Maps — ICSE Class 7 (Gulmohar) | Poem Explanation & Q&A — JST
Quick summary (TL;DR)
Maps look small but are powerful. The poem celebrates maps as tools that carry knowledge, guide ships and planes, warn against dangers (ice floes, winds), and spark the imagination — letting people “travel” to strange bazaars and distant places even while staying at home.
Word meanings (important)
| Word | Meaning (simple) |
|---|---|
| Exotic | Originating in a foreign land; unusual and interesting. |
| Vagabond | A wanderer; someone who roams from place to place. |
| Ice floe | A large sheet of floating ice in cold seas. |
| Bazaars | Markets or shopping streets, often exotic-sounding. |
Tip: Learn these 6–8 words — the examiner loves precise vocabulary.
Poem — key lines & stanza-wise meaning
High adventure and bright dream — maps are mightier than they seem.
Ships that follow leaning stars, red and gold of strange bazaars,
Ice floes hid beyond all knowing, planes that ride where winds are blowing,
Green maps, maps of wind and weather, roadmaps — taken altogether,
Maps are really magic wands for home-staying vagabonds.
Short stanza explanations
- Opening: Maps seem small but are full of information and adventure for dreamers.
- Ships & bazaars: Maps guide sailors (following stars) to distant lands that sell exotic goods.
- Ice floes & planes: Maps warn sailors about ice and help pilots avoid dangerous winds — maps save lives and guide travel.
- Different maps: Weather maps, train/road maps and others together form practical knowledge.
- Closing: Maps act like magic wands — they let people travel in imagination while sitting at home.
ICSE-style Q&A — Ready-to-use answers
1. Read the first stanza. How are "high adventure" and "bright dream" related to maps?
Maps contain information about unexplored places, routes and landscapes. For a dreamer or an adventurer they open possibilities of travel and discovery — hence maps inspire high adventures and bright dreams.
Exam tip: Use the phrase “storehouse of knowledge” to score extra credit.
2. What are some things that maps bring to the speaker’s mind?
The speaker imagines ships, strange bazaars (markets), floating ice floes, breezy/windy lands and airplanes — all suggested by maps.
3. What kinds of maps does the speaker mention?
The poem mentions maps of wind and weather, roadmaps, and train maps (or maps used for travel). In short: weather maps, roadmaps and transport maps.
4a. Why have maps been called "magic wands"?
They’re called magic wands because they instantly transport the imagination to far-off, unknown places: by looking at a map one can mentally travel to exotic locations without leaving home.
4b. How can someone be "home-staying" and also a "vagabond" at the same time?
“Vagabond” means a wanderer. A person who stays at home but journeys in imagination through maps is a vagabond in thought — they travel mentally, not physically.
5a. “Maps are mightier than they seem.” Why do they seem unimportant at first?
At first glance maps are small pieces of paper (or screens) and may look simple. But they contain a wealth of data — routes, hazards, weather — making them far more important than they appear.
5b. How does the entire poem argue that maps are important and magical?
The poem lists practical uses (guiding ships and planes, showing hazards, weather and routes) showing how maps are useful. It also describes exotic places and adventures invoked by maps, showing their magical power to spark imagination.
6. The poem mentions ships, markets, ice, and airplanes — how does it make them sound attractive?
Using vivid adjectives and imagery — “leaning stars”, “red and gold”, “strange bazaars”, “ice floes hidden” — the poet creates mystery and fascination. The choice of words (e.g., bazaar instead of market) adds exotic flavour.
7. Short writing task idea (exam practice)
Prompt: Name another simple object that is powerful and exciting and write a short paragraph on how it fuels your imagination.
Sample answer: A book of paintings looks simple but can ignite the imagination by showing strange and wonderful scenes — it lets the reader create stories and travel in thought.
Top revision & exam tips (quick)
- Highlight 3–4 keywords: maps, imagination, guidance, hazards — use these words in your answers.
- One-line definition: Learn a short line: “Maps are small but powerful: they guide travel and spark imagination.”
- Use imagery in answers: Mention lines like “red and gold of strange bazaars” to show you understand poetic effect.
- Practice writing: Convert stanza meanings into 2–3 sentence answers for quick recall.
- Printable revision: Use the Print button below for a clean handout.
Printable revision (one-page)
Click Print Revision Sheet (or use your browser's print) to get a compact, printable copy of poem summary + key Q&A.
Tip: For a handout, choose "Landscape" and set margins to "Default" before printing.
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