An inspiring poem “Try Again”, from Class 7 English Chapter 2, is an inspiring poem which teaches students the importance of hard work, patience, and an attitude of never giving up. The poem encourages learners to keep trying in spite of failures and also reminds them that success is achieved with constant effort.
The NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Chapter 2 are provided in this page in a clear and well-structured PDF format. The answers are written according to the updated NCERT syllabus and follow CBSE exam guidelines closely. They help students to understand the poem’s meaning, poetic devices, and central idea in a simple and elegant way. Practicing these solutions improves student’s confidence in poetry-based questions, helps in writing better answers, and prepares students well for school exams.
This NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Chapter 2: Try Again in PDF format is provided below. Download the free PDF for quick revision or daily practice and feel confident for your Class 7 English exams.
This poem motivates students to stay positive and determined in difficult situations. Below are the key lessons explained briefly to help learners understand the poem’s message clearly.
Let us discuss
I. Complete the summary of the poem by filling in the blanks with suitable words from the text given in the box below. Share your answers with the teacher. An example has been given.
tried, mounted, despair, attempts, great, conquered, low, strive
The poem, written in a narrative style, tells the story of King Bruce of Scotland, who was feeling 1......... after failing multiple times to achieve something 2........... for his people. In a moment of 3........, he observed a spider trying to reach its web high above. The spider 4........ every time it fell after getting close to its goal. It made nine 5....... and finally succeeded. The king said that the spider had 6........ and so would he. Inspired by the spider’s determination, King Bruce decided to 7........ When he 8........this time, he ultimately succeeded.
Ans.
II. Complete the following sentences suitably.
1. We can say that the poet uses the narrative style because .
Ans. the poem tells a story about King Bruce and the spider, describing events in a sequential and detailed manner.
2. The central idea of the poem is .
Ans. perseverance and determination— never giving up despite repeated failures, as shown through the spider’s efforts and King Bruce’s realisation.
III. Pick three examples from the poem for each of the following:
1. lines that describe the spider’s efforts
Ans. Following are three lines from the poem that describe the spider’s efforts:
a. “It soon began to cling and crawl, Straight up with strong endeavour” -This shows the spider’s determination to climb.
b. “Again it fell and swung below, But again it quickly mounted” – This highlights how the spider kept trying despite failing.
c. “Steadily, steadily, inch by inch, Higher and higher he got” – This describes the spider’s slow but persistent effort to reach its web.
2. alliteration (the repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of closely connected words
Ans. Following are three examples of alliteration from the poem:
IV. Why does the poet repeat the following words or phrases in the poem? tried and tried; steadily, steadily; up, up
Ans. The poet repeats the words and phrases “tried and tried; steadily, steadily; up, up” to emphasise persistence, determi¬nation, and continuous effort respectively. By using repetition, the poet makes the message of never giving up stronger.
V. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct answer from within the brackets.
Ans.
VI. The spider’s climbing is compared to King Bruce’s own struggles. Just as the spider repeatedly attempts to reach its web, Bruce is trying to achieve a great deed for his people. This poetic device is called metaphor. It strengthens the poem’s message about perseverance—keep trying till we succeed.
Ans: A metaphor is a figure of speech that involves an implied comparison between two unlike things without using ‘like’, ‘as’, or ‘as...as’. It suggests that one thing is another, highlighting similarities between them to add deeper meaning or understanding.
i. He ran as fast as a cheetah.
ii. The world is a stage.
iii. The night was as dark as coal.
iv. He sang like an angel.
v. Her voice was music to his ears.
vi. The classroom was a zoo.
vii. The baby slept like a log.
viii. Her smile was as bright as the sun.
ix. The lake was a mirror, reflecting the sky.
Ans. (i) S
(ii) M
(iii) S
(iv) S
(v) M
(vi) M
(vii) S
(viii) S
(ix) M
i. Knowledge spreads like the branches of a mighty tree. Knowledge is a spreading branch of a mighty tree.
ii. His courage was a beacon, guiding us through the storm.
iii. The book was a treasure chest, filled with endless adventures.
Ans. The book was like a treasure chest, filled with endless adventures.
iv. Her laughter was a melody that brightened the darkest days.
Ans. Her laughter was like a melody that brightened the darkest days.
v. The mountain stood as a guard, watching over the valley below.
Ans. The mountain was a mighty guard, watching over the valley below.
vi. The night was like a velvet cloak, wrapping the world in mystery.
Ans. The night was a velvet cloak, wrapping the world in mystery.
vii. Her thoughts were like butterflies in a summer meadow.
Ans. Her thoughts were butterflies fluttering in a summer meadow.
Let us think and reflect
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
And after a while he pondered there,
“I’ll give it all up,” said he.
Now just at that moment a spider dropped, With its silken, filmy clue;
i. Select the phrase which shows the physical expression of the King’s emotional state.
Ans. The phrase that shows the physical expression of the King’s emotional state is: “He flung himself down in low despair.”
ii. Why does the poet use the word ‘low’ before despair?
Ans. The poet uses the word low’ before ‘despair’ to emphasise the depth of King Bruce’s sadness and hopelessness.
It highlights that he was not just feeling discouraged but had reached a deep emotional and mental low, almost giving up completely.
iii. Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
In the line, ‘And after a while he pondered there’, the word ‘pondered’ means
A. paused B. thought C. noticed D. rested
Ans. B. thought
iv. Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets.
The phrase ‘silken filmy clue’ creates an image of something that is (long and light/very delicate and soft).
Ans. very delicate and soft
But up the insect went once more,
Ah me! ‘tis an anxious minute;
He’s only a foot from his cobweb door,
Oh say, will he lose or win it?
i. Choose the correct option to complete the analogy. toil: hard:: :
A. roll: tumble B. tumble: circle C. compress: roll D. jump: tumble
Ans. A. roll: tumble
ii. List any two characteristics of the spider highlighted in the line,
‘But up the insect went once more’.
Ans. Two characteristics of the spider highlighted in the line “But up the insect went once more” are:
iii. Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
The expression ‘Ah me!’ in the extract indicates a sense of .
A. happiness B. stress C. relief D. loneliness
Ans. B. stress
iv. Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason. Readers are able to relate to this extract because .
Ans. it reflects real-life struggles, where people face failures but must keep trying with perseverance and determination to achieve success.
II Answer the following questions.
Ans. This stanza helps in setting the mood of the poem by preparing the reader for the king’s journey of struggle and eventual determination as it is portraying a sense of sadness, disappointment of the King.
Ans. At the beginning of the poem, King Bruce felt defeated, hopeless, and discouraged. Despite being a monarch, he is deeply troubled because he has tried multiple times to accomplish a great deed for his people but has failed repeatedly. This leaves him feel lonely, sad, and in despair. At his lowest point, he even considers giving up entirely.
However, when he observes the spider, his perspective begins to change. He watches as tfie spider struggles but refuses to quit, making nine brave attempts before finally succeeding. Initially, the king doubts the spider and assumes it will give up, but when it keeps climbing and finally wins, his attitude shifts. He feels inspired and motivated, realising that persistence* leads to success.
Ans. The poet’s detailed description of every action of the spider shows his deep admiration, curiosity and respect for its perseverance and determination. Instead of dismissing the tiny creature, the poet carefully observes its struggles and repeated attempts to climb back to its web.
Ans. The spider’s actions teach us that failure is not the end, but rather a step towards
success, and that we must stay determined, work hard, and never give up in life.
Ans. The poem teaches us that failures are stepping stones to success by showing how both the spider and King Bruce face repeated failures but ultimately achieve their goals through perseverance. It conveys the message that true winners are those who never give up.
Ans. The spider’s journey in the poem teaches us that anyone or anything can inspire us, no matter how small they are.
(Session 2026 - 27)