Pranshu's English Classroom (CBSE)

 The Hummingbird That Lived Through Winter by William Saroyan The Hummingbird that Lived through Winter by William Saroyan narrates the adventures of a little hummingbird that is unable to move to a warmer place and gets stuck in Fresno, California during its harsh winter. It also tells us about the efforts and struggles of the speaker and his elderly neighbour, Dikran to revive the little bird.  The speaker lived in a neighbourhood in Fresno, California and across the street lived his old neighbour, Dikran. Dikran was over eighty years old and had poor eyesight. He lived with his wife and was known for his extraordinary garden, filled with various plants, bushes, and trees that thrived in the rich, dark soil, attracting a variety of birds and other flying creatures. On an extremely cold Sunday, right in the middle of winter, the speaker saw Dikran standing in the middle of the street with something in his hand. It was a hummingbird—a beautiful bird of the summer. The speaker ...

 Background of the Poem -  Edgar Albert Guest was known as the “People’s Poet” because his poems focused on ordinary life, courage, hope, hard work, and optimism. The poem “Courage! Courage! Courage!” was written to inspire people to remain brave and determined during hardships. It reflects the struggles of human life and teaches that courage and resilience help people overcome failures and difficulties. Summary of the Poem (Only For Reading) The poem encourages people to stay courageous during difficult times. Life is full of struggles, failures, disappointments, and uncertainties. The poet says that one should not lose hope or complain when problems arise. Instead, a person must face hardships with dignity and strength. The poem explains that success does not come easily, and everyone experiences setbacks. Courage is tested when life becomes difficult. Complaining or regretting cannot change one’s situation; only determination and perseverance can help a person move forwar...

 Courage! Courage! Courage! by Edgar Albert Guest (Only For Reading) This is an inspirational and motivational poem by Edgar Albert Guest. The speaker says that when one goes through tough and difficult situations and the burden of responsibilities grows heavy, and it becomes tiresome to carry on with in life any longer; one should call on one’s courage and go ahead in life. It is not always possible to experience victory or success at the very first always go or all the time. Every individual must deal with setbacks and failures at different points of time. During these difficult times, it is essential for the person to handle the situation with grace and dignity by taking everything in their stride. Just how they accept their gains and profits with dignity, they should embrace their losses and failure. Whining or complaining about the situation will not yield any desirable result. Courage and resilience are the need of the hour and therefore is essential for people to not fail as...