Vocation (Class - V santoor)

Overview

What it is
Vocation is a poem that contrasts the speaker’s school routine with the carefree, independent life of people who work outdoors — a hawker, a gardener, and a lamplighter — and expresses admiration for their freedom and dignity in labour.

Where it appears
This poem is taught in many Class 5 English curricula and appears in Santoor/NCERT readers and related study guides used for CBSE students.

Short summary

• The speaker watches a hawker calling out his wares, a gardener digging in the soil, and a lamplighter lighting the street lamp.
• He envies their freedom from clocks and school routines and imagines the pleasure of working outdoors.
• The poem ends with the speaker wishing to adopt one of these vocations, valuing work as meaningful and free.

Stanza by stanza guide

• Stanza 1: Introduces the hawker and the speaker’s wish to be free like him.
• Stanza 2: Describes the gardener’s solitary, unhurried work and the speaker’s admiration.
• Stanza 3: Shows the lamplighter’s evening task and the calm dignity of his job.
• Final lines: Sum up the speaker’s longing to choose a vocation that brings independence and joy.

Key themes and ideas

• Dignity of labour — every honest job has value.
• Freedom vs routine — outdoor vocations are portrayed as free from strict schedules.
• Respect for simple lives — the poem asks readers to respect all kinds of work.
  These are the points teachers commonly expect students to explain in answers.

The speaker is a schoolboy — essentially the poet Rabindranath Tagore speaking as a child who envies people working outdoors

Who is the speaker in the poem?
→ The speaker is a small child.
1. Why does the speaker want to be a hawker?
   → Because a hawker can walk freely in the streets and is not stopped by anyone.
2. What does he like about the gardener?
   → He likes that the gardener works all day in the sun and no one scolds him.
3. What does the speaker compare the street lamp to?
   → The speaker compares the street lamp to a giant.
4. On the basis of the poem that you have read, share the daily schedule of the speaker.
   → In the morning, the child goes to school. In the afternoon, he studies at home. At night, he goes to bed early.

1. Why does the speaker admire people with different vocations?
   → The speaker admires them because they are free to do their work without being scolded or stopped, unlike the child who has to follow strict rules.
2. What are the things that you observe on your way to school and your way back home?
   → On the way to school, I see shops, people walking, trees, and vehicles. On the way back, I notice children playing, hawkers selling things, and the street lamps being lit.

1. Have you seen these objects?
   → Yes, I have seen a telescope.
2. Where have you seen them?
   → I have seen it in science labs, museums, and sometimes at home with people who like stargazing.
3. What are they used for?
   → A telescope is used to look at faraway things, especially stars, planets, and the moon in the sky.
   

   Yes, I’ve seen this object—it’s a hammer.

   • Where have I seen it?
     You’ll often find hammers in toolboxes at home, in carpentry workshops, construction sites, and even in classrooms when students are learning about tools.
   • What are they used for?
   • Driving nails into wood or other materials
   • Removing nails with the claw end
   • Light demolition tasks, like breaking small objects
   • Adjusting or fitting parts together by tappin
     

     Yes, I’ve seen this object—it’s a camera.

     • Where have I seen it?
       Cameras are common in homes, schools, and workplaces. You’ll see them in photography studios, at events like weddings, or even built into mobile phones. They’re also used in journalism, filmmaking, and security systems.
     • What are they used for?
     • Capturing photographs of people, places, and objects
     • Recording videos for memories, education, or entertainment
     • Documenting important events or evidence
     • Artistic expression through photography
     • Communication, like video calls
       

       Yes, I’ve seen this object—it’s a screwdriver.

       • Where have I seen it?
         Screwdrivers are found in toolkits at home, in schools during practical lessons, in workshops, and in repair shops. They’re also commonly used by electricians, carpenters, and mechanics.
       • What are they used for?
       • Tightening or loosening screws
       • Assembling or disassembling furniture and devices
       • Small repair work in electronics or household items
       • Sometimes used carefully for prying or opening lids (though that’s not its main purpose)
         

         Yes, I’ve seen this object—it’s a sickle.

         • Where have I seen it?
           Sickles are commonly seen in villages, farms, and agricultural fields. They’re traditional tools often used by farmers during harvesting seasons. You might also find them in homes where people cut grass for cattle feed.
         • What are they used for?
         • Cutting crops like wheat, rice, or barley during harvest
         • Trimming grass or weeds
       • Collecting fodder for animals
   • 
     

     

     Yes, I’ve seen this object—it’s a pair of tongs.

     • Where have I seen it?
       Tongs are commonly found in kitchens at home, in restaurants, and at food stalls. They’re also seen in buffets or barbecues where people use them to serve food.
     • What are they used for?
     • Picking up hot food items safely without touching them
     • Turning or flipping food while cooking, such as chapatis, meat, or vegetables
     • Serving salads, pasta, or bread hygienically
       
     • Handling food on grills or in ovens

   • 

     Yes, I’ve seen this object—it’s a stethoscope.

     • Where have I seen it?
       Stethoscopes are commonly seen in hospitals, clinics, and medical colleges. Doctors and nurses wear them around their necks, and they’re also used in health check‑up camps or even at home by medical professionals.
     • What are they used for?

     • Listening to the heartbeat and pulse
     • Checking lung sounds and breathing patterns
     • Monitoring blood pressure (with a sphygmomanometer)
     • Diagnosing internal body sounds to detect health issues

     
     

     

     • Yes, I’ve seen this object—it’s a grater.

     • Where have I seen it?
       Graters are commonly found in kitchens at home, in restaurants, and in cooking classes. They’re often seen when preparing meals that involve cheese, vegetables, or fruits.
     • What are they used for?

     • Shredding cheese for dishes like pizza or pasta
     • Grating vegetables such as carrots or cucumbers for salads
     • Creating fine zest from citrus fruits like lemon or orange
     • Preparing ingredients quickly for cooking or garnishing

     • 

       Yes, I’ve seen this object—it’s a compass (used in geometry).

       • Where have I seen it?
         Compasses are commonly seen in classrooms during math lessons, in geometry toolkits, and sometimes in drafting or design studios. They’re also used by architects, engineers, and mapmakers.
       • What are they used for?

       • Drawing circles and arcs in geometry
       • Measuring distances on maps
       • Creating precise designs in technical drawing
       • Helping students learn symmetry and shapes

   • 

     • Yes, I’ve seen this object—it’s a saw.

       • Where have I seen it?
         Saws are commonly found in carpentry workshops, construction sites, and toolkits at home. They’re also used in schools during practical craft or woodworking lessons.
       • What are they used for?
       • Cutting wood into pieces for furniture or construction
       • Shaping wooden planks or logs
       • Sometimes used for cutting softer materials like plastic
       • Helping carpenters and builders in repair and construction tasks

     
     

     

     • Yes, I’ve seen this object—it’s a mouse (computer mouse).

       • Where have I seen it?
         Computer mice are commonly seen in homes, schools, offices, and computer labs. They’re part of almost every desktop computer setup, and even laptops often use them as an external accessory.
       • What are they used for?
     • Moving the cursor on a computer screen
     • Clicking to select, open, or drag items
     • Scrolling through documents or web pages with the scroll wheel
     • Supporting tasks like gaming, designing, and everyday computer work

       
   • 
     
     
     

The child sees only the fun part of each job. There are many things which might be the difficult part for them as a vocation. A hawker may enjoy selling things in the market, but it is tiring to stand all day in the hot sun and carry heavy loads. A gardener loves planting flowers, yet pulling out weeds, digging soil, and working in the rain can be difficult. A watchman may seem to just sit and watch, but staying awake all night and guarding the place in silence can feel boring and lonely. So, every job has both fun and tough sides, and we should respect the people who do them.

Error-Detection and Correction Exercises

Got it! You’d like me to create similar error-detection and correction exercises where each sentence has one mistake, and students have to underline the mistake and rewrite the correct sentence. Here’s a set of examples in the same style:

Example (given):

1. I has recently read a new book.

✔ Correct: I have recently read a new book.

Practice Sentences:

2. She go to school every day.

✔ Correct:

3. They was playing in the park.

✔ Correct:

4. My father have a car.

✔ Correct:

5. We is watching a movie now.

✔ Correct:

6. He don’t like ice cream.

✔ Correct:

7. The boys plays football in the evening.

✔ Correct:

8. I am going to market yesterday.

✔ Correct:

9. She can sings very well.

✔ Correct:

10. We was happy to see our teacher.

✔ Correct: We were happy to see our teacher.