body of water, often found in rural or natural areas.
e.g. In many Indian villages, children play near a nallah or small creek that flows through the fields.
neighbour's field
An open area of land owned by a person living nearby, used for farming or play.
e.g. In a village like in Punjab, children often play cricket in a neighbour's wheat field after harvest.
catch my breath
To pause and breathe deeply after running or exercising hard, because one is out of breath.
e.g. After sprinting in a game of kho-kho, Ravi had to stop and catch his breath before speaking.
blue dark
The time in the evening when the sky is still slightly lit but turning dark, appearing blue before becoming black.
e.g. At 6:30 PM in winter, the sky is blue dark, and children know it is almost time to go home.
cold grass aches our feet
The feeling of pain or discomfort in the feet caused by standing or running on grass that has become cold due to the evening temperature drop.
e.g. When playing barefoot on the lawn after sunset, the cold dew makes your feet ache, just like in the poem.
trees creep close
A poetic expression meaning that as darkness falls, trees appear to move closer or seem more menacing because visibility decreases.
e.g. In a park at night, the shadows of banyan trees seem to creep close, making children feel scared.
game's over
The end of the play session, usually because it has become too dark to continue.
e.g. When the streetlights come on, the children know the game's over and they must go home.
Night wins!
A personification meaning that night has successfully ended the game, as darkness forces the children to stop playing.
e.g. Just like in a cricket match, when the light fades, night wins and the players have to stop.
personification
A figure of speech where human qualities or actions are given to non-human things or ideas.
e.g. In the poem, 'Night wins!' gives night the human ability to win, which is personification.
indigenous games
Games that are native to a particular region or country, often traditional and played for generations.
e.g. Kho-kho, kabaddi, and gilli-danda are indigenous games of India, played in villages and schools.
riddle
A question or statement that describes something in a puzzling way, requiring the listener to guess the answer.
e.g. The riddle 'Run and pass, kick a black and white ball' describes football, and students must guess it.
water bodies
Natural or artificial collections of water, such as rivers, lakes, ponds, seas, and creeks.
e.g. In India, the Ganga is a river, the Chilika Lake is a lake, and the Arabian Sea is a sea — all are water bodies.
How It Works
Understanding the poem's sequence of events
  1. Step 1: Children play ball in the evening next to a creek in the neighbour's field.
  2. Step 2: They run so fast that they become breathless and cannot catch their breath.
  3. Step 3: The sky changes from blue dark to black, indicating nightfall.
  4. Step 4: The grass becomes cold, causing their feet to ache.
  5. Step 5: Trees appear to creep close as visibility decreases.
  6. Step 6: The game ends because night has arrived, and the children go home.
💡 Students often forget that the poem describes a single evening session, not multiple days. The sequence is linear: play, run, get tired, night falls, game ends.
Using personification in the poem
  1. Step 1: Identify the non-human thing or idea (e.g., night).
  2. Step 2: Give it a human action or quality (e.g., 'wins').
  3. Step 3: Explain the effect — it makes the poem more vivid and dramatic.
  4. Step 4: Write an example of your own, like 'The sun played hide-and-seek with the clouds.'
💡 Students often confuse personification with metaphor. Personification specifically gives human traits to non-human things, not just any comparison.
Solving riddles about sports
  1. Step 1: Read the riddle carefully, noting key clues (e.g., 'kick a black and white ball' suggests football).
  2. Step 2: Think of sports that match the description.
  3. Step 3: Write the sport name in the table.
  4. Step 4: Create your own riddle for a favourite sport, using similar clues.
💡 Students often miss clues like 'hold your breath' for kabaddi or 'in the water' for swimming. Pay attention to every word.
Writing a paragraph about playtime
  1. Step 1: Answer the given clues: time, playmates, games, favourite game, benefits, and finish time.
  2. Step 2: Arrange the answers in a logical order (e.g., start with time, end with going home).
  3. Step 3: Write in complete sentences, using simple English.
  4. Step 4: Give a suitable title, like 'My Evening Playtime'.
💡 Students often forget to include all clues or write in bullet points. The paragraph must be continuous and cover every clue.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing 'creek' with 'river'
✗ The children play next to a river.
→ The poem specifically says 'creek', which is a small stream, not a large river. Using 'river' changes the meaning and loses marks.
✓ The children play next to a creek, which is a small stream of water.
⚠ Misinterpreting 'Night wins!' as literal competition
✗ Night is a person who wins a game against the children.
→ Night is not a person; it is a time of day. The poet uses personification to show that darkness ends the game. Students must explain the figure of speech.
✓ The poet uses personification to show that night ends the game, as darkness forces the children to stop playing.
⚠ Saying 'trees creep close' means trees actually move
✗ The trees walk closer to the children.
→ Trees do not move. The phrase is poetic and means that in the dark, the trees appear closer or more threatening because visibility is poor.
✓ The phrase 'trees creep close' means that as it gets dark, the trees seem to come closer because the children cannot see clearly.
⚠ Forgetting to mention personification when asked about 'Night wins!'
✗ Night wins because it is dark.
→ This answer is incomplete. The question expects identification of personification and its effect, not just a literal reason.
✓ Night wins because the poet uses personification to show that darkness ends the game, making night seem like a winner.
⚠ Writing 'catch my breath' as literal catching
✗ The child catches the breath with hands.
→ It is an idiom meaning to pause and breathe deeply after exertion, not a physical action.
✓ The child cannot catch her breath because she has been running very fast and is out of breath.
Compare & Contrast
Size and flow of water body
creek
river
A creek is a small, narrow stream, while a river is a large, wide flow of water. The poem uses 'creek' to indicate a small, natural water body near the field.
Figure of speech used
personification
simile
Personification gives human qualities to non-human things (e.g., 'Night wins!'), while simile compares two things using 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'runs like the wind'). The poem uses personification, not simile.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 Very Short Answer (1 mark), 1 Short Answer (2 marks), 1 Long Answer (5 marks) — total 10 marks
Most asked: Personification in the poem · Meaning of 'catch my breath' · Sequence of events from play to nightfall · Identifying water bodies
Don't skip: Explain the line 'Night wins!' with reference to personification.; Describe the children's playtime in your own words based on the poem.; Write a paragraph about your own playtime using the given clues.
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. The poem 'The Winner' is by Georgia Heard and describes children playing ball near a creek in the evening.
  2. The children run so fast they cannot catch their breath.
  3. The sky changes from blue dark to black as night falls.
  4. Cold grass makes the children's feet ache.
  5. Trees appear to creep close in the darkness.
  6. The game ends when night wins, using personification.
  7. Personification gives human qualities to non-human things, like 'Night wins!'.
  8. A creek is a small stream of water, not a river.
  9. Indigenous games are native to a region, like kho-kho in India.
  10. Riddles describe a sport or activity using clues for guessing.
  11. Water bodies include creeks, rivers, lakes, ponds, and seas.
  12. The poem teaches that play is fun but must end when night comes.
  13. Students should write a paragraph about their playtime using the given clues.
  14. The chapter is from the 'Sports and Wellness' unit of NCERT Class 6 English.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. In the poem, where do the children play?

  • A. In their own house
  • B. Next to the creek in their neighbor's field ✓
  • C. In the school playground
  • D. On the street near their home

Answer: B — The poem clearly states 'we play ball next to the creek in our neighbour's field.'

Q2. What does the line 'I can't even catch my breath' tell us about the children?

  • A. They have stopped playing
  • B. They are running very fast and are out of breath ✓
  • C. They are sick and tired
  • D. They want to take a rest immediately

Answer: B — The line shows that running so fast makes them breathless, which means they are exercising hard.

Q3. When does the game end in the poem?

  • A. When the children get tired
  • B. When someone calls them home
  • C. When blue dark turns to black, meaning evening turns to night ✓
  • D. When they finish drinking water

Answer: C — The poem states 'When blue dark turns to black...game's over. Night wins!' showing that night coming signals the end of play.

Q4. Fill in the blank: The children play ________ in the neighbor's field.

  • A. cricket
  • B. hide and seek
  • C. ball ✓
  • D. tag

Answer: C — The first line of the poem clearly mentions 'we play ball next to the creek.'

Q5. What is personification?

  • A. Using words that rhyme with each other
  • B. Giving human qualities to non-living things ✓
  • C. Describing how a person looks and acts
  • D. Writing about real people and their lives

Answer: B — Personification is a literary device where non-living things like 'Night' are shown as doing human actions like 'winning.'

Q6. Which of these lines from the poem shows personification?

  • A. We play ball next to the creek
  • B. We run so fast
  • C. Night wins! ✓
  • D. In our neighbour's field

Answer: C — Only Night can truly 'win' like a person in a game; this gives Night human qualities, which is personification.

Q7. Why does the grass 'ache' the children's feet in the poem?

  • A. Because the grass is wet
  • B. Because they have been running and playing, and the cold grass makes their feet hurt ✓
  • C. Because there are stones under the grass
  • D. Because the grass is tall and prickly

Answer: B — The poem shows that after running so much, their tired feet feel the cold grass, causing an aching sensation.

Q8. What is a creek?

  • A. A type of game played by children
  • B. A small stream or body of water ✓
  • C. A place where crops are grown
  • D. A type of tree found in fields

Answer: B — A creek is a small natural stream or body of water, often found near fields like in the poem.

Q9. The repetition of words like 'I can't even catch my breath' helps readers to ______.

  • A. understand the rhyme scheme
  • B. feel the child's tiredness and excitement ✓
  • C. count the number of lines
  • D. learn new vocabulary words

Answer: B — Breaking the line into separate words creates emphasis and helps readers experience the speaker's breathlessness.

Q10. Which is an example of an indigenous game?

  • A. Basketball
  • B. Tennis
  • C. Kho-kho ✓
  • D. Badminton

Answer: C — Kho-kho is a traditional Indian game native to India, while basketball, tennis, and badminton are games from other countries.

Flashcards

What does 'Night wins' mean in the poem 'The Winner'?

It means the game ends because it becomes dark and the children must go home.

Why can't the speaker catch her breath?

Because the children are running so fast while playing that they become breathless.

What is personification?

Personification is giving human qualities or actions to non-living things like 'Night wins' or 'trees creep close.'

What is the effect of the line pattern 'I can't even catch my breath'?

The broken pattern shows the speaker is breathless and helps readers feel the excitement and tiredness.

What is a creek?

A creek is a small stream or body of water, usually found near fields or in nature.

Why do the children's feet ache in the evening?

Because they have run so much during playtime and the cold grass makes their feet hurt.

What are indigenous games?

Indigenous games are native sports and games that belong to and are played in a particular region or country.

How does the sky change in the poem?

The sky changes from blue to dark/black as evening turns to night, signaling the end of playtime.

Is the speaker playing alone?

No, the speaker uses 'we' throughout the poem, showing that multiple children are playing together.

What is a riddle?

A riddle is a funny puzzle or question that describes something without naming it directly, and you have to guess the answer.

Important Board Questions

What does 'Night wins' mean in the poem? [1 mark]

Think about when children stop playing. Night = darkness, winning = the game ends.

Complete the sentences: The children play ________ next to the ________ in the neighbor's field. They run so fast that they ________ breath. [2 marks]

Look at the first two lines of the poem. The second blank is a small stream. The third blank is what happens when you run hard.

Explain with an example how the poet uses personification in the line 'trees creep close.' What does this actually mean? [3 marks]

Personification = giving human qualities to non-living things. Trees don't actually creep; think about what happens to visibility when it gets dark.

Read this sentence: 'When blue dark turns to black, cold grass aches our feet, trees creep close—game's over. Night wins!' Explain (a) why the children's feet ache, (b) how the sky changes, and (c) why the game ends. Also tell one indigenous game played in your region. [5 marks]

Part (a): they have run and played a lot. Part (b): blue evening sky becomes black night sky. Part (c): it becomes dark and unsafe to play. Part (d): examples include kho-kho, kabaddi, gully cricket - choose one you know.

True or False: (a) The children in the poem are playing alone. (b) The pattern of the line 'I can't even catch my breath' shows excitement and tiredness. Give reasons for each. [2 marks]

For (a): look for words like 'we' and 'our' - does this suggest one child or many? For (b): does breaking words into separate lines create special meaning or just look odd?

Assertion-Reason Questions for The Winner

Q1. Assertion (A):

The children in the poem stop playing when night comes.

Reason (R):

Night comes with darkness, making it unsafe and impossible to continue playing the ball game.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true. The children do stop playing when night comes (as shown by 'Night wins!'). The reason correctly explains why they stop - because it becomes dark and they cannot see to play safely.

Q2. Assertion (A):

The poet uses personification when she says 'trees creep close'.

Reason (R):

Personification is giving human qualities to non-human things, but trees cannot actually creep like humans.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — Both parts are true. The poet does use personification by describing trees as 'creeping'. However, the reason does not correctly explain personification. The poet means trees seem to move closer as it gets dark, not that we're saying trees literally creep.

Q3. Assertion (A):

Playing games in the evening with friends is good for children's health and happiness.

Reason (R):

The poem shows children running, staying active, and having fun together, which are important for wellness.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both assertion and reason are true and connected. The poem clearly demonstrates that evening play helps children stay active, build friendship, and enjoy themselves - all important for physical and mental wellness.

Unlock more Assertion-Reason questions in Premium — unlock →

Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for The Winner

Case Study:

Raj and his friends go to play football in the park every evening at 4 PM. They play until it gets dark around 6:30 PM. During this time, they run very fast, kick the ball hard, and sometimes feel out of breath. One day, Raj's mother was worried because he came home late at 7 PM. Raj explained that they were so busy playing that they didn't notice the time, and it had become very dark.

Q1. Why did Raj's mother worry when he came home late?

  • A. Because he was playing too fast
  • B. Because it was dark and Raj was out late without proper light ✓
  • C. Because he didn't score any goals
  • D. Because the park was closed

Answer: B

Q2. What is similar between Raj's situation and the poem 'The Winner'?

  • A. Both play cricket
  • B. Both children play until it gets dark and have to stop ✓
  • C. Both children play next to water
  • D. Both children play alone

Answer: B

Q3. What should Raj do to help his mother stop worrying about his evening games?

  • A. Stop playing games completely
  • B. Play only in the morning
  • C. Come back home before it gets completely dark ✓
  • D. Tell his mother he will come home whenever he wants

Answer: C

Unlock more case studies in Premium — unlock →

Next chapterYoga — A Way of Life →
Found this useful? Share it with your class group.

You've seen the free preview. Open the full interactive study kit — mind map, instant-graded quiz, progress tracking — free, no sign-in required.

Open Full Study Kit — Free →

Premium unlocks the full Question Bank, Daily Practice Papers, Chapter Quiz and Full Mock Papers for every chapter.