Class 8 English Notes Chapter 2: A Concrete Example

 Class 8 English - Poorvi (New NCERT Book 2026-27)

Chapter 2: A Concrete Example (Unit 1: Wit and Wisdom)

Poet: Reginald Arkell

Hello students! This chapter is a short, funny poem that will make you smile. It uses simple words and a clever title to teach us about wit (being clever and funny with words). The poem shows how different people see beauty in different things. Let's study it step by step in easy language, like your teacher explaining in class. We'll cover everything: summary, full poem, line-by-line meaning, difficult words, poetic devices, themes, and all NCERT activities with answers.

What is the Poem About? (Easy Summary)

The poet talks about his next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones. She has a strange garden made mostly of stones instead of grass or big flowers. She loves tiny, delicate plants that grow between the stones. The poet finds it funny and surprising. One day, Mrs. Jones invites him to see her garden. They talk about a beautiful flower for 15 minutes, but the poet cannot find it. Finally, Mrs. Jones says, “You are standing on it!”

The poem is humorous. It shows Mrs. Jones’s love for small things that others ignore. The title “A Concrete Example” is a pun (word play):

• Literal meaning → “Concrete” like hard stones/cement in the garden.
• Hidden meaning → “Concrete” means a clear, real example of her unique style.

Summary in Hindi (for quick revision): कविता कवि की पड़ोसन मिसेज़ जोन्स के अनोखे बगीचे के बारे में है। उनका बगीचा ज्यादातर पत्थरों से भरा है – एक टेढ़ा रास्ता, लिली तालाब, चट्टानी सजावट और एक अजीब सूर्यघड़ी। पत्थरों के बीच वे बहुत छोटे-नाजुक फूल लगाती हैं। कवि को हैरानी होती है कि इतने छोटे पौधे कैसे लगाए जाते हैं। एक दिन जब वे बगीचा देखने जाते हैं तो एक फूल की तारीफ करते हैं, लेकिन फूल नहीं दिखता। मिसेज़ जोन्स कहती हैं – “आप उसी पर खड़े हैं!” कविता हल्के-फुल्के अंदाज में दिखाती है कि छोटी-छोटी चीजों में भी सुंदरता होती है।

(Above images show a real rock garden full of stones, rockery, small plants, and water features – exactly like Mrs. Jones’s garden!)

Full Poem (Exact from NCERT Poorvi Book)

My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones, has got a garden full of stones: A crazy path, a lily pond, a rockery and, just beyond A sundial with a strange device, which Mrs. Jones thinks rather nice.

My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones, puts little plants between the stones They are so delicate and small, they don’t mean anything at all. I can’t think how she gets them in, unless she plants them with a pin.

My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones, once asked me round to see her stones. We stood and talked about a flower for quite a quarter of an hour. “Where is this lovely thing?” I cried. “You’re standing on it”, she replied.

Line-by-Line Explanation (Super Simple for You)

Stanza 1:

• The poet introduces his neighbour Mrs. Jones and her garden full of stones.
• “Crazy path” = irregular, zig-zag stone path (not straight and boring).
• Lily pond, rockery (pile of rocks), and a sundial (old clock that uses sunlight) with a funny gadget.
• Mrs. Jones loves these unusual things.

Stanza 2:

• She plants very tiny, delicate flowers between the stones.
• The poet thinks they are so small that they look unimportant (“don’t mean anything at all”).
• He jokes that she must use a pin to plant them because they are too small for normal gardening tools!

Stanza 3:

• Mrs. Jones invites the poet to see her garden.
• They stand and talk about one special flower for 15 minutes (“quarter of an hour”).
• The poet gets impatient and asks where the lovely flower is.
• Mrs. Jones laughs and says, “You are standing right on it!”
• The tiny flower was under his foot the whole time – that’s the big surprise and joke!

Glossary / Word Meanings (Important for Exams)

• Crazy path: टेढ़ा-मेढ़ा रास्ता (irregular stone path)
• Rockery: चट्टानों की सजावट (pile of rocks for plants)
• Sundial: सूर्यघड़ी (sun clock)
• Strange device: अजीब यंत्र/गैजेट (unusual gadget on the sundial)
• Delicate: नाजुक (very soft and fragile)
• Pin: सुई (small needle)
• Quarter of an hour: 15 मिनट
• Refrain: हर stanza में दोहराई गई पंक्ति (“My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones”)

Poetic Devices (Literary Elements – Easy to Remember)

1. Refrain: The line “My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones” repeats in every stanza – gives rhythm and humour.
2. Alliteration: Same sound at the start of words – “puts little plants”, “flower for quite a quarter”.
3. Pun (Word Play): Title “A Concrete Example” – concrete = stones + clear example.
4. Irony (Situation): The speaker searches for the flower but is already standing on it! Very funny.
5. Imagery: Clear pictures in your mind – stones, tiny flowers, sundial.
6. Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC in each stanza (easy and musical).

Main Themes (Big Ideas)

• Beauty is in small things – Mrs. Jones sees value in tiny flowers that others ignore.
• Different people have different tastes (Mrs. Jones loves stones; poet finds it strange).
• Humour and wit in everyday life.
• Don’t judge others’ hobbies – everyone finds joy in their own way.

All NCERT Textbook Activities with Answers

Let us do these activities before we read (Page 17) I. Match garden items to pictures (garden hose, sapling, hedge, flower beds, etc.) – draw or imagine them in your notebook. II. Group discussion: What garden would you like? Sample Answer: I would like a colourful butterfly garden with roses, sunflowers, a small fountain, benches, and a pebble path. It would attract birds and butterflies and make me feel peaceful. III. Title discussion: “Concrete” means hard building material (stones) OR clear example. Yes, it has two meanings – that’s the clever pun!

Let us discuss (Pages 19-20) I. Summary fill-in (exact words from poem):

1. stones 2. path 3. device 4. delicate 5. pin 6. flower 7. lovely 8. standing

II. Tone of the poem → Humorous, amusing, light-hearted (option D). III. Speaker → the poet. Rhyme scheme → AABBCC. IV. Alliteration examples: “puts little plants”, “flower for quite a quarter”. V. Refrain → “My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones”. VI. Situational irony → “You’re standing on it!” VII. ‘Concrete’ = stones in garden + clear example of Mrs. Jones’s gardening habits.

Let us think and reflect (Pages 20-21)

1. Extract questions:
   • Mrs. Jones likes unusual, minimalistic gardening (stones instead of grass).
   • ‘Crazy path’ = irregular stone path.
   • Sundial shows she loves unique items.
2. Short answers:
   • Mrs. Jones is proud of her garden and sees beauty in small things.
   • Plants are so tiny that a pin is needed (humorous exaggeration).
   • Mrs. Jones is detail-oriented, eccentric, and values tiny details.
   • The poem shows her positively – passionate gardener.

(Complete all questions in your notebook exactly like this – they come in exams!)

Let us write / Speak / Learn Grammar (from book): Practice describing your own dream garden in 5-6 sentences. Speak about “A person who has a unique hobby” using Mrs. Jones as example.

Extra Tip for Exams:

• Always quote lines from poem in answers.
• Title’s pun and irony are favourite questions.
• Learn the refrain and last two lines by heart.

You now have complete A-Z notes – read once, revise twice, and you will score full marks! Keep smiling like the poem’s humour. Practice drawing Mrs. Jones’s garden in your notebook for fun.

Stay curious and keep reading! 🌸🪨