The Eagle

Aguila Calva

The Eagle

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He clasps the crag with crooked hands,

Close to the sun in lonely lands,

Ring'd with the azure world, he stands.

The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;

He watches from his mountain walls.

And like a thunderbolt he falls.

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Glossary:

Word	Meaning	Urdu Meaning
Clasp	Hold tightly	جکڑ لینا، مضبوتی سے پکڑنا
Crag	A steep rough rock forming part of a cliff, peak	ٹیلہ، چٹان کا اونچا حصہ
Crooked	Not straight
Azure	Deep blue like the colour of the clear sky or sea	آسمانی رنگ کا، نیلا
Wrinkled	Having folds
Crawl	Move along the ground on hands and knees; move helplessly or powerlessly	رینگنا، کمزور
Thunderbolt	A flash of lightning accompanying thunder	بجلی کی گرج چمک

Summary: The poem has a very simple concept. It focuses on one eagle alone in the wild. In the first line, the eagle is atop a mountain, poised to strike. He is high up where no other animal or human can go. He is alone in his grandeur, with the sun and the bright blue sky forming the perfect background scenery.

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The second stanza shows the only action of the eagle. The first and second line show that, as he watches from his high perch, the sea moves below him. Then, in the final line, the eagle makes a grand dive towards the sea. The poem ends here, with the reader not quite sure why the eagle dived off his mountain roost.

Reading is Fun

1. How does the eagle stand on the mountain?

Answer: The eagle stands on the crag holding it so tightly high up in the sky seeming to be close to sun.

2. What does the eagle do on the mountains?

Answer:

crawling. ocean. rocks. descends. claws

The eagle keeps an eye on its prey from the mountains.

3. What is the eagle compared to in the end? Why?

Answer: The eagle in the end is compared to thunderbolt because of its speed.

4. Pick out the rhyming words from the poem.

Answer: The rhyming words in the poem are:

Hands, Lands, Stands

Crawls, Walls, Falls

Language Work

A. Complete the summary of the poem by filling in the words from the box.

The eagle uses its _________ to hold on the steep________, high up in the sky. It is free to fly anywhere in the blue sky. The world beneath appears very small from the hight. Above the mountains the eagle looks upon the__________ which seems like a ___________ baby. When the sharp vision the eagle spots its prey, it _______ towards the earth quick as a thunderbolt. 

Answer: The eagle uses its crooked paws to hold on the steep slopes, high up in the sky. It is free to fly anywhere in the blue sky. The world beneath appears very small from the hight. Above the mountains the eagle looks upon the sea which seems like a crawling baby. When the sharp vision the eagle spots its prey, it falls towards the earth quick as a thunderbolt.

B. Write down the names of the objects of nature that appear in the poem:

Answer: The objects of nature that appear in the poem, "The Eagle" are as under

1. Crag
2. Sun
3. Lonely Lands
4. Wrinkled Sea
   
5. Mountains
6. Thunderbolt 

Let's Talk 

Which is your favourite bird? Tell your class about it?

Answer: The bird I like the most is pigeon. It has very beautiful feathers. I like to feed them with rice.

Note: there could be many different answers to this question the teacher may ask every student to write few sentences about his/her favourite bird.

Let's Write 

Write down the names of birds found in your area/region? Write a short discription of any two of them.

Answer: The birds found in my region are:- Crow, owl, pigeon, cuckoo, bulbul, woodpecker, myna etc

Crow

Crow

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A crow is a medium to large-sized bird belonging to the Corvidae family, renowned for its intelligence and adaptability. Sporting glossy black plumage, a strong bill, and a distinctive cawing call, crows thrive in diverse habitats worldwide, from urban areas to forests. These omnivores consume a varied diet, including insects, fruits, small animals, and even human garbage. Highly social, they often form flocks and exhibit complex behaviors like tool use, problem-solving, and facial recognition. Their vocalizations convey nuanced messages, aiding group coordination. Culturally, crows symbolize mystery, transformation, or omens in folklore. Ecologically, they aid in scavenging and seed dispersal. Monogamous and nest-building in trees, crows are resilient, with lifespans up to 8 years in the wild, showcasing nature's ingenuity.

Woodpecker

Woodpecker 

A woodpecker is a distinctive bird known for its chisel-like beak, stiff tail, and zygodactyl feet (two toes forward, two backward). Found globally in forests and woodlands, it drums on trees to excavate insects, larvae, or sap, using specialized shock-absorbing skull structures. Its rhythmic pecking also communicates territory or attracts mates. Feathers often display bold patterns, like the red-headed or spotted varieties. Woodpeckers play vital ecological roles by controlling pests and creating nesting cavities reused by other species. Monogamous and territorial, they nest in tree hollows, laying 3–5 eggs. Their iconic tapping symbolizes resilience and rhythm in nature. Lifespan: 4–12 years.