To everything there is a season,
And a time to every purpose under the heaven;
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck up that which is planted….
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to cast away;
A time to rend,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak……..
(From Ecclesiastes, 3, 1-12)
Theme: It is true that everything happens at an appropriate time. There is time when winter sets in and a time when winter is gone and another season sets in.
Nobody is born before time – nor dies before time. There is a time to sow seeds, and a time when their fruits are ripe to be plucked.
The poet says that nothing in this world happens out of place. Everything is scheduled according to a specific time.
Exercises
1. Explain the message in the first eight lines of the poem in your own words.
2. Read the poem and complete the lines.
a) A time to be born
And a time to…………….
b) A time to break down
And a time to …………..
c) A time to laugh
And a time to ……….
d) A time to get
And a time to ………….
e) A time to keep silence
And a time to……….
1. Silence is an antonym of speech. Write down the antonyms of these words.
1. Born…………. . Heaven………….
2. Live…………… . Lose………….
3. Weep……… . Break………..
2. Write in your own words the critical appreciation of the poem.
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