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Class 9 English Solution Chapter: 5 Nine Gold Medals (Poem)

NCERT Class 9 English Solutions: Nine Gold Medals (Poem)

About the Poem

  • Poet: David Roth
  • Theme: Empathy, Compassion, Sportsmanship, and Humanity
  • Core Idea: Winning is not everything. Helping others and showing kindness is the real victory.

Summary of the Poem in Simple Words

This poem is about the Special Olympics, where athletes with special needs come to compete.

Stanza 1: Athletes from all over the country trained for many weeks and months to win gold, silver, or bronze medals. They were ready for the final race.

Stanza 2: A large crowd gathered to cheer for the athletes. The excitement was very high because the final event was about to start.

Stanza 3: All nine athletes were ready at the starting line. They were determined and waiting for the signal (the sound of the pistol).

Stanza 4: The pistol fired, and all the runners started running fast. But the smallest athlete tripped, stumbled, and fell down on the track.

Stanza 5: The young athlete cried out in pain and frustration because his dreams were broken. But then, something unexpected happened.

Stanza 6: The other eight runners stopped running. They turned around, went back to help the fallen boy, and helped him stand up.

Stanza 7: Then, all nine runners joined hands. Instead of running, they walked together towards the finish line. A banner saying "Special Olympics" was perfectly suited for this moment.

Stanza 8: The race ended with all nine athletes holding hands. Everyone in the crowd stood up and clapped. The smiles on their nine faces said more than any words could ever say.

Central Idea / Message of the Poem

The poem teaches us that:

"Winning a medal is not as important as helping someone in need. True victory lies in kindness, teamwork, and humanity."

The poet wants to say that sports are not only about competition. They are also about love, care, and brotherhood.

Poetic Devices Used in the Poem (With Examples)

Poetic Device

Meaning

Example from the Poem

Alliteration

Repetition of same sound/letter at the start of nearby words

"dashed in the dirt", "nine noted", "stood still"

Imagery (Visual)

Creating a mental picture

"The hundred-yard dash", "nine beaming faces"

Imagery (Auditory)

Creating a sound effect

"The pistol exploded", "He gave out a cry"

Personification

Giving human qualities to non-living things

His "dreams... dashed in the dirt" (dreams treated like a real thing)

Symbolism

Using an object to represent an idea

"Nine Gold Medals" = symbol of unity and kindness, not just winning

Stanza-Wise Explanation (Very Easy)

Stanza 1

  • Athletes came from everywhere.
  • They trained very hard for months.
  • Their goal was to win gold, silver, or bronze.

Stanza 2

  • Spectators (people watching) gathered around the field.
  • They cheered for the athletes.
  • The last event was about to begin, and everyone was excited.

Stanza 3

  • Athletes were ready at the starting line.
  • Nine determined athletes waited for the gunshot.

Stanza 4

  • The pistol fired → all runners started.
  • The smallest runner tripped and fell on the ground.

Stanza 5

  • The fallen boy cried because his dreams were broken.
  • But then, something different happened.

Stanza 6

  • The other eight runners stopped.
  • They went back to help the fallen boy get up.

Stanza 7

  • All nine held hands and walked together.
  • A banner said "Special Olympics" – perfect for this moment.

Stanza 8

  • The race ended with all nine holding hands.
  • Everyone stood up and clapped.
  • Their happy faces said more than words.

Complete Solutions to All Questions

Check Your Understanding (Matching)

Match the words with their meanings:

Column 1

Answer

Meaning

1. dashed in the dirt

(ii)

destroyed

2. stumbled

(iv)

step awkwardly, lose balance

3. staggered

(i)

walk or move with difficulty

4. anguish

(v)

extreme pain or suffering

5. asphalt

(iii)

hard black substance used on roads

Identify the Stanza (Gist Matching)

Gist of the Stanza

Stanza Number

Spectators cheered participants and waited for final event to start.

2

All runners dashed ahead; one athlete tripped and fell.

4

Race ended with nine athletes holding hands; crowd gave standing ovation.

8

Participants got ready; nine determined athletes waited.

3

Athletes from all over trained for months to win medals.

1

Eight athletes stopped to help the fallen athlete stand up.

6

Nine athletes held hands and walked; represented ethos of Special Olympics.

7

Young athlete cried in pain; something unique happened.

5

Let Us Appreciate the Poem (Answers)

1. Two examples of alliteration:

  • (i) dashed in the dirt
  • (ii) nine noted

2. Three examples of visual imagery:

  • (i) The blocks were all lined up
  • (ii) Nine beaming faces
  • (iii) Stumbled and staggered and fell

3. One example of auditory imagery:

  • (i) The pistol exploded

4. How does imagery make the poem more appealing?
Imagery helps us see, hear, and feel the race in our minds. It makes the poem more real, exciting, and emotional.

5. How does the poet's tone change from beginning to end?

  • Beginning: Excited, serious, competitive (talking about training and winning).
  • End: Warm, happy, proud, emotional (talking about kindness and unity).

6. What is the overall mood created by the poem?
The mood is inspiring, heartwarming, and joyful. It makes us feel proud of the athletes' kindness.

7. What is the message of the poem?
The message is that kindness and helping others is more important than winning. True sportsmanship means caring for everyone.

Vocabulary in Context (Answers)

I. Adjective-Noun Collocations from the poem:

  1. Standing ovation
  2. Nine beaming faces
  3. Hundred-yard dash
  4. Special Olympics

II. Complete the table with nouns for each adjective:

Column 1

Column 2 (Nouns)

1. big

disappointment, failure, surprise, decision

2. heavy

rain, weight, bag, traffic

3. strong

wind, feeling, support, person

4. large

crowd, area, building, family

5. great

success, day, leader, idea

III. Choose correct adjectives:

  1. The youngest athlete was moving at a steady pace.
  2. The eight athletes had a positive attitude.
  3. When the athlete fell, he gave a loud cry of pain.
  4. The spectators saw a significant difference in the athletes.
  5. The noisy crowd cheered the runners enthusiastically.

Critical Reflection (Extract-Based Answers)

Extract 1: "The eight other runners pulled up on their heels..."

(i) The phrase 'pulled up on their heels' means:

  • B. stopped running

(ii) One character trait common to all eight runners:

  • They were kind, compassionate, and empathetic.

(iii) Tone of the poet in these lines:

  • Admiring, appreciative, and warm.

(iv) How might the young athlete have felt?

  • He felt surprised, grateful, loved, and relieved that others came to help him.

(v) Is this a turning point?

  • Yes, because the race changed from a competition to an act of kindness.

Extract 2: "That's how the race ended, with nine gold medals..."

(i) How did the nine contestants feel?

  • They felt happy, proud, united, and joyful.

(ii) Why were all nine given gold medals?

  • Because they showed that kindness and teamwork are more valuable than winning alone.

(iii) Holding hands signifies:

  • Unity, friendship, and togetherness.

(iv) 'Standing ovation' means spectators were:

  • B. speechless (with admiration and respect)

(v) Explain the last line:

  • The smiles and happiness of the nine athletes expressed more love and kindness than any words could describe.

Long Answer Questions (Critical Reflection)

1. How does the setting create a vivid atmosphere?
The poet describes the field, the crowd, the starting line, and the excitement. This helps us imagine a real race event. We can feel the tension and energy before the race begins.

2. How might the youngest athlete have felt when he fell?
He felt sad, frustrated, embarrassed, and hopeless. He thought his dreams were destroyed and he would lose the race.

3. Why were the athletes eager to begin the race?
Because they had trained for many months. They wanted to win medals and make their hard work successful.

4. What does the race turning into a walk symbolize?
It symbolizes that winning is not important. What matters is helping others and staying together. Competition changed into cooperation.

5. How would the poem be different if focused only on individual achievement?
The poem would be less emotional and less inspiring. It would just be about winning or losing. The beauty of the poem comes from the unexpected kindness.

6. How does language and tone enhance reader engagement?
The poet uses simple words, vivid imagery, and a changing tone (serious to happy). This keeps the reader interested and emotionally connected.

7. What is the poet's purpose in writing this poem?
The poet wants to teach us that humanity is greater than competition. We should always help others, even if it means we might lose.

Listening Activity (Answers)

I. True/False Statements:

  1. Patrick Gomes began his career in sports with track events. → True
  2. Patrick Gomes has been coaching special athletes for 10 years. → False (more than 15 years)
  3. Patrick Gomes does all the household work himself. → True

II. Multiple Choice Questions:

  1. 'Push your boundaries' means → (i) challenge themselves
  2. Patrick Gomes is a → (ii) coach of special athletes
  3. Special Olympic Games at Connecticut was a → (ii) turning point
  4. As a special athlete, Patrick Gomes mostly participated in → (i) track events
  5. Sports encourages → (i) a positive outlook

Speaking Activity (Sample Conversation)

Student A: What is your opinion on the Special Olympics?

Student B: Personally, I believe that Special Olympics promotes inclusion and gives special athletes a chance to shine.

Student A: How do you feel about the impact of Special Olympics?

Student B: I hold the opinion that it changes how society looks at people with disabilities. It shows their strength and courage.

Student A: How can we create awareness?

Student B: From my perspective, we can organize events in schools, share stories of athletes, and encourage everyone to participate.

Writing Task (Slogans and Poster)

Three Creative Slogans for Special Olympics:

  1. Special Olympics: Where Kindness Wins the Race
  2. Not Just Medals, But Hearts – Special Olympics
  3. Run Together, Win Together – Celebrate Humanity

Poster Idea:

  • Title: Nine Gold Medals – A Lesson in Kindness
  • Image: Nine hands holding each other
  • Slogan: "Helping One Person Might Not Change the World, But It Could Change the World for That One Person"
  • Message: Winning is good, but helping is better. Be a good human first.

Learning Beyond the Text (Infographic Activity)

Infographic on Cricket:

  • Name: Cricket
  • Type: Outdoor sport (bat and ball)
  • Players: 11 per team
  • Famous Event: ICC World Cup
  • Indian Hero: Sachin Tendulkar, M.S. Dhoni
  • Fun Fact: Cricket is the 2nd most popular sport in the world after football.

Key Takeaways for Students (Easy to Remember)

Point

Message

1

Winning is not everything.

2

Helping others is true victory.

3

Kindness makes you a real champion.

4

Teamwork and unity are powerful.

5

The poem teaches empathy and sportsmanship.

Final Note: Nine Gold Medals is not about a race. It is about the race of life. In life, helping others and showing kindness is the greatest achievement.

 

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