NCERT Class 6 English Unit 3 Poem: The Quarrel

Detailed Summary and Stanza Analysis

Let us dive deep into the poem's structure and understand what the poet is trying to tell us. The poem consists of two distinct stanzas that trace the journey of an argument from its tiny origin to its heartwarming conclusion.

Stanza 1: How the Fight Began

"I quarrelled with my brother, I don't know what about..."
In the first stanza, the poet admits that she fought with her brother but cannot even remember the original reason! This is very common in sibling fights—they start over trivial, tiny things ("slight" beginnings). One small disagreement led to another. As they kept arguing, the fight grew bigger and more intense ("strong"). The brother claimed he was absolutely right, but the poet knew in her heart that he was completely wrong.

Stanza 2: The Afternoon Turning Black & The Reconciliation

"We hated one another. The afternoon turned black..."
As the fight continued, they stopped talking to each other, and a wave of mutual dislike washed over them. The poet uses the phrase "the afternoon turned black" to describe how a pleasant day became dull, gloomy, and tense because of their anger. Suddenly, the brother breaks the ice. He walks up, pats her on the back, and says they cannot carry this anger into the night. By admitting "he was in the wrong" simply to make peace, he morally becomes the one "in the right."

The 4 Phases of Sibling Arguments

1. 1. The Spark (Slight Start) — The quarrel starts over a minor, almost forgotten issue. Sibling arguments often begin with trivial matters like sharing toys or space.
2. 2. The Escalation (Strong End) — One argument triggers another. The intensity increases as pride prevents both sides from stepping down, making the quarrel 'strong'.
3. 3. The Gloomy Silence (The Black Afternoon) — The fun stops. Both feel mutual resentment, turning a bright afternoon into a dark, unhappy experience of silence.
4. 4. The Icebreaker (Reconciliation) — One person swallows their pride, initiates physical contact (a pat on the back), and suggests moving on. Peace is restored.

Key Poetic Devices and Themes

• Theme of Sibling Bond: The poem highlights that quarrels between siblings are temporary and do not destroy their underlying love for each other.
• Contrast/Antithesis: The poet contrasts 'slight' (small start) with 'strong' (intense end), and 'wrong' with 'right' to show the nature of the conflict.
• Metaphor: 'The afternoon turned black' is a metaphor representing how bad moods and anger can make a bright day feel dark and unpleasant.
• Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows an alternate rhyming pattern (abab cdcd), which gives it a rhythmic, song-like flow that makes it easy to read.

Exam Tips: Answering Poetry Questions

When writing answers for the poem The Quarrel in your CBSE Class 6 English exam, always remember to mention the poet's name: Eleanor Farjeon. This adds immense value to your answers. Additionally, focus on explaining expressions like 'afternoon turned black' and 'he was in the right' clearly. Use keywords like reconciliation, petty, escalate, and sibling affection to make your answers stand out to the examiner.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Who is the poet of the poem 'The Quarrel'? What is the central theme of the poem?
  A: Step 1: Identify the poet of the poem from the textbook chapter.
  Step 2: Define the central theme of the poem.
  Step 3: Combine both into a concise answer.
  Final answer: The poem 'The Quarrel' is written by Eleanor Farjeon. The central theme of the poem is the natural and sweet relationship between siblings, showing how their petty fights are short-lived and always end in love and reconciliation.

• Q: What does the poet mean by the phrase 'the afternoon turned black'?
  A: Step 1: Explain the literal context of the afternoon in the poem.
  Step 2: Describe how the emotional state of the siblings altered their perception of the day.
  Step 3: Conclude with the poetic meaning of 'turned black'.
  Final answer: The phrase 'the afternoon turned black' means that the afternoon became gloomy, tense, and unpleasant due to the bitter fight between the poet and her brother. The bad mood of the siblings spoiled the joy of the day.

• Q: Explain the line: 'He said he was in the wrong, / So he was in the right.'
  A: Step 1: Analyze why the brother said he was in the wrong.
  Step 2: Explain why this admission actually makes him morally correct (in the right).
  Step 3: Connect this to the act of forgiveness and keeping peace.
  Final answer: By saying he was in the wrong, the brother took the initiative to end the fight and make peace. This generous, humble act of accepting blame to save the relationship made him morally 'in the right' in a spiritual and emotional sense.

• Q: How did the quarrel start and how did it end? Explain briefly.
  A: Step 1: Describe the beginning of the fight as mentioned in Stanza 1 (started over small, forgotten things).
  Step 2: Describe the turning point in Stanza 2 (brother patting the poet on the back).
  Step 3: Summarize how the dispute was settled.
  Final answer: The quarrel started over a small, unknown issue and grew intense as both claimed to be right. It ended when the brother generously patted the poet on the back, admitted he was wrong, and suggested they go to sleep instead of carrying the anger overnight.

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