SUBMITTED BY: Teacher Name Jaspal Singh (English Tea)

1. SUBMITTED BY: Teacher Name Jaspal Singh (English Tea) Excelsior Class: 9th Subject: English Govt.Sr.Sec.SchoolDhingi

2. ExcelsiorH.W.Longfellow Excelsior

3. OBJECTIVES This poem gives a message of perseverance One should keep marching towards one’s goal with a fixed determination. Excelsior

4. The shades of night were falling fast. A young man was passing through a village on the Alps. He was going through snow and ice. He had a banner in his hand. The banner had on it a strange motto. It was:' Excelsior !’ Excelsior

5. The young man looked sad. But his eyes were shining like a word that has been taken out of its sheath. The youth was unknown in that place. But his voice was ringing like a silver clarion. He was saying:’ Excelsior!’ Excelsior

6. He saw the fires burning in the happy homes of the village. The fires were gleaming. They were bright and warm. Above him, he could see shining glaciers. They were frightening like ghosts. But from the lips of the young man, there came a deep cry. It was:' Excelsior!’ Excelsior

7. An old man of the villages saw him. He warned him not to go that way. He said that a dark tempest was rising overhead. The deep roar of the torrent could be heard all around. But the youth replied in his clarion voice. He said,' Excelsior!’ Excelsior

8. Then a maiden of the village saw him. She invited him to rest his weary head on her breast. A tear of love appeared in the bright blue eyes of the youth. But he took a deep sigh and answered,' Excelsior!’ Excelsior

9. The last one to meet him that night was a peasant. He warned him to beware of the withered branch of the pine tree (that was hanging down). He warned him to beware of the fear full avalanche (mass of snow, ice and rock that slides rapidly down the side of a mountain). But the youth replied from above the height, ‘Excelsior!’ Excelsior

10. At break of day, the holy monks of Saint Bernard were saying their usual prayers. Then a voice came through the disturbed air. It was the cry of, ‘Excelsior!’ Excelsior

11. The traveler's body was lifeless yet it looked beautiful. It lay there in the cold twilight. The sky was calm and clear. A voice came suddenly from the high sky. It came like a falling star. It was saying, ‘Excelsior!’ Excelsior

12. A faithful hunting dog found the body of travelers. It lay half-buried in the snow. The traveler was still holding the banner in his hand of ice. It was the same banner that had on it the strange motto of ‘Excelsior!’ Excelsior

13. Answer the following question in brief: • Write a brief summary of the poem. • What is the central idea of the poem? • Explain the meaning of the word ‘Excelsior’. • What was the chief quality of the youth discussed in this poem ? • What lesson dose the poem give us?

14. GLOSSARY: Excelsior (ad): higher Falchion (n): short, curved convex-edged sword. Clarion (adj): clear and shrill, inspiring Spectral (n): ghostly, frightful Torrent (n): stream of water flowing very quickly Pious (adj): very religious or dutiful. Startled (v): shocked Avalanche (n): large mass of snow or ice sliding shuddery down from a mountain slope.

15. Fill In Blanks: • The shades of night were ____________ fast. • He had a ___________ in his hand. • The banner had on it a ___________ motto. • The young man looked ____________. • The_____________ were gleaming. • They were____________ like ghosts. • __________ man of the villages saw him. • It lay ____________ in the snow. • The sky was ________ and_________. • It came like a ___________ star. • It was saying, __________!

16. Fill In Blanks: • The shades of night were falling fast. • He had a banner in his hand. • The banner had on it a strange motto. • The young man looked sad. • Thefires were gleaming. • They were frightening like ghosts. • An old man of the villages saw him. • It lay half-buried in the snow. • The sky was calm and clear. • It came like afalling star. • It was saying, ‘Excelsior!’

17. Tick ( )the correct answer: • The youth was – (A) Timid (B). A shirker (C) Bold and courageous (D) lazy

18. shI jvwb A~gy

19. glq jvwb ip~Cy

20. Bibilography www.googleimages.com www.heathersanimations.com 9th class P.S.E.B english reader book.

21. Thank you