PSEB Class 12 Poem 2 On Friendship Important Question Answers from A Rainbow of English book
PSEB Class 12 English On Friendship Question Answers – Looking for questions and answers for PSEB Class 12 A Rainbow of English Book Poem 2 On Friendship? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 12 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Poem 2 On Friendship now. The questions listed below are based on the latest PSEB exam pattern. All the Questions Answers given at the back of the lesson have also been covered.
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PSEB Class 12 English Poem 2 On Friendship Textbook Questions
1. Comprehension and Enjoyment
1. Give the central idea of the poem.
Ans. The central idea of the poem is that friendship is a sacred bond built on honesty, understanding, and spiritual depth. Gibran stresses that a true friend fulfils our needs, shares both joys and sorrows, and communicates even in silence. Friendship is not meant for idle time or selfish gain but for improving one’s life. The poem teaches that little gestures, laughter, and simple joys make friendship sweet and refreshing. Through beautiful imagery, Gibran conveys that friendship should uplift the spirit, provide peace, and help us appreciate the deeper meaning of life.
2. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving. And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace. When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the “nay” in your own mind, nor do you withhold the “ay.”
(a) Name the poet.
Ans. The poet is Kahlil Gibran.
(b) What is the most important thing that one can give to a friend?
Ans. The most important thing one can give to a friend is love and sincerity.
(c) When we shower our friends with love, what do we earn in return from them?
Ans. When we shower our friends with love, we earn thankfulness and joy in return.
(d) How is a friend our fireside?
Ans. A friend is our fireside because he gives us warmth, comfort, and peace in life.
3. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.
And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.
(a) A mountain appears more clear when one is on the plain, at some distance away. How does the poet relate this statement to understand the value of a friend?
Ans. The poet means that sometimes we understand and value our friend more when he is away, just as a mountain looks clearer from a distance.
(b) What should be the main purpose of friendship?
Ans. The main purpose of friendship should be the deepening of the spirit and mutual growth.
(c) List all the qualities a true friend should have, according to Kahlil Gibran.
Ans. A true friend should give love, comfort, honesty, peace, sharing of joys and sorrows, and spiritual strength.
(d) A true friend is one with whom we can share our
(i) wealth and property
(ii) fame and pleasures
(iii) joys and sorrows
Ans. (iii) joys and sorrows
PSEB Class 12 English Poem 2 On Friendship Extra Question and Answers
Extract-Based Questions
A.
“And a youth said, “Speak to us of Friendship.”
Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanks giving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.
When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the “nay” in your own mind, nor do you withhold the “ay.” “
Q1. Who requests the speaker to speak of friendship?
Ans. A youth requests the speaker to speak about the value and meaning of friendship.
Q2. How does the poet describe a friend in this extract?
Ans. The poet describes a friend as someone who fulfills one’s needs, like a field that one sows with love and reaps with gratitude.
Q3. What does the phrase ‘board and fireside’ suggest about friendship?
Ans. The phrase ‘board and fireside’ suggests that a friend provides comfort, warmth, and support in times of need.
Q4. Why does the poet say one should not fear the “nay” in friendship?
Ans. The poet says so because true friendship allows honesty, and thus one should not fear disagreement, nor hesitate to express agreement.
Q5. What central idea of friendship is conveyed in this passage?
Ans. The central idea is that friendship is built on trust, honesty, and mutual support, where both joy and needs are shared.
B.
“And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;
For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.
When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.”
Q1. What does the poet say about silence in friendship?
Ans. The poet says that even in silence, true friends communicate and understand each other.
Q2. How are thoughts and desires shared in friendship according to the poet?
Ans. Thoughts and desires are shared wordlessly in friendship, bringing quiet joy that does not need any outward recognition.
Q3. Why does the poet advise not to grieve when parting from a friend?
Ans. The poet advises not to grieve because distance often makes the qualities we love in a friend clearer and more appreciable.
Q4. Explain the imagery of the mountain and the climber.
Ans. Just as a mountain appears clearer from a distance in the plain, the value of a friend is better understood in their absence.
Q5. What quality of friendship is highlighted here?
Ans. The quality of deep emotional connection and spiritual understanding between friends is highlighted.
C.
“And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth; and only the unprofitable is caught.
And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?”
Q1. What is the true purpose of friendship according to the poet?
Ans. The true purpose of friendship is the deepening and uplifting of the spirit.
Q2. What kind of love does the poet criticise?
Ans. The poet criticises love that is selfish or materialistic, comparing it to a net that catches nothing valuable.
Q3. What does the poet mean by the ebb and flood of the tide?
Ans. The poet means that one should share both joys and sorrows with a friend, not just one side of life.
Q4. Why should friendship not be for ‘hours to kill’?
Ans. Friendship should not be a way to pass idle time but a meaningful bond to enrich life and share living moments.
Q5. What moral lesson is conveyed in this extract?
Ans. The moral lesson is that friendship must be sincere, purposeful, and selfless, contributing to each other’s growth.
D.
“Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.”
Q1. How should one seek a friend according to the poet?
Ans. One should seek a friend with moments of life and vitality, not merely in times of boredom or emptiness.
Q2. What is the difference between need and emptiness in friendship?
Ans. A friend may fulfill our genuine needs, but he should not be burdened with our emptiness or lack of purpose.
Q3. What role does laughter play in friendship?
Ans. Laughter strengthens friendship by bringing joy, lightness, and shared happiness into the relationship.
Q4. Explain the line “For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning.”
Ans. It means that small acts of kindness, joy, and shared moments refresh the heart, just as morning dew refreshes nature.
Q5. What idea of friendship concludes the poem?
Ans. The poem concludes with the idea that friendship should be sweet, joyful, and refreshing, enriching life with simple shared pleasures.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. Who asks the poet to speak about friendship?
A. An old man
B. A youth
C. A teacher
D. A child
Ans. B. A youth
Q2. According to the poet, what is a friend?
A. A stranger
B. Your needs answered
C. A guide in the dark
D. An entertainer
Ans. B. Your needs answered
Q3. The poet compares a friend to a field because
A. He is like a playground
B. He is like a battlefield
C. He gives what we sow with love
D. He is vast and empty
Ans. C. He gives what we sow with love
Q4. What does the word “board and fireside” signify?
A. Wealth and property
B. Comfort and warmth
C. Food and shelter
D. Fear and power
Ans. B. Comfort and warmth
Q5. What do we seek from a friend when we are hungry?
A. Wealth
B. Fun
C. Peace
D. Knowledge
Ans. C. Peace
Q6. What should we not fear when a friend speaks his mind?
A. Anger
B. Silence
C. The “nay” in our own mind
D. Loneliness
Ans. C. The “nay” in our own mind
Q7. What happens when a friend is silent?
A. Friendship ends
B. The heart still listens to his heart
C. Silence creates distance
D. It becomes boring
Ans. B. The heart still listens to his heart
Q8. What joy is shared in friendship without words?
A. Joy that is unacclaimed
B. Joy that is praised
C. Joy that is temporary
D. Joy that is forgotten
Ans. A. Joy that is unacclaimed
Q9. What should one do when parting from a friend?
A. Grieve deeply
B. Rejoice in freedom
C. Not grieve
D. Forget him
Ans. C. Not grieve
Q10. In absence, what becomes clearer about a friend?
A. His mistakes
B. His possessions
C. His value and love
D. His anger
Ans. C. His value and love
Q11. What imagery does the poet use for clarity in absence?
A. Mountain and climber
B. River and boat
C. Sky and bird
D. Sun and shadow
Ans. A. Mountain and climber
Q12. What should be the true purpose of friendship?
A. To pass time
B. To gain money
C. To deepen the spirit
D. To show power
Ans. C. To deepen the spirit
Q13. What kind of love is not true love according to the poet?
A. Selfless love
B. Love that seeks only mystery
C. Materialistic love
D. Eternal love
Ans. C. Materialistic love
Q14. What does the poet compare false love to?
A. A bird in the sky
B. A net cast forth
C. A stone in water
D. A flower without fragrance
Ans. B. A net cast forth
Q15. What should you give your friend according to the poet?
A. Your best
B. Your wealth only
C. Your worst moods
D. Your free time
Ans. A. Your best
Q16. What does “ebb and flood of tide” symbolise?
A. Highs and lows of life
B. Only happiness
C. Only sorrows
D. Only silence
Ans. A. Highs and lows of life
Q17. Why should one not seek a friend with ‘hours to kill’?
A. It is a waste of time
B. Friendship is not for idle passing of time
C. Friends may get angry
D. It creates distance
Ans. B. Friendship is not for idle passing of time
Q18. How should one seek a friend?
A. With hours to live
B. With money and gifts
C. With complaints
D. With silence only
Ans. A. With hours to live
Q19. What can a friend fill according to the poet?
A. Your emptiness
B. Your needs
C. Your pride
D. Your curiosity
Ans. B. Your needs
Q20. What refreshes the heart in friendship?
A. Wealth and power
B. Great adventures only
C. The dew of little things
D. Arguments and debates
Ans. C. The dew of little things
True or False
State whether the following are true or false-
1. The youth asked the poet to speak about friendship.
2. A friend is compared to a mountain in the poem.
3. A friend fulfills our genuine needs.
4. In friendship, even silence speaks between hearts.
5. The poet says we should grieve when parting from a friend.
6. Absence makes the qualities of a friend clearer.
7. The true purpose of friendship is the deepening of the spirit.
8. Love that is materialistic is compared to a net cast forth.
9. The poet advises that we should seek our friend with hours to kill.
10. In friendship, little things bring joy and refresh the heart.
Answers-
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. False
6. True
7. True
8. True
9. False
10. True
Fill in the blanks
1. Your friend is your ______ answered.
2. He is your field which you sow with love and reap with ____.
3. A friend is your board and your ____.
4. When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the “” in your own mind.
5. Without words, in friendship, all thoughts and ______ are shared.
6. The mountain appears clearer to the climber from the ______.
7. There should be no purpose in friendship except the ______ of the spirit.
8. Love that seeks only gain is compared to a ______ cast forth.
9. If your friend must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its ______ also.
10. In the dew of little things the heart finds its ______ and is refreshed.
Answers-
1. needs
2. thanksgiving
3. fireside
4. nay
5. desires
6. plain
7. deepening
8. net
9. flood
10. morning
Extra Questions
Answer the following questions-
Q1. How does Kahlil Gibran describe the role of a friend in one’s life?
Ans. Kahlil Gibran describes a friend as the answer to one’s needs. A true friend is like a fertile field where love is sown and gratitude is reaped. He is compared to a board and a fireside, signifying nourishment, comfort, and warmth. A friend is someone we turn to in hunger for peace and satisfaction. Friendship, for Gibran, is not only about joy and support but also about honesty and truth. A true friend accepts both agreement and disagreement without fear. Thus, a friend plays the role of a guide, supporter, and companion who fulfils emotional and spiritual needs.
Q2. What is the significance of silence in friendship according to the poem?
Ans. Silence in friendship, according to Gibran, is as meaningful as spoken words. He says that when a friend is silent, the heart continues to listen to his heart. True friendship goes beyond language, where thoughts, desires, and expectations are communicated without words. This silent connection brings joy that does not need recognition or praise. The poet beautifully suggests that in silence, friends can still share emotions, comfort, and understanding. Such depth in friendship signifies that true bonds are spiritual and not limited to speech.
Q3. How does absence make friendship stronger in Gibran’s view?
Ans. Gibran advises not to grieve when parting from a friend. He explains that distance often increases one’s appreciation of friendship. Just as a mountain appears clearer to the climber when seen from the plain, the value of a friend becomes clearer in his absence. This means that separation allows one to reflect on and realise the deeper qualities of their friend that may be overlooked in daily closeness. The poet suggests that love and friendship are not weakened by distance but instead can be purified and strengthened.
Q4. What is the true purpose of friendship according to the poet?
Ans. The poet states that the true purpose of friendship is the deepening of the spirit. Friendship should not be used for material gain, entertainment, or passing idle time. Instead, it must enrich the inner life of both friends, uplifting their thoughts and souls. Gibran warns against selfish or superficial friendships that seek profit or advantage, comparing them to a net that catches nothing valuable. For him, friendship is sacred and meant to bring out the best in individuals. It is about spiritual growth, sincerity, and selfless giving, not about using another person for personal needs.
Q5. Explain the symbolism of “ebb and flood of tide” in the poem.
Ans. The “ebb and flood of tide” symbolises the highs and lows of human life. The poet advises that in friendship, one should not only share sorrows or difficulties but also joys and successes. If a friend must know our lowest moments, he should equally be allowed to share in our happiest times. This symbol reflects the completeness of friendship, where both negative and positive experiences are shared honestly. Gibran’s message is that true friends support each other in every phase of life, making the bond more balanced, genuine, and enriching.
Q6. Why does the poet warn against seeking a friend with “hours to kill”?
Ans. The poet warns against seeking a friend merely to kill time because it makes the bond shallow and meaningless. Friendship should not be treated as a pastime or a way to escape boredom. Instead, friends should be sought with “hours to live,” meaning that time spent with them should be filled with vitality, joy, and purpose. Friendship must be about sharing meaningful moments and enriching each other’s lives. By saying this, Gibran states that true friendship should be valued as a gift, not misused as a distraction or an idle occupation.
Q7. What does the poet mean when he says, “It is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness”?
Ans. This line means that a true friend can meet our genuine needs but cannot be expected to fill a void caused by inner emptiness or lack of purpose. Gibran stresses that friendship should not be based on dependence or emotional emptiness. A friend is not a solution to loneliness or despair but someone who enriches life through meaningful companionship. Friendship should be mutual, joyful, and balanced, not a burden where one expects the other to solve personal struggles. Thus, a friend is a partner in living, not an escape from emptiness.
Q8. How does Gibran describe the sweetness of friendship?
Ans. Gibran shows the sweetness of friendship by describing it as a bond filled with laughter, joy, and shared pleasures. He stresses that friendship is not only about seriousness or support in sorrow but also about enjoying small moments together. The poet beautifully says that “in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed,” meaning that simple gestures, laughter, and shared happiness revive the spirit. The sweetness of friendship lies in cherishing these little things, which strengthen the bond and bring lasting freshness to the relationship.
Q9. What kind of love does the poet criticise in the poem?
Ans. The poet criticises love that is selfish, materialistic, or seeks profit. He compares such love to a net cast into the sea that catches nothing valuable but only the unprofitable. Gibran believes that love and friendship must not be based on gain, advantage, or possession. When love loses its purity and becomes self-seeking, it loses its spiritual essence. True love, according to him, is about mystery, beauty, and selfless giving. The poet, therefore, warns readers to avoid friendships and relationships that are transactional rather than soulful.
Q10. How does Kahlil Gibran use imagery and symbolism to explain the value of friendship?
Ans. Kahlil Gibran uses rich imagery and symbols in the poem On Friendship to explain the deep value of friendship. He compares a friend to a “field” where love is sown and thanksgiving is reaped, showing that friendship gives returns when cared for. A friend is called the “board and fireside,” symbolising comfort, food, and warmth. The image of silence between friends shows that true friendship does not always need words, as hearts can still understand each other. The “mountain clearer from the plain” symbolises how absence makes us value a friend more. Through such simple but powerful symbols, Gibran shows that friendship is both supportive and spiritual.