My Shadow Class 5 Notes: CBSE English (Marigold) Chapter 3

About the Poet

• Robert Louis Stevenson was a poet, travelogue writer and essayist of Scottish origin.

• He was born in 1850 in Edinburgh and was educated there. He suffered from an acute bronchial disease since his early days. He, unfortunately, died at the young age of forty-four years.

• A Few years back, he was the 26th most translated poet in the world, just behind Charles Dickens.

The Character Overview of the Chapter:

The character in My Shadow is a young child who is curious and imaginative. The poem revolves around the child’s fascination with their own shadow. The child observes how the shadow behaves, noting that it follows them everywhere, changes size, and sometimes seems to act independently. Through this playful interaction with the shadow, we see the child’s innocence and wonder at the world. The character’s observations and thoughts give us a glimpse into how children view and make sense of their surroundings, making the poem relatable and engaging for young readers.

My Shadow Poem Summary

• ‘My Shadow’ by Robert Louis Stevenson is a poem that talks about the characteristics of shadow.

• The narrator says that he always has a shadow that goes in and out with him and he is yet to know what is the use of a shadow.

• From the heels up to the head, the shadow looks exactly like him. Whenever he jumps into the bed, his shadow jumps before him.

• The funniest thing about a shadow is how quickly it can grow in size unlike the growth of real children which always happens very slowly.

• Sometimes, our shadow shoots up like a rubber ball and becomes very tall and sometimes it becomes so short that we can hardly see it.

• Once he happened to wake up very early one morning even before the sun was up. He saw shiny dew on the flowers. But to his surprise, his shadow like a lazy sleepy head was far behind him in his bed.

Moral of the Poem

• The poem ‘My Shadow’ shows the curiosity and excitement that is seen by a child when he/she discovers something.

• In the poem, the narrator is discovering the various characteristics of his own shadow from a child’s point of view. He is thrilled to see how his shadow changes in shape and size. He wonders why his shadow always follows him everywhere. All of this fills the child with endless curiosity.

New Words Meaning with Examples of ‘My Shadow’ Class 5

Techniques Used in the Poem

Rhyming Words: Same-sounding words when spoken together are called rhyming words.

• Me- See

• Head- Bed

• Grow- Slow

• Ball- All

• Up- Buttercup

• Sleepyhead- Bed

Alliteration: In a line of a poem, the appearance of the same letters or same-sounding letters at the beginning of words which are close to each other is called alliteration.

For example: In the following lines, the same-sounding letters are underlined to show alliteration.

1. “He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head.”

2. “The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow.”

3. “But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepyhead.”

Simile: When two things which are very different from one another are compared to make a description more vivid, it is called a simile. 

For example 

1. “For he sometimes shoots up taller like an India rubber ball.”

• In the above line, the narrator compares shadow with an India rubber ball.

2. “But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepyhead.”

• In the above line, the narrator compares his shadow with an arrant sleepyhead.

Repetition: When a word or phrase is repeated twice or more in a stanza of a poem, it is called repetition.

For example: “He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head.” Here the word ‘very’ has been repeated.

Importance of CBSE Class 5 English Chapter 3 My Shadow Revision Notes

Chapter 3 of Class 5 English introduces us to the poem My Shadow, where a child shares their fascination with their shadow. The child observes how the shadow follows them everywhere, copying their movements and staying close. The shadow is small in the morning and grows taller by noon, reflecting how shadows change with the time of day.

• The poem is important because it teaches us about curiosity and imagination. 

• It shows how children observe and think about the world around them. 

• The poem also helps students understand how shadows work, sparking an interest in the natural phenomena they see every day. 

• My Shadow encourages students to explore their surroundings and appreciate the simple wonders of life.

Tips for Learning the Class 5 English (Marigold) Chapter 3 My Shadow

• Reading the poem aloud helps in understanding the rhythm and flow of the words. It also makes it easier to memorise the lines.

• Focus on the theme of the poem, which is the curiosity of a child about his shadow. Understanding the central idea will help in better comprehension of the poem.

• Make a list of new or difficult words from the poem. Look up their meanings and try to use them in sentences to improve your vocabulary.

• Engage in discussions with classmates or teachers about the poem. Sharing thoughts and interpretations can deepen your understanding.

Conclusion

The Class 5 CBSE English Chapter 3 - My Shadow notes offer a delightful exploration of a child's fascination with their own shadow. These notes provide a concise and insightful summary of the chapter, enabling students to understand the theme of curiosity and the natural phenomenon of shadows. By studying this chapter, students gain an appreciation for observation and imagination. The free PDF download of these notes makes them easily accessible for students to review and reinforce their understanding of the story. Overall, these notes contribute to enhancing language comprehension and instilling a love for reading and storytelling in young learners.

Related Study Materials for Class 5 English (Marigold) Chapter 3 My Shadow

Chapter-wise Revision Notes Links for Class 5 English

Related Important Links for English (Marigold) Class 5

Along with this, students can also download additional study materials provided by Vedantu for English Class 5-