1.3 Basketful of Moonlight – Warming Up, English Workshop & Margin Questions and Answers | Class 10 Maharashtra Board

1.3 Basketful of Moonlight

Warming up - Question answer 

Margin Questions and Answers

Q1. What does the poet wish to get from the moon and why?

Ans: The poet wishes to get a basketful of moonlight from the moon. He wants to sow the seeds of moonlight along the path from the city to his village so that the path will be bright and safe.

Q2. Why is the road from the city to the village dangerous?

Ans: The road from the city to the village is dangerous because it becomes dark on the way. The route is tough and full of snakes and scorpions. Neither a bus nor a cart plies on the route.

Q3. Why does the poet want his father home early?

Ans: The poet wants his father to come home early because he wants to spend time with him, listen to his fairy tales and stories, and enjoy his company.

Q4. How do you spend your evening time with your family members?

Ans: I spend my evening time with my family members by talking with them, having dinner together, discussing our daily activities and listening to stories from my elders.

1.3 Basketful of Moonlight

English Workshop – Questions and Answers

Q.1 Complete the following sentences with the help of the poem.

(a) The child wants to sow small moons of light from the city to his village.

(b) According to the child the route of his village is tough and full of snakes and scorpions.

(c) The child wants a basketful of moonlight on loan.

(d) The child wants to light the dark route so that his father returns early.

Q.2 Write down the describing words used for the following nouns.

• small moons

• tough route

• whole village

• early morning

Q.3 The child in the poem wants to solve the problems of his village. How can the child solve them with the following wishes?

(a) Give me moonlight, basketful or two baskets full, with seeds of moonlight.

Ans: The child wants to spread moonlight along the path from the city to his village. This will make the dark and dangerous route bright and safe for the villagers.

(b) I want to light the dark route so that my father returns early.

Ans: By lighting the dark route, the child's father can travel safely and return home early. The child will then be able to spend time with his father and listen to his fairy tales and stories.

Q.4 Pick out and write the lines from the poem that prove the following.

(a) Father reaches home late, after dark.

Ans: “When my father returns home / I am asleep.”

(b) Eager to hear fairy tales from his father.

Ans: “I too want to hear fairy tales / and stories from him.”

(c) Remove darkness and bring light among the darker paths.

Ans: “I want to sow seeds of moon / on the sides of the path.”

Q.5 Write as many words as you can, using ‘-ful’ as suffix.

Examples:

• basketful

• bucketful

• handful

• spoonful

• cupful

• mouthful

• plateful

• glassful

• armful

• boxful

Q.6 Pick out the examples of Alliteration and Repetition from the poem.

Alliteration:

• “small, small moons” – repetition of the ‘s’ sound.

• “seeds of moonlight” – repetition of the ‘s’ sound.

Repetition:

• “O moon” is repeated several times in the poem.

• “give me a basketful of moonlight” is repeated.

• The phrase “I want to” is repeated in the poem.

1.3 Basketful of Moonlight

Q.6 Appreciation of the Poem

Point	Answer
Title	Basketful of Moonlight
Poet	Sunil Sharma
Rhyme scheme	The poem does not follow a regular rhyme scheme.
Favourite line	“O moon, give me a basketful of moonlight.”
Theme/Central idea	The poem expresses a child's love for his father and his desire to make the dark and dangerous village route safe and bright.
Figures of speech	Repetition, Alliteration, Personification and Metaphor.
Special features Type of the poem, language, style, tone, implied meanings etc.	It is a simple and emotional poem. The language is easy and imaginative. The poem has a childlike and loving tone. The moonlight represents hope, safety and happiness. The poem shows the child's deep love for his father and concern for the people of his village.
Why I like/dislike the poem	I like the poem because it beautifully expresses a child's innocent love for his father. I also like the poet's imaginative idea of using moonlight to make the dark path bright and safe.

1.3 Basketful of Moonlight

Q.8 Write an imaginary letter to the moon, to convey your feelings about it.

Ans:

Dear Moon,

You are one of the most beautiful sights in the night sky. Your soft and silvery light fills my heart with joy and gives me infinite pleasure. I love watching you on peaceful nights.

You are a symbol of beauty, happiness and hope. Your gentle light inspires me to imagine beautiful things and encourages me to compose poems, songs and music.

In the poem “Basketful of Moonlight”, the child wishes to get a basketful of moonlight from you. I also wish that you could give me some moonlight to brighten the dark paths of my village and make them safe for everyone.

Thank you for spreading your beautiful light and making the night sky wonderful.

Yours lovingly,
A Child

1.3 Basketful of Moonlight

Q.9 Discuss with your friend/brother/sister/your classmate and write your list of wishes to make your village/town/city people happy.

Ans: My wishes to make the people of my village/town/city happy are:

1. I wish everyone to live peacefully and happily.

2. I wish that everyone gets proper food, clean water and a safe home.

3. I wish people help and support one another.

4. I wish everyone shares their happiness and resources with others.

5. I wish people talk to each other politely and communicate their problems.

6. I wish all citizens cooperate to keep the surroundings clean and beautiful.

7. I wish everyone gets good education and equal opportunities.

8. I wish people respect one another and work together for the progress of the community.