Orchids provides a comprehensive resource for Class 8 English Honeydew poem 1, "The Ant and the Cricket." English is a subject of great significance, as it plays a vital role in enhancing vocabulary and grammar skills. The Class 8 English syllabus consists of various chapters and poems that impart valuable lessons to students. Through the study of these chapters, students are introduced to new words and phrases.
Students can access the NCERT Solutions For Class 8 English Honeydew Poem Chapter 1 – The Ant and the Cricket. Curated by experts according to the CBSE syllabus for 2025–2026, these step-by-step solutions make English much easier to understand and learn for the students. These solutions can be used in practice by students to attain skills in solving problems, reinforce important learning objectives, and be well-prepared for tests.
The cricket says, "Oh! What will become of me?" When does he say it, and why?
The winter arrived and the cricket did not collect food for himself. The cupboards were empty and he couldn't find even a single crumb to eat. The earth outside was covered with snow and there were no flowers or leaves visible. He felt he would starve and die since nothing could be found.
(i) Find in the poem the lines that mean the same as "Neither a borrower nor a lender be" (Shakespeare).
(ii) What is your opinion of the ant’s principles?
(i) “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” is similar to the line 'But we ants never borrow; we ants never lend’ in the poem.
(ii) When the cricket arrived to ask for food at the ant’s home, the ant was against it. The ant told the cricket to stop being lazy and work hard. It advised the cricket not to just live in the present but save for the future too. I don't agree with ant’s principle. The ant called itself to be a friend of cricket but instead of helping the cricket in times of distress, it started preaching about saving and how he should have been more careful.
The ant tells the cricket to "dance the winter away". Do you think the word 'dance' is appropriate here? If so, why?
The cricket sang through the warm sunny summers and didn't store food or winters. On hearing this the ant replied he should do the same in the winters too and the winters shall pass.
I don't think the word ‘dance’ is appropriate because it is commenting sarcastically on the cricket’s tendency to be careless. In summers, instead of storing food for the winters it danced and sang. The ant, instead of helping him, is asking to dance and sing so that the time would pass quickly and summer would arrive again.
(i) Which lines in the poem express the poet's comment? Read them aloud.
(ii) Write the comment in your own words.
(i) The line “Folks call this a fable. I'll warrant it true” expresses the poet’s comment.
(ii) A fable is a literary genre, mostly prose or verse, and has animals, plants, inanimate objects, and nature as the main characters, which teach the reader a moral lesson. These stories don't have a scientific base and are fictitious. The poet tells his readers that it is a fable but he believes it is true since he likes the lesson that the story teaches. The cricket did not have anything to eat during winters because he was busy enjoying the warm summer weather. The poet wants the readers to be responsible during the sunny days so that they have sufficient time for the winter days.
The NCERT solution for Class 8 Poem Chapter 1 : The Ant and the Cricket is important as it provides a structured approach to learning, ensuring that students develop a strong understanding of foundational concepts early in their academic journey. By mastering these basics, students can build confidence and readiness for tackling more difficult concepts in their further education.
Yes, the NCERT solution for Class 8 Poem Chapter 1 : The Ant and the Cricket is quite useful for students in preparing for their exams. The solutions are simple, clear, and concise allowing students to understand them better. They can solve the practice questions and exercises that allow them to get exam-ready in no time.
You can get all the NCERT solutions for Class 8 English Poem Chapter 1 from the official website of the Orchids International School. These solutions are tailored by subject matter experts and are very easy to understand.
Yes, students must practice all the questions provided in the NCERT solution for Class 8 English Poem Chapter 1 : The Ant and the Cricket as it will help them gain a comprehensive understanding of the concept, identify their weak areas, and strengthen their preparation.
Students can utilize the NCERT solution for Class 8 English Poem Chapter 1 effectively by practicing the solutions regularly. Solve the exercises and practice questions given in the solution.
