Stanza for comprehension of the poem My Mother at Sixty six

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Stanza 1

“Driving from my parent’s

home to Cochin last Friday
morning, I saw my mother,
beside me,
doze-open mouthed, her face
ashen like that
of a corpse

Questions :-

1. Name the poem and the poetess.

Ans. The name of the poem is ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’ and the poetess is Kamala Das.

2. Where was the poetess driving to?

Ans. The poetess was driving from her parents’ home to Cochin airport on a Friday morning.

3. What did she notice about her mother?

Ans. The poetess noticed that her mother was sleeping with her mouth opened and the mother’s face was very pale, just like that of a dead body.

4. Why was her mother’s face looking like that of a corpse?

Ans. Her mother’s face had lost all its glow and colour of youth due to ageing. It looked pale, faded and nearly lifeless. That was why it was
looking like a corpse’s face.

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Stanza 2.

And realised with pain

that she was as old as she
looked but soon
put that thought away,

Questions :

1. What worried the poetess when she looked at her mother?

Ans When the poetess looked her mother, she looked pale and faded, just like a corpse, which worried the poetess. This indicated that her mother
may die very soon.

2. Why was there pain in her realisation?

Ans. The poetess felt pain in her realisation because she would not see her mother again, as she may die soon.

3. Why did she put that thought away?

Ans. The poetess put that thought away because she had distracted by thinking about her mother’s impending death.
4. Identify the figure of speech used in these lines.

Ans. ‘Simile’ is used in these lines when the colour of her mother’s face is ashen, like that of a corpse.

5 Who does ‘I’ refer to?

Ans. ‘I’ is used for the poetess, Kamala Das.

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Stanza 3.

And looked out at Young

Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes, but after the airport’s
security check, standing a few yards
away, I looked again at her.

Questions :

1. Who went for security check and who is ‘her’ in the above lines?

Ans. The poetess, Kamala Das, went for security check at the airport. ‘Her’ in the above lines refers to the poetess’s mother.

2. What does the poetess compare her mother’s face to and why?

Ans. The poetess compares her mother’s face to a late winter’s moon as a late winter’s moon’ looks colourless and dull because of mist and fog.

3. Explain ‘late winter’s moon’.

Ans Late winter’s moon’ refers to the moon during the late winter season, which appears pale and lustreless because of mist and fog. The poetess
has compared her mother’s face to the late winter’s moon because her face seems to have lost all its shine.

Stanza 4.

Wan,
pale
as a late winter’s moon and felt that
old
familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,
but all I said was, see you soon,
Amma,
all I did was smile and smile and
smile …..

Questions :
1. Who is ‘her’?
Ans. ‘Her’ refers to the mother.

2. What was the poetess’s childhood fear?

Ans. The childhood fear was that of losing her mother.

3. What were the poetess’s parting words?

Ans. The poetess’s parting words were, “See you soon, Amma”.
4. What does the repeated use of the word, ‘smile’ mean?

Ans. Repeated use of the word ‘smile’ means a pretended cheerful of smile. So the poetess smiled for a long time to make her mother happy.

Read the stanzas given below and answer the questions that follow each:
1.Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still.
Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)Why does the poet ask us to count to twelve?
(c)Why does the poet ask us to keep still?
(d) Find words from the passage which mean.
(ii) say number (iii) quiet and motionless.
Answers:
(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The name of the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b)There are only twelve signs on the clock to measure hours. Therefore, the poet asks us to count till the clock measures these
horns.
(c)Too much activity and rush has only brought misfortunes to mankind. Hence, it is better to be quiet and still.
(d) (i) count (ii) still

2. For once on the face of the Earth let’s not speak in any language, let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.
Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)‘Let’s not speak in any language’, says the poet. Why?
(c)What should we not do for a second?
(d) What do you understand by ‘the face of the Earth ?
Answers:
(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b)The people of the world have been indulging in wars and bloodsheds on minor excuses. If they keep quiet, they may not indulge
in reasoning, disputes and quarrels. So, let them keep quiet and not speak in any language. This will ensure peace and prosperity.
(c)We should cease all activities for a second. Man has used his arms only to kill and destroy others. Therefore, let them not move
their arms so much as to harm others.
(d) The expression “the face of the Earth’ refers to the various countries on the surface of the earth.

3.It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines, we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)What will happen if there is no rush or running of engines?
(c)What sort of moment will it be?
(d)How would all of us feel at that moment?
Answers:
(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b)There will be peace all around if there is no rush or the sound of the running of engines and machines.
(c)It will be a very enticing and beautiful moment.
(d) All of us will enjoy the unusualness and sudden strangeness of that moment.

4. Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.
Questions
(a)What do fishermen usually do in the cold sea?
(b)What does the poet ask fishermen not to do?
(c)What has happened to the man gathering salt?
(d) What should the man gathering salt do?
Answers:
(a)Fishermen usually catch fish, particularly whales, in the cold seas.
(b)The poet asks fishermen not to hurt or injure the whales in the seas.
(c)The man gathering salt has injured his hands.
(d)He must take care of his hurt hands.

5. Those who prepare green wars,

wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their
brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.
Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)What sort of wars are mentioned in the above lines?
(c)What kind of victory will it be?
(d) How should the lovers of war behave?
Answers:
(а)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b)Green wars, wars with poisonous gases and wars with the fire are the different kinds of wars.
(c) It will be a victory where no survivors will be left to celebrate it. Such a victory will be meaningless.
(d) They should put on clean clothes and walk with their brothers under the trees leisurely doing nothing.

6.What I want should not be confused

with total inactivity. i Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.
If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with
death.
Questions
(a)What does the poet want? What should it not be confused with?
(b)Explain: 7 want no truck with death’.
(c)What do people pursue single-mindedly? Which is the better course the poet suggests?
(d)When can a huge silence do us good?
Answers:
(а)The poet is advocating for silence or stillness. Stillness should not be confused with total inactivity.
(b)Total inactivity brings death. The poet refuses to associate (or deal) with death. Thus, he is not advocating for death.
(c)People pursue single-mindedly on keeping their lives moving. ..The poet suggests that it would be better if they give themselves
rest for sometime. For once they may do nothing.
(d)A huge silence can do us a lot of good when we are disappointed at not understanding ourselves or threatening ourselves with
death.

7. Perhaps the Earth can teach us as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive.
Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.
Questions
(a)What can the Earth teach us?
(b)What remains alive when everything seems dead?
(c)Who is the poet? What does he want to do?
(d)What does the poet ask us to do?
Answers:
‘(a) The earth can teach us a lesson how to live on it.
(b)Only the earth remains alive when everything seems dead.
(c) The poet is Pablo Neruda. He wants to count upto twelve.
(d) He asks us to keep quiet while he is counting upto twelve.

QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK SOLVED

Q1. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
Ans: Counting up to twelve takes very short time. Keeping still for this brief interval of time gives us a momentary pause to
introspect and review the course of action. It is generally observed that most of the ills and troubles of the world are caused by our
rush or hurry. Violence is caused by anger. Keeping quiet and still will give us necessary respite and ensure peace.

Q2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
Ans: No, he doesn’t advocate either total inactivity or death. He makes it quite clear that ‘stillness’ should not be confused with “total
inactivity or equated to it. Total inactivity brings death. But Neruda has ‘no truck with death’. His stillness means halting of harmful
and hostile human activities.

Q3. What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem? [All India 2014]
Ans: Man’s sadness is formed out of his own actions and thoughts. It is quite ironical that man who understands so much fails to
understand himself and his action. Rash actions prove harmful and disastruous. Man is the creator of all disasters. He is always
threatening himself with death because of his thoughts and actions. This is the tragedy of his life.

Q4. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?
Ans: The poet wants to prove that there can be life under apparent stillness. The poet invokes the earth as a living symbol to prove
his point. The earth never attains total inactivity. Nature remains at work all the time even under apparent stillness. It keeps earth
alive. This idea is beautifully illustrated by the following lines:“as when everything seems dead and later proves to he alive.”

Q5. Choose a quiet corner and keep still physically and mentally for about five minutes. Do you feel any change in your
state of mind?
Ans: Extension Activity: For self-study.

MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (Word Limit: 30-40 words)
Q1. Why does Pablo Neruda urge us to keep still?
Ans: Stillness is essential for calm reflection and quiet introspection. We hear the voice of conscience in moments of silence. The
poet is convinced that most of human ills and miseries are caused by man’s hurry and rush to do things. The poet wishes that we
may withdraw ourselves from our undesirable actions and keep still for a moment.

Q2. Why shouldn’t we “speak in any language” and “not move our arms so much”?
Ans: People of the world speak in different languages. They indulge in unnecessary debates and disputes. Most of these arguments
lead to destructive wars. The poet urges people to stop speaking in any language. They must speak through their hearts. So far
men have moved their arms only to harm others. Therefore, the poet wants that they should not move their arms so much. Let these
arms rest for once. Let a feeling of mutual understanding , be created among human beings.

Q3. Pablo Neruda says:“we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.”

When can we experience such a moment? Why will that be an exotic moment?
Ans: Non-stop activity, unnecessary rush and noise have made our lives unpleasant and full of misery, pain and troubles. We must
stop rushing, hurrying, worrying and running. Even the noise of engines and machines must stop for once. Then all of us will enjoy
the sudden strangeness of that moment. It will be a unique moment. In that exotic or fascinating moment we shall feel totally
relaxed, physically as well as mentally.

Q4. What does the poet ask the fisherman and the man collecting salt to dot What docs In-exactly want to convey by this?
Ans: Pablo Neruda is against any kind of violence. He addresses the fishermen and asks them not to harm whales living in the cold
seas of the polar regions. He is also against any kind of self torturing. The man who is gathering salt has hint his hands. He asks
this man to look after himself and take care of his injured hands.

Q5. What are the different kinds of war mentioned towards war?
Ans: The poet is against wars of all kinds. He wants a total stoppage of war. Green wars against the environment, wars with
poisonous gases and wars with fire must be terminated (stopped) at once.

Q6. What alternative does Pablo Neruda suggest instead of indulging in wars?
Ans: Instead of indulging in wars, the people must come out in their best dresses with then- brothers. They should go out for a walk
under the shady trees and enjoy themselves doing nothing. This would bring the feeling of togetherness among them.

Q7. How does the poet distinguish ‘stillness’ from ‘total inactivity’? Why does Neruda saw I want no truck with death?
Ans: Pablo Neruda is in favour of stillness or silence. We remain still and quiet for sometime. On the other hand, total inactivity is a
permanent suspension of work. It is just like death. ‘Stillness’ should not be Confused with ‘total inactivity’. Life goes on as usual.
There can’t be anything like total inactivity. The poet refuses to associate with death or deal with it.

Q8. Why does the poet fee! that we should not be so single-minded’?
Ans: People are generally single-minded. They want to focus on only one thing. They want to keep their lives going. They are ever
busy in their pursuit. The poet wishes that they would not be so much absorbed with always remaining on the move. They must
have some respite or rest. They too need peace or silence.

Q9.Why do men become sad? How can this sadness be overcome?

Ans: Men fail to understand themselves. They are always threatening themselves with death. When they realise their failure to
understand themselves they become sad or helpless. Fear of death also makes them sad. Only a huge silence’ can interrupt this
sadness. Such silence will do them good.

Q10. How might a huge silence interrupt the sadness of men?

Ans: Men never understand themselves. Nor are they ever sure of their actions. They face another tragedy. Due to their own
actions, they are threatening themselves with death. This realisation makes them helpless and sad. Only a huge (long) silence might
interrupt this sadness and do them some good.

Q11. Under the apparent stillness there is life. Justify this statement giving an example from the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’.
Ans: Neruda does not equate stillness with total inactivity. He believes that under this apparent stillness there is life. We can learn it
from the earth. When everything seems dead, the earth still remains alive. The earth is never dead. The life on the earth goes on as
usual under the apparent stillness.

Q12. Justify the title ‘Keeping Quiet’.

Ans: The title of the poem is quite appropriate and logical. It suggests the necessity of quiet introspection. The people of the world
are overactive and always on the move. Their activities have caused untold troubles and sufferings. Keeping quiet will do them a lot
of good. It will save them from many harmful and violent activities. Moreover, it will help in reflecting over the fate of man and help in
creating a feeling of mutual understanding among human beings.

Q13. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’:[Delhi 201]
Ans: The poet talks about the exotic moment when everyone keeps quiet. There will be no rush for a second. The machines must
stop for a moment. That moment will be fascinating for all of us. All of us shall enjoy the sudden strangeness of the moment
together.
Read the stanzas given below and answer the questions that follow each:
1.A thing of beauty is a joy forever Its loveliness increases, it will never Pass into nothingness; but will keep A bower quiet for us,
and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)How is a thing of beauty a joy for ever ?
(c)What do you understand by a ‘bower’l
(d)What kind of sleep does it provide?
Answers:
(а)The poem is A Thing of Beauty. The poet is John Keats.
(b)A thing of beauty is the source of constant joy. Its beauty goes on increasing. It will never pass into nothingness.
(c)A bower is a pleasant place in the shade under a tree. It protects persons/animals from the hot rays of the sun.
(d)It provides us a sound sleep, full of sweet dreams, health and peaceful breathing.

2. Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Questions [All India 2014]
(a)Name the poem and the poet.
(b)Why are we despondent?
(c)What removes the pall from our dark spirits?
(d) What are we doing every day?
Answers:
(а)The poet is John Keats. The poem is A Thing of Beauty.
(b)We possess the evil qualities of malice and disappointment. We suffer from the lack of noble qualities. That is why we feel
despondent.
(c) Some beautiful shapes or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from our hearts or spirits.
(d) We are weaving a flowery wreath to bind us to the beauties of the earth.

3. Some shape of beauty moves away the pall From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon For simple sheep; and such are daffodils

With the green world they live in; and clear rills That for themselves a cooling covert make
‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake,
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms;
Questions
(а)What removes the pall from our dark spirits?
(b)What sprouts a shady boon for sheep and how?
(c) How do ‘daffodils’ and ‘rills’ enrich the environment?
(d) What makes the mid-forest brake rich?
Answers:
(a)Some beautiful shape or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from our hearts or
spirits.
(b)Old and young trees sprout to make a green covering. It proves a blessing for simple sheep as
it serves them as a shelter.
(c)Daffodils bloom among the green surroundings. The rills or small streams of clear water make
a cooling shelter for themselves against the hot season.
(d)The mid forest brake is made rich by the blooming of beautiful musk-roses.
(e)(i) pall, (ii) boon, (Hi) rills, (iv) covert.
4. And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
Ml lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink
Questions [Delhi 2014]
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)Explain: ‘the grandeur of the dooms’.
(c)What is the thing of beauty mentioned in these lines’?
(d)What image does the poet use in these lines?
Answers:
(а)The poem is A Thing of Beauty. The poet is John Keats.
(b)The magnificence that we imagine for our mighty dead forefathers on the dooms day.
(c)The lovely tales of mighty men are mentioned in these lines.
(d)The poet uses the image of ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink’ to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth. The earth has
bestowed us with sun, moon, flowers, rivers, greenery etc.

QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK SOLVED

Q1. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Ans: Everything of nature is a thing of beauty and a source of pleasure. Some of them are: the sun, the moon, old and young trees,
daffodil flowers, small streams with clear water, mass of ferns and the blooming musk-roses. All of them are things of beauty. They
are a constant source of joy and pleasure.

Q2. List the things that cause suffering and pain.

Ans: There are many things that cause us suffering and pain. Malice and disappointment are “the biggest source of our suffering.
Another one is the lack of noble qualities. Our unhealthy and evil ways also give birth to so many troubles and sufferings. They
dampen our spirits. They act as a pall of sadness on our lives.

Q3. What does the line, ‘Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth’ suggest to you?
Ans: Keats is a lover of beauty. He employs his senses to discover beauty. The link of man with nature is eternal. The things of
beauty are like wreaths of beautiful flowers. We seem to weave a flowery band everyday. It keeps us attached to the beauties of this
earth.

Q4. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
Ans: There are many things that bring us troubles and sufferings. They dampen our spirits. However, ‘some shape of beauty1
brings love and happiness in our lives in spite of such unpleasant things. A thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness and
sufferings. It makes us love life.

Q5. Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’?

Ans: The mighty dead were very powerful and dominating persons during their own times. Their achievements made them ‘mighty’
and great. Their noble works dazzle our eyes. We imagine that such mighty dead forefathers will attain more grandeur on the
doomsday. Hence ‘grandeur’ is associated with the ‘mighty dead’.

Q6. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting impression on us?
Ans: We feel happy by coming into contact with things of beauty. They make a lasting impression on us. Keats makes it clear at the
outset. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. It is a constant source of joy and pleasure. Its beauty never declines or diminishes. Its
loveliness goes on increasing every moment. Its value remains undiminished. It never passes into nothingness. It removes the pall
of sadness that covers our dark spirits.

Q7, What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?
Ans: John Keats uses a very beautiful image to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth. It is the endless fountain of immortal
drink. It pours constantly into our hearts from heaven. Thus, the beautiful bounty of the earth is called “an endless fountain of
immortal drink.”

MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (Word Limit: 30-40 words)
Q1. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?
Ans: According to John Keats a thing of beauty is a joy of forever. It is a constant source of happiness and pleasure. Its loveliness
increases every moment. It will never pass into nothingness. In other words, a thing of beauty is never devalued.

Q2. How does a thing of beauts provide us shelter and comfort?

Ans: John Keats is a great Romantic poet. He is rich in sensuous imagery. Nature provides us things of rare beauty. It keeps a
bower quiet for us. A bower is a pleasant place in the shade under a tree. A thing of beauty also provides us peace and security. We
enjoy a sound sleep which is full of sweet dreams, health and peaceful breathing.

Q3. How do us bind our self to the earth every morning?

Ans: All the Romantic poets stress upon the relationship between man and nature. Keats believes that there is an unbreakable
bond which binds man with nature and the earth. The beauties of the earth fascinate man. Every object of nature is a source of
beauty and happiness. Everyday we are weaving a wreath of flowers. This flowery band binds us to the beauties of this earth.

Q4. What are the things that cause miseries, sorrows and sufferings to man ?
Ans: Man himself is the root cause of all his sufferings. We suffer from malice and distress because we lack human qualities that
makes us inhuman. Our life becomes gloomy. We cultivate unhealthy and evil ways. All such things bring miseries, sorrows and
sufferings to man.

Q5. What spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it removed?
Ans: Man is the creator of his woes. His own nature and actions make his life miserable. He faces miseries and pains. A pall of
despondence covers his dark spirits. A thing of beauty provides a ray of hope to man. Some shape of beauty works wonders amid
these sorrows and sufferings. It is a thing of beauty that removes the pall of despondence over our dark spirits.
Q6. Name the beauties of nature that are constant source of joy and happiness to man.
Ans: Nature is a store house of beauty. The beauties of nature are endless. The sun, the moon, old and young trees, beautiful
daffodil flowers and green surroundings are some of such beautiful things. Small streams with clear water, thick mass of ferns,
thickets of forest and musk-rose are some other things of beauty. All such things of beauty are a constant source of joy and
happiness to man.

Q7. Why and how is ‘grandeur associated with the ‘mighty dead’?
Ans: The dooms day is considered the day of judgement, when the dead will receive what is due to them. Our mighty dead
forefathers earned name and fame with their noble deeds. It is hoped that they will be rewarded with rare magnificence and
grandeur.

Q8. How is a thing of beauty lovelier than all the lovely tales we have heard and read?
Ans: All beautiful things of nature are a boon for humanity. The magnificence and beauty of objects of nature surpasses the
grandeur of dooms that we have imagined for our mighty dead forefathers. It is lovelier than all the lovely tales that we have heard
or read.

Q9. What is the source of the ‘endless fountain’ and what is its effect?
Ans: A fountain of eternal joy’and immortality pours into the heart and soul of man. It flows right from the heavens brink and pours
into the human heart. It is like an immortal nectar. The immortal drink that nature’s endless fountain pours into our hearts is a source
of immense joy for us.

Q10. What is the message for the theme) of the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’?
Ans: The very first line contains the message that John Keats, the great Romantic poet, wants to convey. Keats was a worshipper
of beauty. For him beauty was truth and truth, beauty. Hence, for him a thing of beauty is a joy forever. Beauty never fades. Nor is it
ever devalued. It never passes into nothingness. When we are full of sorrows and sufferings, some form of beauty comes to our
rescue. It removes the pall of sadness and sorrows and gives us joy and pleasure. Thus, beauty is a boon for human beings.

A Roadside Stand Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
The city folk who drove through the countryside hardly paid any heed to the roadside stand or to the people who ran it. If at all they
did, it was to complain, which lines bring this out? What was their complaint about?
Answer:
Lines which bring this are :
“The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead, or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts; At having the landscape marred with
the artless paint; Of signs that with N turned wrong and sturned wrong…” Their complaint was that the wrongly made signs had
spoiled the natural beauty.

Question 2.
What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
Answer:
The plea of roadside stand sellers was the ignorance by the vehicles.They pleaed that nobody stopped there to buy their products.

Question 3.
The government and other social service agencies appear to help the poor rural people, but actually do them no good. Pick out the
words and phrases that the poet uses to show their double standards.
Answer:
The words/phrases expressing their double standards are :

 pitiful kin
 mercifully gathered
 they won’t have to think for themselves anymore.

Question 4.
What is the ‘Childish longing’ that the poet refers to? Why is it vain?
Answer:
‘Childish longing’ seems through the desire of the poor farmer who sits near the open window all day and prays for the stopping of
any car.

Question 5.
Which lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the throught of the plight of the rural people?
Answer:
The lines about the insufferable pain that the poet feels are :
“Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear the thought of so much Childish longing in vain, the sadness that lurks near the open
window there.” “I can’t help owning the great relief it would be to put these people at one stroke out of their pain.”

Question 6.
Where was a little new shed situated ?
Answer:
Out of the little old house in front at the edge of the road, was the place where ‘a little new shed’ was situated.

Question 7.
What is the demand of the roadside stand ?
Answer:
The roadside stand pleaded not for a dole of bread but demands for some of the money, some cash which supports cities from
sinking and withering faint.

Question 8.
What attitude does the polished traffic show ?
Answer:
The polished traffic passes with a mind ahead and does of pay little bit attention towards the roadside stands.

Question 9.
What is sold by the roadside stand sellers ?
Answer:
They sell wild berries in wooden quarts and crook necked golden squash with silver warts.

Question 10.
What is the complaint of the poet ?
Answer:
The complaint of the poet is about the city’s money which he also wants to feel in hand and to expand their life’s standard.

Question 11.
What is in the news ?
Answer:
The news is about the settlement of the farmers mercifully near to the theatre and the store where they won’t have to think for
themselves any-more.

Question 12.
What is the Childish longing of the poet ?
Answer:
The poet childishly longs for the betterment and growth of those unfortunate people but these desires and expectations would never
be fulfilled by the greedy good-doers.

Question 13.
Why those cars are named as ‘selfish’ ?
Answer:
Cars (vehicles) continuously pass through that road but out of those thousand of cars, not a single stop there even to inquire about
the prices of the products of the farmers.

Question 14.
Why do the cars stop there occasionally?
Answer:
Cars stop at roadside stand occasionally to ask about the route’s destination or for demanding the fuel (gas) for their vehicles.

Question 15.
How does the poet feel himself helpless?
Answer:
The poet finally concludes that he is totally helpless to remove the pain of the farmers. He can’t put those people out of their pain at
one stroke.

A Roadside Stand Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Write in brief the summary of the poem.
Answer:
Poet, Robert Frost experienced the pain of the poor formers who established their little shedded stalls to sell various products grown
or manufactured by them but the poet observed that out of thousands of the visitors and vehicles, nobody is interested in their
offerings. On the other hand, the selfish travellers criticized their presentations and passed throughly proudly.

Poet is hurt by their behaviour and attitude and has a complaint for their survival as they too want to be the part of the flow of
economy; presently mainly run by the city dwellers only. They too have the right to live comfortably like their ideals. But they are
always used for the self motives of the greedy good-doers. They enforce their benefits over the poor farmers, misguide them and
destroy their ancient

culture and way of living by lullying them. They just want to grasp their fields and houses. Poet is tired and finds his expectations
failed, too much disappointed by the financial condition and struggle V of the distressed peasants who for whole day sit, pray and
wait for the cars to stop at least to inquire or to buy but the self-centred egoistic persons use the empty place to turn their vehicles or
sometimes stop to ask about the path or fuel.

Anger of farmers is natural, they reply and ask’ irritatingly for the common sense of the proudy persons. Poet realizes that no
miracle can be seen and he is unable to console the poverty-stricken farmers and it’s impossible to extricate the villagers out of their
pain at one stroke. He realizes, when finds himself sensible, that his call is futile, to help them and no one is ready to help them.

Question 2.
Have you ever stopped at a roadside stand ? What have you observed ?
Answer:
Yes, I’ve stopped at a roadside stand on a highway twice or thrice and found that the villagers have too much expectations from us,
who pass from those roads. They work hard for whole day and whole family members of them sit there to sell fresh vegetables,
fruits, juices and other products.

Very few of us actually purchase something but only use them for general queries like asking about road map, gas or petrol for our
vehicles or many a times to use that broad empty space to turn our vehicles. I also observed that those farmers are pitiful and facing
very miserable condition and fighting for their existence and survival.

Those merciful poor farmers should be helped and treated like the human beings and dwellers of cities. They should not be cheated
and used for the introversion purposes. They also contribute to the growth and economy of the country as they grow crops for whole
mankind.

A Roadside Stand Extra Questions and Answers Stanza For Comprehension

Stanza 1

The little old house was out with a little new shed
In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,
A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,
It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,
But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports
The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.

Questions

(a) Why was the new shed put up by the villagers ?

(b) Why the word ‘pathetically1 was used ?
(c) What would not be fair and why ?
(d) How cash supports the cities ?
Answers
(a) The new shed was put up by the villagers to earn some money by selling their products.
(b) Word ‘pathetically’ was used to show the miserable and pitiful condition of the farmers.
(c) To say for a ‘dole of bread’ would not be fair because those farmers have their self-respect and they do not need begging.
(d) Cash escapes the cities from sinking and withering faint.

Stanza 2

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts
At having the landscape marred with the artless paint
Of signs that with N turned wrong and sturned wrong
Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,
Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,
Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,

Questions
(a) What does ‘the polished traffic’ mean ?
(b) How the landscape was marred ?
(c) What was sold there at roadside stands ?
(d) What is meant by ‘out of sorts’ ?
Answers
(a) The polished traffic means the glossy, dexterous and proudy traffic.
(b) The landscape was marred with the artless paint of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong.
(c) Wild berries in wooden quarts and crook-necked golden squash with silver warts are sold there.
(d) ‘Out of sorts’ means complaining, bad-tempered or unhappy.

Stanza 3
You have the money, but if you want to be mean,
Why keep your money (his crossly) and go along.
The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint
So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid :
Here far from the city we make our roadside stand
And ask for some city money to feel in hand
To try if it will not make our being expand,
And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise
That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.

Questions
(a) How are the city dwellers proved to be mean ?
(b) Where have they made their roadside stands ?
(c) Why do the farmers need some city money to feel in hand ?
(d) What is the promise of the ruling party ?
Answers
(a) City dwellers have enough money but they go along without spending it.
(b) ‘They have made their roadside stands far from the city.
(c) The farmers need some city money to feel in hand to make their being expand and to live life like their ideals/heroes.
(d) The party in power promises to give them a comfortable and luxury life without worry and economic problem.

Stanza 4

It is in the news that all these pitiful kin

Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in
To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,
Where they won’t have to think for themselves any more,
While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,
Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits
That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits,
And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day,
Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.

Questions
(a) What is in the news?
(b) What, according to the greedy good-doers, is the benefit of the farmers?
(c) ‘Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits’, explain.
(d) How their sleeping would be destroyed?
Answers
(a) It is in the news that all these pitiful kin are to be brought out and gathered mercifully, these farmers would be settled in the
villages near the theatre and the store.
(b) The farmers won’t have to think for themselves any-more.
(c) Aborie mentioned line means : Capturing the lives of the farmers by enforcing their own benefits; using them for purposes.
(d) By teaching them how to sleep, their ancient way of sleeping would be destroyed.

Stanza 5

Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear

The thought of so much childish longing in vain,
The sadness that lurks near the open window there,
That waits all day in almost open prayer
For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,
Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,
Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are.
And one did stop, but only to plow up grass
In using the yard to back and turn around;
And another to ask the way to where it was bound;
And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas
They couldn’t (this crossly); thy had none, didn’t it seel

Questions
(a) What can be hardly borne by the poet?
(b) What do they wait for?
(c) How cars are selfish?
(d) What is the reply of the farmers at last?
Answers
(a) The poet can hardly bear the thought of so much childish longing in vain: expectations that would never be fulfilled.
(b) They (farmers) wait for the squeal Of brakes, the sound of a stopping car; actually they wait for the real customers.
(c) Cars are said to be selfish because nobody stops there to buy anything but to inquire only or to plow up the grass by turning their
heavy vehicles.
(d) The farmers angrily reply that they have nothing as per their demand, do they not see whatever they are selling.
Stanza 6

No, in country money, the country scale of gain,

The requisite lift of spirit has never been found,
Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,
I can’t help owning the great relief it would be
To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.
And then next day as I come back into the sane,
I wondor how I should like you to come to me
And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

Questions
(a) What is not found in country money?
(b) Who complains and why?
(c) How poet finds himself helpless?
(d) Why was poet wondeored?
Answers
(a) The requisite lift of spirit is never found in country money, at the country scale of gain.
(b) The voice (villagers) of the country complains because no relief is given to them from the government or greedy good-doers.
(c) The poet finds himself helpless as he is unable to put those people out of their pain at one stroke.
(d) The poet was wondeored because he was expecting them to come to him and put him gently out of his pain.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

By- Adrienne Rich
Read the following extracts and answer the questions given below:
1. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.

They do not fear the men beneath the tree:

They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
Ans. The poem is ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers and the poet is Adrienne Rich.
(b)What are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers doing? How do they look like?
Ans. The Tigers are seen prancing on the screen. They are yellow like topaz (a precious stone).
(c)Where do they live? Who are they not afraid of?
Ans. They live in green forests. They are fearless and are not afraid of the men beneath the tree.
2.Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand
(a)What were Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through?
Ans. Her fingers were fluttering through her wool.
(b)How was she pulling the needle?
Ans. She was pulling the needle with a lot of difficulties.
(c)What did Aunt Jennifer have on her hand? What was the problem with that object?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer had her husband’s wedding band on her finger. The problem was that his band lay heavily on her
hand because it was a symbol of the difficulties and hardships that she had borne in her married life.

3. When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie

Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid
(a)Why are Aunt Jennifer’s hands called ‘terrified’?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer has led a very suppressed life and probably has faced a lot of hardships and difficulties. Her
hands are terrified due to the fear generated in her life by the dominating males.
(b) What are they still ringed with?
Ans. They still seem to carry the burden of hardships and difficult times which troubled her when she was alive.
(c)What will happen to the Tigers after her death?
Ans. Even after Aunt’s death, the Tigers will continue to jump about, feeling proud and unafraid.
4 .Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree:
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
(a)Why are the tigers called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers?
Ans. Since aunt Jennifer is embroidering the motif of the tiger on a panel, they are referred to like hers.
(b) How are they described here?
Ans. They are described as having topaz coloured fir. They are sleek, brave, fearless and confident.
(c)How are they different from Aunt Jennifer?
Ans. While aunt Jennifer is timid, weak, burdened and overpowered by her marital ordeals, the Tigers are sleek,
brave, fearless and confident.
(d)What does the word’ chivalric’ mean?
Ans. Chivalric means brave.

5. Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool [All India 2017]
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
(a)What is Aunt Jennifer doing with her wool?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer is working on an embroidery panel creating tigers.
(b) Why does she find it difficult to pull her ivory needle?
Ans. She is unhappy in her married life. She is fearful and has lost confidence in herself.
(c)What does ‘wedding band’ stand for?
Ans. The wedding band stands for the oppressive control of her husband over her w has taken away her freedom
and independence.
(d)Describe the irony in the third line.
Ans. The wedding band is a symbol of conjugal happiness but ironically, for aunt Jennifer, it has become a burden.

6. They do not fear the men beneath the tree;

They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
(a) Why do the Tigers not fear the men beneath the tree?
(b) What do you understand by ‘chivalric certainty’?
(c) How do tigers conduct themselves?
(d) Find out the oxymoron between Aunt Jennifer’s real life and that finds reflection on her creation.
Ans. (a) The Tigers do not fear the men beneath the tree because they are fearless creatures who are very confident
of their power and strength.
(b) ‘Chivalric certainty’ refers to the sense of confidence and chivalry that the Tigers possess. They are very confident
about their power and strength.
(c) Tigers conduct themselves in a chivalric manner. They are heroic, bold and confident.
(d) Aunt Jennifer herself is very submissive and subdued in her real life. But her creations in the form of the tigers are
just the opposite of what she was in her real life. The tigers that she made are fearless and confident.
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions
How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes ?
Answer:
Tigers are the denizens of the world of green. The . tiger is considered very brave and courageous animal. They are not afraid of
anyone.

Question 2.
Why do you think Aunt Jennifer’s hands are ‘fluttering through her wool’ in the second stanza ? Why is she finding the needle so
hard to pull ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer has become so old that it appears that her fingers are trembling through wool. She has become so weak that she
even finds the needle hard to pull. The poet means to say that unending household chores have made aunt very weak.

Question 3.
What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ ?
Answer:
The poet says that Uncle’s wedding band lies very heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand. She has to work endlessly from morning till night
and also have to bear Uncle’s tyranny. Aunt Jennifer has to slavishly follow all the orders of uncle.

Question 4.
Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with in the third stanza ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is terrified of endless household chores and Uncle in the third stanza. She thinks that even after her death she will not
be free from these household chores.

Question 5.
What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by, why is it significant that the poet uses the word ‘ringed’ ? What are the
meanings of the word ‘ringed’ in the poem ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by household chores. These chores are no less than ordeals for her be-cause willingly or unwillingly she
has to do them. The word ‘ringed’ has been used to convey that Aunt Jennifer is so surrounded by her ordeals that she can never
think to come out of them.

Question 6.
Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character ? What might the poet be suggesting,
through this difference ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is old and submissive woman. But the tigers she is embroidering on the panel appear to be bold and chivalric. The
suggestion given here is that women give birth to men but the same men tyrannise women when they grow up.

Question 7.
Interpret the symbols found in this poem.
Answer:
The poet has used the symbol of tigers in this poem. The tigers represent creative energy of women. The tigers also represent the
male-dominant society. The poet wants to say that the women give birth to men, but the same men tyrannise women when they
grow up.

Question 8.
Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer ? What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer ?
Answer:
Yes, we do sympathise with Aunt Jennifer. Aunt Jennifer symbolises particular housewife. She has to do all the household chores
without any respite. Her husband is very cruel and often tyrannises her. The poet says that perhaps Aunt Jennifer will have to
continue with her household chores even after death.

Question 9.
For Aunt Jennifer what do the tigers symbolise ?
Answer:
The tigers symbolise creative energy of women. The tigers also represent the male-dominant society. The poet wants to say that the
women give birth to men, but the same men tyrannise women when they grow up.

Question 10.
What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer has embroidered tigers on a panel. These tigers represent not only women’s creativity but also tyranny of men
towards women. It will continue even after the death of Aunt Jennifer. Therefore her tigers will also keep prancing on the panel.

Question 11.
Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer has been tyrannised by her husband all her life. Her husband has become a picture of terror for her. She is in fact
venting out all her inner feelings by embroidering tigers on the panel. In the form of tigers she has in fact embroidered the fearful
face of her husband.

Question 12.
Aunt Jennifer’s efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment.
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer embroidered tigers on the screen. These tigers are symbol of her husband, whom she is very afraid. She thinks that
by embroidering tigers she will get a sort of relief from her fear. But it proves quite futile. The poet says that even after her death, the
fear of her husband’s tyranny will keep on haunting Aunt Jennifer.
Question 13.
Why does Aunt Jennifer create animals that are so different from her own character ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is old and submissive woman. But the tigers she is embroidering on the panel appear to be bold and chivalric. The
suggestion given here is that women give birth to men but the same men tyrannise women when they grow up.

Question 14.
What picture of male chauvinism (tyranny) do we find in the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ ?
Answer:
Ours is a male-dominated society. Aunt Jennifer is a typical housewife. She has to follow her husband’s orders slavishly. Her
husband tyrannises her and she has accepted her fate submissively. In fact this poem reflects a true picture of male chauvinism.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type
Question 1.
Write in brief the summary of the poem.
Answer:
The poet refers to an old woman, Aunt Jennifer. She has embroidered some tigers on a screen. These tigers are jumping across the
screen. The poet says that these tigers appear so real as if they were actually the inhabitants of the jungle. Some men are shown
beneath the tree. But these tigers are fear¬less. They are not afraid of these men. Aunt Jennifer has become so old that it appears
that her fin¬gers are trembling through wool. She has become so weak that she even finds the needle hard to pull.

The poet says that the uncle wedding band lies very heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand. The poet means to say here that Aunt Jennifer
has to slavishly follow all the orders of uncle. Aunt Jennifer is terrified of endless household chores and Uncle. She thinks that even
after her death she will not be free from these household chores.

Question 2.
Write in brief the central idea of the poem.
Answer:
In this poem the poet narrates the tale of an old woman Aunt Jennifer. She is a typical housewife. She is embroidering tigers on a
frame. Aunt Jenni-fer has suffered all her life because of male-dominance. The tigers she is embroidering are in fact symbol of her
husband. They can also be seen as a symbol of a woman’s creative energy. The women give birth to men and the same men
tyrannise women when they grow up. The poet says that Aunt is crushed due to male chauvinism and it appears she won’t be free
from the bondage of her household chores even after her death.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Extra Questions and Answers Stanza For

Comprehension
Stanza 1

Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,

Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

Questions
(a) Why are the tigers called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers ?
(b) How are they described here ?
(c) How are they different from Aunt Jennifer ?
(d) What does the word, ‘chivalric’ mean ?
Answers
(a) Aunt Jennifer has embroidered the tigers on a screen, therefore they are called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers.
(b) These tigers are of bright yellow colour; they are in-habitants of the forests.
(c) Aunt Jennifer is a very submissive and timid woman. On the other hand the tigers are shown very brave and full of energy.
(d) It means ‘confident and brave’.

Stanza 2

Aunt Jennifer’s finger fluttering through her wool

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.

Questions
(a) What is Aunt Jennifer doing with her wool ?
(b) Why does she find it difficult to pull the ivory needle ?
(c) What does ‘wedding band’ stand for ?
(d) Describe the irony in the third line.
Answers
(a) She is embroidering beautiful tigers with her wool. Aunt Jennifer is finding hard to pull her needle because her hands have
become very weak.
(b) Wedding band in these lines stands for the marital duties that every woman has to perform.
(c) They never get any respite and they have to do household chores from early morning till late night.
(d) The wedding is generally considered union of two souls and blessed by God Himself. But ironically in this poem, the wedding is
considered as a painful experience of Aunt Jennifer.

Stanza 3

When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie

Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What was Aunt mastered by ?
(c) What will her terrified hands be ringed with ?
(d) What will happen to tigers after Aunt Jennifer’s death ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ and the name of the.poet is Adrienne Rich.
(b) Aunt was mastered by her ordeals.
(c) Her terrified hands will be ringed with ordeals.
(d) The tigers will keep on prancing on the screen even after Aunt Jennifer’s death.

Poetic Devices in all poems

My Mother at Sixty – Six

1. Personification – Trees sprinting

2. Simile – Pale as a late winter’s moon

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3. Imagery – young children , trees sprinting backwards

4. Metaphor – Merry children spilling out of their homes

5. Repetition – smile and smile and smile

An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum

1. Simile – windows shut like catacombs, hair like rootless weeds, like bottle bits on stones

2. Metaphor – language is the sun, lead sky

3. Imagery – children weighed down by poverty

4. Repetition – break o break

5. Symbolism – sun (enlightenment), green fields (regeneration), windows (opportunities)

Keeping Quiet

1. Repetition – Let’s – to create a bond between listeners

2. Simile – earth can teach us as when …

3. Symbolism – brothers (show harmony), clean clothes (no enmity)

A Thing of Beauty

1. Metaphor- sweet dreams, flowery band, endless fountain of immortal drink

2. Alliteration – noble natures, cooling covert, band to bind

3. Transferred epithet – gloomy days

4. Imagery – flowery wreath, shady boon, green world, clear rills, cooling covert, endless fountain

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

1. Alliteration – fingers fluttering, prancing proud

2. Irony – tigers drawn by aunt Jennifer are bold while the creator is weak

3. Imagery – bright topaz

4. Symbolism – wedding band (oppression of marriage), tigers (freedom), Aunt Jennifer (oppressed women),
uncle (male chauvinism)

THE TIGER KING

1. Prediction of the astrologer 2. Tiger hunt 3. Steps to retain his kingdom 4. Hunting the hundredth tiger 5. Conceit of
those in power 6. Humour and satire 7. Dramatic IronyTHE ENEMY
1. Sadao in America 2. Wife, Hana 3. Sadao’s father 4. Harbouring enemy 5. Moral dilemma of Sadao 6. Reaction of
servants
7. General Takima 8. Who is our enemy? 9. The American soldierSHOULD WIZARD HIT MOMMY
1. The common pattern of Jack’s stories 2. Other possible endings for the story 3. Jack feels in ugly middle position-
reason 4. Adult’s perspective Vs Child’s perspective

ON THE FACE OF IT
1. Character of Lamb, Derry 2.Title 3. Lamb’s garden 4. Derry’s change in perspective after the association with
Lamb

EVANS TRIES AN O-LEVEL

1. Character of Evans, the governor(good- for- a giggle, gullible) 2. Preparations for the exam 3. Evans’ plot to
escape-detail 4. Battle of wits
MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD
The Cutting of My Long Hair-Zitkala Sa
1. The discipline at the Carlisle Indian School 2. Prejudice against Native American culture and women 3. Judewin’s
warning to the narrator 4. Cutting of the hair-the hardest trial 5. The narrator’s mother’s words about shingled hair 6.
Indignities faced by the narrator

We Too are Human Beings-Bama

1. The fun and games that held the attention of Bama way back from school
2. A man carrying vadai to landlord 3. Untouchability/Caste discrimination
4. Her elder brother’s(Annan) experience with landlord’s men
5. Her elder brother’s advice

FLAMINGO

THE LAST LESSON

1. Linguistic conquest 2. Changes in the school (Franz’s guilt and realization)
3. Bulletin board 4. M.Hamel and his inspiration
5.French language

LOST SPRING
1. Saheb’s story 2. Ragpickers of Seemapuri 3. story from Udipi
4. Garbage-meanings 5. Mukesh’s story 6. Bangle makers of Firozabad
7. Hurdles in becoming cooperative 8.Two distinct worlds.

DEEP WATER
1. Aversion to water-beginning 2. Experience at Y.M.C.A. pool
3. Steps to overcome fear 4. Narration of fear

THE RATTRAP
1. The idea of the world being a big rat trap 2. Crofter at Ramsjo Ironworks
3. Stealing of thirty kronor 4. Meeting with the Iron master 5. Mistaken identity-Captain Von Stahle 6. Edla
Willmansson 7. Christmas Eve
8. Christmas present & the letter 9. Essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through understanding
and love-Selma Lagerlof

INDIGO
1. RajKumar Shukla 2. Problems of Indigo sharecroppers/peasants of Champaran 3. Gandhiji’s arrival at Champaran-
measures adopted to help the peasants. 4. Cultural and social reform in Champaran

GOING PLACES
1. Adolescent hero worship 2. Character of Sophie, Jansie, Geoff 3.Title
4. Fantasy Vs Reality 5. Sophie’s family background
 THE LAST LESSON

1. Why was Franz afraid of going to schools that day?

Why was Franz afraid of

going to school?

Not Prepared for Participle Test

Doesn’t know a word of Participle

Afraid of M Hamel’s (French Teacher) cruel iron rule

2. What unusual changes did Franz notice in school that day?

No noise of lesson Unusual Silence as

No noise opening chanting Sunday Morning
and closing of
desk drawers
Teacher was wearing the fancy
dress which he would usually wear
only on special occasions like prize
All students were ceremonies, etc
already in class Unusual Changes in School
that day

Q3. What was the notice from Berlin and how did it affect class?
Ans: The notice which was served from Berlin was about that no French language
would be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine cities only German would be
taught instead. So M. Hamel, the French teacher was asked to vacate his place for a
new German teacher. The notice affected very badly, everybody repented for wasting
the time and not learning the French.

Q4: Describe the impact of notice on Franz, M. Hamel and villagers?

Ans: The notice affected everybody deeply, Franz thought why he wasted his time on
leisure activities instead of learning his own language, the books which would seem
him as a burden now those books seemed to be old friends to him. H. Hamel was
feeling guilty to sending students for his person tasks and allowing them on holidays
whenever he wanted to go to fishing and villagers were feeling guilty why they did
not send their children to study instead of sending them on the farm for earning
money.
 Lesson .1. The Last Lesson

Author: Alphonse Daudet

Long-answer-type questions:

Q.1 . The people in the story suddenly realize how precious their language is to them. What shows you
this? Why does this happen?

Ans: The story was written in the days of the Franco-Prussian war in which France was defeated by
Prussia. In this story the French districts of Alsace-Lorraine have passed into Prussian hands. M. Hamel is
the teacher of French and a boy, Franz who never serious in the class of M. Hamel. One day he was late
for school. He feared that his teacher would scold as he was not very sure about participles which the
teacher, M. Hamel, is going to test that day. But finally he decided to go to school. As he entered he saw
the crowd has gathered round the bulletin board. He did not stop there. On arriving at school, he noted
an unusual silence. He entered into the class and was greeted with a strange sight. The last benches
which were always empty were occupied by the village elders who look grim and solemn. Franz noticed
M. Hamel was dressed nicely and asked Franz to sit so that he could start his lesson. The teacher made a
startling announcement that this would be their last lesson in French as the new teacher would be
arriving the following day. He said, “ The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the
schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher comes tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want
you to be very attentive.” There came a sudden change in the minds of the people and they developed a
new profound love French. Franz was overcome with a feeling of remorse and regretted for wasting his
time in trivial pursuits. He decided to pay attention to the lesson since school had become very
important for him. The people and Franz himself realized how precious their language is to them. M.
Hamel had been teaching in that school for last forty years. His dedication, devotion, discipline
impressed them. He realizes the real worth of his school and the teacher whom they have all taken for
granted all these years. M. Hamel in his last address told about the importance of French. He called that
it was the most beautiful language in the world. It is the clearest and the most logical one. M.Hamel was
overcome by strong emotions and in large letter he wrote on the board ‘Viva La France’ – long live
France!

Q.2 Franz thinks:’ “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What could this mean?

Ans: The Alsace and Lorraine districts were under the regime of France. During the Franco-Prussian war
in which France was defeated by Prussia led by Bismarck and both these districts have passed into
Prussian hands. Earlier they were learning their own language, French. As per new set up, an order was
passed that German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.M. Hamel who had been
teaching the French for the last forty years. In his last lesson he told that from the next day in the
schools of both districts would teach only German instead of French from a new teacher. They won’t be
learning their own most beautiful, clearest and logical language. He told the importance of their own
language, this feeling of M. Hamel aroused their patriotic feelings. There came a sudden change in
Franz. He disliked learning German. He heard and saw the pigeons. He immediately remarked: “Will they
make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” It is meant that the German can impose German
language on the people of Alsace and Lorraine but they can’t impose this language on the birds etc. They
can enslave the people but have no authority to compel the cooing pigeons.

Short-answer questions :

Q.1.What was Franz expected to be prepared for school that day?

Ans. Franz was expected to be prepared the topic of ‘participles’ for school that day. But he did not
know even the first word about them. So he was under great dread of being scolded by his teacher,
M.Hamel.

Q.2.What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?

Ans: Franz noticed that it was all so still, calm and quiet like Sunday morning while on other days there
used to be a great hustle and bustle. The same could be heard out in the street. The opening and closing
of the desks, lesson repeated in unison very loud. But on that day the school looked so strange.

Q.3. Why was there a crowd in front of the bulletin board set up at the town hall?

Ans: It was set up for all kinds of information and news for the public. For the last two years, the people
received all the bad news from there like the news of the lost battles and the orders of commanding
officer etc. When Franz was passing the Town Hall, he saw a large crowd in front of the bulletin board
reading the news which stated that the German would be taught in the districts of Alsace and Lorraine.

Q.4.How did the teacher describe the French language?

Or

What was the advice of M. Hamel about the importance of the French language?

Ans: M. Hamel was very dedicated teacher of French language. While teaching his last lesson, he
touched upon many aspects of French. He called it the most clear and logical language in the world. He
urged all to guard it and never to forget it. In case they hold fast in their language, they had the key to
their prison.

Q.5. How did M. Hamel teach his last lesson in the class?

Ans: It was the last day of M. Hamel in school. He was in his fine dress. The villagers had come there to
pay their last respects. M.Hamel taught his lesson on French so decently that the students realized
French is an easy language. At last he became emotional. He could not speak, he dismissed the school
with writing on the blackboard, “Viva La France.”
 Lesson .2. Lost Spring (Stories of Stolen Childhood)

Author: Anees Jung

Long-answer-type questions:

Q.1. Explain the significance of title ‘Lost Spring’.

Ans: In this lesson, the author Anees Jung examines and analyses the grinding poverty and tradition that
condemn children to a life of exploitation. Saheb as a ragpicker whose parents have left behind a life of
abject poverty in Bangladesh. His family, like the many other families of rag pickers lives in Seemapuri.
They live in miserable condition. The writer is pained to see Saheb, whose name means the ruler of the
Earth, lose the spark of childhood. She then proceeds to tell about Mukesh who does want to be his own
master. Hailing from Firozabad, the centre of India’s bangle making and glass blowing industry, he has
always worked in the glass making factory. His family does not know that it is illegal for children to work
in such close to furnaces with such high temperatures. They are exposed to various health hazards like
losing their eyesight as they work in dark and dingy cells. The family of bangle maker of Firozabad are so
burdened that they have lost their ability to dream. The writer’s observation is that these poor hopeless
people are but pawn in the games that are played by Sahukars, middlemen, the policemen, the
bureaucrats and the politicians. The title is meaningful as they lost their spring (childhood). The writer
has beautifully essayed the story of stolen childhood with a view to sensitizing us to the plight of these
poor unfortunate children.

Q.2 .Why do children walk barefoot, in cities, or on village roads? Is it a tradition or something else?
What does the author Anees Jung sate about it in her story ‘Lost Spring’?

Ans: In this story the author analyses the grinding poverty and traditions that condemn children to a life
of exploitation. She has been noticing the group of barefoot rag pickers children for many months. She
asks one why he is not wearing footwear. Another adds if he gets, he will throw them off. A third boy
says that he wants shoes, he has never owned a pair all his life. Then the author tells a story of a man
from Udipi as a young school boy, every morning on his way to school he would briefly stop at the
temple and pray the goddess for a pair of shoes. When he had finally got a pair of shoes, he prayed, “Let
me never lose them.” When Sahib wears pairs of discarded tennis shoes due to a hole in one of them, it
does not bother him. For one who has walked barefoot even shoes with a hole is a dream comes true.
The reality of life is that there are number of innocent children who lose the spring (youth) of their lives
under the threat of grinding poverty which exploit them under the demand of nature for satisfying their
hunger for their survival. It is not due to lack of money but a tradition to stay barefoot, is one
explanation. This is only an excuse for the continuing state of poverty which is the cause of the children
staying barefoot in cities or on village roads.

Short-answer questions:

Q.1.Who is Saheb? What is he looking for in the garbage dumps and where has he come from?

Ans: Saheb is a rag-picker of Seemapuri. The writer encounters him every morning scrounging for gold in
the garbage dumps in her neighbourhood. He hails from Dhaka and he was migrated from Bangladesh in
1971. His house and fields were destroyed by storm.

Q.2. Why do these children remain barefoot?

Ans: Throughout the country the author has seen many barefoot rag picker children. On asking about
not wearing chappals, they many excuses. One says that his mother has not brought them down from
the shelf. Another point out that he will throw them if she brings. The third one replies that it is an
excuse. It is not the lack of money.

Q.3. What is the condition of the children working in the glass factory/ furnaces of Firozabad?

Ans: More than 20,000 children are illegally working in glass blowing factories in Firoza- bad. They work
around furnaces in high temperatures to weld glasses. They work in dingy cells without light and air.
Their eyes are adjusted to the dark than to the light outside. Many of them become victims of losing
their eye-sight before they become adults. They work all day long.

Q.4. Who is Mukesh? What is his dream?

Ans: He belongs to the family of bangle maker in Firozabad where each family is engaged in bangle
making. They live in half built huts. Mukesh says. ‘I will be a mother mechanic. I will learn to drive a car.’
Thus he wants to be his own master.

Q.5. ‘Garbage to them is gold.’ Why does the author say to about the rag-pickers?

Ans: More than 10,000 rag-pickers of Seemapuri live in squatters. For them is garbage is gold and it is
wrapped in wonder. For a child, it is their bread. Sometimes a child can find a silver coin or more in a
heap of garbage. For the elders it is a means of survival.

Lesson 3. Deep Water

 Author: William Douglas

Long-answer-type questions:

Q.1. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?

Or

“I used every way I knew to overcome this fear.” What was the fear and how did William
Douglas finally overcome it?

Or

A man of courage is also a man of faith. How is this borne out by Douglas account of his
conquest over the fear of water?

Or

At last I felt released.’ Describe the efforts undertaken by Douglas to find this moment of
release.

Ans: The author, William Douglas talks about his fear of water and how he overcomes it. He reveals how
he had feared it ever since he was three or four years old and his father had taken him to a beach in
California. He was terrified of the waves that swept over the beach and knocked him down leaving him
breathless. He decided to learn how to swim at the YMCA. Pool. Though the sight of the water revived
unpleasant memories he was determined to overcome them and learn to swim. One day, while he was
sitting on the side of the pool, a bigger boy flung him into the deep end of the pool. The author hitting
the bottom and made a jump to the surface., but he sank to the bottom again. He finally fainted. Then
he decided to hire the services of an instructor and master swimming. Initially, the instructor put a belt
round him and the attached rope through a pulley that run on an overhead cable. Hour after hour, day
after day till he began to get back his confidence. Thus through sheer will power and practice, William
overcame his fear of water and became a swimmer. Though the instructor was satisfied with his
progress but to test whether he had lost all the vestiges of panic and fear, he went up to the Tieton, to
Conrad Meadows. He dived into it and swam across it and was overjoyed to learn that he had at last
conquest his fear of water. This experience is indeed a sign of courage, grit, patience and determination
and a lesson to us that any fear can be overcome provided one perseveres

Q.2. What was the ‘misadventure’ at the YMCA swimming pool that the writer William Douglas
speaks about?

Ans:The misadventure referred to happened at the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool. The author, William
Douglas had joined the pool to learn to swim. One day he was sitting alone on the side of the pool.
There was no one there. He was afraid of going into the water alone. So he was waiting for others to
come. Suddenly a big boy came in. He picked the writer up and tossed him into the pool. The writer was
frightened but not much. He at once went to the bottom of the pool. On the way down, he made a plan.
He would hit the bottom and make a big jump to the surface. But he came up very slowly. He could see
nothing but water. He grew panicky. Twice he tried to jump, but the jump made no difference. At last he
stopped all efforts. He relaxed. There was no more panic. Everything blanked out. The curtain of life fell.
But luckily, before he was dead, he was taken out of the pool and saved.

Short-answer questions:

Q.1.What is the ‘misadventure’ that William Douglas speaks about?

Ans: One day William Douglas was sitting alone on side of the Y.M.C.A pool. He was waiting for the
others to come so that he could start swimming. By chance there came a big boy. He asked, “ Hi skinny!
How’d you like to be ducked”? He picked and tossed and threw him into the deep end of the pool. He
speaks about this misadventure, which caused a last of trouble to him.

Q.2. How did the drowning experience affect Douglas?

Ans: William Douglas feared water and whenever he went back to the pool, terror seized him. He
avoided water as far as he could. When he tried to enter water, the stark fear would seize him. His legs
became paralysed and icy terror would grab his heart.

Q.3. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?

Ans: He was a man of courage, strong determination. He realized that fear of water has become his
sworn enemy. It was following him everywhere. He decided to get rid of. Under the e guidance of an
expert instructor he learnt swimming and became confident to face this terror. He dived into the Warm
Lake, swam across to the other shore and back. In this way he conquered his old terror.

Q.4. What does the mother of Douglas say about the YMCA pool?

Ans: He wanted to learn swimming. His mother had advised him against his visit to the Yakima River
since it was treacherous in nature. She considered Y.M.C.A pool as the safest place because it was 2 or 3
feet at the shallow end and nine feet at the deeper end.

Q.5. How did the instructor make Douglas a perfect swimmer?

Ans: He gave Douglas a practice for five days in a week. In the beginning he put a belt around him and it
was attached to the rope. The rope went through a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. Each time his
old fear returned. It went on for three months. Then he taught him to put his face under water and
exhale. He taught him a raise his nose and inhale. Thus, piece by piece the instructor built him a
swimmer.

Lesson .4.The Rattrap

Author: Selma Lagerlof

Long-answer-type questions:

Q.1. How can we transform and clean an evil doing person. Give examples from the story ‘Rattrap’.

Or

“The rattrap.” Express the universal theme highlighted by the author in the story.

Or

How did the line of thought bring a change in the life of the rattrap peddler?

Ans: The author, Selma Lagerlof has highlighted a universal theme in this story. It is that we can arouse
the goodness in the life of a man by love, understanding, sympathy and respect. Once upon a time there
was a man who went around selling self-made small rattraps of wire. His condition was too miserable to
beg and do petty things. One day he thought that the whole world around him was a big trap. It offered
riches, joys , food, shelter and clothing like a bait offering cheese and pork in a rattrap for the rats. Those
who were tempted to touch the bait, it closed on them bringing an end to everything. One dark evening
he stayed at crofter’s cottage, he was given food and shelter. But the next morning he stole thirty kronor
from there. The he kept on walking all day long on the same path in the forest. On hearing the sound of
hammer strokes, he reached the iron mill and lay near the surface. The ironmaster mistook him to be his
old acquaintance and invited him for Christmas cheer but he refused. He sent his daughter, Edla who
persuaded him to their house. After him well dressed, the from master found that he mistook him. So
he ordered him to get out at once. The young girl wanted him to stay as they promised him Christmas
cheer. He was treated like real captain with food. In their absence when they were at the church he left
at the church they learnt the rattrap seller had robbed the old crofter. So they became worried. When
they returned they found that the stranger had taken nothing with him and left behind a Christmas gift
for Edla. She found a small rattrap thirty kronor and a letter in it. The letter stated that she had taken
him as if he were a captain, so he would be nice to her as a captain. It had given him power to cleanse
himself.

Q.2. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament.

Ans: The author Selma Lagerlof tells a universal theme through all her stories. One can not imagine how
dull and sad a vagabond might be walking slowly along the roads for his bread. The metaphor of the
rattrap struck on one such occasion. He was plodding along the road, duly lost in his own meditations.
The whole world about him- the whole world with its lands, seas, cities and villages was nothing but a
big rattrap. The world had never existed for any other purpose than to set baits for people to trap them.
The world offered riches, joys, food, shelter and clothing like a bait offering cheese and pork in a rattrap
for the rats. As soon as anyone is tempted and he to touches the bait, it closes on him and then
everything came to an end for him in life. Like the poor rattrap seller, people get tempted to the pouch
baits hung on the window frame, break the window pane and steal the kronor. For self-temptation
people like the peddler don’t want to undeceive others about themselves. The touching of the bait
always makes people realize that they are caught in the world rattrap now. It is their turn now, they
must stop cherish it as their pastime of thinking about the known who get trapped and others who ware
circling around the trap. They must rise above the baits and shun evil doings like Captain Von Stahle.

Short-answer questions:

Q.1.What idea suddenly struck in the mind of the rattrap peddler?

Ans: One day the peddler was moving along the road suddenly an idea struck to his mind. He viewed
that the whole world was a big rattrap to trap the people in. It offered, riches, joys, shelter, food, heat
and clothing like the rattrap offered cheese and pork to tempt to the rats. The world existed only to set
baits for the people. Anyone who was tempted to touch the bait, the rattrap was closed in on him.

Q.2. Who was Crofter and how did he welcome the peddler?
Ans: The Crofter was an old man, who lived alone in his house. One dark evening when the peddler
knocked at the door of the Crofter. He was very hospitable person and offered him supper and bed to
sleep He amused him with the game of ‘mjolis’. He told the fact that he earned thirty kronor by selling
the milk of his cow.

Q.3. How did the peddler rob the crofter?

Ans: The Crofter was living alone in his house. So, he needed someone to talk in his loneliness. That time
the peddler reached at his house. He welcomed him. The crofter had taken out and stuffed thirty kronor
in the presence of the peddler. Both left in the morning. After half an hour, the peddler returned,
smashed the window pane and stole thirty kronor from the pouch and hung it on its usual place.

Q.4.Why did the peddler accept Edla’s invitation?

Ans: Earlier the ironmaster had tried his best to invite the peddler to his house for Christmas. He wanted
his company but he declined his offer. So the ironmaster sent his daughter to invite him as she had
better power of persuasion. She looked at the peddler compassionately. Her friendly manners aroused
confidence in him. So he accepted her invitation.

Q.5. When the ironmaster threatened to call the Sherriff. How did the peddler conduct?

Ans: The peddler defended himself that he was a poor man. He said that the whole world is nothing but
a big rattrap. All the good things that are offered to him were just baits. The baits were set out to drag a
poor man into trouble. In case the Sherriff came to lock him up, the day was not far when the
ironmaster would be trapped himself.

Lesson .5. Indigo

Author: Louis Fischer

Long-answer-type questions:

Q.1.How did the Champaran episode prove to be a turning point in Gandhiji’s life? Explain with the
reference to the text, ‘Indigo’.
Ans: Gandhiji recounts that it was the year 1916, when he was approached by a peasant, Rajkumar
Shukla from Champaran during the annual meeting of the Indian National Congress in Lucknow. He
wished Gandhiji to visit his state and look into the condition of sharecroppers there. Gandhiji learned
that the areas of Champaran districts were divided into large estates owned by English men and were
worked by the Indians worked as their tenant farmers and they had to pay 15 % of their land. Gandhiji
reached their and started by trying to get together all the facts and met with resistance from the British.
After the investigates by Gandhiji and the lawyers into the grievances of the farmers, it was decided by
the Britishers that 25% of the money would be refunded. Gandhiji accepted the money offered to the
farmer as refund even though he had demanded 50 % and thus the deadlock was broken. The farmers
learnt that they too had rights and they became courageous. Within a few years the landlords
relinquished their claims over the estates, which reverted back to the farmers.

Now Gandhiji embarked on a programme to reform the economic and cultural backwardness of the
area. He appointed volunteers to teach the villagers. Kasturba taught the Ashram rules and personal
cleanliness and community sanitation. He got a doctor to volunteer his services for six months to
improve the health conditions of the people. They realized the value of self reliance. Some of Gandhiji’s
and lawyer friends thought that it would be a good idea of Charles Free Andrews, an English pacifist,
who was a devoted follower of Gandhiji and on a farewell visit, should stay and help.Gandhiji strongly
opposed it. If they get an English man on their sides it would show the weakness of their heart. They
must rely on themselves to win the battle. The Champaran episode gave Gandhiji self confidence,
direction and an impetus to launch freedom movement throughout India. Thus this episode was a
turning point in his life as well in India.

Q.2. How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?

Ans: For the success of any movement, cooperation and participation of all is must. They make the
movement not only a success but also lead to the pinnacle. When the peasants knew about Gandhiji,
they reached Muzzafarpur. Gandhiji was ordered to appear in Motihari court on the following morning.
Then the multitude of peasants blackened the town of Motihari. They knew that the Gandhiji, who
wanted to help them, was in trouble with the authorities. It was perhaps the first kind of spontaneous
demonstration of Indian against the Britishers. Seeing the situation beyond control, they sought his help
to regulate the unprecedented crowd. The government was baffled. It has such an impact on the
Government that the civil disobedience won for the first time in 1917 in modern India.

Side by side the Government had to appoint an official inquiry commission to find out the atrocities
done over the peasants. As a result, the owners had to refund the money. This opened the eyes of all.
People from every nook and corner of India participated in the freedom movement. Women too gave up
their homely comforts and worked with their leader. There were mass movements like freedom
struggle, salt movement, quit India movement, civil disobedience, satyagraha and the boycott of foreign
goods, etc. Ordinary people were there at the back and call of their leader. Consequently, India became
free on 15th August, 1947.

Short-answer questions:
Q.1.Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?

Ans: Rajkumar Shukla is described as being ‘resolute’ because he was fully determined to take Ganhiji to
Bihar. Being an illiterate and poor share-copper from Champaran, he had come to apprise and complain
Gandhiji about the injustice of the land lord system. He was accompanied Ganhiji everywhere. Gandhiji
was very much impressed by his tenacity and fixed time for Calcutta. Months passed in waiting, Shukla
was sitting on his haunches at the fixed place in Calcutta, till Ganhiji was free. Finally both boarded a
train to Patna.

Q.2. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?

Ans: Ganhiji and Rajkumar Shukla both reached the city of Patna. He led Gandhiji to the house of
Rajendra Prasad. He was out of town. His servants knew Shukla as a poor sharecropper from Champaran
who troubled Prasad to take up the cause of indigo. Gandhi went there with Shukla for the first time. So
they took him to be another peasant.

Q.3. Why did Gandhi had to chide the lawyers of Muzzafarpur?

Or

Why did Gandhi conclude that the lawyers should stop going to the courts?

Ans: During his stay at Muzzafarpur Lawyers told about the cases of poor peasants. They told about
their cases and the size of fee. Gandhi chided them for collecting big fees from the sharecroppers. He
suggested them to stop going to the law courts. He pointed out that the peasants were poor and fear
stricken. It was urgent to make them free from fear.

Q.4. How did the development of German synthetic indigo became a source of great trouble in
Champaran?

Ans: The British planters learnt of the synthetic indigo prepared in Germany. It was cheaper than the
natural indigo. Being unprofitable the landlords wanted to free the peasants from the 15% agreement.
For this they demanded compensation. Some signed willingly. Those who opposed engaged lawyers and
the planters hired thugs. The illegal and deceitful collection of money started the trouble.

Q.5. How did we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?

Ans: The success of the battle of Champaran, paved the path of the Indians to participate in the freedom
movement. Women gave up their honestly comforts and worked with their leader. There were mass
movements like freedom struggle, salt movement, Quit India movement and Satyagraha. These came
ordinary people at the back and call of Gandhiji.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

Q. Why did magistrate release Gandhiji?

Gandhiji pleaded guilty of disobedience. The peasants held a demonstration around the court. The
Government was confused and the officials were powerless. The peasants were mounting pressure on
the government. So, the magistrate released Gandhiji without bail.

Q. Why did Gandhiji say----:” The battle of Champaran is won”?

The lawyers had decided to go home, if Gandhiji went to prison. But Gandhiji asked them what would
become of the injustice to the sharecroppers. The lawyers thought over it and decided that they too
would follow Gandhiji. This was the time that Gandhiji said that the battle of Champaran was won.

Q.Why did Gandhiji agree to the settlement of 25% refund to the peasants?

Gandhiji had demanded 50 percent refund from the landlords. The landlords offered only 25 per cent.
Gandhiji agreed to the settlement of 25 percent because according to Gandhiji money was not
important. He had made the Britishers bow down before the Indian peasants.

Q.How did Indigo sharecropping come to an end in Champaran?

Indigo sharecropping came to an end in Champaran as Germany had developed synthetic Indigo.
Sharecropping was no longer profitable for the British planters. They had to surrender their prestige and
money to the peasants. So, they gave up their estates which came back to the peasants.

Q.Why was Gandhiji summoned to appear in court?

Gandhiji went to see a badly treated peasant .He was served with a notice from the Superintendent of
Police to quit Champaran. Gandhiji received the notice and wrote on it that he would never quit
Champaran. As a result, he was summoned to appear in the court.

Q.Why did Gandhiji rebuke the Muzzafarpur lawyers?

Gandhiji rebuked the Muzzafarpur lawyers because they used to charge very high fees from the poor
peasants.

Q.What was the condition of the peasants before Gandhiji’s arrival in Champaran?
The peasants were copmpelled to plant 15 per cent of their land with indigo crop and surrender the
entire harvest as rent. When Germany developed synthetic indigo they were asked to give
compensation for making them free from 15 per cent indigo plantation. Those who disobeyed were
beaten by the hired criminals.

Q.What was the conflict of Gandhiji?

Gandhiji’s conflict was of discharging the duties. On one hand ,he did not want to set a bad example by
breaking the law. On the other hand he was to listen to the voice of his conscience and serve the human
beings.

Q.How did Gandhiji regulate the crowd around the courthouse?

The officials were powerless as they could not control the crowd outside the courthouse. Gandhiji
regulated the crowd in a polite and friendly manner.

Q..Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?

Raj Kumar Shukla is described as being ‘resolute’ because he wanted that Gandhiji should reach
Champaran for their welfare. He accompanied Gandhiji everywhere. When Gandhiji returned to his
ashram Shukla followed him there also. He even went to Calcutta to take Gandhiji along with him .

Lesson .6. Poets and Pancakes

Author: Asokamitran

Long-answer-type questions:

Q.1. What does Asokamitran’s lesson ‘Poet and Pancakes’ deal with?

Ans: The author, Asokamitran recounts his years spent at the Gemini studios. Gemini Studios was set up
in the year 1940 in Chennai and grew into one of the most influential film producing organizations of
India in the early years of the Indian film making industry. The studios of film production has never
confined its activities within the four walls of the studios but it also gives a fine glimpse of outside world
as well. The production department has two prominent divisions – the make up department and the
story department. In the make up room there had a team of workers from chief make-up man to the
office boy who stopped the crowd players with lotions and pancakes. Pancakes were used by the actors
and actress. Pancake was the popular brand name there. There was a strict hierarchy of make up man.
The story department had its significant contribution. There was a legal advisor duly accompanied with
an assembly of poets and writers. They were engaged in creating story, songs, social and other work. In
those days, it was mainly indoor shooting. The Boss had a strict vigil at every aspect. He was assisted by
Kothamanglam Subbu, who was an indispensable person for the studios. Beside this, the Gemini Studios
had become the favourite haunt of the poet and other visitors because of its decent mess that served
coffee till the late at night. The studios hosted the visit of Moral Re-Armament Army and a poet-cum-
editor Stephen Spender. The MRA was a counter movement to international communism but the people
at the studios were averse in this ideology. The visit of Spender also became an unexplained mystery for
all.

Q.2. Why was Kathamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in the Gemini Studios?

Ans: The Boss of the Gemini Studios was Mr. S.S. Vasan. He founded the Gemini Studios in 1940. In
those days, it was mainly indoor shooting. It had a large team of six hundred strong workers engaged in
the production of the films.Subbu was No.2 at the Gemini studios. He had the ability to look cheerful at
all times. His sense of loyalty made him use all his creativity to his principal’s advantage. He was a many
sided person with a specific identity in the team. He was the right handman of the Boss and he had
himself indispensable at the Studios. He was tailor-made for the films and whenever the film producer
came out with some difficulty and said, “I do not know how to do this scene.” It was Subbu that came
with so many solutions. In this way film making had become very easy with the presence of Subbu. He
was a man, who gave direction and definition to the Gemini Studios. He always worked hard for some
body. Being loyal to his principal, he used all his creativity for him. Besides being a poet, he was a
Brahmin, comic, admirable and hospitable. He composed several truly original ‘story poems’ in folk
style. Whatever role he played, he acted better than the main players. Being a charitable man he fed
and supported many people at his residence still he had a few enemies. With the closure of the story
department, Subbu was also out of the Gemini Studio.

Short-answer questions:

Q.1.What is the example of national integration that the author refers to in the Gemini Studios?

Ans: In the studios the people from different regions and religions working together presented a glimpse
of national integration. The make-up department was first headed by a Bengali. He was succeeded by a
Maharashtrian. He was assisted by a Kannadiga from Dharwar and Andhra, Madras Indian Christian, an
Anglo-Burmese and usual local Tamils. All this shows that there was a great deal of national integration
in the make up room of the Gemini Studios.

Q.2. What used to be the job of the narrator at the Gemini Studios?

Ans: at the Gemini studios, the author Asokamitran worked in a cubicle having the French windows on
two sides. He was to take up the clippings from the newspapers on a wide variety of subjects. He was to
store them in files. He even had to write out in hand. He was the most known person there, most of the
people at the studios thought that he was doing next to nothing. Everything in the studio thought of
giving him some work to do.

Q.3. Subbu was a man of charitable nature, but he had his enemies. Give reasons.

Ans: Subbu was a man of charitable nature and anyone who came in his close contact, he always
showered his genuine love and goodness. His house was a permanent residence of dozens near and
dear ones. Being very close to the Boss, people were jealous of him. Some called him a sycophant for his
sweet manners,. He always said nice things about everything. But the make up department was feeling
jealous for this.

Q.4. Why is the Englishman‘s visit referred to as unexplained mystery?

Ans: The Englishman visited Gemini Studios in 1952. Boss welcomed him. The visitor spoke to the
audience but they could not understand what he said. It was because of his accent and nobody was able
to understand English. The English poet must have felt the imbalance of his talk about the thrills. The
purpose of the visit seemed to be lost. That is why his visit was referred to an unexplained mystery.

Q.5. what does “The God that Failed’ refer to?

Ans: It is the name of book. Six eminent men of letters have contributed their sex separate essays in the
book. In their essays they have described their journey into communism and their disillusioned return.
They worked together but they had to return disillusioned.

Lesson .7.The Interview

Author: Christopher Silvester

Long-answer-type questions:

Q.1. Describe opinions for and against the interview as are given in the lesson.

Or

Why do the celebrities despise and condemn ‘interview’? Describe their viewpoint.
Ans: An interview is formal meeting, interaction or a kind of discussion with some one. In other sense it
is a kind of conversation which aims at obtaining information. In actual practice the interview has
become an indispensable feature of journalism today. Some call it a great art. In the same way the
celebrities, criminals and victims are interviewed. In case an incident involves a celebrity, the media
immediately rush to him for interaction. Most often the celebrities do not like to face the interviewer
since it is like the stealing of one’s soul. It even makes them feel that it somehow diminishes them.

In the words of Nobel laureate, V.S. Naipaul, “Some people are wounded buy interviews and lose a part
of them”. They feel a part of their personalities stolen. Lewis Carroll, the author of ‘Alice in Wonderland’
was said to have had a just horror of the interviewer and he never consented to be interviewed.
Caroline, the wife of Rudyard Kipling, went on saying that an interview is vile, crime and all offence. No
respectable person would ask it, much less give it. On the other hand H.G. Wells referred it to be an
interviewing ordeal. Nobel laureate Saul Bellow took it like thumb-prints on his windpipe.” Thus most of
the celebrities do not find favour with interview but the interviewer hold a position of great power and
influence.

Q.2. How does Eco find the time to write so much?

Ans: David Lodge was a famous English novelist. He was much amazed how Umberto Eco could do all
the things he did. Mukund Padmanabhan put the same question to Eco of writing scholarly works and
the novels simultaneously. Eco answered very modestly. Revealing his secret, Eco remarked that he was
always doing the same thing. Eco pointed out that he had some philosophical interests.

Eco tells that’s there are empty spaces in the universe. In the same way there are empty spaces in the
lives of us all. He calls these empty spaces as ‘interstices or intervals. He explains his style of working in
empty spaces through an example. He tells when he waits for somebody coming from the elevator from
first to the third floor, he won’t sit idle. He would write during his arrival. Till the person arrives, he has
already written an article. Thus by utilizing these empty spaces he finds time to write so much. Mukund
is much amazed at his dexterity.

Short-answer questions:

Q.1.In what way have the interviews become a common place of journalism?

Ans: Over the last 130 years, the interviews have become a commonplace of journalism. Almost
everybody will have read an interview at some point during their life time. Several thousand celebrities
have been interviewed over the years. It is a great serviceable medium of communication. The
interviewer holds position of unprecedented power and influence.

Q.2.Why does some of the celebrities think the interview as an unwarranted intrusion into their live?
 Or

Why do most celebrities despise being interviewed?

Ans: Most of the celebrities do not like to be interviewed at all. They consider it as an ‘unwarranted
intrusion’ into their lives. According to V.S. Naipaul that a man loses a part of himself during an
interview. Rudyard Kipling has more condemnatory attitude about the interviewer. He called the
interview to be immoral, a crime, cowardly or vile.

Q.3. What is the secret of Umberto Eco’s working style?

Ans: He talks there are empty spaces in the lives of us all. He calls these empty spaces as ‘interstices or
intervals. He explains his style of working in empty spaces through an example. He tells when he waits
for somebody coming from the elevator from first to the third floor, he won’t sit idle. He utilises these
intervals for his creative work.

Q.4.Did Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?

Ans: In his interview with Mukund, Eco states, “I am a professor who writes on Sundays. I participate in
academic conferences and not at the meeting of pen clubs and writers. I identify myself with the
academic community. I became a novelist only by an accident.”

Q.5. “The Name of the Rose” deals with medieval history. Was it responsible for the novel’s success?

Ans: Mukund tells Eco that “The Name of the Rose” got a huge success because of its medieval
background. Eco did not seem to agree with it. A lot of books have been written about the medieval past
much before him and they did not get much success. Perhaps his novel was written at the most
appropriate time.

Lesson .8. Going Places

Author: A.R. Barton

Long-answer-type questions:
Q.1. Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends. What were the differences between them that
show up in the story?

Ans: Sophie and Jansie were both classmates and friends. Both were considerate, sensible and were
looming in between the ideas of finding some work after their schooling. Sophie was a girl of deep
imagination and unrealistic dreams. On her way home she told her classmate Jansie to have a boutique.
She will be like Mary Quant and will be having the most amazing shop this city had ever seen. On the
other hand-Jansie was more practical and a realistic type of girl quite aware about their lower middle
class family background. She asked Sophie to be sensible because the shop work required money and
her father won’t allow this. She knew that both were earmarked for the biscuit factory.

Sophie entertained the idea of being an actress and then dream of becoming a fashion designer. She
was unaware of the reality as to how she would do all these things. Jansie knew that all those different
types of work needed money which was beyond the capacity of Sophie’s parents. She advised her to be
practical. Sophie had no faith in Jansie and understood her to be ‘nosey’. She would spread all the news
in the whole neighbourhood. So she did not want to tell any of her secret. Thus we can note a lot of
difference in their attitudes towards life and things.

Q.2. How did Sophie’s father react on hearing about Sophie’s meeting Danny Casey?

Ans: Sophie’s father was a man of gentle and considerate nature.Inspite of his own hard-work he always
helped in the chores. When Sophie’s mother Geoff was doing some work on the motorbike had
completed the washing of clothes, he came in and switched on the television. Then he told his father
‘Sophie met Danny Casey.’ He turned his head and looked at Sophie. Their father seemed sad and asked
if it was true. He did not believe what he was told. During the conversation she ensured that Danny
Casey was going to buy a shop. Hearing it, her father became rather confused and murmured
something. He aggressively called her telling another of her wild stories. It was at this stage Geoff came
to her help and told their father that she met him in the Royce’s arcade with details. Their father knew
well Geoff would support her. Therefore, he cautioned Sophie that one of those days she was going to
talk herself into a load of trouble. It was a sincere advice from a father to his daughter not to invite
troubles for her because of her fanciful talks.

Short-answer questions:

Q.1. On the news ‘Sophie met Danny Casey’ how did their father react?

Ans: Father looked at Sophie with sadness on their face, he did not believe it. He called it another of her
wild stories. He warned her that those days she would put herself into a lot of troubles because of her
talks.
Q.2. Why was Sophie jealous of Geoff silence?

Ans: Sophie’s brother Geoff was an apprentice mechanic. He was almost grown up yet he hardly spoke
any thing of his own. Words were prized out of his mouth like stones from the ground. She could only
suspect areas of his life which she wanted to hear from him. So she was jealous of his silence. She took
him to be out there in the world, when he was not speaking.

Q.3. What did Sophie imagine about her meeting with Danny Casey?

Ans: Sophie told that she met Danny Casey at the Royce’s window. She was looking at the clothes there.
He came and stood beside beside her. She spoke to him first and asked if he was Danny Casey. He
confirmed, she asked for an autograph but neither had paper nor a pen. They talked a bit. He assured
for the autograph next week is she cared.

Q.4.Why did not Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?

Ans: Sophie had requested her brother Geoff not to tell anything about her meeting with Casey. When
Jansie asked Sophie about her meeting with Danny. Sophie was much amazed. She cursed Geoff for it
because Jansie was ‘nosey’ and would spread the facts everywhere in the neighbourhood. In case her
father knew about it, there would be a great row which her mother did not like. She requested Jansie to
keep it a secret.

Q.5. What did the two school girls discuss while coming home?

Ans: The two classmates Sophie and Jansie discussed about finding some work after leaving school.
Sophie thought of having her own boutique, or to work in a biscuit factory. She was a nosey type of girl.

Higher Order Thinking Skills

Subject: English ( Flamingo- Prose)

CLASS – XII

THE LAST LESSON Alphonse Daudet

Q.1. “When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is
as if they had the key to their prison” Comment with reference to the lesson ‘The
Last Lesson’.

Q.2. Describe the measures linguistic minorities take to keep their languages
alive. What would happen if they do not take measures to keep their language
and culture alive?

Q.3. Explain the term ‘linguistic chauvinism’ with reference to the extract ‘The
Last Lesson’.

Q.4. Why is the extract entitled ‘The Last Lesson’? Describe in your own words
Mr. Hamel’s thoughts and feelings on the last day in school.

Q.5 The last lesson is a story that dwells upon universal human nature . comment
.

Ans – Man relies the worth of what he has, only after is taken away from him.

- People realized how precious their mother tongue was .

LOST SPRING Anees Jung

1. The extract ‘Lost Spring’ describes the plight of street children forced into
labour early in life and denied the opportunity of schooling. Explain this with
reference to the extract.

.2. The story ‘Lost Spring’ gives us an authentic picture of child labour prevalent
in India. What measures would you suggest to stop child labour?

.3. The extract ‘Lost Spring’ tells us about the callousness of society and the
political class to the sufferings of the poor. Is this true of contemporary India. Cite
examples.

4. What are the two distinct worlds referred by Anees Jung in the lessons ‘Lost
Sprint’
Q-5 The beauty of the glass bangles of Firozabad contrasts with the misery of the
people who produce them comment.

Ans – One of the family caught in web of poverty , burdened by the stigmer of
caste.

- The other , vicious circle of the Sahukars, the middlemen, the policemen, the
keepers of law etc.

Ans – Bangles are colorful, bright, symbol of suhag of a married Indian woman,
considered auspicious fill colors and happiness.

- Life of its producers- impoverished , dark, deprived lose eyesight, slog their day-
light hours in dark stingy cells in front of hot furnaces , familities and animals
coexist in the primeval state.

DEEP WATER William Douglas

1. It is Douglas’ will power that enabled him to overcome his fear of water.
This reveals that with a strong will human beings can overcome all kinds of
fear. Explain with two illustrations from real life.

THE RAT TRAP Selma Lagerlof

1.The story ‘The Rattrap’ exemplifies the truth that essential goodness of human
beings can be awakened through understanding and love. Discuss.

2. The readers’ sympathy lies with the peddler in the story ‘The Rattrap’.Explain
why?
3. How would you react if you were Elda Wilmanson?

4. The strory is both entertaining and philosophical. Explain.

5. The story focuses on human lonliness and the need to bond with others.
Explain.

6. The metaphor of the rat trap serves to highlight the human predicament. What
is the human predicament?

INDIGO Louis Fischer

1. What according to you are the qualities of a good leader? Explain with
illustrations.
2. Truth and non-violence were the weapons with which Gandhiji succeeded
everywhere. Explain with reference to the extract ‘INDIGO’.
3. What did Gandhiji do for the social, economic and spiritual upliftment of
the masses of India.

Poets and Pancakes Asokamitran

1.The extract gives an account of events and personalities of Gemini studios in

the early days of Indian Cinema. Explain with reference to the extract.

2. Cite examples of humour and satire from the extract.

3. Write a short note on the author’s role in Gemini Studios. How does the first
person narration make his words realistic.

4.How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the
audience at Gemini studios.
THE INTERVIEW Christopher Silvester

1.What are the objectives of a good interview? Why is it difficult to elicit the truth
from the interviewee?

2. Do you think Umberto Eco likes to be interviewed. Give reasons for your
opinion.

GOING PLACES A.R. Barton

Q.1. The extract ‘Going Places’ is about adolescent fantasizing. Who are the
adolescents and what are their dreams?

2.The extract ‘Going Places’ deals with hero worship. Explain with reference to
the story.

Q.2. How does Sophie’s family react to her dreams, thoughts, and actions? Who
in the family is sympathetic towards her?

Q3. Sophie is representative of contemporary youth and their aspirations. Explain

with reference to the extract.

Q.4. Adolescents worship icons. Why do they do this? Is this characteristic of

adolescence? Explain with examples.

Poem .1. My Mother at Sixty Six

Poet: Kamala Das
Summary of the poem:
The poet is driving to the airport in Cochin from her p[parent’s home. Her mother is accompanying her
to the airport. The poet is distressed that her mother is ageing. She compares her pale and lifeless face
with that of a corpse. The thought of losing her upsets the poet. She wishes to brush aside this painful
thought and she looks at the energized children and the sprinting trees that symbolize energy and life.
At the airport, the poet and her mother apart. The poet yet again compares her mother’s face with the
dull late winter moon. Her childhood fear of losing her mother – the inevitable pains her but she tries to
conceal her fear by smiling and optimistically saying, “See you soon, Amma.”

Important Extracts:

(i) Driving from my parent's home

to Cochin last Friday

morning, I saw my mother,

beside me, doze, open mouthed,

her face ashen like that

of a corpse

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Where was the poet going & when? 1. The poetess, Kamala Das was going to Cochin on
Friday morning.

2. What did she see beside her? 2. She saw her mother beside her on the seat. She was
dozing with open mouth.

3. Who is ‘I' here? 3. The poetess, Kamala Das.

4. How did her face look like? 4. Her face looked colour of a corpse.

(ii) and realized with pain

that she thought away, and

looked but soon

put that thought away, and

 looked out at young

trees sprinting, the merry children

spilling out of their homes

Comprehension Questions: Answers

1.What did the poetess realize? 1.The poetess realized the deep pain in heart to see her
mother’s face like that of a corpse.

2.How did she put away that thought? 2.She put away that thought by looking at the outside
world.

3.What did she look out? 3.She looks out at young trees running & the merry children
coming out of their homes.

4.What do the children signify? 4.The children signify life, vitality, movement and
happiness.

(ii) but after the airport's

security check, standing

a few yards away,

I looked again at her, wan, pale

as a late winter's moon and

felt that old familiar ache,

my childhood's fear,

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Who is ‘I’ here? 1. The poetess.

2. Who is ‘Amma’ in the lines? 2. Her mother.

3. What did the poetess say to her? 3. The poetess said to her mother ‘see you soon,
Amma’.
4. What did the poetess conduct herself at 4. She smiled, smiled & smiled.
that time?

Practice Task

Answer the following in 30-40 words:

Q.1. Why does the poet smile and what does she say while bidding goodbye to her mother?

Ans. She could only keep smiling and tell her ‘see you soon’ knowing full well that she might not see
her.

Q.2. What does the poet’s mother look like?

Ans.The poet's mother looks wan and pale which the poet has tastefully compared to a late winter's
moon.

Q.3.What poetic devices has the poet used in the poem?

Ans.The most used poetic device by the author is simile. She uses it in both cases to describe her
mother’s wan look - "ashen like a corpse" & "pale as a late winter's moon.
Poem: 2 An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum

Poet: Stephen Spender

Summary of the poem:

In this poem, Stephen Spender has brought out the miserable condition of the children studying in an
elementary school in a slum. The children in the classroom are pale and unhealthy and some are even
diseased. Their unkempt and dull hair has been compared to rootless weeds. One of the girls is
apparently burdened with the miseries of poverty. One of the boys has inherited his father’s disease and
has stunted growth. Another student is sitting unnoticed and he is yearning to play outdoors. The
donations given to the school in the form of pictures, paintings and maps are meaningless for the
children. They exhibit the world of the elite and the privileged while the children in the slum have a
future that is sealed and confined to the slum. Their future is dark and limited. The donations on the
walls only add to the frustration of the children. They are tempted to attain what would be unattainable
for them. The only hope for them is the support from powerful people like the governor, inspector or an
influential visitor. The children in the slum can progress only if they are given good education and the
freedom to move into a world of opportunities and progress. The poet also states that history is made
only by those people who have the power of knowledge. Hence, educating and letting the children into
a free world of opportunities would release them from the suffocating, wretched life in a slum.

Important Extracts

(i) Far - far from gusty waves these children’s faces.

like rootless weeds, the hair torn round their pallor:

the tall girl with her weighed-down head. The paper-seeming boy, with rat’s eyes. The stunted,
unlucky heir.
 Of twisted bones, reciting a father’s gnarled disease,

His lesson, from his desk. At back of the dim class

One unnoted, sweet and young. His eyes live in a dream,

Of squirrel’s game, in tree room, other than this.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Who is the poet? 1. The poet is Stephen Spender

2. Where do these children live? 2. They live in the slum at Tyrol valley far from the gusty
waves.

3. What is the condition of these 3. They have pale faces, torn hair scattered on faces,
children? paper seeming, having rat’s eyes with twisted bones.

4. Why is the boy unlucky heir? 4. The boy is unlucky heir because he is suffering from the
hereditary gnarled disease.

(ii) On sour cream walls, donations, Shakespeare’s head,

Cloudless at dawn, civilized dome riding all cities.

Belled, flowery, Tyrolese valley. Open-handed map

Awarding the world its world. And yet, for these

Children, these windows, not this map, their world,

Where all their future’s painted with a fog,

A narrow street sealed in with a lead sky

Far far from rivers, capes, and stars of words.

Comprehension questions Answers

1. Who is being described in the lines? 1. A young , sweet boy is described here.

2. What is he doing? 2. He is dreaming the game of squirrel.

3. What does he has in his eyes? 3. He has dreams of other places as well.

4. Why is the class room dim? 4. It is dim because there is no proper facility of light.

(iii) Surely, Shakespeare is wicked, the map a bad example,

With ships and sun & love tempting them to steal-

For lives that slyly turn in their cramped holes

From fog to endless night? On their slag heap, these children

Wear skins peeped through by bones & spectacles of steel

With mended glass, like bottle bits on stones.

All of their time and space are foggy slum.

So blot their maps with slums as big as doom.

Comprehension questions Answers.

1. What is the condition of the 1. The creaming layer of walls is falling down
classroom wall?

2. What are the two things mentioned to 2. The Shakespeare's statue & the high rising dome
show a civilized race? point out that of a civilized race.

3. What is the specialty of the Tyrolese 3. It is full of coloured flowers & resonated with the
valley? bells.

4. Explain: ‘Awarding the world its 4. The rich & the dictators award & divide this world of
world’. rich & powerful people.

(iv) Unless, governor, inspector, visitor,

 This map becomes their window &these windows

That shut upon their lives like catacombs,

Break O break open till they break the town

And show the children to green fields, & make their world

Run azure on gold sands, and let their tongues

Run naked into books the white & green leaves open

History theirs whose language is the sun.

Catacombs – a long underground gallery

Comprehension questions Answers

1. What is the world of these children? 1. Their classroom windows are their world.

2. How does the poet present their 2. The poet called that their future is painted with fog.
future here?

3. How are these children sealed? 3. The narrow lanes of the slum are sealed by the lead
sky which keeps them imprisoned here.

4. Explain: ‘For these children, these 4. They have no access to the outer world of wisdom.
windows-are world. Their classroom is their world.

5. What does the map on the wall 5. It signifies a limitless world of opportunities but
signify? these are meant for the rich, educated & powerful
people rather than the slum children.

Practice Task

Answer the following in 30-40 words:

Q.1. Describe the condition of the slum children.

Q.2. Why is the future of the children a bleak one?

Q.3. Who are the who create history?

Poem: 3.Keeping Quiet

Poet: Pablo Neruda

Summary of the poem:

In this poem, the poet has emphasized the need to introspect and bring in the spirit of brotherhood
among the people of the world. He wants people to stop talking and stop all movements symbolizing
agitation and restlessness till he counts twelve, that is, a short period of time. These moments of silence
would be strange and exotic because in our mundane life we are working towards selfish goals,
regardless of the other’ requirements and emotions. Hence, this sudden silence would give us an
opportunity to introspect. Since we would not speak for a while, barriers between communities would
break and a sense of brotherhood would prevail. Man would get an opportunity to realize how he is
destroying nature and how he is harming himself. Futile wars against men and nature would be arrested
and a new feeling of unity would be experienced. The poet does not want his desire for inactivity to be
misunderstood as a state of uselessness. He wants men to learn a lesson from the Earth. The Earth
appears to be inactive yet it is selflessly productive. Men too could be productive and progressive
without any aggression, selfishness and the urge for destruction.

Important Extracts:

(i) Now we will count to twelve

and we will all keep still.

This one time upon the earth,

let's not speak any language,

let's stop for one second,

and not move our arms so much

Comprehension questions Answers

1. Name the poem and the poet. 1. The poem is Keeping Quiet and the poet is Pablo
Neruda
2. What does the poet ask us to do? 2. The poet asks us to count to twelve and keep still.

3. What should we not do on the earth 3. We should not speak in any language on the earth
for a second? for a second.

4. What is his real purpose in saying all 4.His real purpose in saying all this is that we should
this? stop all our activities for a while and have a quiet
introspection.

(ii) it would be an exotic moment

without rush, without engines,

we would all be together

in a sudden strangeness.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Who is the poet of these lines? 1. The poet of these lines is Pablo Neruda

2. What kind of moment it will be? 2. When we will be silent and still, it would be an
exotic moment.

3. What all of us will feel at that moment? 3. We feel and enjoy sudden strangeness and
unusual.

4. Give the meaning of ‘exotic’. 4. Enticing

(ii) Fishermen in the cold sea

would do not harm to the whales

and the man gathering salt

would look at his hurt hands.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. What would the fishermen not do? 1. They would not harm whales.

2. What would the man gathering salt do? 2. He would look at his hurt hands.

3. Which professions are mentioned in these 3. One is ‘fishing’ and the other is ‘salt gathering’.
lines?

4. What transformation will come in the 4. They will come out of their greed, selfishness
people the poet is talking of? and cruelty.

(iii) Those who prepare green wars,

wars with gas, wars with fire,

victories with no survivors,

would put on clean clothes

and walk about with their brothers

in the shade, doing nothing.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. What are the different wars mentioned 1. The wars mentioned are green wars, wars with
in these lines? gas and wars with fire.

2. What do you think is meant by green 2. Green wars (bio-chemical) mean new and fresh
wars? wars caused by men all over the world.

3. What advice does the poet impart on 3. He advises the war-mongers to stop wars and to
the war-mongers? put on clean clothes to be in the company of their
brothers.

(iv) What I want shouldn't be confused

with final inactivity:

life alone is what matters,

I want nothing to do with death.

 Comprehension Questions Answer

1. Who does ‘I’ refer to? 1. I’ refers to the poet, Pablo Neruda.

2. What is it that should not be confused 2. It is the moment of silence and stillness. It should
with total inactivity? not be confused with total inactivity.

3. With whom does the poet not want to 3. The poet does not want to have any dealing with
deal with? death.

4. Explain: ‘no truck with death’. 4.By keeping quiet the poet doesn’t want us to be
like death, we are very much alive on that moment
and Earth can prove we are not dead but alive.

(v) Perhaps the earth is teaching us

when everything seems to be dead

and then everything is alive.

Now I will count to twelve

and you keep quiet and I'll go.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. What can earth teach us? 1. The Earth can teach us how to live on it?

2. When everything seems dead, what 2. When everything seems to be dead, Earth
remains alive? remains alive.

3. Why is the narrator willing to count up 3. The narrator is willing to count up to twelve as
to twelve? he is preparing to go. He asks us to keep quiet.

4. Trace the word that means –‘living’. 4. Living – alive.

Practice Task

Answer the following in 30-40 words:

Q.1. How would man benefit by being still for a while?

Q.2. Why does the poet refer to the fishermen and the man gathering salt?

Q.3. How can war be brought to an end?

Poem :4. A Thing of Beauty

Poet: John Keats

Summary:

In this poem, the poet has brought out the unlimited joys attained from nature. He feels that a beautiful
thing of nature gives us unlimited joy and its beauty never decreases, rather it is everlasting. Despite the
paucity of noble people, the increasing number of evils in the world and days of gloom, man finds relief
and joy in the beauty of nature. He refers to the sun, the moon, trees, flowers, shrubs and streams as a
constant source of joy for men and animals. We get joy by reading the tales of the brave and mighty
people of the past but the joy received from nature is limitless and incomparable.

Important Extracts:

(i) A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:

Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. What is being said by John Keats to be 1. The poet says that a thing of beauty is a joy
‘a joy forever’? forever.

2. What is peculiar about a beautiful 2. A beautiful thing is a source of joy forever. Its
thing? loveliness goes on enhancing.

3. What can a beautiful thing do for the 3. A beautiful thing gives us a sleep full of sweet
human beings? dreams, health and a peaceful breathing.
4. In what way does beauty keep a 4. When we tired, tensed, the thing of beauty heals
bower quiet for us? our sorrows and restores happiness for us again.

(ii)Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing

A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkn'd ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Why are we weaving a flowery band? 1. We are weaving a flowery band that keeps us
binding to the earth.

2. What dearth does the poet talk of? 2. It is the dearth of noble natures among the
human beings.

3. What are the evil things that one 3. We possess malice of disappointment, lack of
possess? noble qualities and unhealthier ways.

(iii) Some shape of beauty moves away the pall

From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep;

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. What removes away the pall from our evil 1. Some shape of beauty removes away the pall
spirits? from our evil spirits

2. Who do germinate a shady boon and for 2. The sun., the moon, the trees and the nature
whom? germinate a shady boon for sheep and the human
beings.

3. What is the common thing that the poet 3. The poet points out that nature have endless
points out? things of beauty. They give us happiness.

(iv) and such are daffodils

With the green world they live in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
'Gainst the hot season; the mid-forest brake,
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms:

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Name the flowers described in these 1. Daffodils and musk-rose are the flowers.
lines?

2. What are the other natural ecosystems 2. The clear small streams, the green world are the
named here and what do they do? ecosystems mentioned here. They make for
themselves a cooling covert.

3. What makes the mid-forest brake rich? 3. The mid-forest brake is made rich by the
blooming of beautiful musk roses.

4. Find out the word that means – ‘small 4. Small streams – rills.
streams’.

(v) And such too is the grandeur of the dooms

We have imagined for the mighty dead;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Who is ‘mighty dead’ here? 1. The mighty dead is the ancient powerful and
brave man who had noble deeds in his past. But
now he is dead.

2. What is lovelier than all lovely tales that 2. The beauty of daffodils, rills and musk rose is
we have heard or read? lovelier than the tales we have read or heard.
3. What is the immortal drink? Where does 3. Nectar is the immortal drink. It comes to us from
it come from to us? the heaven.

4. Explain: ‘Grandeur of the dooms’. 4. Grandeur of dooms’ means the magnificence

that we imagine for our mighty dead forefathers on
the Doom’s Day.

Practice Task

Answer the following in 30-40 words:

Q.1. How can we say that a thing of beauty is a joy forever?

Q.2.What is it that moves away the pall from our dark spirits? In what forms does it do so?

Q.3.How do the daffodils and the clear rills make their attractive cooling cover the hot season?

Poem:5 A Road Side Stand

Poet: Robert Frost

Summary:

In this poem Robert Frost has brought out the apathy of the rich, city dwellers towards the poor,
roadside shed owners. The owners have made a new shed with a hope of selling his vegetables and
fruits to the city dwellers who passes by in their cars. But unfortunately, the rich and sophisticated
people of the city are insensitive to the needs of the shed owners, the latter’s desire is to sell their
goods and earn an amount sufficient for their survival. The powerful and influential people had
promised them support but now the shed owners feel let down and cheated. They have also heard that
they would be moved to villages, closer to the market area and theatre. Here, they are told that they
will not have to worry about their earnings and would sleep peacefully at night. In reality, the so-called
benefactors would benefit from this move and not the shed owners. They would simply lose their hold
on their land and would be dislodged, giving them sleepless nights once again. The poet is unable to
bear the pitiable plight of the shed owners who wait for a car to stop. He car do stop occasionally but
the passengers have their own selfish motives to achieve. One of them stops to inquire the pieces of the
vegetables, another stops to reverse the car and yet another to merely ask where the road leads. The
poet is alarmed when someone stops at a shed to ask for a gallon of gas. The poet is agonized to see the
miseries of the shed owners and he hopes that one day someone would come to their rescue.

Important Extracts:
 (i) The little old house was out with a little new shed
In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,

A road side stand that too pathetically pled,

It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,

But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports

The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Where has the road side stand 1. The roadside stand has been set up in front of an old
been set up? house at the edge of the road.

2. How does the road passing 2. The village road appears with a fats running of traffic.
through the village appear?

3. What would not be fair to say and 3. It would not be fair to say that the roadside stand had
why? been put up for a dole of bread. It was put up to sell
some cheap common things.

4. What is that supports ‘the flower 4. It is flow of money that supports the ‘flower of cities’,
of cities’? i.e. all the best part of city life.

(ii) The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts

At having the landscape marred with the artless paint

Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong

Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,

Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,

Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. What do you understand by the 1. The fats moving refined traffic of cars is the polished
polished traffic? traffic.

2.How did one who looked aside a 2. He felt irritated that the beauty of the landscape had
moment feel? been marred.

3. What was thought to mar the 3. The artless paint of signs on the roadside stand was
landscape? thought to mar the beauty of the landscape.

4. Which word in the stanza means- 4. Withering

‘fading’?

(iii) The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint

So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid:

Here far from the city we make our roadside stand

And ask for some city money to feel in hand

To try if it will not make our being expand.

And to give us the life of the moving-pictures promise

That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Who made a road side stand and 1. The poor rural people made a roadside stand in their
where? village that was far from city.

2. Who wanted to feel the money in 2. The rural folk wanted to feel money in hand from the
hand? city folk.

3.Who hoped to be helped and by 3. The rural folk hoped to be helped by the city people.
whom?

4. What was the promise made and 4. The promise was made to give a life a motion picture
who made it? to the poor people. It was made by the government.

(iv) It is in the news that all these pitiful kin

Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in

To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,

Where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore.

While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,

Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits

That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits,

And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day,

Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. What was in the news? 1. The news was about the resettlement of the poor and
rural people.

2. Where were the people to be 2. The people were to be settled in villages next to the
settled? theatre and the store. They would be closed to the cities.

3. Who are the ‘pitiful kin’ here? 3. The poor rural folk and the farmers.
4. Who will actually benefit from this 4. The benefactor would benefit from this move and not
move? the shed owners.

(v) The sadness that lurks near the open window there,
That waits all day in almost open prayer

For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,

Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,

Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are,

And one did stop, but only to plow up grass

In using the yard to back and turn around.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Who waits for whom? 1. The rural people wait for customers.

2. Why have the cars been called 2. The cars have been called selfish because they do not
selfish? stop for their own selfish motives to achieve not to
purchase anything..

3. When do the cars stop? 3. One of them stops to inquire the prices of the
vegetables and other stops to reverse the car

(vi) No, in country money, the country scale of gain,

The requisite lift of spirit has never been found ,

Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,

I can’t help owing the great relief it would be

To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.

And then next day as I come back into the sane,

I wonder how I should like you to come to me

 And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Who is anguished at the plight of 1. The poet, Robert Frost is anguished at the plight of the
the stand –owners? Why? stand owner because the cars do stop occasionally but
the passengers have their own selfish motives to achieve.

2. What does the poet expect one 2. He hopes that one day someone would come to their
day? rescue.

3. How will the poet feel a great 3. The poet will feel a great relief if the villagers are freed
relief? out of their pain by the city people.

Practice Task

Answer the following in 30-40 words:

Q.1. What were the various things put up at the stand for sale?

Q.2. Why were the shed owners disappointed with the city dwellers?

Q.3. What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?

Poem: 6.Aunt Jennifer's tigers

Poet: Adrienne Rich

Summary:

The poet has brought out the desire of a woman for freedom and strength. Aunt Jennifer
embroidered bright yellow tigers on a screen. They prance about freely, fearlessly and confidently in
the open spaces of a green forest. In contrast, Aunt Jennifer is nervous and frail. She finds it difficult
to even pull the ivory needle that she uses to make her embroidery. The wedding ring around her
finger is symbolic of the burden of commitments and bindings of married life that take away her
freedom and confidence to live life the way she desires. When she dies, her wedding ring will
continue to exhibit her burdened life. Unlike her, the tigers have been immortalized and will
continue to prance about freely, confidently and fearlessly.
 Important Extracts:

(i) Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a screen,

Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Name the poem & the poet. 2. The poem is’ Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ and the poet
Adrienne Rich.

2. What are Aunt’s tigers doing? 2. They are jumping across a screen.

3. How do the prancing tigers look 3. They look like shining topaz denizens.
like?

4. What do the tigers do on seeing 4. They don’t fear the men beneath the tree.
men?

(ii) Aunt Jennifer's finger fluttering through her wool

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Why are the fingers fluttering? 1. The fingers are fluttering because she is underweight
to fear from the dominance of her husband as well as the
family life.

2. What does ‘the massive weight of 2. It depicts Aunt’s suffering. The wedding band refers to
uncle’s wedding band’ depict? the engagement ring and also the metal band that keeps
her chained.

3. Why did she create animals which 3. She bore all the suffering very meekly. So, she created
were so different from her own tigers that represent her silent revolt against uncle’s
character? marriage bands and her suffering.
(iii) When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Who is Aunt referred to and what she has 1. She is Aunt Jennifer. She has mastered by her
mastered by? ordeals.

2. Where were the tigers made and who did so? 2. The tigers were made in the panel by aunt.

3. What will the tigers do when Aunt is dead? 3. They will continue jumping across the screen.

4. How do the tigers look? 4. They look like proud and unafraid.

i) What is suggested by the image massive weight of uncle’s wedding band?

ii) What are the ordeals Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by?
iii) What is the meaning of ringed ?
iv) Why do you think Aunt created animals that are different from her character?

MY MOTHER AT SIXTY-SIX
Short questions from the poetry section to test the poetry
appreciation

Q:-1 How does the poet describe the old age of her mother?

Ans The poet describes her mother’s age as a late winter’s moon. Her pale,
bloodless and wrinkled face resembles that of a corpse. She has no vigor and
energy left in her. She looks wan and pale.

Q:-2 What is the significance of the images , ‘sprinting trees ‘ and ‘merry
children spilling out of their homes’ in the poem ‘My mother at Sixty-Six ?

Ans Both sprinting trees and merry children are happy and young .They
present a contrast to the mother’s pain and old age and the poet’s worry and
fear. They represent youth, vigor and spring whereas the mother is old,
decaying and frail.

Q:-3 what childhood fear do you think Kamala speaks of?

 Ans Perhaps, since her childhood Kamalas had a fear that she would lose her
mother in some way or the other. Now that the mother is sixty –six years old
and has a deteriorating health, the poet’s fear returns.

Q:-4 How does Kamala Das bid farewell to her mother?

Ans Although, Kamala is distraught with fear at the precarious health of her
mother, she does not reveal her worry and anxiety to her mother. Instead she
bids her goodbye with “See you soon Amma” and lots of smiles.

Q:-5 Why could Kamala not express her thought for her mother at the airport?

Ans Kamala did not express her thought because she was over whelmed with worry
and pain at the thought of mother. Moreover, any such expression would
have aggravated the mother’s Condition.
  An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum
Q:-1 How does the poet see the children as victims of social injustice?

Ans The poet views these children as victims of social injustice ,for they are
deprived of the bounties of the words .Thus they are the ‘have – not’s ’.
Impoverished and undernourished ,they are deprived of the basic necessities of
life .Even their rights to educate themselves and hope for a better future are
denied to them . They spend their lives confined within the dark holes of their
slums.

Q:-2 In what way are the slum children unsung fighters?

Ans The poet has used various image to convey that the slum children are a deprived
lot .They are under– privileged as they are denied basic amenities of food.
Shelter and education .Despite living in deprivation, these children fight the
battle of life courageously. They are the heroes whose victories are never
celebrated .Their lot to slither in dirt and squalor .They have to make desperate
attempts to live on against all odds.

Q:-3 “The world for the slum children is a dark hole”. Comment?

Ans The map of the world which hangs in their classroom is a mockery for the slum
children for the world for the comprises the dark hole of the slums .However they
may aspire to stretch out the boundaries of their world ,life for them remains
confined within the four walls of the slums .They may catch glimpses of the vastness
of the outsides worlds from their classroom windows but they may never becomes a
part of this vastness and its beauty .

Q:-4 Why is ‘Shakespeare wicked’ and map a bad example ‘?

Ans The poet feels that the only hope to relief for these children lies in their education
.If these children can be educated they can hope to relieve themselves from the
darkness of slum life .But in the present milieu, education is a mockery in the slum
schools .Poor infrastructure and absence of teaching impossible .Good literature and
maps of the world may raise their hopes and aspirations but probably can never fulfill
them.

Q:-5 what does the poet mean by saying,’ let their tongues run naked into books’?

Ans It is in education that the poet sees hope for the slum children .He strongly feels
that the lives of these children will remain dark, narrow and unfulfilled unless
they are educated .So he wants that education be made available to all .These
 children can break themselves free from the shackles of slums only when we let
them read voraciously and excel professionally.

Q:-6 ‘History is their language is the sun.’ Explain?

Ans One can make a mark in history if only one outshines other. One has to outshine
and glow like the sun .People who have the courage and conviction to break free
from the constraints of life are the ones who create History.’ Great men are not
different people , but those who do things differently ‘holds absolutely true for
people who create history with their grit and determination .

 Keeping Quiet

Q:-1What would happen if men on earth did not speak in any language or move their
arms so much?

Ans Man’s silence and inactivity will prove to be a boon for mankind .All distinction on
the basis of language and nationality will disappear and man will not involve himself in
the rate race if he is silent and inactive .All unnecessary misunderstanding ,disputes
and debates borne out of different language will come to an end .

Q:-2 What would be an ‘exotic moment ‘for man?

Ans The poet feels that if man keeps quiet for sometimes and indulges in
introspection, doing away with his progressive attitude, he would experience an
exotic moment .In this exotic moments he will enjoy the bliss of silence away
from the din of modern life.

Q:-3 What is the poet trying to convey through the images of the ‘fisherman’ and ‘men
gathering’ salt?

Ans Through these images the poet is highlighting the harm, man is causing to
Nature and himself in his effort to add comforts to his life .The fisherman cause
harm to the whales and the men at sea hurt their hands in their effort to gather
salt.

Q:-4 What does the poet mean when he says that a chemical war will result in ‘victory
with no survivors ‘?

Ans Man today is aware of the fact that if there is a nuclear war there will be no
survivors to celebrate the victory .A nuclear war will result in total destruction and
 release of toxic gases eclipsing the sun and destroying the atmosphere .Thus no
life will survive such a disaster.

Q:-5 what has man single –mindedly focused himself on?

Ans The poet feels that man has single – mindedly focused towards advancement
and progress .In doing so, he does not hesitate to indulge in destructive
activities.

 A Thing Of Beauty

Q:-1 How does beauty leave an indelible imprint on our mind?

Ans Man treasures beautiful thoughts and sights in his mind for they provide him
respites and relaxation in his respite and relaxation in his gloomy days. Beauty thus
leaves its imprint in the form of sweet dreams .The feelings of serenity and positive
vibrations it inculcates, soothe and relax the turbulent mind.

Q:-2 What philosophy of life is highlighted in the poem?

Ans Keats worshipped Beauty both at his sensuous and spiritual level. All his poetry
reveals a yearning for that lofty loveliness which is real and true .His passion
for Beauty , however , did not keep him untouched with the pain and suffering of
life which he saw as the central fact of life .As an escapist ,he found refuge from
the pains and suffering of life in Beauty itself . He believes that beauty ‘moves
away the pall from our dark spirits’, making us love life despite its sorrows and
suffering.
  A Roadside Stand
Q:-1 What was the plea with N turned wrong and S turned wrong?

Ans The folk running the roadside stand, made a plea to the city dwellers to buy their
stuff so that they could also earn some money to improve their lot and standard of living.

Q:-2 What is the ‘Childish longing’ that the poet refers to ? Why is it ‘vain’?

Ans The expression refers to the dreams and desires of the poor rustics .Like
innocent children they dream of a better life which they can enjoy with the help
received from the city dwellers .They vainly long for city folks to stop and pay
attention to their needs . It is referred to as vain for their desire will never be fulfilled
this way.

Q:-3 How does the poet express his insufferable pain at the thought of the plight of the
rural poor? Which lines brings out this idea?

Ans The poet is immensely pained at the incessant suffering and miserable plight of
the rural poor .Relating his pain with the suffering of the country folk feels he would
experience immense joy and relief in being to relive these people of their pain and
suffering .They need a healing touch as much as he does.

The following lines bring out this idea

“I wonder how I should like you to come to me

And offer to put me gently out of my pain.”

Q:-4, Did the city dwellers appreciate the roadside stand?

Ans The city dwellers did not appreciate the roadside stand .They never stopped
there for refreshments .If there anyone stopped there they would be critical of its poor
décor .They would also complain about the signs being wrongly placed there.

Q:-5 What is the complain of the country folk against the party in power?

Ans The party n power promises them a dream would, a luxurious and progressive
life. But these tall promises prove to be false as they are not fulfilled .The country
folk thus complain that they are deprived of what they had been promised by the
people in power .

Q:-6 What empty promises are being made to the country people?

Ans The men in power use the media to give assurances to the innocent country folk
that would soon be pulled out of their poverty .They would be provided better living
conditions with theatres and stores. They can then enjoy a secure life and will not have
to worry about themselves any longer .

Q:-7 Give examples of contrast and irony in the poem?

Ans The use of expression ‘greedy good ‘and beneficent beasts of prey ‘beautifully
bring out the use of irony and contrast by the poet. The men in powers pose to be the
benefactors and good –doers of the poor rural people In reality they are greedy
for power and pelf and exploit the rural masses for their vested interests.

Q:-8 What is the ‘open prayer’ made by the country folk?

Ans The country folk make an open appeal to the city dwellers that should not selfish
.They expectantly pray for the city cars to stop at their roadside stand and help
them lead a better life.
  Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

Q:- 1 What does the ‘wedding band’ symbolize ?

Ans The ‘wedding band ‘ is symbolic here of the oppression of women by customs
and law which imposes slavery in matrimony .Marriage is socially and legally binding on
the women and so they allow themselves to be suppressed in this imposed relationship
.

Q:-2 What do ‘tigers’ symbolize in the poem?

Ans ‘Tigers ‘are symbolize of the fear of male domination with which Aunt Jennifer
suffers .She struggles for freedom but in doing so gets further victimized .Her ego-
psychology and the prison of the ideology of the family isolate her in this male
dominated world .

Q:-3 What character traits of Aunt Jennifer come to light in the poem?

Ans Aunt Jennifer is portrayed as a terrified person who is victimized by a

domineering husband .She is seen both as a victim and as an oppressor .She is
caged in the prison of her ego- psychology and the ideology of the family .The
freedom of spirit ,which is symbolized by the tigers is never achieved by her even in her
art .

Q:-4 Do you view “Aunt Jennifer‘s Tiger” as a tragic poem?

Ans The struggle of the spirit , injustice and oppression , which women have to face
many societies of the worlds even today make the poem a tragic one .But the
tragedy here is mystified for we neither know what terrors Aunt Jennifer had to live
with nor why her friends and relatives did not step in to help if she was so terrified .

Q:-5 Do you think Aunt Jennifer is both a victim and an oppressor? Comment.

Ans Aunt Jennifer is no doubt a victim as she confined to the prison of her ego-
psychology and the ideology of the family .She is also an oppressor, for she
seems to have quietly accepted her slavery. Though victimized, she finds an
outlet in knitting and embroidery
  COMMON QUESTION ASKED FROM POETRY :-

POEM & POET Figure of Speech EXPLANATION

1) My Mother at sixty- six In a comparison

between two distinctly
different things
indicated by the word
‘like’ or ‘as’ .

(Kamal Das ) The poet’s mother’s face was

“Her face ashen like that pale and grayish. She seemed
of a corpse.” to have lost all vitality .Such
paleness i.e grayish colors o
the skin usually associated with
a sick or a dead body.

“Her face ashen like that Winter symbolizes death. Thus

of a corpse.” the mother’s face is indicative
of her very frail health and
approaching.

Explain:” wan pale as a The poet compares the

late winter ‘s moon.” mother’s pale and withered face
with the winter‘s moon. The
moon seems to lose its
brightness in the winter season
as it is veiled behind fog and
mist.

2) An Elementary School “Like rootless weeds.” The expression has been used by
Stephen Spender to describe the
Classroom in a Slum
coarse .untidy and unkempt hair o
the slum children .the use of ‘rootles

( Stephen spender)
“Like bottle bits on stones”
Metaphor
Quality or action is applied to
another in the from of a
statement of identity instead
of comparison .The words ‘like’
and ‘as’ are not used .The poet
does not say that one object is
like another .He says it is
another
Examples:
Rat’s eyes
Father’s gnarled disease
Future’s painted with a fog.
Explain: ‘On sour cram walls
donations
Explain: “Let their tongues run
naked into books.”
weeds’ suggests that the children lack
proper nutrition.
The simile graphically describes the
shattered glasses of the spectacle
some slum children have to wear .I
not shattered the glasses are heavily
scratched and chipped.
It suggests boy’s timidity and anxiety
like a rat and searches for food and
security.
The boy’s father suffering from
rheumatism disease that has left ha
body crooked .The boy’s life has been
affected by father’s handicap.
Just as fog blurs one’s view in winters
the slum children’s future is blurred
by hopelessness and lack of empathy
The cream walls of the school
painted with the help of donation
further add to the pale and sad seen
in the poem.
The poet strongly feels that the live
of these children will be very
miserable and unfulfilled unless they
are educated. Thus he wishes tha
these children be exposed to the
world of books .They should be
educated so that they can break
themselves free from the confines o
the slums.
3) Keeping Quiet
Explain : ‘Without rush ,
without engines’ The expressions are symbolic of the
hubbub of the modern life. In the
( Pablo Neruda) modern competitive worlds o
advancement, there is a rat –race to
outshine others .Life can be peacefu
only if this thoughtless ‘advancemen
‘can be stopped.

Explain: “I want no truck with

death.” The poet does not believe in inactivity
.Life is an ‘on –going process and so
he does not want to associate it with
death .or bring it to a dead-end.

Explain :-‘you keep quiet and I

The poet asks men to keep and
will go’
experience the ecstatic moments o
silence which create a rejuvenation o
thoughts quietly departs leaving the
mediator in this exotic moments.

4) A Thing of Beauty Joy multiplies with every beautifu

thought. Likewise the loveliness of a
( John Keats ) Explain: “Its loveliness beautiful thing increases manifold
increases.”
each time we visualize .It on our mind
screen.

He expresses a similar feeling as he

 Explain :
‘wreathing a flowery band to
bind us to the earth’
feels that every morning we weave a
beautiful string of flowers o
memories which help us to suppor
ourselves on earth and motivate us to
live our life here which would
otherwise have been a pain.

Nature beauty is at its best in the

Explain:’with the green worlds lush green surrounding of meadow
they live in’. and pastures which provide the life
support to all plants and animals .No
living creature can be happy away
 from nature , and it is in this green
world that they true joy and
happiness of life .

5) A Roadside Stand Explain:’ greedy good –doers.’

The expression refers to the crooked
( Robert Frost) politicians who pose as the
benefactors of the masses in the
name of removing their poverty bu
are actually greedy for power and
pelf.

6) Aunt Jennifer ‘s Tiger Explain: ‘massive weight of

Uncle’s wedding band.’ The expression is symbolic of male
(Adrienne Rich) authority and power .Matrimony
binds the woman physically as well a
mentally .Likewise. Aunt Jennifer i
trapped in gender oppression and
feels herself burdened by the
authority of her husband.

Explain :
“The tiger in the panel …..
Will go on prancing, proud The expression is symbolic of the
and unafraid.” dispassionate and unconcerned
attitude of the male towards the
desire for freedom among women
.Aunt Jennifer dreams of her escape in
her art, but land producing the very
image of her suppression .As an
expression of the spirit Aunt Jennifer‘
art will survive long after her death
but the social milieu remain
unaffected, arrogant and ferocious.

Higher Order Thinking Skills

 Subject: English ( Flamingo- Poetry)

CLASS – XII
1. My mother at Sixty-Six by Kamala Das

1. My mother at sixty six, Kamala Das has pointed out at close relationships in an objective
manner comment.
2. Why did the poet suddenly recall ‘the last Friday morning’?
3. “My parents home”. Was the poet possessive in her thought? If so why?
4. Why is human relationship subtle and complex. How is Kamala Das trapped in this maze?
5. Kamala Das refers to her fear as “Childhood fear”. Do you think every time she was
overpowered with this she kept smiling or was it different this time. Describe the word ‘SMILE’.

2. An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum

1. What are the consequences of the distorted form of education given to the under privileged
children?
2. The strength of a nation depends on its system of education. Comment
3. How can the indifference of those in power be social threat comment with reference to this
poem?
4. The education in slum schools is a violation of human rights of children. How?
5. The children of the slum hope to have a life of mental and physical freedom. Comment
6. If class inequalities exist in the West, how are education and social changes effect in the Indian
context?

3. A thing of Beauty is Joy Forever

1. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

2. Why do we wreathe a flowery band? How?
3. List out the over darkened ways made for our suffering .
4. Beauty is heaven’s immortal drink. Is the peace that we derive from beauty also immortal?
5. Who are the ‘mighty dead’ and how and why is ‘grandeur’ associated with them?
 6. How are the ‘Daffodils’ and the rills the sources of joy pleasure?

4. Keeping Quiet
1) Why does the poet count up to 12? What is the significance of 12?
2) What are the Environmental issues mentioned in the poem?
3) How is the idea of ‘universal brotherhood’ brought out in the poem?
4) Silence can be very eloquent sometimes. Mention when is silence preferred to language?
5) The poem begins with “ Now we will count “ and ends with “ Now I’ll count and you keep quiet’.
What does the shift in the pronoun signify?

5. A Roadside Stand
1. Do the phrases like ‘greedy good doers’ or ‘beneficent beasts of prey’ sound odd? How?
What poetic device is used here?

2.Do you think the poem ends on a positive note or is it the other way round? Justify your
answer.

3. What does the poet mean when he says that the shopkeeper is not pleading for ‘a dole of
bread’?

4. What does the poet mean when he says, ‘as I came back to sane’?

5. What is the poet’s pain as referred to in the last line of the poem? Who does he expect to
relieve him of his pain?

6.Why does the poet term the hope of the shopkeeper and other poor people as ‘childish
longings’? What does if suggest?

7. You must have seen many impoverished roadside stands / shops as described in the poem.
What kind of feelings do these evoke in your mind?

8. What is the attitude of the poet towards the urban civilization?

9. The poet seems to hold the modern manmade civilization responsible for the misfortunes of
the destitute in the society. Do you agree with the poet’s opinion? Give reasons to justify your
answers.
 10. What does the poet mean when he says, ‘destroy their sleep in the ancient way’.?

11. What was the reaction of the city folk to the roadside stand that was set up by the poor rural
people and what does it signify?

12. The poet appeals to the readers ‘to come to me and offer to put me gently out of my pain’.
What provokes the poet to make this statement? What is the poet trying to suggest by this
statement.

13. The economic well being of a country depends on a balanced development of the villages
and the cities. Comment with reference to the poem “A Roadside Stand”.

6. AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS

Read the questions and answer the questions that follow.

1. Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers chivalric certainty.

a) How is the movement of the tiger different from that of Aunt Jennifer? (1)
b) How is the contrast between the two brought out ? (1)
c) What role does the word ‘men’ play in the poem? (1)
d) How does the poet employ the imageries of movement and colour in the poem?(1)
2. Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through the wool

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.

The massive weight of uncle’s wedding band

Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.

a) Bring out the significance of the word ‘fluttering’ in the first line. (1)

b) State which aspect of Aunt Jennifer’s character is projected here. (1)

c) The wedding band which is traditionally looked upon as a bond of mutual love and respect
that keeps two people together, has been used in a different context here.
Do you agree? Explain the difference between the two contexts. (2)
 3. When Aunt is dead her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by

The tigers in the panel that she made

Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.

a) “Terrified hands”-What is the poetic device used here? (2)

b) In your opinion why does a person like Aunt Jennifer weave the design of prancing tigers(2)
4. Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers express her repressed emotions aesthetically on a canvas-justify.
5. In spite of her limitations Aunt Jennifer displays her rebellious attitude. How?
6. Discuss the relevance of the poem in the light of contemporary women’s movement.
7. Do you agree that a strain of rebellion against male chauvinism runs through the poem? Elaborate.
8. How do you relate the theme highlighted in the poem to Indian social context?
9. Why do you think that the tigers are referred to as Aunt Jennifer’s tigers?
10. Discuss the use of colours in the poem.
11. Can Aunt Jennifer be taken as the spokesperson for all women around the world?
12. Art is a form of creative expression. Do the tigers in the poem present creative freedom or a form of escape
from reality?
13. Can you say that Aunt Jennifer found an outlet for her emotions? If yes, how?
14. How would you describe Aunt Jennifer?

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Figures of speech/Literary Devices/Poetic Devices-Class-XII

by Vandana | Oct 1, 2021 | Teacher | 20 comments
Acknowledgement- Mr.Siddharth Joshi
Figures of Speech
 Figures of speech are the most common type of questions which are asked in CBSE or for that matter any board examination. Since, poetry has so
many things to learn about, it’s not at all easy to mug up all the instances where we are asked these in the poems.
I bring to you this small guide with the most commonly used figures of speech. I assure you that 99% of what you see below is the only thing you need
to know to answer these 1 markers!
Here is a list of what all you need to know about:
1. Simile
Simile is nothing but comparison between two very different objects. While comparing we need to use comparitive words: like, as etc.
For example:
As red as blood, he fought like a lion.
Eg:… her face ashen like that of a corpse
 Metaphor
It is almost similar to a simile but here we take it for granted that both the objects are same. In short, we can call it an implied simile. In metaphor while
comparing we do not use comparative words. For example:
She was the lioness in the battle field.
Life is a dream.
Let’s take up an example to clear the difference between a metaphor and a simile.
Sachin played like a warrior (simile)
Sachin was a warrior in the game (Metaphor)
 Personification
Here a motionless object (like a table) is spoken as if it has life.
Eg:…..trees sprinting
A roadside stand that too pathetically pled…..
 Apostrophe
Hey you little teddy bear, does she love me? Don’t take my wrong, this is what Apostrophe actually is. It’s when an author or poet directs a speech
towards an abstract object or an imaginary person.
Eg: Well hello jet plane!
 Oxymoron
In this figure of speech, two contradictory terms are combined together. It’s derived from a Greek word which literally means “Sharp dull”.
Eg: Greedy good-doers, beneficient beasts of prey
 Irony
This one is the most commonly used of all in our day-to-day conversations. Irony is a form where the literal meaning is completely opposite to what is
conveyed by the author or the poet.
Eg: Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid
This is taken from Aunt Jennifer’s tigers and it brings forth a sense of irony because the tigers are much stronger than the woman who created them.
I’ve tried getting examples from NCERT textbooks so that you can relate them while you’re going through the poems.
 Repetition:
In this, there is a repetition of a word in a sentence.
Example: it was so so unexpected.
 Alliteration:
Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words or stressed syllables.
Example: Oh, wild west wind!
 Hyperbole:
In this, extreme exaggeration is made.
Example: I have told you a million times.
1. Refrain:
There is a repetition of a line in a stanza.
Example: And her realio, trulio, little pet dragon. (This line gets repeated many times in the poem, Custard the dragon.
1. Imagery:
When words have their symbolic meaning.
Example: In the poem Keeping Quiet: Whales are symbolic of poor suppressed people and Fishermen word symbolises People in power.
Figure of Speeches used in class-12 English Core Poems
My Mother at Sixty-six (poetic devices/figures of speech)
By Kamala Das
Simile – a) her face ashen like that of a corpse b) As a late winter’s moon Personification – Trees sprinting
Metaphor – merry children spilling out of their homes
Repetition– smile and smile and smile…
An Elementary school (Poetic Devices):
Like rootless weeds – simile
Paper-seeming boy – metaphor, Rat’s eyes – metaphor,
Like bottle bit -simile
Shut upon their lives like catacombs – simile
Last four lines – visual imagery
Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda (poetic devices/figures of speech)
The poet has used symbols and comparisons to explain how we can end conflicts, wars and corrosive activities that are leading to the death of our
civilization. He advocates keeping quiet and still for a while to introspect and understand ourselves and our relationship with our brothers and nature to
build a peaceful and harmonious world order.
‘Count to twelve’ – symbolizes a measure of time. The clock has twelve markings on it, the year has twelve months and the day has twelve hoursLet’s-
repetition to create a bond with the reader and stress his point.‘Fishermen in the cold sea…hurt hands’-symbolic image showing how man is ruthlessly
destroying nature and harming other species in cold blood for his selfish need and greed. The ‘hurt hands’ – the sore hands of the salt gatherer would
make him realize how he is harming himself by his mindless corrosive activities.…put on clean clothes’- metaphor. The poet says that quiet
introspection will make us comprehend the destructive nature of wars. Man would shed his blood soiled clothes and don on clean clothes i.e. he would
cleanse his soul, heart and mind, purging it of all anger and hatred.Brothers -symbol of mankindIn the shade- metaphor- just as shade protects us from
the harsh sun, we will protect and shelter each other as brothers, thus live in peace and harmony.Earth can teach us as when everything… symbol,
Just as earth, the greatest creator, in its sleeping mode appears to be dead on surface but is actually dormant and carefully preserving the seeds of
life, human beings too need to keep still and quiet to rejuvenate and awaken the life forces within and be productive.
A Thing of beauty-John Keats (poetic devices/figures of speech)
Metaphor: bower quiet; sweet dreams; wreathing a flowery band; pall; endless fountain of immortal drink
Alliteration: noble natures; cooling covert; band to bind
Imagery: flowery bands, shady boon, daffodils in green world, clear rills, cooling covert, grandeur of dooms, endless fountain of eternal drink
Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger(poetic devices/figures of speech)
By Adrienne Rich
Alliteration-Finger’s fluttering; prancing proud; chivalric certainty; weight of wedding band
Visual imagery- Bright topaz denizens; world of green
Irony: It is ironical that Aunt Jennifer’s creations- the tigers will continue to pace and prance freely, while Aunt herself will remain terrified even after
death, ringed by the ordeals she was controlled by in her married life.
Metaphor: Ringed with ordeals: even death would not free her as the wedding band, a symbol of oppression,, would yet be on her finger.