A Concrete Example

Complete Poem Guide & Exercise Solutions

Poem Summary

"A Concrete Example" by Reginald Arkell is a light-hearted and humorous poem about the speaker's next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones, and her peculiar garden. The garden is filled mostly with stones, a "crazy path," a lily pond, a rockery, and an unusual sundial. Mrs. Jones plants extremely tiny flowers between the stones, which the speaker amusingly imagines must be planted with a pin. The poem concludes with a funny incident where Mrs. Jones invites the speaker over to admire a particular flower, and after a long discussion, reveals that the speaker has been standing on it the whole time. The poem gently pokes fun at Mrs. Jones's unique gardening style while also highlighting her passion for it.

Let us discuss

I. Complete the following summary with exact words from the poem.

The poem describes Mrs. Jones, the speaker's next-door neighbour, who has a unique garden filled with 1. stones. Her garden includes a 2. crazy path, a 3. lily pond, and a rockery, along with an unusual 4. sundial that she finds charming. Mrs. Jones plants tiny, 5. delicate plants between the stones, which the speaker thinks must be so small that they are planted with a 6. pin. One day, Mrs. Jones invites the speaker to see her garden, and they discuss a 7. flower that Mrs. Jones treasures. When the speaker asks where the 8. lovely thing is, Mrs. Jones says that the speaker has been 9. standing on it all along.

II. Select the correct option to fill in the blanks.

The tone of the poem is D. (ii), (iv), and (v) (humorous, amusing, light-hearted).
The speaker in the poem is (iv) a child (or a neighbour with a childlike sense of wonder and observation).
The rhyme scheme of the poem is (i) AABBCC.

III. Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct answer.

The poet uses the word 'stones' in all stanzas in order to emphasise her obsession with a stony garden.
The poet uses imagery to describe the features of the garden that help readers visualise the garden's peculiar nature.

IV. Pick examples of alliteration from the poem.

Answer: An example of alliteration from the poem is: "puts little plants".

V. Identify the refrain from the poem.

Answer: The refrain in the poem is: "My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones,"

VI. Identify the line(s) from the poem that display(s) situational irony.

Answer: The lines that display situational irony are:

"Where is this lovely thing?" I cried.
"You're standing on it," she replied.

This is ironic because the speaker is searching for something beautiful, which is unexpectedly right under their feet, being crushed.

VII. Complete the following sentences appropriately.

The word 'concrete' can refer to the stones and other solid materials in Mrs. Jones' garden.
The title also has a symbolic meaning, as the poem provides a clear or 'concrete' example of Mrs. Jones' peculiar gardening habits.

Let us think and reflect

I. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow.

What can be inferred about Mrs. Jones's taste in gardening from the description of her garden being 'full of stones'?
It can be inferred that Mrs. Jones has an unconventional and unique taste in gardening. She prefers hardscapes like stones, paths, and rockeries over a traditional garden full of soil and large plants.
Identify whether the following statement is true or false.
The garden serves as a means to reveal more about Mrs. Jones herself. - True.
What does the poet mean by 'crazy path'?
A 'crazy path' likely means a winding, uneven, or irregularly designed path, not a straight or formal one, which adds to the garden's peculiar character.
What does the sundial with a 'strange device' suggest about Mrs. Jones' personality?
A. She has a fascination with unusual items.

II. Answer the following questions.

How does Mrs. Jones feel about her garden? Support your answer with evidence from the poem.
Mrs. Jones feels very proud and fond of her garden. Evidence includes her thinking the "strange device" on her sundial is "rather nice" and her excitement in inviting the speaker over to "see her stones" and discuss a flower for "quite a quarter of an hour."
Why do you think the speaker describes the plants as being so small that they could be planted with a pin?
The speaker uses this exaggeration to emphasize just how tiny and delicate the plants are. It creates a humorous image that highlights the contrast between the massive stones and the minuscule flowers.
What do we get to know about Mrs. Jones-based on her gardening style and her interaction with the speaker?
We learn that Mrs. Jones is a person with unique tastes who finds beauty in unconventional things. She is passionate about her hobby, patient (planting tiny flowers), and friendly, as she eagerly shares her garden with her neighbour.
The poem portrays Mrs. Jones in a positive light. Support this statement.
The statement is true. Although the speaker finds her garden peculiar, the tone is gentle and amusing, not critical. Mrs. Jones is portrayed as a charming, friendly neighbour who is passionate about her unique garden, which makes her a likable character.
What does the poem tell us about the way people think differently about the world around them?
The poem shows that beauty is subjective. What one person (the speaker) sees as a peculiar garden full of stones, another (Mrs. Jones) sees as a wonderful collection of treasures and delicate plants. It highlights that people find joy and value in very different things.

Let us learn

I. Select the appropriate word from the brackets that correctly replaces the underlined word.

A sundial with a strange device, - peculiar
... which Mrs. Jones thinks rather nice. - charming
They are so delicate... - fragile
"Where is this lovely thing?" I cried. - exclaimed

II. Match the type of instruments in Column 1 with their definitions in Column 2.

Column 1	Column 2
1. implement	(iii) something that works on being moved by hand
2. tool	(v) something used by hand to make or repair
3. equipment	(iv) a set of necessary items for a particular purpose
4. appliance	(i) something that is electrical and is used to do work in the house
5. gadget	(ii) something small that is mechanical or electronic

III. Complete the table by making new words.

1. From "nice"

(i) dice - cut into small pieces
(ii) rice - grain that we cook
(iii) mice - plural of mouse
(iv) vice - bad habit

2. From "soil"

(i) boil - heat something
(ii) toil - work very hard
(iii) coil - length of wire in a circle
(iv) foil - sheets to wrap food items

Let us listen

I. As you listen, answer the following questions.

Where was Nek Chand's Rock Garden featured?
An Indian postage stamp.
What kind of sculptures does the Rock Garden have?
Colourful sculptures.
How is the Rock Garden divided?
Three distinct phases.
Name any one thing that has been transformed into a piece of art in the Rock Garden.
Broken toilet pots (or terracotta pots / light fixtures).
Approximately, how many statues border the Rock Garden?
Around 5,000 statues.

Let us speak

I. Apology Dialogues

1. Informal Apologies

(i) You have eaten your brother's share of sweets.
You: I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to, but I ate your share of the sweets.
Brother: That's alright. Just ask me next time!

2. Formal Apologies

(i) You did not bring an assignment that was due for submission.
You: Ma'am, I'm extremely sorry for not bringing my assignment today. I promise it won't happen again.
Teacher: I accept your apology. Please ensure you submit it tomorrow without fail.

Let us write

Draft a notice informing the students about the inauguration of the Herb Garden.

GREENWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL

NOTICE

Date: 14 October 2025

Inauguration of the Herb Garden

This is to inform all students of Grades 6-8 that the Nature Club is inaugurating a new Herb Garden in the school. The inauguration ceremony will be held as per the details given below:

Date: 20 October 2025
Time: 10:00 AM
Venue: Beside the school playground

The garden will be inaugurated by our respected Principal, Mrs. Sharma. All students are invited to attend the event and learn about the importance of medicinal herbs.

Aarav Kumar
(Signature)
Aarav Kumar
Secretary, Nature Club

Let us explore

Activities

The "Let us explore" section provides engaging activities to deepen your appreciation for nature and creativity. You are encouraged to:

Take a virtual tour of the beautiful Amrit Udyan at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Create your own herbarium by collecting, pressing, and designing with fallen flowers and leaves from your neighbourhood.
Read and enjoy the poem "A Sea of Foliage" by Toru Dutt to see another perspective on a garden's beauty.

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

NCERT Class 8 Poem Solutions: A Concrete Example | Summary & All Answers