Making Life Worth While

Making Life Worth While

Every soul that touches yours –

Be it the slightest contact –

Get there from some good;

Some little grace; one kindly thought;

One aspiration yet unfelt;

One bit of courage

For the darkening sky;

One gleam of faith

To brave the thickening ills of life;

One glimpse of brighter skies –

To make this life worthwhile

And heaven a surer heritage.

– George Eliot

About the Poet:

Mary Ann Evans (1819 – 1880), known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. She wrote seven novels.

Glossary

grace (n) – elegance, charm

aspiration (n) – a hope or ambition of achieving something, desire, wish

courage (n) – bravery, valour

gleam (n) – shine brightly

glimpse (n) – glance, quick look

worthwhile (adj) – valuable, purposeful

heritage (n) – inheritance

Comprehension questions.

1. What should we learn from every soul?

Ans: We should learn the good from every soul.

2. What qualities will help us brave the thickening ills of life?

Ans: A little grace, a kind thought, an unfelt aspiration, a bit of courage and a gleam of faith are the qualities that help us to brave the thickening ills of life.

3. Why should we make this life worthwhile?

Ans: The qualities of good thought, kindness, aspiration, courage and faith will help us brave the thickening ills of life.

4. What does the poet assure if we make our life worthwhile?

Ans: The poet assures the inheritance of heaven, if we make our life worthwhile.

Fill in the blanks:

1. We should have a aspiration in life.

2. A bit of courage is need for the darkening sky.

3. One must have a glimpse of brighter skies to make the life worthwhile.