NCERT Class 8 English Honeydew: Chapter 8 — A Short Monsoon Diary
This chapter, 'A Short Monsoon Diary,' presents extracts from the diary of a nature enthusiast who cherishes the monsoon season in the hills. It details the observer's appreciation for the changes brought about by the rains in the local flora and fauna. The text also includes various language activities designed to enhance comprehension and writing skills, encouraging students to observe and record seasonal changes in their environment. Additionally, it introduces the poem 'On the Grasshopper and Cricket,' highlighting its complexity and suggesting comparative study with 'The Ant and the Cricket.' The chapter aims to deepen students' understanding of nature's cycles and poetic expression, fostering a connection with the natural world through observation and creative writing.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 8 |
| Subject | English |
| Book | Honeydew |
| Chapter | Chapter 8 — A Short Monsoon Diary |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 290 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand and appreciate nature's changes during the monsoon season.
- Develop observational skills by recording environmental changes.
- Enhance writing skills through diary entries and descriptive sentences.
- Analyze poetic devices and themes in 'On the Grasshopper and Cricket'.
- Compare and contrast different poems based on style and theme.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| flora | The plants of a particular region or period, considered as a group. |
| fauna | The animals of a particular region or period, considered as a group. |
| enthusiast | A person who is very interested in a particular activity or subject. |
| extracts | Short passages taken from a text, film, or piece of music. |
| appreciate | Recognize the full worth of. |
| accompanying | Happening or existing at the same time or in connection with. |
| devise | Plan or invent (a complex procedure, system, or mechanism) by careful thought. |
| fortnight | A period of two weeks. |
| brevity | Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech. |
| complexity | The state or quality of being intricate or complicated. |
| concretise | Make or become solid, real, or definite. |
| rhyme | Each of two or more words or lines of verse that have or end in the same sound. |
The complete chapter text is read in the official NCERT PDF viewer below (streamed from ncert.nic.in). This page provides NCERT Help study material — summary, vocabulary, practice questions, and FAQs — not a full reproduction of the textbook.
Read chapter online
This PDF is loaded from the official NCERT website (ncert.nic.in). Use the page buttons below to read — download is disabled on NCERT Help.
Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.
Practice questions
- What does the diary describe? Answer: The diary describes extracts from the life of a nature lover who enjoys the monsoon in the hills and observes the changes in flora and fauna.
- What kind of activities are suggested in the chapter? Answer: The chapter suggests activities related to observing seasonal changes, recording temperature and sunrise/sunset times, and analyzing poems.
- What is the poem 'On the Grasshopper and Cricket' about? Answer: The poem is about animal cries and the sounds of nature, with a focus on brevity of expression and complexity of thought.
- What is the suggested project under 'writing'? Answer: The suggested project is to write five or six sentences about changes observed in nature during May, August, and December in one's region.
- What is the difficulty mentioned regarding the poem 'On the Grasshopper and Cricket'? Answer: The difficulty lies in its brevity of expression and complexity of thought.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main theme of 'A Short Monsoon Diary'?
The main theme is the appreciation of the monsoon season and the observation of nature's changes in the hills.
What skills does the chapter aim to develop?
The chapter aims to develop observational skills, writing abilities, and analytical skills for poetry.
What is the significance of the poem 'On the Grasshopper and Cricket'?
It illustrates the 'poetry of earth' and the sounds of nature through animal cries, focusing on concise expression and complex thought.
What kind of writing practice is suggested?
Students are encouraged to write diary entries about seasonal changes and observe nature.
What is the purpose of recording daily temperature and sunrise/sunset times?
These activities help students observe and understand the changes occurring in nature and the environment over time.
Which other poem is suggested for comparison?
The poem 'The Ant and the Cricket' is suggested for comparison with 'On the Grasshopper and Cricket' to highlight differences in style and theme.
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 8 English — Honeydew — Chapter 8 — A Short Monsoon Diary. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.