Grooming of a Boy Summary and Explanation

PSEB Class 9 English  Chapter 1 Grooming of a Boy Summary, Explanation along with Difficult Word Meanings from English Main Course Book

 

Grooming of a Boy Summary  – Are you looking for the summary, theme and Lesson explanation for Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) Class 9 English Chapter 1 – Grooming of a Boy from English Main Course Book. Get Lesson summary, theme, explanation along with difficult word meanings

 

PSEB Class 9 English Main Course Book Chapter 1 – Grooming of a Boy

 

Abraham Lincoln’s son is at school. Lincoln writes a letter to his son’s teacher requesting him to mould the boy in such a way that he grows up to be a good human being. The letter gives important life lessons to build a high character and values.

 

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Grooming of a Boy Summary

The chapter is about the letter written by Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. President, to his son’s teacher. He requests the teacher to teach him various life lessons. He wants his son to have a balanced attitude. He should not think everyone is fair and honest or selfish and unprincipled. Getting something after hard work is more important than getting something by doing nothing. His son should know that every enemy can be a friend. He should accept failure instead of cheating. He should enjoy winning. He should not be envious of others. He should not bully or be bullied. He should both read and go outside and explore the world. He should have faith in himself instead of jumping on the bandwagon. He should listen to everyone but only take in the good and useful things. He should learn to cry but also to laugh during hard times. He should not be either cynical or too trusting. His son should sell his brain and brawn but not his heart and soul. He wants the teacher to be gentle but not too much affectionate. He knows that he is asking a lot from the teacher, but he desperately wants his son to develop in the right direction.

Summary of the Lesson Grooming of a Boy in Hindi

यह अध्याय अमेरिका के 16वें राष्ट्रपति अब्राहम लिंकन द्वारा अपने बेटे के शिक्षक को लिखे गए पत्र के बारे में है। वह शिक्षक से जीवन के कई महत्वपूर्ण सबक सिखाने का अनुरोध करते हैं। वह चाहते हैं कि उनके बेटे का दृष्टिकोण संतुलित हो। उसे यह नहीं सोचना चाहिए कि हर कोई निष्पक्ष और ईमानदार है या स्वार्थी और सिद्धांतहीन। कड़ी मेहनत के बाद कुछ पाना, बिना कुछ किए कुछ पाने से ज़्यादा महत्वपूर्ण है। उनके बेटे को यह जानना चाहिए कि हर दुश्मन दोस्त हो सकता है। उसे धोखा देने के बजाय असफलता को स्वीकार करना चाहिए। उसे जीत का आनंद लेना चाहिए। उसे दूसरों से ईर्ष्या नहीं करनी चाहिए। उसे न तो धमकाना चाहिए और न ही धमकाया जाना चाहिए। उसे पढ़ना चाहिए और साथ ही बाहर जाकर दुनिया को भी देखना चाहिए। उसे भीड़ में शामिल होने के बजाय खुद पर भरोसा रखना चाहिए। उसे सबकी बात सुननी चाहिए, लेकिन सिर्फ़ अच्छी और उपयोगी बातों को ही ग्रहण करना चाहिए। उसे मुश्किल समय में रोना और हँसना भी सीखना चाहिए। उसे न तो निंदक होना चाहिए और न ही बहुत ज़्यादा भरोसा करने वाला। उसके बेटे को अपना दिमाग और ताकत बेचनी चाहिए, लेकिन अपना दिल और आत्मा नहीं। वह चाहता है कि शिक्षक कोमल हो, लेकिन बहुत ज़्यादा स्नेही न हो। वह जानता है कि वह शिक्षक से बहुत कुछ माँग रहा है, लेकिन वह चाहता है कि उसका बेटा सही दिशा में आगे बढ़े।

Theme of the Lesson Grooming of a Boy

The chapter is centred around paternal love and hope. Abraham Lincoln hopes that his son will grow up to be a strong and honourable man. He wants his son to imbibe various qualities: not to be judgmental, to value hard work, to have faith in himself, to accept failure, etc. Therefore, the chapter talks about the development of a child into a good man. It highlights the hope and worry every parent carries inside them for their child.

 

Grooming of a Boy Lesson Explanation

 

Passage: He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero; that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader. Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend. It will take time, I know; but teach him, if you can, that a dollar earned is of far more value than five found. Teach him to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning.

Word-meanings:
scoundrel: unprincipled person
dedicated: committed

Explanation: Abraham Lincoln wants his son to learn that not everyone is fair and honest. He wants his son to learn that not every person is unprincipled. A few people in the community can be honest, kind, and just. Politicians are mostly selfish and greedy. However, amongst them, there is a leader who is genuinely committed to the progress of the region. He wants his son to see a friend in his enemies and try to befriend everyone. He wants his son to know the value of earning one dollar over finding five dollars. His son should know how to take a defeat but to also enjoy winning. He knows that it will take time for his son to learn such noble values and thoughts, but he wants the teacher to remain determined to the goal.

 

Passage: Steer him away from envy; if you can, teach him the secret of quiet laughter.
Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick. Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books. But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside.

Word-meanings:
bully: one who uses one’s strength to hurt or frighten others
lick: defeat, beat back
ponder: to think about something carefully and for a long time
eternal: lasting forever

Explanation: Abraham does not want his son to learn envy. He wants him to learn the secret of quiet laughter instead of open mockery. Bullies are the easiest to defeat so that his son would not be so bothered by their judgment. He wants his son to be interested in both reading books and going outside and exploring the world, the birds, the bees, and the flowers on the green hillside.

 

Passage: In school, teach him it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat.
Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong. Teach him to be gentle with the gentle and tough with the tough.
Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the bandwagon. Teach him to listen to all men; but teach him also to filter all that he hears on a screen of truth, and take only the good that comes through.

Word-meanings:
getting on the bandwagon: join others in doing or supporting something fashionable or likely to be successful
filter: process or assess (items) in order to reject those that are unwanted

Explanation: He does not want his child to cheat to succeed in academics. It is more honourable to accept failure than to cheat to win. He should have faith in his originality instead of following the crowd. He should listen to everyone’s opinions and perceptions, then filter the truth and finally, he should accept only the truth.

 

Passage: Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he is sad. Teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness. Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders, but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul.
Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right.
Treat him gently but do not cuddle him because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

Word-meanings:
scoff at: to laugh at something with scorn
cynics: people who believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honourable or unselfish reasons
brawn: physical strength
howl: to cry loudly
mob: a large crowd of people, especially one that is disorderly and intent on causing trouble or violence
cuddle: to hold somebody close in a way of showing love

Explanation: He wants the teacher to teach his son to have the courage to find happiness during miserable times. His son should not be ashamed to cry. He does not want him to be too cynical or too trusting and sweet. He wants his son to sell his brain and physical strength to those who would value it appropriately, but not to give away his heart and soul to anyone. He should stick to what he thinks is right, even if the entire world is against him. He wants the teacher to be gentle but not too much affectionate.

 

Passage: Let him have the courage to be impatient; let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind.
This is a big order, but see what you can do. He is such a fine little fellow, my son!

Word-meanings:
courage: the ability to control fear while facing danger
sublime: of the best kind

Explanation: He wants his son to have the ability to control fear even while facing danger. He wants his son to be patient and brave. He cannot have faith in mankind if he doesn’t have faith in himself. He knows that he is asking a lot from the teacher, but he hopes that the teacher will fulfill Abraham’s wishes. He wants his son, who has a lot of potential, to develop in the right direction.

 

Conclusion

This post on PSEB Class 9 English Main Course book chapter Grooming of a boy covers the summary, explanation and word meanings. Students can take help of the post to get a better understanding of the lesson.