Count that lost by George Eliot

PRE-READING

1.Look at the pictures. Which do you think show a “good day”?

       Explain why.

2. Suggest other activities that you could do on a “good day”.

Background information
George Eliot was an English female writer and poetess. She lived in England
during the Victorian Age in Queen Victoria’s times (1837-1901). Although the
Victorian Age was characterized by peace and prosperity, there were huge gaps
between the rich and the poor. The lower classes lived in poverty. Poor children
were forced to work hard in order to support their families instead of going to
school. Eliot and her friends were openly critical of these conditions. For them,
the writer’s job was to help improve society. Their literary works reflected those
bad times. Gradually, a sense of responsibility began to develop among the upper
classes. They used their money and influence to demand better working
conditions and education for the working class.

If you sit down at set of sun – If you sit down at the end of the day
And count the acts that you have done, – And go over all the deeds that you have
done during the day
And, counting, find – And while counting you can remember you did
One self-denying deed, one word – An act of self sacrifice, or said a word
That eased the heart of him who heard, – That made the person who heard it
feel better
One glance most kind – A nice friendly look
That fell like sunshine where it went – That gave another person a warm feeling
Then you may count that day well spent. – Then you can consider your day good
But if, through all the livelong day, – But if during the whole day
You’ve cheered no heart, by yea or nay – You haven’t made someone happy, by
saying yes or no
If, through it all – If, when you go over all the deeds you have done during the day
You’ve nothing done that you can trace – You can’t think of anything that you
have done
That brought the sunshine to one face – That made someone smile
No act most small – Not even the smallest thing
That helped some soul and nothing cost – That helped someone for free and
didn’t cost him anything
Then count that day as worse than lost. – Then consider your day wasted

The Title
The poem is called “Count That Day Lost” because the poet wants us to think
about all the things we did on any day. The title emphasizes the message of the
poem. It is important that we do not waste our days and that we make sure we
do good things for other people. If we didn’t do something good for someone,
then that day is lost. In addition, the poet might call the poem Count That Day
Lost to create suspense and wonder: What day does the title imply? The answer
to this question is given at the end of the poem. If you had the opportunity to
become a better person, but you missed it, for you this is “worse than lost”.

 . Basic Understanding

1. Write the translation of the following words.

. Complete the sentences with the words below.

Cheer –   count   –    acts   –    worse    –   well spent

1. We should_______our acts at the end of every day.
2. A day _________ is a day on which we help another person.
3. We should try to make someone happy and___________ him /her up.
4. We can make a person’s day happier by doing helpful_____.
5. A day is______ than lost if we have not helped anyone.

Answer the following questions.

1. According to the poem, what should a person do at sunset? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
2. How many stanzas are there in the poem?

_________________________________________________

3. Name two activities from the poem that a person can do to count the day “well spent”.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

4. Name two activities from the poem that a person doesn’t do on a day “as worse than lost.”

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.