Summary & Question-answers of The Poem:3-The Quarrel with the concerned video

The Quarrel Poem Summary

The poet is trying to explain how a quarrel between two brothers began and ended without any reason. The poet says that he quarrelled with his brother over something and he was not even aware why he was quarelling about. One thing was giving way  to another and while fighting both of them fell down. Initially, it was a small, petty issue but gradually, it became serious.The poet was claiming to be right whereas at heart he knew that he was wrong. Both of them didn’t like one another. In the afternoon, something went wrong.Then, suddenly, his brother hit him on the back and asked him to come along as it is not possible or right to linger the issues throughout the night. He also  claimed to be on the wrong side. So he was actually right. It shows his generosity.

Working with the poem (Page 4)

Question 

With your partner try to guess the meaning of the underlined phrase

(i) And somehow we fell out

(ii) The afternoon turned black

Answer

fell out – quarrelled or argue

turned black – was spoiled or wasted due to bad or tensed mood

Question 2

Read these lines from the poem

(i) One thing led to another

(ii) The start of it was slight

(iii) The end of it was strong

(iv) The afternoon turned black

(v) Thumped me on the back

Discuss with your partner what these lines mean

Answer

(i) During the argument, one thing led to another

(ii) The start and cause of the quarrel was petty and small

(iii) The quarrel ended on a sour note which had a long lasting effect

(iv) The quarrel spoiled the mood of the quarrelling persons and the afternoon became intolerably sad

(v) Patted on the back in an amiable manner

Question 

Describe a recent quarrel that you have had with your brother, sister or friend. How did it start? What did you quarrel about? How did it end.

Answer

Sohan is my best friend at school. I invited him to my birthday party, but he did not turn up for the celebrations. Suddenly he started behaving awkwardly and our relationship turned bitter. At school the next day, we had an argument about the incident. We both didn’t talk to each other for a few days. Both of us remained tense and sad on those days. Since we were missing each other, we decided to patch up. Therefore, we confronted each other and resolved our differences amicably. We shook hands and hugged each other and promised to renew our friendship in a fresh manner.