The Wit that Won Hearts — Class 8 English Poorvi Questions and Answers

The Wit that Won Hearts questions and answers for Class 8 Poorvi explain Tenali Rama’s tactful solution to a royal misunderstanding. Check comprehension, sound words, compounds, conditionals and the listening sequence, then adapt the speaking and writing examples.

Class: 8 Subject: English Book: Poorvi Unit: 1 – Wit and Wisdom Piece: Story (Chapter 1) Source copy: Reprint 2026–27

Source: NCERT Poorvi, Grade 8, Unit 1, printed pages 1–16 (listening transcript 46–47); supplied reprint 2026–27. Open-ended and personal responses are examples to adapt. These explanations are study support, not an official NCERT answer key.

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About the chapter

“The Wit that Won Hearts” is set in the royal court of King Krishnadeva Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire, whose reign is called the Golden Era for its flourishing art and literature. The story celebrates the quick wit and wisdom of the famous court poet Tenali Ramakrishna (Tenali Rama), who cleverly resolves a misunderstanding between the king and his queen. It belongs to Unit 1, ‘Wit and Wisdom’, and encourages critical thinking, humour and good communication.

Tenali Rama holds a plate of paddy seeds before a yawning king in a sunlit court with smiling courtiers
Original conceptual illustration of the story’s seed-and-yawning analogy. The characters, clothing and hall are artistic interpretations, not authenticated historical likenesses.

This tale uses a historical court as its setting. Treat its dialogue and seed trick as the narrative’s events, rather than a verified transcript of history or a scientific claim that particular seeds triple crop yield.

Summary

King Krishnadeva Raya, a wise ruler and gifted poet, once quarrelled with his queen Thirumalambal over a trivial matter. The king had recited a poem to her, but tired after a long day, the queen yawned several times. The king took this as disrespect, stopped speaking to her and stopped visiting her. His absence cast a gloom over the whole palace.

Distressed, the queen sought the help of the witty court poet Tenali Rama. Rama listened patiently and promised to help, but said he needed time to plan the right strategy. The next day, in the royal court (where ministers were discussing how to improve paddy cultivation), Rama presented a plate of ‘special’ paddy seeds, claiming they would triple the yield. The courtiers mocked him, and the king dismissed the idea as absurd.

Rama then said the real problem was not the seeds but the sower – what if the person sowing them kept yawning, scattering the seeds unevenly? The court laughed, and the king himself yawned. Rama gently pointed out that yawning is as natural as breathing. The king suddenly realised he had wrongly blamed the queen for yawning. That evening he apologised to her, she forgave him, and the palace was filled with joy again. Rama, who had quietly engineered this reconciliation, was rewarded for his service.

Theme & message

The story shows that wit, wisdom and empathy can solve problems that anger and pride cannot. Instead of confronting the king directly, Tenali Rama uses a clever, humorous analogy to make the king realise his own mistake. The chapter teaches the value of patience, good communication, humility (admitting one’s error) and forgiveness.

Word meanings

WordMeaning
renownedwell known, famous
illustriousrespected and famous
patronsupporter (of art/learning)
eminentfamous, distinguished
insurmountablethat cannot be overcome; undefeatable
trivialunimportant
forlornlonely and sad
distraughtextremely upset
vagueunclear
strategya careful plan
profuselyin large amounts
bustlingbusy and lively
ornatehighly decorated
gnawed(here) kept bothering
yield(here) harvest, produce
sarcasmmocking remark
snickerssuppressed laughter
absurdillogical, ridiculous
unfazednot worried or disturbed
scepticaldoubtful
orchestratedarranged/planned cleverly
brimmedoverflowed (with joy)

Before you read

I. Select qualities of a person who uses wit from the box. Then discuss reasons for your choice.

ANSWERQualities of a witty person: wise, clever, humorous, observant, charming, creative, confident.These are suggested choices, not an exclusive personality test. Courage or another quality may also be defended with a clear reason.Reasons: a witty person is wise and clever (thinks quickly and smartly), humorous (can make others smile even in tense moments), observant (notices small details), charming (wins people over), creative (finds out-of-the-box solutions) and confident (speaks cleverly before others).

II. Answer the riddles.

ANSWER“I can be a friend or a foe… I can bring both joy or pain.” → Words“What is always in front of you but can’t be seen?” → The future“I can be measured, but cannot be touched; spent, but cannot be saved.” → Time“What has to be shared before you can keep it?” → A secret

Discuss in pairs.

ANSWER1. Humour and wit help a person stay calm in difficult situations, communicate in an engaging way and solve problems peacefully; they also make a person likeable and approachable.2. Witty courtiers like Tenali Rama could lighten tense moments, give clever solutions to hard problems and offer wise advice – valuable for keeping harmony and good governance in the court.3. I would listen patiently to both sides without judging, find common ground, help each person understand the other’s view, and use calm reasoning (or gentle humour) to guide them to a peaceful solution.4. (Sample) Yes – once I misread a friend’s message and thought she was upset with me, so we stopped talking. An honest conversation later cleared the misunderstanding and we became friends again. (Share your own experience.)

Let us discuss

I. Rectify the following false statements from the text.

ANSWER1. The queen did not insult the king – she yawned only because she was tired after a long day, not to criticise his poem.2. Tenali Rama did not go straight to the king – he first worked out a clever, well-planned strategy before acting.3. The courtiers did not admire the poem – they avoided the king and made excuses to escape listening to it.4. The ministers were not eager – they were sceptical and mocked Tenali Rama’s ‘special’ paddy seeds.5. The king did realise his mistake – he understood yawning was natural, felt regret, and apologised to the queen.

Let us think and reflect

I.1. Extract – “…The king thought I was disrespecting his poem and stormed off… Only you can help the king understand.” / Rama nodded thoughtfully…

ANSWER(i) Because Rama is witty, wise and trusted by the king; his clever, well-planned solutions can make the king understand without any confrontation.(ii) B. She regrets the unintended misunderstanding.(iii) Rama does not rush; he replies thoughtfully and says the matter needs a well-planned approach and time to find the right strategy – showing his patience, foresight and problem-solving skill.(iv) takes great pride

I.2. Extract – “…I let my pride blind me. I’m so sorry.” / The queen… “If you like, we can leave this quarrel behind us…”

ANSWER(i) When the king says “I let my pride blind me”, he means that his ego/pride stopped him from seeing the situation clearly and judging the queen fairly.(ii) Because she is forgiving and kind-hearted; she wants to let go of the quarrel, restore harmony and move on peacefully.(iii) maturity and self-awareness(iv) She is forgiving / gracious / kind-hearted (any one).

II. Answer the following questions.

ANSWER1. Because under Krishnadeva Raya, art, literature and architecture flourished; he was a great patron of learning and himself a warrior and poet – making his reign a time of prosperity and cultural glory.2. Through his quick wit, humour and clever solutions to difficult problems, Tenali Ramakrishna won the king’s favour and became both a poet and a witty advisor in the court.3. The king stopped speaking to and visiting the queen; his absence cast a shadow over the palace, and the once-cheerful corridors became quiet and forlorn.4. Rama brought ‘special’ paddy seeds and, through the analogy of someone yawning while sowing, made the king see that yawning is natural – leading him to realise he had wrongly blamed the queen.5. They were sceptical and mocked him, joking that the seeds were ‘magic’, grew ‘without water’, or were ‘found on the moon’; snickers rippled through the court.6. The king apologises, the royal couple’s bond is restored, and the palace fills with joy again. Lesson: wit, empathy and good communication resolve misunderstandings far better than anger or pride.

Let us learn

I. Fill in the blanks with suitable expressions from the box.

ANSWER1. a murmur swept through the room2. rippled through3. stormed off4. hush fell over5. mind raced back6. cast a shadow

II. Fill in the blanks with suitable sound words.

ANSWER1. murmur   2. sighed   3. mumble   4. gasped   5. snickers6. thud   7. groan   8. rattle   9. roared   10. whispered

III. Compound words

Column 1MatchCompound word
(i) quickG. wittedquick-witted
(ii) softC. spokensoft-spoken
(iii) commonF. sensecommon sense
(iv) houseH. holdhousehold
(v) bookE. storebookstore
(vi) illB. temperedill-tempered
(vii) skyD. bluesky blue
(viii) danceA. halldance hall
ANSWER – III.2 (fill in the blanks)(i) soft-spoken   (ii) household   (iii) ill-tempered   (iv) quick-witted(v) dance hall   (vi) sky-blue   (vii) bookstore   (viii) common sense

Use sky-blue before the noun in “a sky-blue book”. A colour name standing alone can be written “sky blue”. Common sense remains an open compound; “quick-witted” and “soft-spoken” are hyphenated.

IV. Conditional (‘if’) clauses

ANSWER – identify clausesSentence 2: subordinate (if) clause = “If, by chance, something were to go wrong”; main clause = “our farmers would suffer.”Sentence 3: subordinate (if) clause = “If I had known this would happen”; main clause = “I would have chosen another day.”
Column 1 (if clause)Column 2 (main clause)
(i) If I had a magic wand,C. I would give myself wings.
(ii) If it rains tomorrow,E. We will stay indoors and play board games.
(iii) If you had listened carefully,F. You would have solved the puzzle.
(iv) If you finish your homework,A. We will go to the theatre.
(v) If I were invisible,B. I would sneak into the secret room.
(vi) If the alarm had rung,D. The boys would have woken up on time.

V. Complete the sentences (sample answers)

ANSWER1. Your teacher will be unhappy if you do not complete your homework.2. They would have caught the train if they had left earlier.3. You will feel tired if you continue to stay up late every night.4. If she knew the answer, she would raise her hand.5. She would have passed if she had studied harder.6. If I had a million rupees, I would travel the world and help the needy.

VI. Complete the sentences (sample answers)

ANSWER2. If I were the Head Teacher of my school, I would add more sports periods and a bigger library.3. If I were a bird, I would fly freely over hills and rivers.4. If I were a magician, I would turn people’s sadness into smiles.5. If I had studied harder, I would have topped my class.

Let us listen

(The narrated story is about Tenali Rama defeating an arrogant visiting scholar with the phrase ‘tila-kashta-mahisha-bandhana’ – which actually meant a bundle of sesame sticks tied with a buffalo-rope.)

ANSWER – I1. The rope tying the bundle of sticks was – (ii) thick.2. The scholar is finally referred to as – (iii) arrogant.
ANSWER – II (correct order of events)5 → 8 → 2 → 3 → 1 → 7 → 6 → 4i.e. 5. The visitor wanted to show his superiority → 8. The court scholars were afraid of the king’s anger → 2. Rama accepted the challenge → 3. Rama came with a bundle tied in silk → 1. The great scholar was ashamed because he did not know what to say → 7. The king wanted to know more about the work → 6. Rama showed it to be a bundle of sticks tied by a rope → 4. The king laughed at the explanation.

Let us speak

I. Intonation — pp. 13–14

(i) ↑; (ii) ↓; (iii) ↑; (iv) ↓; (v) ↑; (vi) ↓; (vii) ↑; (viii) ↓; (ix) ↑; (x) ↓.

This is the textbook’s neutral-question practice pattern: yes/no questions generally rise and wh-questions generally fall. Actual conversational intonation can change with emphasis and purpose.

II. Sample trip questions

Where are we going? Why have we chosen that place? How will we travel? When will we return? Who will come with us? What will we do there? Take turns giving your own answers.

Witty-character questions — sample

Who is the witty character? Why is their wit important? What clever idea do they use? When is the story set? How do they solve the problem? Where does it happen? For this lesson: Tenali Rama; wit restores understanding; he uses the seed-and-yawning analogy; the narrative is set at Krishnadeva Raya’s court in Vijayanagara. Identify the setting without claiming the anecdote’s exact date is verified.

Let us write

I. Features of A Lesson in Responsibility — pp. 15–16

The listed features are present. The opening establishes the narrator’s organised morning; the surprise quiz supplies the challenge; the disappointing result and teacher’s advice form the turning point; the conclusion explains regular preparation. First-person thoughts, chronological events and descriptive details support the narrative.

Original model: The Day I Learnt the Value of Teamwork

Our class was preparing a display about saving water. I wanted our group’s poster to look perfect, so I began drawing every picture myself. By lunchtime, I had finished only the title and one tap. My friends were waiting with their unused ideas, and the deadline was getting closer.

Then Meera suggested that we divide the work. I agreed, although I worried that our different styles would not match. She wrote the short explanations, Arjun drew the rainwater tank, and I completed the main picture. Another friend checked the spelling and arranged the pieces. We listened when someone suggested a change and helped whoever finished last.

Before the bell, our display was ready. It looked more interesting than the poster I had imagined alone. Our teacher praised the clear message and asked how we had worked together. I realised that teamwork means trusting others, sharing responsibility and combining different strengths. The next time we received a group task, I asked for everyone’s ideas before picking up my pencil.

This is an invented sample narrative. Adapt it to one of the two textbook topics and organise your own introduction, events and reflection; the supplied task does not specify a fixed word limit.

Let us explore

I. Original sample limerick

A pupil who lived by the bay
Kept losing his pencils each day.
He looked in his shoe
And discovered just two,
While the rest in his schoolbag still lay.

The five-line model has AABBA rhymes: bay/day/lay and shoe/two. Write a new playful poem with a surprise at the end.

II–III. Reading and chart projects

Choose a library story you actually read, record its title and source, summarise its theme, and explain the clever moment. For a class chart, list a Tenali Rama tale, an Akbar–Birbal tale, a Mulla Nasruddin tale or a Panchatantra/Aesop fable you know. Distinguish traditional anecdotes from verified history and let each student choose a new story to read.

Additional ClearStudy questions

This practice is separate from the printed textbook exercises.

Short answer

1. Who was Thirumalambal?

ANSWERThirumalambal was the queen of King Krishnadeva Raya.

2. Who were the Ashtadiggajas?

ANSWERThe Ashtadiggajas were the eight celebrated poets of Krishnadeva Raya’s court (including Allasani Peddana and Tenali Ramakrishna).

3. Why did the queen yawn while the king recited his poem?

ANSWERShe yawned because she was exhausted after a long, tiring day – not out of disrespect.

Long answer

4. Write a character sketch of Tenali Rama based on the story.

ANSWERTenali Rama is the witty and wise court poet of Krishnadeva Raya. He is intelligent and quick-witted, solving difficult problems with clever ideas. He is patient and thoughtful – he plans a careful strategy instead of acting in haste. He is humorous, using a funny analogy about yawning to make the king reflect. He is also kind and tactful, helping the queen and restoring the royal couple’s bond without embarrassing the king. These qualities make him a beloved figure in the empire’s history.

ClearStudy MCQs and assertion–reason practice

1. King Krishnadeva Raya ruled which empire?

(a) Maurya   (b) Vijayanagara   (c) Mughal   (d) Chola

ANSWER(b) Vijayanagara.

2. The eight celebrated poets of the court were collectively called:

(a) Navaratnas   (b) Ashtadiggajas   (c) Panchtantra   (d) Tirukkural

ANSWER(b) Ashtadiggajas.

3. What did Tenali Rama bring before the king in the court?

(a) A poem   (b) A plate of ‘special’ paddy seeds   (c) Gold coins   (d) A letter

ANSWER(b) A plate of ‘special’ paddy seeds.

4. The main lesson of the story is that problems are best solved by:

(a) anger and pride   (b) wealth   (c) wit, empathy and communication   (d) force

ANSWER(c) wit, empathy and communication.

Assertion–Reason – choose: (a) A and R true, R explains A; (b) A and R true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.

1. Assertion (A): The king stopped speaking to the queen.

Reason (R): He mistakenly believed her yawning showed disrespect for his poem.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

2. Assertion (A): Tenali Rama really wanted to improve paddy farming with special seeds.

Reason (R): The seed talk was only a clever trick to make the king realise yawning is natural.

ANSWER(d) A is false (the seeds were a ploy), while R is true.

3. Assertion (A): The king apologised to the queen.

Reason (R): He realised that yawning is natural and that he had judged her unfairly.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

FAQs

Who is the main character of ‘The Wit that Won Hearts’?

The witty court poet Tenali Rama (Tenali Ramakrishna) of King Krishnadeva Raya’s court is the central character.

Why did the king quarrel with the queen?

The queen yawned while he recited his poem; he wrongly thought she was disrespecting it and stopped speaking to her.

How did Tenali Rama solve the problem?

He used a clever analogy about a person yawning while sowing seeds, which made the king realise that yawning is natural and that he had blamed the queen unfairly.

What is the moral of the story?

Wit, empathy and good communication can resolve misunderstandings far better than anger or pride.

Textbook-based exercises and additional ClearStudy practice are identified separately. Use your textbook alongside these explanations.

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