William Cowper’s poem, “The Snail,” is a significant part of the Class 10 English syllabus under the WBBSE. This seemingly simple poem carries deep insights into the nature of self-sufficiency, solitude, and security. To help students master this chapter, we have compiled a list of 24 important “WH” questions and their answers (শামুক কবিতার প্রশ্ন উত্তর). Whether you are preparing for your school exams or the final Madhyamik board exam, this guide will provide clear, point-wise answers to help you understand the poem’s themes, literary devices, and key details thoroughly. Let’s begin our detailed analysis.
The Snail Class 10 Questions and Answers
- Where does the snail usually stick itself to? Where does the snail usually stick itself or attach itself to?
Ans: The snail usually sticks itself to grass, leaf, fruit, or wall. - Where from does the snail never fear to fall? From where does the snail never fear falling?
Ans: The snail never fears to fall from grass, leaf, fruit, or wall where it sticks close, from the things it sticks to closely. - Why does the snail not fear to fall? Why does the snail not fear falling?
Ans: The snail does not fear to fall as it sticks close to grass, leaf, fruit, or wall. - Here a sentence is given, “As if he grew there,” as if he grew up there.
Now there are two questions. The first question is, What is the source of this line? What is the source of this line?
Ans: The source of this line is ‘The Snail’ written by William Cowper. The source of this line is the poem ‘The Snail’ written by William Cowper.
The second question is, What does ‘there’ refer to? What does ‘there’ refer to?
Ans: In the sentence, ‘there’ refers to the grass, leaf, fruit, or wall where the snail sticks close. In this sentence, ‘there’ refers to the grass, leaf, fruit, or wall where the snail is stuck. - Again, the same line is given, “As if he grew there,” as if he grew up there. Here also, there are two questions. The first question, Where did the snail grow? Where did the snail grow up?
Ans: The snail grew on grass, leaf, fruit, or wall where it stuck close. It’s in the past tense, so ‘stick’ is changed to ‘stuck’.
The second question is, How did the snail grow there? How did the snail grow up there?
Ans: The snail grew there with its house and all together, with its house and everything together. - What is the house of the snail? What is the snail’s house?
Ans: The house of the snail is its shell, in which it keeps its body. - Where does a snail hide and how? Where does a snail hide and how does it hide?
Ans: A snail hides within its house or shell securely, safely. - When does the snail hide in house? When does the snail hide inside its house?
Ans: The snail hides in its house when it faces to coming danger, when it faces imminent danger. - What dangers are referred to in the poem ‘The Snail’? What dangers are referred to in the poem ‘The Snail’?
Ans: The danger of storm and the other harms besides of weather are referred to in the poem ‘The Snail’. The danger of storms and other harms besides weather are referred to in the poem ‘The Snail’. - Find out a simile (উপমা) from the poem. Find a simile from the poem.
Ans: The tentacles of snail are compared to the horns of animals. The snail’s tentacles are compared to the horns of animals. This is a simile. And the tentacles are called horns. - What does the word ‘imminent’ mean? What is the meaning of the word ‘imminent’?
Ans: The word ‘imminent’ means ‘likely to happen soon’. The meaning of the word ‘imminent’ is something that is about to happen soon. - What will happen if the snail’s horns are touched slightly? What will happen if the snail’s horns are touched lightly?
Ans: If the snail’s horns are touched slightly then it shrinks into its house with much displeasure. If the snail’s horns are touched lightly, then it shrinks and goes into its house with great displeasure. - What makes the snail displeased? What makes the snail unhappy?
Ans: If the horns of the snail are touched then it feels displeased. If the snail’s horns are touched, then it feels unhappy. - With whom does the snail live? With whom does the snail live?
Ans: The snail lives with no one. The snail lives with no one. - Why does the snail dwell alone? Why does the snail live alone?
Ans: The snail dwells alone because it likes to be satisfied with itself. - What makes the snail well satisfied? What makes the snail very satisfied?
Ans: The snail’s own whole treasure (meaning its body) makes it well satisfied. - With whom is the snail compared to? To whom is the snail compared?
Ans: The snail is compared to a hermit. The snail is compared to a hermit. - How does the snail feed faster? How does the snail eat faster?
Ans: While eating the food then if the snail sees another snail to come, it starts to feed faster. When it is eating, if the snail sees another snail coming, it starts to eat faster. - Why can’t anyone find the snail when it is inside the house? Why can no one find the snail when it is inside its house?
Ans: Anyone can’t find the snail when it is inside the house because it and its house are combined. No one can find the snail when it is inside its house because it and its house are combined. - What is the moral of the poem? What is the moral of this poem? What is the lesson it teaches?
Ans: The moral lesson that the poem gives, is that though the snail is a very small creature, it does not fear to face any difficult situation. - What nature of the snail has been described in the poem? What kind of character or nature of the snail is described in the poem?
Ans: In his poem the poet describes the brave and confident character of the snail. In his poem, the poet describes the brave and self-confident character of the snail. - What is the source of the poem? What is the source of the poem?
Ans: The source of the poem is ‘Limax’. - How type of a poem is ‘The Snail’?
Ans: ‘The Snail’ is a romantic poem and also a nature poem. ‘The Snail’ is an imaginative poem and also a nature poem. - What does a person find when he wants to see the snail? What does a person see when they want to see the snail?
Ans: The person who wants to see the snail, finds only its house as it hides itself inside the shell. The person who wants to see the snail only finds its house because it hides itself inside the shell.
Comprehension Exercises
1. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:
(a) With the slightest touch, the snail shrinks into its house with
→ (i) displeasure
(b) In its house, the snail lives with
→ (iv) no one
(c) The poet has compared the snail to a
→ (ii) hermit
2. State whether the following statements are True or False. Provide supporting statements:
(a) The snail fears to fall from the wall.
→ False
Supporting Statement: “To grass, or leaf or fruit or wall, the snail sticks close, nor fears to fall.”
(b) The snail comes out of his house during a storm.
→ False
Supporting Statement: “Within that house secure he hides when danger imminent betides of storm…”
(c) The snail and his house are conjoined.
→ True
Supporting Statement: “He and his house are so combined.”
3. Answer the following questions:
(a) What does the snail usually stick itself to?
→ The snail usually sticks itself to grass, leaf, fruit, and wall.
(b) What makes the snail well-satisfied?
→ To be his own whole treasure makes the snail well satisfied.
(c) When does the snail feed faster?
→ The snail feeds faster if he finds a partner.
Grammar in Use
Change the following sentences into questions (as directed):
(a) Siraj always rises early.
→ Does Siraj always rise early?
(b) Joyce is the best singer in the class.
→ Who is the best singer in the class?
(c) He saw the rainbow.
→ Did he see the rainbow?
(d) I go to school by bus.
→ How do you go to school?
Writing Activity
Write a letter (within 100 words) to the editor of an English daily about the disturbances caused by the thoughtless use of loudspeakers.
To
The Editor,
The Daily Herald,
Kolkata – 700001
Subject: Thoughtless Use of Loudspeakers
Respected Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I wish to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to the problems caused by the careless use of loudspeakers. Loud music is played at full volume during festivals and events, disturbing students and the elderly. It becomes hard to concentrate or rest.
I request you to highlight this issue in your editorial so that necessary action can be taken to regulate loudspeaker usage.
Yours faithfully,
Sourav Roy
Chandannagar, Hooghly
Date: 04/07/2026