2.6 Money – Learn In a Simple Way

Learn in simple way 2.6  Money

Poem

When I had money, money, O!
I knew no joy till I went poor;
For many a false man as a friend
Came knocking all day at my door.

Then felt I like a child that holds
A trumpet that he must not blow
Because a man is dead; I dared
Not speak to let this false world know.

Much have I thought of life, and seen
How poor men’s hearts are ever light;
And how their wives do hum like bees
About their work from morn till night.

So, when I hear these poor ones laugh,
And see the rich ones coldly frown
Poor men, think I, need not go up
So much as rich men should come down.

When I had money, money, O!
My many friends proved all untrue;
But now I have no money, O!
My friends are real, though very few

The synonyms/ Vocabulary

Joy – Happiness – आनंद
False – Deceptive – फसवणूक करणारे
Knocking – Tapping – ठोठावणे
Trumpet – Horn – तुतारी
World – Society – जग
Hearts – Souls – हृदय
Wives – Spouses – पत्नी
Hum – Buzz – गुणगुणणे
Work – Labor – काम
Laugh – Giggle – हसणे
Coldly – Indifferently – थंडपणे
frown – a facial expression indicating disapproval, displeasure
Rich – Wealthy – श्रीमंत
Real – Genuine – खरे.

Summary of the poem

Stanza – I

The poem in short

The poem shows on how the speaker’s life changed after losing money. When he was rich, many people pretended to be his friends, but those friendships were false. After becoming poor, he realized that his real friends, though few, were honest and genuine.

The speaker also observes that poor people seem happier and more carefree, while rich people are often cold and serious. The poem suggests that being wealthy doesn’t guarantee true happiness or real friendships. It also conveys the idea that rich people should be more humble and that real joy and true relationships often come from simplicity and honesty, not wealth.

Brainstorming (Questions and Answers)

(A1) (i) ‘Money does not mean everything in life’. Discuss with your partner and justify the statement by giving examples. Take help of the following points.
a) Money cannot give you eternal happiness.
b) Art, music and literature can give you unending happiness.
c) Money is short-lived.
d) Money cannot purchase happiness and contentment.

Ans: I completely agree with the statement, “Money does not mean everything in life.” Money cannot buy true happiness, and it doesn’t last forever. While money is useful, it cannot bring endless joy or satisfaction. Real happiness comes from art, music, and literature, which can bring endless joy.

Money is temporary—people may stay around you when you have it, but disappear when it’s gone. We can truly earn respect and happiness in society only with our good actions and kindness, not wealth. That’s why I believe that money isn’t everything in life.

2] Debate on the following topic in groups. “Money is the solution for everything.”
Ans: It’s true that money can’t buy everything like family, peace, or happiness, but being poor is really hard. We need money for almost everything, so I believe money is the solution for most things.

Without money, you can’t give your children a good education, or fulfill their needs. You can’t buy a nice home or provide comfort for your family. In today’s society, people with money are respected, while the poor, no matter how smart, are often overlooked. Money gives you the freedom to do what you want and take care of your family well.

(A2) (i) State whether the following statements are True or False. Correct the False statements with the help of the poem.
a) The poet knew no joy till he was rich. – False
Correct statement: The poet knew no joy till he was poor
b) The poet felt that he should talk about his poverty. – True
c) When poet had money, he had many true friends. – False
Correct statement: When poet had money, he had many false friends.
d)When poet became poor he had a few real friends. – True

(ii)Write reasons for the following statements.
1) Friends came knocking all day at the poet’s door.
Ans: Because poet had money and they would come only for their benefits.
2) Poor men’s wives hum like bees.
Ans: because their wives have to take more effort to maintain the household work, but they are happy.
(iii)Money makes the world go round. Explain it in the light of the poet’s experience.
Ans: The expression “money makes the world go round ” means that money is very important, it is the most important or one of the essential things in life, a lot of events could not happen without it, when he possessed sufficient money to spend, he had more friends in life
(iv) Poor men need not go up so much as rich men should come down. Express your views regarding this statement.
Ans: The statement “poor men need not go up so much as rich men should come down” signifies that it is not required for the poor people to become rich because it is in poverty that they have found true happiness. However, it is important for rich men to become poor, only to realize the meaning of true happiness. Richness attracts all kinds of fake people who want to be around a person only to benefit from his wealth: whereas poverty attracts genuine people who stay with a person because they truly care about him and not about whether he is rich or poor.

(A3) (i) Find out meanings of the phrases given below and use them in your own sentences.
(a) be in the money : to suddenly have a lot of money:
Ans: He doesn’t want to know me any more now he’s in the money.
(b) win lots of money : to earn money by a matter of chance
Ans: Gambler people expect to win lots of money.
(c) for my money : in my opinion.
Ans: For my money, Sunday is the best day to travel because the roads are quiet.
(d) Money for old rope: money earned with little effort.
Ans: This job will be money for old rope.
(e) put one’s money where one’s mouth is: to show by your actions and not just your words
Ans: He speaks only about helping the homeless; I wish he’d put his money where his mouth is.

(ii) Complete the crossword with the help of the clues from the poem.

Across
(1) A brass musical instrument
(2) A low steady continuous sound
(3) False
(4) Say Something
Down
5) Not imaginary
(6) Ponder
(7) Stinging insects
(8) In large number
(9) Strike a surface noisily

Answers

(A4) (i) Complete the following table.

(ii) The Figures of speech:

1) When I had money, money, O!
Ans: Repetition because here the word ‘money has been repeated
*Exclamation because here the sentence is in exclamatory form
2) I knew no joy till I went poor;
Ans: Alliteration because here the sound of n has been repeated
3) For many a false man as a friend
Ans: Alliteration because here a letter m has been repeated
*Simile because here a ‘false man’ is directly compared to a
‘friend’ with the use of the word “as’.
4) Came knocking all day at my door.
Ans: Alliteration because here the sound of d has been repeated
5) Then felt I like a child that holds
Ans: Simile because here the poet himself is directly compared to a ‘child’ with the use of the word like
*Inversion because here the sentence is not in the correct prose order
The correct prose order is “Then I felt like a child that holds”
6) A trumpet that he must not blow
Ans: Inversion because here the sentence is not in the correct prose order
The correct prose order is “That he must not blow a trumpet”
7) Because a man is dead; I dared
Ans: Alliteration because here a letter “d” has been repeated
8) And how their wives do hum like bees
Ans: Onomatopoeia because here the word ‘hums’ suggests the sound

9) About their work from morn till night.
Ans: Antithesis because here two opposite words ‘morn’ and ‘night’ have been used
10) So, when I hear these poor ones laugh,
Ans: Onomatopoeia because here the word ‘laugh’ suggests the sound
11) Poor men, think I, need not go up.
Ans: Inversion because here the sentence is not in the correct prose order
The correct prose order is “I think, poor men need not go up”

12) My many friends proved all untrue;
Ans: Paradox because here two contradictory ideas have been put together of friend and untrue
13) But now I have no money, O!
Ans: Exclamation because here the sentence is in exclamatory form.

(iii) Identify the rhyme scheme of all the stanzas of the poem.
Ans: Stanza 1 : a b c b
Stanza 2 : a b c b
Stanza 3 : a b c b
Stanza 4 : a b c b
Stanza 5 : a b a b

(Q4.) Compose a short poem on

Poetic creativity

1. Money and Friendship
Money brings many friends,
But they are not true.
When wealth is all gone,
Few real friends stay.

—

2. Joy in Simplicity
Happiness is not bought,
It comes from the heart.
Riches don’t bring peace,
Simplicity brings joy.

—

3. Wealth and Loneliness
With riches, I’m alone,
Surrounded by false smiles.
Without money, I find,
Real friends by my side.

—

4. Light Hearts of the Poor
The poor laugh with ease,
Their hearts are so light.
Their joy is eternal,
With love and simple life.

—

5. False Wealth, True Life
Money gives no peace,
It only brings noise.
Life’s beauty is found,
In truth, not in wealth.

—

6. Humble and Content
The poor are content,
The rich always frown.
True joy is within,
Not in jewels or crowns.

—

7. Life Beyond Wealth
Money fades so fast,
But life carries on.
True happiness stays,
In love and good deeds.

—

8. The Value of Respect
Respect is not bought,
It’s earned with good deeds.
A rich man may frown,
But kindness plants seeds.

—

9. Friends of the Heart
Money brings false friends,
Love brings the true ones.
When wealth disappears,
Real friends will remain.

—

10. The Power of Art
Music lifts the soul,
Art speaks to the heart.
Money cannot buy,
The joy that they start.

11. ‘Friendship’.
The friend encourages you
during uncertain times
He is who stand with you
without seeing good or bad times

Poetic Appreciation

(A5) Write an appreciation of the poem. 

About the Poet and Poem:

Money is a reflective poem by W. H. Davies, who is often called the “Tramp Poet” of Wales. In this poem, Davies shares his personal reflections on how money influences human relationships, friendships, and happiness.

Theme:
The central theme of the poem is that real happiness lies not in wealth but often in poverty. Davies highlights the disadvantages of money by contrasting the life of a rich man, who is surrounded by false friends, with that of a poor man, who has fewer friends but enjoys true and sincere companionship.

Poetic Devices and Language:
The poem is written in simple language and a straightforward narrative style, which makes it easy to understand. Davies skillfully uses various figures of speech such as Alliteration, Antithesis, Inversion, Simile, Onomatopoeia, and Repetition.

Poetic Style:
The poem consists of five stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme of the first four stanzas is a b c b, while the last stanza follows a b a b. The vivid imagery in lines such as “wives hum, like bees”, “came knocking all day at my door”, and “a child that holds a trumpet” adds beauty and effectiveness to the poem.

Message:
The poem conveys the message that money cannot buy true happiness. While wealth often attracts false friends, poverty brings genuine ones. The poet suggests that to experience true joy, it is not the poor who must become rich, but the rich who must understand the value of poverty.

My Opinion:
I like this poem because it teaches an important life-lesson: “Prosperity makes friends, but adversity tests them.” It beautifully highlights the real value of money and exposes the false belief that riches guarantee happiness.