Class 8 English Chapter 5 The Summit Within Question Answers

If you're a student studying Class 8 English, you may be looking for some extra help with Chapter 5 of Honeydew, titled THE SUMMIT WITHIN. Our printable NCERT solutions provide a comprehensive guide to help you ace this chapter and understand the themes and concepts presented in the text.

Introduction to the chapter and its themes.

Chapter 5 of Honeydew, titled THE SUMMIT WITHIN, explores the theme of self-discovery and personal growth. The chapter follows the journey of a young boy named Santosh Yadav, who dreams of climbing Mount Everest. Through his determination and perseverance, Santosh overcomes obstacles and achieves his goal. Along the way, he learns important lessons about self-belief, courage, and the power of the human spirit. Our printable NCERT solutions provide a detailed analysis of the chapter's themes and help students understand the key concepts presented in the text.

THE SUMMIT WITHIN Chapter Summary

"The Summit Within” is a chapter taken from the book “Higher Than Everest: Memoirs of a Mountaineer". It is written by Major H P S Ahluwalia. The lesson opens with the narrator expressing how he felt as he stood at the summit of Everest. While looking at the vast view of the wide area, he felt multiple emotions rushing through him; among them, the dominant one was humility. He believed that a man who had been to the mountains would not be the same again. It meant that the experience and difficulties he faced while climbing the mountains had changed him.

The narrator then stated that as soon as he got rid of his physical exhaustion, his mind questioned, "Why people climb mountains?" Later he said that most people would say, “Because it is there,” but the narrator had a more personal response to the question. He claimed that the mountains had attracted him since childhood, and he would feel miserable and sad when he was away from them.

Then the narrator remarked that ascending a mountain had physical challenges. Climbing to the summit required strength, persistence, and willpower. Later his mind questioned why he had selected Everest in particular. The narrator stated that there was no perfect answer to why he climbed Everest. He related it to the reasons why individuals breathe and why they aid their neighbours.

The narrator had climbed Mount Everest because it was the world's highest and most powerful mountain. No wonder the journey was challenging; he thought it would provide him with a sense of fulfilment, satisfaction, and joy when he stood there. He also mentioned that well-known climbers sought assistance from other climbers. He said that standing on the summit made him realise that the struggle was worthwhile. The majority of the climbers, including the narrator, thought that reaching the top would allow them to communicate with God. Later, he told how he bowed down and made his submission to God on the highest mountain.

At last, the narrator and his companions had left the portraits and relics of God on Everest as they believed it was a sign of reverence. He then explained another big summit, the summit within oneself; it was more challenging to climb. However, every climb, whether it was physical or spiritual, had transformed him fundamentally. He claimed that summiting Everest had given him the confidence to pursue other goals. Also, he stated that climbing the summit within was even more challengingthan climbing Everest.

Chapter 5 of Honeydew, titled THE SUMMIT WITHIN, follows the journey of a young boy named Santosh Yadav who dreams of climbing Mount Everest. Through his determination and perseverance, Santosh overcomes obstacles and achieves his goal. Along the way, he learns important lessons about self-belief, courage, and the power of the human spirit. Our printable NCERT solutions provide a detailed analysis of the chapter's themes and help students understand the key concepts presented in the text.

Analysis of the characters and their motivations.

In Chapter 5 of Honeydew, THE SUMMIT WITHIN, the main character Santosh Yadav is motivated by his dream of climbing Mount Everest. He is determined to overcome any obstacle in his path and is willing to work hard to achieve his goal. Other characters in the chapter, such as Santosh's father and the Sherpas who guide him up the mountain, are motivated by their own beliefs and values. Through their interactions with Santosh, readers can gain insight into the different motivations that drive people to pursue their goals. Our printable NCERT solutions provide a detailed analysis of the characters and their motivations, helping students to better understand the themes of the chapter.

Analysis of the characters and their motivations.

In Chapter 5 of Honeydew, THE SUMMIT WITHIN, the main character Santosh Yadav is motivated by his dream of climbing Mount Everest. He is determined to overcome any obstacle in his path and is willing to work hard to achieve his goal. Other characters in the chapter, such as Santosh's father and the Sherpas who guide him up the mountain, are motivated by their own beliefs and values. Through their interactions with Santosh, readers can gain insight into the different motivations that drive people to pursue their goals. Our printable NCERT solutions provide a detailed analysis of the characters and their motivations, helping students to better understand the themes of the chapter.

The summit within class 8 question answers

NCERT SOLUTIONS FOR CHAPTER 5 THE SUMMIT WITHIN

Questions (Page No. 79)

(Comprehension Check)

Question 1. Standing on Everest, the writer was

a.     overjoyed.

b.    very sad.

c.     jubilant and sad.

Choose the right item.

Answer:

c.     jubilant and sad – The author mentioned that he had already done the ‘ultimate’ in climbing and there would be nothing higher to climb and all roads would lead down thereafter.

Question 2. The emotion that gripped him was one of

a.     victory over hurdles.

b.    humility and a sense of smallness.

c.     greatness and self importance.

d.    joy of discovery.

Choose the right item.

Answer:

b.    humility and a sense of smallness – The author mentions that anyone who reaches the peak of Everest can enjoy the panoramic view and look across the miles, and feel the sheer scale of smallness in front of nature’s beautiful creation.

Question 3. “The summit of the mind” refers to

a.     great intellectual achievements.

b.    the process of maturing mentally and spiritually.

c.     overcoming personal ambition for common welfare.

d.    living in the world of thought and imagination.

e.    the triumph of mind over worldly pleasures for a noble cause.

f.      a fuller knowledge of oneself.

Mark the item(s) not relevant.

Answer:

The following item(s) not relevant:

a.     great intellectual achievements.

c.     overcoming personal ambition for common welfare.

d.    living in the world of thought and imagination.

e.    the triumph of mind over worldly pleasures for a noble cause.

Questions (Page No. 80)

(Working with the text)

Question 1. Answer the following questions.

a.     What are the three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb?

b.    Why is adventure, which is risky, also pleasurable?

c.     What was it about Mount Everest that the author found irresistible?

d.    One does not do it (climb a high peak) for fame alone. What does one do it for, really?

e.    “He becomes conscious in a special manner of his own smallness in this large universe.” This awareness defines an emotion mentioned in the first paragraph. Which is the emotion?

f.      What were the “symbols of reverence” left by members of the team on Everest?

g.     What, according to the writer, did his experience as an Everester teach him?

Answer:

a.     The three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb are endurance, persistence and will power.

b.    Although adventure is risky, it is pleasurable too. This implies that climbing a mountain is a great challenge filled with difficulties, but overcoming those hurdles boosts the confidence, endurance and will power of the climber. The author gives the example of the mighty Mount Everest and reaching its summit is an achievement in itself. There is a great sense of exhilaration, joy and fulfillment to being able to scale such greater heights. There is a feeling of victory and happiness. Hence, the experience is not merely physical. It is indeed both emotional and spiritual.

c.     Being one of the mightiest and highest mountains in the world, Mount Everest has its own special charm and beauty. The author found it irresistible due to its beauty, ruggedness and the obstacles that he encountered while climbing its summit. Every ounce of his energy was utilized in climbing the mountain covered with rock and ice. One who decides to climb the Everest cannot give up his/her dream by returning half way even when one’s life is at stake. This is because when a person climbs to the summit of a mountain, one is filled with a great sense of exhilaration, joy and fulfillment for being able to scale such greater heights. This gives him/her a sense of extreme joy and happiness and a feeling of victory and satisfaction. These were some of the reasons why the author found the Mount Everest to be extremely irresistible.

d.    Climbing a mountain and reaching its peak successfully requires one’s endurance, persistence and will power. Therefore, the experience is not merely physical. It is indeed both emotional and spiritual. It satisfies a climber’s eternal love for adventure which gives one a sense of fulfillment, satisfaction and a deep urge to rise over and above the surroundings.

e.    “He becomes conscious in a special manner of his own smallness in this large universe.” This awareness defines an emotion of humility in a person.

f.      The author left on Mount Everest a picture of Guru Nanak. Rawat left a picture of Goddess Durga. Phu Dorji left a relic of the Buddha and Edmund Hillary had buried a cross under a cairn (a heap of rocks and stones) in the snow. These were not merely symbols of conquest but of reverence.

g.     As an Everester, the author experienced a great sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. It encouraged him to face the ordeals of life in a determined manner. It taught him that the conquest of internal summit is also equally important compared to climbing a mountain. He realised that it will give him a better and fuller knowledge about himself which no one else other than him can scale to meet his true self.

Question 2.  Write a sentence against each of the following statements. Your sentence should explain the statement. You can pick out sentences from the text and rewrite them. The first one has been done for you.

a.     The experience changes you completely.

One who has been to the mountains is never the same again.

b.    Man takes delight in overcoming obstacles.

_________________________________________

c.     Mountains are nature at its best.

_________________________________________

d.    The going was difficult but the after-effects were satisfying.

_________________________________________

e.    The physical conquest of a mountain is really a spiritual experience.

_________________________________________

Answer:

b.    Endurance, persistence and will power are the qualities that are required in a climber to overcome the challenges and have a delightful experience.

c.     The majestic beauty of the mountains pose a considerable challenge for a climber as they are the medium of communion with the Almighty.

d.    Although climbing a mountain is a difficult task, but reaching the summit gives a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction to the climber.

e.    Climbing a mountain is not merely a physical activity but it is indeed both emotional and spiritual as mountains are a means of communion with God.

Questions (Page No. 81-82)

(Working with language)

Question 1. Look at the italicised phrases and their meanings given in brackets.

Mountains are nature (nature’s best form and appearance)

at its best.

Your life is at risk. (in danger; you run the risk of losing

your life.)

He was at his (it was his best/worst performance.)

best/worst in the

last meeting.

Fill in the blanks in the following dialogues choosing suitable phrases from those given in the box.

a.     Teacher: You were away from school without permission. Go to the principal ________________ and submit your explanation.

Pupil: Yes, Madam. But would you help me write it first?

b.    Arun: Are you unwell?

Ila: No, not ________________ Why do you ask?

Arun: If you were unwell, I would send you to my uncle. He is a doctor.

c.     Mary: Almost every Indian film has an episode of love ________________.

David: Is that what makes them so popular in foreign countries?

d.    Asif: You look depressed. Why are your spirits ________________ today? (Use such in the phrase)

Ashok: I have to write ten sentences using words that I never heard before.

e.    Shieba: Your big moment is close ________________.

Jyoti: How should I welcome it?

Shieba: Get up and receive the trophy.

Answer:

a.     Teacher: You were away from school without permission. Go to the principal at once and submit your explanation.

Pupil: Yes, Madam. But would you help me write it first?

b.    Arun: Are you unwell?

Ila: No, not at all Why do you ask?

Arun: If you were unwell, I would send you to my uncle. He is a doctor.

c.     Mary: Almost every Indian film has an episode of love at first sight.

David: Is that what makes them so popular in foreign countries?

d.    Asif: You look depressed. Why are your spirits at a low ebb today? (Use such in the phrase)

Ashok: I have to write ten sentences using words that I never heard before.

e.    Shieba: Your big moment is close at hand.

Jyoti: How should I welcome it?

Shieba: Get up and receive the trophy.

Question 2. Write the noun forms of the following words adding -ance or -ence to each.

a.     endure ________________

b.    persist ________________

c.     signify ________________

d.    confide ________________

e.    maintain ________________

f.      abhor ________________

Answer:

a.     endure endurance

b.    persist persistence

c.     signify significance

d.    confide confidence

e.    maintain maintenance

f.      abhor abhorrence

Question 3.

       i.          Match words under A with their meanings under B.

     ii.          Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with appropriate words from under A.

a.     There were ________________ obstacles on the way, but we reached our destination safely.

b.    We have no ________________ of finding out what happened there.

c.     Why he lives in a house ________________ from any town or village is more than I can tell.

d.    ________________ by gratitude, we bowed to the speaker for his valuable advice.

e.    The old castle stands in a ___________ position above the sleepy town.

Answer:

       i.           

     ii.           

a.     There were formidable obstacles on the way, but we reached our destination safely.

b.    We have no means of finding out what happened there.

c.     Why he lives in a house remote from any town or village is more than I can tell.

d.    Overwhelmed by gratitude, we bowed to the speaker for his valuable advice.

e.    The old castle stands in a dominant position above the sleepy town.

Discussion of the themes and their relevance to real life.

In Chapter 5 of Honeydew, THE SUMMIT WITHIN, the author explores themes of perseverance, self-discovery, and the importance of guidance and support. These themes are relevant to real life as they highlight the challenges that individuals may face in their personal and professional lives. The story emphasizes the importance of perseverance in achieving one's goals, even in the face of adversity. It also highlights the value of self-discovery and the need to understand oneself in order to overcome obstacles. Finally, the story underscores the importance of guidance and support from others, as the characters rely on the Sherpas to guide them up the mountain. These themes can inspire readers to reflect on their own lives and the challenges they may face, and to seek out the support and guidance they need to overcome them.