Back to: CBSE Class 6 English Summary & Notes
Table of Contents
Introduction
This chapter is about the recurring phenomenon of sleep. Sleeping is a human activity that has many uses. The chapter explains how the human body functions differently while sleeping compared to while awake. It also talks about dreams, which are a significant part of sleep.
Summary
Sleeping is a human activity in which the body is at rest and the mind is temporarily unconscious. It is an essential requirement for our bodies to function normally. It gives our body and mind the much needed rest. After a good sleep, we get rid of exhaustion and become mentally and physically active.
Some processes of our bodies undergo temporary changes while we sleep. These involve a slower heartbeat rate and a lower body temperature and blood pressure. The human mind also slows down during sleep. Our muscles are more relaxed during sleep compared to when we are awake.
Dreaming is a fascinating phenomenon which occurs within our sleep. But since we dream in a state of unconsciousness, most of our dreams fade from our memory as soon as we wake up. Dreaming has been a subject of curiosity and study by many scientists and doctors. Some studies show that the content of our dreams is sometimes linked to our real life problems.
Conclusion
Though some of the events or incidents that we see in our dreams are probable, they do not predict the future. In his poem “Lights Out”, the poet Edward Thomas calls sleep an “unfathomable deep”, referring to the impossibility of fully understanding this state. Thus, sleep is a state of stillness, a temporary pause and rest. It gives the body time to renew its energy. Hence, a good sleep is a must for us to wake up fresh and active.
