Geography Lesson (Poem)
Summary of the Poem “Geography Lesson”
In Simple English:
The poem talks about how the Earth looks from a flying jet. From high up, cities seem neatly planned, unlike their messy appearance from the ground. As the jet goes higher, the poet notices that cities are often near rivers, and valleys are filled with people—this is called the “logic of geography.” From six miles high, the Earth looks round with more water than land. However, the poet is confused why humans fight, build walls, and hate each other. These actions make no sense when seen from the peaceful view of the whole Earth.
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सरल हिंदी में सारांश:
यह कविता एक उड़ते हुए जेट से देखी गई पृथ्वी के दृश्य के बारे में है। ऊँचाई से शहर एक सुनियोजित नक्शे जैसे लगते हैं, जबकि ज़मीन से वे अस्त-व्यस्त दिखाई देते हैं। जेट के और ऊपर जाने पर कवि देखता है कि शहर अक्सर नदियों के पास बसे होते हैं और घाटियाँ लोगों से भरी होती हैं—इसे “भूगोल का तर्क” कहा जाता है। छह मील की ऊँचाई से पृथ्वी गोल दिखती है, जहाँ ज़मीन से ज़्यादा पानी है। लेकिन कवि को समझ नहीं आता कि इंसान आपस में लड़ते क्यों हैं, दीवारें बनाते हैं और नफ़रत करते हैं। पृथ्वी के इस शांतिपूर्ण नज़ारे से ये बातें बिल्कुल बेमतलब लगती हैं।
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Key Message:
The poem shows how Earth’s natural patterns make sense, but human conflicts and divisions do not.
*(कविता यह दिखाती है कि पृथ्वी के प्राकृतिक नियम समझ आते हैं, लेकिन इंसानों का झगड़ा और बँटवारा बेमतलब है।)
Questions and Answers from the Poem “Geography Lesson”
1. Find three or four phrases in stanzas one and two which are likely to occur in a geography lesson.
Answer:
- “scaled six inches to the mile”
- “rivers ran and why the valleys were populated”
- “The logic of geography — that land and water attracted man”
- “clearly delineated”
2. Seen from the window of an aeroplane, the city appears
(i) as haphazard as on ground.
(ii) as neat as a map.
(iii) as developed as necessary.
Mark the right answer.
Answer: (ii) as neat as a map.
3. Which of the following statements are examples of “the logic of geography”?
(i) There are cities where there are rivers.
(ii) Cities appear as they are not from six miles above the ground.
(iii) It is easy to understand why valleys are populated.
(iv) It is difficult to understand why humans hate and kill one another.
(v) The earth is round, and it has more sea than land.
Answer: (i), (iii), and (v)
4. Mention two things that are
(i) clear from the height:
- The way cities are planned near rivers and valleys.
- The earth is round and has more water than land.
(ii) not clear from the height:
- Why humans fight and hate each other.
- Why people build walls and divide cities.
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