Class 9 English

Chapter 2 Solutions — The Pot Maker

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Solutions

Overview

Step-by-step NCERT solutions for The Pot Maker (Chapter 2, NCERT Class 9 English) — the full working for every question, not just the final answer. You can also read the The Pot Maker textbook chapter.

Solved

What these solutions cover

All 40 questions in The Pot Maker are solved in the PDF. Here's what's inside, exercise by exercise:

Check Your Understanding (mid-story) — The Pot Maker

Do you think pot making is easy? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Would Sentila be able to fulfil her dream of becoming a pot maker? Explain.
Do you think Mesoba and Arenla would support Sentila? Give a reason.

Check Your Understanding (post-story) — The Pot Maker

Do you think Onula's support helped Sentila? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Sentila observes her mother making pots. What does this tell us about her?
Arrange the following events of the story in the correct sequence. 1. The village council called Mesoba to know about Arenla's unwillingness to teach pottery to Sentila. 2. Arenla made a new batch of pots and asked Sentila to continue the work as she was unwell. 3. Sentila observed how other expert potters crafted beautiful pots. 4. Sentila was passionate about pottery but did not share it with…

Critical Reflection I (extract-based) — The Pot Maker

1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow …
- (i) Choose the correct reason for the given assertion. Assertion (A): The effort in making pots is far greater than the returns. A. The process of pot making is quite tiresome and long, and one hardly earns much. B. The process of pot making is exhausting, takes a long time, yet gives a sense of satisfaction.
- (ii) Why does Arenla want Sentila to learn weaving?
- (iii) State one advantage that weaving has over pot making, as per the extract.
- (iv) Choose the sentence that uses the word 'handsome' in the same way as in the extract. A. My father is a handsome man. B. They will make a handsome profit selling this property.
- (v) 'And the reward? A few rupees.' What is the author's purpose of using a question mark here?
2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow …
- (i) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason. Onula feels Sentila's effort at making a pot is clumsy because ______________.
- (ii) Choose the correct option to complete the following sentence. 'Don't worry, little one, I shall teach you how to make a perfect pot.' This shows that Onula was _____________. A. sincere and generous B. forgiving and thoughtful C. thoughtful and generous D. forgiving and sincere
- (iii) Which among the following is the effect of a cause? A. As a result, the clay seemed unable or unwilling to yield the right shape. B. Onula saw her taking out some clay and the implements from her basket quietly.
- (iv) 'Onula fashioned a beautiful pot.' Here, the word 'fashioned' means ____________. (created/styled)
- (v) How might Sentila have felt when she saw 'the misshapen lump fall flat on the ground'?

Critical Reflection II (questions) — The Pot Maker

Describe the process of pot making followed by expert pot makers, as observed by Sentila.
What warning was given to Mesoba by the village council?
How did Sentila feel when she failed at pot making even after a year of training with her mother?
'Onula stood there for a long time as if trying to absorb a new phenomenon.' Explain.
'The tradition and history of the people did not belong to any individual.' What does this symbolise?
What is the significance of the concluding line of the story, 'A new pot maker was born'?
What is the role of perseverance in pursuing one's dreams? Elaborate with reference to Sentila.

Vocabulary and Structures in Context I — The Pot Maker

Classify the following words/phrases as Tools/Implements, Raw Materials, or Process. (Words: dao, dough, pounding, bamboo, clay, kiln, spatula, basket, cylinders, rotating, bed of hay, shaping). The table already places dao under Tools/Implements, dough under Raw Materials, and pounding under Process as examples.

Vocabulary and Structures in Context III — Grammar (Noun Clauses and Relative Clauses) — The Pot Maker

1.
Complete the following sentences with suitable noun clauses.
- (i) The elders emphasised that ___________________.
- (ii) Mesoba explained why ____________________.
- (iii) Onula's promise was that ___________________.
- (iv) Sentila observed her mother carefully when she was shaping the mouth of the pot, which ____________________.
- (v) The kiln, where _____________________, required careful attention…
2.
Underline the main clause and circle the subordinate clause in the following sentences.
- (i) Arenla took Sentila to the riverbank where the grey and red clay was found.
- (ii) She started on the next one, and like a sprinter who had suddenly found momentum...
- (iii) … skills such as pot making, which not only catered to the needs of the people...
3.
Complete the following sentences with suitable relative clauses.
- (i) Sentila, whose ____________, practised the craft diligently.
- (ii) The village council, where ____________, sought an explanation for Arenla's reluctance.
- (iii) The potter's hands, which _____________, shaped the clay into beautiful creations.
- (iv) Arenla, her mother, wanted her to learn weaving, which ______________________…
Find out some more determiners from the text of 'The Pot Maker'. (ii) Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners. (First two blanks already done: 'The florist arranged five bouquets for her clients, that were displayed in ____________ elegant floral shop.' / 'The carpenter crafted ____________ unique tables, and _____________________ became the centrepiece in ____________________ furniture…

Reflect and Respond I (riddles) — Gifts of Grace: Honouring Our Vocations

Read the four riddles and identify who these people are. 1. 'In furrows deep, secrets I sow, / As time passes, / I watch them grow. / Who am I?' 2. 'From wheel to kiln, my skill is born, / Step by step, an art takes form. / Who am I?' 3. 'I lay foundations, brick by brick, / To build a house, it's me you pick. / Who am I?' 4. 'I work with pots, pans, and spice, / Creating dishes that taste so…

Check Your Understanding I (True/False) — Gifts of Grace: Honouring Our Vocations

Based on your understanding of the poem, state whether the following statements are true or false. Rectify the false statements. 1. The poem highlights the skilled work of craftsperson. 2. The poet shares that musicians express emotions through their instruments. 3. The carpenters in the poem are admired for their logical work. 4. The electricians in the poem are recognised for their crucial…

Check Your Understanding II (Poetry Appreciation) — Gifts of Grace: Honouring Our Vocations

1.
Rhyme Scheme and Lineation.
- (i) Does the poem strictly adhere to a rhyme scheme, or is it in free verse?
- (ii) What is the impact of the varying length of lines in the poem?
- (iii) What is the pattern in the structure of most lines of the poem?
Speaker. (i) Who appears to be the speaker and what is her/his role here?
Tone and Mood. (i) Fill in the blanks with suitable options from the box: serious, celebratory, hostile, reverential, joyful, sympathetic. A. The tone is ______________ and ______________, depicting a sense of admiration and respect for the artisans and craftspersons. B. There is a ______________ mood throughout the poem, capturing the vibrancy and richness of cultural traditions and skills.
4.
Imagery.
- (i) Select any two descriptions from the poem that evoke visual images.
- (ii) Fill in the blanks with suitable phrases. 'The poem includes auditory imagery through mentions of artisans with lutes, _______________, and _______________, emphasising the sounds associated with each vocation.'
Metaphor. (i) State whether the following sentence is true or false. 'The mention of "delicious singing" of the cook is a metaphor because it implies that the quality of the singing is so enjoyable or pleasing that it can be equated to the experience of tasting something delicious.'
Personification. (i) Select the line that tells us that the poet personifies vocations by attributing human-like qualities to them.
Repetition. (i) Why might the poet have begun and ended with the same line — 'I hear Bharat celebrating, the varied vocations I hear!'?
Alliteration. (i) Identify two examples of alliteration from the poem.
Symbolism. (i) Each vocation in the poem symbolises something more than just a job. What does it symbolise?

Critical Reflection I (extract-based) — Gifts of Grace: Honouring Our Vocations

1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow … 1. The poet says that the shoemakers 'affirm' the quality of their work. What does 'affirm' refer to here?
- (i) to make adjustments in
- (ii) to declare with confidence
- (iii) to label the goods
- (iv) to justify the efforts 2. What do quality shoes help with, according to the poet? 3. What does 'return home' symbolise besides the literal act of returning? 4. Identify the phrase that tells us that every worker's contribution is distinct. 5. Complete the following with suitable words. '…for the feet that walk, dance, run, jump, return home' refers to ___________.

Critical Reflection II (questions) — Gifts of Grace: Honouring Our Vocations

Why does the poet say, 'I hear Bharat celebrating, the varied vocations I hear'?
What does the electrician 'humming' while getting ready for work suggest?
Explain the significance of the line, 'The voice of their vocation is the voice of their identity.'
Do you think the role of all the people belonging to different vocations is important in our daily lives? Support your answer with a reason.
Why is the poet celebrating all the vocations in the poem? Explain by giving examples from your context.
How does the poet use sensory imagery to bring out the beauty of everyday work?

Vocabulary in Context I (matching vocations) — Gifts of Grace: Honouring Our Vocations

Match the vocations given in the box with the descriptions that follow. (Vocations: ASHA worker, confectioner, sericulturist, welder, horticulturist, goldsmith) 1. A person who studies or grows garden plants: ___________ 2. A trained female community health worker: ___________ 3. A producer of raw silk: ___________ 4. A person whose job is making or selling sweets and chocolates: ___________ 5…

Vocabulary in Context II (find the non-synonym) — Gifts of Grace: Honouring Our Vocations

1.
Identify the word from Column 2 that is NOT a synonym of the word in Column 1. Column 1 → Column 2 1. myriad →
- (i) countable, innumerable, numerous, abundant 2. hues →
- (ii) shades, tints, drawing, colour 3. precision →
- (iii) exactness, accuracy, correctness, calculation 4. varied →
- (iv) assorted, diverse, uniform, different 5. delicious →
- (v) mouth-watering, inedible, tasty, flavourful

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