Try Again — Class 7 English (CBSE)

From the current NCERT Poorvi Grade 7 book, Unit 1: Learning Together, Chapter 2. A short, well-loved poem (commonly attributed to W. E. Hickson) about never giving up.

1. About the poem

• Text type: A rhyming, motivational poem.
• Main theme: Perseverance — keep trying until you succeed.
• What to notice: The repeated line "Try, try again" that drives home the message.

2. The Poem

'Tis a lesson you should heed,
   Try, try again;
If at first you don't succeed,
   Try, try again;
Then your courage should appear,
For if you will persevere,
You will conquer, never fear;
   Try, try again.

3. Summary

The poem gives a simple, powerful lesson: if you fail at first, do not give up — try again. With courage and perseverance, difficulties can be overcome and success will come. The repeated line "Try, try again" reminds us that effort and patience, not instant success, lead to victory. Failure is only a step on the way to success.

4. Theme and values

• Perseverance — keep trying despite failure.
• Courage — face difficulty bravely.
• Patience and effort — success needs repeated tries.
• Confidence — "you will conquer, never fear."

5. New words and meanings

6. Let Us Think (comprehension)

1. What lesson does the poem teach? To never give up — if at first you don't succeed, try again.

2. Which line is repeated, and why? "Try, try again" is repeated to stress the importance of perseverance.

3. What two qualities help us succeed, according to the poem? Courage and perseverance.

4. What does "if at first you don't succeed" mean? It means even if you fail on your first attempt.

5. Do you agree that failure can lead to success? Why? Yes — each try teaches us something and brings us closer to success.

7. Language and grammar

Rhyming words

heed–succeed; appear–fear. Find more rhyming pairs.

Imperative sentences

The poem gives advice using commands: "Try again," "heed the lesson." Write two more imperative sentences of advice.

8. Writing and speaking

• Writing: Write 5–6 lines about a time you kept trying and finally succeeded.
• Speaking: Recite the poem with energy, stressing "Try, try again."

9. Common mistakes

• Mistake: Thinking the poem says success comes easily. Fix: It says success comes through repeated effort and perseverance.
• Mistake: Treating failure as final. Fix: The poem shows failure is only a step towards success.
• Mistake: One-word answers. Fix: Explain with a reason and an example.

10. Practice set

1. What is the main message of the poem?
2. Which line is repeated, and what does it stress?
3. Name two qualities the poem says we need.
4. Write a rhyming word for "heed" and for "fear".
5. Write 5–6 lines about a time you persevered.

11. Answer key

1. Never give up; if you fail, try again.
2. "Try, try again" — it stresses perseverance.
3. Courage and perseverance.
4. heed — succeed/need; fear — appear/clear.
5. Answers will vary — check for effort, repeated tries, and success.

12. Quick revision

• Unit 1: Learning Together · Chapter 2 · a motivational poem.
• Theme: perseverance — try, try again.
• Repeated line drives home "never give up."
• Courage + perseverance = success.
• Failure is a step towards success.

Unit 1: Learning Together

This chapter is part of Unit 1: Learning Together. The three chapters in this unit are:

• Chapter 1: The Day the River Spoke — a story about courage and education
• Chapter 2: Try Again — a poem about perseverance
• Chapter 3: Three Days to See — Helen Keller on the gift of the senses