Bihar Board Class 10 · English · Matric exam 2027
Chapter 7: The Sleeping Porter — notes
The chapter’s 6 parts in the book’s order — the first idea of each and the points Medha Ma’am writes on the board — and the summary at the end. The full lesson and a check question for each part are in the app.
1. About the Poet, Laxmi Prasad Devkota
Okay, so let me first tell you about the poet who wrote this poem — Laxmi Prasad Devkota.
- • Poet: Laxmi Prasad Devkota
- • Born: 12 November 1909, Kathmandu
- • B.A. from Patna University, 1929
- • Presided 1948 Nepal poetry festival
- • Edited Yugvani (Voice of the Age) in Vanarasi
- • House and properties confiscated in Nepal
2. The Porter's Heavy Burden and Journey
Okay, so picture this porter, climbing a mountain.
- • Load on back = 25 kilo
- • Spine: double bent
- • Distance: six-mile climb
- • Season: snows of winter
- • Body: naked bones, skeleton-like frail frame
- • He is challenging the mountain
3. The Porter's Appearance and Yet His Strength
Okay, so let's look at the porter's appearance now.
- • Cap: black, dirty, sweat-stained
- • Body: abode of fleas and lice
- • Mind: very dull
- • Smell: sulphur-like sour smell
- • Yet: 'what a stout human figure!'
4. The Porter's Physical Struggle While Climbing
Now, you, think about what happens to the porter's body as he climbs.
- • Heart: twittering like a bird (panting)
- • He is sweating
- • He is out of breath
- • Cause: heavy load + uphill climb
5. The Porter's Family and Their Hardship
Okay, so now the poem takes us to the porter's home.
- • Home: a hut on the cliff
- • Son: shivering with cold
- • Family facing: woes of hunger
- • Mother: searching for nettles and vines
6. The Porter as Hero and His Sleep
Okay, so look at how the poet honours this porter.
- • Porter called: hero of the mountain
- • Also called: proud conqueror of nature
- • Beneath this hero: the snow-clad peaks
- • Above peaks: star-studded lid of night
- • At night: porter in deep slumber
- • He is 'reigning over the rich kingdom of sleep'
Summary
Okay, so let's recap the poem. It begins with the poet himself, Laxmi Prasad Devkota, a brave voice. He even faced exile, and his property was taken away. Then the poem shows us the porter. He's carrying a twenty-five kilo load, up a six-mile snowy climb. His spine is bent double, and his frame is frail, almost like a skeleton. He looks dirty, he's flea-ridden, and there's a sour smell about him. And yet, the poet still calls him a stout human figure — one who challenges the mountain itself. Think about that for a moment. His heart twitters like a bird, as he pants and sweats through the hard climb. Back home, his son shivers with cold. His mother searches for nettles and vines, because they have nothing else to eat. And in the end, how does the poet honour this tired, poor porter? He calls him the hero of the mountain, and the proud conqueror of nature. Beneath him lie the snow-clad peaks. At night, he sleeps deeply, reigning over the rich kingdom of sleep. So tell me — why do you think the poet calls a poor porter a "conqueror"?
AskMedha · Medha Ma’am — Bihar Board Class 10 English, Chapter 7. Written from the textbook, checked twice.
Questions parents and students ask
- How do I get the "The Sleeping Porter" notes as a PDF?
- Press "Save as PDF" — the phone’s print sheet opens; choose "Save as PDF" there. The PDF holds the notes only.
- Where are these notes written from?
- From the chapter’s own textbook text, part by part, in the book’s own terms; a second, independent model then checked every part against the book. The full lesson, a check question for each part and the practice are in the AskMedha app.
The same preparation, with Medha Ma’am — on your phone
Every question of every chapter with its model answer, practice questions in the board’s own shapes, 60 minutes of class a day, written answers marked, a test every Sunday and a WhatsApp report to parents.
Medha Ma’am is an AI teacher, not a live tutor. Every answer is checked twice; a person takes responsibility.