English - Expansion of Proverbs - Notes

Expansion of Proverbs

Proverbs: A Proverb is a well-known saying that conveys a general truth or that offers advice on life and behaviour, for example: ‘Honesty is the best policy’, ‘All that glitters is not gold’. Proverbs are simple in form, yet packed with meaning.  Though they consist of short sentences, they contain a lot of wisdom. Proverbs often make use of metaphors to convey their meaning.  (Metaphors are comparisons made between two dissimilar things without using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ to show that one of hem has some quality of the other). Another feature of proverbial sayings is irony, or the use of words to convey meanings that are the opposite of what they usually mean.

Expansion of Proverbs: Expansion of proverbs is a meaningful writing task.  It involves understanding the meaning of a proverb, what it implies and how it relates to the present time.  To expand a proverb, you will have to explain its meaning and elaborate on its significance by using reasoning and giving examples from real life to convey its truth and wisdom clearly to the reader. A good para written for expansion must have 1) unity of thought; (2) order; (3) coherence; (4) variety and (5) Expansion.

Some guidelines for expansion of proverbs:

• In the first instance, read the given proverb. Think about the proverb and understand its meaning, significance and implications.
• Think of one or two examples from real life, from books you have read and films you have watched or from other sources.
• Arrange your thoughts in the logical sequence and write the piece, using simple language and keeping to the usually allowed one-page limit. 
• Make the opening and conclusion interesting and impressive.

Some examples of Expansion of Proverbs:

1. All that glitters is not gold.
2. Make hay while the Sun shines
3. Honesty is the best policy
4. A stitch in time saves nine.
5. Haste makes waste (or) Slow and steady wins the race.
6. Necessity is the mother of invention.

1. Haste makes waste (or) Slow and steady wins the race.

When we do any work, we should be very careful. We should not be in a haste/ hurry. We should work slowly and steadily to get better result.  For example, while climbing a tall tree or a hill, we should be very careful. Any small negligence or haste will make us slip and fall down. The story of ‘hare and tortoise’ we learnt in our childhood teaches a very good lesson in this regard.  In the story, the tortoise walks slowly and steadily. It wins the race with confidence. Whereas the hasty but lazy hare finally loses the race with its over-confidence. Similarly, the student who reads regularly from the beginning can easily pass the examination and get good marks.  But the student who reads hastily just before the examinations, may fail. Hence, in every walk of life, to reach our goals, we should make our efforts continuously and carefully.

2. Strike while the iron is hot. (Or) Make hay while the sun shines

(Means = Utilise the opportunity when it comes on your way) (Hay = dried grass)

The proverb tells us that when an opportunity comes in our way, we should make use of it without wasting time. Hay means dried grass like straw.  It has to be stored for the cattle. We have to dry the grass and make the hay while the Sun is shining to store it for the future. Once we lose the opportunity, we cannot dry the grass in the winter or rainy season. In the same way, when the iron is hot only, we can bend it into any shape by striking on it. If it is cooled, we cannot bend it. These examples tell us that we must make use of a good opportunity when it knocks our door. If we miss it, we cannot get the same opportunity back.  We have to observe the bees which store the honey for future and the ants which gather their food for future and like that.  During the school days or college days, the student has to pay attention to his studies and do hard work. If he neglects his studies during this period, he will not get better results and will not get another opportunity to prove his worth.  So, we must make use of the available time and opportunities well and do the right thing at the proper time.

3. Honesty is the best policy:

Honesty means being truthful and fair in thought, speech and action.  The lives of great men across the world like Mahatma Gandhi, Jesus Christ, Abraham Lincoln, etc., prove that their greatness was due to their honest nature. History tells us that honest people are always respected. In the modern age also people like Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Anna Hazare, etc., are honored for their honesty and not for their wealth and power. However rich and wealthy they may be, people do not honor dishonest men. Honesty gives courage to face any difficulties. Hence, honest people can achieve any great things in their lives in straight and fair manner. On the other way, dishonest people are cowards. They always want to achieve some thing with unfair means or corrupt methods. Ultimately, they fail in life. Though a dishonest student manages to get marks by copying, he will not succeed in life. An honest person is remembered even after his death. A dishonest person is hated even during his life-time. Hence, honesty is the most important policy one has to follow through his entire life.

4. All that glitters is not gold (or) Appearances are deceptive:

Generally, people give value to the external appearances. But the external appearance cannot be always reliable. For example, Gold is a precious metal and it shines brightly. But, just because some other metals also shine, they cannot be as valuable as gold. That is, all that glitters is not gold. People get deceived by the outward appearances. A person who appears very innocent may prove cruel.  A dress which appears very costly because of its over shining may actually be a cheap one.  Hence, we must try to know the inner quality of a person or a thing to assess his/ its value.  We must not fall in the trap of external attraction.

5. A Stitch in time saves nine:

This proverb tells us the importance of being careful at the right time.  When we observe any defect or mistake in anything, we must try to correct/ repair it in the initial stage itself. Otherwise, the problem becomes bigger and unsolvable.  By being careful in small things, we can avoid major dangers.  For example, if a cloth is torn little, we must immediately attend to it and stitch it.  Otherwise, the tear of the cloth becomes bigger and cannot be repaired. Any symptoms related to ill-health or disease should be attended carefully. Otherwise, the diseases may aggrevate and take life itself. Similarly, if a child or a student finds any defect, some bad qualities, he should correct them  immediately, otherwise it will be difficult to get rid of the bad qualities at later period. 

6. Necessity is the mother of invention:

The proverb tells us that the need of a thing forces us to think actively. Solutions for problems can be found out if only we use our brains. But we use then only when there is need.  This results in the invention of a new thing.  Most of the scientific inventions in human history are answers to some pressing need.  Primitive man’s need for food forced him to shape weapons for hunting. His need and wish to travel extensively across the world resulted in invention of steam boat and later electric motor.  Most medicines are the results of the need for the cure to fatal diseases. Thus necessity is the mother of invention. 

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