ବୋର୍ଡ ଅଫ୍ ସେକେଣ୍ଡାରୀ ଏଜୁକେସନ୍ (BSE Odisha) — ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ ମାଷ୍ଟର ନୋଟ୍ସ
ଶ୍ରେଣୀ: Class 9 | ବିଷୟ: English
ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ: Class9 Eng Ch07 Nine Gold Medals
୧. ଅଧ୍ୟାୟର ସାରାଂଶ ଓ ମାଇଣ୍ଡ ମ୍ୟାପ୍ (Mind Map & Conceptual Architecture)
Core Objectives:
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Deep Summary of the Poem:
"Nine Gold Medals" by David Roth is an inspiring and deeply moving poem set against the backdrop of the Special Olympics. The poem narrates the story of nine differently-abled athletes who have gathered from all over the country to participate in the prestigious hundred-yard dash. They have undergone rigorous training for weeks and months, harboring dreams of winning gold, silver, and bronze medals.
As the final event of the day approaches, the excitement among the spectators reaches its peak. The nine resolved athletes stand poised at the starting line, waiting for the signal. When the pistol explodes, the race begins, and the runners charge ahead. However, disaster strikes when the youngest and smallest runner stumbles, loses his balance, and falls onto the hard asphalt track.
Overwhelmed by frustration and physical pain, the fallen boy cries out, seeing his months of hard work and dreams shattered in an instant. What happens next is extraordinary and redefines the meaning of sportsmanship. Instead of continuing the race to win individual glory, the other eight runners pull up on their heels. One by one, they turn back to help their fallen companion. They lift him to his feet, join hands, and together, all nine athletes walk the remaining distance to the finish line.
The hundred-yard dash is reduced to a walk of solidarity under the "Special Olympics" banner. The race ends with all nine athletes crossing the finish line together. Consequently, each of them is awarded a gold medal. The poem concludes with a standing ovation from the crowd, celebrating the triumph of human empathy, love, and cooperation over competition.
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Conceptual Mind Map:
[The Special Olympics Event]
│
├─► Participants: Nine differently-abled athletes from across the country.
├─► Preparation: Months of rigorous training for gold, silver, and bronze.
│
[The Climax: The Fall]
│
├─► Signal: Pistol explodes, runners charge ahead.
├─► Incident: The youngest runner stumbles and falls on the asphalt.
├─► Reaction: Cries out in frustration and anguish; dreams shattered.
│
[The Turning Point: Empathy Wins]
│
├─► Action: The other eight runners stop, turn back, and help him up.
├─► Unity: All nine join hands and walk to the finish line.
│
[The Resolution: Nine Gold Medals]
│
├─► Outcome: All nine cross the line together; each wins a Gold Medal.
└─► Message: Humanity, cooperation, and compassion are greater than competition.
୨. ମୁଖ୍ୟ ବିଷୟବସ୍ତୁ, ସିଦ୍ଧାନ୍ତ ଓ ଗାଣିତିକ ସୂତ୍ରାବଳୀ (Comprehensive Theory & Formulas)
Stanza-by-Stanza Analytical Breakdown:
Stanza 1: The Gathering of Athletes
The poem opens with athletes arriving from various parts of the country. These are special athletes participating in the Special Olympics. Their goal is to win the coveted gold, silver, and bronze medals. The poet emphasizes the intense preparation ("weeks and months of training") that culminates in this single event, highlighting the high stakes and the athletes' dedication.
Stanza 2: The Spectators' Excitement
The setting is an old sports field surrounded by a large crowd of spectators. They have gathered to cheer on the young competitors. As the final event of the day—the hundred-yard dash—approaches, the atmosphere becomes electric with anticipation and excitement.
Stanza 3: Preparation at the Starting Line
The physical setup of the race is described. Starting blocks are lined up on the track. The nine determined ("resolved") athletes stand behind the starting line, fully focused and poised, waiting for the sound of the starting gun.
Stanza 4: The Start and the Mishap
The starting signal is given as the pistol explodes. The runners charge forward with great energy. However, the smallest runner loses his footing, stumbles, and falls onto the asphalt track instead of running ahead.
Stanza 5: Anguish and Shattered Dreams
The fallen runner experiences intense emotional and physical pain. He cries out in frustration. The poet uses the metaphor "dreams and his efforts all dashed in the dirt" to describe how the boy's hopes of winning are instantly destroyed by his fall.
Stanza 6: The Act of Compassion
In a remarkable turn of events, the other eight runners, who have trained intensely to compete and win, stop in their tracks. Instead of running toward the finish line, they turn around one by one and return to help the fallen boy back to his feet.
Stanza 7: Walking in Solidarity
The race undergoes a complete transformation. The nine runners join hands, and the fast-paced hundred-yard dash is reduced to a slow, collective walk. The poet notes that the banner overhead reading "Special Olympics" could not have been more appropriate, as the event truly becomes "special" through this display of human grace.
Stanza 8: The Triumphant Finish
The race ends with all nine runners crossing the finish line hand-in-hand. In recognition of their extraordinary empathy and unity, all nine are awarded gold medals. The crowd gives them a standing ovation, and their beaming faces express a joy that words cannot fully capture.
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Key Poetic Devices:
1. Imagery: The poet uses vivid visual and auditory imagery to bring the scene to life.
2. Metaphor:
3. Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of neighboring words.
4. Irony: The central irony of the poem is that a competitive race, where only one person normally wins gold, ends with all nine participants winning gold because they chose not to compete, but to cooperate.
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୩. ପାଠ୍ୟପୁସ୍ତକ ଅଭ୍ୟାସ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନାବଳୀର ୧୦୦% ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସମାଧାନ (100% Complete Solved Exercises)
E. Let's understand the poem:
Q1. What is this poem about?
Ans: This poem is about the true spirit of sportsmanship, empathy, and compassion shown by nine differently-abled athletes during a hundred-yard dash at the Special Olympics.
Q2. Who came from all over the country?
Ans: Differently-abled athletes came from all over the country to participate in the Special Olympics.
Q3. Why did they come there?
Ans: They came there to compete in various sports events and to win gold, silver, and bronze medals.
Q4. Who are usually awarded the three medals – gold, silver and bronze?
Ans: Usually, the competitors who secure the first, second, and third positions in a sports event are awarded the gold, silver, and bronze medals respectively.
Q5. What was the event for which they had come?
Ans: They had come to participate in the Special Olympics, and specifically for the final event of the day, which was the hundred-yard dash.
Q6. What had they done before they came down to these games?
Ans: Before coming to these games, the athletes had undergone rigorous training for many weeks and months.
Q7. What did the spectators do around the old field?
Ans: The spectators gathered around the old field to cheer on and encourage the young male and female athletes.
Q8. Why did they gather around the old field?
Ans: They gathered around the old field to watch the athletic events, support the participants, and witness the final race of the day.
Q9. Why did their excitement grow high?
Ans: Their excitement grew high because the final and most anticipated event of the day, the hundred-yard dash, was about to begin.
Q10. What were all lined up? For whom?
Ans: The starting blocks were all lined up on the track. They were meant for the nine athletes who were going to run the hundred-yard dash.
Q11. What was the event? (second line, third stanza)
Ans: The event was the hundred-yard dash, which was a short-distance running race.
Q12. How many athletes were there?
Ans: There were nine athletes participating in the race.
Q13. Which word (in the third line, third stanza) says that the athletes had taken firm decision to win a medal?
Ans: The word "resolved" indicates that the athletes had taken a firm decision and were highly determined to win a medal.
Q14. Where were those nine athletes?
Ans: Those nine athletes were standing in back of the starting line, poised and ready for the race to begin.
Q15. What were they poised for?
Ans: They were poised and ready for the sound of the starting gun to begin their run.
Q16. Why was the pistol exploded?
Ans: The pistol was exploded to give the starting signal to the runners to begin the race.
Q17. What did the runners do?
Ans: Upon hearing the pistol shot, the runners charged ahead with all their strength to run the race.
Q18. Who among the nine runners was unable to run?
Ans: The smallest and youngest among the nine runners was unable to run.
Q19. Why was he unable to run?
Ans: He was unable to run because he stumbled, lost his balance, and fell onto the track right at the start of the race.
Q20. Where did he fall?
Ans: He fell onto the hard asphalt track.
Q21. Why did he fall?
Ans: He fell because he stumbled and lost his footing just as he began to charge forward.
Q22. Who does “he” in the fifth stanza stand for?
Ans: In the fifth stanza, "he" stands for the youngest and smallest athlete who fell on the track.
Q23. Why did the boy cry out in frustration and anguish?
Ans: The boy cried out in frustration and anguish because his months of hard training, his hopes, and his dreams of winning the race were instantly shattered when he fell.
Q24. What dashed in the dirt? What makes the poet say so?
Ans: The young athlete's dreams and efforts dashed in the dirt. The poet says so because the boy's fall made it physically impossible for him to compete and win the race he had trained so hard for.
Q25. What did the other runners do?
Ans: The other eight runners stopped, turned back, and went to help the fallen boy instead of continuing the race to win.
Q26. How do you feel about their stopping here? Should athletes do like this?
Ans: Their action was incredibly noble and heartwarming. While athletes are trained to win, showing humanity and helping a fellow competitor in distress is far more valuable than winning a race. Yes, athletes should exhibit such compassion when someone is in serious trouble.
Q27. Who does “him” stand for in the sixth stanza?
Ans: In the sixth stanza, "him" stands for the youngest runner who had fallen on the asphalt.
Q28. What had they done for the boy to complete the race?
Ans: They brought the young boy to his feet, joined hands with him, and walked together with him to the finish line so that they could all complete the race together.
Q29. Why did they go back to him?
Ans: They went back to him because they felt empathy and compassion for their fallen companion, valuing his well-being and feelings over their own desire to win.
Q30. What did they do first?
Ans: First, they stopped running and turned around to go back to the fallen boy.
Q31. What did they do next?
Ans: Next, they helped the young boy stand up on his feet, joined hands with him, and walked together toward the finish line.
Q32. What happened to the hundred-yard dash?
Ans: The hundred-yard dash was reduced to a slow walk because all nine runners joined hands and walked the distance together.
Q33. What did they carry with them?
Ans: They carried their collective spirit of unity, compassion, and the banner of the Special Olympics as they walked.
Q34. What did the banner say?
Ans: The banner said "Special Olympics".
Q35. What did the race end with?
Ans: The race ended with all nine runners crossing the finish line together, winning nine gold medals.
Q36. How did they come to the finish line?
Ans: They came to the finish line holding hands.
Q37. What do you mean by “a standing ovation”?
Ans: "A standing ovation" means the spectators stood up from their seats to clap and show their deep appreciation, respect, and admiration for the athletes' extraordinary display of sportsmanship.
Q38. How were their faces then? Were they all happy? Why?
Ans: Their faces were beaming with joy. Yes, they were all extremely happy because they had achieved something far greater than an individual victory; they had triumphed together as human beings.
Q39. What do you learn from such type of help of the athletes?
Ans: We learn that compassion, empathy, cooperation, and helping those in need are far more important than personal success, competition, and individual glory.
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F. Let's appreciate the poem:
Q1. What message does the poet convey in “Nine Gold Medals?”
Ans: The poet conveys the message that true sportsmanship is not about winning at all costs, but about showing empathy, cooperation, and compassion. In a world driven by intense competition, human values and fellow-feeling should always take precedence over personal achievements.
Q2. What is important – winning a medal or helping a fellow brother in trouble?
Ans: Helping a fellow brother in trouble is infinitely more important than winning a medal. A medal represents individual glory, which is temporary, whereas helping someone in distress reflects humanity and leaves a lasting impact of love and kindness on society.
Q3. What is necessary for a person – to understand the emotions of others or to become self-centred?
Ans: It is absolutely necessary for a person to understand the emotions of others. Being self-centered isolates an individual, whereas empathy and understanding build a harmonious, supportive, and compassionate society.
Q4. Explain – “He gave out a cry in frustration and anguish / His dreams and efforts all dashed in the dirt.”
Ans: These lines describe the intense emotional pain of the youngest runner after his fall. He had trained hard for months, hoping to win. When he fell, he realized that his chance of winning was gone. His dreams and hard work felt completely ruined and wasted, as if they had been thrown into the dirt.
Q5. What do you mean by “nine beaming faces said more than these words ever will?”
Ans: This line means that the radiant, joyful smiles on the faces of the nine athletes as they crossed the finish line hand-in-hand expressed a profound sense of happiness, unity, and satisfaction. This collective joy and triumph of humanity was so powerful that no words could ever fully describe or capture its beauty.
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G. Let's do the activities:
Activity 2: Match the stanzas with their themes.
Stanza Numbers | Themes of the stanzas
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Stanza 1 | athletes from all over the country – to run for the medals– attended long trainings
Stanza 2 | spectators gathered- cheer – final event- highly excited
Stanza 3 | nine resolved athletes at the back of the starting line– ready for the event
Stanza 4 | pistol exploded – signal given – running ahead- the smallest one lost control- fell down
Stanza 5 | cried in frustration and terrible pain – thought his dream shattered
Stanza 6 | the other runners – came back – helped him stand
Stanza 7 | nine runners – joined hands – walked instead of running– banner–Special Olympic
Stanza 8 | end of the race- nine gold medals – faces- looked happy
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Activity 3: Arrange the jumbled sentences to get the summary of the poem.
1. Nine athletes came from all over the country to take part in a running race. [1]
2. They had already received training before coming there. [2]
3. The blocks were all lined up for the running race and they were in back of the starting line. [3]
4. The pistol was exploded to signal a start. [4]
5. All of them were running ahead. [5]
6. But the youngest of them lost control and fell down. [6]
7. Being frustrated, he cried in severe pain. [7]
8. The other runners, instead of running, came to him and helped him stand. [8]
9. They all joined hands and walked together to the end line holding a banner. [9]
10. They were all happy to help the youngest runner and all were awarded gold medals. [10]
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H. Let's write:
Write a paragraph for each stanza of the poem. (Stanza 1 is provided as an example; paragraphs for Stanzas 2 to 8 are written below):
Paragraph for Stanza 1 (Example):
The poem "Nine Gold Medals" has eight stanzas. The first stanza is about how athletes from all over the country came to take part in a running race. They had to run for medals. There were three kinds of medals- gold, silver and bronze. They had attended long trainings before this event.
Paragraph for Stanza 2:
The second stanza describes the lively atmosphere of the sports arena. A large crowd of spectators had gathered around the old field to enthusiastically cheer on the young male and female athletes. As the final running event of the day drew near, the excitement and anticipation among the crowd grew incredibly high.
Paragraph for Stanza 3:
The third stanza focuses on the final preparations just before the race begins. The starting blocks were carefully lined up on the track for the runners. The nine highly determined and resolved athletes stood positioned behind the starting line, fully focused and poised for the sound of the starting pistol.
Paragraph for Stanza 4:
The fourth stanza depicts the dramatic start of the race and the sudden mishap. The starting signal was given as the pistol exploded, and all the runners charged forward with great speed. However, the youngest and smallest runner among them stumbled, lost his balance, and fell onto the hard asphalt track instead of running ahead.
Paragraph for Stanza 5:
The fifth stanza captures the deep emotional distress of the fallen athlete. Lying on the track, the young boy cried out in intense frustration and physical pain. He felt that all his months of hard work, dedication, and dreams of winning the race were completely shattered and ruined in an instant.
Paragraph for Stanza 6:
The sixth stanza highlights the extraordinary turning point of the event. Upon hearing the boy's cry, the other eight runners, who had trained intensely to compete, stopped running. One by one, they turned around, walked back to the fallen boy, and gently helped him stand back up on his feet.
Paragraph for Stanza 7:
The seventh stanza describes how the race was beautifully transformed. All nine runners joined hands and continued toward the finish line, reducing the fast-paced hundred-yard dash to a collective walk. The poet remarks that the banner overhead reading "Special Olympics" was perfectly fitting for this display of unity.
Paragraph for Stanza 8:
The eighth and final stanza concludes the narrative with a triumphant celebration. The race ended with all nine athletes crossing the finish line together hand-in-hand. They were all awarded gold medals, and the spectators gave them a standing ovation, as their beaming faces expressed a joy far greater than words could ever convey.
୪. ବୋର୍ଡ ପରୀକ୍ଷା ମାଷ୍ଟ୍ରି ଟିପ୍ସ ଓ ସାଧାରଣ ଭୁଲ୍ (Board Exam Tips & Pitfalls)
Board Exam Preparation Tips:
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Common Student Errors to Avoid:
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(ନୋଟ୍ସ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତି: ଉତ୍କଳ ସ୍କିଲ୍ ସେଣ୍ଟର - BSE Odisha 100% Full Textbook Master Edition)
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