Get complete, authentic, and step-by-step DAV Class 7 English Literature Chapter 10 Question Answers: Friends and Flatterers by William Shakespeare. This comprehensive textbook solution includes Poem Summary & Key Themes, Understanding the Poem (Textbook Comprehension Questions & Comparison Table), Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS), Life Skills & Values, and Writing Skills (Paragraph Writing) strictly adhering to the DAV Education Board curriculum.
1. Detailed Summary and Key Themes
Poet: William Shakespeare
Source: Excerpted from The Passionate Pilgrim
Core Themes: Distinction between genuine friends and fair-weather flatterers, adversity as the supreme test of loyalty, and the virtue of empathy.
Detailed Summary:
In “Friends and Flatterers”, William Shakespeare provides a timeless examination of friendship by contrasting fair-weather flatterers with genuine companions. The poet warns that anyone can utter sweet, complimentary words (“Every one that flatters thee / Is no friend in misery”). Flatterers are easy to find and abundant as long as a person enjoys wealth, fortune, and prosperity. However, their praise is superficial and driven entirely by self-interest; the moment misfortune strikes and money runs out, flatterers desert them immediately.
In sharp contrast, a true friend is rare, faithful, and selfless. A genuine friend stands shoulder-to-shoulder with you during grief and hardship. If you weep, they share your sorrow; if you are sleepless with worry, they cannot rest either. A faithful friend actively assists you in times of necessity without envy, expectation, or selfish motivation.
Comparison Table: Flatterers vs. True Friends
| Criteria | Flatterers (False Friends) | True Friends (Faithful Companions) |
|---|---|---|
| Underlying Motive | Driven by selfishness, wealth, and opportunistic personal gain. | Driven by sincere love, loyalty, and deep empathy. |
| Conduct in Prosperity | Surround you with lavish compliments and hollow praise. | Celebrate your accomplishments sincerely without envy. |
| Conduct in Adversity | Desert and abandon you instantly the moment money runs out. | Remain steadfastly by your side and offer help in your time of need. |
| Emotional Connection | Superficial, insincere, and fleeting. | Deeply empathetic: weep with your tears and share sleepless anxieties. |
2. Understanding the Poem (Textbook Question-Answers)
Q1: How does Shakespeare describe false friends (flatterers)?
Answer: Shakespeare describes false friends as fair-weather flatterers who surround a person with sweet, empty words only as long as that person possesses wealth and prosperity. Their companionship is superficial and vanishes when circumstances change.
Q2: What happens to flatterers when a person’s fortune declines?
Answer: When fortune declines and money runs out, flatterers disappear instantly. They offer no help, withdraw their sweet words, and abandon the person in misery.
Q3: What are the qualities of a faithful, genuine friend described by Shakespeare?
Answer: According to Shakespeare, a genuine friend possesses three essential virtues:
1. Constancy in Misfortune: They remain loyal and steadfast when tragedy or poverty strikes.
2. Emotional Empathy: If you weep, they weep with you; if you cannot sleep from grief, they share your wakefulness.
3. Selfless Support: They actively provide practical assistance in your hour of need without jealousy or expectation of reward.
Q4: Explain the lines: “He that is thy friend indeed, / He will help thee in thy need.”
Answer: These lines encapsulate the true essence of friendship. A real companion is proven not through pleasant words in times of ease, but through selfless and active assistance when one is suffering, poor, or in distress.
3. Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)
Question: “Adversity is the true touchstone of friendship.” Elucidate with reference to the poem.
Answer: A “touchstone” is a mineral tool historically used to test the purity of gold. In human relationships, adversity serves as the ultimate test of authenticity. During times of wealth and success, anyone can offer honeyed praise, attend parties, and pretend to be a devoted friend. As Shakespeare observes, flatterers flourish in abundance. However, when misfortune, financial loss, or sickness arrives, selfish individuals flee because there is nothing left to exploit. Misfortune strips away all superficial pretences, leaving only those who genuinely care. A friend who stands beside you through suffering, shares your tears, and helps you rebuild proves their loyalty through action. Therefore, adversity acts as the true touchstone that separates worthless flatterers from pure, lifelong friends.
4. Life Skills and Values
Life Skills: Evaluating interpersonal relationships and avoiding superficial praise.
Answer: We must develop emotional maturity and critical discernment. While sweet compliments can be pleasant, relying on fair-weather companions creates vulnerability during hardships. We must choose friends based on character, reliability, and sincerity rather than flattering speech.
Values: Loyalty, empathy, and steadfast companionship.
Reflection: True friendship is a two-way commitment of shared responsibility. Being a true friend requires showing up in dark times, offering emotional comfort, and being dependable without self-interest.
5. Writing Skills: Paragraph Writing
Topic: Qualities of a True Friend and How They Stood By Me in Difficult Times
PARAGRAPH: THE ESSENCE OF A TRUE FRIEND
A true friend is one of life’s most precious treasures, serving as an anchor of honesty, trust, and unwavering support. Unlike fair-weather flatterers who gather around only during moments of celebration, a genuine friend stands steadfastly beside you when adversity strikes. I discovered the reality of true friendship last term when I suffered a severe bout of viral fever right before the midterm examinations. Confined to bed for over two weeks, I was overwhelmed by anxiety about missed classroom lectures. While casual acquaintances sent perfunctory messages, my close friend visited my home every evening after classes. He patiently shared his detailed notes, explained complex mathematics formulas, and constantly encouraged me. His selfless empathy helped me recover without stress and pass with distinction. That experience demonstrated Shakespeare’s wisdom: a real friend is proven not by sweet compliments, but by selfless actions in times of hardship.
DAV Class 7 English Literature Chapter Directory
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