Poem: “Books”
Poet: Eleanor Farjeon
Textbook: English for Today
Unit: 11
Lesson: 1
For: Class 9, Class 10 & SSC
“Books” by Eleanor Farjeon is a poem about the wonderful power of books and reading. The poem shows how books open new worlds, develop our imagination, introduce us to new ideas and people, and take our minds to different lands and ages. This study guide provides easy SSC question answers, Bangla meaning, vocabulary, summary, explanation, theme, and exam preparation.
The Poem: “Books”
What worlds of wonder are our books!
As one opens them and looks,
New ideas and people rise
In our fancies and our eyes.
The room we sit in melts away,
And we find ourselves at play
With some one who, before the end,
May become our chosen friend.
Or we sail along the page
To some other land or age.
Here’s our body in the chair,
But our mind is over there.
Each book is a magic box,
Which with a touch a child unlocks.
In between their outside covers
Books hold all things for their lovers.
“Books” কবিতার বাংলা অর্থ
What worlds of wonder are our books!
আমাদের বইগুলো কতই না এক বিস্ময়ের জগৎ!
As one opens them and looks,
যখন কেউ সেগুলো খোলে এবং ভেতরে তাকায়,
New ideas and people rise
নতুন নতুন ধারণা ও মানুষ জেগে ওঠে
In our fancies and our eyes.
আমাদের কল্পনায় এবং চোখের সামনে।
The room we sit in melts away,
আমরা যে ঘরে বসে থাকি, তা যেন মিলিয়ে যায়,
And we find ourselves at play
এবং আমরা নিজেদের আনন্দময় খেলায় মগ্ন অবস্থায় আবিষ্কার করি
With some one who, before the end,
এমন কারও সঙ্গে, যে গল্প শেষ হওয়ার আগেই
May become our chosen friend.
আমাদের প্রিয় বন্ধু হয়ে উঠতে পারে।
Or we sail along the page
অথবা আমরা বইয়ের পাতার ওপর দিয়ে ভেসে চলি
To some other land or age.
অন্য কোনো দেশ বা যুগে।
Here’s our body in the chair,
এখানে আমাদের শরীরটি চেয়ারে বসে থাকে,
But our mind is over there.
কিন্তু আমাদের মন চলে যায় সেই দূর জগতে।
Each book is a magic box,
প্রতিটি বই যেন একটি জাদুকরী বাক্স,
Which with a touch a child unlocks.
যা একটি শিশুর সামান্য স্পর্শেই খুলে যায়।
In between their outside covers
তাদের বাইরের মলাটের মাঝখানে
Books hold all things for their lovers.
বইপ্রেমীদের জন্য বই সবকিছু ধারণ করে রাখে।
Vocabulary & Key Terms
| Word / Phrase | Easy English Meaning | বাংলা অর্থ |
|---|---|---|
| Wonder | A feeling of great surprise and delight | বিস্ময় / আশ্চর্য |
| Rise | Appear or come alive | জেগে ওঠা / দৃশ্যমান হওয়া |
| Fancies | Imagination and creative thoughts | কল্পনা / মনের চিন্তা |
| Melts away | Disappears or fades away | মিলিয়ে যাওয়া / অদৃশ্য হওয়া |
| At play | Enjoying an activity | খেলায় মগ্ন হওয়া / আনন্দে মেতে ওঠা |
| Chosen | Selected or specially liked | মনোনীত / পছন্দের / প্রিয় |
| Sail | Travel or move smoothly | ভেসে চলা / ভ্রমণ করা |
| Age | A period of history | যুগ / কাল |
| Magic box | Something full of wonderful surprises | জাদুকরী বাক্স |
| Unlocks | Opens or reveals something | খুলে দেয় / উন্মুক্ত করে |
| Covers | The outer parts of a book | মলাট / প্রচ্ছদ |
| Lovers | People who love books | বইপ্রেমী / একনিষ্ঠ পাঠক |
Short Summary of “Books”
The poem “Books” describes the wonderful power of books. When we open a book, new ideas and people come alive in our imagination. We may forget our surroundings and become involved in the world of the story. Books can take us to different countries and ages without any physical travel. The poet compares each book to a “magic box” because it contains many wonderful things waiting to be discovered. Thus, books give us knowledge, imagination, friendship, adventure, and joy.
বাংলা সারসংক্ষেপ
‘Books’ কবিতায় ইলেনর ফারজিয়ন বইয়ের বিস্ময়কর শক্তি ও আনন্দের কথা বলেছেন। বই খুললে আমাদের কল্পনায় নতুন নতুন ধারণা ও মানুষ জীবন্ত হয়ে ওঠে। আমরা চারপাশের পরিবেশ ভুলে বইয়ের জগতে প্রবেশ করি। বই পড়ার মাধ্যমে চেয়ারে বসে থেকেও আমরা বিভিন্ন দেশ ও যুগে কল্পনায় ভ্রমণ করতে পারি এবং বইয়ের চরিত্রদের সঙ্গে বন্ধুত্ব গড়ে তুলতে পারি। কবি প্রতিটি বইকে একটি ‘জাদুকরী বাক্স’ বলেছেন, কারণ বইয়ের ভেতরে অসংখ্য জ্ঞান, গল্প, কল্পনা ও আনন্দ লুকিয়ে থাকে।
Books Poem Question Answer – SSC Class 9–10
These are important SSC and Class 9–10 question answers from the poem “Books” by Eleanor Farjeon. The answers are written in simple English so that students can understand them easily, remember them quickly, and write them confidently in the examination.
⭐⭐⭐ Most Important Questions
1. What is the central message or theme of the poem “Books”?
Answer: The poem shows that books open new worlds, develop our imagination, and give us knowledge, joy, and new experiences.
2. Why does the poet call each book a “magic box”? / What are books compared to?
Answer: The poet compares books to magic boxes because opening a book reveals wonderful ideas, people, stories, and new worlds.
3. What does the poet mean by “Here’s our body in the chair, / But our mind is over there”?
Answer: It means that our body stays in the chair, but our mind travels to the world of the book through imagination.
4. What happens when one opens a book and looks?
Answer: When we open a book, new ideas and people come alive in our imagination.
5. How do books transport us to another world or age? / What is meant by “We sail along the page”?
Answer: It means that reading takes our imagination to different countries and historical ages without physical travel.
6. Describe the functions and benefits of reading books as shown in the poem.
Answer: Books develop our imagination, give us new ideas, introduce us to new people, provide companionship, and take us to different places and ages.
7. How does the poem portray the power of imagination?
Answer: The poem shows that imagination can take us beyond our surroundings and let us experience new worlds while sitting in one place.
8. What do books bring to us according to the poem “Books”?
Answer: Books bring us wonder, new ideas, new people, knowledge, and joy.
9. What rises in our fancies and our eyes when we open a book?
Answer: New ideas and people rise in our fancies and our eyes when we open a book.
⭐⭐ Important Questions
10. How do we find our “chosen friend” while reading a book? / How can books be our best companions?
Answer: While reading, we may become attached to a character. That character can become our chosen and beloved friend.
11. What do books hold between their outside covers for their lovers?
Answer: Books hold stories, knowledge, ideas, emotions, adventures, and joy for people who love reading.
12. What does the poem highlight about a child’s experience and the accessibility of books?
Answer: It shows that books are easy to open and enjoy. Even a child can discover the wonderful world inside a book.
13. How do books connect the past with the present?
Answer: Books allow us to travel mentally to different historical ages, so they connect us with the past.
14. Do you believe “The room we sit in melts away” while reading? Why?
Answer: Yes. When we become deeply interested in a book, we forget our surroundings and become absorbed in its story.
15. How does the poem describe the universality of reading?
Answer: The poem shows that people of different ages can enjoy books and use their imagination through reading.
16. What kind of transformation does the poem “Books” describe?
Answer: It describes how an ordinary reading experience becomes an exciting mental journey through imagination.
Additional Practice Questions
17. What does the poet say about new ideas and people in “our fancies and our eyes”?
Answer: The poet says that books bring new ideas and people to life in our imagination and before our mental eyes.
18. What does the poem suggest about the joy and emotional value of reading?
Answer: Reading gives us joy, comfort, imagination, and companionship.
19. What kind of journey does the poet describe in the poem?
Answer: The poet describes a mental and imaginative journey through different countries and ages.
20. How does reading affect the reader’s perception of reality?
Answer: Reading can make us forget our surroundings and become absorbed in the imaginary world of a book.
21. What does the poet mean by “books hold all things”?
Answer: It means that books contain many kinds of knowledge, stories, ideas, feelings, and experiences.
22. What does the poem suggest about the lasting impact of reading?
Answer: Reading gives us knowledge, ideas, memories, and experiences that can stay with us for a long time.
23. What does the poem describe books as in the very first line?
Answer: The poem describes books as “worlds of wonder.”
24. What activity does the poet say we engage in while reading?
Answer: The poet says that we find ourselves “at play” with someone who may become our chosen friend.
25. Who can we meet in books according to the poem?
Answer: We can meet different people and characters in books, and one of them may become our chosen friend.
26. What does the poem say about time and place?
Answer: It shows that books can take us to different lands and ages through imagination.
27. Do books hold pleasant things for readers? If so, how?
Answer: Yes. Books give readers stories, knowledge, imagination, adventure, and joy.
28. What is the relationship between the reader and the book highlighted in the poem?
Answer: The relationship is one of love, curiosity, and discovery. The reader explores the wonderful world hidden inside the book.
Detailed Summary of “Books”
Books Open New Worlds
Eleanor Farjeon begins the poem by describing books as “worlds of wonder.” When a reader opens a book, new ideas and people appear in the imagination. A book therefore takes the reader beyond ordinary life.
Books Make Us Forget Our Surroundings
When we become deeply interested in a book, the room around us seems to disappear. We become involved in the story and may feel that the characters are our friends.
Books Take Us Through Time and Space
The poet says that we can “sail along the page” to another land or age. Books allow us to travel through imagination without physically moving.
Books Free the Mind
Although our body remains in a chair, our mind can travel anywhere. Books therefore give us mental freedom.
Books Are Magic Boxes
The poet compares every book to a “magic box.” A child can unlock this box simply by opening it. Inside the covers are countless things waiting to be discovered by book lovers.
Structure of the Poem
| Part | Main Idea |
|---|---|
| Opening | Books are presented as wonderful worlds. |
| Imagination | Books bring new ideas and people to life. |
| Companionship | Readers can become attached to characters. |
| Journey | Books take readers to other lands and ages. |
| Mental Freedom | The body stays in one place while the mind travels. |
| Magic Box | Books contain endless treasures for readers. |
The poem moves from:
Book → Imagination → Friendship → Journey → Discovery
Main Theme of “Books”
English Theme
The main theme of “Books” is the wonder, joy, and imaginative power of reading.
The poet shows that books are not merely objects made of pages and covers. They open new worlds to readers. Through books, we can meet new people, discover new ideas, travel to different lands and ages, and enjoy imaginary adventures.
মূলভাব
‘Books’ কবিতার মূলভাব হলো বই পড়ার আনন্দ, বিস্ময় এবং কল্পনাশক্তি। বই মানুষের মনকে নতুন জগতের সঙ্গে পরিচয় করিয়ে দেয়। বই পড়ে মানুষ নতুন ধারণা ও মানুষের সঙ্গে পরিচিত হয়, বিভিন্ন দেশ ও যুগে কল্পনায় ভ্রমণ করে এবং জ্ঞান ও আনন্দ লাভ করে।
Line-by-Line Explanation of “Books”
“What worlds of wonder are our books!”
The poet says that books are full of wonderful worlds.
Easy idea: Books open amazing new worlds to us.
“As one opens them and looks,”
The magic begins when someone opens a book and starts reading.
Easy idea: We discover the world of a book when we open it.
“New ideas and people rise / In our fancies and our eyes.”
New ideas and people appear in our imagination.
Easy idea: Books make new ideas and characters come alive in our minds.
“The room we sit in melts away,”
We become so absorbed in reading that we forget our surroundings.
Easy idea: We forget where we are when we become deeply interested in a book.
“And we find ourselves at play / With some one who, before the end, / May become our chosen friend.”
We become involved with the characters and may develop a strong attachment to one of them.
Easy idea: A character in a book can become like a friend to us.
“Or we sail along the page / To some other land or age.”
Our imagination travels to another place or historical period.
Easy idea: Books take us to different countries and times.
“Here’s our body in the chair, / But our mind is over there.”
Our body stays in one place while our mind travels through imagination.
Easy idea: Reading lets our mind travel without moving our body.
“Each book is a magic box, / Which with a touch a child unlocks.”
The poet compares every book to a magic box that can be opened even by a child.
Easy idea: Every book contains wonderful things that can easily be discovered.
“In between their outside covers / Books hold all things for their lovers.”
Books contain many wonderful things inside their covers for people who love reading.
Easy idea: Books contain knowledge, stories, imagination, and joy for readers.
Important Literary Devices in “Books”
Metaphor
The poet uses “magic box” as a metaphor for a book.
The expression “worlds of wonder” also presents books as wonderful worlds full of discovery.
Personification
The poem says:
“New ideas and people rise”
Ideas are presented as if they can rise and appear.
Imagery
The poem creates vivid pictures through expressions such as:
- “worlds of wonder”
- “sail along the page”
- “some other land or age”
- “magic box”
Contrast
The poet contrasts the body and the mind:
“Here’s our body in the chair, / But our mind is over there.”
The body remains still while the mind travels freely.
Tone of “Books”
The tone of the poem is mainly:
- Joyful
- Wonder-filled
- Imaginative
- Positive
- Appreciative
The poet expresses his love and admiration for books and reading.
Exam-ready answer: The tone of the poem is joyful, imaginative, and appreciative of the wonderful power of books.
Message of “Books”
The poem teaches us that books are much more than objects with pages and covers. They can open new worlds, develop imagination, provide companionship, and give us knowledge and joy.
By reading books, we can travel to different places and ages while remaining physically in the same place.
Quick Revision Notes
| Topic | Easy Answer |
|---|---|
| Poet | Eleanor Farjeon |
| Main theme | Wonder and power of books |
| Books are compared to | Magic boxes |
| Worlds of wonder | The wonderful worlds found in books |
| Chosen friend | A character who becomes dear to the reader |
| Sail along the page | Travel through imagination while reading |
| Other land or age | Different countries and historical periods |
| Body in the chair | Physical body stays still |
| Mind over there | Imagination travels elsewhere |
| Magic box | A book full of wonderful discoveries |
| Main message | Books give us imagination, knowledge, friendship, and joy |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the poem “Books”?
Answer: Eleanor Farjeon wrote the poem “Books.”
What is the main theme of “Books”?
Answer: The main theme is the wonder, joy, and imaginative power of reading books.
Why are books called “worlds of wonder”?
Answer: Books are called “worlds of wonder” because they open new worlds, ideas, people, and adventures to readers.
Why does the poet call a book a “magic box”?
Answer: A book is called a “magic box” because it contains wonderful things that readers can discover by opening it.
What does “we sail along the page” mean?
Answer: It means that our imagination travels to different places and ages while we read.
What does “our body in the chair, but our mind is over there” mean?
Answer: It means that our body remains in one place, but our mind travels into the world of the book.
What kind of journey do books provide?
Answer: Books provide a mental and imaginative journey through different places, times, stories, and ideas.
What do books hold for their lovers?
Answer: Books hold stories, knowledge, ideas, imagination, and joy for their readers.
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