Dear students, this post offers a complete study resource for West Bengal Board Class 10 English, Lesson 8 – “The Snail” written by William Cowper. You will find the original poem, a simple Bengali translation (বঙ্গানুবাদ), and detailed answers to every comprehension question. Extra Questions and Answers are also provided. Use this guide to prepare effectively for your Madhyamik exam.

The Poet & the Poem

William Cowper (1731-1800) was one of the most popular poets of his time. Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing about the English countryside and the everyday lives of people. His famous works include Olney Hymns and The Task. The poem takes us into the private world of a snail, where it is seen to lead a self sufficient life. We are allowed to observe, in minute detail, the small yet self contained world in which a snail lives. 

উইলিয়াম কউপার (১৭৩১-১৮০০) তাঁর সময়ের অন্যতম জনপ্রিয় কবি ছিলেন। কউপার ইংল্যাণ্ডের গ্রামাঞ্চলের এবং মানুষের প্রতিদিনের জীবন নিয়ে লিখে অষ্টাদশ শতাব্দীর প্রকৃতির কবিতার অভিমুখ পরিবর্তন করেছিলেন । তাঁর বিখ্যাত রচনাগুলির মধ্যে রয়েছে ওলনি হাইমনস এবং দ্য টাস্ক। কবিতাটি আমাদের শামুকের ব্যক্তিগত জগতে নিয়ে যায়, যেখানে এটি স্বনির্ভর জীবনযাপন করতে দেখা যায়। আমাদের কয়েক মিনিটের বিশদে পর্যবেক্ষণ করার অনুমতি দেওয়া হয়, যেখানে একটি শামুক বাঁচে একটি ছোট্ট স্বনির্ভর নিজস্ব জগতে।

The Poem with Bengali Translation (বঙ্গানুবাদ)

Comprehension Exercises: Questions & Answers

1. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

(a) With the slightest touch, the snail shrinks into its house with
(i) displeasure
(ii) pleasure
(iii) pain
(iv) surprise
Ans: (i) displeasure

(b) In its house, the snail lives with
(i) parents
(ii) friends
(iii) relatives
(iv) no one
Ans: (iv) no one

(c) The poet has compared the snail to a
(i) tree
(ii) hermit
(iii) rock
(iv) blind man
Ans: (ii) hermit

2. State whether the following statements are true or false. Provide sentences/phrases/words in support of your answer:

(a) The snail fears to fall from the wall. [False]
Supporting Statement: The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall.

(b) The snail comes out of his house during a storm. [False]
Supporting Statement: Within that house secure he hides when danger imminent betides of storm, or other harm besides of weather.

(c) The snail and his house are conjoined. [True]
Supporting Statement: He and his house are so combined.

3. Answer the following questions:

(a) What does the snail usually stick itself to?
Ans: The snail generally sticks to grass, leaves, fruits, or walls.

(b) What makes the snail well-satisfied?
Ans: The snail feels well-satisfied because it lives by itself, owns nothing except its own company, and is its own master.

(c) How does the snail feed faster?
Ans: The snail eats more quickly when it happens to meet another creature, driven by its self-centred nature.

Grammar in Use

4. Change the following sentences into questions, as directed:

(a) Siraj always rises early. (Interrogative sentence using ‘does’)
Ans: Doesn’t Siraj always rise early?

(b) Joyce is the best singer in the class. (Information question using ‘who’)
Ans: Who is the best singer in the class?

(c) He saw the rainbow. (Interrogative sentence using ‘did’)
Ans: Didn’t he see the rainbow?

(d) I go to school by bus. (Information question using ‘how’)
Ans: How do you go to school?

Writing Activity

5. Write a letter (within 100 words) to the editor of an English daily about the disturbances caused by the thoughtless use of loudspeakers.

Ans:

To,
The Editor,
The Statesman,
Kolkata – 700001

Subject: Uncontrolled use of loudspeakers causing public nuisance

Sir,

Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I wish to draw the attention of the authorities to the reckless use of loudspeakers in our neighbourhood. These devices are often blared at high volume near schools, hospitals, and residential blocks. As a result, students cannot concentrate, old persons and patients suffer, and residents are deprived of peace. Strict regulations must be enforced to curb this menace.

I hope you will publish this letter and highlight the issue.

Yours faithfully,
Sourav Das
A concerned citizen

Here is a set of additional practice questions — all freshly created from the poem “The Snail” by William Cowper. These are plagiarism-free and designed to give students extra exam-style practice.

The Snail by William Cowper – Extra Practice Questions

A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. The snail sticks close to all of the following EXCEPT —
(a) grass
(b) leaf
(c) fruit
(d) water
Ans: (d) water

2. The snail has no fear of —
(a) falling
(b) storm
(c) danger
(d) touch
Ans: (a) falling

3. The snail appears to have grown on the surface —
(a) alone
(b) with its house
(c) with other snails
(d) after a storm
Ans: (b) with its house

4. The snail hides inside its house when —
(a) it is hungry
(b) danger is near
(c) it wants to sleep
(d) the sun rises
Ans: (b) danger is near

5. According to the poet, danger may come from —
(a) fire
(b) flood
(c) storm
(d) earthquake
Ans: (c) storm

6. The snail’s power is described as —
(a) self-collecting
(b) self-destroying
(c) self-praising
(d) self-feeding
Ans: (a) self-collecting

7. When touched on its horns, the snail retreats with —
(a) joy
(b) anger
(c) fear
(d) surprise
Ans: (b) anger (displeasure)

8. The snail lives —
(a) in a group
(b) with its family
(c) all alone
(d) with other insects
Ans: (c) all alone

9. The only possession the snail has is —
(a) its food
(b) itself
(c) its wall
(d) its leaf
Ans: (b) itself

10. The snail’s life is compared to that of a —
(a) king
(b) soldier
(c) hermit
(d) farmer
Ans: (c) hermit

11. The snail does NOT need a companion for its —
(a) journey
(b) banquet
(c) shelter
(d) sleep
Ans: (b) banquet

12. When the snail meets another creature, it —
(a) fights
(b) plays
(c) eats faster
(d) hides
Ans: (c) eats faster

13. The snail and its house are —
(a) separate
(b) combined
(c) distant
(d) broken
Ans: (b) combined

14. A person searching for the snail must be worse than —
(a) deaf
(b) dumb
(c) blind
(d) lame
Ans: (c) blind

15. The central theme of the poem is —
(a) fear of nature
(b) self-sufficiency and contentment
(c) love for travel
(d) friendship
Ans: (b) self-sufficiency and contentment

B. Fill in the Blanks

1. The snail sticks close to grass, leaf, fruit, or __________.
Ans: wall

2. The snail does not fear to __________.
Ans: fall

3. The snail seems to have grown there with its __________ and all.
Ans: house

4. Inside its house, the snail hides __________.
Ans: secure / safely

5. Danger may come from a __________ or other harm of weather.
Ans: storm

6. Even the __________ touch on its horns makes the snail shrink.
Ans: slightest

7. The snail shrinks into its house with much __________.
Ans: displeasure

8. Wherever the snail lives, it lives __________.
Ans: alone

9. Except himself, the snail has no __________.
Ans: chattels (possessions)

10. The snail is well satisfied to be its own whole __________.
Ans: treasure

11. The snail leads a life like a __________.
Ans: hermit

12. The snail does not need a __________ for its banquet.
Ans: partner

13. If the snail meets someone, it only feeds the __________.
Ans: faster

14. The snail and its house are so __________.
Ans: combined

15. One who fails to find the snail’s master must be worse than __________.
Ans: blind

C. True or False (with Supporting Statements)

1. The snail is afraid of falling from the wall.
Ans: False — “The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall.”

2. The snail comes out of its house when a storm approaches.
Ans: False — “Within that house secure he hides / When danger imminent betides.”

3. The snail can withdraw into its shell at the slightest touch.
Ans: True — “Give but his horns the slightest touch, / His self-collecting pow’r is such.”

4. The snail lives happily with its family.
Ans: False — “Where’er he dwells, he dwells alone.”

5. The snail owns many possessions besides itself.
Ans: False — “Except himself has chattels none.”

6. The poet compares the snail’s life to that of a hermit.
Ans: True — “Thus, hermit-like, his life he leads.”

7. The snail needs a partner to share its food.
Ans: False — “Not partner of his banquet needs.”

8. The snail eats faster when it meets another creature.
Ans: True — “And if he meets one, only feeds / The faster.”

9. The snail’s body and its house are completely separate.
Ans: False — “He and his house are so combined.”

10. Anyone who finds the snail’s house can easily find the snail itself.
Ans: False — “If, finding it, he fails to find / Its master.”

D. Short Answer Type Questions

1. Where does the snail usually live?
Ans: The snail usually lives on grass, leaves, fruits, or walls.

2. Why does the snail not fear falling?
Ans: The snail does not fear falling because it sticks very closely to the surface it lives on.

3. When does the snail hide inside its house?
Ans: The snail hides inside its house when danger, such as a storm or bad weather, is near.

4. What happens when someone touches the snail’s horns?
Ans: Even the lightest touch on its horns makes the snail shrink back into its house with great displeasure.

5. How does the snail feel about living alone?
Ans: The snail is perfectly content living alone and considers itself its own greatest treasure.

6. To what does the poet compare the snail’s life?
Ans: The poet compares the snail’s life to that of a hermit who lives in complete solitude.

7. Does the snail like company while eating?
Ans: No, the snail does not need any companion for its meal. If it meets one, it simply eats faster.

8. Why must a person searching for the snail be worse than blind?
Ans: A person searching for the snail must be worse than blind because the snail and its house are so perfectly merged that one may find the house but still miss the snail.

9. What is the snail’s only possession?
Ans: The snail’s only possession is itself; it has no other belongings.

10. What quality of the snail does the poem highlight?
Ans: The poem highlights the snail’s self-sufficiency, contentment, and love for solitude.