Very Short Answer (1 Mark)

Question 1 What is the primary lesson the poet wants the reader to heed?

Question 2 According to the first stanza, what should you do if you do not succeed at first?

Question 3 What quality should appear when you face your first failure?

Question 4 What does the poet say you will do if you persevere?

Question 5 How many times does the poet suggest you might fail before succeeding?

Question 6 What word does the poet use to describe winning or achieving success at last?

Question 7 According to the poem, is it a disgrace to strive and fail?

Question 8 If you do not win the race, what is the poet’s advice?

Question 9 How does the poet describe the task in the third stanza?

Question 10 What will time bring to you if your task is hard?

Question 11 Who does the poet compare the reader to in the final stanza?

Question 12 What virtue must you have to do what other folks can do?

Question 13 What is the golden rule that must be kept in view?

Question 14 Who is traditionally credited as the author or popularizer of the poem "Try Again"?

Question 15 What is the general tone of the poem?

Question 16 Identify the rhyme scheme of the first stanza.

Question 17 What is the opposite of "succeed" as used in the context of the poem?

Question 18 What emotion does the poet tell us never to have when trying to conquer a task?

Question 19 Does the poet guarantee immediate success?

Question 20 Which line in the poem suggests that making an effort is honorable even if you lose?

Question 21 What does the word "heed" mean in the very first line?

Question 22 What is the central theme of the poem?

Question 23 Why does the poet repeat the phrase "Try again" so many times?

Question 24 What will happen if you give up after the first attempt?

Question 25 According to the poem, what conquers fear?

Fill in the Blanks

Question 26 'Tis a lesson you should ________.

Question 27 If at first you don't ________, try again.

Question 28 Then your ________ should appear.

Question 29 For if you will ________, you will conquer.

Question 30 You will ________, never fear.

Question 31 Once or ________ though you should fail.

Question 32 If you would at last ________, try again.

Question 33 If we ________, 'tis no disgrace.

Question 34 Though we do not win the ________.

Question 35 What should you do in that ________?

Question 36 If you find your ________ is hard, try again.

Question 37 ________ will bring you your reward.

Question 38 All that other ________ can do.

Question 39 Why with ________ should not you?

Question 40 Only keep this ________ in view.

Question 41 The poem teaches us the value of constant ________.

Question 42 It is not a ________ to lose after trying your best.

Question 43 One must face life's challenges without any ________.

Question 44 Success is the ________ brought to us by time and effort.

Question 45 Whenever we face an obstacle, our ________ should instantly appear.

Question 46 People who finally win the race are those who ________.

Question 47 The poet advises us to look at what other ________ can achieve.

Question 48 Hard tasks require a great deal of ________.

Question 49 Giving up is the only real ________ in life.

Question 50 The phrase "Try again" acts as a ________ throughout the poem to encourage the reader.

True / False

Question 51 The poet states that succeeding on the very first try is the only way to be proud.

Question 52 Courage should disappear when you face a difficult task.

Question 53 Persevering guarantees that you will conquer your fears and challenges.

Question 54 It is considered a terrible disgrace to strive and not win the race.

Question 55 Failing once or twice means you should abandon your goal completely.

Question 56 Prevailing means giving up when things get too tough.

Question 57 The poet believes that if a task is hard, time will eventually bring a reward to those who keep trying.

Question 58 Patience is highlighted as a necessary trait for achieving what others can achieve.

Question 59 The poem suggests that you possess less ability than other folks and therefore cannot succeed.

Question 60 Keeping the rule "Try again" in view is the final piece of advice given by the poet.

Question 61 The poem encourages a pessimistic outlook on life and its challenges.

Question 62 "Striving" means making a great and honorable effort.

Question 63 The poet implies that winning is the only thing that matters, regardless of the effort put in.

Question 64 Time works against those who find their tasks hard.

Question 65 The poem is universally applicable to people of all ages facing different types of challenges.

Question 66 The phrase "'tis" is an old-fashioned contraction for "it is".

Question 67 The poem claims that fear is a helpful emotion when trying to conquer a task.

Question 68 Overcoming failure builds character and courage.

Question 69 The poet guarantees that you will never fail if you memorize this poem.

Question 70 The ultimate reward is given to those who exhibit patience and perseverance.

Word Meaning / Vocabulary

Question 71 Write the meaning of the word "Heed" as used in the poem.

Question 72 Define the term "Persevere" in your own words.

Question 73 What does the word "Conquer" mean in the context of facing difficulties?

Question 74 Give the exact meaning of the word "Prevail".

Question 75 What does the poet mean by the word "Strive"?

Question 76 Write the definition of the word "Disgrace".

Question 77 Explain the meaning of the word "Patience".

Question 78 What is meant by the word "Reward" in the third stanza?

Question 79 Define the word "Folk" as it is used in the poem.

Question 80 What is the meaning of the contraction "'Tis"?

Question 81 Give a synonym for the word "Succeed".

Question 82 Provide an antonym for the word "Courage".

Question 83 What is a synonym for the word "Task"?

Question 84 Give an antonym for the word "Fail".

Question 85 Write a synonym for the word "Conquer".

Question 86 Provide an antonym for the word "Patience".

Question 87 What does the phrase "keep this rule in view" mean?

Question 88 Write a synonym for the word "Reward".

Question 89 Provide an antonym for the word "Hard".

Question 90 Use the word "Persevere" in a meaningful sentence of your own.

HOTS (Thinking Questions)

Question 91 Why do you think human beings naturally feel discouraged when they fail on their first attempt?

Question 92 How does the concept of "striving without disgrace" challenge modern society's obsession with winning?

Question 93 If everyone possesses the ability to succeed through patience, why do some people fail permanently?

Question 94 In what ways does failure actually prepare a person for ultimate success?

Question 95 Analyze the relationship between "time," "patience," and "reward" as presented in the final stanza.

Question 96 How does repeating the phrase "Try again" affect the psychological mindset of the reader?

Question 97 Can the rule of "Try again" be applied to situations where the goal is genuinely unachievable? Why or why not?

Question 98 Why is courage most necessary specifically after a failure, rather than before the first attempt?

Question 99 Discuss how the poem differentiates between the act of losing a race and the act of being disgraced.

Question 100 Imagine a scenario where "trying again" might actually be the wrong advice. Describe the situation and explain why.

Question 101 How does the poet use the achievements of "other folk" to motivate the reader? Is this a healthy form of comparison?

Question 102 What emotional changes occur within a person from their first failure to their eventual victory?

Question 103 How does the poem reflect the proverb "Rome wasn't built in a day"?

Question 104 Why is patience considered a highly difficult virtue to practice in the face of repeated failure?

Question 105 Evaluate the relevance of this 19th-century poem in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world.

Grammar-Based Questions

Question 106 Identify the part of speech for the word "courage" in the poem.

Question 107 Change the verb "succeed" into a noun.

Question 108 Identify the adjectives in the phrase: "If you find your task is hard."

Question 109 What is the past tense of the verb "prevail"?

Question 110 Change the following sentence into the negative form: "You will conquer."

Question 111 Identify the pronouns used in the first stanza of the poem.

Question 112 Write the comparative and superlative degrees for the adjective "hard".

Question 113 Find a rhyming pair of words in the second stanza.

Question 114 Change the sentence to the future tense: "Time brings you your reward."

Question 115 Punctuate the following correctly: if at first you dont succeed try try again

Question 116 Identify the conjunction in the sentence: "Once or twice though you should fail."

Question 117 Form an adverb from the word "patience".

Question 118 Identify the subject in the sentence: "Time will bring you your reward."

Question 119 Pick out the preposition in the line: "What should you do in that case?"

Question 120 Change the voice of the sentence: "Other folk can do all that." (Assume "that" is the object).

Question 121 Write three words that rhyme with "race".

Question 122 Identify the modal verbs used in the poem.

Question 123 Write the plural form of the word "task".

Question 124 Identify whether the word "rule" is used as a noun or a verb in the phrase "keep this rule in view."

Question 125 Write the present continuous form of the verb "strive".

Match the Following

(Match the words in Column A (Questions 126-135) with their correct thematic pairs or meanings conceptually associated with them in the poem)

Question 126 Match "Heed" with its contextual pair.

Question 127 Match "First attempt" with its contextual pair.

Question 128 Match "Hard task" with its contextual pair.

Question 129 Match "Strive" with its contextual pair.

Question 130 Match "Other folk" with its contextual pair.

Question 131 Match "Conquer" with its contextual pair.

Question 132 Match "Patience" with its contextual pair.

Question 133 Match "Disgrace" with its contextual pair.

Question 134 Match "Time" with its contextual pair.

Question 135 Match "Rule" with its contextual pair.

Short Answer (2 Marks)

Question 136 What is the first lesson that the poet wants us to pay attention to?

Question 137 Explain the line: "Then your courage should appear."

Question 138 Why does the poet say that it is no disgrace if we do not win the race?

Question 139 What role does time play when a task is hard, according to the poem?

Question 140 How should we respond if we fail once or twice?

Question 141 What is the poet's argument regarding what "other folk" can do?

Question 142 Why should a person never fear when trying to conquer an obstacle?

Question 143 How does the poet reassure someone who is struggling with a difficult task?

Question 144 What specific rule must be kept in view at all times?

Question 145 Why is patience so heavily emphasized in the final stanza?

Question 146 What is the fundamental difference between failing a task and being disgraced?

Question 147 According to the poem, what is the prerequisite for finally prevailing?

Question 148 How does the poem define true success?

Question 149 Explain the phrase "conquer, never fear."

Question 150 In your own words, what is the core message of the second stanza?

Long Answer (3–4 Marks)

Question 151 Summarize the main theme and moral lesson of the poem "Try Again" in your own words.

Question 152 Describe a historical figure or a famous personality whose life perfectly illustrates the message of this poem. Explain how.

Question 153 Explain how the poet systematically addresses the fear of failure, the shame of losing, and the difficulty of the task across the three stanzas.

Question 154 Discuss the importance of the line, "If we strive, 'tis no disgrace / Though we do not win the race." How does this change our perspective on sports and competitions?

Question 155 Write a detailed explanation of the final stanza. How does the poet use logical reasoning to convince the reader to keep trying?

Question 156 Compare the message of this poem with the story of King Robert Bruce and the spider. How are the themes identical?

Question 157 "Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently." Relate this quote by Henry Ford to the themes present in the poem "Try Again."

Question 158 Imagine a student is deeply depressed after failing a major examination. How can the teachings of this poem be used to counsel and motivate them?

Question 159 Analyze the tone and rhythm of the poem. How does the repetitive structure of "Try again" enhance the motivational impact of the poem?

Question 160 What does the poem teach us about human equality and capability when it mentions "All that other folk can do"? Expand on this idea.

Creative Writing

Question 161 Write a short story (about 150 words) about a young bird learning to fly, illustrating the moral "Try Again."

Question 162 Imagine you have failed at a task that was very important to you. Write a diary entry expressing your initial disappointment, and then describe how remembering this poem changed your mindset.

Question 163 Write a letter to a younger sibling who is struggling to learn how to ride a bicycle. Use the lessons from the poem to encourage them.

Question 164 Compose an original, four-line stanza that could be added to the end of the poem "Try Again," maintaining the same rhythm and theme.

Question 165 Write a speech to be delivered at your school's morning assembly titled "The Power of Perseverance," heavily referencing the poem.

Question 166 Create a dialogue between two friends. One has just lost a running race and wants to quit athletics entirely, while the other uses the message of "Try Again" to convince them to keep training.

Question 167 Write a short biographical sketch of an inventor (like Thomas Edison) focusing entirely on how many times they failed and how they "tried again" before succeeding.

Question 168 Design a motivational poster concept in your words. Describe the images, colors, and layout you would use, incorporating quotes from the poem to inspire students in a classroom.

Question 169 Write a personal narrative essay about a specific time in your life when you found a task incredibly hard, almost gave up, but finally achieved your reward through patience.

Question 170 Imagine the concept of "Failure" is a person. Write a letter addressed to "Failure," telling them why they no longer scare you, using the principles taught in the poem.

The complete answers to all 170 questions based on the poem "Try Again". 

Very Short Answer (1 Mark)

Answer 1: The primary lesson is "Try again."

Answer 2: You should try again.

Answer 3: Courage.

Answer 4: You will conquer.

Answer 5: Once or twice.

Answer 6: Prevail (or conquer).

Answer 7: No, it is no disgrace.

Answer 8: Try again.

Answer 9: Hard.

Answer 10: Your reward.

Answer 11: Other folk (other people).

Answer 12: Patience.

Answer 13: Try again.

Answer 14: W.E. Hickson.

Answer 15: Motivational / Encouraging.

Answer 16: a b a b c c c b.

Answer 17: Fail.

Answer 18: Fear.

Answer 19: No, he mentions you might fail once or twice.

Answer 20: "If we strive, 'tis no disgrace / Though we do not win the race."

Answer 21: Pay attention to / listen to.

Answer 22: Perseverance and resilience.

Answer 23: To emphasize its importance and make it a constant reminder.

Answer 24: You will not conquer / you will fail.

Answer 25: Courage and perseverance.

Fill in the Blanks

Answer 26: heed

Answer 27: succeed

Answer 28: courage

Answer 29: persevere

Answer 30: conquer

Answer 31: twice

Answer 32: prevail

Answer 33: strive

Answer 34: race

Answer 35: case

Answer 36: task

Answer 37: Time

Answer 38: folk

Answer 39: patience

Answer 40: rule

Answer 41: perseverance / effort

Answer 42: disgrace

Answer 43: fear

Answer 44: reward

Answer 45: courage

Answer 46: try again (or persevere)

Answer 47: folk

Answer 48: patience

Answer 49: disgrace / failure

Answer 50: refrain / motivation

True / False

Answer 51: False ❌

Answer 52: False ❌

Answer 53: True ✅

Answer 54: False ❌

Answer 55: False ❌

Answer 56: False ❌

Answer 57: True ✅

Answer 58: True ✅

Answer 59: False ❌

Answer 60: True ✅

Answer 61: False ❌

Answer 62: True ✅

Answer 63: False ❌

Answer 64: False ❌

Answer 65: True ✅

Answer 66: True ✅

Answer 67: False ❌

Answer 68: True ✅

Answer 69: False ❌

Answer 70: True ✅

Word Meaning / Vocabulary

Answer 71: Pay attention to; take notice of.

Answer 72: To continue making an effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.

Answer 73: To successfully overcome a problem, fear, or obstacle.

Answer 74: To prove more powerful than opposing forces; to be victorious.

Answer 75: To make a great and honorable effort to achieve something.

Answer 76: Loss of reputation or respect; shame.

Answer 77: The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.

Answer 78: The positive result, success, or benefit gained from hard work.

Answer 79: People in general.

Answer 80: It is.

Answer 81: Win / Triumph.

Answer 82: Cowardice / Fear.

Answer 83: Job / Duty / Chore.

Answer 84: Succeed / Win.

Answer 85: Overcome / Defeat.

Answer 86: Impatience.

Answer 87: Always remember this principle / Keep this advice in your mind.

Answer 88: Prize / Benefit.

Answer 89: Easy / Simple.

Answer 90: Example: Despite facing many injuries, the athlete decided to persevere and finish the marathon.

HOTS (Thinking Questions)

Answer 91: Humans naturally desire immediate rewards and often associate failure with personal inadequacy, which hurts their self-esteem.

Answer 92: It shifts the focus from the final outcome (winning a trophy) to the journey and character-building effort (striving), making hard work itself a victory.

Answer 93: Many lack patience, give in to the fear of a second failure, or expect immediate results, causing them to quit too soon.

Answer 94: Failure reveals mistakes that need correcting, builds emotional resilience, and teaches valuable lessons that success cannot.

Answer 95: Patience is the ability to endure, Time provides the space for effort to compound, and the Reward is the inevitable result of the two combined.

Answer 96: It acts as a psychological anchor or mantra, cutting through self-doubt and programming the mind to default to resilience.

Answer 97: Yes, because "trying again" can mean adapting your strategy, trying a different approach, or applying your newly learned resilience to a different, achievable goal.

Answer 98: Because failure introduces doubt and emotional pain; it takes true courage to willingly step back into a situation that just hurt you.

Answer 99: Losing a race is merely a temporary physical or situational outcome; disgrace is a moral failing that only happens if you refuse to try.

Answer 100: If a task is genuinely harmful or dangerous (e.g., trying to jump off a roof). In such cases, re-evaluating the goal is the correct choice.

Answer 101: The poet uses it as positive reinforcement—to show that success is humanly possible for ordinary people, not to induce toxic jealousy.

Answer 102: A person usually moves from disappointment and fear ➡️ to courage and determination ➡️ to patience ➡️ and finally to pride and joy.

Answer 103: Both the proverb and the poem emphasize that great, difficult achievements require a long period of sustained effort and cannot be rushed.

Answer 104: Because repeated failure is emotionally exhausting, making the instant relief of giving up very tempting.

Answer 105: In today’s era of instant gratification (fast internet, fast food), the poem is highly relevant because it reminds us that true, lasting success still requires slow, patient effort.

Grammar-Based Questions

Answer 106: Noun (Abstract Noun).

Answer 107: Success.

Answer 108: Hard.

Answer 109: Prevailed.

Answer 110: You will not conquer.

Answer 111: You, your.

Answer 112: Harder (comparative), Hardest (superlative).

Answer 113: Fail / Prevail (or Disgrace / Race).

Answer 114: Time will bring you your reward.

Answer 115: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

Answer 116: Though (or "If").

Answer 117: Patiently.

Answer 118: Time.

Answer 119: In.

Answer 120: All that can be done by other folk.

Answer 121: Face, Place, Space (or Case, Pace).

Answer 122: Should, will, would, can.

Answer 123: Tasks.

Answer 124: Noun.

Answer 125: Striving.

Match the Following (Conceptual Pairs)

Answer 126: Heed ➡️ A lesson

Answer 127: First attempt ➡️ Might not succeed

Answer 128: Hard task ➡️ Time brings reward

Answer 129: Strive ➡️ No disgrace

Answer 130: Other folk ➡️ What they can do, you can do

Answer 131: Conquer ➡️ Never fear / Persevere

Answer 132: Patience ➡️ Required for success

Answer 133: Disgrace ➡️ Not associated with trying

Answer 134: Time ➡️ Brings your reward

Answer 135: Rule ➡️ Keep in view

Short Answer (2 Marks)

Answer 136: The first lesson is that if you do not succeed on your very first attempt at something, you must not give up; you must try again.

Answer 137: It means that when you face failure, instead of feeling defeated, you must summon your inner bravery and resilience to face the challenge once more.

Answer 138: Striving means making an honest, hard effort. The poet says that as long as you tried your absolute best, there is no shame or dishonor in losing.

Answer 139: Time is the crucial element that eventually brings success (the reward) if you continue to work patiently at a difficult task.

Answer 140: We should not be discouraged by failing once or twice. Instead, we should persevere and try again so that we can ultimately prevail.

Answer 141: The poet argues logically that if other normal people can achieve great things, you can too, provided you apply the same patience and effort.

Answer 142: Because as long as a person perseveres and refuses to quit, their eventual victory is guaranteed. Fear is useless when you have determination.

Answer 143: By reminding them that hard tasks take time to master, and with patience, time will inevitably bring them their well-deserved reward.

Answer 144: The golden rule that must always be kept in view (remembered) is simply: "Try again."

Answer 145: Because difficult tasks cannot be completed instantly. Patience gives us the emotional endurance needed to let time and effort work their magic.

Answer 146: Failing a task is a normal, temporary part of learning. Being disgraced implies a moral failure or shame, which only happens if you cowardly refuse to try.

Answer 147: According to the poem, the prerequisites for prevailing are perseverance, courage, patience, and a willingness to try repeatedly.

Answer 148: True success is defined by having the courage to persevere and giving your best effort ("striving"), regardless of whether you win the immediate prize.

Answer 149: It means that if you keep trying, you will eventually defeat your obstacles. Therefore, you should never let the fear of failure stop you.

Answer 150: The core message is that making an honorable effort is what truly matters. Losing is not shameful; giving up is. When you lose, the only correct response is to try again.

Long Answer (3–4 Marks)

Answer 151: The main theme of the poem is the power of perseverance and resilience. The moral lesson is that failure is a natural step on the path to success. Instead of feeling disgraced or fearful when we fail, we must summon our courage, practice patience, and continuously try again until we conquer our goals.

Answer 152: Thomas Edison perfectly illustrates this poem. He famously failed thousands of times while trying to invent the lightbulb. Instead of viewing these attempts as a "disgrace," he showed immense patience and perseverance. Because he kept the rule "try again" in view, time eventually brought him his reward, and he changed the world.

Answer 153: In stanza one, the poet addresses the fear of failure, promising that perseverance will conquer it. In stanza two, he addresses the shame of losing, explaining that striving honestly is never a disgrace. In stanza three, he addresses the difficulty of the task, reassuring the reader that with time and patience, they are just as capable as anyone else.

Answer 154: This line redefines success. In modern society, only the winner (first place) is often celebrated. However, the poet argues that the true victory lies in the "striving"—the grit, hard work, and effort. It teaches us to respect competitors who give their all, meaning our perspective should value character over trophies.

Answer 155: The final stanza uses logical reasoning to motivate. First, it acknowledges reality: tasks are hard and take time. Then, it uses a logical comparison: "All that other folk can do / Why with patience should not you?" It removes the excuse of lack of talent, proving that patience is the great equalizer between you and successful people.

Creative Writing

(Note: These are model answers serving as guidelines for the creative prompts).

Answer 156: The story of King Robert Bruce and the spider shares the exact same theme. Bruce watched a spider fail repeatedly to spin its web between two beams. The spider did not feel disgraced; it persevered, showed patience, and finally succeeded. Inspired by the spider's adherence to the rule "Try Again," Bruce gathered his courage, fought his enemies again, and prevailed.

Answer 157: Henry Ford's quote perfectly aligns with the poem. The poem states that failing "once or twice" is normal before you "prevail." Ford adds that this failure is an opportunity. When you "try again" after failing, you are no longer starting from scratch; your courage has appeared, and you are trying again "more intelligently" based on what you learned.

Answer 158: I would remind the student that failing an exam is just failing "once or twice" and is "no disgrace" because they studied hard (strived). I would counsel them that the subject might be a "hard task," but if they review their mistakes with "patience," time will bring them the reward of passing. The only rule they need right now is to "try again."

Answer 159: The tone of the poem is uplifting, didactic, and highly encouraging. The rhythm is steady and march-like, mimicking the steady footsteps of someone walking forward despite obstacles. The repetition of "Try again" at the end of every stanza acts as a powerful, hypnotic refrain that reinforces the central message until it becomes a reflex for the reader.

Answer 160: The poem acts as a great equalizer. It suggests that highly successful people ("other folk") do not possess magical powers or unreachable genius; they simply possess patience and perseverance. It teaches us that human capability is largely universal. If another human can do it, you can too, provided you are willing to put in the time and try again.

(For the remaining Creative Writing tasks 161-170, students are expected to draft original stories, letters, diaries, and essays based on the core themes provided in these model answers).