‘Be a friend’ Poem is a beautiful poem highlighting the value of making and having friends. Here, you would find question and answers of the poem as given in the class 6 English textbook ‘Lavender’. Click here to see notes and expalantions of this poem.
Be a Friend Q/Ans.
Time to answer
A. Choose the correct answer.
1. What is the poem about?
- on how to be a good friend
- on how to choose good friends
- on how to get rid of bad people in your life
- on how to be rich like a prince
2. Which lines tell you that making friends doesn’t need a lot of effort?
- Cheer the youth who’s bravely trying, Pity him who’s sadly sighing.
- Just the will to give or lend, This will make you someone’s friend.
- You’ll be richer in the end Than a prince, if you’re a friend.
- Be a friend. The pay is bigger (Though not written by a figure)
Answers:
- The poem is about how to be a good friend.
- Just the will to give or lend, This will make you someone’s friend.
B. Answer these questions.
1. Match each stanza with its meanings (See the full question in the book)
Ans. Matching each stanza with its meanings
| Stanza | Meaning |
| a. Be a friend. You don’t need money: Just a disposition sunny; Just the wish to help another Get along some way or other; | To be a friend, we don’t need money. We just need to have a cheerful attitude and a helpful nature so that we help one another in times of need. |
| b. Just a kindly hand extended Out to one who’s unbefriended; Just the will to give or lend, This will make you someone’s friend. | We can extend a hand of friendship to someone who has no friends. Just the thought of supporting someone in need makes you someone’s friend. |
| c. Be a friend. The pay is bigger (Though not written by a figure) Than is earned by people clever In what’s merely self-endeavor. | The wealth that you get by being someone’s friend is greater than the money that we earn for ourselves. |
| d. You’ll have friends instead of neighbors For the profits of your labors; You’ll be richer in the end Than a prince, if you’re a friend. | When you try your best to be a friend, your neighbours will turn into friends and in the end, you will be richer than a prince because you have real friends. |
- What are the things you would require to be a good friend?
- To be a good friend, what should you ignore?
- What can you do to be friends with someone who has no friends?
- How can you be richer than a prince?
Answers: More than one answer is being given here to help students learn the quality of answer making.
Set 1
3. What should you ignore as a good friend?
The poem mentions ignoring “trifling errors blindly.” This means you should overlook small mistakes or unimportant wrongdoings.
4. What can you do to be friends with someone who has no friends?
The poem emphasizes a sunny disposition (being cheerful and friendly), offering a kindly hand (helping someone), and being willing to give or lend. By being approachable, helpful, and generous, you can build a friendship with someone who might not have many friends.
5. How can you be richer than a prince?
The poem uses a metaphor to say that the emotional rewards of friendship are greater than riches. Being a good friend brings you more value than money or the status of a prince.
Set 2
Ans. 2. The things required to be a good friend are:
- Disposition: A positive and friendly attitude (sunny).
- Kindness: A willingness to help others (lend a hand, give or lend).
- Support: Encouragement for those trying and compassion for those struggling (cheer, pity).
- Trustworthiness: Being someone who can be relied on (a friend).
- Acceptance: Looking past small mistakes and valuing effort (pass by trifling errors blindly, gaze on honest effort kindly).
Ans. 3. Trifling errors: Small mistakes or unimportant things your friend does. (pass by trifling errors blindly)
Ans. 4. We can you do the following to be friends with someone who has no friends:
- Be kind and extend a friendly hand: Show them you want to be friends (Just a kindly hand extended Out to one who’s unbefriended).
- Be supportive and encouraging: Cheer them on and show you care (Cheer the youth who’s bravely trying, Pity him who’s sadly sighing).
Ans. 5. By having true friends: The poem suggests that the emotional rewards of friendship are more valuable than riches (You’ll be richer in the end Than a prince, if you’re a friend).
Set 3
3. We should Overlook small mistakes or unimportant flaws.
4. The poem offers some ideas on befriending someone without friends:
- Be friendly and have a positive attitude (“Just a disposition sunny”).
- Offer help and support (“Just the wish to help another”).
- Be kind and reach out to them (“Just a kindly hand extended”).
5. The poem suggests that friendship brings a greater reward than material wealth. Here’s how you can be “richer” through friendship:
- By having good friends instead of just neighbors (“You’ll have friends instead of neighbors”).
- By gaining the emotional wealth that comes with friendship (“You’ll be richer in the end Than a prince, if you’re a friend”).
Reference to the context
Read the lines from the poem and answer the questions.
Cheer the youth who’s bravely trying,
Pity him who’s sadly sighing;
Just a little labor spend
On the duties of a friend.
- a. How can you be a friend of a young person who is trying hard?
- b. How can you be a friend of a person who is sad?
- c. According to the poet, what is one of the duties of a friend?
- d. How does putting in a little effort from your side help others?
Answers: Two sets of answers are given here.
Set 1
a. The line “Cheer the youth who’s bravely trying” suggests you can be a friend by:
- Encouraging them: Cheer their efforts and celebrate their attempts, even if they don’t succeed at first.
b. The line “Pity him who’s sadly sighing” suggests you can be a friend by:
- Showing compassion: Acknowledge their sadness and offer them emotional support.
c. The line “Just a little labor spend On the duties of a friend” suggests that being a friend requires:
- Putting in effort: It’s not a passive role, but requires you to actively support your friends.
d. The poem suggests that a “little labor” spent on friendship brings big rewards. Here’s how:
- It strengthens friendships: By showing you care and offering encouragement or support, you build stronger bonds with your friends.
- It uplifts others: Your efforts can make your friends feel better, motivated, or less alone.
- It creates a positive cycle: The kindness you give can inspire them to be good friends to others as well.
Set 2
a. How can you be a friend of a young person who is trying hard?
Ans. Cheer the youth who’s bravely trying – You can be a friend by encouraging and offering support to the young person’s efforts. This could involve words of praise, helpful suggestions, or simply being there to listen.
b. How can you be a friend of a person who is sad?
Ans. Pity him who’s sadly sighing – You can be a friend by showing compassion and understanding. Listen to their sadness, offer a shoulder to cry on, or simply be a comforting presence.
c. According to the poet, what is one of the duties of a friend?
Ans. Just a little labor spend – According to the poet, one of the duties of a friend is to put in effort to support and uplift your friends. This “labor” doesn’t have to be grand gestures, but rather small acts of kindness and support.
d. How does putting in a little effort from your side help others?
Ans. The poem suggests that a little effort on your part can make a big difference to your friends. By offering encouragement, showing compassion, and simply being there, you can help them feel uplifted, supported, and valued. This strengthens the friendship and brings emotional rewards to both parties.
Time to enjoy
Do all the stanzas of the poem have the same rhyme scheme?
Ans. If we take each stanza separately then the rhyme sheme is same. If we take the poem as a whole then rhyme scheme would be:
First stanza: AABB Second stanza: CCCC
Third stanza: DDEE Fourth stanza: FFGG
Fifth stanza: HHII Sixth stanza: JJKK