Chapter 2.4 – How doth the little busy bee
(a) How Doth the Little Busy Bee: The poet says that the busy little bee collects honey all day long from every bud that has begun to bloom. It keeps improving as time passes. The bee then skillfully builds her cell, which is like a compartment in honeycombs. She spreads the wax neatly and works hard to store it with the sweets that she prepares.
(b) A Parody: The little crocodile makes his shining tail look better. He pours the water of the Nile on all his golden scales. He grins cheerfully and spreads his hands neatly. He welcomes the lule ashes into his jaws, which seem to be smiling gently.
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
1. Write the meaning of :
(i) doth
Ans: does
(ii) opening (in the context of the poem)
Ans: blooming
(iii) cell
Ans: a compartment in the honeycomb
2. A parody is a playful, comic imitation of a writer’s style. A parody is like a verbal cartoon. Compare the original poem and its parody given on page 35 using the following points :
| How doth the little busy bee (original) | How doth the little crocodile (parody) |
|---|---|
Choice of subject (an animal) : ........................... | ........................... ........................... |
Number of lines and stanzas : ........................... | ........................... ........................... |
Same or similar constructions : ........................... | ........................... ........................... |
Tone of the poem : ........................... | ........................... ........................... |
Ans:
| How doth the little busy bee (original) | How doth the little crocodile (parody) |
|---|---|
Choice of subject (an animal) : A bee | Choice of subject (an animal) : A crocodile |
Number of lines and stanzas : 8 lines, 2 stanzas | Number of lines and stanzas : 8 lines, 2 stanzas |
Same or similar constructions : Yes | Same or similar constructions : Yes |
Tone of the poem : Serious, moralistic, inspirational | Tone of the poem : Witty, humorous, sarcastic |
3. Answer the following questions and write in short, why the parody sounds funny.
(a) What does the bee stand for?
Ans: The bee stands for the creator, who is a model of hard work.
(b) What does the crocodile stand for?
Ans: The crocodile stands for the destroyer, a killer.
(c) Why does the bee work hour after hour?
Ans: The bee works hour after hour to gather honey from the flowers.
(d) Why does the crocodile work?
Ans: The crocodile works to attract the fish so that he can catch and eat them.
(e) Is the bee a gentle creature? Is the crocodile gentle?
Ans: The bee is shown to be gentle but the crocodile is not gentle.
4. Describe a crocodile in your own words. Which of the words and phrases in the poem will you use in a realistic description? Put a tick mark against the ones you will use.
little
shining
tail
golden
scale
cheerful
grin
claws ✓
gently
smiling
jaws ✓
Ans: The crocodile is a carnivorous animal which kills fish and other creatures. It looks cruel with strong jaws lined with huge, sharp teeth. Its claws hold the victim strongly, preventing it from escaping. It is a predator that kills.
5. Note that most of the times well-known works are parodied, because people can enjoy the parody better when they know the original. Try to find more examples of parodies in English or other languages.
Ans: Students must do this on their own.
6. What do you like better – the original poem or the parody? Why?
Ans: I like the parody better. It is witty and funny and makes a cruel predator look interesting. The original poem is very serious.