EnglishCBSE Class 8 · Chapter 1

The Wit that Won Hearts Class 8: Summary, Characters and Questions

Updated 15 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The Wit that Won Hearts, the first lesson of Poorvi (Unit 1: Wit and Wisdom), tells how King Krishnadeva Raya stopped speaking to Queen Thirumalambal because she yawned while he recited his poem. Tenali Rama uses a clever court trick about 'special' paddy seeds to show that yawning is natural, and the royal couple reconcile.

What The Wit that Won Hearts is about

The Wit that Won Hearts is a prose story in Poorvi, the Class 8 English textbook (Unit 1: Wit and Wisdom). It is set in the Vijayanagara Empire under King Krishnadeva Raya (1509-29 CE), whose court had eight poets, the Ashtadiggajas, including Allasani Peddana and Tenali Ramakrishna.

The king quarrels with Queen Thirumalambal because she yawned while he recited a confusing poem. She asks Tenali Rama for help. In court, during a discussion on paddy cultivation, Rama presents 'revolutionary' seeds and says the problem lies with the sower, especially one who yawns. The king yawns too, realises yawning is natural, apologises to the queen, and peace returns.

The lesson's language work covers sound words, phrases from the story, compound words, conditional ('if') sentences, intonation in questions, and writing a narrative essay.

CBSE sets no Class 8 paper; your school sets the exam. Expect extract questions, 40-50-word answers, longer answers, and grammar items modelled on 'Let us learn'.

Weightage: CBSE sets no Class 8 English paper or marks: Class 8 is assessed by your school, which teaches from NCERT Poorvi. School papers usually mix extract questions, short answers (about 40-50 words) and longer answers (about 100-150 words), plus grammar and writing from the "Let us learn" and "Let us write" sections.Source: docs/research/cbse-8-2026-27.md (NCERT book list, Reprint 2026-27)

The Wit that Won Hearts: summary

In our own words, in the order of the text. Read the NCERT text itself too: the board quotes from it.

Setting the scene. The Vijayanagara Empire was famous for its wealth and culture. King Krishnadeva Raya, who ruled from 1509 to 1529 CE, was a wise ruler, a warrior and a gifted poet; his works include the epic Amuktamalyada and the Sanskrit drama Jambavati Parinayam. His reign is called the Golden Era of the empire. His court had eight celebrated poets known as the Ashtadiggajas. Among them, Tenali Ramakrishna (Tenali Rama) was loved for his quick wit and served as both poet and witty adviser.

The quarrel. Over a small matter, the king quarrelled with Queen Thirumalambal and stopped speaking to her for weeks. The palace grew quiet and gloomy. The queen tells Rama what happened: the king had written a poem full of vague images like the sun, moon and stars; his ministers had avoided hearing it. He came to her late one evening and began reciting it, but she was so tired that she yawned several times. Thinking she was insulting his poem, he stormed off. She regrets it and begs Rama to help.

Rama's plan. Rama agrees but says he needs a careful plan. Next morning the court is discussing how to improve paddy cultivation. Ministers suggest better irrigation and manure. When the king calls on Rama, he presents a plate of 'revolutionary' paddy seeds that would triple the harvest. Courtiers mock him, and the king calls the idea absurd. Rama calmly says the real problem is not the seeds but the person who sows them. If the sower yawned while sowing, wouldn't the seeds scatter unevenly? The court laughs, and the king himself yawns. Rama asks whether anyone in the world does not yawn; it is as natural as breathing.

Reconciliation. The king realises he had been unfair to the queen. That evening he apologises, admitting his pride had blinded him. The queen happily forgives him and asks to hear his poem. The couple reward Rama, and the palace is full of joy again.

Central idea: Wit and wisdom can solve delicate problems without hurting anyone's pride, and admitting a mistake restores relationships.

Themes and message

Wit as a tool for solving problems

Rama does not tell the king directly that he was wrong, which might have angered him. Instead he creates a situation in which the king discovers the truth himself. His humour turns a tense court into laughter and leads the king to realisation.

From the text: 'the real issue lies not with the seeds themselves but with the person who sows them'

Pride and misunderstanding

A trivial misunderstanding over a yawn grows into weeks of silence because the king takes it personally. His pride in his poetry blinds him to the queen's tiredness. Once he sees this, he apologises.

From the text: 'I let my pride blind me.'

Admitting mistakes and forgiveness

The king shows maturity by admitting he overreacted, and the queen shows grace by forgiving him and offering to listen to his poem. Relationships are repaired through humility on both sides.

From the text: 'If you like, we can leave this quarrel behind us.'

Patience and planning

Rama listens patiently to the queen and asks for time to find the right strategy. He waits for the right moment in court instead of acting hastily. Thoughtful planning makes his wit effective.

From the text: 'this needs a well-planned approach'

Characters

Tenali Rama (Tenali Ramakrishna)

Poet and witty adviser in Krishnadeva Raya's court; one of the Ashtadiggajas.

Witty and humorous: turns mockery into laughter
Patient listener: hears the queen's full story
Strategic: plans a careful, indirect approach
Calm under pressure: 'unfazed' when courtiers mock him
Tactful: lets the king discover his own mistake

'Rama listened patiently'; 'Rama smiled, unfazed.'

King Krishnadeva Raya

Wise ruler of Vijayanagara and a poet.

Proud of his poetry and sensitive to criticism
Quick-tempered: storms off and stops talking to the queen
Fair-minded in the end: realises and admits his mistake
Mature: apologises sincerely

'I have been foolish. I see now that I overreacted.'

Queen Thirumalambal

The king's queen, hurt by his silence.

Sincere and regretful about the misunderstanding
Wise: seeks Rama's help when her own efforts fail
Forgiving and gracious: offers to hear the poem

'Help me, please, Rama. Only you can help the king understand.'

The courtiers

Members of the court who mock Rama at first.

Sarcastic
Quick to judge
Won over by Rama's humour

'Perhaps he found them on the moon!'

How it is written

Device	Example	Effect
Sarcasm	'I wonder if these are magic seeds! Next, he’ll claim they grow without water.'	Shows the courtiers' disbelief and makes Rama's later success more striking.
Personification/imagery	'His absence cast a shadow over the palace'	Makes the gloom caused by the quarrel vivid.
Analogy	A sower yawning while sowing seeds	Indirectly mirrors the queen's yawning so the king sees his mistake himself.
Simile	'It is as natural as breathing.'	Drives home that yawning is involuntary and not an insult.

Key quotations

Short lines worth knowing by heart: who says them, when, and why they matter.

Even the wisest rulers face moments of disharmony
Narrator: Introducing the king's quarrel with the queen.
Shows that even great people make mistakes in relationships.
If I had known this would happen I would have chosen another day.
Queen Thirumalambal: Telling Rama about the yawning incident.
Reveals her regret; also a model of the third conditional.
the real issue lies not with the seeds themselves but with the person who sows them
Tenali Rama: In court, after the king calls the seeds idea absurd.
The turning point: shifts focus to the 'sower' and leads to the yawning analogy.
is there anyone in this world who does not yawn? It is as natural as breathing.
Tenali Rama: After the king himself yawns in court.
Makes the king realise yawning is not disrespect.
I let my pride blind me.
King Krishnadeva Raya: Apologising to the queen.
Shows self-awareness and maturity.

Key concepts

Conditional ('if') sentences

Each 'if' sentence has a subordinate clause (the if clause) and a main clause. The book shows three patterns from the story:

Type	Tenses	Meaning	Example from the text
Possible future	if + simple present → will/can + verb	condition may or may not happen	'If you like, I will try my best to resolve this matter.'
Hypothetical	if + simple past (were to) → would + verb	imaginary/unlikely situation	'If, by chance something were to go wrong, our farmers would suffer.'
Past unreal	if + past perfect → would have + past participle	what would have been different; cannot be changed now	'If I had known this would happen, I would have chosen another day.'

Rules: use 'were' for all persons in imaginary situations ('If I were a bird...'); don't put 'will' or 'would' in the if clause; a comma follows the if clause when it comes first.

Worked example

Complete correctly: (a) If the bus is late, we ___ (miss) the assembly. (b) If I ___ (have) wings, I would fly to school. (c) If he had left home earlier, he ___ (catch) the train.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(a) Possible future: if + simple present, then will + verb.
(b) Imaginary: if + simple past, then would + verb.
(c) Past unreal: if + past perfect, then would have + past participle.

Answer: (a) will miss (b) had (c) would have caught

Compound words and sound words

A compound word joins two or more words to make a new meaning:

Closed: sunlight, courtroom, household, bookstore
Hyphenated: well-planned, quick-witted, soft-spoken, ill-tempered, sky-blue
Open: paddy seeds, common sense, dance hall

Sound words describe how something sounds: roared, murmur, snickers, sighed, gasped, mumble, whispered, groan, thud, rattle. Choose the word that fits who or what makes the sound (a crowd murmurs; a lion or angry king roars; a heavy object lands with a thud).

Useful phrases from the story: cast a shadow, a murmur swept through the room, a hush fell over, mind raced back, stormed off, rippled through.

Worked example

Form compounds and use one: quick + ___ ; soft + ___ ; common + ___ ; book + ___.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

quick-witted; soft-spoken; common sense; bookstore.

Answer: quick-witted, soft-spoken, common sense, bookstore. Example: Tenali Rama was quick-witted enough to solve the quarrel without offending the king.

Intonation and question words

Intonation is the rise and fall of the voice.

Yes/No questions rise at the end: 'Are you coming home?' ↗
Wh- questions fall at the end: 'When will you come home?' ↘

Question words: what, why, when, how, where, who. Keep the right word order: 'Who is the cleverest character in the story?' (not 'Who the cleverest character is in the story?').

Worked example

Mark rising or falling intonation: (a) Did the king forgive the queen? (b) Why did the queen yawn? (c) Shall we ask Rama for help?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(a) Yes/No question: rising.
(b) Wh- question: falling.
(c) Yes/No question: rising.

Answer: (a) rising (b) falling (c) rising

Writing a narrative essay

A narrative essay shares a personal (or imagined) experience to convey a lesson.

Format checklist (from the book's model 'A Lesson in Responsibility'):
1. Introduction: an engaging opening that sets the context and central idea.
2. Body: events in logical order; descriptive details; characters and setting; your feelings; a challenge or turning point.
3. Conclusion: the outcome and a clearly stated lesson.
4. Style: personal, engaging, first person (I, my).
5. Language: simple, clear, correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Marks are lost for no clear lesson, events out of order, or switching between 'I' and 'he'.

Worked example

Write an opening paragraph (40-50 words) for a narrative essay titled 'The Day I Judged Someone Too Quickly'.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Engaging first line; set time and place; hint at the lesson; first person.

Answer: On the first day of Class 8, a new boy sat alone at lunch and did not answer when I said hello. I decided at once that he was rude and proud. It took me a whole week, and one rainy afternoon, to discover how wrong I was.

The Wit that Won Hearts in real life

Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Misunderstandings and empathy

Suppose your friend yawns while you are showing them a video you made, and you feel insulted.

What does the story suggest you should do before reacting?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The king assumed the yawn meant disrespect.
The queen was simply exhausted; yawning is natural.
Ask, consider the other person's state, avoid hasty conclusions.

Answer: Like the king, I might wrongly feel insulted, but the story shows that a yawn is as natural as breathing; my friend may simply be tired. I should ask how they are, not jump to conclusions, and show them the video another time.

Memory hook: A yawn is tiredness, not an insult.

Humour to ease tension

Imagine two teams in your class are arguing loudly over a project, and your teacher asks you to calm things down.

How could you use Tenali Rama's approach?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Rama listened first, then planned.
He used gentle humour and an example everyone understood.
He let people realise the point themselves.

Answer: I would first listen to both teams, then use a light, friendly joke or a simple example that shows each side's point, so people laugh and relax. Like Rama, I would guide them to see the solution themselves rather than blaming anyone.

Memory hook: Listen, laugh, then lead.

Apologising sincerely

Suppose you snapped at your younger brother for disturbing your study, and later realise he only wanted help with homework.

What can you learn from the king's apology?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The king admitted 'I overreacted' and 'I let my pride blind me'.
He apologised in a gentle voice.
The queen forgave; relationship restored.

Answer: Like the king, I should admit honestly that I overreacted, say sorry gently and offer to help him now. A sincere apology that names my mistake repairs the relationship, just as the king's apology restored joy to the palace.

Memory hook: Name the mistake, say sorry, mend the bond.

Topics in this chapter

How the school exam asks The Wit that Won Hearts

The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.

Question type	How it is asked	Method
Extract-based (5 x 1 mark)	A passage from the story (the queen's request, the court scene, the apology) with MCQs, fill-in-the-blank, word meaning and inference questions.	Read the extract twice; answer from it; for meanings use the sense in context (e.g. 'unfazed' = not worried).
Short answer (2 marks, 40-50 words)	Why was the reign called a Golden Era? What strategy did Rama use? How did the quarrel affect the palace?	Answer directly in the first sentence, then add one or two details from the story.
Long answer (5 marks, 100-150 words)	Character sketch of Tenali Rama; the value of wit; what lesson the story teaches about pride and apology.	Introduction, two or three points each backed by an event or quote, and a conclusion.
Grammar from 'Let us learn'	Conditionals, compound words, sound words, story phrases.	Identify the pattern (possible, imaginary, past unreal) before filling the verb.
Writing: narrative essay	Write about a personal experience with a lesson (e.g. teamwork, kindness).	Use the five-part checklist; first person; end with a clear lesson.

Tricks to remember The Wit that Won Hearts

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

Story in five steps
'Poem, Yawn, Silence, Seeds, Sorry'.
Use it when: Sequence of events for long answers.
Three conditionals
'Will-possible, Would-imaginary, Would have-too late'.
Use it when: Choosing the verb in if sentences.
Intonation
'Yes/No goes up like a question mark's hook; Wh- goes down like a full stop'.
Use it when: Marking intonation.
Narrative essay
'I-B-C + Lesson': Introduction, Body (with a turning point), Conclusion with a lesson, all in 'I'.
Use it when: Writing format.

The Wit that Won Hearts: extract-based questions

Read the extract, answer every part on paper, then open the answers.

Extract 1: The court before Rama speaks

Ministers, scholars, and courtiers filled the courtroom, its intricately carved pillars towering towards the high ceiling. Rays of sunlight streamed through the open windows, illuminating the floor adorned with exquisite rugs. Despite the lively chatter, a tension hung in the air.

(1) · 1 mark · MCQ
The passage opens: the next morning, the royal court was 'bustling with activity'. The word 'bustling' means:
(a) silent (b) busy (c) empty (d) dark
(2) · 1 mark · Short answer
Why was there 'a tension' in the air despite the lively chatter?
(3) · 1 mark · Very short answer
Which word in the extract is a closed compound?
(4) · 1 mark · MCQ
The description of pillars, sunlight and rugs mainly helps the reader to:
(a) learn about Vijayanagara's economy (b) picture the grand setting of the court (c) understand the queen's feelings (d) predict the ending
(5) · 1 mark · Very short answer
Fill in the blank: The rugs on the floor were ________ (fine and attractive / old and torn).

Show the answersAnswers

(b) busy
Because the king was still upset over his unresolved quarrel with the queen.
courtroom (also 'sunlight').
(b) picture the grand setting of the court
fine and attractive (exquisite)

Extract 2: Rama's analogy

“If one were to sow seeds without proper care, no one would reap a good harvest,” he said, pausing for effect. “And what if the person had a habit of yawning while sowing? Wouldn’t the seeds scatter unevenly?”

(1) · 1 mark · MCQ
Just before this, Rama glances around the court and meets the 'sceptical eyes' of the courtiers. 'Sceptical' eyes show that the courtiers were:
(a) admiring (b) doubtful (c) sleepy (d) angry
(2) · 1 mark · Short answer
Why did Rama pause 'for effect'?
(3) · 1 mark · Very short answer
What type of conditional is 'If one were to sow seeds without proper care, no one would reap a good harvest'?
(4) · 1 mark · Very short answer
Whom is Rama indirectly referring to when he mentions a person 'yawning'?
(5) · 1 mark · Short answer
How did the court react to Rama's question?

Show the answersAnswers

(b) doubtful
To build suspense and make everyone pay close attention before his key point about yawning.
A hypothetical (imaginary) condition: if + past (were to) → would + verb.
The queen, who had yawned while the king recited his poem.
The court burst into laughter, and even the king yawned.

The Wit that Won Hearts: exam-level solved questions

Ordered from exam level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.

Example 1: Golden Era · 2 marks · Short answerExam level

Imagine you are a traveller visiting Vijayanagara during Krishnadeva Raya's reign. In 40-50 words, tell a friend why people call this period the empire's 'Golden Era'. (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Wise and powerful ruler.
Art, literature and architecture flourished; patron of learning.
Himself a poet (Amuktamalyada); Ashtadiggajas.

Answer: Krishnadeva Raya was a wise and powerful monarch under whom art, literature and architecture flourished. A great patron of learning and a gifted poet himself, he wrote works like Amuktamalyada, and his court had eight celebrated poets, the Ashtadiggajas, so his reign became the empire's Golden Era.

Example 2: Rama's strategy · 2 marks · Short answerHarder exam level

Tenali Rama never mentioned the queen in court, yet the king understood his mistake. How did Rama manage this? Answer in 40-50 words. (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Presented 'revolutionary' paddy seeds in court.
Said the real problem was the sower; asked about a sower who yawns.
King yawned; Rama said yawning is natural.

Answer: Rama presented 'revolutionary' paddy seeds in court and claimed the real problem lay with the sower. He asked what would happen if the sower yawned while sowing. The court laughed, the king himself yawned, and Rama pointed out that everyone yawns, so the king realised his mistake.

Example 3: Effect of the quarrel · 2 marks · Short answerHarder exam level

How does the writer show that the quarrel affected more than just the king and the queen? Answer in 40-50 words. (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

King stopped speaking to and visiting the queen for weeks.
Absence cast a shadow; corridors quiet and forlorn.
Queen distraught.

Answer: The king did not speak to the queen for weeks and stopped visiting her. His absence cast a shadow over the palace, and its once cheerful corridors became quiet and forlorn. The queen was distraught, and the whole palace seemed to lose its joy until the quarrel ended.

Example 4: Indirect approach · 2 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

Why do you think Tenali Rama chose an indirect approach instead of telling the king directly that he was wrong? Answer in 40-50 words. (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

King proud and sensitive; direct criticism might anger him.
Self-discovery is more convincing.
Humour reduces tension.

Answer: The king was proud and sensitive about his poetry, so direct criticism might have angered him or hurt his pride further. By using humour and an analogy, Rama let the king discover the truth himself, which was more convincing and allowed him to accept his mistake gracefully.

Example 5: Character sketch: Tenali Rama · 5 marks · Long answerHarder exam level

Write a character sketch of Tenali Rama based on the story. Answer in 100-150 words. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Introduction: poet and witty adviser; one of the Ashtadiggajas.
Patient listener: hears the queen in detail.
Planner: asks for time; uses the paddy seeds plan.
Calm and confident: unfazed by sarcasm.
Tactful and kind: lets the king discover the truth; restores harmony.

Answer: Tenali Rama, one of the eight Ashtadiggajas of Krishnadeva Raya's court, is both a poet and a witty adviser. He is a patient listener: when the distraught queen seeks his help, he hears her story in detail before promising anything. He is a careful planner who admits the matter needs a well-planned approach. In court he stays calm and confident; when sarcastic courtiers mock his 'magic seeds', he smiles, unfazed. Above all, he is tactful. Instead of criticising the proud king, he uses a clever analogy about a yawning sower, so the king discovers for himself that yawning is natural. Rama's wit never hurts anyone; it brings laughter, heals the royal couple's quarrel and restores joy to the palace, which is why the king and queen reward him.

Example 6: Lesson about pride · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

'A small misunderstanding can lead to a big problem.' Discuss with reference to the story and suggest how such problems can be solved. Answer in 100-150 words. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Trivial cause: a tired queen's yawn.
Pride magnified it: weeks of silence; gloom in the palace.
Solution: a wise mediator; humour; empathy.
King's apology; queen's forgiveness.
Lesson for us: listen, ask, don't assume; apologise.

Answer: In the story, a tired queen yawns while the king recites his confusing poem. It is a trivial matter, but the king's pride makes him see it as disrespect. He storms off, refuses to speak to her for weeks, and a shadow falls over the whole palace. The problem grows only because no one clears the misunderstanding. It is solved when a wise mediator, Tenali Rama, uses humour and an analogy to help the king see that yawning is natural. The king then shows maturity by admitting that his pride blinded him, and the queen generously forgives him. The story teaches us not to assume the worst about others, to ask before reacting, and to apologise quickly; a kind word or a sensible friend can end a quarrel before it hurts everyone.

Where the marks are

How a typical answer is marked: the value points the examiner looks for and the marks each earns.

Why did the queen turn to Tenali Rama, and not to anyone else, for help? Answer in 40-50 words. (2 marks) (2 marks)

Step	Marks
Content: Rama was one of the Ashtadiggajas, famous for his quick wit and humour; as poet and witty adviser he was known for clever solutions to difficult problems, so she believed only he could make the proud king understand.	1
Expression: clear, accurate answer within the word limit.	1

Write a narrative essay on 'The Day a Misunderstanding Taught Me to Listen' (about 120-150 words). (5 marks) (5 marks)

Step	Marks
Format: engaging introduction setting the context.	1
Content: events in logical order with descriptive details and a turning point.	2
Conclusion with outcome and a clearly stated lesson.	1
Language: first person, correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.	1

Where students lose marks in The Wit that Won Hearts

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Saying the queen criticised the poem
Misreading the cause of the quarrel.
Wrong working
The queen said the king's poem was bad.
Right working
The queen yawned because she was exhausted; the king mistook it for disrespect.
Do this: Remember: a yawn, not words, caused the quarrel.
Usually costs: 1-2 marks.
Mistake: Writing that Rama went straight to the king
Forgetting the indirect plan.
Wrong working
Rama immediately told the king to talk to the queen.
Right working
Rama asked for time and used a planned approach in court with the paddy seeds analogy.
Do this: Highlight 'well-planned approach'.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Using 'will' or 'would' in the if clause
Mixing up clauses.
Wrong working
If it will rain tomorrow, we will stay indoors.
Right working
If it rains tomorrow, we will stay indoors.
Do this: No 'will/would' after 'if' in these patterns.
Usually costs: 1 mark per item.
Mistake: Writing a narrative essay without a lesson
Telling events only.
Wrong working
An essay that ends: 'Then I went home.'
Right working
End with the outcome and a clearly stated lesson, e.g. 'Small efforts add up every day.'
Do this: Always finish with what you learnt.
Usually costs: 1-2 marks.
Mistake: Going far beyond or below the word limit
Not planning answers.
Wrong working
A 2-mark answer of 100 words that retells the whole story.
Right working
A focused 40-50-word answer with the main point and one detail.
Do this: Plan two or three points before writing.
Usually costs: Expression marks.

Practice questions on The Wit that Won Hearts

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQExam level
What were the eight celebrated poets of Krishnadeva Raya's court called?
(a) Navaratnas (b) Ashtadiggajas (c) Alvars (d) Nayanars
Hint
Ashta = eight.
Answer
(b) Ashtadiggajas
Q2 · 1 mark · Very short answerExam level
State whether true or false, and correct it if false: 'Rama promised the queen he would set things right that very evening.'
Hint
What did he say about planning?
Answer
False. Rama said he would try his best, but that the matter needed a well-planned approach and he might need time to find the right strategy.
Q3 · 1 mark · Very short answerExam level
Choose the correct option: When the courtiers mocked his seeds, Rama remained ________ (unfazed / furious).
Hint
He smiled.
Answer
unfazed
Q4 · 1 mark · Very short answerHarder exam level
Identify the main and subordinate clauses: 'If I had known this would happen, I would have chosen another day.'
Hint
The if clause is subordinate.
Answer
Subordinate clause: 'If I had known this would happen'; main clause: 'I would have chosen another day'.
Q5 · 1 mark · Very short answerHarder exam level
Fill in suitable sound words: (a) The crowd began to ______ when the result was delayed. (b) The heavy suitcase fell on the floor with a ______. (c) The angry king ______ at his ministers.
Hint
murmur, thud, roared.
Answer
(a) murmur (b) thud (c) roared
Q6 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder exam level
Pick out two sarcastic remarks the courtiers made about Rama's paddy seeds. What do they reveal about the courtiers? Answer in 40-50 words.
Hint
Magic seeds, moon.
Answer
A sarcastic courtier wondered if they were magic seeds that would grow without water, and another joked that Rama had found them on the moon, while others snickered. It shows the courtiers were quick to mock and judge before hearing Rama out, though they later laughed with him.
Q7 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder exam level
How is the queen's reply to the king's apology different from what an angry or proud person might say? What does it reveal about her? Answer in 40-50 words.
Hint
Leave the quarrel behind; listen to the poem.
Answer
It shows she is forgiving, gracious and loving. Though she had been hurt by weeks of silence, she does not blame him; instead she suggests they leave the quarrel behind and even asks to hear his poem, which shows she values their relationship more than being proved right.
Q8 · 1 mark · Very short answerHarder exam level
Complete with the correct form: (a) If I ______ (be) a bird, I would fly over the mountains. (b) If you water the plant daily, it ______ (grow) well. (c) If they had checked the map, they ______ (not get) lost.
Hint
Three conditional types.
Answer
(a) were (b) will grow (c) would not have got
Q9 · 2 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
Suppose a classmate stops talking to you because you laughed during their speech, though you were laughing at something else. Using the story, how would you resolve it? Answer in 40-50 words.
Hint
Explain, apologise, perhaps a mediator.
Answer
Like the queen, I would first try to explain kindly that my laughter was not about their speech. If they still felt hurt, I might ask a trusted friend to help, as Rama did. I would apologise for the misunderstanding and offer to listen to their speech again.
Q10 · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
'Wit can win hearts where force cannot.' Explain this statement with reference to the story. Answer in 100-150 words.
Hint
Compare force/argument with humour.
Answer
Value points: the queen's own attempts and pleading failed; no one could order the proud king to change his mind; Rama used humour and an analogy rather than argument; laughter eased the tension and the king's own yawn made the point; the king willingly apologised; the couple's bond was restored and Rama was rewarded. Model answer: The queen had tried hard to resolve the quarrel, but the proud king would not listen, and no courtier could force him to change his mind. Tenali Rama succeeded because he used wit instead of pressure. With a playful story about 'revolutionary' paddy seeds and a yawning sower, he turned a tense court into laughter. When the king himself yawned, Rama gently reminded everyone that yawning is as natural as breathing. The king realised his mistake on his own, so his pride was not hurt, and he apologised sincerely. The quarrel ended, the palace became joyful again, and the royal couple rewarded Rama. Wit thus won the king's heart and healed a relationship that force could never have mended.
Q11 · 2 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
Write a limerick (five lines, AABBA, with a twist in the last line) about Tenali Rama's 'revolutionary' paddy seeds.
Hint
Lines 1, 2 and 5 rhyme; lines 3 and 4 rhyme; end with a surprise.
Answer
Sample: A courtier who laughed at the seeds / Said, 'Rama, you're planting just weeds!' / But the joke was so deep / That the king yawned in sleep, / And forgave the queen's yawn with good deeds! (Any original limerick with AABBA rhyme and a twist.)

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.When did Krishnadeva Raya rule?Show answer
1509-29 CE.
2.Name two works of Krishnadeva Raya.Show answer
Amuktamalyada and Jambavati Parinayam.
3.What was the queen's name?Show answer
Thirumalambal.
4.What was being discussed in court the next morning?Show answer
Improving paddy cultivation in the empire.
5.What did Rama claim about his seeds?Show answer
They were revolutionary and would give three times the current yield.
6.What did Rama say yawning is as natural as?Show answer
Breathing.
7.What did the queen offer after the apology?Show answer
To leave the quarrel behind and listen to his poem.
8.What are the three types of compound words?Show answer
Closed, hyphenated and open.

Quick revision checklist

The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?

Setting: Vijayanagara, Krishnadeva Raya (1509-29 CE), the Golden Era.
Ashtadiggajas: eight poets, including Allasani Peddana and Tenali Ramakrishna.
Quarrel: queen yawned during the king's vague poem; he stopped speaking to her.
Queen asks Rama; Rama needs a 'well-planned approach'.
Court: paddy seeds 'three times' yield; courtiers mock; king calls it absurd.
Turning point: problem is the sower; a yawning sower scatters seeds unevenly.
King yawns; 'as natural as breathing'; realises his mistake.
Apology: 'I let my pride blind me'; queen forgives; Rama rewarded.
Themes: wit, pride, apology and forgiveness, patience.
Grammar: three conditionals; compound words; sound words; intonation; narrative essay.

The Wit that Won Hearts: frequently asked questions

Who wrote 'The Wit that Won Hearts'?

The lesson in Poorvi retells a traditional Tenali Rama story from the court of Krishnadeva Raya; it does not name an individual author in the text.

Why was the king angry with the queen?

She yawned several times while he recited his poem late in the evening. She was exhausted, but he thought she was disrespecting his poem.

What are the answers to the riddles at the start of the lesson?

The book gives them on page 16: words, time, the future, and a secret.

What grammar does this lesson teach?

Conditional (if) sentences of three types, compound words (closed, hyphenated, open), sound words and phrases from the story, plus intonation in questions.

What is the theme of Unit 1?

Wit and Wisdom. The other lessons are the poem 'A Concrete Example' and the story 'Wisdom Paves the Way'.

Based on: NCERT Poorvi, Textbook of English for Grade 8 (Reprint 2026-27); NCERT unit PDF: Poorvi Unit 1