Poem Vocation Class 6 NCERT English Chapter 7 Summary Analysis Questions Answers 

Introduction of the poem "Vocation" class VI NCERT 

In the poem "Vocation," the Speaker reflects upon the daily lives of three individuals: a hawker, a gardener, and a watchman. Through vivid descriptions and a contemplative tone, the speaker contemplates the nature of work, purpose, and personal fulfillment. Each individual's vocation serves as a source of inspiration and longing for the speaker, prompting them to question their own path and aspirations. With a keen eye for the seemingly mundane, the poem explores the deeper meaning and significance found within one's chosen vocation.

Summary of the poem "Vocation" Class VI NCERT 

"Vocation" delves into the speaker's observations of three different individuals and their chosen professions. The poem begins with the speaker encountering a hawker while walking to school in the morning. The hawker's cry of "Bangles, crystal bangles!" captures the speaker's attention, and they ponder the freedom and lack of constraints that come with being a hawker. The speaker yearns for the simplicity and independence found in the hawker's daily routine.

In the afternoon, as the speaker returns from school, they observe a gardener working diligently in a nearby house's garden. The gardener's unburdened movements and freedom to shape the earth captivate the speaker's imagination. They express a longing to trade places with the gardener, to experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from working with nature.

As evening falls and the speaker prepares for bed, they gaze out of their window and spot a watchman walking the dark and lonely lane. The watchman's dedicated vigilance and solitary presence evoke a sense of curiosity within the speaker. They yearn to be the watchman, patrolling the streets with a lantern, chasing shadows, and finding purpose in the quietude of the night.

Through their encounters with the hawker, gardener, and watchman, the speaker contemplates the nature of vocation and its impact on one's sense of identity and fulfillment. The poem explores the longing for a meaningful and purposeful existence, where one's chosen vocation aligns with their inner aspirations and allows them to find contentment in their daily endeavors. "Vocation" prompts readers to reflect on their own paths and contemplate the deeper significance of the work they engage in.

Line by Line Analysis Of The Poem " Vocation" Class 6 NCERT 

Line 1: "When the gong sounds ten in the morning and"

This line sets the initial time frame and establishes the beginning of the speaker's routine.

Line 2: "I walk to school by our lane,"

The speaker describes their daily journey to school, emphasizing the familiar surroundings of their lane.

Line 3: "Every day I meet the hawker crying, 'Bangles, crystal bangles!'"

The speaker encounters a hawker, a street vendor, who is actively selling bangles and calling out to attract customers.

Line 4: "There is nothing to hurry him on, there is no road he must take, no place he must go to, no time when he must come home."

The hawker's life is contrasted with the structured routine of the speaker, highlighting the freedom and lack of obligations the hawker enjoys.

Line 5: "I wish I were a hawker, spending my day in the road, crying, 'Bangles, crystal bangles!'"

The speaker expresses their desire to be a hawker, yearning for the freedom and simplicity of their carefree existence.

Line 6: "When at four in the afternoon I come back from the school,"

The speaker describes their return from school, marking another specific time of day.

Line 7: "I can see through the gate of that house the gardener digging the ground."

The speaker observes a gardener at work, digging the ground, suggesting a sense of purpose and fulfillment in the gardener's occupation.

Line 8: "He does what he likes with his spade, he soils his clothes with dust, nobody takes him to task if he gets baked in the sun or gets wet."

The gardener is depicted as having the freedom to work according to his own preferences, unconcerned about the consequences of getting dirty or uncomfortable.

Line 9: "I wish I were a gardener digging away at the garden with nobody to stop me from digging."

The speaker expresses their longing to be a gardener, emphasizing the desire for unrestricted labor and the absence of any restrictions or hindrances.

Line 10: "Just as it gets dark in the evening and my mother sends me to bed,"

The speaker mentions the approaching darkness, signaling the end of the day and the expectation of going to bed.

Line 11: "I can see through my open window the watchman walking up and down."

The speaker observes a watchman patrolling the lane outside their window, highlighting his continuous vigilance during the night.

Line 12: "The lane is dark and lonely, and the street-lamp stands like a giant with one red eye in its head."

The speaker describes the atmosphere of the lane, emphasizing its darkness and solitude, and personifies the streetlamp, creating a sense of eerie presence.

Line 13: "The watchman swings his lantern and walks with his shadow at his side, and never once goes to bed in his life."

The watchman's actions and dedication are emphasized, as he tirelessly carries his lantern and remains vigilant throughout the night.

Line 14: "I wish I were a watchman walking the street all night, chasing the shadows with my lantern."

The speaker expresses their longing to be a watchman, implying a fascination with the watchman's nighttime activities and the pursuit of shadows with a lantern.

Overall, the poem explores the speaker's yearnings for freedom, independence, and a departure from their own structured routine. Through encounters with the hawker, gardener, and watchman, they idealize the perceived liberty and lack of constraints in their respective occupations.

Working With The Text

I) Who is the speaker in the poem? Who are the people the

speaker meets? What are they doing?

What wishes does the child in the poem?

Answer : The speaker in the poem is a child.

The people the speaker meets are:

A hawker crying, "Bangles, crystal bangles!"

A gardener digging the ground.

A watchman walking up and down the lane.

2. What wishes does the child in the poem make? Why does

the child want to be a hawker, a gardener, or a watchman?

Pick out the lines in each stanza, which tell us this.

Answer: The child in the poem makes the following wishes:

The child wishes to be a hawker, spending their day on the road selling bangles and crying out their wares. (Lines: "I wish I were a hawker, spending my day in the road, crying, 'Bangles, crystal bangles!'")

The child wishes to be a gardener, enjoying the freedom to dig without any restrictions. (Lines: "I wish I were a gardener digging away at the garden with nobody to stop me from digging.")

The child wishes to be a watchman, spending the night chasing shadows with a lantern. (Lines: "I wish I were a watchman walking the street all night, chasing the shadows with my lantern.")

The child wants to be a hawker, gardener, or watchman because they observe these individuals having freedom in their actions, without anyone dictating their tasks or limiting their movements.

3. From the way the child envies the hawker, the gardener

and the watchman, we can guess that there are many things

the child has to do, or must not do.

Make a list of the do’s and don’ts that the child doesn’t like.

The first line is done for you.

The child must The child must not

come home at a fixed time. get his clothes dirty in the dust.

The child must:

Come home at a fixed time.

Attend school.

Follow a schedule or routine.

Abide by rules and regulations.

Complete assigned tasks or homework.

Follow instructions from parents or guardians.

Adhere to societal expectations or norms.

The child must not:

Get his clothes dirty in the dust.

Wander freely without any responsibilities.

Cry out or announce his desires or wants.

Spend time leisurely or engage in activities of choice.

Roam the streets without supervision.

Stay up late at night.

Explore or chase shadows.

Dig or play in the garden without permission.

Extra Short Questions Answers from the poem "Vocation" Class 6 NCERT 

Q1: Who does the speaker meet every day on their way to school?

A1: The speaker meets a hawker crying, "Bangles, crystal bangles!"

Q2: What is the hawker's routine like?

A2: The hawker has no specific obligations or destinations; he can roam freely without any time constraints.

Q3: What does the speaker wish to be?

A3: The speaker wishes to be a hawker, spending their day on the road, selling bangles and crying out their wares.

Q4: What does the speaker observe when they return from school in the afternoon?

A4: The speaker sees a gardener digging the ground in a house they pass by.

Q5: How does the gardener carry out his work?

A5: The gardener works at his own pace, without anyone supervising or reprimanding him. He doesn't mind getting dirty or being exposed to the elements.

Q6: What does the speaker wish to be while observing the gardener?

A6: The speaker wishes to be a gardener, enjoying the freedom to dig without any restrictions.

Q7: What does the speaker see through their open window in the evening?

A7: The speaker sees a watchman walking up and down the lane.

Q8: How does the speaker describe the streetlamp?

A8: The streetlamp is described as a giant with one red eye in its head.

Q9: How does the watchman spend his nights?

A9: The watchman patrols the street all night long, swinging his lantern and accompanied by his shadow. He never sleeps.

Q10: What does the speaker wish to be while watching the watchman?

A10: The speaker wishes to be a watchman, spending the night chasing shadows with a lantern.

Q11: What time does the gong sound in the morning?

A11: The gong sounds at ten in the morning.

Q12: How does the hawker announce his wares?

A12: The hawker cries out, "Bangles, crystal bangles!"

Q13: What are the speaker's observations of the gardener?

A13: The speaker sees the gardener digging the ground, working freely without any consequences for getting dirty or being exposed to the sun or rain.

Q14: What is the speaker's perception of the lane in the evening?

A14: The lane is described as dark and lonely.

Q15: How does the watchman's lantern affect his surroundings?

A15: The watchman's swinging lantern creates moving shadows as he walks.

Q16: What is the speaker's view of the streetlamp?

A16: The speaker sees the streetlamp as a giant figure with one red eye.

Q17: What is the speaker's mother's instruction in the evening?

A17: The speaker's mother sends them to bed.

Q18: How does the watchman's routine differ from others?

A18: Unlike others, the watchman never goes to bed and spends the entire night patrolling the street.

Q19: What is the speaker's attitude towards the hawker, gardener, and watchman?

A19: The speaker expresses a desire to be each of them, admiring their freedom and lack of restrictions.

Q20: What emotions does the poem evoke in the reader?

A20: The poem evokes a sense of longing for freedom, independence, and the desire to escape from the constraints of everyday life.