Since the earliest times, humans have dreamt of conquering the | Class 10 English Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 5 min read
Since the earliest times, humans have dreamt of conquering the – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Since the earliest times, humans have dreamt of conquering the from Class 10 English, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
II The Black Aeroplane
This section narrates the story of a pilot flying an old Dakota aeroplane from France to England at night. Initially, the flight is smooth, and the pilot is looking forward to a good breakfast at home. However, he encounters a vast storm with huge black clouds blocking his path. Unable to fly over or around the storm due to fuel constraints, he decides to take the risk and fly into the storm. Inside, visibility is zero, and his compass and radio fail. He becomes lost and helpless. Suddenly, he sees another black aeroplane without lights flying beside him. The pilot signals him to follow. The mysterious plane leads him through the storm and down to an airport runway. When the pilot lands safely and asks the control tower about the other plane, he is told no other planes were flying. The story ends with a mysterious question about who helped him, suggesting a supernatural or unexplained intervention. This story explores themes of risk, fear, hope, and mystery.
📊 Diagram: Illustrations show the Dakota aeroplane flying at night, the pilot inside the cockpit, the black storm clouds, and the mysterious black aeroplane guiding the pilot through the storm. Another image shows the runway lights where the pilot lands.
🧪 Activity: Students are encouraged to imagine the pilot's experience and discuss the mysterious helper's identity.
🔗 Connection: Leads to the 'Thinking about the Text' section which analyzes the story's themes and questions.
Frequently asked questions
1. Does ‘dyin’ really rhyme with ‘lion’? Can you say it in such a way that it does? 2. How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to him? 3. Do you think the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ in the third stanza are spelt correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this? 4. Do you know what a ‘bearhug’ is? It’s a friendly and strong hug — such as bears are thought to give, as they attack you! Again, hyenas are thought to laugh, and crocodiles to weep (‘crocodile tears’) as they swallow their victims. Are there similar expressions and popular ideas about wild animals in your own language(s)? 5. Look at the line “A novice might nonplus”. How would you write this ‘correctly’? Why is the poet’s ‘incorrect’ line better in the poem? 6. Can you find other examples of poets taking liberties with language, either in English or in your own language(s)? Can you find examples of humorous poems in your own language(s)? 7. Much of the humour in the poem arises from the way language is used, although the ideas are funny as well. If there are particular lines in the poem that you especially like, share these with the class, speaking briefly about what it is about the ideas or the language that you like or find funny.
1. ‘Dyin’ does not traditionally rhyme with ‘lion’ as they have different ending sounds. However, by pronouncing ‘dyin’ as 'die-in' with a slight emphasis on the second syllable, one can make it rhyme with ‘lion’. This is a poetic liberty taken by the poet to maintain rhythm and rhyme.
2. The poet suggests identifying the lion by its roar when it is dying, and the tiger by its black stripes on a yellow ground and whether it eats you. According to him, you can identify the lion when it roars at
1. Why does the poet say, "I would not intrude on him"? Why doesn't he offer him money to buy another ball? 2. "... staring down/All his young days into the harbour where/His ball went ..." Do you think the boy has had the ball for a long time? Is it linked to the memories of days when he played with it? 3. What does "in the world of possessions" mean? 4. Do you think the boy has lost anything earlier? Pick out the words that suggest the answer. 5. What does the poet say the boy is learning from the loss of the ball? Try to explain this in your own words. 6. Have you ever lost something you liked very much? Write a paragraph describing how you felt then, and saying whether — and how — you got over your loss.
1. The poet says, "I would not intrude on him" because he respects the boy's grief and does not want to disturb his moment of sorrow. Offering money to buy another ball would be insensitive as it would ignore the emotional loss the boy is experiencing.
2. The phrase "staring down all his young days into the harbour where his ball went" suggests that the boy has had the ball for a long time and it holds many memories of his childhood and playtime.
3. "In the world of possessions" means the mate
Why was the young seagull afraid to fly from the ledge despite having wings larger than his siblings?
The young seagull was afraid to fly because he was scared of the great expanse of sea beneath him, which seemed miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him, making him too fearful to take the plunge.
What finally compelled the young seagull to make his first flight?
The sight of food maddened the young seagull. His mother teased him by holding a piece of fish just out of reach, which made him dive after it. This forced him to fly as he fell, helping him overcome his fear.
Ready to ace this chapter?
Get the full Since the earliest times, humans have dreamt of conquering the chapter — interactive notes, diagrams, worked solutions, polls and a free practice quiz — in the ConceptScroll app.
Study smarter with ConceptScroll
Daily NCERT-aligned reels, AI doubt solving and chapter quizzes — all free.
Start learning freeContinue reading
- T he S ermon at | Class 10 English Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on T he S ermon at for Class 10 English.
- T he S ermon at | Class 10 English Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on T he S ermon at for Class 10 English.
- T he S ermon at | Class 10 English Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on T he S ermon at for Class 10 English.