The Wit that Won Hearts: NCERT Class 8 English Story (Poorvi)

etmantra3 Nov 20266 min read

A king stops speaking to his queen because she yawned while he read out his poem. Only Tenali Rama, the witty poet of the court, can fix it, and he does it without saying a word about the quarrel. Students enjoy the humour and learn how a calm, clever idea can solve a problem that anger cannot.

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From NCERT’s new English book Poorvi for Class 8, unit “Wit and Wisdom”. Unit 1.

What your child learns

New words about feelings and the court: trivial, distraught, forlorn, sceptical, absurd
Sentences with 'if' for real, imaginary and past situations
Compound words (quick-witted, courtroom) and sound words (murmur, sighed, roared)
Rising and falling tone when asking questions, and writing a narrative essay

What the story is about

The story is set in the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of King Krishnadeva Raya, a warrior, poet and patron of learning. His court had eight famous poets, and one of them, Tenali Ramakrishna, was loved for his quick wit. One evening the tired queen, Thirumalambal, yawned several times while the king recited a new poem. The king felt insulted, stormed off and did not speak to her for weeks. The sad queen asked Tenali Rama for help, and he promised to find a plan.

The next day the court was discussing how to grow more paddy. Rama brought a plate of 'special' seeds and said they would give three times the harvest, but only if the person sowing them never yawned. The courtiers laughed, and even the king yawned without thinking. Rama gently asked if anyone in the world does not yawn. The king understood that yawning is natural, not rude. That evening he said sorry to the queen, she forgave him, and the happy couple rewarded Rama.

New words, with Hindi meanings

trivial: small and not important (हिंदी: मामूली)
distraught: very upset and worried (हिंदी: बहुत परेशान)
forlorn: lonely and sad (हिंदी: उदास, सूना)
vague: not clear (हिंदी: अस्पष्ट)
strategy: a plan to reach a goal (हिंदी: रणनीति, योजना)
profusely: a lot, again and again (हिंदी: बहुत अधिक)
sarcasm: saying something to mock or make fun of someone (हिंदी: व्यंग्य, ताना)
absurd: silly and not sensible (हिंदी: बेतुका)
sceptical: doubting that something is true (हिंदी: शंकालु)
orchestrated: carefully planned and arranged (हिंदी: योजना बनाकर करवाया)

Talk about it

Ask these aloud after reading or watching. Let your child answer in English if they can, or mix in their home language. Both help.

Why did the king stop speaking to the queen?
Why did the queen go to Tenali Rama for help?
How did Rama use the paddy seeds to make the king see his mistake?
What did the king do when he understood he had been unfair?
Have you ever had a small misunderstanding with a friend or family member? How did you fix it?

Answers for parents

The queen yawned several times while he recited his poem. He thought she was disrespecting his poem, so he stormed off and stopped speaking to her.
She had tried to make peace but failed. Rama was wise and witty, and she believed only he could help the king understand.
He said the seeds would give a big harvest only if the person sowing them never yawned. Everyone laughed, the king himself yawned, and Rama asked if anyone in the world does not yawn. The king realised yawning is natural.
He went to the queen that evening, admitted he had been foolish and proud, and said sorry. They made peace and gave Rama valuable gifts.
For example: My friend thought I was ignoring her because I did not reply to her message. Actually my phone was off. I explained, we laughed about it and became friends again.

Grammar corner: Conditional sentences with 'if'

An 'if' sentence has two parts: the if-clause (the condition) and the main clause (the result). Use the present tense with 'will' for something that may really happen. Use the past tense with 'would' for an imaginary situation, and 'had' + past participle with 'would have' for a past that cannot be changed.

If the queen asks Rama for help, he will find a clever plan.
If I were a courtier, I would never laugh at Rama's seeds.
If the king had listened calmly, he would not have hurt the queen.

Practice at home

Fill in the blank: If you ___ (finish) your homework early, we will play a riddle game.
Choose the right ending: If I had known the answer, I (will tell / would have told) the teacher.
Complete the sentence in your own words: If I were Tenali Rama, ...

Answers: 1. finish · 2. would have told · 3. For example: If I were Tenali Rama, I would use jokes to stop people from fighting.

Try this

Play 'If I were...' at the dinner table. One person says a role, like a king, a bird or the head of the school, and everyone takes turns finishing the sentence 'If I were a ..., I would ...'. Then try a riddle round: ask the riddles from the start of the chapter (What is always in front of you but can't be seen?) and see who answers first.

Tip for parents

Tell the story in Hindi first: राजा रानी से नाराज़ क्यों हुए, और तेनाली राम ने कैसे समझाया. Then ask your child to tell it back in English, even if they mix in Hindi words. Practise 'if' sentences together: say 'अगर मैं राजा होता, तो...' and help your child say 'If I were a king, I would...'. Praise every try.

Questions parents ask

What is the story The Wit that Won Hearts about?

It is about Tenali Rama, the witty poet in King Krishnadeva Raya's court, who uses a clever trick with paddy seeds to end a quarrel between the king and Queen Thirumalambal. The king had been angry because the queen yawned while he read his poem.

What is the moral of The Wit that Won Hearts?

Small misunderstandings should not be allowed to grow, and pride can blind us. A calm, clever and kind approach can solve a problem that anger cannot.

Is The Wit that Won Hearts in the new NCERT book?

Yes. It is Chapter 1 of Poorvi, NCERT's new English book for Class 8, in Unit 1 (Wit and Wisdom).

Learn every Class 8 chapter with CALP

Every chapter of Poorvi, NCERT’s new Class 8 book, with notes in English and Hindi, say-it-aloud practice with a score, listening, grammar, speaking and writing with feedback. ₹1,599 for the whole year.

See the free lessons and enrol →