NCERT Solutions for Class 8th English Chapter 1 Wit And Wisdom
Updated on 2026-09-19
About this chapter
The Wit that Won Hearts (prose): King Krishnadeva Raya stops speaking to Queen Thirumalambal because she yawned while he recited his poem. Tenali Rama, one of the Ashtadiggajas, cures the quarrel in open court by joking about a farmer who yawns while sowing — and lets the king reach the conclusion himself. A Concrete Example (poem, Reginald Arkell): three six-line stanzas, each opening with the refrain “My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones,”. The speaker finds her stony garden absurd until the closing line — “You’re standing on it,” — turns the joke back on him. The title is a pun: concrete as stone, and concrete as a clear, definite example. Wisdom Paves the Way (play, two scenes): Ram Datt, Shiv Datt, Har Datt and Dev Datt describe a lost camel they have never seen. Accused of theft, they
- The Wit that Won Hearts (prose)
- A Concrete Example (poem by Reginald Arkell)
- Wisdom Paves the Way (play)
Quick revision
| Word or term | What it means | Where it appears in the unit | Used in a fresh sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| renowned | well known | “The Vijayanagara Empire was renowned for its glory, wealth, and cultural achievements.” | Mahabalipuram is renowned for its rock-cut temples. |
| insurmountable | undefeatable; impossible to get past | Rama’s “clever solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems” | The lead looked insurmountable until the last over. |
| unfazed | not worried | “Rama smiled, unfazed.” | She walked on stage unfazed by the crowd. |
| countenance | facial expression | “judging by his countenance, he has lost something of great value” | His countenance fell when he read the result. |
| deduce | to work out by reasoning | Ram Datt deduces the limp from three clear tracks and one faint one | From the wet umbrella I deduced that it had rained. |
| discern | to see or notice something | “And what of you? What did you discern about this camel?” | I could just discern a boat through the fog. |
| chastened | made to feel sorry | “The Merchant, chastened and embarrassed, bows deeply and exits” | Chastened by the scolding, he apologised at once. |
| refrain | a line or phrase repeated in every stanza | “My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones,” | The refrain returns at the head of each verse. |
| situational irony | what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected | “Where is this lovely thing?” I cried. / “You’re standing on it,” she replied. | It was situational irony that the fire station itself caught fire. |
| pun | word play on a word that carries two meanings | the title A Concrete Example | His pun on ‘sharp points’ made the whole class groan. |
| third conditional | If + past perfect, would have + past participle — a past that cannot now be changed | “If I had known this would happen, I would have chosen another day.” | If I had left earlier, I would have caught the bus. |
| modal verb | a verb such as can, must, may, should that adds ability, necessity, possibility or advice | “We need to devise a strategy.” | You should listen more than you speak. |
Exercises
- The Wit that Won Hearts (prose) — Let us do these activities before we read Page 1
- The Wit that Won Hearts (prose) — Discuss in pairs Page 2
- The Wit that Won Hearts (prose) — Let us discuss Page 7
- The Wit that Won Hearts (prose) — Let us think and reflect (I) Page 7–8
- The Wit that Won Hearts (prose) — Let us think and reflect (II) Page 8
- The Wit that Won Hearts (prose) — Let us learn (I–III) Page 9–11
- The Wit that Won Hearts (prose) — Let us learn (IV–VI) — Conditional clauses Page 11–12
- The Wit that Won Hearts (prose) — Let us listen Page 12–13
- The Wit that Won Hearts (prose) — Let us speak Page 13–14
- The Wit that Won Hearts (prose) — Let us write Page 15–16
- The Wit that Won Hearts (prose) — Let us explore Page 16
- A Concrete Example (poem by Reginald Arkell) — Let us do these activities before we read Page 17
- A Concrete Example (poem by Reginald Arkell) — Let us discuss Page 19–20
- A Concrete Example (poem by Reginald Arkell) — Let us think and reflect (I) Page 20–21
- A Concrete Example (poem by Reginald Arkell) — Let us think and reflect (II) Page 21
- A Concrete Example (poem by Reginald Arkell) — Let us learn Page 21–23
- A Concrete Example (poem by Reginald Arkell) — Let us listen Page 23
- A Concrete Example (poem by Reginald Arkell) — Let us speak Page 23–24
- A Concrete Example (poem by Reginald Arkell) — Let us write Page 25
- A Concrete Example (poem by Reginald Arkell) — Let us explore Page 25–26
- Wisdom Paves the Way (play) — Let us do these activities before we read Page 27
- Wisdom Paves the Way (play) — Let us discuss (Scene I) Page 32
- Wisdom Paves the Way (play) — Let us discuss (Scene II) Page 36–37
- Wisdom Paves the Way (play) — Let us think and reflect (I) Page 37–38
- Wisdom Paves the Way (play) — Let us think and reflect (II) Page 39
- Wisdom Paves the Way (play) — Let us learn (I–III) Page 39–40
- Wisdom Paves the Way (play) — Let us learn (IV–VI) — Modal verbs Page 41–42
- Wisdom Paves the Way (play) — Let us listen Page 42
- Wisdom Paves the Way (play) — Let us speak Page 43
- Wisdom Paves the Way (play) — Let us write Page 44
- Wisdom Paves the Way (play) — Let us explore Page 44–45