Important question-answers for the Class 10 English poem ‘Fable’ by Ralph Waldo Emerson. This article is part of the new syllabus for Madhyamik (WBBSE) students. In this article , we discuss the entire poem “Fable” line by line in Bengali, followed by a detailed analysis of all important MCQ and 2-mark questions that are crucial for your board exams. Understand the deeper moral lesson of the poem and learn how to write perfect answers to score full marks. Class 10 English Fable
The mountain and the squirrel
Had a quarrel:
And the former called the latter
“Little Prig.”
Bun replied,
“You are doubtless very big;
But all sorts of things and weather
Must be taken in together
To make up a year
And a sphere.
And I think it’s no disgrace
To occupy my place.
If I’m not so large as you,
You are not so small as I,
And not half so spry.
I’ll not deny you make
A very pretty squirrel track;
Talents differ: all is well and wisely put;
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut.
What does the word ‘fable’ refer to?
The word ‘fable’ refers to a story which has animals as its characters and conveys a moral lesson (নীতিশিক্ষা) to its readers. Class 10 English Fable
Who are the two characters mentioned in the poem ‘Fable’?
The two characters mentioned in the poem ‘Fable’ are the ‘mountain’ and the ‘squirrel’.
What are the mountain and the squirrel engaged in?
The mountain and the squirrel are engaged in a quarrel.
‘And the former called the latter ‘Little Prig'” – Who is referred to here as the ‘former’?
The mountain is referred to here as the former.
Who is referred to here as the ‘latter’?
The squirrel is referred to here as the ‘latter’.
Who was called ‘Little Prig’?
The squirrel was called ‘Little Prig’. Class 10 English Fable
Who called the squirrel ‘Little Prig’?
The mountain called the squirrel ‘Little Prig’.
Why did the mountain call the squirrel ‘Little Prig’?
The mountain called the squirrel ‘little Prig’ because the squirrel was small in size. The mountain called the squirrel so to ridicule(বিদ্রুপ করা) it for its size.
Who is referred to here by the word ‘Bun’?
The squirrel is referred to here by the word ‘Bun’.
Who is doubtlessly (নিঃসন্দেহে) big?
The mountain is doubtlessly big. Class 10 English Fable
What are to be taken in together to make up a year and a sphere?
All sorts of things and whether must be taken in together to make up a year and a sphere.
What does the word ‘sphere’ mean?
The word ‘sphere’ means the earth.
What does the squirrel try to mean when it says “….all sorts of things and weather/ Must be taken in together,/To make up a year /And a sphere.”?
The squirrel means that a year is made up of various seasons. The earth is also made up of various objects. Different seasons stay side by side to make up a year. Likewise different objects stay together to make up a sphere (earth or a planet such as earth).
Does the squirrel think it disgrace to occupy its own place?
The squirrel does not think it disgraceful (অবমাননাকর) to occupy its own place. Class 10 English Fable
Why does the squirrel not think it disgraceful to occupy its own place?
The squirrel does not think it a disgrace because the squirrel has been sent to earth to play its specific role, live in a specific way, and stay in a particular place. It is the law of nature and the squirrel has no objection to it. It has happily accepted its place.
“If I’m not so large as you,/ You are not so small as I,/ And not half so spry.” – Who says this?
The squirrel says the above words are said to the mountain.
“If I’m not so large as you,/ You are not so small as I,/ And not half so spry.” – Why does the squirrel say so?
The squirrel says so to show that everyone on this earth has a specific role to play. Everyone on this earth has his or her strong points and also has his or her limitations(সীমাবদ্ধতা). No one is perfect. So no one should ridicule others for smaller size and feel proud of one’s bigger size. Being smaller in size has its benefits too. On the other hand, being bigger in size is not always good or beneficial (লাভদায়ক). Being bigger like the mountain may make one powerful. But being smaller like the squirrel may make one move faster from one place to another. Class 10 English Fable
What/who is ‘not half so spry’ than the squirrel?
The mountain is not half so spry (চঞ্চল) than the squirrel.
What is the fact that the squirrel cannot deny (অস্বীকার করা)?
The squirrel cannot deny that the mountain makes a very pretty (সুন্দর) squirrel track.
Who had a quarrel with squirrel?
The mountain had a quarrel with the squirrel.
What did the mountain call the squirrel?
The mountain called the squirrel a ‘little prig’. Class 10 English Fable
Who puts all well and wisely?
The creator, God, puts all well and wisely.
What according to the squirrel, always differs?
According to the squirrel, talents always differ.
Who makes a track for the squirrel?
The mountain makes a track for the squirrel. Class 10 English Fable
Mention two qualities of the mountain?
Two qualities of mountain are-
i) A mountain can make a very pretty squirrel track.
ii) A mountain can carry forests on its back.
MCQ from the Poem “Fable”
1. What is a ‘fable’?
A. A long poem with a tragic ending
B. A scientific story with facts
C. A short story with moral lessons and animals as characters
D. A biography of a poet
Answer: C. A short story with moral lessons and animals as characters
2. Who are the two characters in the poem ‘Fable’?
A. River and Squirrel
B. Sun and Moon
C. Mountain and Squirrel
D. Forest and Cloud
Answer: C. Mountain and Squirrel
3. What were the mountain and the squirrel doing?
A. Playing
B. Sleeping
C. Quarreling
D. Eating
Answer: C. Quarreling Class 10 English Fable
4. Who is referred to as the ‘former’?
A. The squirrel
B. The mountain
C. The poet
D. The river
Answer: B. The mountain Class 10 English Fable
5. Who is referred to as the ‘latter’?
A. The moon
B. The mountain
C. The squirrel
D. The cloud
Answer: C. The squirrel
6. Who was called ‘Little Prig’?
A. The mountain
B. The squirrel
C. The sun
D. The forest
Answer: B. The squirrel Class 10 English Fable
7. Who called the squirrel ‘Little Prig’?
A. The river
B. The wind
C. The mountain
D. The poet
Answer: C. The mountain
8. Why did the mountain call the squirrel ‘Little Prig’?
A. Because the squirrel ran away
B. Because the squirrel was too loud
C. Because the squirrel was small in size
D. Because the squirrel didn’t work
Answer: C. Because the squirrel was small in size
9. Who is referred to as ‘Bun’ in the poem?
A. The poet
B. The squirrel
C. The cloud
D. The mountain
Answer: B. The squirrel
10. Who is doubtlessly very big? Class 10 English Fable
A. The squirrel
B. The mountain
C. The tree
D. The sun
Answer: B. The mountain
11. What must be taken together to make up a year and a sphere?
A. Days and nights
B. Months and weeks
C. All sorts of things and weather
D. Time and space
Answer: C. All sorts of things and weather
12. What does the word ‘sphere’ refer to in the poem?
A. A basketball
B. A balloon
C. The sun
D. The earth
Answer: D. The earth
13. What lesson does the squirrel try to convey through “…all sorts of things and weather…”? Class 10 English Fable
A. That only big things matter
B. That all things together create balance
C. That only mountains are important
D. That rain is more useful than sunshine
Answer: B. That all things together create balance
14. Does the squirrel think it is disgraceful to occupy its own place? Class 10 English Fable
A. Yes
B. No
Answer: B. No
15. Why does the squirrel accept its position?
A. It believes in God’s design
B. It wants to be lazy
C. It hates the mountain
D. It wants to grow taller
Answer: A. It believes in God’s design
16. “If I’m not so large as you,/ You are not so small as I,/ And not half so spry.” – Who says this?
A. The poet
B. The mountain
C. The squirrel
D. The cloud
Answer: C. The squirrel
17. What does ‘spry’ mean in the poem?
A. Lazy
B. Tall
C. Energetic and active
D. Big and powerful
Answer: C. Energetic and active
18. Who is ‘not half so spry’ as the squirrel?
A. The tree
B. The cloud
C. The mountain
D. The wind
Answer: C. The mountain
19. What is the fact that the squirrel cannot deny?
A. The mountain is always angry
B. The mountain makes a pretty squirrel track
C. The squirrel is better
D. The sun rises
Answer: B. The mountain makes a pretty squirrel track
20. According to the squirrel, what always differs?
A. Colours
B. Size
C. Talents
D. Temperatures
Answer: C. Talents
21. Who makes the track for the squirrel?
A. The rain
B. The mountain
C. The forest
D. The squirrel itself
Answer: B. The mountain
22. Mention two qualities of the mountain.
A. It sings and dances
B. It glows and runs
C. It makes tracks for squirrels and carries forests
D. It shines and speaks
Answer: C. It makes tracks for squirrels and carries forests
1. State whether the following statements are True or False. Provide sentences/phrases/words in support of your answer:
(a) The mountain called the squirrel “Little Bun”. [ F ]
Supporting statement: And the former called the latter ‘Little Prig’
(b) The squirrel is sprier than the mountain. [ T ]
Supporting statement: You are not so small as I, And not half so spry.
(c) The mountain can carry forests on its back. [ T ]
Supporting statement: If I cannot carry forests on my back, Neither can you crack a nut.
2. Answer the following questions:
(a) Who had a quarrel with the squirrel?
Ans: The mountain had a quarrel with the squirrel.
(b) What is not a disgrace to the squirrel?
Ans: To occupy his place is not a disgrace to the squirrel.
(c) What is it that the squirrel doesn’t deny?
Ans: The squirrel doesn’t deny that the mountain makes a very pretty squirrel track.
Grammar in use
3. Replace the underlined words with suitable phrasal verbs from the list given below. Change the form of verbs where necessary. There is one extra phrasal verb in the list:
(a) Rabi met his friend in the park. Came across
(b) Tanushree cannot tolerate cruel behaviour to animals. Put up with
(c) His proposal was rejected. Turned down
List: turn down, come over, put up with, come across
4. Change the voice of the following sentences:
(a) Lock the door.
Ans: Let the door be locked.
(b) Ashim knows the solution to this problem.
Ans: The solution to this problem is known to Ashim.
(c) I had written a letter.
Ans: A letter had been written by me.
Writing activities
5. Write a letter to your friend (within 100 words) advising her / him to visit the public library in her / his locality as frequently as possible.
(Letter Content)
Parulia
Purbasthali
Burdewan-713513
July 5, 2026
Dear Papai,
I received your letter yesterday. I was glad to read it. I came to know from your daily routine that you are not a frequent visitor of the public library in your locality.
Public library is a storehouse of knowledge and education. Besides your syllabus you will get an opportunity to read so many other books there. It has a huge collection of novels, dramas, short stories, poems, biographies, magazines, comics, etc. of renowned authors and publishers. It provides a calm and quiet environment which will develop your reading habits. So, try to visit the public library of your locality as frequently as possible. It will enhance your knowledge and increase your wisdom to a great extent.
Rest is okay. More in the next letter. Convey my best regards to your parents and love to your brother and sister.
Yours Sincerely,
Papai
To
Sourav Roy
New Colony
Azad Nagar
Siwan- 841226
6. Write a paragraph (within 100 words) on the benefits of early morning exercises using the following points:
good for health— fresh air— keeps one active throughout the day
(Paragraph Content)
Benefits of early morning exercises
It is rightly said that health is wealth. Early morning exercise is very beneficial for our health. The air is fresh in the morning. So, early morning exercise activates our internal organs and regulates blood circulation in our body. It refreshes our mind and body and helps us in removing negativity and filling our mind with positive thoughts.
Early morning exercise boosts our confidence level to a great extent. It keeps us active and energetic throughout the day. Exercising early in the morning also improves our digestive system. Thus, it keeps us both physically and mentally fit. There are many kinds of early morning exercises, like: walking, jogging, running, yoga, etc. To live a healthy life everyone must do early morning exercises.