The Nightingale And The Glow Wrorm

Question 1

Summary:

Answer 1

In the poem, the nightingale, after noticing the glow-worm, plans to eat it.
However, the glow-worm, aware of the nightingale’s intention, eloquently argues against being harmed.
It tells the nightingale that just as he brings beauty with his song, the glow-worm provides light.
Both serve a purpose in the night, and harming one would spoil the other’s gift.
Moved by the glow-worm’s speech, the nightingale decides to let it go and finds another meal elsewhere.

Question 2

1. How did the Nightingale see the glow-worm?

Answer 2

• He saw the glow worm glowing at night.

Question 3

2. Did he consume the glow-worm? Why?

Answer 3

• No, the nightingale did not consume the glow-worm. After listening to its oration about the importance of both song and light, he decided not to harm it.

Question 4

3. How did the nightingale satisfy his hunger?

Answer 4

• It found supper somewhere else to satisfy his hunger.

Question 5

1. ‘Did you admire my lamp, quoth he,
’As much as I your minstrelsy…’
   Who said these words and to whom?
   What ‘lamp’ is the speaker referring to?
   What is the speaker’s state of mind here?
   What is the speaker trying to do?

Answer 5

1. Who said these words and to whom?
   • The glow-worm said these words to the nightingale.
   
   2. What ‘lamp’ is the speaker referring to?
      • The ‘lamp’ refers to the glow-worm’s light.
   3. What is the speaker’s state of mind here?
      • The speaker’s state of mind was persuasive.
   4. What is the speaker trying to do?
      • The speaker is trying to convince the nightingale not to harm him.

Question 6

2. ‘For ‘twas the self-same power divine, Taught you to sing, and me to shine…’
   Who said this and to whom?
   Which ‘power’ is being referred to here?
   What is the speaker’s intent?
   What skill does the speaker exhibit in these lines?

Answer 6

1. Who said this and to whom?
   • The glow-worm said this to the nightingale.
   
   2. Which ‘power’ is being referred to here?
      • The ‘power’ refers to the divine force or nature that gives both the nightingale its ability to sing and the glow-worm its ability to shine.
   3. What is the speaker’s intent?
      • The speaker’s intent was to convince the nightingale not to eat him.
   4. What skill does the speaker exhibit in these lines?
      • The speaker exhibits the skill of persuasion.

Question 7

3. The songster heard his short oration, And warbling out his approbation..
   a. Who is the songster?

Whose oration did he hear?
Why was he impressed with the speech?
How did the songster show his appreciation?

Answer 7

1. Who is the songster?
   • The songster is the nightingale.
   
   2. Whose oration did he hear?
      • He heard the glow-worm’s oration.
   3. Why was he impressed with the speech?
      • He was impressed with the speech because of the eloquence of the glow worm.
   4. How did the songster show his appreciation?
      • The songster showed his appreciation by warbling out his approval and deciding to release the glow-worm instead of eating it.

Question 8

How did the glowworm save its own life? What impression do you form about the glowworm from this?

Answer 8

The Glowworm used intelligence to persuade the Nightingale that both had important roles, saving his life. This shows he is clever and diplomatic.

Question 9

What quality does the heighten display in the poem?

Answer 9

The Nightingale displays fairness and open-mindedness by listening to the Glowworm and choosing not to harm him.

Question 10

What is the theme of this story?

Answer 10

The theme is the value of cooperation and understanding through dialogue.