top of page

Little Drops of Water—Mrs. J. A. Carney - Poem / Poetry Appreciation / Exercises on Poem / Question-Answer on Poem / Theme and Summary of Poem / Poem Analysis

Writer's picture: Fakhruddin BabarFakhruddin Babar

Updated: Feb 10

Little Drops of Water

—Mrs. J. A. Carney (1845)

 

Little drops of water,  

Little grains of sand,

Make the mighty ocean 

And the pleasant land.  

So the little moments,

Humble though they be,

Make the mighty ages   

Of Eternity.        

So the little errors           

Lead the soul away         

From the paths of virtue

Far in sin to stray.           

Little deeds of kindness,              

Little words of love,        

Help to make earth happy           

Like the Heaven above. 




Theme:


 

Little things are not to be neglected. They, in a body, build up great things. Little drops of water make the vast ocean. Little particles of sand make the beautiful land. Little deeds of kindness and little words of love can make the earth as sweet as Eden of Heaven. And a sum total of moments can make an unending period.



Paraphrasing


  1. Little drops of water, little grains of sand,

    • Small drops of water and tiny grains of sand

  2. Make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land.

    • These tiny things combine to create vast oceans and beautiful lands.

  3. So the little moments, humble though they be,

    • Just as small and simple moments in life, even though they seem insignificant,

  4. Make the mighty ages of Eternity.

    • Play an important role in shaping the entire span of eternity.

  5. So the little errors lead the soul away

    • Similarly, small mistakes can slowly cause the soul to stray

  6. From the paths of virtue far in sin to stray.

    • From the righteous path, leading one further into sin.

  7. Little deeds of kindness, little words of love,

    • Small acts of kindness and simple words of love

  8. Help to make earth happy like the Heaven above.

    • Help to create happiness on Earth, just as in Heaven.


Short Answer Questions

  1. What do little drops of water and grains of sand create?

    • They create the mighty ocean and the pleasant land.

  2. What do little moments contribute to?

    • They contribute to the mighty ages of eternity.

  3. What can little errors lead to?

    • Little errors can lead the soul away from the paths of virtue and into sin.

  4. What are little deeds of kindness compared to?

    • They help make Earth happy, just like Heaven above.

  5. What does the poem suggest about small actions?

    • Small actions, whether good or bad, have a significant impact on life.

  6. How does the poem describe the significance of humble moments?

    • Humble moments, though small, play an important role in the vastness of eternity.

  7. What do little words of love do?

    • Little words of love help make Earth happy.

  8. What is the effect of small mistakes according to the poem?

    • Small mistakes can lead the soul to stray from virtue and fall into sin.

  9. How is Earth described in relation to kindness and love?

    • Earth becomes happier, much like Heaven, due to acts of kindness and love.

  10. What is the main message of the poem?

  11. The main message is that small actions, whether positive or negative, have a lasting impact.


Multiple-choice questions based on the text:


What is made by little drops of water and grains of sand?

a) A mighty forest

b) A beautiful river

c) The mighty ocean and pleasant land

d) The sky

Answer: c) The mighty ocean and pleasant land


What do little moments contribute to?

a) The flow of time

b) The creation of happiness

c) The mighty ages of Eternity

d) The course of history

Answer: c) The mighty ages of Eternity


What can little errors lead to?

a) Great achievements

b) A peaceful life

c) The soul straying into sin

d) Unforeseen success

Answer: c) The soul straying into sin


What do little deeds of kindness help to create?

a) A joyful life

b) Peace on Earth

c) A happier Earth like Heaven above

d) A prosperous nation

Answer: c) A happier Earth like Heaven above


How does the poem describe little actions?

a) As insignificant

b) As leading to great success

c) As having a profound impact

d) As having no impact

Answer: c) As having a profound impact


What is the result of small mistakes in the poem?

a) They cause the soul to grow

b) They lead the soul away from virtue

c) They make one wiser

d) They help one learn from failure

Answer: b) They lead the soul away from virtue


What is the effect of little words of love?

a) They cause misunderstandings

b) They help make Earth happy

c) They help create wars

d) They cause sadness

Answer: b) They help make Earth happy


How does the poem view little errors?

a) They are harmless

b) They slowly lead to greater wrongs

c) They are inconsequential

d) They should be ignored

Answer: b) They slowly lead to greater wrongs


What is compared to Heaven in the poem?

a) The Earth

b) The sky

c) Acts of kindness and love

d) The ocean

Answer: c) Acts of kindness and love


What is the main theme of the poem?

a) The power of large actions

b) The importance of time

c) The significant impact of small actions

d) The value of silence

Answer: c) The significant impact of small actions


Summary of "Little Drops of Water":

"Little Drops of Water" by Mrs. J. A. Carney emphasizes the power of small, seemingly insignificant actions and moments in life. The poem begins by illustrating how tiny drops of water and grains of sand come together to form the mighty ocean and pleasant land, demonstrating how even the smallest things can contribute to something vast and important. It then compares little moments in life to the grand span of eternity, showing how small actions and decisions shape the future. The poem warns that little errors can also lead people away from the path of virtue into sin. It concludes by reminding the reader that small acts of kindness and words of love can make the Earth a happier place, similar to the beauty of Heaven.


Theme of the Poem:

The central theme of the poem is the significant impact of small actions. It conveys that even the tiniest moments, errors, or deeds, whether positive or negative, can influence the course of life. The poem stresses the importance of kindness, love, and virtuous living while also recognizing the consequences of small mistakes. Through this, the poet urges the reader to value each moment and action, as they collectively shape our world.


Bangla Translation (Summary)


"জলের ছোট ছোট ফোঁটা" এর সারাংশ:


মিসেস জে. এ. কার্নির "জলের ছোট ছোট ফোঁটা" জীবনের ছোট, আপাতদৃষ্টিতে তুচ্ছ কাজ এবং মুহূর্তগুলির শক্তির উপর জোর দেয়। কবিতাটি শুরু হয় কীভাবে ছোট ছোট জলের ফোঁটা এবং বালির দানা একত্রিত হয়ে বিশাল সমুদ্র এবং মনোরম ভূমি তৈরি করে, তা দেখিয়ে যে কীভাবে ক্ষুদ্রতম জিনিসগুলিও বিশাল এবং গুরুত্বপূর্ণ কিছুতে অবদান রাখতে পারে। এরপর এটি জীবনের ছোট ছোট মুহূর্তগুলিকে অনন্তকালের বিশাল সময়ের সাথে তুলনা করে, দেখায় যে কীভাবে ছোট ছোট কাজ এবং সিদ্ধান্ত ভবিষ্যতকে রূপ দেয়। কবিতাটি সতর্ক করে যে ছোট ছোট ভুলও মানুষকে পুণ্যের পথ থেকে পাপের দিকে নিয়ে যেতে পারে। পাঠককে মনে করিয়ে দিয়ে এটি শেষ হয় যে দয়ার ছোট ছোট কাজ এবং ভালোবাসার কথা পৃথিবীকে স্বর্গের সৌন্দর্যের মতো একটি সুখী স্থান করে তুলতে পারে।


Ad












20 Vocabulary Words:

English Word

Bangla Meaning

Example Sentence

Frigate

যুদ্ধজাহাজ

The frigate sailed across the vast ocean.

Grains

দানা

The grains of sand were scattered all over.

Mighty

মহৎ

The mighty ocean roared against the rocks.

Pleasant

আনন্দদায়ক

The pleasant land stretched out before them.

Moments

মুহূর্ত

Cherish every little moment in life.

Eternity

চিরকালীন

Love lasts through eternity.

Errors

ভুল

His errors in judgment led to a poor decision.

Virtue

গুণ

Her kindness is a true virtue.

Sin

পাপ

Greed is often considered a sin.

Deeds

কাজ

His deeds of kindness helped the community.

Kindness

দয়া

Kindness can change the world for the better.

Love

ভালোবাসা

Love is a powerful force in life.

Earth

পৃথিবী

Earth is our home, and we must take care of it.

Heaven

স্বর্গ

She believes that kind people go to Heaven.

Impact

প্রভাব

Every action we take has an impact on the future.

Happiness

সুখ

Acts of kindness bring happiness to the soul.

Innocence

নিষ্পাপতা

The child looked at me with eyes full of innocence.

Toll

কর

He paid the toll to cross the bridge.

Frugal

সাশ্রয়ী

She is frugal and avoids unnecessary spending.

Virtuous

নৈতিক

A virtuous person is admired by others.


6 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments

Rated 0 out of 5 stars.
No ratings yet

Add a rating
© Copyright

Blog Categories

© Copyright©©
Subscribe Form

Thanks for submitting!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr Social Icon
  • Instagram

CONTACT

Doha,Qatar

Mobile: 0097430986217

©2025 by babarenglish

bottom of page