Puppy and I: A Journey of Friendship (Class 3 English NCERT)

Hello young explorers! Welcome to the delightful world of the poem 'Puppy and I' from your Class 3 English NCERT textbook. This poem is a beautiful story about a child's journey and the wonderful friends they meet along the way, especially a playful puppy. Have you ever wondered what it's like to meet different animals and people and choose your own adventure? This poem will show you just that!

In this lesson, we will read the poem together, understand its simple yet profound message of friendship and choice, and learn some new words. We'll also see how the poem tells a lovely little story. Get ready to explore a world where a field, a cottage, and a wagging tail lead to a day full of fun. By the end, you'll be able to recite the poem, answer questions about it, and appreciate the joy of making new friends!

Understanding 'Puppy and I': A Journey of Choices

The poem 'Puppy and I' tells a sweet story from the perspective of a child who is walking on a road. As the child walks, they meet different characters and ask them where they are going. First, the child meets a Man who is going "over the hills to feed his cow." The child asks if they can go with him, but the Man says no, as he has a specific job to do. Next, the child meets a Horse who is going "down to the village to get some hay." Again, the child asks to join, but the Horse also has a task and cannot take them along.

Finally, the child meets a joyful Puppy. When asked where it is going, the Puppy simply replies, "Up in the hills to roll and play." This answer brings a spark of excitement! Unlike the Man and the Horse, the Puppy's destination sounds like pure fun. The child immediately decides to go with the Puppy, and together they walk "over the hills to roll and play." This poem beautifully highlights the simple joy of companionship and the idea of choosing friends who share your desire for fun and adventure. It teaches us that sometimes, the best journeys are the ones taken with a happy heart and a playful friend.

New Words from the Poem

Went
The past tense of 'go', meaning to move from one place to another.
Field
An area of open land, especially one used for crops or for animals to graze.
Over the hills
Crossing across or beyond a hilly area.
Cottage
A small, simple house, usually in the countryside.
Hay
Grass that has been mown and dried for use as animal fodder.
Wagging
(Referring to a tail) Moving rapidly from side to side or up and down, often a sign of happiness in dogs.
Along
Moving in a constant direction on a line or path.

Following the Child's Journey: Who Met Whom?

  1. Step 1: The Child Walks and Meets a Man — The poem begins with the child walking. The first person the child meets is a Man. The child asks, "Man of the field, where are you going?" The Man replies he is going 'over the hills to feed his cow'.
  2. Step 2: The Child Meets a Horse — After meeting the Man, the child continues walking and soon meets a Horse. The child asks the Horse, "Horse of the field, where are you going?" The Horse says he is going 'down to the village to get some hay'.
  3. Step 3: The Child Encounters a Puppy — The child keeps walking and then meets a playful Puppy. The child asks the Puppy, "Puppy of the field, where are you going?" The Puppy answers, 'Up in the hills to roll and play'.
  4. Step 4: The Child Joins the Puppy — Upon hearing the Puppy's fun plan, the child happily decides to go with the Puppy. They both walk 'over the hills to roll and play' together, beginning a new adventure of friendship.

Tips for Understanding and Enjoying Poems

Reading poems can be very fun, and here are some tips to help you understand them better and enjoy them even more:

  1. Read Aloud: Always read a poem aloud. This helps you hear the rhythm and feel of the words, just like a song!
  2. Visualise: Close your eyes for a moment and try to imagine what the poem is describing. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you feel?
  3. Find New Words: Don't worry if you find new words. Try to guess their meaning from the rest of the poem, or look them up. The 'New Words' section above will help you with 'Puppy and I'.
  4. Identify Characters and Their Feelings: Who are the characters in the poem? What are they doing? How do they feel? In 'Puppy and I', the child feels curious and then happy, while the puppy feels playful.
  5. Understand the Main Idea: What is the poem trying to tell you? Is it about friendship, nature, or a special feeling? For 'Puppy and I', it's about making a happy choice and finding a friend for fun.

Practice Questions with Solutions

  • Q: Who did the child meet first in the poem 'Puppy and I'? A: Step 1: Recall the sequence of encounters in the poem. Step 2: The poem states, "I went to the man, would you come with me?" showing the man was the first encounter. Final answer: The child met a Man first.
  • Q: Where was the Horse going in the poem? A: Step 1: Locate the part of the poem where the child talks to the Horse. Step 2: The Horse says, "Down to the village to get some hay." Final answer: The Horse was going down to the village to get some hay.
  • Q: What did the Puppy want to do? A: Step 1: Find the Puppy's response when asked where it was going. Step 2: The Puppy replied, "Up in the hills to roll and play." Final answer: The Puppy wanted to go up in the hills to roll and play.
  • Q: Why did the child decide to go with the Puppy? A: Step 1: Compare the destinations of the Man, the Horse, and the Puppy. Step 2: The Man and Horse had tasks (feeding cow, getting hay), while the Puppy's destination was 'to roll and play', which sounded fun. Final answer: The child decided to go with the Puppy because the Puppy's plan was to roll and play, which sounded like a fun adventure.
  • Q: What does the word 'hay' mean in the poem? A: Step 1: Remember the context where 'hay' is used. The Horse was going to get 'hay'. Step 2: 'Hay' is a type of dried grass used as food for animals like horses or cows. Final answer: 'Hay' means dried grass used as food for animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main message of the poem 'Puppy and I'?

The main message of the poem is about the joy of friendship and choosing to spend time with someone who shares your desire for fun and adventure. It shows how simple companionship can make a journey exciting.

Who are the characters the child meets in the poem?

The child meets three characters in the poem: a Man, a Horse, and a Puppy. Each character has a different destination or purpose.

Where does the child finally go?

The child finally decides to go with the Puppy. They go 'up in the hills to roll and play' together, finding a joyful adventure.