NCERT Solutions For Class 5 English Marigold (Poem) Chapter 3 My Shadow - 2025-26
FAQs on NCERT Solutions For Class 5 English Marigold (Poem) Chapter 3 My Shadow - 2025-26
1. According to the NCERT textbook, what is the 'little shadow' that follows the boy in the poem 'My Shadow'?
In the Class 5 English poem 'My Shadow', the 'little shadow' is the child's own shadow. The poet describes it as a constant companion that looks exactly like the child and follows him everywhere he goes, from playing outside to jumping into bed. The NCERT solutions explain that this is a key observation made by the young narrator.
2. How is the shadow described as being similar to the child in the poem 'My Shadow' from the Class 5 English textbook?
The NCERT solutions for 'My Shadow' explain that the shadow is extremely similar to the child in appearance, from the heels up to the head. The main difference highlighted in the poem is its ability to change size, sometimes growing very tall and at other times becoming very small, unlike the child who grows at a slow, steady pace.
3. What is the funniest thing about the shadow, as explained in the NCERT solutions for Class 5 English Chapter 3?
According to the poem, the funniest thing about the shadow is the way it likes to grow. It doesn't grow in a slow, proper way like children do. Instead, it can suddenly shoot up like an india-rubber ball, becoming very tall in an instant. This unpredictable growth is what the child finds most amusing.
4. Why does the child in the poem think the shadow is a 'coward'?
The child calls the shadow a 'coward' because it always stays very close to him, as if it is scared and needs protection. As per the correct method of answering based on the text, it sticks to him like a "cowardly" friend who is afraid to be alone. This interpretation highlights the child's innocent and imaginative perspective on his own shadow.
5. Why can't the child find his shadow early in the morning before the sun is up?
The child can't find his shadow early in the morning because shadows are only formed when an object blocks a source of light. Before the sun rises, there is no strong light source to create a shadow. The child, not yet understanding this scientific fact, innocently concludes that his shadow must be a "lazy little sleepy-head" that has stayed behind in bed.
6. Is Chapter 3 of the Class 5 English Marigold textbook 'My Shadow' or 'Robinson Crusoe'?
This is a common point of confusion for students. The NCERT Class 5 English Marigold textbook for the academic year 2025-26 organises chapters into units. Unit 3 contains both a poem and a prose story. The poem is Chapter 3, titled 'My Shadow'. The prose story in the same unit is 'Robinson Crusoe Discovers a Footprint'. Therefore, NCERT Solutions for Chapter 3 specifically refer to the poem 'My Shadow'.
7. How does the shadow's behaviour at home differ from its behaviour outdoors, according to the poem 'My Shadow'?
The poem suggests a difference in the shadow's behaviour based on its surroundings and the child's actions. The NCERT solutions help us distinguish this:
- Outdoors: The shadow's size changes dramatically. It can shoot up very tall or become very small, which the child observes while playing.
- Indoors: The shadow's most notable action is at bedtime, where it "jumps into bed before" the child can. This highlights its constant, close presence even inside the house.
8. Why does the shadow sometimes get 'very little' and sometimes 'so tall'? How does this connect to the sun's position?
The poem's observation about the shadow's changing size is based on a real scientific principle, which is an important concept to understand. The size of a shadow depends on the angle of the light source, which in this case is the sun.
- When the sun is low in the sky (like in the early morning or late afternoon), it casts a long, tall shadow.
- When the sun is directly overhead (like at midday), it casts a very short and small shadow right under you.
