The Pot Maker
The Pot Maker English NCERT Class 9 Solution
Reflect and Respond (NCERT Page 33)
Look at the pictures given below and identify the vocations. Note, list at least five more vocations.
Vocations shown in the pictures:
1. Basket weaver
2. Potter
3. Weaver (handloom worker)
4. Carpenter / Woodworker
Five more vocations:
Blacksmith
Cobbler (shoemaker)
Tailor
Mason
Plumber
II. Work in pairs. Discuss the following questions and share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
1. What is common among these pictures?
Ans. All the pictures show people engaged in traditional, skill-based vocations. The work is done mainly by hand and requires practice, patience and craftsmanship.
2. We refer to such skill-based work as v _ _ a _ o _ s.
Ans. Vocations
3. Mention a few differences between handmade and machine-made products.
Ans. (a) Handmade products are created using human skill and effort, while machine-made products are produced using machines.
(b) Handmade items are often unique, whereas machine-made products are uniform.
(c) Handmade products take more time to make, while machine-made products are produced faster.
Check Your Understanding (NCERT Page 37)
I. Do you think pot making is easy? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Ans. Pot making is not easy because it requires great physical effort, patience and skill. The clay has to be dug, kneaded, pounded and shaped carefully. Any mistake in shaping or firing can ruin the entire batch. It also needs coordination, rhythm, steady hands and patience, which take time to develop.
II. Would Sentila be able to fulfil her dream of becoming a pot maker? Explain.
Ans. Yes, Sentila would be able to fulfil her dream of becoming a pot maker. The extract shows her deep fascination and constant observation of expert potters.
She carefully watches every step of the process and learns by observing their movements. Her interest, persistence and eagerness indicate that she has the potential to master the craft.
III. Do you think Mesoba and Arenla would support Sentila? Give a reason.
Ans. Yes, Mesoba and Arenla would support Sentila. Although Arenla initially resists teaching her because pot making is tiring and poorly paid, Mesoba explains to the elders that skills are passed down over time. The elders remind Arenla that such traditional skills belong to the community and must be taught, leading to support for Sentila.
Check Your Understanding (NCERT Pages 41 & 42)
Do you think Onula’s support helped Sentila? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Ans. Yes, Onula’s support greatly helped Sentila. Unlike others, Onula understood that Sentila’s failure was due to fear and tension, not lack of ability. She encouraged Sentila gently, removed her fear and built her confidence. This emotional support helped Sentila relax, learn naturally and finally succeed in making a pot.
II. Sentila observes her mother making pots. What does this tell us about her?
Ans. Sentila’s careful observation of her mother shows that she is curious, patient and eager to learn. Instead of rushing into the work, she first understands the rhythm, coordination and techniques involved in pottery.
This reflects her maturity and her belief that real learning comes through observation, practice and understanding.
III. Arrange the following events of the story in the correct sequence.
1. The village council called Mesoba to discuss Arenla’s unwillingness to teach pottery to Sentila.
2. Arenla prepared a new batch of pots and asked Sentila to continue the work as she was unwell.
3. Sentila watched expert potters carefully as they made beautiful pots.
4. Sentila loved pottery but kept her interest hidden from her mother.
5. Onula guided Sentila in learning the art of pot making.
6. Sentila overheard her mother saying that pottery was tiring work and earned very little money.
7. Onula noticed two rows of pots in the workshop and realised they had been made by two different people.
8. Sentila spent a year learning pottery from her mother but could not succeed.
9. Sentila finally became skilled enough to make pots quickly and beautifully, almost matching her mother’s work.
Correct Sequence:
4 → 6 → 3 → 1 → 8 → 5 → 2 → 9 → 7
Critical Reflection (NCERT Pages 42–45)
I. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Extract 1
Pounding the stubborn clay inside bamboo cylinders two soften it, is also tedious. So many times I have dropped the mould out to shree exhaustion and have had to start all over again. It takes months to bring out a batch of pots after so much labour. And the reward? A few rupees. But if Sentila learns weaving, he can make much more money beside providing enough cloth for the family. Weaving is not messy like pot making and can be done indoor in all seasons. Also the time spend on weaving one shawl is much less and the return is handsome.
(i) Choose the correct reason for the given assertion.
Assertion: The effort involved in making pots is much greater than the rewards.
Ans. A. The process of pot making is long, tiring and physically demanding, yet the earnings are very small.
(ii) Why does Arenla want Sentila to learn weaving?
Ans. Arenla believes weaving is a better option because it is less tiring, cleaner and more profitable than pottery. It can be done indoors throughout the year, takes less time and provides a steadier income while also producing useful cloth for the family.
(iii) State one advantage that weaving has over pot making, according to the extract.
Ans. One major advantage of weaving is that it can be done indoors in every season, unlike pot making, which depends more on physical labour and weather conditions.
(iv) Choose the sentence that uses the word “handsome” in the same sense as in the extract.
A. My father is a handsome man.
B. They will make a handsome profit selling this property.
Ans. B. They will make a handsome profit selling this property.
(v) “And the reward?” What is the author’s purpose in using a question mark here?
Ans. The question mark highlights the speaker’s disappointment and frustration. It draws attention to the contrast between the hard work involved in making pots and the very small financial reward received.
Extract 2
Onula Saw her taking out some clay and the implements from her basket quietly. She watched the Sentila’s clumsy efforts to make a pot and noticed that Sentila was too tense. As a result, that clay seemed unable or unwilling to yield the right shape. When Sentila wearily let the misshapen lump fall flat on the ground, Onula went to her and said,” Don’t worry, little one,I shall teach you how to make a perfect pot.”Sentila watched in amazement as Onula fashioned a beautiful pot and asked her to try again.
. Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.
(i) Onula feels Sentila’s effort at making a pot is clumsy because…
Ans. Sentila was nervous and lacked confidence, so her hands were stiff and not properly coordinated while shaping the clay.
(ii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
“Don’t worry, little one, I shall teach you how to make a perfect pot.”
This shows that Onula was ________.
A. sincere and generous
B. forgiving and thoughtful
C. thoughtful and generous
D. forgiving and sincere
Ans. C. Thoughtful and generous
(iii) Which among the following is the effect of a cause?
A. As a result, the clay seemed unable or unwilling to take the right shape.
B. Onula saw her taking out some clay and the tools from her basket quietly.
Ans. A. As a result, the clay seemed unable or unwilling to take the right shape.
(iv) “Onula fashioned a beautiful pot.”
Here, the word “fashioned” means:
Ans. Created
(v) How might Sentila have felt when she saw the misshapen lump fall flat on the ground?
Ans. She probably felt embarrassed, frustrated and disappointed because her sincere effort did not succeed.
II. Answer the following questions.
Q.1 Describe the process of pot making followed by expert pot makers, as observed by Sentila.
Ans. Sentila noticed that expert potters first collected clay from riverbanks, carried it home, kneaded and pounded it until it became soft. They then shaped it on the potter’s wheel with skilled hands, dried the pots in the sun and finally baked them in a kiln to make them strong and durable.
Q.2 What warning was given to Mesoba by the village council?
Ans. The village council reminded Mesoba that traditional crafts like pottery belong to the whole community, not to any one person. They stressed that such skills should always be passed on to the next generation.
Q.3 How did Sentila feel when she failed at pot making even after a year of training with her mother?
Ans. Sentila felt disappointed, embarrassed and discouraged. Her repeated failures reduced her confidence, making her anxious and afraid that she might never become a skilled potter.
Q.4 “Onula stood there for a long time as if trying to absorb a new phenomenon.” Explain.
Ans. Onula stood silently because she realised something remarkable had happened. After seeing two perfect rows of pots, she understood that Sentila had finally mastered the craft. She paused to appreciate the significance of Sentila’s achievement.
Q.5 “The tradition and history of the people did not belong to any individual.” What does this symbolise?
Ans. This statement shows that traditional knowledge and skills are a shared heritage of the community. They should be preserved and passed on to future generations instead of being kept by one individual.
Q.6 What is the significance of the concluding line of the story, “A new pot maker was born”?
Ans. The final line marks Sentila’s transformation into a confident and skilled potter. It highlights how patience, observation and determination helped her achieve her dream while continuing the tradition of her community.
Q.7 What is the role of perseverance in pursuing one’s dreams? Elaborate with reference to Sentila.
Ans. Perseverance is essential for achieving any goal. Sentila did not give up despite repeated failures. Through patience, careful observation, continuous practice and determination, she finally mastered the art of pot making and fulfilled her dream.
Vocabulary and Structures in Context
(NCERT Pages 45–48)
I. Read the highlighted words in the following sentences from the text.
She taught Sentila how to dig the clay with dao, load it on to her carrying basket…
Sentila was a quick learner and turned the clay into malleable dough. Pounding the stubborn clay inside bamboo cylinders to soften it …
The highlighted words describe the tools and materials required in the process of pot making. Now, classify the words/phrases given in the box as shown in the table below. One example for each category has been done for you.
dao | dough | pounding | bamboo clay | kiln | spatula | basket cylinders | rotating | bed of hay | shaping
Tools/Implements/ Raw Materials/ Process
- dao,dough,pounding,bspatula
clay
rotating
basket
bamboo
shaping
cylinders
bed of hay
kiln
II. Notice the use of the following words in the text.
pittance | rupees | reward | return
These words relate to livelihood and economic aspects that are crucial for any enterprise/business/vocation.
Work in pairs and find the meanings of the following words related to economy. You may refer to a dictionary.
bankrupt | credit | currency | debt
fiscal | inflation | Investment | interest
Now, frame sentences using each word.
(i) Bankrupt
Meaning Having no money left and being unable to pay debts.
Sentence The small business went bankrupt after suffering heavy losses during the lockdown.
(ii) Credit
Meaning The ability to borrow money with a promise to repay it later.
Sentence The shopkeeper bought goods on credit and paid the supplier at the end of the month.
(iii) Currency
Meaning The system of money used in a particular country.
Sentence The currency of India is the rupee.
(iv) Fiscal
Meaning Related to government revenue, spending and financial management.
Sentence The government announced a new fiscal policy to control public expenditure.
(v) Inflation
Meaning A rise in prices that reduces the purchasing power of money.
Sentence Due to inflation, everyday goods like food and fuel have become expensive.
(vi) Investment
Meaning The act of putting money into a business or project to earn profit.
Sentence He made a wise investment in a small manufacturing unit.
(vii) Debt
Meaning Money that is owed to someone and must be repaid.
Sentence The farmer fell into debt after repeated crop failures.
(viii) Interest
Meaning Extra money paid for borrowing money or earned on savings.
Sentence The bank charges high interest on personal loans.
III. Read the following sentences from the text. The main clause has been underlined and the subordinate clause has been circled.
• … she realised that the pot was ready.
• She intuitively sensed that something momentous had happened.
Subordinate clauses that act like nouns and perform the same functions as subject or object are called noun clauses.
Below is the corrected, student-safe version of both pages.
Q.2 Complete the following sentences with suitable noun clauses.
(i) The elders emphasised that __________.
(ii) Mesoba explained why __________.
(iii) Onula’s promise was that __________.
(iv) Sentila observed her mother carefully when she was shaping the mouth of the pot, which __________.
(v) The kiln, where __________, required careful attention to prevent over-or-under firing.
Ans.
(i) traditional skills must be passed on to the next generation.
(ii) Arenla had delayed teaching Sentila the skill of pot making.
(iii) she would teach Sentila how to make a perfect pot.
(iv) helped her understand the correct technique.
(v) the pots were fired.
Q.3 Read the following sentences from the text. Underline the main clause and circle the subordinate clause.
(i) Arenla took Sentila to the riverbank where the grey and red clay was found.
(ii) She started on the next one, and like a sprinter who had suddenly found momentum…
(iii) …skills such as pot making, which not only catered to the needs of the people…
Subordinate clauses that act like adjectives and give further description of the noun in the main clause are called adjectival or relative clauses.
Ans. (i) Main clause: Arenla took Sentila to the riverbank
Subordinate clause: where the grey and red clay was found
(ii) Main clause: She started on the next one, and like a sprinter
Subordinate clause: who had suddenly found momentum
(iii) Main clause: Skills such as pot making
Subordinate clause: which not only catered to the needs of the people
Q.3 Complete the following sentences with suitable relative clauses.
(i) Sentila, whose __________, practised the craft diligently.
(ii) The village council, where __________, sought an explanation for Arenla’s reluctance.
(iii) The potter’s hands, which __________, shaped the clay into beautiful creations.
(iv) Arenla, her mother wanted her to learn weaving, which __________.
(v) Mesoba went home and discussed the matter with Arenla, who __________.
Ans.
(i) determination was strong
(ii) Mesoba was summoned
(iii) were rough but skilled
(iv) she believed was easier and more profitable than pot making
(v) agreed to teach Sentila the craft
Q.4 Read the highlighted words in the following lines from the text.
Onula saw her taking out some clay…
…make as many pots as they could.
…did not belong to any individual.
Slowly she walked away from this place of wonder.
…they would not have enough days of sunshine…
The highlighted words are determiners.
Determiners are words that come before nouns and specify something about their quantity, definiteness or ownership.
Here is a list of the most frequently used determiners:
a, an, the — Articles
this, that, these, those — Demonstratives
my, our, your, his, her, its, their, one’s — Possessives
one, two, three, etc. — Definite numerals
some, any, no, all, both, much, many, few, less, several, little — Indefinite numerals
each, every, either, neither — Distributives
(i) Find out some more determiners from the text.
Ans.
her (mother)
the (riverbank, clay, kiln)
some (clay)
many (pots)
one (batch)
another (layer)
every (possible way)
(ii) Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners. The first two blanks have been done for you.
A. The florist arranged five bouquets for her clients, that were displayed in an elegant floral shop.
B. The carpenter crafted __________ unique tables, and __________ became the centrepiece in __________ furniture collection.
C. __________ of __________ apprentices in culinary class demonstrated __________ knife skills during the intense cooking session.
D. __________ of __________ sculptures were displayed at __________ art exhibition, showcasing __________ diverse artistic skills.
Ans.
B. several; one; his
C. Some; the; the; excellent
D. Many; the; the; their
Writing Task (NCERT Pages 50 & 51)
Reflective Writing – Identifying Skills and Passion
Reflective writing encourages introspection and thoughtful exploration of personal experiences, skills, and aspirations. It helps individuals gain deeper insights into themselves and their goals through structured reflection.
I. Follow the steps given below to create a write-up about your skills and passions.
Step 1: Introduction
Reflect on your passions and the skills you currently possess or are developing. Consider why these activities or interests are meaningful and enjoyable to you.
Step 2: Describing skills
Describe specific activities or practices you engage in to nurture your skills. This could include hobbies, classes (art, music, coding, etc.), workshops or personal projects.
Step 3: Passion into profession
Identify which of these skills you believe have the potential to turn your passion into a profession. Explain why you think these skills are crucial or advantageous in your chosen field.
Step 4: Examples and reflection
Provide examples or anecdotes that illustrate how your skills and passions complement each other. Reflect on how these experiences have shaped your career aspirations and personal growth.
Step 5: Conclusion
Summarise your reflections. Discuss any insights gained about yourself, your skills, and your career ambitions through this exercise.
Ans. Identifying My Skills and Passion
I have many interests, but I especially enjoy writing and reading. I like writing short answers, diary entries and small paragraphs. Reading stories and poems helps me understand ideas better. These activities are meaningful to me because they make me feel confident and help me express my thoughts clearly.
To improve my skills, I practise writing regularly at school and at home. I complete my written work carefully and try to learn new words. I also read textbooks, storybooks and poems to improve my language. Sometimes, I rewrite my answers to make them better.
I believe my writing and reading skills can become my profession in the future. These skills are useful for careers like teaching, content writing, or journalism. Good writing helps in sharing ideas clearly, and reading helps in gaining knowledge.
For example, when my teacher appreciates my written work, I feel encouraged. These moments help me believe in myself and work harder.
In conclusion, this reflection helped me understand my interests and abilities better. I realised that with practice and effort, my skills can help me achieve my career goals.
