English Class 9 Question and Answers

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English
Literature Reader Chapter 1 How I Taught

My Grandmother to Read
Textbook Questions Solved
Question 1.
Write about the following memories or experiences. Share your views with the class.
(i) A memorable holiday spent with your grandmother
(ii) A story told by your grandmother
(ii) The things you admire the most about your grandmother
(iv) The difference between your mother and your grandmother
Answer:
(i) A memorable holiday spent with my grandmother
Grandmothers are more than mothers. I still remember how I spent a holiday with my
grandmother. It was quite a long time since I met her. I found her standing at the village
bus-stand to receive me. She was really excited. She had prepared some of my favourite
dishes only for me. She took me to the fields. We stopped at the canal. What a sight!
Children were diving into it from a wooden bridge. I enjoyed fresh sugarcanes. It was
evening. A herd of cattle was returning home. My grandmother would not let me sleep
early. She had many interesting stories to tell. She talked of her youth, her good old
times and her hobbies. She kissed me affectionately before I went to bed.
(ii) A Story told by my grandmother

It is difficult to imagine a grandmother without her fanciful stories. My grandmother is a
great story-teller. Her narrative skill is very real and convincing. She will make you
believe even the incredible. She has stored many stories in her rpemory. Her favourite
story is of Savitri and Yama. Savitri’s husband was cutting wood in the forest. He fell
down from a tree and died. The God of death, Yama came to take him to the other
world. Savitri would not let him come near the dead body of her husband. She remained
glued to the dead body for many days. She didn’t eat and sleep. The God of death was
moved. He had never seen such a devoted and determined wife. He was pleased and
restored Savitri’s husband to life.
(iii) The things I admire the most about my grandmother

My grandmother is my role-model. I am very much impressed with her personality. But
there are certain things which I admire the most in her character. The first thing is her
sense of discipline. She is very regular and punctual. She gets up at 5 a.m. in the
morning. She is ready for her prayers before 6 a.m. She has always a fixed time for
everything. I like her deep faith in God. Her sense of cleanliness is extremely
praiseworthy. She looks noble and dignified in her spotless white clothes. All these
things make her a very pleasing and dignified personality.
(iv) The difference between my mother and my grandmother

Human relations generally defy comparisons. But still there are certain basic
differences between my mother and my grandmother. I am also different from my
mother. So is my grandmother from her daughter-inlaw. Basically it is a generation gap.
My grandmother is conservative. She is highly religious. She has deep faith in God and
fate. But my mother is a working woman. She has a progressive outlook towards life
and people. She is not so religious. She believes that everyone has a right to lead one’s
own kind of life. My grandmother thinks that home and children are the most important
things for any woman. My mother thinks of other things as well. She believes that a
woman must have freedom to decide what is good or bad for her.
Question 2.
Have you ever been on a trip to any place in India, where you didn’t know the language
spoken locally? How did you feel? How did you manage to communicate?
Answer:
During my tour to Tamil Nadu, I happened to visit a small village. It is near the temple
town of Kanchipuram. Actually, I went there to buy some sarees for my mother and my
elder sister. I went to a handloom shop. The shopkeeper welcomed me with folded
hands and wished ‘namaskaram’. I did the same. I said ‘sarees ’. He responded by
saying “ilia’ or ‘Yella or something like that. He said something to the helpers. I could not
understand even a word. Many new sarees of different colours were laid before me. I
picked up one and asked the price. He raised three fingers—I couldn’t make out whether
he was asking for three hundred or three thousand. A man who knew some Hindi saved
me from the embarrassment. I paid six thousand and bought two sarees. Only then I
realised that I was a stranger in my own country and I determined to learn at least one
language that is spoken in South India.
Question 3.
See textbook on page 3.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
Question 4.
Now that you have enjoyed reading the story, answer the following questions by
choosing the correct option
(a) The grandmother could relate to the central character of the story ‘Kashi Yatre’
as_______
(i) both were old and uneducated.
(ii) both had granddaughters who read to them.
(iii) both had a strong desire to visit Kashi.
(iv) both were determined to learn to read.
Answer:
(iii) both had a strong desire to visit Kashi.
(b) Why did the women at the temple discuss the latest episode of ‘Kashi Yatre’?
(i) to pass their time.
(ii) the writer, Triveni, was very popular.
(iii) they could relate with the protagonist of the serial.
(iv) women have a habit of discussing serials.
Answer:
(ii) the writer, Triveni, was very popular.
(c) The granddaughter found her grandmother in tears on her return as__________
(i) the grandmother had been unable to read the story Kashi Yatre’ on her own.
(ii) the grandmother had felt lonely.
(iii) the grandmother wanted to accompany her granddaughter.
(iv) she was sad she could not visit Kashi.
Answer:
(i) the grandmother had been unable to read the story Kashi Yatre’ on her own.
(d) Why did the grandmother touch her granddaughter’s feet?

(i) As a mark of respect to her teacher.
(ii) It was a custom in their family.
(iii) Girls should be respected.
(iv) She had read the story of Kashi Yatra’ to her.
Answer:
(i) As a mark of respect to her teacher.
Question 5.
Answer the following questions briefly
(a) What made Triveni a popular writer ?
(b) Why did the grandmother depend on her granddaughter to know the story?
(c) Pick out two sentences which state that the grandmother was desperate to know
what happened in the story.
(d) Could the grandmother succeed in accomplishing her desire to read? How?
(e) Which of the following traits would be relevant to the character of the narrator’s
grandmother?
 determined
 selfish
 emotional
 mean
Give reasons for your choice.
Answer:
(a) Triveni was a very popular writer in the Kannada language. Her style was easy to
read and very convincing. Her stories usually dealt with complex psychological
problems of ordinary people. They were always very interesting.
(b) The grandmother never went to school. She was totally illiterate. So she could not
read. Her granddaughter would read the next episode of Kashi Yatre when the weekly
Karmaveera came. The grandmother depended on her granddaughter to know the story.
(c) The following two sentences state that the grandmother was desperate to know
what happened in the story:
 ‘During that time, she would forget all her work and listen with the greatest
concentration.’
 ‘So more than anybody else she was the one most interested in knowing
what happened next in the story.’
(d) Yes, the grandmother did succeed in accomplishing her desire to read. Being
illiterate, she felt very dependent and helpless. She was determined to overcome that
obstacle and learn the Kannada language. She made her granddaughter her teacher and
did amazing amount of homework. She set Saraswati Pooja day as the deadline. She
came out with flying colours. She could now read Kashi Yatre on her own.
(e) Two traits that were relevant to the character of the narrator’s grandmother were:
 her determination
 her emotional nature
She was determined to learn the Kannada language to read Kashi Yatre herself. She set
the deadline and accomplished the task within the stipulated time.
When the narrator came, she found her grandmother in tears. Her affectionate hands
touched her granddaughter’s feet. She touched her feet as a mark of respect to her
teacher
Question 6.
Here are some direct quotations from the story. Identify the speaker and write what
each quotation suggests about the speaker. You can use the adjectives given in the box
and may also add your own.
Speaker Quotation Quality Highlighted
(a) ‘Awa, is everything all right? Are you O.K.?’
‘At times, I used to regret not going to school,
(b) so I made sure that my children and
grandchildren studied well.’
‘Awa, don’t cry. What is the matter? Can I help

(c)
you in anyway?’
‘We are well-off, but what use is money when I

(d)
cannot be independent.’
‘I will keep Saraswati Pooja day during

(e)
Dassara as the deadline.’
‘For a good cause if you are determined you
(f)
can overcome any obstacle.’
I am touching the feet of a teacher not my

(g)
granddaughter.’
Answer:
Speaker Quotation Quality Highlighted
‘Awa, is everything all right? Are you concerned sympathetic,

(a) The narrator
O.K.?’ helpful
‘ At times, I used to regret not going to
(b) The grandmother school, so I made sure that my children wise, understanding
and grandchildren studied well.’
‘Awa, don’t cry. What is the matter? Can Sympathetic/helpful,

(c) The narrator
I help you in anyway?’ amiable
‘We are well-off, but what use is money
(d) The grandmother prudent
when I cannot be independent.’
‘I will keep Saraswati Pooja day during

(e) The narrator determined, religious
Dassara as the deadline.’
‘For a good cause if you are determined

(f) The grandmother enthusiastic; diligent
you can overcome any obstacle.’
I am touching the feet of a teacher not

(g) The grandmother respectful, humble
my granddaughter.’
Listening Task
Question 7.
Now you are going to listen to the story of a young girl about a special day.
(a) Based on your listening of the story complete the boxes given below.
Answer:
(b) List any three feelings of the old people in this story.
1. _____________________________
2. _____________________________
3. _____________________________
Answer:
1. They feel dependent.

2. They feel helpless due to extreme old age.
3. They feel proud of their children who are so caring to them.
(c) Complete the following :
1. We can make our grandparents happy by ________________

2. We can avoid constructing more and more Old Age Homes by___________
Answer:
1. giving them proper care.

2. giving them honourable place in our own house.
Question 8.
After having read the story, you realise the anguish of the illiterate adults. You want to
make your friends aware of it and contribute something in bringing about a change in
the lives of the illiterate adults. Deliver a speech in the morning assembly at your school
about the Importance of Adult Education and ways to implement it.
Read the following to make your speech effective:
The introduction of a speech is like the nose of an airplane. The nose sets the course
and leads the plane off in a specific direction. A good introduction sets the direction of
your speech by
 getting the attention of your audience

 introducing your topic
 stating your central idea or purpose
 briefly identifying the main points
 making your audience eager to hear what you have to say
Answer:
Importance of Adult Education and Ways to Implement it
Respected Principal, teachers and dear friends!
India’s economic achievements may be spectacular. So may be its rapid strides in
space and arms. But let me ask you a question. Don’t we feel ashamed at having the
maximum number of illiterates in the world? Doesn’t it make a mockery of all our
achievements? I want to make, particularly my friends aware of it. I want that all of us
must contribute something in bringing about a change in the lives of the illiterate adults.
I feel that every unit of N.S.S. in schools must call for volunteers. The volunteers of each
unit must adopt at least five villages. They must set their targets. I think two years are
enough. Scatter out in the villages. Find out the illiterate adults. Be respectful and
cooperative. Give them at least 20 hours a week.
I want to draw the attention of all of you to the grandmother of the story ‘How I Taught
My Grandmother to Read’. When an old and illiterate lady like Krishtakka can read a
novel within a year, why can’t others? Let’s be like the granddaughter. Let’s be totally
devoted to the cause of the illiterates. We can do wonders. A day will come when we
will have not a single illiterate in India. It may take time. But that day will come.
Writing Task
Question 9.
You are the grandmother. How did you feel when your granddaughter gave you the
novel ‘Kashi Yatre’ ? Write your feelings in your diary.
To make your diary entry interesting, read the following information about what is a
diary entry.
A diary entry is a purely personal piece of writing. The writer expresses his/her thoughts
and feelings. Reactions to incidents are generally poured out in a diary. Hence
expressions that are emotionally charged are used.
For example – When you are happy about something, you could start like this
8th July 20xx, Wednesday 8 pm
Today I am very happy as ………………………..
Answer:
8th July 20XX, Wednesday 8pm
Today I am very happy as my mission is almost over. About a year ago I set a deadline. I
didn’t want to remain dependent and helpless anymore. So I decided to cast off the
curse of illiteracy. I decided to leam the Kannada alphabet. No doubt, this task would
not have seen the day without the active help of my granddaughter. She acted as my
teacher and I worked hard and did an amazing homework under her guidance.
Today, my granddaughter has given me a copy of Triveni’s famous novel Kashi Yatre.
Lord, how merciful you are ! Now I can read any novel with confidence on my own. don’t
need my granddaughter to read Kashi Yatre anymore for me. I have attained selfrespect
and independence. It is true that if you are determined you can overcome all obstacles.
And I have learnt another lesson. For learning, there is no age bar.
Question 10.
Here is a story about Swami and his grandmother. After reading the excerpt, change it
into a conversation between Swami and his Grandmother.
After the night meal with his head on his granny’s lap, nestling close to her,
Swaminathan felt very snug and safe in the faint atmosphere of cardamom and cloves.
‘Oh, Granny !’ he cried ecstatically. ‘You don’t know what a great fellow Rajam is.’ He
told her the story of the first enmity between Rajam and Mani and the subsequent
friendship.
‘You know, he has a real police dress,’ said Swaminathan. ‘Is it? What does he want a
police dress for?’ asked Granny.
‘His father is the Police Superintendent. He is the master of every policeman here.’
Granny was impressed. She said that it must be a tremendous office indeed. She then
recounted the days when her husband, Swaminathan’s grandfather, was a powerful sub-
magistrate, in which office he made the police force tremble before him and the fiercest
dacoits of the place flee. Swaminathan waited impatiently for her to finish the story. But
she went on, rambled, confused, mixed up various incidents that took place at different
times. ‘That will do, Granny,’ he said ungraciously. ‘Let me tell you something about
Rajam. Do you know how many marks he gets in arithmetic?’
‘He gets all the marks, does he, child?’ asked Granny.
‘No silly. He gets ninety marks out of one hundred.’
‘Good. But you must also try and get marks like him…. You know, Swami, your
grandfather used to frighten the examiners with his answers sometimes. When he
answered a question, he did it in a tenth of the time that others took to do it. And then,
his answers would be so powerful that his teachers would give him two hundred marks
sometimes.
‘Oh, enough, Granny ! You go on bothering about old unnecessary stories. Won’t you
listen to Rajam?’
‘Yes, dear, yes.’
‘Granny, when Rajam was a small boy, he killed a tiger.’
Swaminathan started the story enthusiastically : Rajam’s father was camping in a
forest. He had his son with him. Two tigers came upon them suddenly, one knocking
down the father from behind. The other began chasing Rajam, who took shelter behind
a bush and shot it dead with his gun.
‘Granny, are you asleep?’ Swaminathan asked at the end of the story.
Now read the dialogue and complete the conversation:
Swarni: You don’t know what a great fellow Raj am is! In the beginning I could not get
along with him but now he is my good friend. And you know, he has a real police dress.
Grandmother: Is it? What does he want a police dress for?
Swarni: His father is the Police Superintendent. He is the master of every policeman
here.
Grandmother: I think, it must be a tremendous office. Do you know, your grandfather
was a powerful submagistrate and the Police Force trembled before him? Even the
fiercest dacoits of the place fled.
Swarni: That will do, Granny. It’s so boring. Let me tell you something about Raj am. Do
you know how many marks he gets in arithmetic?
Grandmother: He gets all the marks, doesn’t he, child?
Answer:
Swarni: No silly! He gets ninety marks out of one hundred.
Grandmother: That’s good. But you must also try and get marks like him. Do you know
how your grandfather used to frighten the examiners with his answers sometimes? He
would answer a question in a tenth of the time that others took. He would give so
powerful answers that his teachers gave him two hundred marks sometimes.
Swarni: Oh, enough, Granny! Don’t bother about old unnecessary stories. Won’t you
listen to Rajam?
Grandmother: Yes, dear, Yes.
Swarni: Granny, do you know when Rajam was a small boy, he killed a tiger? His father
was camping with him in a forest. Two tigers came upon them suddenly. One knocked
down the father from behind. The other began chasing Rajam. He took shelter behind a
bush and shot it dead with his gun. Granny, are you asleep?
Reference To Context
Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow:
Question 1.
One of her novels, called Kashi Yatre, was appearing as a serial in the Kannada weekly
Karmaveera It is the story of an old lady and her ardent desire to go to Kashi or
Varanasi. (Page 3)
(a) Who is the author of Kashi Yatre?
(b) Like the old lady in Kashi Yatre, who was the other character who had ardent desire
to go to Kashi?
(c) Find the word from the extract similar in meaning to ‘keen’.
Answer:
(a) Triveni is the author of Kashi Yatre.
(b) Narrator’s grandmother had ardent desire to go to Kashi.
(c) Arcent
Question 2.
In the end, the old lady gives away all her savings without going to Kashi. She says, ‘The
happiness of this orphan girl is more important than worshipping Lord Vishweshwara at
Kashi.’ (Page 4)
(a) Who was the old lady?
(b) Why did she give away all her savings to the orphan girl?
(c) Find the word from the extract opposite in meaning to ‘trivial’.
Answer:
(a) The old lady was the main character of the novel Kashi Yatre.
(b) She gave away all her savings to the orphan girl to make her able to marry the man
whom she loved.
(c) Important
Question 3.
So more than anybody else she was the one most interested in knowing what happened
next in the story and used to insist that I read the serial out to her. (Page 4)
(a) Who is ‘she’ in the above lines?
(b) Name the Kannada weekly in which the story appeared.
(c) Give a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘urge’.
Answer:
(a) She is the narrator’s grandmother, Krishtakka.
(b) The story appeared in the Karmaveera
(c) Insist
Question 4.
‘When I was a young girl I lost my mother. There was nobody to look after and guide me.
My father was a busy man and got married again. In those days people never
considered education essential for girls, so I never went to school. (Page 4)
(a) Who is the speaker of the above lines?
(b) What is the speaker’s agony?
(c) Wite the verb form of ‘education’.
Answer:
(a) Narrator’s grandmother, Krishtakka is the speaker.
(b)Her agony was that she couldn’t go to school.
(c) Educate
Question 5.
1 felt so very dependent and helpless. We are well-off, but what use is money when I
cannot be independent? (Page 5)
(a) Who is ‘I’ in these lines?
(b)Why did she feel very dependent and helpless?
(c) We are ‘well-off ’. What does the phrase ‘well-off ’ mean here?
Answer:
(a) ‘I’ stands for the narrator’s grandmother.
(b) She was illiterate so she felt herself dependent and helpless.
(c) Prosperous
Question 6.
Childishly, I made fun of the old lady. But she just smiled. (Page 5)
(a) Who made fun of the old lady?
(b) The old lady was ridiculed and laughed at. Why?
(c) Why did the old lady smile?
Answer:
(а) The narrator made fun of the old lady.
(b) She was ridiculed as she decided to learn Kannada alphabet at the age of 62.
(c) The old lady smiled because she was confident of herself.
Question 7.
‘For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle. I will work
harder than anybody but I will do it. For learning there is no age bar.’(Page 5)
(a) What is the ‘good cause’ here?
(b)Who is ‘I’ in the above lines?
(c) What does the phrase ‘age bar’ mean here?
Answer:
(a) Learning Kannada alphabet is the ‘good cause’ here.
(b)Narrator’s grandmother.
(c) There is no age limit for learning.
Extract Based Questions (3 marks each)
Question 1:
Read the extract given below and answer the questions/complete the sentences that
follow: “It is the story of an old lady and her ardent desire to go to Kashi or Varanasi.”
(a) Whom does ‘it’ refer to?
(b) Describe the character of the old lady on the basis of above mentioned lines.
(c) What do you mean by the word ‘ardent’? (Board Term I
2014, MZPD310)
Answer:
(a) It’s meter to the novel ‘Kashi Yatre’
(b) The old lady was kind and helpful.
(c) Ardent’ means very passionate. (CBSE Marking Scheme
2014) (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 2:
“At times, I used to regret not going: to school, so I made sure that my children and
grand children studied well”.
(a) Who is the speaker of these lines?
(b) What did the speaker regret?
(c) What did the speaker decide to do? (Board Term 12013,
NVZJUD2; 2012, Set 34)
Answer:
(a) Avva, the grandmother.
(b) The speaker regretted not being educated in childhood.
(c) Avva decided to educate her children and grand children well. (1 ×
3 = 3)
Question 3:
“I felt so very dependent and helpless.We ate well—off:
but what use of money when I cannot be independent
(b) When did the speaker feel so very’ dependent and helpless’?
(c) By ‘independent’ the speaker here means. (Board
Term 12012, Set 28)
Answer:
(a) The grandmother.
(b) When the speaker had gone for a wedding in the neighbouring village her
grandmother opened the magazine, looked at the pictures but was unable to read
anything. It was at this moment that she felt dependent and helpless and understood
the value of literacy.
(c) To be able to read and write and to be literate represents actual
independence. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 4:
“But I knew I loved her immensely and there had to be some reason why she was talking
to me. I looked at her face. It was unhappy and her eyes were filled with tears.”
(a) Who is ‘V and ‘she’ in the above extract?
(b) Why did the grandmother want to talk with the narrator?
(c) Why was file grandmother unhappy? (Board
Term 12012, Set 37)
Answer:
(a) ‘I’ is the narrator, Sudha Murthy and ‘she’ is the grandmother.
(b) The grandmother was feeling distressed, so she wanted to tell her granddaughter
about her inability to read.
(c) The grandmother was unhappy because she felt helpless and dependent due to her
inability to read.She regretted that she didn’t go to
school. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 5:
“The amount of homework she did was amazing. She would read, repeat, write and
recite.
(a) Who is ‘she’ in the above lines?What ‘homework’ is being talked about here?
(b) Why was she so keen on doing the homework?
(c) What does this extract reveal about the character of ‘she’? (Board Term
I 2012, set 38)
Answer:
(a) ‘She’ is Avva, the grandmother The homework is the practice of reading repeatedly,
writing and reciting
(b) She was keen because she wanted to learn how to read and write so that she could
be independent.She had fixed
(c) The extract shows her willpower and strong determination. (1 ×
3 = 3)
Question 6:
“When I came back to my village, I saw my grandmother in tears. I was surprised, for I
had never seen her cry even in the most difficult situations.”
(a) Who is T in the above extract ? Where did she/he return from?
(b) Why was the grandmother in tears?
(c) What does the last line of the extract tell you about the grandmother’s character?
(Board Term 12012, Set 41) (1 × 3 = 3)
Answer:
(a) Sudha Murthy is T in the extract. She returned from a neighbouring village after
attending the marriage.
(b) Grandmother was in tears as she realized how helpless and dependent she was due
to her inability to read.
(c) The last line of the extract indicates that she was determined and strong and had
taken life as it came. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 7:
“Childishly I made fun of the old lady. But she just smiled.”
(a) Who made fun of the old lady?
(b) Why did the speaker make fun of the old lady?
(c) Why did the old lady smile? (Board Term 12012,
Set 44) (1 × 3 = 3)
Answer:
(a) The granddaughter made fun of the old lady.
(b) The narrator made fun of the old lady because she wanted to learn the alphabet at
the age of 62.
(c) The old lady smiled because she had confidence.She believed that for learning, age
was no bar.
(1 × 3 = 3)
Question 8:
“I felt so very dependent and helpless. We are well off but what use of money when I
cannot be independent,”
(a) Who is ‘I’ in these lines?
(b) Why did she feel dependent?
(c) What does the phrase ‘well off’ mean? (Board Term
12012, Set 46) (1×3 = 3)
Answer:
(a) The grandmother.
(b) She felt dependent because she was illiterate.
(c) Well off means prosperous. (1 × 3 = 3)
Short Answer Type Questions (30-40 Words) (2 Marks

each)
Question 1:
What were the gifts exchanged between the granddaughter and grandmother?
Answer:
Value Points:
Grandmother gifted her a frock material-granddaughter gifted her the Kashi Yatre –
novel.
(CBSE Marking & Scheme 2015)
Detailed Answer:
The Grandmother gifted her granddaughter a frock material and touched ha- feet as a
sign of respect. The narrator gave her the novel-Kashi Yatre as a gift.
Question 2:
How did the granddaughter react to her grandmother’s request to teach her to read?
(Board Term 1, 2015 6SOOKQ5,2014 FROK4WI)
Answer:
Value Points:
At first made fun of her – age bar – seeing her grandmother’s determination to
overcome all obstacles – started teaching her in earnest’ (CBSE Marking
scheme 2014),
Detailed Answer:
When the grandmother requested the granddaughter to teach her to read at first, she
made fun of her. She wouldn’t understand why at the age of sixty-two her grandmother
had resolved to read and write. Then seeing her determination to overcome all
obstacles she (granddaughter) started teaching her in earnest.
Question 3:
Why did the grandmother depend on her granddaughter to know the story of ‘Kashi
Yatre’?
(Board Term 1,2014 ZEZDXJX)
Or
Why did the grandmother feel so helpless when her granddaughter went to attend a
marriage?
(Board Term 1,2012 Set 40)
Why was the grandmother upset when her granddaughter went to attend the wedding?
(Board Term 1,2010 Set C1)
Answer:
As the grandmother was illiterate, she was unable to read the next episode of ‘Kashi
Yatre’. She felt embarrassed at asking the villagers to read it for her.So she felt
miserable and dependent without her granddaughter.
Question 4:
Who was Triveni? What made her popular? (Board Term
1,2014 NCT-JR)
Or
What made Triveni a popular writer? (Textual) (Board Term 1-2012,
Set 54)
Or
“Even after 40 years, people continue to appreciate Triveni’s novels.” In the light of this
remark what makes Triveni a popular
writer? (Board Term I, 2010, Set Cl)
Answer:
Triveni wrote in the Kannada language. Her writing style was easy and had the power to
convince the readers. Her stories were inspired from real life and were interesting. The
readers can relate themselves with the characters in the stories as her stories were
related to the lives of the ordinary people.
Question 5:
What were the circumstances which made the grandmother realize the importance of
education? Why had the grandmother not gone to
school? (Board Term 1,2013, XITIMG7)
Or
What incident made the grandmother realize the importance of education?
(Board Term 1,2012, Set 49,53)
Answer:
Like other villagers, the grandmother was also fond of the weekly magazine,
‘Karmaveera’. As she was not educated, she was dependent cm her granddaughter to
read that magazine for her. In her granddaughter’s absence, she could not read the next
episode of ‘Kashi Yatre’. She felt embarrassed at asking the villagers to read it for her.
This incident made her realize (he importance of education. The grandmother had never
gone to school because she was born in an era when education of the women folk was
not given much importance.
Question 6:
How had the narrator planned to surprise her grandmother? How was she herself
surprised?
(Board Term 1,2012, Set 35)
Answer:
The narrator had planned to surprise her grandmother by gifting her a copy of the novel,
‘Kashi Yatre’. The narrator was herself surprised when her grandmother touched her
feet to show a mark of respect to the Guru.
Question 7:
What message does the story ‘How I Taught My Grandmother to Read’ convey?
Answer:
The story ‘How 1 Taught My Grandmother to Read’ conveys that there is no age bar for
learning. One can learn at any age, provided she/he has a strong will power and
determination.
Question 8:
Why did Krishtakka want her children to study well ? (Board Term
1,2012, Set 58)
Answer:
Krishtakka was not only the narrator’s grandmother but also her student. She had a
great zeal to learn to read Kannada and to become independent. She wanted to
overcome her inability to read. She had been born in an era when education for women
was not given much importance. Later, she understood the importance of education in
life and thus, wanted her children to study well.
Question 9:
The novel ‘Kashi Yatre’ had a great impact on the narrator. Explain. (Board Term
1,2012, Set 60)
Or
Which aspect of the serial ‘Kashi Yatre’ appealed to the grandmother? (Board Term
1,2010, Set B2)
Answer:
Grandmother had a keen interest in the novel ‘Kashi Yatre’. She identified herself with
the protagonist whose ardent desire to visit Kashi and sacrifice for others had a great
impact on the narrator.
Question 10: Why was the grandmother so keen on doing the homework? (Board
Term 1,2012, Set 62)
Answer:
The grandmother was keen on doing the homework because she wanted to become
literate. She found her illiteracy to be a one, handicap for her. She wanted to be
independent and self-reliant.
Question 11:
“Awa or the narrator’s grandmother was a wonderful student”. Justify with the help of
the story.
Or
How was Awa a wonderful student? (Board Term
1,2010, Set C2)
Answer:
At the age of sixty-two, Awa resolved to learn the Kannada alphabets which was highly
appreciable. She did a great amount of homework. She would untiringly read, repeat,
write and recite which was amazing.
Question 12:
“Krishtakka was illiterate but a very intelligent learner”. Explain. (Board Term
1,2012, Set 68)
Answer:
Though illiterate, grandmother was a very intelligent lady. She could reproduce the
entire story after reading it.She made-up her mind to learn to read and write at the age
of sixty two and she did it very successfully.
Question 13:
The grandmother in the story ‘How I Taught My Grandmother to Read’ was a very
determined woman, yet at the same time very emotional. Justify. (Board Term
1,2012, Set 72)
Answer:
The grandmother was determined to learn how to read.She worked hard with strong
determination in order to achieve her target before the deadline she had set for herself.
After she had accomplished her desire, she ex-pressed her gratitude to her
granddaughter She touched the little girl’s feet because she felt it was her duty to pay
respect to her teacher irrespective of the gender and age.The grandmother seemed to
be very emotional when she told the story of her life to her, granddaughter.
Question 14:
The grandmother touched the feet of her granddaughter. How did she justify this
gesture of hers?
(Value Based Question) (Board Term 1,2010, Set 64)
Answer:
It is a part of our culture that we touch the feet of God, elders and teachers as a mark of
respect. But the grandmother touched the feet of her granddaughter. She justified the
gesture by saying that she had not touched the feet of her little granddaughter but that
she had given respect to the teacher who had taught her so well that she became
literate.
Question 15:
In the lesson ‘How I Taught My Grandmother to Read’ more than anybody else
grandmother was interested in knowing about the latest episode of ‘Kashi Yatre’.Why
was she so much interested in it?
(Board Term 12010, Set C2)
Answer:
She was interested as it was the story of an old lady and her ardent desire to go to
Kashi and worship Lord Vishweshwara which is considered to be the ultimate puny a.
The story is of her straggle to go there. The grandmother identified herself with the
protagonist as she too had not been to Kashi.
Question 16:
How did Triveni, the writer capture the imagination of the readers? (Board
Term 12010, Set A1)
Answer:
Triveni, the popular writer, dealt with complex psychological problems in the lives of the
ordinary people. The readers could associate themselves with the characters in her
story and hence, followed them.
Question 17:
What major Hindu belief did Triveni revolve her story around? (Board
Term 12010, Set A2)
Answer:
Most Hindus believe that going to Kashi and worshipping Lord Vishweshwara is the
ultimate punya. Her story revolved around this desire, which is in the heart of every
Hindu.
Question 18:
What circumstances forced Sudha Murthy to become a teacher at the young age of
twelve?
(Board Term 12010, Set B1)
Answer:
The grandmother’s realization of her shortcoming, ha- firm resolution to empower
herself and her faith in Sudha’s ability to teach her made Sudha a teacher at a young
age.
Question 19:
How did Triveni’s death leave a void in Kannada literature? (Board Term
12010, Set C1)
Answer:
Triveni was a popular writer who wrote in an easy style and convincing manner She
touched the lives of ordinary people by dealing with issues close to their lives. Thus, her
early demise left a void in Kannada literature.
Question 20:
Which aspect of the serial ‘Kashi Yatre’ appealed to the grandmother? (Board Term
12010, Set B2)
Answer:
The aspect of the serial ‘Kashi Yatre’ which appealed to the grandmother was the
protagonist’s desire to go to Kashi and sacrifice her happiness for others.
Question 21:
Do you think that the grandmother was really impressed or influenced by the Kannada
writer Triveni? Why or why not? (Board Term 12010, Set A1)
Answer:
Yes, she associated herself with the main character of’ Kashi Yatre’.
Question 22:
What is the theme of the novel ‘Kashi Yatre’? (Value Based Question) (Board Term
12010, Set A2)
Answer:
The novel describes the travails of an old lady and her deep yearning to undertake the
much- cherished and arduous journey to Kashi.She ultimately sacrifices even her
deepest desire in order to help an orphan girl. Thus, it is a story of yearning, struggle and
sacrifice.
Question 23:
What was the name of the magazine in which ‘Kashi Yatre’ appeared? How often did the
villagers receive it?
Answer:
The name of the magazine was ‘Karmaveera’. The villagers received it once a week.
Question 24:
Could the grandmother succeed in accomplishing her desire to read?
How? (Textual)
Answer:
Grandmother had a keen desire to read. To achieve success in her desire, she worked
very hard. She read, repeated, wrote and recited, i.e., she did everything that the lesson
demanded. Her capacity to do the homework was ‘amazing’. She showed that there is
no age-bar for learning.
Long Answer Type Questions (80-100 Words) (4 Marks

each)
Question 1:
“All times, I used to regret not going to school, so I made sure that my children mid
grandchildren study well.”With reference to Krishtakka’s saying, do you agree that one
understands the importance of something that one does not have in one’s life? What
does it reflect about he character and values of the speaker?
(Boa Term 12014, FROK4WD (Value Based Question)
Answer:
Value points:
One understands the importance of something only when it is not present in one’s life.
 Due to society’s restrictions, Krishtakka could not study at the right age.
 Always missed studying learning.
 Realized the importance of education, especially when she found herself to be
completely dependent on her granddaughter.
 Granddaughter, despite being a girl, was made literate by her grandmother –
Keeping in mind the void she had felt in her life all along.
 Grandmother – quite radical, liberal, modern in making her children and
grandchildren literate when she herself had been the victim of society’s
restrictions.
 Grandmother – determined – in making her granddaughter literate by going
against the society norms.
Detailed Answer :
One understands the importance of something only ,when it is not present in one’s
life.Due to society’s restrictions, Krishtakka could not study at the right age. But she
always missed studying and learning. She realized the importance of education,
especially when she found herself to be completely dependent on her granddaughter.
She felt helpless when she couldn’t read ‘Karmaveera’. She made her granddaughter
literate despite her being a girl. She did so keeping in mind the void she had felt in her
life all along. We can call the grandmother quite radical, liberal and modern in making
her children and grandchildren literate when she herself had been the victim of society’s
restrictions.
Question 2:
Q”I will keep Saraswati Pooja day during Dussehra as the deadline,” says the
grandmother. What does this statement reflect about the speaker? What is the
importance of being determined and punctual in our day-to-day life?
(Board Term 12014 MZPD310)
Answer:
Grandmother was an old lady of sixty-two. She decided that she would learn to read so
that she would become independent. She had set a deadline for herself and was
determined to achieve it. Her willpower helped her to succeed in learning how to read.
She believed that for learning, age is never an obstacle and she proved it right. Both
determination and punctuality can take us a long way towards our destination. They
provide us with the motivation to fight difficulties and overcome hurdles.
Question 3:
“The narrator felt happy that her student, her grandmother had passed with flying
colours”. Comment.
(Board Term 12013, EWAJ2JM),
Answer:
Value Points:
Grandmother was able to read the Kannada alphabets by the date.She could read the
first page of tire book gifted to her by granddaughter (CBSE
Marking Scheme 2013) 4
Detailed Answer:
Krishtakka proved to be a wonderful student.She read, repeated, wrote and recited all
her lessons with great enthusiasm and concentration. Despite her age, the amount of
work the grandmother did was amazing. On the day of the Dussehra festival, when she
gifted her teacher (the narrator) with a frock material, the narrator also gave the
grandmother a copy of ‘Kashi Yatre’ which by that time had been published in the form
of a novel. When the grandmother read the novel, ‘Kashi Yatre’ and the author’s name,
Triveni as well as the publisher’s name; the narrator’s joy knew no bounds and she knew
that her student had passed with flying colours.
Question 4:
Education is important for all—young and old alike. Discuss, with reference to ‘How I
Taught My Grandmother to Read’. (Board Term 12013, XITIMGT) (Value Based
Question)
Answer:
I do agree that, ‘Education is important for all—young and old alike’. Many instances can
be cited in support of this statement. Although the grandmother was unlettered and
unschooled, she realized the importance of reading and took a keen interest in
literature. Secondly, she was fully aware of the drawback of being an illiterate.
So she made it a point to ensure that her children and grandchildren studied well. She
herself resolved to learn to read and write at the age of sixty-two so that she could be
independent. It was all because she knew well that an educated person does not have
to depend on others. Education helps one to gain confidence and opens the door for
new opportunities. •
Question 5:
The old lady in ‘Kashi Yatre’, Sudha Murthy’s’ grandmother and Sudha herself share
some common values of characters. What values are they? How are they important for
our contemporary society?
(Board Term 12013, AGRO-91)
Answer:
The principal character of ‘Kashi Yatre’ had an ardent desire to go to Kashi. The
grandmother had a similar wish.
She identified herself with the protagonist of the novel and followed her story with great
interest. Both have a compassionate nature and the spiritual learning; Both are the
epitome of love, determination, will power and dedication.The narrator, Sudha herself is
a twelve year old girl and has developed a bond with her grandmother. She too-is
sincere and hard working. As a loving teacher, she gifts her student ‘Kashi Yatre’.She
too is caring and respects the feelings of her grandmother. Thus, all the three
characters leave a permanent impression of dedication, sacrifice and love on the
reader’s mind,
Question 6:
Imagine you are Krishtakka and you have achieved the goal that you had set before
yourself. Write a letter to one of your nephews telling him about your achievement in
about 150 words.
Answer:
Murthy Villa
Karnataka –
26thNovember,20xx
Dear Ramanatham,
How are you? I am fine here.I wanted to share my experience of learning how to read at
this age. It is a dream come true for me. I am unable to express my joy tor being able
thread and write. Now I am not dependent on ‘ anyone.
I realized the importance of reading when I could not read ‘Kashi Yatra’ in the absence
of Sudha. I felt handicapped and dependent at that time. It was then that I decided to
learn to read and write. I set myself a target- date. With my strong will power and
determination and undoubtedly with Sudha’s diligent labour, I achieved my target 3
before Saraswati Pooja on Dussehra.
Today, I am able to read quite well. I shall always be indebted to Sudha. She has helped
me realize my goal and raised my self-esteem.
Do write soon Yours affectionately,
Krishtakka
Question 7:
What made the narrator’s grandmother identify herself with the old lady of the novel
‘Kashi Yatre’?
(Board Term 12012, Set 28)
Answer:
The principal character of ‘Kashi Yatre’ had an ardent desire to go to Kashi and worship
Lord Vishweshwara.The grandmother had a similar wish as it was a popular belief that
worshipping Lord Vishweshwara in Kashi was the ultimate punya.
In the story, there was an orphan girl, who wanted to marry but had no money. The old
lady gave all the money she had saved for her Kashi visit to the girl. This act of
sacrificing pleased the grandmother the most. She identified herself with the
protagonist of the novel and followed her story with great interest. Her compassionate
nature and the spiritual learning endeared her to the grandmother.
Question 8:
Suppose you are Sudha Murthy. Write a letter to your friend telling her how and why you
taught your grandmother to read. (150 words) (Board Term 12012, Set
38; 2010, Set C1)
Answer:
Murthy Villa,
Karnataka.
26th April 20xx
Dear Asha
You will be glad to know that I’ve taught my grandmother to read.I wanted to share my
experience of helping my grandmother become literate with you.
You know, granny was very fond of the novel ‘Kashi Yatre’. She would listen with great
interest and full concentration when I would read out the story to her. Thereafter, she
would discuss the story with her friends. However, when I came to visit you last month,
there was no one whom she could ask to read out the story for her. She felt
disappointed as she was illiterate. The reason behind her illiteracy is not lack of interest
but the fact that people in those days did not give much importance to girl’s education.
On her request, I taught her the Kannada alphabet. Now she is able to read as well as
write.Really it is very satisfying to teach others.You too should try it.
Reply soon to my letter.
Your friend,
Sudha
Question 9:
Suppose you are the grandmother. How did you feel when your granddaughter gave you
the novel ‘Kashi Yatre’ to read? Write about your feelings in your diary in about 150
words. (Board Term 12012, Set 43,42)
Answer:
10, Saturday, December 20xx
Dear Diary,
l am feeling more confident and free today. I have become independent. I no longer feel
embarrassed due to my dependence on others for reading.I can read well as I realized
my shortcomings and worked hard to overcome them.
Sudha is a wonderful teacher. She has been my guiding light. She helped me in
transforming my personality.I , accomplished my task in time – Sudha has gifted me the
novel ‘Kashi Yatre’ as a mark of respect and appreciation. I was both thrilled and
delighted to receive the novel in front of everyone. She has raised my self-esteem.
My heart’s desire to be able to read has been fulfilled and I shall ever be indebted to
Sudha for it. I am full of gratitude and blessings for her. This is a gift. I shall always
cherish.
Good Night Diary.
Question 10:
Compare and contrast the character of the grandmother with Juliette. (Board Term
12010, Set C2)
Answer:
Grandmother
The grandmother in the story ‘How I Taught My Grandmother to Read’ is a sixty – two
year old lady.She enjoyed listening to ‘Kashi Yatre’ as she related herself with the
protagonist. She is very loving and affectionate towards her grandchildren. She decides
to learn how to read and write and sets Saraswati Puja day as the deadline. She is very
humble. This can be seen from the fact that she touches her granddaughter’s feet to
show her respect, as her granddaughter has taught her how to read. She is very
enthusiastic about reading, diligent and works very hard.
Juliette
She is a fickle-minded young woman.’ She changes her mind too often. When she
decides to sell the Villa, she wants more money for it than it is worth. This shows that
she is very greedy. When she sees the potential buyers Jeanne and Gaston; her
cleverness comes to the fore. She flatters the lady hoping to impress them. She is keen
on maintaining appearances. She needs money but refuses to work to earn it.
Question 11:
You are Krishtakka. Write a letter to Triveni, the popular writer telling her why you like
‘Kashi Yatre’ and how it motivated you to read. (Board Term
12010, Set B1)
Answer:
Murthy Villa,
Karnataka
26th May, 20xx
Dear Triveni,
I wish to thank you for the way, unknowingly, you have brought about a change in my
life.I am an avid reader of your novel ‘Kashi Yatre’.
My granddaughter would read out the weekly episode to me. I enjoyed the story as I
could identify myself with the novel’s main character, an old woman who did not go to
Kashi as she had sacrificed her savings for the orphan girl’s marriage.
When my granddaughter was away, I could not find out what was going on in the story
as there was no one who could read it for me. I then decided that I too would learn how
to read.With her help, I soon learnt the Kannada alphabet, and now am able to read quite
well.
All this would not have happened, and I would have remained illiterate, if you had not
written such interesting and inspiring stories.
Thanking you once again.
Yours sincerely,
Krishtakka
Question 12:
The writer’s grandmother is convinced that age is no bar when it comes to learning. She
wants to convey the same message to her friends. Write a speech in about 150 words
to be delivered by the grandmother conveying this most important message to her
friends in the temple courtyard. (Value Based
Question)
Answer:
Dear friends, good evening. I want to stress upon you that age is no bar when it comes
to learning. I was born at a time when it was not necessary to educate the girls. I got
married when I was quite young and had children at a very young age. I became busier
with the coming of my grandchildren. Like other people, I too was fond of ‘Kashi
Yatre’.Since I could not read, my granddaughter read it aloud for me but her week long
absence made me realize my dependence on her. It was then that I decided to team
Kannada. I set Saraswati pooja during Dussehra festival as my deadline.I put in a lot of
hard work. My granddaughter proved to be a good teacher. She undertook the task of
making a 62 year old woman literate. 1 achieved the target I had set for myself. There is
nothing impossible, you just need strong willpower and determination to make it
possible.
Thank you.
Question 13:
Give a character-sketch of the grandmother.
Answer:
The Grandmother was an old lady of sixty-two. She was uneducated as she had never
been to school. She regretted her illiteracy when her granddaughter went to attend a
wedding ceremony. At that moment, she felt helpless and dependent as she could not
read ‘Karmaveera’ on her own. She didn’t know how to read. This incident brought a
change in her life. She decided that she would learn to read so that she would become
independent. Her will power arid firm determination helped her and she succeeded in
learning to read. She believed that ‘for learning, age is never an obstacle’ and she
proved it right. She was a traditional lady who believed in touching the feet of God,
elders and teachers; that’s why, on Dussehra festival, she touched the feet of her
granddaughter as a mark of respect towards her teacher.To sum up, she was an
affectionate lady with great will-power and firm-determination.
Literature Reader Chapter 2 A Dog Named
Duke
Question 1.
Duke is a Doberman. What are the other known breeds of dogs?
Answer:
Some other well known breeds of dogs are:
1. Poodle
2. Dach shund
3. Spaniel
4. Greyhound
5. German Shepherd
6. Labra dor
7. Dalmatian
8. Pekinese
9. Bulldog
Question 2.
Match the words in the boxes with their explanations given below:
(a) This is the other word for trembling

(b) This is used for smile
(c) You call a person this if he/she has pale gold coloured hair.
(d) This is a quality which relates to high energy and noise
(e) This is related to dancing or moving in a way that involves shaking your hips and
shoulders
(f) This is to express a tendency to show violent and wild behaviour often causing
damage
(g) We use it for a condition which is serious, uncertain and dangerous
(h) This is a state in which one is forced to stay in a closed space
(i) This is a medical condition involving bleeding in the brain
(j) It is a loud, deep shout to show anger.
(k) This is a condition when the rope or leash is stretched tightly
Answer:
(a) quivering
(b) grin
(c) blonde
(d) rambunctiousness
(e) shimmied
(f) rampageous
(g) critical
(h) confinement
(i) subdural haemorrhage
(k) bellow (k) taut
Question 3.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
Question 4.
Based on your reading of the story answer the following questions by choosing the
correct option:
(a) With reference to Hooper, the author says, “Every thing was going for him”. What
does it imply?
(i) He had everything that a man aspires for.
(ii) People admired him.
(iii) He did what he wanted.
(iv) He was capable of playing games.
Answer:
(iii) He did what he wanted.
(b) Duke never jumped on Chuck again because ________

(i) Duke was paralysed and unable to jump.
(ii) Chuck was angry with Duke for jumping at him.
(iii) Duke realised that Chuck was not well and could not balance himself.
(iv) Marcy did not allow Duke to come near Chuck.
Answer:
(iii) Duke realised that Chuck was not well and could not balance himself.
(c) The author says that Duke ‘knew his job’ The job was __________
(i) to look after Chuck.
(ii) to get Chuck on his feet.
(iii) to humour Chuck.
(iv) to guard the house.
Answer:
(ii) to get Chuck on his feet.
(d) “_______ even Duke’s presence didn’t reach Chuck”. Why?

(i) Duke was locked in his kennel and Chuck couldn’t see him.
(ii) Duke hid himself behind the bed post.
(iii) Duke had come to know that Hooper was not well.
(iv) Hooper was lost in his own grief and pain.
Answer:
(iv) Hooper was lost in his own grief and pain.
Question 5.
Answer the following questions briefly:
(a) In 1953, Hooper was a favoured young man. Explain.
(b) They said that they would create a desk job for Hooper at headquarters.
 Who are ‘they’?

 Why did they decide to do this?
(c) Duke was an extraordinary dog. What special qualities did he exhibit to justify this?
Discuss.
(d) What problems did Chuck present when he returned to the company headquarters?
(e) Why do you think Charles Hooper’s appointment as Assistant National Sales Manager is
considered to be a tribute to Duke?
Answer:
(a) The year 1953 had been quite an auspicious year for Hooper. This youngman of six-feet- one-
inch,’played in the university football team. He was already a ‘hard-charging’ zone sales
manager for a chemical company. He was a man of highly competitive nature and always had a
big genuine grin of satisfaction over his face. He was a favoured youngman liked by all.
Everything was going well for him.
(b)
 They were men from Hooper’s chemical company. After the fifth week of
the accident, some men from his company came to the hospital and told
Hooper to take a year off
 Hooper’s company told him to take a year off. They also promised to create
a desk job for him at headquarters. A man in a wheelchair with paralysed
arm and leg couldn’t do the mobile job of a ‘hard- charging’ zone sales
manager. Hence, a desk job was especially created for him at
headquarters.
(c) Duke was a four year old Dobermann pinscher weighing 23 kilos. Chuck Hooper liked
Duke for his energy and cheerfulness. Duke knew what he had to do for Hooper.
Once while jumping he hit Hooper about the belt, causing him to fight to keep his
balance. He never jumped on Chuck Hooper again. With Hooper standing, the dog
walked to the end of the leash and tugged steadily. Leaning against the pull, Hooper
learned to keep his balance. In this way, Duke helped Hooper to go on for short walks.
(d) Chuck’s company had created a especial desk job for him. But when he returned to
the company’s headquarters, this move created some problems. Chuck was fighting
very hard for his come back. The people there didn’t know that Hooper had already set
his next objective: ‘March 1, a full day’s work’. But no one dared to tell him that he
couldn’t do justice to his job as a salesman. He couldn’t move properly and worked only
an hour a day.
(e) Charles Hooper was finally appointed Assistant National Sales Manager. Hooper’s
appointment letter was so worded as if it was a special tribute to Duke. The words were
“………. therefore, to advance our objectives step by step, ………..” It was just ‘step by step’
that Hooper learnt to maintain his balance and go for short walks. Duke made Hooper
walk again like a normal man only ‘step by step’.
Question 6.
Following dates were important in Charles Hooper’s life in some way. Complete the
table by relating the description with the correct dates:
Date Description
News spread that Hooper and Duke had made it to an
intersection
Hooper walked independently from the clinic to the branch offi

Hooper planned to start a full day’s work at office
Duke met with a fatal accident
Answer:
Date Description
News spread that Hooper and Duke had made it to an

June 1
intersection
Hooper walked independently from the clinic to the branch

January 4
office
March 1 Hooper planned to start a full day’s work at office
October 12 Duke met with a fatal accident
Question 7.
Just A Minute
Given below are five qualities that Charles Hooper displayed during his struggle for
survival.
Get into groups of four. Each team will choose one quality to talk about to the whole
class for about one minute. But before you talk you have two minutes to think about it.
You can make notes if you wish.
Answer:
Group A: Charles Hoopqr was a man of courage.
Group B: He met with such a horrible * accident but displayed great perseverance
during his struggle for survival.
Group C: Leaning against the pull of leash held by his dog Duke, Hooper learnt how to
hold the balance.
Group D: Many times he lost his balance and fell down exhausted. But he had wonderful
endurance and it kept him going.
Group A: Hooper was a motivated man. He was full of determination. He declared that
he would start a full day’s work at office from March 1.
Group B: He could surprise all his companions in the company. The company created a
special desk job for him at the headquarters. But it created some problems.
Group C: No one was ready to tell him that a paralysed man couldn’t do the job of a
moving salesman.
Group D But he had great faith in himself and in his ability to do things. No doubt, all
along his dog Duke helped him in his struggle for survival.
Listening Task
Question 8.
Listen to an excerpt from a news telecast on a national channel carefully and complete
the table given below.
BRAVE HEARTS
S. No. Name of the Brave-heart Place they belong to Reason for Award
1. Saumik Mishra Uttar Pradesh foiled theft

2. Prachi Santosh Sen saved a child
3. Kavita Kanwar Chhattisgarh
4. Jodhpur dodged marriage to 40 year old
Delhi/
5. Rahul-balloon seller National
Capital
6. M. Marudu Pandi Tamil Nadu averted rail disaster
7. Bangalore saved a baby caught in bull figh
8. Silver Kharbani Meghalaya

Yumkhaibam Addison saved an eight year old from
9.
Singh drowning
10. Uttar Pradesh saved people from drowning
11. Haryana/Jind helped nab armed miscreants
12. Kritika Jhanwar fought off robbers

S.No. Name of the Brave-heart Place they belong to Reason for Award
1. Saumik Mishra Uttar Pradesh foiled theft
2. Prachi Santosh Sen West Bengal saved a child
3. Kavita Kanwar Chhattisgarh kills a man- eater leopard
4. Asu Kanwar Jodhpur dodged marriage to 40 year old
gave prompt news about a live

5. Rahul-balloon seller Delhi/ National Capital
bomb
6. M. Marudu Pandi Tamil Nadu averted rail disaster
7. T. Rama Rao Bangalore saved a baby caught in bull fight
8. Silver Kharbani Meghalaya rescued five people during floods

Yumkhaibam Addison saved an eight year old from
9. Tripura
Singh drowning
10. A tul Trivedi Uttar Pradesh saved people from drowning
11. Ramaphal Malik Haryana/Jind helped nab armed miscreants
12. Kritika Jhanwar Bihar fought off robbers
Answer:
Writing Task
Question 9.
Read the diary entry written by Charles Hooper on the day he received the order, Charles
Hooper is appointed Assistant National Sales Manager.”
March 1, 19… Thursday 10 pm
Last four years have been eventful. The day I brought Duke home… (Marcy was almost
impolite to him because she would have preferred a Pomeranian to a Doberman)… to a
stage on October 12, 1957 (when she would not allow anyone else to carry the injured
Duke to the vet)… much water has flowed under the bridge. From being a very fit high-
charging zone sales manager, I was reduced to a paralysed cripple forced to lie on a
bed alone with my thoughts due to a small error by a car driver. Despair had led me on
to helplessness… Was I to be a vegetable for the rest of my life ? I never wanted to be a
burden on Marcy.
Duke’s re-entry into my life lifted my numb spirits. The day he made me take my first
step, there was a rekindled hope. Duke assumed all the responsibility for leading me
back to my office desk… Life had taken a full circle. From shock to denial and
helplessness to anger, Duke taught me to cope with the challenge and led me to accept
the changed mode of life. I am happy to be living as well as working successfully.
The order that I have received today is my tribute to Duke who would always be alive
with me and be a part of everything else I achieve in my life.
When a person loses something, he is shocked and gets into a state of denial leading to
anger. In such a situation coping well leads to acceptance and a changed way of living
in view of the loss. Taking clues from what happened or might have happened with
Hooper, write your views in the form of an article about’ ‘Coping with Loss’ in 150-175
words.
Answer:
Coping With Loss
Gain and Loss are the two facets of the same coin human life. Loss is inevitable at one
time or the other in life. A man’s real courage, perseverance or endurance are tested
only when a person loses something. The strong and the brave accept the loss. They
say what can’t be cured must be endured. The weak lose their balance of mind and
behaviour when they lose something. They lose their nerves to deal with such a
thankless and unhappy position. The result is disastrous. They are shocked. They get
into a state of denial leading to anger. They withdraw themselves. They are alienated
from the mainstream of life. Coping well with such a situation leads to acceptance. And
the acceptance leads to a changed way of living in view‘of the loss.
The protagonist of the story ‘A Dog Named Duke’ Hooper was a very dynamic, healthy
and successful man before he met with a terrible accident. The accident reduces him to
a paralysed cripple. He is forced to lie on bed. Despair leads him to helplessness. But
Duke’s entry lifts his numb spirits. He decides to cope with the loss and accepts the
reality. He moves to a changed way of life. The day he makes his first step, it rekindles
hope in him. He accepts a desk job at the headquarters. But life must go on. So, he
declares that he will start doing a full day’s work from March 1. He does succeed. His
long patience, endurance and the ability to cope with the loss is rewarded. He is
appointed Assistant National Sales Manager of his company.
Question 1.
He was already a hard-charging zone sales manager for a chemical company.
Everything was
going for him. (Page 14)
(a) Who does ‘He’ refer to here?
(b) What happened to the sales manager?
(c) What does the expression ‘ Everything was going for him’ mean here?
Answer:
(a) Chuck Charles Hooper is referred to here.
(b) He had a terrible accident. .
(c) Everything was going on well with him and for him.
Question 2.
Hooper remained on the critical list for a month. After the fifth week some men from his
company came to the hospital and told Hooper to take a year off. They would create a
desk job for him at headquarters. (Page 14)
(a) What had happened to Hooper?
(b) In which company did he work?
(c) What does the phrase ‘desk job’ mean here?
Answer:
(a) He had got a subdural haemorrhage in the motor section of the brain.
(b) He was working in a chemical company.
(c) A sitting job at the desk.
Question 3.
After the excitement of the homecoming wore off, Chuck hit a new low. At the hospital
there had been other injured people, but now, each morning when Marcy quietly went to
work, it was a gate slamming down. Duke was still in the kennel, and Chuck was alone
with his thoughts. (.Pages 14-15)
(a) Who was Marcy?
(b) How did Chuck feel at home?
(c) What does the expression ‘Chuck hit a new low’ mean?
Answer:
(a) Marcy was Chuck’s wife.
(b) Chuck felt lonely at home.
(c) His condition at home became worse than before.
Question 4.
Those who saw it said the dog knew instantly. He never jumped on Chuck again. From
that moment, he took up a post beside his master’s bed around the clock. (Page 15)
(a) What did the dog know instantly?
(b) Where was the dog before his master came home from the hospital?
(c) What does the phrase ‘around the clock’ mean?
Answer:
(a) The dog knew instantly that he had done a wrong thing by jumping on Chuck.
(b) The dog was in the kennel before his master came from the hospital.
(c) Always/all the time.
Question 5.
When two fellows stare at each other day in, day out, and one can’t move and the other
can’t talk, boredom sets in. Duke finally couldn’t take it. From a motionless coil on the
floor he’d spring to his feet, quivering with impatience. (Page 15)
(a) Who were the two fellows?
(b) Who was Duke?
(c) Why was he ‘quivering with impatience?’
Answer:
(a) Duke and Hooper were the two fellows.
(b) Duke was Hooper’s pet dog.
(c) He was impatient to go out for a walk with Hooper.
Question 6.
By mid-April neighbours saw a daily struggle in front of Marcy’s house. Out on the
sidewalk they saw the dog pull his leash taut then stand and wait. The man would drag
himself abreast of the dog, then the dog would surge out to the end of the leash and
wait again. The pair set daily goals; Monday, the sixth fence post, Tuesday, the seventh
fence post, Wednesday. (Page 16)
(a) ‘The daily struggle’ was between whom?
(b) Explain the line: ‘The pair set daily goals’.
(c) ‘The man would drag himself abreast of the dog. ’ What does the word ‘abreast’
mean here?
Answers:
(a) ‘The daily struggle’ was between Hooper and his dog named Duke.
(b) Hooper and Duke fixed their target, how much to walk every day.
(c) Walking next to each other.
Question 7.
Back in the company’s headquarters, Chuck’s move presented problems—tough ones.
When a man fights that hard for a comeback, who wants to tell him he can’t handle his
old job? (Page 17)
(a) Who was Chuck Hooper?
(b) What was his old job?
(c) Why couldn’t he handle his old job?
Answer:
(a) Chuck Hooper was a sales manager in a chemical company.
(b) Being a sales manager he had to do the field work. ,
(c) He couldn’t handle his old job as he met with an accident which made him unable to
do field work.
Question 8.
A few weeks ago, worded as if in special tribute to Duke, an order came through from
the chemical company’s headquarters: “ therefore, to advance our objectives step by
step, Charles Hooper is appointed Assistant National Sales Manager.” (Page 17)
(a) Who paid a special tribute to Duke?
(b) What does the expression ‘advance objectives step by step’ mean?
(c) Who helped Hooper the most?
Answer:
(a) Charles Hooper’s company paid a special tribute to Duke.
(b) Moving towards your goal step by step.
(c) His pet dog named Duke helped Hooper the most advance his objectives step by
step.
Extract Based Questions (3 Marks each)
Question 1:
follow:
“All they knew was that their new neighbour walked like a struggling mechanical giant
and that he was
always pulled by a rampageous dog……”
(a) Who does ‘they7 stand for?
(b) Who walked like a struggling giant and why?
(c) What does the word, ‘rampageous’ mean? (Board Term 1,2015 6SOOKQ5,
BR7GWHM)
Answer:
(a) Neighbours.
(b) Check as his can side was paralyped
(c) Showing violent and wild behaviour (CBSE Marking Scheme 2015) (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 2:
‘Go run around the house Duke’. But Duke wouldn’t.He’d lie down with a reproachful eye
on Hooper.
(a) What do these lines tell us about Duke?
(b) Reproachful means
(c) Duke was unhappy with Hooper because (Board Term 1,2014 FROK4W1)
Answer:
(a) Duke was determined to make his master get up.
(b) Expressing disapproval.
(c) Hooper was not showing any interest in taking Duke out for a walk. (CBSE
Marking Scheme 2014)
Question 3:
He never jumped on Chuck again. From that moment, he took up a post beside his
master’s bed around the clock.
(a) Why did Duke never jump to Chuck again?
(b) What special quality did Duke exhibit here?
(c) Why did he take a post beside his master’s bed? (Board Term I, 2012, Set 35)
Answer:
(a) Duke was shocked to see that his master could not maintain his balance when he
had jumped on him.
Immediately, he understood his master’s problem and never jumped on him again.
(b) Duke was sensitive, loving and caring.
(c) Duke knew that his master needed company, so he took a post beside his master’s
bed. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 4:
When two fellows stare at each other, day in, day Out, and one can’t move and the other
can’t talk, boredom
sets in.
(a) Who are the ‘two fellows’ here? Mention who can’t talk and who can’t move.
(b) Who tried to break the ‘boredom’ and how?
(c) How could the boredom harm the fellows? (Board Term 1,2012, Set 39 and Set 45)
Answer:
(a) Chuck Hooper and his dog Duke are the two fellows here. Duke can’t talk while
Chuck can’t move.
(b) Duke tried to break the boredom by forcing Chuck to take him for a walk. ,
(c) Duke felt restless and uneasy; whereas this state of inactivity would have made
Chuck completely confined to the bed. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 5:
A few weeks ago, worded as if in a special tribute to Duke, an order came through from
the chemical company’s headquarters.
(a) Who is Duke? What has happened to him?
(b) What did the order say?
(c) How was it a tribute to Duke?
Answer:
(a) Duke is Chuck Hooper’s pet dog. He has met with an accident.
(b) The order said that Chuck had been promoted as the Assistant National Sales
Manager. .
(c) It was a tribute to Duke as he only was responsible for his promotion. So, the credit
goes to him. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 6:
Thirteen months from the moment he worked full days. Chuck Hooper was promoted as
the Regional Manager covering more than four states.
(a) What helped Chuck Hooper achieve the promotion mentioned here?
(b) What did Chuck’s promotion reveal about the company’s management?
(c) Who did Chuck owe his success to himself or Duke? (Board Term 1,2012, Set 42)
Answer:
(a) Hooper’s strong determination helped him to achieve the promotion.
(b) Chuck’s promotion revealed that the company’s management was compassionate
and fair. They had full faith in the abilities of their employees.
(c) Chuck owed his success to both, to himself and Duke. Both were equally
responsible. Without Duke he would never have been able to walk
again. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 7:
He was a 23kilo missile of joy. He hit Chuck above die belt, causing him to fight to keep
his balance.
(a) Who has been called a ‘missile of joy’?
(b) How did he hit Chuck? Why?
(c) Why did Chuck find it difficult to maintain his balance? (Board Term 1,2012, Set 43)
Answer:
(a) Chuck’s dog, Duke, has been called ‘a missile of joy’.
(b) Duke jumped with great excitement to express his joy on meeting his master.
(c) Chuck did not expect Duke to jump on him suddenly and that too with such great
force. Secondly, his disability did not allow him to withstand the impact.
Short Answer Type Questions (30-40 Words) (2

Marks each)
Question 1:
How did Duke meet his end? (Board Term 1,2014 FROK4WI)
Answer:
On the evening of 12, October 1957, the Hooper had guests as Hooper had got quite
well. Suddenly, they heard the screech of brakes outside. When Chuck looked outside,
he was awestruck. Duck had met with a serious accident. His injuries were severer and
he died. This day brought darkness in the lives of the Hoopers.
Question 2:
How much time did it take for Chuck to stand on his own feet? (Board Term 1,2014,
MZPD310)
Answer:
After the accident, Chuck remained in the hospital for a month., in a critical stage. When
he came home on his wheelchair, his dog Duke helped him walk back into life step by
step, day by day.Chuck was discharged from the hospital on March and by mid-April he
was able to stand on his feet
Question 3:
Why did Chuck visit his office? What problem did it present before all? (Board Term
1,2014 NCT-R)
Answer:
Chuck visited his office with an offer of spending an hour a day. But his bosses were in
dilemma. They did not know what to do with a salesman who was unable to move
around and could work only an hour a day.
Question 4:
What was Duke’s reaction when he saw Chuck after he came back from the
hospital? (Board Term 1,2014 ZEZDXJX)
Answer:
When Chuck was brought home, Duke could not contain himself on seeing his master.
In sheer joy, he jumped on his master; though he seemed to realize soon that he should
not have done so.
Question 5:
‘It was like lighting a fuse. Duke shimmied himself U-shaped in anticipation’. Explain.
(Board Term 1,2013, PNZTXU?)
Answer:
The line refers to the effects that Chuck had on the dog, Duke .One evening,
Chuck hooked the leash to Duke’s collar.The dog jumped in anticipation that his master
would take him for a walk.The dog was excited as Chuck had showed no interest in
making an effort to walk. The dog’s coaxing.
(CBSE Marking Scheme 2013,)2
Question 6:
Do you think that the story of Duke and Chuck is an inspiration for those who give up
without trying? (Board Term I, 2013, PNZTXU9)
Answer:
The story conveys that, ‘when all is lost, future still remains’.All challenges, all tragedies
and all handicaps of life can be overcome with strong determination, persistent
hardwork, patience and a little co-operation form loved ones. They can help one change
one’s destiny.
Question 7:
What special qualities did Duke exhibit to be an extraordinary dog? (Board Term
1,2013, PNZTXU9)
Answer:
A rough-playing, 23-Kilo Doberman Pinscher, Duke was a four-year-old red-coloured dog
of incalculable enthusiasm. Full of life, he loved to have boisterous fun, but once he
realized his master’s grave problem, he took upon himself the responsibility of bringing
him bade to his feet. His extraordinary intelligence sincerity and tenacity endeared him
to the Hoopers and the people around them.
Question 8:
How was chuck Injured in the accident? (Board Term 12013, AGRO-91; 2012,
EWAJ2JM Set 34)
Answer:
One evening in the autumn season, Chuck Hooper was returning home after the day’s
work in his car. Suddenly, another car, in front of him, applied brakes and Hooper’s car
banged into it. Hooper suffered severe brain injuries. Consequently, the left side of his
body got paralyzed.
Question 9:
Why was 4th january an eventful day for Chuck Hooper? (Board Term 1,2013,
NUZJUD2; 20l2, Set 47)
Answer:
4th January was an eventful day for Chuck Hooper because that day he walked 200
metre without Duke’s support from the clinic to his office. Chuck also decided to work
for an hour that day.
Question 10:
In 1953, Hooper was a favoured young man. Explain. (Board Term 1,2013, EWAJ2JM)
Or
What kind of a man was Charles Hooper before the tragic accident? (Board Term
1,2812, Set 61)
Answer:
Hooper was a favoured young man who had everything in life, popularity, success and a
respectable job. He was once a player of the university football team.He was the Zonal
Sales Manager in a chemical company and was very ambitious.
Question 11:
Write a character sketch of Hooper. (Board Term 1,2012, Set 28)
Answer:
Hooper Was a popular, civilized, cheerful, hard-working young: man holding a high
position in his company. An accident left him completely paralyzed.He felt depressed
and lost With Duke’s help, he was able to make tentative, movements. ,
Encouraged by his success and with Duke’s help, his steely will bore fruit. He resumed
his office work and was promoted as the Assistant National Sales Manager.
Question 12:
What targeted Chuck hit on 1st March? Who helped him? (Board Term 1,2012, Set 48)
Answer:
On 1st Match, Chuck started working for the whole day. His dog, Duke, played a vital
role in bringing his life back to normal. He had motivated him and helped him in his
exercises.
Question 13:
How did Hooper take his first step after the accident? (Board Term I, 2012, Set 46)
Answer:
One day Chuck idly hooked the leash on Duke’s collar.It was as if the dog understood
what he had to do. He forced to his feet. With Marcy’s support, he put his left foot
forward. Slowly and cautiously he took some more steps.
Question 14:
How did Chuck and Marcy differ in their views regarding dogs? (Board Term I,2012,
Set 50)
Answer:
Chuck loved dogs while Marcy did not have a liking for them. Hooper brought Duke
much against the wishes of Marcy Marcy took a long time to adjust with and to get
along with Duke, their dog.
Question 15:
How did Marcy react after Duke met with a fatal accident? (Board Term 1,2012, Set
51)
Answer:
Though Marcy was worried and distressed, she herself carried him to the hospital and
got him the best possible treatment.
Question 16:
Why do you think Charles Hooper’s appointment as the Assistant National Sales
Manager was considered as a tribute to Duke? (Board Twin 1,2012, Set 55)
Answer:
Charles Hooper’s appointment as the Assistant National Sales Manager was
considered as a tribute to Duke because this was in consonance with the fighting spirit
of Duke. Duke had assumed all tire responsibility for leading him back to his office desk.
He had rekindled a hope in Hooper and had taught him to cope with the challenge
successfully.
Question 17:
How did the members of the staff react when Chuck visited his district office without
Duke? (Board Term 1,2012, Set 56)
Or
What was the reaction of the staff when Chuck visited his district office? What did he
say to his manager Gorden Doule? (Board Term 1,2010, Set C2)
Answer:
When Chuck visited his District Office without Duke, his colleagues were amazed. He
told the manager that he would come to the office daily for at least one hour.
Question 18:
Why was Hooper depressed after coming home from the hospital? (Board Term I,
2012, Set 59)
Or
Why was Hooper depressed at home after being releazed from the hospital? (Board
Term 1,2010, Set C2)
Answer:
Hooper had suffered from a paralytic attack and was unable to move or walk. When his
wife, Marcy left for work everyday, he was left alone in the house, he was bed-ridden and
missed company. He was then hit by pain and grief and felt depressed.
Question 19:
How did Marcy react when Duke was run over by a car? (Board Term 1,2012, Set 65)
Answer:
Marcy was not really a dog lover but over a period of time, she had developed a soft
corner far Duke. She was deeply distressed when she saw Duke’s pathetic
condition.She told the people around her to phone the vet. Refusing help, she picked up
Duke and drove him to the animal hospital where he breathed his last the next morning.
Question 20:
How did Hooper feel when he returned to his home? (Board Term 1,2012, Set 68)
Answer:
When Hooper returned he was excited at first. Later, as he was bed-ridden, he felt lonely
and depressed as Marcy went out for work.
Question 21:
What efforts were made by Duke to bring his master Charles back to his feet once
again? Give atleast two instances. (Board Ham 1,2010, Set Al)
Answer:
(i) Duke couldn’t bear Chuck on bed and so quivering with impatience he went to the
bed and poked his nose under Charles’ elbow and provoked him to get up.
(ii) During Charles initial efforts, Duke kept the leash taut so that Charles would not get
disbalanced.
Question 22:
What is considered as a fitting tribute to Duke by Chuck? Why? (Board Term I, 20l0, Set
C2)
Answer:
Chuck was promoted as the Assistant National Sales Manager. Duke had played a vital
role in once again bringing him back to his feet. He had motivated him and helped him
in his exercises.
Question 23:
Which incident transformed Chuck Hooper from a favoured young man to an
unfortunate young man? (Board &, 2010, Set B1)
Answer:
Chuck had everything going for him—a job, house and family when a car accident left
him paralysed on his left side, robbing him of the ability to talk or move.
Question 24:
What problems did Chuck face on returning to the company headquarters? (Board Term
l, 2010, Set C2)
Answer:
Chuck worked hard for a comeback, but as a salesman he couldn’t move.He was
confuted to his chair.Initially, he was able to work only for an hour.
Question 25:
“Duke lay down with a reproachful eye on Hooper.” What is Duke trying to convey to
Hopper? (Board Term 1,2010, Set B1)
Answer:
Duke looks at Hooper critically as if trying to convey his displeasure at Hooper’s
weakness, his inability to fight his condition.
Question 26:
What led Marcy to limit the course of physiotherapy? (Board2010 Set A2)
Answer:
Duke was working very hard with Hooper.He took him for walks, very patiently waiting
for each of Hooper’s steps. Marcy immediately realized that physiotherapy wouldn’t be
that much help as compared to the dog’s efforts to help him recover, so she limited the
course of physiotherapy.
Question 27:
Why do you think Charles Hooper’s appointment as the Assistant National Sales
Manager considered to be a tribute to Duke?
Answer:
Charles Hooper was appointed Assistant National Sales Manager and the credit for this
goes to the dog Duke. It was only because of Duke that Hooper could leave his
wheelchair and start walking.Duke assumed all the responsibility for leading him back
to his office-desk. He had rekindled a hope in Hooper and had taught him to cope with
the challenge successfully. That’s why his fresh promotion was a tribute to Duke.
Question 28:
They said that they would create a desk job for Hooper at the headquarters.
(i) Who are they?
(ii) Why did they decide to do this?
Answer:
The word ‘they’ refers to the office colleagues of Hooper who came from the company
to tell him to take a year off. They decided to do this as Hooper was in a critical
stage.He had been put on a wheelchair as his arms and legs were paralyzed. Hooper
had a field job which he would not be able to manage with these physical conditions.
Long Answer Type Questions (80-100 Words) (4

Marks each)
Question 1:
One is often unable to taste the fruit of one’s hard work. Explain with reference to the
story ‘A Dog Named Duke’.
(Board Term 12015 BR7GWHM, 6SOOKQ5)
Answer:
Value points:
Chuck and Duke shared understanding and responsibility for each other
Chuck made the effect and finally walked because of duke.
Duke remained at his side during his most difficult time. (CBSE Marking Scheme,
2015) 4
Detailed Answer:
Duke was a loyal, faithful, understanding and intelligent dog. He had realized Chuck’s
handicap after their very first meeting. Since then he did not ever jump at him after that.
Duke would keep on motivating Chuck to move by nudging and poking him. He took
Chuck for walk every day, covering a greater distance than before every time. Later, he
insisted on two rounds in a day. Largely due to Duke’s efforts Chuck recovered. Yet,
when the time came to reap the fruits of one’s efforts, to see Chuck being promoted in
the office, he died. But such kind acts are always remembered by the one who are
benefitted by his efforts. They are regarded as motivators and God’s messengers.
Question 2:
Charles Hooper’s life is a source much of inspiration for the normal people as it is for
the physically challenged ones. Do you agree? What values can be learnt from his
life? [Value Based Question] (Board Term 12013, AGRO-91)
Or
Discuss the message conveyed in the story, ‘A Dog Named Duke’. (Board Term 12013,
XITIMG7)
Answer:
Life is a continuous journey; a strange mixture of sweetness, bitterness, joys and
sorrows. Some are unable to stand upright in the times of adversity and crumble but
those who maintain courage and endurance, succesfully overcome the grief. Chuck
could have chosen to remain paralysed and not respond to Duke’s helpful gestures. But
he kept the flame of hope kindled and with his strong will power, overcomes His
handicap. The story conveys the message that coping up with the challenges of life and
accepting them as they come can give one an inner strength to find solutions to the
most complex problems of life.
Question 3:
Charles Hooper was a man of exemplary courage and perseverance. Nominate him for
an award the “Hero Amongst Us”. (Board Term 12012, Set 72)
Answer:
Charles Hooper was a man of courage. He met with a serious accident and became
paralyzed but then mustered courage to adapt himself to the new situation. He
displayed great perseverance during his struggle for survival with the help of his dog
Duke. Not a single day went effortless. There was a commendable gradual progress
from moving a step on the first day of his effort to walking up to the porch, then to the
fence post, to the intersection and finally to the district office.Many a times he lost his
balance and fell down exhausted but he had wonderful endurance that kept him
going.Hooper was a person full of determination. He set dates as objectives and with
the help of Duke, could achieve the same. He had faith in himself and in his ability, No
one could dare to say that a paralyzed man couldn’t do the job of a moving salesman
taking into account the hard work he did for a successful comeback. Hence, they
created a special desk job for him. All along, his dog Duke helped him in his struggle for
survival.’ Undoubtedly his courage and power of endurance mate him a strong
contender for the award Hero Amongst Us.
Question 4:
As Chuck, write a letter to your friend in about 150 words sharing your experiences after
your accident and Duke’s efforts to get you back on your road to success. (Board Term
12012, Set 34)
Answer:
Marcy House
23rd September, 1957
Dear Robert,
Hope you are in best of spirits.
Duke has proved to be a saviour in our lives. Though he was a playful dog, yet Marcy
disliked him. When I met with an accident,1 suffered from subdural haemorrhage that
left toy left side paralyzed.’ I was completely bed-ridden. To give me company, Duke
was called back from the kennel. He was an extraordinary dog. His techniques were
unique. He urged me to walk. He rekindled a hope in me and taught me to cope up with
the challenge successfully. We strived daily and with gradual and constant efforts, I was
out of the wheelchair. I not only conquered my handicap with Duke’s assistance but also
regained my job and was also promoted as the Assistant National Sales Manager.
Sadly, Duke met with an accident one day and we were heartbroken at his sudden
death. My life today is the gift of Duke only. Tears well up in my eyes at the thought of
his loss.
Reply to me soon.
With lots of love
Chuck
Question 5:
Imagine you ate Chuck and you are upset over Duke’s death. You wish to give a tribute
to Duke. Write an article titled ‘Duke—My Saviour’ in about 150 words. (Board Term
12012, Set 39)
Answer:
Duke—My Saviour
Duke was my best friend, the saviour of my life. He was a Doberman Pinscher, a loyal
and a dedicated breed. He was responsible for getting me back on my feet after the
accident that left me paralysed on the left Side due to subdural haemorrhage. He was
concerned about my health and hence assumed all the responsibility to make me stand
on my feet again.
He took me for a walk everyday. I, who was totally bed-ridden, was able to move and
walk because of the sincerity, confidence and dedication of Duke.I not only got my job
back but also a promotion and I owe it all to my friend, Duke. Little did I realize that I
would lose him forever in an accident. All that I am today is just because of him and my
life itself is a gift from him.
Question 6:
Chuck Hooper is asked to deliver a speech, after his complete recovery. Write the
Speech in about 150 words for him emphasising the traits of his character which helped
him to cope with the crisis that came in his life. (Board Term 12012, Set 64)
Answer:
Good morning dear friends, ……
One needs to be strong in order to face the challenges of life.The credit of my recovery,
undoubtedly, goes to Duke but my firm determination will power helped me to fight
against all odds. I had complete faith in myself and my companion, Duke. His presence,
like a shadow next to me, gave me confidence to venture out on the road. .
Courage and perseverance fortify a person. They help him get a control on his life. My
tenacious nature helped me to resume work. Having a positive attitude, patience and
faith helped me to overcome the adverse circumstances.
Question 7:
Give a character sketch of Chuck Charles Hooper in your own words citing examples
from the lesson ‘A Dog Named Duke’ in about 150 words. (Board Term 12012,
Set 28, Set 45)
Answer:
Chuck Hooper was a dynamic and a competitive young man. He became the Sales
Manager in a chemical factory at a Very young age. He was determined and courageous
and took life as a challenge. He always wore a smile on his face. After the accident, he
was a physical and mental wreck but he had complete faith in himself and his
companion, Duke. He worked hard on his fitness with the help of Duke and with
courage, faith, determination and endurance he showed signs of significant recovery in
the health conditions. He kept trying to get back on his ‘feet and walk despite of all
odds. With slow and steady persuasion, Duke became instrumental in helping him 6n
the road to recovery and success. He was not only back on job but also got promoted
as the Assistant National Sales Manager. He gave the credit of his success to Duke who
will always be an integral part of his life.
Question 8:
How did the dog help Chuck come out of his critical condition?
Or
Duke was an extraordinary dog. What special qualities did he exhibit to justify this?
Discuss. (Textual) (Board Term 12012, Set 58)
Answer:
Duke, the dog played a very significant role in bringing Chuck out of his critical
condition. He was an extraordinary dog having special qualities and was the one who
helped Chuck to increase his stability and endurance. He would take Chuck for a walk
along the street, increasing the target everyday. He would stand still when Chuck
sometimes struggled to get-up after tripping and falling. Even though he was a dog, he
had assumed the responsibility of getting Chuck back on his feet, which he successfully
did.
Duke was a faithful and a loyal dog with extraordinary powers. He knew how impossible
challenges could be accomplished. He nudged, needled, poked and forced his master to
walk. He set new goals for him everyday. Chuck’s success is a tribute to his
extraordinary dog.
Question 9:
When a person loses something, he is shocked and gets into a state of denial leading to
anger. In such a situation, coping well leads to acceptance and a changed way of living
in view of the loss. Taking clues from what happened or might have happened to
Hooper, write your views on ‘Coping with Losses’. (Value Based Question) (Board Term
12012, Set 54)
Answer:
Loss is an inevitable part of life. During our lifetime we experience a variety of losses
like the death of a beloved, loss of job financial security, or a relationship breakup. With
loss comes grief. It is a very stressful phase of life. It can very quickly deplete your
energy and emotional reserves. The most important thing is not let your grief control
your life. Support of someone is very essential to combat grief.
Chuck had everything going for him—a job, house and family but an accident robbed
him of the ability to talk and move. He was then hit by pain and grief and felt depressed.
Duke, his Doberman proved to be a Saviour in his life. He rekindled a hope in the family
and taught him to cope with the challenge successfully. He not only conquered his
handicap with Duke’s assistance and regained his job but was also promoted as the
Assistant National Sales Manager.
We should take inspiration from his life and should remain firm and strong in
challenging adversities,
Question 10:
Imagine you are Many. You have seen your husband’s struggle against all odds to finally
get back to work. You are happy that he has been promoted to the post of Assistant
National Sales Manager. Write a letter to a friend felling her about Chuck’s courage and
determination. (Board Term 12012, Set 48)
Answer:
37-A, Vasant Vihar,
New Delhi
13th February, 20 xx
Dear Julien,
Hope you are in best of spirits.
I am heartbroken at the sudden death of Duke. His death is a great loss for my family.
How can I forget what he has done for our family.Chuck is well settled today and living a
normal life but this happiness is a gift from Duke. We owe everything to Duke.
The credit of Chuck’s recovery undoubtedly goes to Duke but his firm determination and
iron willpower have also helped him to fight against all odds. The way Chuck regained
his balance is by no means a Joke. I have seen the intelligent handling of Duke and the
unconditional faith and trust in between the two. I am happy that he has been promoted
to the post of Assistant National Sales Manager. He is doing well but I feel sad as Duke
is no more. His positive attitude, patience and faith in Duke has helped him overcome
the adverse circumstances and reach such heights. We owe our happiness to the
extraordinary dog, Duke.
Do write soon.
Truly yours,
Marcy
Question 11:
Imagine you are Chuck and you are upset over Duke’s death. You wish to give a tribute
to Duke. You consider Duke to be an angel who came as a saviour for you. Write your
views in your diary. (Board Term 12012, Set 47)
Answer:
Monday,25thNovember,20xx
10:30 p.m.
Dear Diary
After the car accident, I was completely bed-ridden due to the paralytic stroke on my left
side, I was left alone in the house and missed company. 1 was then hit by pain and grief
and felt depressed and lost. It was at this crucial juncture that Duke, my Doberman
came as an angel in my life. He is responsible for getting me back on my feet. He
assumed all the responsibility to make me stand on my feet. His sincerity, confidence
and dedication brought me out of the deep, distressing water.I not only got my job back,
but was also promoted.
On 13 October 1957, Duke met with a fatal end. Little did I realize that I would lose him
forever in an accident. His death has left a void in my life. My promotion to Assistant
National Sales Manager is a special tribute to Duke. I owe a great deal to Duke, his
devotion and dedication.My life itself is a gift from him. I am forever grateful to him and
owe my success to him
Good night diary.
Question 12:
Marcy was not fond of dogs and more so of big dogs. Yet when Duke died, she was
devastated. After many days, she was able to pen down her feelings in her diary. Write a
page of Marcy’s diary. (Board Term 12010, Set Cl)
Answer:
Dear Diary,
It has been a month since we buried Duke. Tears well up in my eyes, at the thought of
his loss. People whom I have not met for two years might feel surprised at the change
that has come in my attitude. Oh! how I hated that huge dog when Chuck brought him
home, he seemed to take so much place and expected everyone to pamper him.
Somehow I feel that Duke knew that I didn’t like him, so he remained out of my way. He
was so much Chuck’s dog that he would follow him like a shadow. That fareful accident
changed my life for better or worse. My first instinct as to put Duke into a kennel as the
thought or looking after him in the absence of Chuck was unthinkable. I finally got him
home after much pressure from all quarters. Chuck who was slowly going into
depression didn’t really care at that time, A chance touch at the collar of Duke charged
him up. It was as if Duke had become the instructor and Chuck the student. I saw the
silent understanding, I saw the intelligent handling, I saw the unconditional faith and
trust in each other. Gradually, I realized how ignorant I had been, how I had missed the
opportunity to befriend this lovely creature who was ready in attendance. The way he
helped Chuck regain his balance is by no means joke. The last two years of his life, Duke
devotedly served his master. I am amazed at the change that has come over me. My
tolerance level for big dogs has increased. I was heart broken at his sudden death. If
only I had shown him my love before, but man cannot turn put the clock back.
Good Night.
Literature Reader Chapter 3 The Man Who
Knew Too Much
Question 1.
With your partner, discuss and narrate an incident about a person who likes to show off.
Check whether your classmates agree with you.
Answer:
You can be at peace with yourself when you are true to yourself. Showing off doesn’t
pay in the long run. It may impress some for some’ time but not all, all the time. My
friend Ramesh falls in this category. Whenever you see him, you would always find him
with half a dozen books. In the class, he interrupts the teachers for one or the other
reason. If the teacher says that the World War II was fought in 1940s, Ramesh does not
tolerate this kind of generalisation. He stands up and says, “Sir, to be exact from 1939
to 1945.” This lean and thin spectacled pantaloon had faced many interviews including
the N.D.A. It was not the Board that interviewed him but it was Ramesh who interviewed
the Board. The result was obvious. Everytime he got a rejection letter.
Question 2.
Now read about the “Professor” who knew too much and find out if he knew enough!
Answer:
Attempt yourself.
Question 3.
The ‘Professor’ knew too much. How did he prove himself ? Fill up the space with
suitable examples from the story, using the given clues :
(a) about muzzle velocity : _____
(b) after a thirty mile walk : _____
(c) his salute on payday : ______
(d) the loud sound of a high flying invisible aeroplane : _______
(e) about hand grenades : _______
(f) during cook house duties :. _______
Answer:
The ‘Professor’ certainly knew too much. He had everything on the tips of his fingers.
He borrowed training manuals and read them all at night. He troubled instructors with
questions. He always tried to show that all others, including his instructors, knew much
less than him.
(a) about muzzle velocity: When a Sergeant defines muzzle velocity or the speed at
which the bullet leaves the rifle, the Professor interrupts, “Two thousand, four hundred
and forty feet per second”.
(b) after a thirty mile walk: After a thirty mile walk he was not only wonderfully tireless
but would display his terrible heartiness. He would say, “What about a song, chaps?”
(c) his salute on payday: His salute on payday was a model to behold. When officers in
sight he would swing his skinny arms marching like a Guardsman.
(d) the loud sound of a high flying invisible aeroplane: The ‘Professor’ could
unmistakably identify it by the harsh engine note, due to the high tip speed of the
airscrew.
(e) about hand grenades: The ‘Professor’ gave a very specific answer about the
fragments of the outside of a grenade. He told, “Forty- Four”.
(f) during cook house duties: During cook house duties he protested against the
unscientific and unhygienic method of peeling potatoes resulting in sheer waste of
vitamin values.
Question 4.
Based on your reading of the story, answer the following questions by choosing the
correct options.
(a) Private Quelch was nick-named ‘Professor’ because of ____
(i) his appearance.
(ii) his knowledge.
(ii) his habit of reading.
(iv) his habit of sermonising.
Answer:
(iv) his habit of sermonising.
(b) One could hammer nails into Corporal Turnbull without his noticing it because ____
(i) he was a strong and sturdy man.
(ii) he was oblivious to his surroundings.
(iii) he was a brave corporal.
(iv) he was used to it.
Answer:
(i) he was a strong and sturdy man.
(c) The author and his friend Trower fled from the scene as _____
(i) they had to catch a train.
(ii) they could not stand Private Quelch exhibiting his knowledge.
(iii) they felt they would have to lend a helping hand.
(iv) they did not want to meet the cooks.
Answer:
(ii) they could not stand Private Quelch exhibiting his knowledge.
Question 5.
(a) What is a ‘nickname’ ? Can you suggest another one for Private Quelch?
(b) Private Quelch looked like a ‘Professor’ when the author first met him at the training
depot. Why?
(c) What does the dark, sun-dried appearance of the Sergeant suggest about him?
(d) How was Private Quelch’s knowledge exposed even further as the Sergeant’s
classes went on?
(e) What did the Professor mean by “intelligent reading”?
(f) What were the Professor’s ambitions in the army?
(g) Did Private Quelch’s day to day practices take him closer towards his goal? How can
you make out?
(h) Describe Corporal Turnbull.
(i) How did Private Quelch manage to anger the Corporal?
(j) Do you think Private Quelch learnt a lesson when he was chosen for cookhouse
duties?
Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
(a) A ‘nickname’ is an informal, often humorous name given to a person. The name is
connected with his real name, his personality or appearance or with something he has
done. The nickname of Private Quelch was the ‘Professor’. Another nickname for him
could be ‘Mr. Show Off’.
(b) Private Quelch looked like a ‘Professor’ when the author first met him at the training
depot. He was lanky, stooping, frowning through his horn-rimmed spectacles. A five-
minute-conversation would bring out his debating skills and abilities. All these traits are
generally found in university professors,
(c) The Sergeant who was describing the mechanism of a service rifle to the soldiers
was as dark and sun-dried as raisins. He was wearing North-West Frontier ribbons. The
sun-dried appearance of the Sergeant suggested that he had served in British India.
There, the scorching heat of the sun bake the skin and made it tanned like raisins.
(d) The Sergeant didn’t relish when Private Quelch interrupted him. He went on
lecturing. When he had finished, he turned with his questions again and again to the
Professor. But it only enhanced the Professor’s reputation and glory. He had all by heart,
the parts of the rifle or its use and care. The Professor knew them all. His knowledge
exposed even further as the Sergeant’s classes went on.
(e) The smart answers given by the Professor made the Sergeant ask if he had taken
any training before. The Professor replied confidently, “No, Sergeant. It’s all a matter of
intelligent reading.” The Professor meant that he had read everything thoroughly and
with concentration.
(f) The Professor’s greatest ambition in the army was to get a commission. In pursuit of
his ambition he worked hard reading the training manuals. He tried to impress the
instructors and the senior officers by his knowledge, promptness and smartness. But he
would go step by step. As a first step, he meant to get a stripe.
(g) Private Quelch’s day-to-day practices might have not won him a commission in the
army but it was not the end for him. Whenever he spoke, the squad listened to him in a
cowed, horrified kind of silence. Instead of being nominated for a commission, he was
nominated for permanent cookhouse duties. But everybody believed that his
nomination for the commission was just a matter of time.
(h) Corporal Turnbull was a smart youngman. But he was not a man to be fooled around
or talked frivolously with. He had come from Dunkirk with all his equipment correct and
accounted for. He was the hero of soldiers. They thought him so tough that they could
hammer nails into him without his noticing them.
(i) Corporal Turnbull was explaining that the outside of a grenade was divided up into a
large number of fragments. The Professor at once told that the correct number was
forty four. The Corporal said nothing, but his brow tightened. He was the kind of man
not to be trifled with. He didn’t like any interruption. He cut the Professor to size by
sending him for permanent cookhouse duties.
(j) There is no indication that Private Quelch learnt any lesson when he was chosen for
cookhouse duties. He didn’t stop exhibiting his knowledge. When he entered the kitchen
he started finding fault with the working staff. He protested against the ‘unscientific’
and ‘unhygienic’ method of peeling potatoes. He considered it a ‘sheer waste of vitamin
values’.
Question 6.
At first, Private Quelch was a hero in the eyes of his fellow soldiers. Support this
observation with suitable examples from the story in about 100 words.
Answer:
At first, Private Quelch impressed all his fellow soldiers with his profound knowledge
about everything under the sun. He was nicknamed as the ‘Professor’. The lanky,
stooping and frowning ‘Professor’ was almost a hero in the eyes of his fellow soldiers.
He had earned a certain respect from his colleagues. He wanted to get on in life. He had
a brain that had a flair for details. He was always to the point and specific. In the very
first lesson in musketry, he left his mark on the fellow soldiers. He had no liking for
generalisation. When it came to telling the velocity at which the bullet leaves the rifle,
the Professor was there to correct to the last digit. The Sergeant in the hope of revenge
turned his questions again and again to the Professor. But the Professor was prompt in
answering all the questions. Similarly, the Professor irritated Corporal Turnbull by
interrupting and correcting him. He was sent for permanent cookhouse duties. Later on,
his fellow soldiers couldn’t stand him for exhibiting his knowledge. They fled away
whenever they saw him.
Question 7.
Private Quelch knew ‘too much’. Give reasons to prove that he was unable to win the
admiration of his superior officers or his colleagues in about 100 words.
Answer:
No doubt, Private Quelch or the Professor knew ‘too much’. He wds a lanky and
stooping man frowning through his hornrimmed spectacles. He was aptly nicknamed
die Professor. But Private Quelch’s habit of exhibiting his knowledge irritated his fellow-
soldiers as well as his superior officers. Each time when one of his colleagues made a
mistake, he would publicly correct him. He was always very condescending. He tried
to show how superior he was to all of them. He badgered (he instructors with questions.
When a Sergeant instructor described the muzzle velocity well over 2000 feet per
second, the Professor corrected him. He replied 2440 feet per second. The irritated
Sergeant in the hope of revenge, turned his questions again and again to the Professor.
Corporal Turnbull cut the Professor to size for interrupting him. He snubbed Private
Quelch by nominating him for permanent cookhouse duties. Even his colleagues fled
when the Professor was nearby to avoid his sermonising.
Question 8.
(a) Write down the positive and negative traits of Private Quelch’s character instances
from the story.
Positive traits Instances from the story
(i) _____________________ ______________

(ii) _____________________ ______________
(iii) ____________________ ______________
(iv) ____________________ ______________
Negative traits Instances from the story
(i) _____________________ ______________
(ii) ____________________ ______________
(iii) ____________________ ______________
(iv) ____________________ ______________
(b) Now, share your notes with the class. Add details if you need to.
(c) Attempt a character sketch of Private Quelch using your notes in about 100 words.
Answer:
Positive traits Instances from the story
All doubts on the subject lost after five minutes’ conversation w

(i) Knew ‘too much’
him.
When a Sergeant told the trainees that a bullet leaves the rifle a
the speed of over two thousand feet per second, the Professor
(ii) Very specific
immediately interrupted him. He corrected him by saying, “Two
thousand, four hundred and forty feet per second.”
(iii) Meant to get on ‘He was sure to get a commission, before long.’
Borrowed training manuals and stayed up late at night reading

(iv) Diligent
them.
Negative traits Instances from the story

‘A voice interrupted.’ The Professor interrupted when a Sergean
(i) Disturbing
was delivering his lesson.
(ii) Badgered the instructors He irritated and badgered the instructors with questions.
(iii) Air of superiority ‘…………….. how condescending he was’.
(iv) Exhibitionism His fellow soldiers fled to avoid his exhibitionism.
(b) Attempt yourself.

(c) Character Sketch of Private Quelch
Private Quelch was a soldier without a rank. He was a tall and stooping man. He
appeared frowning through horn-rimmed spectacles. His appearance, his reading habit
and his deep knowledge earned him a nickname of the Professor.
Private Quelch meant to get on in life. He had brains. He was sure to get a commission
before long. But as on first step, he meant to get a ‘ V’-shaped stripe. Private Quelch
was not only ambitious but also very diligent. Even his fellow soldiers gave him credit
for that. He borrowed training manuals and read late at nights. He had a flair for details
and hated vague generalisations. He was always correct to the last digit.
The great defeat in Private Quelch was his sense of exhibitionism. He utilised his
“intelligent reading” only to badger the instructors with questions. He irritated a
Sergeant by his interruption during the lesson. In the hope of revenge, he turned with his
questions again and again to the Professor. Similarly, he annoyed Corporal Turnbull
hying to correct him publicly. He was punished and nominated for permanent
cookhouse duties. Private Quelch was too showy. He always tried to show that he was
much superior to all his fellow soldiers. He was always condescending. In the end his
colleagues tried to avoid him. They feared his sermonising and fled when he was
nearby.
Writing Task
Question 9.
You are the ‘ProfessorWrite a diary entry after your first day at the cookhouse,
describing the events that led to this assignment, also express your thoughts and
feelings about the events of the day in about 175 words.
Answer:
Army Training Depot, Liverpool.
20th July, 1948 Dear Diary,
Corporal Turnbull was certainly not fair to me today. Perhaps he had taken his revenge.
What was my fault? I don’t like vague generalisations. When it came to counting the
fragments of the outside of a grenade, he should have been very specific. ‘Large
number’ was a vague explanation. I gave the answer that was correct to the last digit—
44 segments. I was expecting a nomination for the commission. He shocked me when
he nominated me for permanent cookhouse duties.
My first day at cookhouse was quite a disgusting one. There is no system there. I
protested against the unscientific and unhygienic method of peeling potatoes. Quite
ridiculous and disgusting! Who should tell these fools that they are only wasting vitamin
values by doing so. I will have to educate that gang of louts. They think that I am showy.
But what can I do? I love knowledge and love to show it. And this is my fault. I can’t help
it.
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
Question 1.
“That’s right,” the Sergeant said without enthusiasm, and went on lecturing. When he
had finished, he put questions to us; and, perhaps in the hope of revenge, he turned with
his question again and again to the Professor. The only result was to enhance the
Professor’s glory. (Pages 22-23)
(a) On which subject was the Sergeant giving lecture?
(b) Why did he put questions again and again to that Professor?
(c) Find a word in the passage similar in meaning to ‘zeal’.
Answer:
(a) The Sergeant was giving lecture on musketry. .
(b) He put questions again and again to that Professor to take revenge.
(c) Enthusiasm.
Question 2.
The Professor answered with a phrase that was to become familiar to all of us. “No,
Sergeant. It’s all a matter of intelligent reading.” (Page 23)
(a) What was the name of the Professor?
(b) Why was he called the Professor?
(c) Write the noun form of ‘intelligent’.
Answer:
(a) Private Quelch was the name of the Professor.
(b) He was a very knowledgeable person.
(c) Intelligence.
Question 3.
In pursuit of his ambition he worked hard. We had to give him credit for that. He
borrowed training manuals and stayed up late at nights reading them. He badgered the
instructors with questions. (Page 23)
(a) What was his ambition?
(b) How did he trouble the instructors?
(c) Find a word in the extract opposite in meaning to ‘lent’,
Answer:
(a) His ambition was to become an army officer.
(b) By asking so many questions to them he troubled and vexed the instructors.
(c) Borrowed.
Question 4.
And day in and day out, he lectured to us in his droning, remorseless voice on every
aspect of human knowledge. At first we had a certain respect for him, but soon we lived
in terror of his approach. We tried to hit back at him with clumsy sarcasms and practical
jokes. (Page 23)
(a) Why did they show respect to Private Quelch in the beginning?
(b) What made them stop giving respect to him?
(c) Find a word in the extract similar in meaning to ‘unrelenting’. ,
Answer:
(a) They showed respect to Quelch in the eginning because he had deep knowledge in
every field!
(b) His exhibition of knowledge made them stop giving respect to him.
(c) Remorseless.
Question 5.
The Professor scarcely noticed; he was too busy working for his stripe. Each time one
of us made a mistake the Professor would publicly correct him. Whenever one of us
shone, the Professor outshone him. (Page 23)
(a) What did the Professor not notice?
(b) What did he do when any of his colleagues made a mistake?
(c) Explain: ‘the Professor outshone him’.
Answer:
(a) The Professor did not notice sarcasms and practical jokes of his fellow soldiers.
(b) He publicly corrected them.
(c) He proved better than him. –
Question 6.
“for permanent cookhouse duties, I’ve decided that Private Quelch is just the man for
the job.” Of course, it was a joke for days afterwards; a joke and joy to all of us. (Page
25)
(a) Who sent Quelch for cookhouse duties?
(b) ‘It was a joke’, for whom?
(c) It was a ‘joke and joy’ to all. Why?
Answer:
(a) Corporal Turnbull sent Quelch for cook-house duties.
(b) It was a joke for Quelch’s colleagues.
(c) Quelch was snubbed publicly. It was a ‘joke and joy’ to all.
Question 7.
“Really. I must protest against this abominably unscientific and unhygienic method of
peeling potatoes. I need to only draw your attention to the sheer waste of vitamin values
” We fled. (Page 25)
(a) Who is ‘I’ in the above lines?
(b) What was unscientific and unhygienic?
(c) Find a word in the extract similar in meaning to ‘hatefully’.
Answer:
(а) Private Quelch
(b) The method of peeling potatoes was unscientific and unhygienic.
(c) Abominably.
ABOUT THE STORY

‘The Man Who Knew Too Much’ brings home the idea that self-pride and over-
confidence, together with tactlessness, often prove to be harmful. It depicts an
encounter between the narrator and Private Quelch, a soldier at the training depot. For
his too much sermonizing Private Quelch has come to be named ‘Professor’. He had
great knowledge but he was in the habit of interrupting even his seniors. He interrupted
his Sergeant about muzzle velocity. Once he interrupted and corrected Corporal
Turnbull about the structure of a hand grenade. The Corporal being vindicative sent him
to the kitchen on a permanent duty where he continued sermonizing.
CHARACTERS
(i) Private Quelch

Private Quelch or ‘Professor’ is a good-intentioned but tactless fellow. He is a
storehouse of awesome knowledge which he continues to display. He will interrupt and
correct even his seniors in public, most of whom feel irritated and humiliated. He has
great ambitions regrading his career. He has passion to surpass others. He is innocent
to a point of fault. His habit of interrupting others in a rude manner proves to be
harmful. His dreams are shattered when he is sent to kitchen on permanent duty.
Ironically, he continues sermonizing even in the kitchen.
REFERENCE TO CONTEXT QUESTIONS (SOLVED)
Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow :
Question 1:
The Sergeant asked, “You had any training before ?”
The Professor answered with a phrase that was to become familiar to all of us. “No,
Sergeant. It’s all a matter of intelligent reading.”
(а) Why did the Sergeant put this question ?
(b) What was the Sergeant’s purpose in putting the Professor so many questions ?
(c) Give the meaning of ‘intelligent reading’.
Answer:
(a) The Sergeant put this question because the Professor had answered all the
questions put to him by the Sergeant.
(b) The Sergeant put so many questions to belittle the Professor.
(c) It means ‘complete understanding of what is read’.
Question 2:
remember the first lesson we had in musketry. We stood in an attentive circle while a
Sergeant, a man as dark and sun-dried as raisins, wearing North-West Frontier ribbons,
described the mechanism of a service rifle.
(a) What is the meaning of musketry ?
(b) Describe the Sergeant.
(c) What does the phrase ‘North-West Frontier Ribbons’ convey about the person
mentioned? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
(a) It means the art of using musket, a type of gun.
(b) The Sergeant was a dark-complexioned, experienced soldier.
(c) It means that the Sergeant had won an honour fighting on the North-West Frontier.
Question 3:
When, after a hard morning’s work cleaning out our hut, we listened in silence to the
Orderly Officer’s praise, the Professor would break out with a ringing, dutifully beaming,
“Thank you, sir!” And how superior, how condescending he was. It was always, “Let me
show you, fellow,” or “No, you’ll ruin your rifle, that way, old man.”
(a) Give the meaning of the word ‘condescending’.
(b) Why did Private Quelch behave in this manner with his superiors ?
(c) Which expression tells us that Private Quelch was always cheerful ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
(a) The word ‘condescending1 means behaving in a polite manner but showing as if one
were obliging somebody.
(b) Private Quelch behaved in an over-confident manner because he wanted to show off
his knowledge.
(c) The phrase is ‘break out with a ringing, dutifully beaming’.
Question 4:
A voice interrupted, ‘Two thousand, four hundred and forty feet per second.’
(а) Who spoke this line and to whom ?
(b) In which context did he speak ?
(c) Give the meaning of the word ‘interrupted’.
Answer:
(а) Private Quelch spoke this line to the Sergeant.
(b) He spoke when the Sergeant was telling about the speed of the bullet.
(c) It means ‘stopped someone to say or do something’.
Question 5:
What could a gang of louts like us do with a man like that ?
(а) Who utters these sentiments ?
(b) Which ‘gang of louts’ is referred to here ?
(c) What do you mean by ‘louts’ ?
Answer:
(a) The narrator, one of the trainees, utters these sentiments.
(b) ‘The gang of louts’ refers to the group of trainees who are quite mischievous and
aggressive.
(c) ‘those who behave rudely and aggressively’.
Question 6:
He was our hero, and we used to tell each other that he was so tough that you could
hammer nails into him without his noticing it.
(a) Who is ‘he’ referred to here ?
(b) What kind of person was he ?
(c) What does ‘tough’ mean ?
Answer:
(а) ‘He’ is Corporal Turnbull.
(b) He was a young man, very serious and tough-minded.
(c) ‘mentally strong’.
Question 7:
The Corporal said nothing, but his brow tightened. He opened his mouth to resume.
(а) What made the Corporal feel irritated ?
(b) What did he resume ?
(c) Give the meaning of‘resume’.
Answer:
(a) Private Quelch’s interrupting his lecture made him feel irritated.
(b) He was lecturing to new recruits.
(c) ‘begin again’.
Question 8:
I met Private Quelch at the training depot. A man is liable in his first week of army life-
together with his uniform, rifle and equipment-a nickname.
(a) What was the nickname of Private Quelch ?
(b) Why was he called ‘Professor’ ?
(c) Give the meaning of the word ‘liable’.
Answer:
(a) The nickname of Private Quelch was ‘Professor’.
(b) He was called Professor because of his habit of sermonizing to one and all.
(c) ‘likely to have/get’.
Question 9:
“Really. I must protest against this abominably unscientific and unhygienic method of
peeling potatoes. I need to only draw your attention to the sheer waste of vitamin
values ”
(a) ho is ‘I’ here ?
(b) Where is the speaker ?
(c) What does he want to say ? Why ?
Answer:
(а) T is here Private Quelch.
(b) Private Quelch, the speaker, is in the kitchen.
(c) He is trying to tell his co-workers the best way of peeling potatoes. He wants to
show that he has better knowledge about the task than they do.
Question 10:
“Thank you, Private Quelch. Fall in with the others now”.
(a) Who thanked Private Quelch ?
(b) What task was entrusted to Private Quelch ?
(c) What does ‘fall in’ mean ?
Answer:
(а) Corporal Turnbull thanked Private Quelch.
(b) Private Quelch was asked to lecture on the characteristics of the grenade.
(c) ‘form lines’.
Question 11:
So this was the great moment.
(а) Why was that moment considered the great ?
(b) What duty was assigned to Private Quelch ?
(c) Use another word for ‘moment’.
Answer:
(а) The ‘moment’ was great as the trainees thought that the Corporal was going to
nominate one of them for a big job or for a stripe.
(b) Private Quelch was assigned kitchen duties permanently.
(c) ‘instant’.
Question 12:
Of course, it was a joke for days afterwards; a joke and joy to all of us.
(a) What was the ‘joke’ ?
(b) Why were the trainees happy ?
(c) What do you mean by ‘all of us’ here ?
Answer:
(a) The ‘joke’ was the assigning of kitchen duties to Private Quelch quite unexpectedly.
(b) The trainees were happy because Private Quelch would no longer be with them to
browbeat them with his superior knowledge.
(c) ‘all trainees including the narrator’.
Question 13:
He had brains. He was sure to get a commission, before long. As a first step, he meant
to get a stripe.
(a) Who is ‘he’ referred to ?
(b) What made him so confident ?
(c) What do you mean by ‘stripe’ ?
Answer:
(а) ‘He’ is referred to Private Quelch, ‘Professor’, who was one of the trainee soldiers.
(b) His knowledge and intelligence made him confident.
(c) ‘a V-shaped band to indicate the rank of a soldier’.
Question 14:
“What about a song, chaps ?” is not greeted politely at the end of thirty miles.
(а) Who would suggest singing a song ?
(b) Why was this suggestion resented by his fellow trainees ?
(c) What do you mean by ‘chaps’ ?
Answer:
(a) Private Quelch would suggest singing a song.
(b) The suggestion was resented because all the trainees, except perhaps Quelch, were
dead tired at the end of a long thirty-mile route march.
(c) ‘boys’.
Question 15:
We tried to hit back at him with clumsy sarcasms and practical jokes.
(а) Who is ‘him’ referred to here ?
(b) Why was he ‘attacked’ ?
(c) Give the meaning of ‘sarcasms’.
Answer:
(а) ‘Him’ is here referred to Private Quelch.
(b) He was ‘attacked’ for browbeating his fellow trainees with his vast knowledge,
(c) ‘remarks that are intended to hurt someone’.
Question 16:
The Professor scarcely noticed; he was too busy working for his stripe.
(а) What did the Professor scarcely notice ?
(b) What impression do you form of him ?
(c) Give the meaning of ‘scarcely’.
Answer:
(а) The Professor scarcely noticed the sarcasm in the remarks of his fellow trainees.
(b) He was simple-minded, though he sounded rude and aggressive.
(c) ‘hardly’.
Question 17:
Each time one of us made a mistake the Professor would publicly correct him.
(a) Who was called the Professor ?
(b) What tells you that he was a tactless fellow ?
(c) Give the meaning of ‘publicly’.
Answer:
(a) Private Quelch was called Professor in jest.
(b) His habit of correcting others in public showed that he was tactless.
(c) ‘when other people, especially strangers are present’.
Question 18:
“Forty four”.
“What’s that ?” The Corporal looked over his shoulder.
(а) Who spoke ‘forty four’ ? What did he mean ?
(b) What was the Corporal’s reaction ?
(c) What do you mean by ‘looked over’ ?
Answer:
(а) Private Quelch spoke ‘forty four’. He meant to say that a grenade is divided into forty
four fragments.
(b) The Corporal was baffled at this sudden, unexpected remark.
(c) ‘inspected/examined’.
Question 19:
The Professor was speaking again. “Shouldn’t you have started off with five
characteristics of the grenade ? Our instructor at the other camp always used to, you
know.’
(а) Who was being addressed to by the Professor ?
(b) What was the most tactless remark he made ?
(c) Give the meaning of ‘characteristics’.
Answer:
(а) The Corporal was being addressed to by the Professor.
(b) The most tactless remark was : “Our instructor at the other camp always used to…”.
(c) ‘features/qualities’.
Question 20:
The squad listened in a cowed, horrified kind of silence.
(а) What do you mean by ‘the squad’ here ?
(b) What made them horrified and silent ?
(c) Give the meaning of‘cowed’.
Answer:
(a) A small group of trainee soldiers.
(b) They were horrified and silent at the humiliating comments made by the Professor
for the Corporal.
(c) ‘frightened’.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (SOLVED)

Answer each of the following questions in 30-40 words.
Question 1:
Who was Private Quelch ? Where did the narrator meet him ?
Answer:
Private Quelch was a trainee soldier. He was a bespectacled, lanky person. He was
serious-minded person. He looked frowning all the time. He was in the bad habit of
sermonising and philosophising. The narrator met him at his training depot as he
himself was a trainee there.
Question 2:
Why was Private Quelch labelled as the ‘Professor’ ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Private Quelch, a trainee soldier, was a bespectacled, serious-type of person. He had a
great knowledge in his field. He was in the habit of sermonizing and finding fault with
others. Se he was labelled as the Professor by his fellow trainees.
Question 3:
Who is an Orderly Officer in lesson ‘The Man Who Knew Too Much’ ? How did the
Professor behave in front of him ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
An Orderly Officer in the lesson is an officer of the day. The Professor wanted to please
him. So he cleaned his hut so thoroughly that the officer could not help praising him. In
this task he outshone his fellow trainees.
Question 4:
Describe Private Quelch. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Private Quelch was a young trainee soldier. He was lanking, stooping and serious. He
wore horn-rimmed spectacles. He had awesome knowledge in his field. Everyone was
jealous of him. He earned the label of the Professor.
Question 5:
Aircraft recognition was a matter of pride for the narrator and his friends in the lesson
“The Man Who Knew Too Much”. How did the Professor humiliate them ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
One day the trainee fellows of the Professor, among whom was the narrator, heard the
sound of an aircraft. The aircraft was not visible in the sun. The Professor at once said
on hearing the drone of the plane that it was a North American Harvard Trainer, while no
one could recognize the plane. It was something humiliating for the narrator and his
friends.
Question 6:
How did Private Quelch respond to mistakes made by his colleagues in the army
training camp in the lesson ‘The Man Who Knew Much’ ? (CBSE)
Answer:
In the army training camp Private Quelch would at once respond to the mistakes made
by his colleagues. He would intervene to show how the rifle is handled properly and
used to fire a bullet. His habit of correcting others in public was not liked by anyone.
Question 7:
What was Private Quelch’s attitude to his juniors ? Give examples to support your
answer. (CBSE)
Answer:
Private Quelch’s superior attitude to his juniors was resented by one and all. Once he
intervened to tell someone to handle the rifle properly. At the end of a long, tiring march
he angered others by suggesting, “What about a song, chaps ?”
Question 8:
What was Private Quelch’s attitude to his seniors ? Give examples to support your
answer. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Private Quelch’s attitude to his seniors was irritating. He interrupted the Sergeant and
told him the exact speed of the bullet. Then he interrupted Corporal Turnbull to tell him
that a grenade has exactly forty four fragments.
Question 9:
What was Tumbull’s reaction to Private Quelch’s answer ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Corporal Turnbull became angry on listening to Private Quelch’s answer. His brow
tightened. He asked him to give a lecture on the grenade in place of him. In order to
teach him a lesson, he nominated him for permanent cookhouse duties.
Question 10:
What was the announcement made by Corporal Turnbull in the lesson The Man Who
Knew Too Much’ ? Why did he make the announcement ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Corporal Turnbull announced that he was nominating Private Quelch on permanent
cookhouse duties. He made this announcement to take revenge on Private Quelch for
humiliating and correcting him before others.
Question 11:
Why was everybody happy when Private Quelch was shifted to the cookhouse ? (CBSE
2014)
Answer:
When Private Quelch was shifted to the cookhouse, everybody was happy. He had
become a nuisance for them by finding faults with one and all in the public. Everyone
felt that it was a good riddance.
Question 12:
What was the Professor teaching his colleagues in the cookhouse ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Even in the cookhouse, the Professor did not stop sermonizing. He told his colleagues
how to peel potatoes to preserve their hygienic value. He protested against the way they
were peeling potatoes.
Question 13:
Which characteristics of Private Quelch do you like most ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Private Quelch was not a narrow-minded or evil-minded person. We appreciate his
simple-mindedness and his desire to be helpful to others. His hard working nature and
intelligence are really appreciable.
Question 14:
What made Private Quelch unpopular ?
Answer:
Private Quelch was in the habit of finding faults with others. He would flaunt his
knowledge by correcting even his seniors in the public. This habit of his made him
unpopular in the army camp.
Question 15:
Narrate in your own words the incident that proved to be a turning point in Private
Quelch’s life.
Answer:
Private Quelch was hopeful of getting a commission soon. One day, as usual, he
corrected his senior, Corporal Turnbull, by telling him the exact number of fragments a
grenade has. This infuriated the Corporal who sent him on permanent cookhouse duties
as punishment. This barred him from realizing his ambition.
Question 16:
What did the Professor mean by “intelligent reading” ?
Answer:
By “intelligent reading” the Professor meant thorough understanding of what he read.
He did not read anything casually. He made it a point to learn everything by heart.
Question 17:
What were the Professor’s ambitions in the army ?
Answer:
The Professor’s ambitions were to get a stripe and a commission in the army. He really
worked hard for realizing these ambitions. Only his impractical and tactless approach
took him away from his goal.
Question 18:
Did Private Quelch’s day to day practices take him closer towards his goal ? How can
you make out ?
Answer:
No, Private Quelch’s day to day practices did not take him closer towards his goal. He
had antagonized everyone including his instructors by interrupting and correcting
everyone publicly. The Corporal sent him to the kitchen for permanent cookhouse
duties.
Question 19:
Describe Corporal Turnbull.
Answer:
Corporal Turnbull was a strong and sturdy man. He was boastful of his physical
toughness. He had come back from Dunkirk. He was tough, serious and even
revengeful. He did not take Private Quelch’s interruption lightly and took a sort of
revenge on him by sending him to kitchen to do cooking duties.
Question 20:
Do you think Private Quelch learnt a lesson when he was chosen for cookhouse duties ?
Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
Private Quelch did not learn any lesson. Even in the kitchen he continued with his
interruptions and sermons. The author and his friend heard him protesting against the
unscientific method of peeling potatoes, which was “a sheer waste of vitamin values.”
VALUE-BASED LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (SOLVED)
Answer the following questions in 80-100 words each.
Question 1:
“Too much knowledge is also a bane’. Comment on the statement with reference to
Private Quelch’s character. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Having too much knowledge is not a bane. In fact, each one of us should aim at getting
as much knowledge as possible. A knowledgeable person, if he is wise also, is
respected and honoured everywhere. It is the public show of knowledge which is bad.
Sometimes it proves to be harmful, as in the case of Private Quelch. No one can dislike
Private Quelch for his extraordinary knowledge. It is his tactless flaundering of
knowledge that proves to be harmful to him. He is in the habit of correcting even his
superiors in public. He angers the Sergeant for telling him the exact speed of the bullet
while he was lecturing to the trainees. He infuriates Corporal Turnbull by correcting him
and telling him to improve his lecture. Corporal Turnbull sends him on permanent
cookhouse duties, jeopardizing his career.
Question 2:
Self-promotion always brings resentment from others. Keeping the above statement in
mind, comment on the character of Private Quelch. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Self-promotion is now an accepted social value. Everyone, from a politician to an actor,
is engaged in self-promotion. Watch any TV serial, you will come across examples of
brazen self-promotion. But it is a fact that too much selfpromotion often boomrangs.
This is what we see in the case of Private Quelch. Private Quelch or the ‘Professor’ has
awesome knowledge about his field. He is in a hurry to impress others with his
knowledge to realize his aim of getting commission in the army. So he tactlessly makes
a show-off of his knowledge. He loses no opportunity to correct even his seniors in
public. His fellow trainees .begin to resent his attempts at self-promotion. He becomes
a butt of their sarcasms and jokes. He tries to impress the Sergeant and the Corporal by
interrupting and correcting them before others. Finally, his selfpromotion costs him
dearly. He is sent on permanent cookhouse duties. He loses a golden chance to get
commission in the army.
Question 3:
Private Quelch’s ambition had blinded him. Analyse Corporal’s reaction to his
behaviour. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
It is good to have an ambition. There cannot be any progress without having an aim in
life. Ho ever, one should never be blinded by ambition. One should never be in a hurry to
achieve one’s aim. When one is in a hurry, one becomes tactless and irrational, as
Private Quelch becomes. He wants to get commission in the army. He has acquired
knowledge which is more than sufficient. He can easily achieve his aim. Yet he
jeopardizes his prospects by his tactless behaviour. He annoys Corporal Turnbull by
publicly correcting him. The Corporal takes a revenge on him by sending him on
permanent cookhouse duties. His reaction is natural. But we feel that it is too severe
and negative. He should have given Private Quelch some other less severe punishment.
Question 4:
‘It’s all a matter of intelligent reading’, said Private Quelch. Evaluate the statement on
the basis of Professor’s character. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Private Quelch made this remark when the Sergeant, impressed by his knowledge,
asked him, “You had any training before ?” The remark is quite tactless and reveals
Professor’s self-pride and his tendency to show off. It, no doubt, annoys his senior. Even
his juniors feel that he has crossed the limits by publicly correcting the Sergeant as to
what the exact speed of the bullet is. Intelligent reading is good, but the way it is used
matters a lot. Private Quelch uses his knowledge for self-promotion and, that too,
tactlessly. No wonder, he gets his career jeopardized by infuriating Corporal Turnbull.
Question 5:
Although the Professor was knowledgeable and willing to share his knowledge with his
mates, they avoided crossing paths with him. Comment with reference to ‘The Man Who
Knew Too Much.’ (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Knowledgeable persons are sometimes avoided by their friends and associates. It is so
because no one wants to be overshadowed all the time by someone. Private Quelch or
the Professor has acquired much knowledge about his field. When he begins to outdo
his fellow trainees with his superior knowledge they begin to avoid him. One day at the
end of a tiring, thirty mile route march he suggested with his horrible heartiness, “What
about a song chaps ?” No one greeted the suggestion. Day in and day out he began to
lecture to them in his droning, remorseless voice on every aspect of human knowledge.
Very soon his peers were in an awe of him. He was made a butt of sarcasms and jokes.
Question 6:
What were the negative characteristics of Private Quelch’s character ? Explain any
four. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Private Quelch was a hardworking, simple-minded fellow. But he has some glaring
negative personality traits. He was in the bad habit of showing off his knowledge. He
would lose no opportunity to do so. Then he was quite tactless. He did not know that it
was not good to interrupt one’s seniors in an effort to impress them. He was also ready
to correct others in public. He was unaware that one feels embarrassed and humiliated
if corrected before strangers. He was also a very condescending person. He would
sometimes try to please his seniors by outshining others. All these character traits
made him unpopular among both his seniors and juniors.
Question 7:
What were the positive characteristics of Private Quelch’s character ? Explain any
four. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Private Quelch was a hardworking fellow. He would spend a lot of time in reading books
and manuals. He wanted to acquire as much knowledge as possible. Indeed, he was a
highly knowledgeable person. He could recall the minor details of what he had read.
Then he was quite helpful. Whenever he found someone doing something wrong, he
extended his helping hand willingly. He seemed to be free from ill-will against anyone.
He did not pay any attention to his fellow trainees’ sarcasms and jokes. He had no
grudge even against Corporal Turnbull. He seemed to be happy and contented with his
duties in the cookhouse.
Question 8:
“As a punishment Quelch was put on kitchen duties.”
Imagine yourself as the author of the story “The Man Who Knew Too Much”. Write a
letter to your friend explaining the reason for giving him such punishment. (CBSE 2012)
Answer:
10 Green House
Mountain Top, MA
3rd March, 20…….
Dear George Hope you’re fine!

Thank you for reading my story. You have protested against the unjust punishment
given to Private Quelch. You will agree with me that showing off one’s knowledge to
belittle others in public is not a minor offence. It can infuriate anyone. Corporal Turnbull,
if you remember, is a severe, hardy person.
How can he ignore anyone’s snub ? He acts as per his character traits. If he does not
punish the Professor he will be acting against his own nature. So he sends him to
kitchen so that he dare not cross his path again. Private Quelch, according to me,
deserves punishment, and that is the message of the story : don’t cross the limits of
decency even if you’re right.
Hope you’ll agree with me. Or we can agree to disagree. What do you say ?
Yours sincerely
Alexander
Question 9:
‘Each time one of us made a mistake the Professor would publicly correct him.’
The ‘Professor’ was in the habit of finding faults. He would criticize anyone in public. Do
you approve or disapprove his behaviour ? Should we make fun of others in public, even
if they are wrong ? What would be the consequences if we do so ?
Answer:
Private Quelch, called ‘Professor’ in jest, was in the habit of finding faults, sermonizing
and publicly correcting others. He was not tactful, as he berated even his seniors in
public, for which he had to suffer. He was sent on an unimportant duty in the kitchen.
We disapprove his behaviour. We should not berate anyone in public even if he is at
fault or his knowledge is imperfect. We should particularly be careful while dealing with
our superiors. Our superiors who can harm us will not tolerate any public criticism,
however fair they may be.
If we persist in criticising and correcting others in public, we are likely to invite trouble.
The person thus criticised will feel humiliated and react in some way or the other. He
may assault us physically in anger. If in power, he may harm our career in some way. So,
we should be tactful and practical. We should show off our knowledge only when it is
safe and desirable to do so.
Question 10:
You are ‘Professor’. Write a diary entry after your first day at the cookhouse, describing
the events that led to this assignment, also express your thoughts and feelings about
the events of the day in about 150 words.
Answer:
2nd January, 20………… , Wednesday
10 p.m.
I am sad at what happened today. I am peeling potatoes in the cookhousesomething I

had never dreamt of. I know it will be very difficult for me to get the active duties once
again. Corporal Turnbull is really angry with me.
I don’t know what possessed me when I could not contain myself and interrupted the
Corporal when he was explaining the structure of the grenade. When he asked me to
give the lecture in his place, I did not realize its implications. In my zeal to prove myself I
spoke on the subject well. My colleagues seemed to be overawed. They were silent and
perhaps knew better than me what was in my store. The Corporal got really offended
with my approach. He said nothing but sent me to the cookhouse.
Literature Reader Chapter 4 Keeping it from
Harold
Question 1.
Answer:
A classroom activity.
Question 2.
Answer:
Question 3.
correct option:
(a) Mrs. Bramble was a proud woman because
(i) she was the wife of a famous boxer.
(ii) she had motivated her husband.
(iii) she was a good housewife.
(iv) she was the mother of a child prodigy.
Answer:
(iv) she was the mother of a child prodigy.
(b) “The very naming of Harold had caused a sacrifice on his part.” The writer’s tone
here is
(i) admiring
(ii) assertive
(iii) satirical
(iv) gentle
Answer:
(ii) assertive
(c) Harold had defied the laws of heredity by

(i) becoming a sportsperson
(ii) being good at academics
(iii) being well-built and muscular
(iv) respecting his parents
Answer:
(ii) being good at academics
(d) Harold felt that he was deprived of the respect that his classmates would give him
as
(i) they did not know his father was the famous boxer, ‘Young Porky’.
(ii) his hero, Jimmy Murphy had not won the wrestling match.
(iii) he had not got Phil Scott’s autograph.
(iv) Sid Simpson had lost the Lonsdale belt
Answer:
(i) they did not know his father was the famous boxer, ‘Young Porky’.
Question 4.
Answer the following questions:
(a) What was strange about the manner in which Mrs. Bramble addressed her son?
What did he feel about it?
(b) Why was it necessary to keep Harold’s father’s profession a secret from him?
(c) When Mr. Bramble came to know that he was to become a father what were some of
the names he decided upon? Why?
(d) Describe Mr. Bramble as he has been described in the story.
(e) Why was Mrs. Bramble upset when she came to hear that Bill had decided not to
fight?
(f) Who was Jerry Fisher? What did he say to try and convince Bill to change his mind?
(g) How did Harold come to know that his father was a boxer?
(h) Why was Harold upset that his father had not told him about his true identity? Give
two reasons.
(i) Do you agree with Harold’s parents decision of hiding from him the fact that his
father was a boxer? Why/Why not?
Answer:
(a) Harold didn’t like the manner in which Mrs. Bramble addressed her son. Nor did he
relish the habit of his mother of referring to herself in the third person. She spoke as if
she were addressing a baby. She would never use “I” but said, “Yes, mother will hear
you, precious”. Now Harold was a young man of ten. He had already won the spelling
and dictation prize to his credit. He felt bad about it.
(b) Harold was very different from ordinary children. Harold’s parents wanted to keep
Mr. Bramble’s profession a well guarded secret from him. Harold was made to believe
the fiction that his father was a commercial traveller. They didn’t want Harold to die of
‘disgrace’ by knowing the truth that his father was a man of ‘wrath’ and a bloody boxer.
(c) Mr. Bramble was a famous boxer. When he came to know that he was to become a
father he had many names in his mind for his child. All of them were related to the world
of boxing. He wanted his child to be named John, if a boy, after Mr. John L. Sullivan or if
a girl, Marie, after Miss Marie Lloyd. But he had to sacrifice his choice when his wife
opposed him.
(d) Mr. Bramble was an ‘excellent man’ and nobody ‘could help liking him’. He was a
professional boxer better known as ‘Young Porky’. There was not a boxer in London
whom he could not overcome in a twenty- round contest. He was famous for his left
hook. But he was a very considerate, self- sacrificing and diffident character. He could
sacrifice his name, fame and money as a boxer not to ‘disgrace’ Harold.
(e) Mrs. Bramble didn’t like professional boxing. Nor did she want Harold to know that
his father was ‘Young Porky’. But she was upset when she came to hear that Bill had
decided not to fight. Big money was involved in the fighting. The winner was to get 500
pounds and even the loser was to get 120 pounds. Boxing had earned good money for
the family and made possible to give Harold a good education. That money could give
Harold a better start in life than they had ever had.
(f) Mr. Jerry Fisher was a boxing coach or trainer at the White Hart. He was a hard
trainer. Bill’s fight with Jimmy Murphy was going to be a national affair. He was proud
of Bill and was sure of his victory. He was shocked to know that Bill had given up the
idea of fighting. He tried to convince Bill to change his mind. He reminded him of the
handsome money that he would get by participating in the fight.
(g) Jerry Fisher disliked Bill now and he wanted to take revenge. The best way of taking
revenge was to disclose Bill’s real identity to his son Harold. He disclosed that Bill was
not a commercial traveller but a professional boxer, popularly known as ‘Young Porky’.
(h) When Harold came to know that his father was actually ‘Young Porky’, he was upset.
He realised that he had been deprived of the honour of being the son of ‘Young Porky’.
His schoolmates wouldn’t dare to call him ‘goggles’ if they knew that ‘Young Porky’ was
his father. He had already betted two shillings that Jimmy Murphy would not last ten
rounds against ‘Young Porky.’
(i) Harold’s parents’ decision of hiding from him the fact that his father was a boxer was
not correct. They thought that Harold would die of disgrace if he came to know that his
father was a man of wrath and called ‘Young Porky’. The truth was the other way
around. Harold was deeply interested in boxing. He had betted two shillings that Jimmy
Murphy would not last ten rounds against ‘Young Porky’. It was a dramatic irony that his
parents hid from him the fact of which he could swank like anything.
Question 5.
The sequence of events has been jumbled up. Rearrange them and complete the given
flowchart.
(1) Major Percy and Bill come to the house.
(2) Harold comes to know that his father is a boxer.
(3) Bill tells his wife that he is doing it for Harold.
(4) Jerry Fisher tries to convince Bill to reconsider.
(5) Mrs. Bramble is amazed to think that she has brought such a prodigy as Harold into
the world.
(6) Harold wants to know what will happen to the money he had bet on Murphy losing.
(7) Mrs. Bramble is informed that Bill had decided not to fight.
(8) Mrs. Bramble resumes work of darning the sock.
(9) Harold is alone with his mother in their home.
Answer:
1. Harold is alone with his mother in their home.
2. Mrs. Bramble is amazed to think that she has brought such a prodigy as Harold into
the world.
3. Mrs. Bramble resumes work of darning the sock.
4. Major Percy and Bill come to the house.
5. Mrs. Bramble is informed that Bill had decided not to fight.
6. Bill tells his wife that he is doing it for Harold.
7. Jerry Fisher tries to convince Bill to reconsider.
8. Harold comes to know that his father is a boxer.
9. Harold wants to know what will happen to the money he had bet on Murphy losing.
Question 6.
Choose extracts from the story that illustrate the characters of these people in it.
What this tells us about their

Person Extracts from the story
characters
She was not honest and open with

Mrs Bramble (Para 12) “Bill we must keep it from Harold”
her son; concerned mother
Mr Bramble (Para 33)
Percy (Para 109)
Jerry Fisher (Para 110
Answer:
What this tells us about their

Person Extracts from the story
characters
(Para 12) “Bill we must keep it from She was not honest and open with
Mrs Bramble
Harold” her son; concerned mother
(Para 33) “The scales have fallen from his ‘Mr. Bramble was confused,
Mr Bramble
eyes”. diffident and easily influenced.
(Para 109) “I’d be ashamed to be so Concerned about Harold and Bill;

Percy
spiteful.” talkative
(Para 110) “Tommy”, said Mr Fisher,
Jerry Fisher ignoring them all, “you think your pa’s a Revengeful; adamant
commercial. He ain’t. He’s a fighting man.”
Listening Task
Question 7.
The teacher will ask the students to answer these questions based on an interview
given by the legendary WWE wrestler, Kane to Chris Carle of IGN. The students are to
listen to the interview.
1. What were the video games that Kane liked playing earlier and which games later?
_________________
2. Who was Kane’s favourite wrestler when he was first getting into wrestling and who
were some of the other wrestlers who influenced him into taking up wrestling?
_________________________
3. How according to Kane had the WWE changed in the past ten years?
________________________
4. Does Kane prefer performing with the mask or without the mask?
________________________
5. Why does Kane wrestle these days even though he has accomplished almost
everything?
________________________
6. What is your impression of Kane as a person after you have heard this interview?
________________________
Answer:
Self attempt.
Writing Task
Question 8.
Many people are of the opinion that violent, physical sports such as boxing, kick boxing
and wrestling, to name a few should be banned while others think otherwise.
Express your opinion on the topic by either writing in favour of banning these sports or
against banning them. While writing, you should also include the rebuttal to your
questions. Try not to go beyond 200 words.
Answer:
BANNING VIOLENT PHYSICAL SPORTS
Many people think that violent physical sports such as boxing, kick boxing, wrestling,
bull-fighting, to name a few, should be banned. And they think rightly so. What’s the
main aim of sports and games? Pleasure and entertainment. They provide us thrill or
‘excitement’. They lift our spirits. We feel more animated and alive. And the
entertainment that sports and games provide us is the healthy and wholesome
entertainment. On the other hand, violent physical sports such as boxing, kick boxing
and bullfighting provide us a vulgar pleasure. It is violent and sadistic in nature. When
we watch hockey, badminton or cricket we enjoy them. We appreciate Gavaskar for
defence, Vivian Richards for attack and Sachin Tendulkar for style. Similarly, we adore
Maradona or Pele not for their foul play or hitting the opponents but for their scoring
abilities. Similarly, we admire Federer for his craftsmanship and Nadal for his power
play in lawn-tennis. All these sports lift us physically, mentally as well as spiritually.
Watch a ten or fifteen-round boxing match. What do you like the most in a boxing
match? You like the punches, hooks and the maximum damage that a boxer can do to
his opponent. At every punch or hook your desire to see assault and your blood is
aroused. Before the bout ends you find both the players wounded, bleeding and their
faces cut at more than half a dozen places. Some players even lose their lives during
boxing bouts. What is bullfighting? It shows sheer lack of decency, lack of good taste
that one craves for such violent sports. Such bloody and violent sports should be
banned.
Question 9.
A large part of the story is composed of conversation between the characters.
Can you convert it into a play and in groups, present your version of the play before the
class? Before that, decide onthe members of cast, minimum props required and also
the costumes.
Answer:
A Classroom Activity.
Question 1.
It was a constant source of amazement to Mrs. Bramble that she should have brought
such a
prodigy as Harold into the world. Harold was so different from ordinary children, so
devoted to his books, such a model of behaviour, so altogether admirable. (Page 29)
(a) Who is a prodigy child?
(b) Who was so proud of such a prodigy?
(c) Find a word in the extract similar in meaning to ‘commendable’.
Answer:
(a) A child with exceptional talents is called a prodigy child.
(b) Mrs. Bramble, Harold’s mother.
(c) Admirable.
Question 2.
The only drawback was that his very ‘perfection’ had made necessary a series of
evasions and even deliberate falsehoods on the part of herself and her husband, highly
distasteful to both. They were lovers of truth, but they had realised that there are times
when truth must be sacrificed. At any cost, the facts concerning Mr. Bramble’s
profession must be kept from Harold.(Page 29)
(a) What was the only drawback in Harold?
(b) Who indulged in evasions and deliberate falsehoods?
(c) What does the clause ‘Mr. Bramble’s profession must be kept from Harold’ mean?
Answer:
(a) His very ‘perfection’ was his only drawback.
(b) Harold’s parents indulged in evasions and deliberate falsehoods.
(c) It means that his father was a professional boxer. This fact must be concealed from
Harold.
Question 3.
Certainly he was very persuasive. Mr. Bramble had fallen in with the suggestion without
demur. In private life he was the mildest and most obliging of men, and always yielded
to everybody. The very naming of Harold had caused as sacrifice on his part. (Page 30)
(a) ‘He’ here stands for whom?
(b) What does the phrase ‘without demur’ mean here?
(c) Who had to sacrifice in the naming of Harold?
Answer:
(a) Major Percy Stokes.
(b) Without reluctance or objection.
(c) Mr. Bramble had to sacrifice in the naming of Harold.
Question 4.
So, Harold grew in stature and intelligence, without a suspicion of the real identity of the
square-jawed man with the irregularly-shaped nose who came and went mysteriously in
their semi-detached, red-brick home. He was a self-centred child, and, accepting the
commercial traveller fiction, dismissed the subject from his mind and busied himself
with things of more moment. (Page 31)
(a) Who kept the identity of the square-jawed from Harold?
(b) Who was ‘the square-jawed man’?
(c) What was Harold told about his father?
Answer:
(a) Harold’s parents and Major Percy Stokes kept the identity of the square-jawed from
Harold.
(b) Mr. Bramble was ‘the square jawed man’.
(c) He was told that his father was a commercial traveller.
Question 5.
“Percy, if you don’t keep quiet, I’ll forget I’m your sister and let you have one. What do
you mean, Bill, you’ve come home? Isn’t there going to be the fight next week, after all?”
{Page 33)
(a) Who is snubbing Percy?
(b) Why has Bill dropped the idea of fighting?
(c) Name the chapter in which these lines occur.
Answer:
(a) Mrs. Bramble is snubbing Percy.
(b) He is afraid of his publicity.
(c) ‘Keeping It From Harold.’
Question 6.
“How about the money?” Repeated Mrs. Bramble. “Goodness knows I’ve never liked
your profession, Bill, but there is this to be said for it, that it’s earned you good money
and made it possible for us to give Harold as good an education as any duke ever had,
I’m sure. (Page 33)
(a) What is Bill’s profession?
(b) What gave good money to the Brambles?
(c) Write the verb form of ‘education’.
Answer:
(a) Professional boxing is Bill’s profession.
(b) Bill’s professional boxing gave good money to the Brambles.
(c) Educate.
Question 7.
“Tommy,” said Mr. Fisher, ignoring them all, “you think your Pa’s a commercial. He ain’t.
He’s a fighting-man, doing his eight-stone-four ringside, and known to all the heads as
‘Young Porky.’” (Page 37)
(a) Who was Mr. Fisher?
(b) Whom did Mr. Fisher address?
(c) What does ‘ain’t’ stand for here? What else does it stand for?
Answer:
(a) Mr. Fisher was a boxing coach or trainer.
(b) Mr. Fisher addressed Harold.
(c) Here ‘ain’t’ stands for ‘is not’. It also stands for ‘am not’ and ‘are not’.
Question 8.
How long do you suppose they’d go on calling me, ‘Goggles’ if they knew that you were
my father? They’d chuck it tomorrow, and look up to me like anything, I do call ilrotten.
(Page 38)
(a) Who does the word ‘they’ here refer to?
(b) Who is the speaker here?
(c) What is ‘rotten’ in the eyes of the speaker?
Answer:
(a) Harold’s schoolmates.
(b) Harold is the speaker.
(c) Bill’s idea of withdrawing from the contest is ‘rotten’ in the eyes of the speaker.
Question 9.
Pa, can’t you give me a picture of yourself boxing? I could swank like anything. And you
don’t know how sick a chap gets of having chaps call him, ‘Goggles.’ (Page 38)
(a) The speaker wants to swank. Why?
(b) Why does the speaker feel sick?
(c) Find a word in the extract similar in meaning to ‘man’.
Answer:
(a) Harold wants to swank as he is the son of a famous boxer ‘Young Porky’.
(b) Harold feels sick because he is called ‘Goggles’ by his classmates.
(c) Chap.
Question 10.
“Bill,” said Mr. Fisher, “you and me had better be getting back to the White Hart.” Bill
rose and followed him without a word. (Page 38)
(a) What is the White Hart?
(b) Why did Bill follow Mr. Fisher?
(c) Find a word in the extract which means ‘went behind’.
Answer:
(a) The place where Bill gets training in boxing is known as the White Hart.
(b) He followed Mr. Fisher to join the contest.
(c) Followed.
ABOUT THE STORY
‘Keeping It from Harold’ conveys the idea that it is wrong to undervalue anything which
involves physical skills such as boxing, wrestling, etc. while overestimating intellectual
activities. Both Mr Bramble and Mrs Bramble are proud of a child prodigy, Mr Bramble is
a famous boxer known as ‘Young Porky’. He and his wife come to believe that they
should hide from their son the fact of his father being a boxer. They feel that Harold will
hate his father. They are encouraged in this wrong belief by the senior curate of the
parish and Major Percy Stokes (Mrs Bramble’s brother). Mr Bramble was proud of his
being a boxer before the birth of his son. The trainer JLerry Fisher, in anger at his refusal
to fight, discloses the secret to Harold. Harold surprises them when he tells them that
he is not ashamed of but angry with his father who has refused to fight and defeat his
opponent Murphy. Harold feels satisfied when his father gets ready to go with his
trainer to prepare himself for the great fight.
CHARACTERS
(i) Mr Bramble
Mr Bramble is a short, sturdy fellow. He is a red-headed man with a broken nose such
as boxers generally have. He is thirty-one. He has a long record for respectability and
sobriety. He is a famous boxer known as ‘Young Porky’. He is proud of the intellectual
abilities of his son Harold. He comes to wrongly believe that Harold will hate him if he
comes to know that he is a boxer. Though physically strong, he seems to be mentally
weak.
(ii) Mrs Bramble

Like all mothers, Mrs Bramble is excessively fond of her son, Harold. She is very loving
and caring. She addresses her son as ‘dearie’ and refers to herself in the third person.
She is also convinced that Harold should not know that his father is a boxer. She is a
good housewife. She manages the house well. She feels upset when she learns that her
husband has refused to fight. She feels that if he does not fight they will have no money
essential for their son’s education and bright future.
(iii) Harold
Harold is a model child, different from ordinary children. He is fully devoted to his
books. He is a model of good behaviour. Everybody admires him. He has already won
prizes in academics. His parents are in awe of him. His parents are unaware of the fact
that he is interested in boxing and knows a lot about the game and boxers. He surprises
his parents by expressing his anger that he has not been told that his father is a famous
boxer. He proves them wrong. He feels proud of his father and his profession. He wants
his father to fight and defeat his opponent, Murphy.
Question 1:
“Goodness know I’ve never liked your profession, Bill, but there is this to be said for it,
that it’s earned you good money and made it possible for us to give Harold as good an
education as any duke ever had, I’m sure.
(a) What profession is being talked about ?
(b) Who is the speaker ?
(c) What has prompted the speaker to say this ? (CBSE2014)
Answer:
(а) The profession that is being talked about is boxing.
(b) Mrs Bramble is the speaker.
(c) Mr Bramble’s refusal to fight his opponent has prompted the speaker to say this.
Question 2:
Before him on the tablecloth lay an open book. His powerful brain was plainly busy.
(a) Who is he referred to here ?
(b) What kind of person he is ?
(c) Give the meaning of‘plainly’. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
(a) He is Harold, the Bramble’s son.
(b) He is a studious lad, an intellectual-type.
(C) ‘clearly’.
Question 3:
Mrs Bramble took the book.
“Yes, mother will hear you, precious. ”
(a) What is unusual in Mrs Bramble’s speech ?
(b) What do you think of the speaker ?
(c) Give the meaning of‘precious’.
Answer:
(a) Her referring to herself in the third person is unusual.
(b) The speaker, Mrs Bramble, is a very loving and caring mother.
(c) ‘dear’.
Question 4:
A slight frown marred the smoothness of Harold Bramble’s brow.
(a) What annoyed Harold ?
(b) What did he want ?
(c)Give the meaning of ‘marred’.
Answer:
(a) His mother addressed Harold as if he were a baby. This annoyed him.
(b) He wanted to be treated as a grown-up boy.
(c) ‘spoiled’.
Question 5:
“You do study so hard, dearie, you’ll give yourself a headache. Why don’t you take a nice
walk by the river for half an hour, and come back nice and fresh ?”
(а) Who is the speaker ?
(b) What tells you that she is a caring mother ?
(c) What do you mean by ‘hard’ ?
Answer:
(a) Mrs Bramble is the speaker.
(b) She is a caring mother as she wants her son to remain active physically and
mentally.
(c) ‘too much’.
Question 6:
Certainly he was very persuasive. Mr Bramble had fallen in with the suggestion without
demur. In private life, he was the mildest and most obliging of men, and always yielded
to everybody. The very naming of Harold had caused a sacrifice on his part.
(a) What was the suggestion ?
(b) How was Mr Bramble in life ?
(c) What does ‘demur’ mean ?
Answer:
(a) The suggestion was that Harold should not be told what his father was.
(b) He was quite mild and obliging.
(c)Saying something that one does not agree with.
Question 7:
“Percy, if you don’t keep quiet, I’ll forget I’m your sister and let you have one. What do
you mean, Bill, you’ve come home ? Isn’t there going to be the fight next week, after all
?”
“The fight’s over,” said the unsuppressed Major, joyfully, “and Bill’s won, with – me
seconding him.”
(a) Why was Mrs Bramble angry ?
(b) What had Bill told her ?
(c) Give the meaning of ‘unsuppressed’.
Answer:
(а) Mrs Bramble was angry at her husband’s leaving his training to fight as in that case
they would not get any money essential for their son’s education.
(b) Bill had told her that Mr Bramble had come back with the idea not to fight,
(c) ‘not preventing oneself to express feelings’.
Question 8:
“I hope you are keeping it from Harold. It is the least you can do”.
(a) Who is the speaker here ?
(b) What suggestion does he make to Mrs Bramble ?
(c) Give the meaning of ‘keeping’ in the present context.
Answer:
(a) Mrs Bramble’s brother, Major Percy Stokes, is the speaker here.
(b) His suggestion is that Harold should not be told the fact of his father being a boxer.
(c) ‘hiding’.
Question 9:
“It’s hard,” he said at length, in a choked voice.
“J just wanted to break his neck for him, but I suppose it’s not to be. I know it’s him
that’s at the bottom of it. And here I find them together, so I know it’s him. Well, if you
say so, Mrs B., I suppose I mustn’t put a hand on him”.
(а) What was so ‘hard’ for Jerry Fisher ?
(b) Whose neck did he want to break ?
(c) What does ‘choked’ mean ?
Answer:
(a) For Jerry Fisher it was hard that Bill (Mr Bramble) had deserted him at the eleventh
hour.
(b) He wanted to break Percy’s neck to persuade Bill not to fight.
(c) ‘suffocated’.
Question 10:
The only drawback was that his very ‘perfection’ had made necessary a series of
evasions and even deliberate falsehoods on the part of herself and her husband, highly
distasteful to both.
(а) Whose ‘perfection’ does the extract point out ?
(b) How was ‘he’ perfect ?
(c) What does ‘evasion’ mean ?
Answer:
(а) It points out the perfection of Harold, the Bramble’s son.
(b) He was perfect in studies and behaviour. Everyone admired him as an unusual child.
(c) ‘the act of avoiding.”
Question 11:
The spectacled child considered the point for a moment gravely.
(a) Who is the spectacled child mentioned in this line ?
(b) Which point did the child consider ?
(c) Give the meaning of‘gravely’.
Answer:
(а) The spectacled child is Harold, the son of the Brambles.
(b) The child considered his mother’s suggestion that he should go out for a walk by the
river.
(c) ‘seriously’.
Question 12:
He had promised that it should be the last. He was getting on.
(a) What ‘last’ thing had he promised to do ?
(b) What did he intend to take up after this ?
(c) What is the meaning of ‘getting on’ ?
Answer:
(а) He had promised to have only one boxing bout before retiring from his profession,
that is, boxing.
(b) He intended to become an instructor at some school or college.
(c) ‘agreeing’.
Question 13:
“The fight’s over”, said the unsuppressed Major, joyfully, “Bell’s won, with me seconding
him.”
(а) Why was the Major happy and excited ?
(b) What does it mean ‘Bill’s won’ ?
(c) What does ‘seconding’ mean ?
Answer:
(а)The Major was happy because Mr Bramble had agreed to give up boxing after one
bout.
(b) It means that Bill has a moral victory in deciding to give up boxing so that his son is
not ashamed to his being a boxer.
(c) ‘supporting’.
Question 14:
He’s seen the error of his ways”, cried Percy, the resilient. That’s what he’s gone and
done. At the eleventh hour.
(a) What error is Percy speaking about ? Whose error ?
(b) What has he done at last ?
(c) Give the meaning of ‘resilient’.
Answer:
(а) Percy is speaking about Bill’s error in taking part in another boxing match.
(b) Bill has abandoned boxing at last.
(c) ‘one who quickly recovers from shock’.
Question 15:
“This ought to be the happiest evening you’ve ever known. You ought to be singing like a
little child.”
(a) Who is the speaker and who is he talking to ?
(b) How could this be the happiest evening for the person who is addressed to ?
(c) Explain ‘ought to be’.
Answer:
(a) The speaker is Major Percy (Mrs Bramble’s brother) who is talking to the trainer, Mr
Fisher.
(b) This could be the happiest evening for Mr Fisher if he really loved Bill.
(c) ‘should be’.
Question 16:
“Bill”, he cried, ‘You’re off your head. Think of the purse!”
(b) What makes him cry ?
(c) What do you mean by ‘purse’ here ?
Answer:
(a) Jerry Fisher, the boxing trainer, is the speaker.
(b) Bill’s decision not to fight makes him cry.
(c) ‘money’.
Question 17:
You think your pa’s a commerical. He ain’t. He’s a fighting man, doing his eight stone
four ringside, and known to all as Young Porky’.
(a) Who is the speaker ?
(b) What did the boy, Harold, believe to be his father’s job ?
(c) What do you mean by ‘ain’t’ here ?
Answer:
(a) Bill Fisher, the boxing trainer, is the speaker.
(b) The boy, Harold, believed that his father was a touring representative of a firm.
(c) ‘is not’.
Question 18:
“That’s right, Harold,” he said reviving, “I’ve given it up.”
(b) What has he given up ?
(c) Give the meaning of ‘reviving’.
Answer:
(а) Bill or Mr Brown, Harold’s father, is the speaker.
(b) He has given up boxing.
(c) ‘recovering from the shock’.
Question 19:
How long do you suppose they’d go on calling me, ‘Goggles’ if they knew that you were
my father ?’
(b) ho are ‘they’ ? What would make them stop calling the speaker ‘Goggles’ ?
(c) What do you mean by ‘Goggles’ ?
Answer:
(а) Harold is the speaker.
(b) The fact of his father being a famous boxer would stop them (Harold’s class
fellows) from calling him ‘Goggles’.
(c) ‘a pair of glasses.’
Question 20:
Pa, can’t you give me a picture of yourself boxing I could swank like anything. And you
don’t know how sick a chap gets of having chaps call him, “Goggles”.
(b) What are his feelings in wanting to show off his father’s picture as a boxer ?
(c) Give the meaning of ‘swank’.
Answer:
(a) Harold is the speaker.
(b) He has the feelings of pride and excitement.
(c) ‘boast’.
Question 1:
Why did Mrs Bramble address her son as “dearie” ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Mrs Bramble was very proud of her son Harold as Harold was a genius and different
from other ordinary children. Out of love for her she addresses him as ‘dearie’.
Question 2:
‘Bill and his wife were a little afraid of their wonderful child’. Why ? (CBSE 2014)
Or
‘His very perfection had led to a series of ‘evasions’ on the part of Mr and Mrs Bramble.
Explain. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Bill and his wife knew that their son Harold was a child prodigy. He was excellent in his
studies and behaviour. Both were made to believe that Harold would be ashamed to
know that his father was a boxer. So, they were a bit afraid of him. They continued to
hide the truth from Harold.
Question 3:
Why did Bill think of trying out a job as an instructor ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Bill came to believe that Harold would not be happy to know that his father was a
professional boxer. Harold might feel embarrassed and ashamed of him. So, bill
decided to give up boxing and try out a job as an instructor at some school or college.
Question 4:
Which event was Mrs Bramble waiting for that could end all her anxieties ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Mrs Bramble was waiting for the last fight her husband would have with Murphy. Even if
Mr Bramble would lose he was to get a hundred and twenty pounds. That amount, Mrs
Bramble thought, would end all her worries and enable them to lead a comfortable life.
Question 5:
Bill Bramble brought about major changes in his life after the birth of his son Harold.
What were they ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
After the birth of his son Harold Bramble began to feel ashamed of reading his name as
a boxer in print. He began to hide his profession lest Harold should feel embarrassed
about it. He lied to the boy that he was a firm’s touring representative.
Question 6:
Why did Bill stop Jerry from uttering anything ? (CBSE )
Answer:
Jerry Fisher, Bill’s trainer, was angry at Bill’s refusal to fight. So he wanted to retaliate by
telling Bill’s secret to the child Harold. As Bill did not want his son Harold to know that
he was a professional boxer, he stopped Jerry from uttering anything.
Question 7:
What changed Bill’s outlook towards life ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Bill had a negative attitude towards life. He felt guilty at his having been a professional
boxer. He felt that Harold, his son, would feel ashamed of himself on learning about his
profession. But when Harold said that he was proud of being the son of a famous boxer,
he felt relieved and happy.
Question 8:
How did Harold react on learning about his father’s profession ?
Answer:
Harold was at first angry to learn that he was not told that he was the son of a famous
boxer, Young Porky. Then he felt sad that if he knew who he was no one at school would
have made fun of him by calling him ‘Goggles’.
Question 9:
What was the end of their (Jerry and Harold’s) incidental meeting ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Jerry Fisher, Bill’s trainer, decided to reveal to Harold the secret of his father being a
professional boxer. He met Harold and revealed the secret. Harold felt proud of being
the son of a great boxer. He was angry at the fact that he was deprived of the glory and
honour for a long time.
Question 10:
Who was Jerry Fisher ? What did he say to try and convince Bill to change his mind
? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Jerry Fisher was the trainer of Bill Bramble. He was angry with Bill for deciding not to
fight. He tried to convince him that he would earn a lot of money if he fought. He said he
should also think of all the troubles he had gone through to earn name and fame as a
boxer.
Question 11:
What was it that Harold did not like about his mother ?
Answer:
Mrs Bramble treated her grown-up child, Harold, as a kid. She would call him ‘dearie’.
She would refer to herself in the third person. Harold did not like this strange way of
talking to him. He often felt bad and irritated about it.
Question 12:
When Mr Bramble came to know that he was to become a father what were some of the
names he decided upon ? Why ?
Answer:
Mr Bramble thought about the names of famous sports persons for his child. He
wanted to name his child John, if a boy, after Mr John L Sullivan, or if a girl, Marie, after
Miss Marie Lloyd. It was so because he wanted his child to earn name and fame as a
sportsperson.
Question 13:
What made Mr Bramble to return home leaving his training midway ?
Answer:
Mr Bramble learnt that the fight in which he was to take part was a national affair and it
was to be reported in the Mail with his photograph. He feared that his son, Harold,
would come to know about his real identity, which he had hidden from him for so long.
So he decided to stop his training and come back home.
Question 14:
How did Mr Percy try to dissuade Mr Bramble from taking part in the boxing contest ?
Answer:
Mr Percy, Mrs Bramble’s brother, tried to dissuade Mr Bramble from taking part in the
boxing contest. He sent him letters and tracts. He told him about the bad consequences
if his son Harold came to know about his real profession.
Question 15:
What tells you of Harold’s interest in boxing ?
Answer:
Harold himself speaks about his interest in boxing and boxers. He tells how one of his
friends has a snapshot of Jimmy Wilde. He wants his father to defeat Jimmy Murphy to
get a chance with Sid Sampson for the Lonsdale belt.
Question 16:
Do you agree with Harold’s parents’ decision of hiding from him the fact that his father
was a boxer ? Why/Why not ?
Answer:
No, the decision was wrong. There is no shame in being a sportsperson or a boxer.
Every physical activity is as dignified as any intellectual activity. Harold’s parents should
not have hidden the fact of his father’s profession. There was nothing shameful about
it.
Question 17:
Harold was a model child but for one thing that marred his ‘perfe ction’. What was it ?
Answer:
Harold was a model child, different from ordinary children. He was fully devoted to his
books. He was a model of good behaviour. But his ‘perfection’ was marred by deliberate
falsehood on the part of his parents. His parents evaded the truth and lied to him about
his father’s profession.
Question 18:
Why did Harold’s parents think it prudent to keep him in dark about his father’s
profession ?
Answer:
Harold’s parents thought that boxing did not enjoy good reputation, and that being a
professional boxer was not something to be proud of. They feared their child would feel
ashamed of himself if he learnt that his father was a boxer.
Question 19:
Name the two persons who were mainly responsible for keeping Harold in dark about
his father’s true identity.
Answer:
The senior curate of the parish and Mrs Bramble’s brother, Major Percy Stokes, were
mainly responsible for convincing Harold’s parents not to disclose the true identity of
his father to him as they believed that boxing was not a respectable profession.
Question 20:
Was Mr Bramble ashamed of his profession ? Why did he agree to the suggestion that
he should conceal his professional identity from his son ?
Answer:
Mr Bramble had been proud of being a professional boxer before the birth of Harold. He
was the most obliging of men. When he was asked to suppress his profession for the
better development of his child, he agreed to the suggestion without demur.
VALUE – BASED LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (SOLVED)
Question 1:
One should take pride in one’s profession. Comment upon the
statement in the context of the story ‘Keeping It from Harold’.
Or
Are Mrs and Mr Bramble justified in not taking pride in their profession. Do you agree ?
Give reasons for your answer. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
You should really take pride in your profession. Only then can others give you respect
and recognition. Those who look down upon their profession remain guilt-ridden and a
failure. In the story ‘Keeping It from Harold’ both Mrs and Mr Bramble are guilty of
undermining the profession of boxing. Mr Bramble is a famous boxer, known as “Young
Porky’. Uptil his son’s birth he thinks high of his profession. Then both he and his wife
come to believe that their son Harold would feel embarrassed and ashamed of the fact
that he was the son of a boxer. They keep Mr Bramble’s profession a secret from
Harold. They are pleasantly shocked when Harold feels angry at being deprived of the
glory and honour of being a famous boxer’s son. This proves that his parents were not
justified in downgrading a good profession. Boxing, though an aggressive and bloody
game, is an honourable profession like any other profession.
Question 2:
Harold is considered to be fond of only intellectual activities. He proves to be much
maturer than his parents think. How ?
Answer:
Harold is an intelligent boy who is considered to be a model in studies and behaviour.
Everyone at school praises him. He has already won some prizes in academics. He is a
bespectacled child. His parents are in a bit of awe of him. His mother, Mrs Bramble,
calls him ‘dearie’ and looks upon him as a child prodigy. His father is equally fond and
proud of him. His parents come to believe that he should not know that he is the son of
a professional boxer. He can never think that he could be a lover of boxing and boxers.
When Harold learns about his being the son of a famous boxer, he feels angry of being
deprived of glory and honour. He tells his parents that if the fact was known to his
school children they would never have dared to make fun of him by calling ‘Goggles’.
His interest in games, especially boxing, shows that is much maturer than his parents
can ever think of.
Question 3:
Jerry Fisher, in his pursuit to unravel the secret that the Brambles had hidden so long
from Harold,
actually helped the Bramble family.Discuss. (CBSE)
Answer:
The Brambles had not told their son Harold that his father was a professional boxer.
They were afraid that Harold would feel bad and bitter about the truth. So they told a lie
to him that his father was a firm’s touring representative. Mr Bramble wanted to take
part for the last time in a boxing match. He went for training with Jerry Fisher. When he
learnt that the match would be reported in the Mail with his photograph he got
frightened. He thought that their secret would be out. So he withdrew himself from the
training. As they needed money, the matter caused both he and his wife a lot of worry
and tension. Jerry Fisher, in anger, revealed their secret to their son Harold. When
Harold announced his itnerest in boxing and his feelings of pride in being the son of a
boxer, Mr and Mrs Bramble were relieved of their burden and guilt. Thus, Jerry Fisher, in
revealing the secret, helped them regain normalcy.
Question 4:
As Harold, express year feelings in a diary entry in 80-100 words on learning about your
father’s profession. (CBSE)
Answer:
10th April, 20….
10 p.m.
Dear Diary
I am so happy and excited today! I want to dance like mad. Today Jerry Fisher, who is
Dad’ trainer (I learnt only today), revealed that Dad is no other that “Young Porky’, a
famous boxer. I would not believe my ears. Dad and a boxer ? I had been told that he
was a touring representative of a firm, My father was ready to sacrifice name and fame
and money just for my so-called dignity. I appreciate his feelings. At the same time I feel
sad that I have been deprived of the honour and glory of being the son of a great boxer. I
have asked Dad to give me his photograph to swank it before my friends ever ready to
make fun of me as ‘Goggles’. I have also asked Dad to fight and beat Murphy. I want
him to win the bout at all costs. How I love you, Dad!
Question 5:
As Major Percy, write a letter to your friend expressing your remorse at your failure to
keep Mr Bramble away from a devilish game.
Answer:
10 Green House Susse
4th April, 20……….
Dear John
I wish I were dead this moment. You know, I am deadly against boxing which is a Devil’s
game. Boxing is simply inhuman. I believe boxers are fated to go to Hell. I did my best to
save Mr Bramble, my sister’s husband, from perdition. I was happy when Mr Bramble
came back home deciding not to participate in the bout with Jimmy Murphy. My sister
resented his coming home. I tried to persuade her to see reason and forget the money
involved. Then Jerry Fisher-Mr Bramble’s trainer-undid all that I had done. He told the
secret to Harold, and Harold-God save him-was so exultant on knowing that he was the
son of a boxer! How mean on his part.
I’ve decided never to step in the house of those Brambles.
Yours sincerely Percy
Question 6:
‘Keeping It from Harold’ underlines the idea that boxing is as dignified as any other
activity, physical or mental. What happens when we downplay one activity over the
other, especially our own ability ? What should be our attitude ?
Answer:
Mr Bramble, a famous boxer, hides his profession from his intellectually brilliant son,
fearing that he might come to hate him. He decides to stop boxing.
We feel that when we downplay one activity over the other illogically, we are not doing
something fair. If we happen to downplay and dislike our own ability, like Mr Bramble,
we are likely to fall in our own eyes. We lose our self-confidence and self-pride. Others
may or may not despise us but we begin to despise ourselves. The Brambles are
surprised when their son says that he would have loved to be known as the son of a
famous boxer.
Therefore, we need to be proud of our own achievements. We should be proud of
whatever profession we are in. We should try to excel in it and feel proud of what we do.
Only then will other people love and respect us. We should remember that no activity or
profession is undignified or low. It is our thinking that makes something desirable or
undesirable.
Question 7:
“He was a professional boxer. That was the trouble.” Discuss.
Answer:
There are many people who look down upon boxing. They think that sports like boxing
are violent and are hence not meant for gentle folk. In the story, such people are
represented by the senior curate of the parish and major Percy Stokes who take upon
them the responsibility of guarding the morality of the people. They persuade the
Brambles to hide from their son Harold the profession of his father. Mr Bramble, who
has been a good boxer and known as Young Porky’, comes to believe them. Being
modest, he gives in to their demands. In spite of having pride in his profession, he
agrees to hide his true identity. He makes this sacrifice for the sake of his son. He
wants his son not to feel ashamed of himself for his being a boxer. It is again for the
sake of his son that he decides not to take part in the contest with Jimmy Murphy,
though he needs money badly. He fears his son will come to know of his father’s true
identity as the event is going to be reported in the Mail.
Little does he know that his son is fond of boxing. He has gathered a lot of information
about boxing and boxers. When the truth is out, his son is annoyed at being kept in the
dark that he is the son of a professional boxer.
Question 8:
“Pa, can’t you give me a picture of yourself boxing ? I could swank like anything. And
you don’t know how sick a chap gets of having chaps call him, ‘Goggles’.”
In the light of the above extract, analyze Harold’s feeling on learning that his father was
a professional boxer.
Answer:
Harold overheard his father talking about him. He was curious to know what he was
talking about. Jerry Fisher, in order to take revenge on Bill, told Harold that his father
was not a commercial traveler but the famous boxer ‘Young Porky’, and that his father
was not going to fight with Murphy because of him. Harold was astonished to learn the
fact. He surprised everyone by revealing that he had a bet and if there were no contest,
he was going to lose his bet. He said that his friends had the autographs of famous
sport spersons. He felt annoyed that he had been kept in the dark about his father being
a boxer. Nobody would have laughed at him and called him ‘Goggles’ if they had known
who his father was.
Mr Bramble told Mr Fisher that it would be better for them to go back to the White Hart.
After they had left, Harold continued talking about the relative merits of Sid Sampson
and the Ginger Nut, the two famous boxers. There was animated expression on his
face..
Literature Reader Chapter 5 Best Seller
Question 1.
Answer:
Question 2.
Answer:
Question 3.
correct option.
(a) The narrator says that John was “_____ of the suff that heroes are not often lucky
enough to be made of.” His tone is sarcastic because _____
(i) he hated John.
(ii) he felt that John was a threat to him.
(iii) John was not particularly good-looking.
(iv) nobody liked John.
Answer:
(iii) John was not particularly good-looking.
(b) Pescud felt that best-sellers were not realistic as

(i) American farmers had nothing in common with European princesses.
(ii) men generally married girls from a similar background.
(iii) American men married girls who studied in America.
(iv) American men did not know fencing and were beaten by the Swiss guards,
Answer:
(i) American farmers had nothing in common with European princesses.
(c) “Bully”, said Pescud brightening at once.

He means to say that____
(i) he is a bully.
(ii) his manager was a bully.
(iii) he was being bullied by his co-workers.
(iv) he was doing very well at his job.
Answer:
(iv) he was doing very well at his job.
(d) The narrator says that life has no geographical bounds implying that
(i) human beings are essentially the same everywhere.
(ii) boundaries exist only on maps.
(iii) one should work towards the good of mankind.
(iv) he was happy to travel to other countries.
Answer:
(i) human beings are essentially the same everywhere.
Question 4.
Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) One day last summer the author was travelling to Pittsburg by chair car. What does
he say about his co-passengers?
(b) Who was the passenger of chair No. 9? What did he suddenly do?
(c) What was John A. Pescud’s opinion about best sellers? Why?
(d) What does John say about himself since his last meeting with the author?
(e) How did John’s first meeting with Jessie’s father go? What did the author tell him?
(f) Why did John get off at Coketown?
(g) John is a hypocrite. Do you agree with this statement? Substantiate your answer.
(h) Describe John A. Pescud with reference to the following points:
 Physical appearance
 His philosophy on behaviour
 His profession
 His first impression of his wife
 His success
Answer:
(a) One day last summer, the author was travelling to Pittsburgh by chair car on
business. Most of the passengers were ladies. They were in brown-silk dresses cut with
square yokes, laces and dotted veils. There were men who looked as if “they might be in
almost any business.” However, his attention was drawn by the black, bald- spotted
head just visible above the back of seat No. 9.
(b) John A. Pescud was the passenger of chair No. 9. Suddenly he hurled a book on to
the floor between his chair and the window. The book was named “The Rose Lady and
Trevelyan”. It was one of the best-selling novels
of the present day.
(c) John A. Pescud didn’t hold a very high opinion about best sellers. The fiction writers
are not consistent with their scenes and characters. They are far removed from reality.
Their account is highly unreal, exaggerated and romantic. Sometimes the American
hero falls in love with a royal princess from Europe. He follows her to her father’s
kingdom. But in real life people choose life- partners belonging to their own status.
(d) The author asked John how he was getting along with the company. John replied
that he was getting on pretty well. He had his salary raised twice since they met last
time. He got a commission too. He had bought a “neat slice of real estate”. The firm
was going to sell him some shares of stock. He was “in on the line of General
Prosperity”. He also broke the news that he got married eighteen months ago.
(e) John met Jessie’s fatter at his ancestral house. At eleven sharp, he rang the bell. An
old man about eighty showed up and asked what he wanted. John showed him his
business card. He told the old man how he followed his daughter from Cincinnati, his
business, salary and prospects. Then the old man related anecdotes and humorous
occurrences. The Colonel expressed that he had never been so fortunate as he felt after
meeting him.
(f) John got ready to get off at Coketown. The author was surprised as the place didn’t
hold much prospect for selling plate-glass. However, John told that while coming back
from Philadelphia, his wife Jessie saw some petunias in a pot in one of the windows
there. She used to raise such flowers in her old Virginia home. So he thought of getting
off there to dig up some of the cuttings or blossoms for her.
(g) John is a hypocrite. What he says, he does the opposite. He expresses his
uncharitable views regarding the best-sellers as they are far removed from reality. They
are too romantic. But in real life people marry somebody in their own status. But John is
another Trevelyan. He is just a commercial traveller but runs after Jessie whose father
is a lineal descendant of belted earls. He is searching petunias for his ‘princess’.
(h)
 Physical appearance. A small man with a wide smile and an eye fixed on
the end of the nose. A bald-spotted head.
 His philosophy on behaviour. When a man is in his home town, he ought to
be decent and law-abiding.
 His profession. Travelling salesman for a plate-glass company.
 His first impression of his wife, ‘…the finest looking girl. Nothing
spectacular but just the sort you want for keeps’.
 His success. Salary raised twice in a couple of years. Got a commission.
Bought real estate. The firm going to sell some shares of stock. On the line
of‘General Prosperity’.
Question 5.
Complete the flow chart in the correct sequence as it happens in the story.
Hint: It begins from the time the author first saw Jessie till the time they marry.
Answer:
Question 6.
Irony refers to the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of their literal
meaning. Working in pairs bring out the irony in the following:
(a) The title of the story, “The Best Seller”.
(b) Pescud’s claim, “When people in real life marry, they generally hunt up somebody in
their own station. A fellow usually picks out a girl who went to the same high school and
belonged to the same singing-society that he did.”
(c) The name Trevelyan.
Answer:
(a) Ram: The title of the story, “The Best Seller” is ironical.
Sita: That it is. Irony refers to the use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite to
their literal meaning.
Ram: John A. Pescud doesn’t like ‘best-sellers’ like “The Rose Lady and Trevelyan.”
Sita: He thinks that they present a highly unreal, exaggerated and romantic version of
life.
Ram: But he himself is the “Best Seller”.
Sita: After all, he is a travelling salesman. He knows all the tricks and arts of selling.
Ram: And he sells such an incredible story.
Sita: He criticises Trevelyan but imitates his real life.
Ram: He is another Trevelyan hunting for petunias for his princess Jessie Allyn.
(b) Ram: Don’t you feel John A. Pescud is a hypocrite.

Sita: Without any doubt, he is.
Ram: Pescud claims “When people in real life marry, they generally hunt up somebody in
their own station.”
Sita: He thinks that “A fellow usually picks out a girl who went to the same high school
and belonged to the same singing society that he did.”
Ram: What John A. Pescud claims, he does just the opposite.
Sita: This is what irony is. He criticises best¬sellers.’ They present a highly unreal,
exaggerated and romantic version of life.
Ram: But John doesn’t marry a sales girl. He falls in love with the “finest looking girl, a
descendant of belted earls. She was the owner of a grand mansion as big as the Capitol
at Washington
(c) Ram: In the end, the narrator wishes good luck to John, calling him Trevelyan.
Sita: The address is ironical.
Ram: Trevelyan falls in love with a royal Princess from Europe. He follows her to her
father’s kingdom or principality.
Sita: And John A. Pescud does exactly the same.
Ram: John criticises the hero of “The Rose and Trevelyan” but imitates him.
Sita: He doesn’t run after a sales girl but after the finest girl, a descendant of belted
earls.
Ram: And this modem Trevelyan hunts petunias for her princess Jessie Allyn in
Coketown.
A newspaper reporter hears of the marriage of Pescud and Jessie. He interviews them
and writes an article for the paper entitled: A Modem Romance.
Working in groups of four, write the article.
A Modern Romance
It happens. It may defy logic or reason but it happens. This is what they call a “modem
romance”. It happens not only in the best sellers like “The Rose Lady and Trevelyan” but
even elsewhere. Our hero is John A. Pescud. He is a travelling salesman of a plate-glass
company. He is doing rather fine in his professional life. He had had a raise in salary
twice in two years and bought some real estate. Our hero strongly believes in traditional
middle class values. He hates running after princesses and thinks that a person should
choose a girl of his background and status. He hates Trevelyan, the American hero from
Chicago falling in love with a royal European princess and following her to her father’s
kingdom.
So far so good. But our hero, John A. Pescud is clean-bowled when he sees “the finest
looking girl” in the train while going to Cincinnati. He falls in love at the first sight. He
follows her right up to Elmcroft, a place deep in Virginia. He finds that she is the
daughter of Colonel Allyn who is a lineal descendant of betted earls. The Allyns live in a
huge mansion as big as the Capitol at Washington. The girl pretends to be a princess
who doesn’t want to talk to a commoner. She even threatens him not to meet her father
who can feed him to his fox hounds if he does so. Pescud meets the Colonel. He hides
nothing and tells him that he wants to win the love ofhis daughter. The Colonel makes
him comfortable and relates anecdotes and humorous occurrences. John and Jessie
meet again. And lo! They are married after a year. Do you know what is our hero doing
now? Our Trevelyan is hunting for petunias in Coketown for his princess. Good luck,
Trevelyan! I mean, John A. Pescud.
Question 1.
“Say,” said Pescud, stirring his discarded book with the hand, “did you ever read one of
these best-sellers? I mean the kind where the hero is an American swell-sometimes
even from Chicago—who falls in love with a royal princess from Europe who is travelling
under an alias and follows her to her father’s kingdom or principality? I guess you have.
They’re all alike. (Page 44)
(a) Name the discarded book.
(b) What do you mean by the term ‘alias’?
(c) What does ‘They’ refer to here?
Answer:
(a) The Rose Lady and Trevelyan.
(b) A false or different name.
(c) Best-sellers.
Question 2.
“When people in real life marry, they generally hunt up somebody in their own station. A
fellow usually picks out a girl who went to the same high-school and belonged to the
same singing- society that he did.” (Page 44)
(a) Who is the speaker here?
(b) What does the phrase ‘their own station’ mean here?
(c) What do you know about the social status of the speaker’s wife?
Answer:
(a) John A. Pescud is the speaker.
(b) Of the same (family) background.
(c) The speaker’s wife was far above his background and status.
Question 3.
“Bully,” said Pescud, brightening at once. “I’ve had my salary raised twice since I saw
you, and I get a commission, too. I’ve bought a neat slice of real estate. Next year the
firm is going to sell me some shares of stock. Oh, I’m in on the line of General
Prosperity. (Page 45)
(a) Who does ‘you’ refer to here?
(b) Why is Pescud happy with the company?
(c) What does the word ‘Bully’ here mean?
Answer:
(a) The narrator is referred to here.
(b) Pescud is happy with the company because they raised his salary twice in two years.
(c) Doing very well at the job.
Question 4.
“And then I told her why I.had come, as respectful and earnest as I coujd. And I told her
everything about myself, and what I was making, and how that all I asked was just to get
acquainted with her and try to get her to like me. (Page 47)
(a) Who is the speaker and who is he talking to?
(b) Who does ‘her’ refer to here?
(c) When did the speaker see ‘her’?
Answer:
(a) The speaker is John A. Pescud and he is talking to the narrator.
(b) Jessie Allyn.
(c) The speaker saw ‘her’ when he was going to Cincinnati in a chair-car.
Question 5.
“We talked two hours. I told him everything I knew; and then he began to ask questions
and I told him the rest. All I asked of was to give me a chance. If I couldn’t make a hit,
with the little lady, I’d clear out, and not bother any more. (Page 49)
(a) Who does ‘we’ here refer to?
(b) Who was the ‘little lady’?
(c) What does the expression ‘If I couldn’t make a hit with the little lady’ mean? ’
Answer:
(a) John A. Pescud and Colonel Allyn are referred to here.
(b) Jessie Allyn was the ‘little lady’.
(c) If I don’t win her heart.
Question 6.
‘He’s coming,’ says she. ‘He’s going to tell you, this time, the story about the old African
and the green watermelons. It always comes after the one about the Yankees and the
game rooster. There was another time she goes on, ‘that you nearly got left-it was at
Pulaski City. (Page 50)
(a) Who does ‘He’ here refer to?
(b) Who does ‘you’ here refer to?
(c) What is the word ‘Yankees’ used for?
Answer:
(a) ‘He’ refers to Colonel Allyn here.
(b) John A. Pescud is referred to here.
(c) North Americans.
Question 7.
“I married a year ago” said John, “I told you I built a house in the East End. The belted-I
mean the Colonel-is there, too. I find him waiting at the gate whenever I get back from a
trip to hear any new story, I might have picked up on the road,” (Page 50)
(a) Who did John marry?
(b) Who was so fond of stories?
(c) What does the word ‘belted’ here mean?
Answer:
(a) John married Jessie Allyn.
(b) Colonel Allyn was fond of stories.
(c) A man given a sword and a belt by the king.
Question 8.
“Good-luck to you, Trevelyan,” I said. “And may you get the petunias for your princess !”
Questions
(a) Who speaks these words?
(b) Who was Trevelyan? 1
(c) Who is the ‘princess’ mentioned here?
Answer:
(а) The narrator speaks these words.
(b) Trevelyan was the hero of the novel ‘The Rose Lady and Trevelyan’.
(c) Jessie Allyn.
ABOUT THE STORY
‘Best Seller’ underlines the idea that most of us say something and practise something
else, knowingly or unknowingly. John A. Pescud, the protagonist, is a successful
salesman. He chases a girl, meets her father and is able to marry her. She belongs to a
very rich family of belted earls and lives in a huge, palatial building, where he himself
belongs to an ordinary, middle-class family. When he meets the narrator, he has the
temerity to criticise the authors of best sellers who unrealistically mix scenes and
characters, showing people belonging to two diametrically opposed backgrounds in
love and getting married. It shows that he is a hypocrite. Perhaps he is unware of it.
CHARACTERS
(i) John A. Pescud

John A. Pescud is a very successful salesman. His salary has been raised, and he has
built a house in the East End. Though he denies that he has a romantic nature, he has
followed a girl of his choice for hundred of miles. He adores the girl whom he has now
married. He is a hypocrite. He criticises the authors of best sellers for being unrealistic
in mixing scenes and characters from different backgrounds. But he himself marries a
girl from aristocratic background while he himself is a middle-class person.
(ii) The narrator

The narrator is a friendly person. He is a keen observer of men and manners. He takes
interest in the life of an acquaintance. He is amused at the odd views of John A.
Pescud. He also makes certain comments on the life style of Pescud to show his
hypocrisy. But he has nothing but good wishes for romancers like Pescud.
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow :
Question 1:
I learned back idly in chair no. 7, and looked with trepidest curiosity at the small, black,
bald-spotted head just visible above the back of no. 9.
(a) Who is T here ? Where is he ?
(b) What kind of person do you think he is ?
(c) Give the meaning of the word “trepidest”.
Answer:
(a) T is here the narrator of the story. He is sitting in a chair-car in a train.
(b) He is a keen observer.
(c) ‘the highest degree of fear/worry’.
Question 2:
A tall old man, with a smooth face and white hair looking as proud as Julius Caesar was
there to meet her. His clothes were frazzled but I didn’t notice that till later.
(a) Who was the tall old man whom Pescud saw ?
(b) Who is ‘her’ here ?
(c) Why did not the speaker notice that the old man’s clothes were ‘frazzled’. (CBSE
2014)
Answer:
(а) He was Colonel Allyn, the father of Jessie whom Pescud married.
(b) ‘Her’ is here Miss Allyn.
(c) He did not notice the old man’s clothes as he was busy watching his daughter.
Question 3:
We talked for two hours. I told him everything I knew; and then he began to ask
questions and I told him the rest. All I asked of was to give me a chance.
(a) Who are ‘we’ ?
(b) What did the speaker tell him ?
(c) What kind of chance was he expecting ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
(a) ‘We’ are John A. Pescud and Colonel Allyn.
(b) The speaker told him all about himself.
(c) He was expecting the chance of marrying his daughter.
Question 4:
And then I told her why I had come, as respectful and earnest as I could.
(а) Who is the speaker ? Who is ‘her’ ?
(b) What did the speaker tell him ?
(c) Give the meaning of the word ‘earnest’.
Answer:
(a) The speaker is John A. Pescud. ‘Her’ is Miss Jessie, whom Pescud married later.
(b) The speaker told her that his purpose in coming there was to marry her.
(c) ‘serious’.
Question 5:
I must not talk to you’, she says, because we have not been introduced. It is not exactly
proper. So I say good-bye, Mr.
(a) What was not proper ?
(b) Who is ‘Mr.’ ?
(c) What is the speaker trying to explain ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
(a) It was not proper for the girl to talk to a stranger.
(b) He is Mr. Pescud.
(c) She is trying to explain that she should not talk to a person whom she does not know
yet.
Question 6:
“I think I understand you, John”, said I. “You want fiction writers he consistent with
scenes and characters. ”
(а) Who is ‘I’ here ?
(b) What does John Pescud dislike ?
(c) Give the meaning of‘consistent’.
Answer:
(a) ‘I’ is the narrator of the story.
(b) Pescud disliked writers mixing scenes and characters from different backgrounds.
(c) ‘not changing/in harmony’.
Question 7:
“Good luck to you, Trevelyan”, I said, “And may you get the petunias for your princess!”
(a) Why is Pescud called Trevelyan by the narrator here ?
(b) Who is the ‘princess’ ?
(c) Give the meaning of‘petunias’.
Answer:
(a) Pescud was called Trevelyan by the name of the hero of the novel ‘The Rose Lady
and Trevelyan’ because he was just like the romantic Trevelyan.
(b) The ‘princess’ is Pescud’s wife whom he loves dearly.
(c) ‘White, pink, purple or red flowers of the plant called petunias’.
Question 8:
“Excuse me,” says I, ‘can you tell me where Mr Hinkle lives. She looks me as cool as if I
was the man come to see about the weeding of the garden, but I thought I saw just a
twinkle of fun in her eyes..
(a) Why did the speaker ask about ‘Mr Hinkle’ ?
(b) How did the girl look at him the way she does ?
(c) Give the meaning of the word ‘weeding’.
Answer:
(a) There was nobody called Mr Hinkle. The speaker invented him as an excuse to start
conversation with the lady.
(b) The girl looked at him with pretended aloofness and disinterestedness.
(c) ‘taking out weeds (wild plants) from the ground.’
Question 9:
“I was on the south-hound, going to Cincinnati, about eighteen months ago, when I saw,
across the aisle, the finest looking girl I’d ever laid eyes on.
(b) Which mode of transport did he take while going to Cincinnati ?
(c) What do you mean by ‘aisle’ ?
Answer:
(a) The speaker is John Pescud.
(b) He took a train while going to Cincinnati.
(c) ‘a passage between rows of seats.’
Question 10:
Suddenly no. 9 hurled a book to the floor between his chair and the window, and looking,
I saw that it was ‘The Rose Lady and Trevelyan’-one of the best novels of the present
day.
(a) Who is 1’ in these lines ?
(b) Which book attracted his attention ?
(c) Give the meaning of the word ‘hurled’.
Answer:
(a ) T is the narrator of the story.
(b) The book which attracted his attention was a novel entitled ‘The Rose Lady and
Trevelyan.’
(c) ‘thrown’.
Question 11:
By way of facts he told me that business had picked up since the party conventions and
that he was going to get off at Coketown.
(a) Who is ‘he’ mentioned here ?
(b) Why did he want to get off at Coketown ?
(c) Give the meaning of‘to get off.
Answer:
(a) ‘He’ is John A. Pescud of Pittsburgh, the travelling salesman for a plate- glass
company.
(b) He wished to buy petunias for his wife.
(c) ‘to board down’.
Question 12:
“Listen to this”, said he. “Trevelyan is sitting with the Princess Alwyna at the back end of
the tulip-garden.
(a) Who are Trevelyan and Princess Alwyna referred to ?
(b) Who is ‘he’ in this extract ?
(c) What is‘tulip’?
Answer:
(a) They are the hero and the heroine of the best seller “The Rose Lady and Trevelyan”.
(b) ‘He’ is John A. Pescud, the travelling salesman for a plate-glass company.
(c) ‘a large brightly coloured spring flower’.
Question 13:
“Men are very clumsy,” said she. “I know you were on every train. I thought you were
going to speak to me, and I’m glad you didn’t”.
(а) Who is she talking to and when ?
(b) How had John A. Pescud chased her ?
(c) Give the meaning of‘clumsy’. .
Answer:
(a) She is talking to John A. Pescud when the latter approaches her at her home.
(b) John A. Pescud had chased her, changing cars and taxis until he reached her home.
(c) ‘awkward’.
Question 14:
“So I told it to him. Laugh! I was wishing to myself that he was a customer. What a hill of
glass I’d sell him!
(а) Who is ‘I’ and who is being talked to ?
(b) What does a ‘bill of glass’ stand for ?
(c) What assessment do you make of the speaker ?
Answer:
(a) ‘I’ is John A. Pescud talking to the Colonel, father of Jessie.
(b) It stands for his transaction in love; if successful, it could make him very rich.
(c) He is. very shrewd, persistent in his pursuits.
Question 15:
“You won’t sell much plate-glass here, John”, said I. “Why do you get off at this end-o’-
the world ?”
(а) Why does the narrator point out that John won’t sell much plate-glass there ?
(b) Where was John getting off and why ?
(c) Explain ‘end-o’-the world’ ?
Answer:
(a) The narrator points this fact to John as the place where he was alighting was almost
a deserted place.
(b) He was getting off at Cocktown to get some petunias for his wife.
(c) ‘a place beyond which there is nothing.’
Question 16:
Nothing spectacular, you know, but just the sort you want for keeps.
(a) Who does the speaker talk about ?
(b) What is his opinion about the person talked of?
(c) Give the meaning of‘spectacular’ ?
Answer:
(a) The speaker talks about the girl (now his wife) whom he chased for long.
(b) He has very nice opinion about the person he talks about.
(c) ‘impressive/extraordinary.’
Question 17:
“No, no,” said John, “No romance-nothing like that! But I’ll tell you about it.”
(b) What does he deny ?
(c) Give the meaning of‘romance’.
Answer:
(a) John Pesud is the speaker.
(b) He denies having engaged in a romantic affair.
(c) ‘exciting love affair.’
Question 18:
“He’ll feed you to his fox-hounds”, says she, laughing.
(а) Who is he ? who is she ?
(b) Does she mean what she says ? Why does she say it ?
(c) What do you mean by ‘fox-hounds’ ?
Answer:
(a) He is Colonel Allyn and she is his daughter, Jessie.
(b) She does not mean what she says. She says it just to frighten him.
(c) ‘hunting dogs’.
Question 19:
At first, I thought he was going to throw me out of the window, but I kept on talking.
(b) Who he was talking to, and about what ?
(c) Find the word in the line which means ‘fling’.
Answer:
(a) John Pescud is the speaker.
(b) He was talking to Colonel Allyn about the purpose of his visit.
(c) ‘throw’
Question 20:
“‘And you came mighty near missing the train at Powhatan Junction, too’, says she, with
a laugh that sounded as good as a mileage-book to me.
(b) What do you think of her ?
(c) What does ‘mighty’ mean here ?
Answer:
(a) Jessie, the girl whom John Pescud chased for long and then married, is the speaker
here.
(b) She is a clever and intelligent girl with a sense of keen observation.
(c) ‘very’.
Question 1:
Where was the narrator going ? What did he observe in his chair car ?
Answer:
The narrator was going to Pittsburgh by train. He observed that most of the passengers
were ladies who refused to have the windows raised. Then there were men-passengers
who looked totally carefree. The narrator also noticed a bald-spotted head in chair no.9.
Question 2:
How did the narrator meet John A. Pescud, his casual acquaintance ?
Answer:
The man sitting in chair no.9 in the train threw a best seller entitled ‘The Rose Lady and
Trevelyan’ between his chair and the window. When he veered his chair toward the
window, the narrator saw his face. He recognized him at once as John A. Pescud from
Pittsburgh.
Question 3:
What is the usual sight in chair cars as described by O. Henry in the lesson ‘Best Seller’
? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Most of the passengers in chair cars remain silent. They travel without bothering about
fellow passengers. Some of them indulge themselves in reading books or magazines.
No one tries to talk or socialize.
Question 4:
What was John A. Pesud’s first impression of Jessie in the lesson ‘Best Seller’ ? (CBSE
2014)
Answer:
John A. Pescud saw Jessie in a train compartment. He had never seen such a pretty girl
before. He fell in love with her at first sight. He thought she was the perfect match for
him. So he started following her until she reached her home-town.
Question 5:
Even though Pescud fell in love with the girl at first sight, he narrates everything
casually. Why did he behave like this ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
There is no doubt that Pescud fell in love with the girl at first sight. He followed her like
a romantic lover in a best seller. But he did not want to project himself as a romantic
person. So he narrated everything casually.
Question 6:
Where and how did John A. Pescud meet his ‘affinity’ for the first time ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
John A. Pescud met his ‘affinity’ in a train for the first time. The girl was travelling in the
same train in which Pescud was travelling. She was so attractive that Pescud fell in love
with her at first sight. He began to chase her.
Question 7:
The girl changed trains to reach her destination. Why did Pescud follow her ? (CBSE
2014)
Answer:
The girl changed trains to reach her destination. She had come to know that she was
being chased. However, she failed to evade the man, who was John A. Pescud. Pescud
continued to follow her to know where she lived.
Question 8:
Pescud used his salesmanship to befriend her father. Explain. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Pescud tried to befriend the father of the girl whom he had been following doggedly. He
was at first confused. So he tried to sell him some plate-glass. When he got over his
nervousness he told him everything. He did not even hide the fact that he wanted to
marry his daughter.
Question 9:
How did Mr Pescud present himself in front of Colonel Allyn ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Mr Pescud told Colonel Allyn he had come to marry his daughter. He presented himself
as an honest, sincere and resolute person. He tried to satisfy all his queries. Lastly, he
was able to impress him with his knack of listening to and narrating way-side stories.
Question 10:
Why was Pescud shocked when he saw the girl and the father going up the hill ? (CBSE
2014)
Answer:
Pescud saw the girl and the father going up the hill. On the hill he saw a palatial building
with round white pillars. The yard was full of rose-bushes and lilacs. The house was so
impressive that Pescud was shocked. He never dreamt that the girl would be belonging
to an aristocratic family.
Question 11:
Describe the man who received the girl he was following ?
Answer:
The man who received the girl was her father, Colonel Allyn. He was a tall, old man. His
clothes were worn out, but he looked as impressive as Julius Caesar. Pescud paid little
attention to him as he was only watching the girl of his dreams.
Question 12:
How did Pescud learn about the girl and her family in Virginia ?
Answer:
Pescud found a fine hotel, Bay View House, to stay. He told the landlord that he had
come there to take orders for plate-glass. Slowly, he involved him in gossips, and learnt
that the man who lived in the big white house on the hill was Colonel Allyn, and the girl
was his daughter.
Question 13:
What did Jessie tell Pescud about his father ?
Answer:
Jessie told Pescud that his father, Colonel Allyn, was an aristocrat and was very proud
of his lineage. He was a very stern father and would never allow her to talk to a stranger.
Question 14:
Do you think Jessie was really proud of her family ? Give reasons.
Answer:
Jessie gave the impression as if she were very proud of her lineage, like her father. She
told Pescud that she was a descendant of belted earls. She said they had been living in
the mansion for hundred years. Actually, she was not arrogant at all. She only pretended
to be so.
Question 15:
What, according to Colonel Allyn, was important for promoting family ties among the
people ?
Answer:
According to Colonel Allyn, it was important to relate anecdotes and humorous
incidents as it promoted family ties among the people. It was a strange way of
promoting relations, but it was the Colonel’s opinion. Pescud did no contradict him.
Question 16:
“You don’t see or hear of any such capers in real life.”
Do you agree with John what he says ? Why/Why not ?
Answer:
John thinks that romances between ordinary businessmen and aristocratic ladies are
unheard of in real life. He forgets that there are no barriers of class, status, age, etc. in
romantic love. People in love behave strangely, as he has himself done.
Question 17:
Do you think John is satisfied with his life at present ? Substantiate your answer.
Answer:
John is doing very well professionally. He has married an aristocratic girl of his own
choice. He has bought a huge, decent house. He seems to be loving his wife dearly.
From his cheerful mood, it is clear that he is satisfied with his life.
Question 18:
Where did John meet Jessie ? Why did he find it difficult to keep up ?
Answer:
John met the girl Jessie in a south-bound chair car going to Cincinnati. He was at once
charmed by her looks. She changed cars at Cincinnati, and took a sleeper to Louisville.
From there she proceeded through Shelbyville, Frankford and Lexington. She got off at a
small village station in Virginia. Naturally, John found it difficult to keep up with her.
Question 19:
How do you know Jessie knew that she was being followed by John ?
Answer:
Jessie told John on their first meeting that John would not have kept up with her if he
had not woken up when the train started in Shelbyville. Then she said that he was about
to miss the train at Powhatan Junction, too. In fact, she knew he was chasing her on
every train.
Question 20:
Is there anything ironic in John’s code of living – “to be always decent and right in you
home town.”
Answer:
John’s code of living to be decent and right is admirable. One should be morally decent
in behaviour with others. But it is ironic that John adds the words “in your home town.”
Why only in one’s home town ? The irony lies in the use of these words. It means that
one should be decent and righteous only in his home town, and not elsewhere.
Question 1:
A newspaper reporter hears of the marriage of Pescud and Jessie. He expresses a
desire (liking their story) to write an article for all the people that your dedication and
honesty can make impossible even possible. Never take things for granted but always
give your best shot to be successful in life. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Who says that honesty and dedications are useless ? Many a times people have proved
that if you are sincere, dedicated and honest, you can achieve anything in life. Even the
impossible can be turned into possible. The only thing is that you should never take
things for granted. You should be ready to give your best shot and you will be
successful sooner or later in life.
The story of John Pescud and Jessie Allyn proves that anything can be achieved
provided one is determined. John Pescud saw Jessie, fell in love with her and decided
to marry her. He followed her for thousands of miles. He was shocked to know that
Jessie belonged to an aristocratic family. He himself was an ordinary middle-class
fellow. He approached Jessie and then her father. He did not lose heart. He was able to
convey his sincerity of purpose. Jessie’s father agreed to let Jessie marry him. Thus, he
turned the impossible into possible. All of us should learn something from this romantic
story. It reveals how dreams sometimes become a reality.
Question 2:
Pescud describes Jessie as ‘Nothing spectacular, you know, but just the sort you want
for keeps’. Why did Pescud want Jessie ‘for keeps’ in the lesson ‘Best Seller’ ? (CBSE
2014)
Answer:
There are certain things and persons you want to keep for ever. When Pescud met
Jessie in a train, he was at once impressed by her beauty, simplicity and elegance. He
was so mesmerized that he began to follow her to know where she lived. He wanted to
marry her, even though she was a complete stranger to him. He met her father and
convinced him of his sincerity. He told the girl’s father that he followed her only because
he wanted to marry her. His honesty and sincerity moved him and he allowed the
marriage to take place. Thus, Pescud was able to keep the girl he desired for ever as his
wife.
Question 3:
Girls know instinctively that someone has fallen for them. Do you think Jessie comes to
know ? Give reasons. (CBSE)
Answer:
Girls are instinctively intelligent in matters of love. Jessie knew that someone was
following her. At first she tried to evade him. When she realized that the man was
determined, she began to like her. She thought he would talk to her. But when he did not,
she liked him all the more. When Pescud met her and told her why he had followed her
so far, she was amused.
She told him : ‘Men are very clumsy… I know you were on every train. I thought you were
going to speak to me, and I’m glad you didn’t.’
The remark of Jessie clearly reveals that she knew all along that she was being chased
by someone.
Question 5:
Discuss the irony in the title of the lesson, ‘Best Seller’. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The title of the story ‘Best Seller’ is ironical. The irony lies in John A. Pescud’s attitude
towards best sellers and his own life story. He denounces all best sellers for being
unrealistic. They mix scenes and characters from different backgrounds. Romantic
heroes in best sellers defy logic. An ordinary American falling in love with a European
princess and chasing her to her father’s kingdom-such is the staple story of a best
seller.
Ironically, we come to know that Pescud who denounces best sellers is nothing but
another romantic hero of a best seller. Himself a middle-class person, he chases Jessie,
an aristocratic lady belonging to a royal family.
Question 6:
Suppose you are Colonel Allyn, Jessie’s father. You’ve met John A. Pescud. Write your
feelings in a diary entry in 80-100 words.
Answer:
Monday, 14th March 10 pm Dear Diary
I am still puzzled about the young man I met today. What a romantic hero! He came
chasing Jessie thousands of miles, and that too, without knowing anything about her
and her family. This is called blind love. Should I agree , to their marriage ? Pescud –
that is the name of the man – is just a salesman. But he is very honest and sincere. He
genuinely loves my daughter. What I find him to my liking is that he is a patient listener.
He is intelligent and witty. I hope Jessie also likes him. Why should then I oppose them
? I will ask Jessie what she thinks of Pescud. If she gives the nod, I am ready for their
marriage.
Question 7:
“The Best Seller” reveals the hypocrisy of Pescud. Why do people say something and
practise something else ? How can we avoid being hypocrites ?
Answer:
Pescud in “The Best Seller” asserts that he dislikes romances where people behave
differently from what people do in real life. Towards the end we are amused to find that
he himself does what is often done in the world of romances.
Most of the people, in fact, say something and practise something else. It is so because
they fear to face reality. They fear that if they state clearly what they intend to do, they
may be ridiculed or censored. Sometimes, hypocrisy is practised to win somebody
else’s favour. At times it is practised in complete ignorance.
We can avoid being hypocrites by becoming alert in saying something publicly. We
should say only that thing which we are sure of doing. We should get rid ourselves of all
false fears and the question of false prestige. By becoming simple, truthful and clear-
hearted we can avoid being hypocrites. Hypocrisy does not pay in the long run, while
truthfulness always does.
Question 8:
“ to be always decent and right in you home town”.
Describe the character sketch of John A. Pescud with reference to the extract given
above.
Answer:
John A. Pescud is a successful salesman. He is employed in a plate-glass company.
His salary has been raised and he is allowed a commission, with a promise of getting
some shares of stock. He has built a house in the East End. He is doing well in life.
Though he denies his romantic temperament, he falls in love at first sight. He follows
the girl of his choice for hundreds of miles. He succeeds in convincing her of his
sincerity. .
He has double standards in life. He criticises the best sellers for being unrealistic and
inconsistent as they mix scenes and characters belonging to different backgrounds. In
real life, however, he acts like the hero of a romance. Though he is an American
travelling salesman, he marries a girl belonging to a family of belted earls. So what he
says is contrary to what he practises. His code of living – “to be always decent and right
in your home town” – also shows his duplicity. Why should one be decent and right only
in his home town, and not elsewhere ?
In short, he is a typical American businessman-rich, romantic and hypocrite.
Question 9:
Describe the journey of Pescud to Virginia in chase of Jessie.
Answer:
Pescud saw the girl (Jessie) in a train going to Cincinnati. He fell in love with her at
once. He decided to follow her. He could not dare to talk to her, as she minded her
business and paid no attention to him. She changed cars at Cincinnati and took another
train to Louisville. There she bought another ticket. She continued her journey through
Shelbyville, Frankford and Lexington.
It was becoming harder and harder for Pescud to keep pace with the girl. Had he not
woken up when the train started in Shelbyville, he would have lost her. He was about to
miss the train at Powhatan Junction, too. The last station the girl got off at was Virginia.
She was received by an old man in worn-out clothes. Pescud continued his chase. The
girl and the old man went in a gate on top of the hill. On the hill was situated a huge
mansion. Later, he learnt that the girl was Jessie and the old man was her father,
Colonel Allyn, who lived in the huge mansion. They belonged to a royal family of belted
earls.
Literature Reader Chapter 6 The Brook
Question 1.
Can you match the following?
(a) Something that lives for one year biennial
(b) Something that lives for about two years perennial
(c) Something that lives for more than two years annual
Answer:
(a) annual
(b) biennial
(c) perennial
Question 2.
Here is a list of a few things. Can you tell how long each of them can live exist?
(a) a dog
(b) an elephant
(c) a tree
(d) a human being
(e) a star
(f) a mountain
(g) a river
Answer:
(a) A dog can live up to 20-23 years.
(b) An elephant can live up to 80 years.
(c) A tree can live for a few hundred years,
(d) A human being can live for 100-135 years.
(e) A star can live up to billions of years.
(f) A mountain can exist for millions of years,
(g) A river can exist for millions of years.
Question 3.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
Question 4.
After reading the poem answer the following questions:
The poet has used a number of words which indicate ‘movement’ and ‘sound’. Working
with your partner make a list of these words from the poem and complete the web
chart:
(c) A word or a combination of words, whose sound seems to resemble the sound it
denotes (for example: “hiss”, “buzz”, etc.) is called onomatopoeia. From the words that
you have filled in the blurbs above point out these words.
Answer:
(c) The onomatopoeic words are:

(i) chatter
(ii) murmur
(iii) babble
(iv) treble.
Question 5.
The following is a flow chart showing the course of the brook. Can you fill in the blank
spaces with help from the phrases given below?
Answer:
Question 6.
On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions by
ticking the correct choice.
(a) The message of the poem is that the life of a brook is …..
(i) temporary
(ii) short-lived
(iii) eternal
(iv) momentary
Answer:
(iii) eternal
(b) The poet draws a parallelism between the journey of the brook with
(i) the life of a man
(ii) the death of man
(iii) the difficulties in a man’s life
(iv) the endless talking of human beings
Answer:
(i) the life of a man
(c) The poem is narrated in the first person by the brook. This figure of speech is
(i) Personification
(ii) Metaphor
(iii) Simile
(iv) Transferred epithet
Answer:
(i) Personification
(d) In the poem, below-mentioned lines:
“And here and there a lusty trout,
And here and there a grayling ”
suggest that …..
(i) the brook is a source of life
(ii) people enjoy the brook
(iii) fishes survive because of water
(iv) the brook witnesses all kinds of scenes.
Answer:
(i) the brook is a source of life
Question 7.
(a) How does the brook ‘sparkle’?
(b) ‘Bicker’ means ‘to quarrel’. Why does the poet use this word here?
(c) How many hills and bridges does the brook pass during its journey?
(d) Where does it finally meet the river?
(e) Why has the word ‘chatter’ been repeated in the poem?
(f) ‘With many a curve my banks I fret’—What does the poet mean by this statement?
(g) ‘I wind about, and in and out’. What kind of a picture does this line create in your
mind?
(h) Name the different things that can be found floating in the brook.
(i) What does the poet want to convey by using the words ‘steal’ and ‘slide’?
(j) The poem has many examples of alliteration. List any five examples.
(k) ‘I make the netted sunbeam dance’. What does ‘the netted sunbeam’ mean? How
does it dance?
(l) What is the ‘refrain’ in the poem? What effect does it create?
Answer:
(a) The brook sparkles when the sunlight and the rays fall on its watery surface. The
watery surface acts as a medium and reflects the sun rays producing a sparkling effect.
The brook “sparklefs) out among the fern” growing near its banks.
(b) When the brook flows out of the place of its birth and flows down, it makes a lot of
noise which gives out the idea of noise bom out of ‘a quarrel’. The poet uses the word
“bicker” which means ‘to quarrel’. He seems to be using the right word at the right place.
The word ‘bicker’ denotes the noisy and quarrelsome sound of the flowing river.
(c) The brook passes through thirty hills and fifty bridges during its journey, before it
joins the brimming river.
(d) The brook meets the brimming river by Philip’s farm.

(e) The word ‘chatter’ has been repeatedly used in the poem. The first use is, “I chatter
over stony ways.” The second time it is, “I chatter, chatter as I flow.” The word ‘chatter’
means to talk quickly in a friendly way, without stopping. The poet uses the appropriate
word to denote the non-stop talking sound of the brook while
it is negotiating its stony ways. Even the sound of the flowing river is repeatedly called
‘chatter’ as it is constant, non-stop and friendly.
(f ) The line ‘With many a curve my banks I fret’ expresses the aggressive mood of the
flowing brook. The course of the brook is never in a straight line. When the brook strikes
the jutting parts of the land it is forced to flow in curves. The water frets and fumes
when it strikes and flows round the curvy course. It beats its banks in anger.
(g) The onward course of the brook is never in a straight line. It is the tendency of water
to make its way wherever it can enter in the gaps. The brook flows on in a zig-zag way
finding its own course. Sometimes it goes inside the creeks and fills it with water. When
the area is flat, the water comes out moving in a more relaxed way widening its surface.
(h) The brook is a source of life. We find many things that can be found floating in the
brook. We find blossoms ‘sailing’ over its surface. And ‘here and there’ we find a ‘lusty
trout’ and ‘a grayling’ swimming in and out of its watery surface. As it travels onwards
we can see ‘foamy flakes’ floating over its surface.
(i) The flowing pattern and course of the brook is never uniform. There are places where
the brook steals by ‘lawns and grassy plots’. Here, it moves secretly and quietly so that
its movement remains unnoticed. The brook ‘slides by hazel covers’ growing near its
banks. Here the movement is easy, quiet but quicker than before. The brook flows like
the journey of life negotiating all hurdles and obstructions on the way. ,
(j) Tennyson makes every effective use of alliteration to create a special poetic and
sound effect. The five examples of ‘alliteration’ in the poem are:
 ‘t’ sound in ‘twenty thorpes, a little town’.

 T sound in ‘farm’ and ‘flow’ and ‘field and fallow’.
 ‘w’ sound in ‘with willows-weed’.
 ‘b’ sound in ‘bubble’ … ‘bays’ and ‘babble’.
 ‘d’ and‘t’ sounds in ‘wind about and in and out’.
(k) The rays of the sun fall on the watery surface of the brook. The sunbeams get
netted. The watery surface acts as a net or a reflector. The trapped sunbeams are
reflected back. The sparkling sunbeams seem to be dancing when the water flows in
the sunlight.
(l) A refrain is the part of a song or a poem that is repeated a number of times. The
refrain in the poem is:
For men may come and men may go,
But 1 go on for ever.
The refrain used in the poem heightens the poetic and musical effects. It brings out the
eternal existence of the brook and transitory existence of man’s life in this world.
Secondly, it highlights the single idea and maintains the unity of the poem.
Question 8.
Read the given lines and answer the questions:
I chatter, chatter, as I flow
To join the brimming river,
But I go on for ever
(a) Who does ‘I’ refer to in the given lines?
(b) How does it ‘chatter’?
(c) Why has the poet used the word ‘brimming’? What kind of a picture does it create?
(d) Explain the last two lines of the stanza.
Answer:
(a) T refers to the brook in the given lines.
(b) The flowing motion of the brook creates a chattering sound. It appears as if it is
talking sofly and constantly in a friendly manner with anything that obstructs its flow.
(c) The poet has used the word ‘brimming’ for the bigger river the brook is ultimately
going to join in. It creates a picture of a big river filled with water up to the brim.
(d) The refrain in the poem presents a striking contrast. Men may come and go in and
out of this world. Their existence is transitory. However, the brook presents a picture of
eternity. It will flow forever
Question 9.
Identify the rhyme scheme of the poem.
Answer:
The rhyme scheme of the poem is
Question 10.
The poem is full of images that come alive through skilful use of words. List out any two
images that appeal to you the most, quoting the lines from the poem.
Answer:
The poem ‘The Brook’ is full of images that come alive through skilful use of words. The
first image that appeals to me the most is the one that recaptures its course before it
‘By thirty hills I hurry down.

Or slip between the ridges
By twenty thorpes, a little town,
And half a hundred bridges.
The noticeable feature is the pace of the lines. When the brook is in its infancy it passes
through thirty hills and its movement is very quick. It hurries down. Then it passes
through the narrow ridges and here it slips between them. Then the pace is a bit relaxed
when it passes through twenty small hamlets or villages, a little town and under half a
hundred bridges.
The second image is the ‘chattering’ quality of the brook. The river seems to be talking
constantly in a friendly way to the things that obstruct its flow. After ‘chattering’ the
brook prepares itself to join the brimming river. The image of‘brimming river’ brings into
our minds a river which is full of water to its brim.
I chatter, chatter, as I flow

To join the brimming river ’.
Question 11.
The brook appears to be a symbol for life.
Pick out examples of parallelism between life and the brook.
Answer:
The brook is, definitely, a symbol for life. There are many examples of parallelism
between life and the brook:
(i) Infancy: There is a striking parallel between human life and the life of the brook. As
an infant suddenly appears in this world, the brook makes a ‘sudden sally’ or emerges
suddenly from the place of its birth.
(ii) Youth: In human beings this is the period when ‘life’ is at its peak. One is strong, full
of enthusiasm and dynamism. All his movements are dynamic and full of action.
Similarly, in its youth, the brook shows enthusiasm in its movement. It also shows
anger.
“By thirty hills I hurry down

Or slip between the ridges. ”
The other words which express its youthful movement are ‘bickers’, ‘frets’ and
‘chatters”.
(iii) Life-Support System: The brook is symbol for life. It provides a support system to
life. The brook is full of‘trouts’ and ‘graylings’ which provide food for animals and human
beings.
(iv) Old Age—Leisurely Movement: Before it ultimately joins the brimming river, the
brook sheds its fret and anger. It assumes a leisurely and peaceful demeanour while
‘stealing’ by grassy lawns and plots or ‘sliding’ by hazel covers.
Question 12.
This poem describes the journey of a stream from its place of origin to the river that it
joins. The poem has been written in the form of an autobiography where the brook
relates its experiences as it flows towards the river. In Literature such a device by which
an inanimate object is made to appear as a living creature is called Personification. Just
as the brook has been personified in this poem, write a poem on any inanimate object
making it come alive. You could begin with a poem of 6-8 lines. The poem should have a
message. Maintain a rhyme scheme. Try and include similes, metaphors, alliteration
etc. to enhance the beauty of the poem. You could write a poem on objects such as the
candle/a tree/a rock/the desert etc.
This could be given as a homework activity. The teacher could read out some of the
poems in the class and display the others.
Answer:
For self-attempt. .
Paraphrase & Reference To Context
Question 1.
I come from haunts of coot and hern;
I make a sudden sally
And sparkle out among the fern,
To bicker down a valley.
(Lines 1-4)
अनुवाद : म उस थान से पैदा होती ह जहाँ िटकरी (कुट) और बगुले जैसे पानी के प ी बार-बार आते-जाते
रहते ह। म अचानक ही एकदम फट के िनकलती ँ । और िफर वहां उगे फूल रिहत पणाग (फन) म से
चमचमाती ई, खूब शोर मचाती एक घाटी म नीचे बह जाती ँ।
Paraphrase: The brook (a small river) takes its birth from a place which is regularly
visited by waterbirds like coots and herons. The small river bursts out all of a sudden.
Sparkling or shining through the flowerless plants or ferns in the sunlight, it flows noisily
down to a valley.
(a) What is the rhyme scheme in these lines?
(b) Explain: ‘Make a sudden sally’.
(c) Find a word in the passage which means: flowing down with a lot of noise.
Answer:
(a) The rhyme scheme in these lines is ab, ab.
(b) It means: emerging suddenly.
(c) bicker.
Question 2.
By thirty hills I hurry down,
Or slip between the ridges,
By twenty thorpes, a little town,
And half a hundred bridges.
(Lines 5—8)
अनुवाद : म तेजी से तीस पहािड़यों म से बहती ई, या (िफर) पवत ेिणयों से तेजी से िबना िदखायी िदये,
बीस छोटे गाँ वों (खेड़ों), एक छोटे से क े के पास से गुजरती, और पचास पुलों के नीचे बहती चली जाती ह।
Paraphrase: The river hurries down through thirty hills. It slips quickly unnoticed
between the mountain ranges.
(a) What is the poetic device used in ‘twenty … town?

(b) Explain: ‘By twenty thorpses”.
(c) What is the movement of the brook in these lines?
Answer:
(a) ‘Alliteration’ is used as a poetic device in these lines.
(b) The brook flows through twenty small villages or hamlets.
(c) These lines present the fast movement of the brook.
Question 3.
Till last by Philip’s farm I flow
But I go on forever.
(Lines 212)
अनुवाद : अ म म Philip फाम के बराबर से बहती ई, िकनारों तक लबालब पानी से भरी ई नदी म जा
िमलती ह। ोंिक मनु (इस संसार म) आय या यहाँ से चले जाय, लेिकन म तो सदै व बहती चली जाती ह।
Paraphrase: In the end, the small river flows near the Philip’s farm. Here, it joins with
another river which is full of water—to the brim. Men may come or go (take birth or die)
from this world but the brook continues to flow forever.
(a) What is the brimming river’?

(b) Explain: ‘Men may come and men may go’.
(c) Quote the line that shows the eternal flow of the river.
Answer:
(a) ‘The brimming river’ is a big river filled to the brim with water.
(b) It means that men may take birth or die and depart from the world.
(c) ‘But I go on forever’.
Question 4.
I chatter over stony ways,
In little sharps and trebles,
I bubble into eddying bays,
I babble on the pebbles.
(Lines 13—16)
अनुवाद : म अपने पथरीले माग से चहचहाती बहती चलती ँ । म छोटी-छोटी पर ु तेज और ऊंची आवाज
करती ँ । म पानी के े म घुमावदार बहाव पैदा करती चलती ह। म कंकरों और रोिड़यों के ऊपर से
मरमराती या सरसराती ( स िच ) बहती रहती ँ |
Paraphrase: The brook flows on making different kinds of noises and sounds at
different places. It seems to chatter while flowing through its stony ways. It also makes
sharp and high-pitched sounds and noises. When it flows in the spiral movement of
water, its noise is lost. But when it strikes on the shingles and pebbles, it creates a
sound as if it is talking gaily to them.
(a) How does the brook flow over stony ways?

(b) Give two words in the passage showing high-pitched sounds.
(c) Where does the brook make spiral movement?
Answer:
(a) The brook chatters in little sharps and trebles over stony ways.
(b) ‘Sharps and trebles’ are the two words that represent high-pitched sounds.
(c) The brook makes spiral movement on the pebbles.
Question 5.
With many a curve my banks I fret
By many a field and fallow,
And many a fairy foreland set
With willow-weed and mallow.
(Lines 17—20)
अनुवाद : म अनेकों मोड़ काटती अपने तटों से गु ाते ए चलती ँ। म अनेकों खेतों और परती पड़ी
जमीन के पास से बहती चलती ह। म उन अनेक प रयों जैसे सु र भू-भागों म से बहती चली जाती ह जो
समु तक फैल गये ह। म िभसे (willow) की झािड़यों और मु दानों के पौधों म से होती ई बहती जाती
ह।
Paraphrase: The brook continues its onward journey flowing in curves and beating
against its banks in fury. It flows through many fields and parts of land left uncultivated.
The brook flows through those parts of land which extend into the sea and look like
lands of fairies. It passes through bushes of willow and plants of mallow growing near
its banks.
(a) What is the meaning of the expression ‘my bank I fret?’

(b) What is the figure of speech used in the first line?
(c) What is the poetic device used in the second and the third lines?
Answer:
(a) The brook beats its bank angrily.
(b) The figure of speech used in the first line is ‘personification’.
(c) ‘Alliteration’ is the poetic device that is used in the second and the third lines.
Question 6.
I wind about, and in and out,
With here a blossom sailing,
And here and there a lusty trout,
And here and there a grayling.
(Lines 25—28)
अनुवाद : म अ र बाहर होती ई टे ढ़ी-मेढ़ी बहती जाती ह। कई बार एक कली मे रे पानी के ऊपर तैरती
िदखाई पड़ जाती है । और इधर-उधर एक मोटी और बड़ी टाउट’ मछली या िफर यहाँ -वहाँ एक-दू सरे कार
की grayling मछली मेरे ऊपर तैरती िमल जाती है ।
Paraphrase: The brook goes on flowing in a zig-zag way sometimes shrinking and
sometimes expanding. We can find a blossom sailing over its surface. Here and there
we can find a big and fat trout and at other places we can find a grayling swimming in
and out of it.
(a) Describe the movement of the brook as mentioned in the given lines.
(b) What does sail over the surface of the brook?
(c) What is the rhyme scheme used in the lines?
Answer:
(a) The brook flows in a zig-zag way in this stage.
(b) A blossom sails over the surface of the brook.
(c) The rhyme scheme used in the given lines is ‘ab, ab’.
Question 7.
And here and there a foamy flake
Upon me, as I travel
With many a silvery waterbreak
Above the golden gravel.
(Lines 29—32)
अनुवाद : और जैसे म बहती जाती ह यहाँ-वहाँ मेरी धरातल के ऊपर झां ग बन जाता है । और जब म सुनहरी
कंकड़ों के ऊपर बहती चलती ह तो उनके ऊपर ब त-सी चाँ दी के रं ग की लहर बन जाती ह।
Paraphrase: As the brook flows on, foamy flakes are formed over its surface. When it
passes over the golden shingles and pebbles many silvery waves are formed over them.
(a) What is the poetic device used in ‘foamy flakes?’
(b) Where does the brook pass over?
(c) What are formed above the golden gravels?
Answer:
(a) ‘Alliteration’ is the poetic device used in ‘foamy flakes’.
(b) The brook passes over the golden shingles and pebbles.
(c) Silvery waves and foamy flakes are formed above the golden gravels.
Question 8.
And draw them all along, and flow
To join the brimming river
(Lines 33—36)
अनुवाद : उन सभी को अपने साथ धकेलते ए म बहती ई िकनारों तक पानी से लबालब भरी नदी म िमल
जाती ँ । मनु इस संसार म आय या यहां से जाय, (लेिकन) म तो सदै व (यू हीं) बहती रहती ह।
Paraphrase: The brook carries along with it all these gravels and foams and flows
onwards. There it joins the big river which is filled with water to the brim. People may
take birth and come into this world or die, the brook will continue flowing as usual. The
worldly activities will have no bearing on its constant flow.
(a) What does the brook draw all along it?

(b) What does the poet want to say in the third line?
(c) What is the message in the last line of the stanza regarding the brook?
Answer:
(a) The brook pushes and carries along with it all the gravels or shingles.
(b) The poet wants to highlight the fact that man’s existence is transitory.
(c) The poet highlights the eternal onward flow of the brook.
Question 9.
I steal by lawns and grassy plots,
I slide by hazel covers
I move the sweet forget-me-nots
That grow for happy lovers.
(Lines 37—40)
अनुवाद : म घास के मैदानों और लॉनों म से चुपचाप बहती ई चली जाती ँ । म है जल या पहाड़ी-बादामों
की उगी ई झािड़यों वे बीचों-बीच िफसलती िनकल जाती ह। म “फोरगेट-मी-नॉट” के फूलों को बहा ले
जाती ह जो स ेिमयों के िलये उगते ह।
Paraphrase: The brook flows silently through lawns and grassy plots. It slides through
the bushes of hazelnuts. In its flow the brook sweeps away ‘forget-me-not’ flowers
which grow for the happy lovers.
(a) Where does the river steal by?

(b) What are ‘forget-me-nots’ here?
(c) What is the movement of the brook in these lines?
Answer:
(a) The river flows silently and unnoticed through lawns and grassy plots.
(b) They are a kind of flowers.
(c) The brook flows quietly and leisurely now.
Question 10.
I slip, I slide, I gloom, I glance,
Among my skimming swallows;
I make the netted sunbeam dance
Against my sandy shallows.
(Lines 41–44)
अनुवाद : म चकमा दे ती, िफसलती, कभी उदासी भरे अंधेरे म और कभी सूय की िकरणों म चमचमाती
बहती ँ । अबाबील मेरे पानी को छूती ई उड़ जाती ह। जब सूय की िकरण मेरे पानी के ऊपर पड़ती ह तो
मेरे पानी म फंस कर वे िछछले रे तीले पानी म नृ करने लग जाती ह।
Paraphase: The brook slips by silently. Sometimes it slides. It becomes dark and looks
sad when passes through dark places. It looks bright and happy in the sunlight. The
swallows fly over it touching its surface. The rays of the sun fall on its surface and are
trapped in. The reflected rays seem to be dancing brightly in the sun against the sandy
shallows.
(a) What is the poetic device used in the first line?

(b) What does the brook make the netted sunbeams?
(c) What do these lines show about the nature of the brook?
Answer:
(a) ‘Alliteration’ is the poetic device used in the first line.
(b) The brook makes the netted sunbeams dance.
(c) These lines highlight the carefree nature of the brook.
Question 11.
I murmur under moon and stars
In brambly wildernesses;
I linger by my shingly bars;
I loiter round my cresses.
(Lines 45—48)
अनुवाद : म च मा और िसतारों के नीचे रात म काँ टेदार झािड़यों भरे बीहड़ म कलकलाती ई बहती ह।
म अपने नीचे गोल-गोल कंकड़ जो मेरे वाह म बाधक ह, उनके ऊपर म ी से (सु ी से) बहती चली जाती
ह। म तीखे गंध वाले जल कुंभी के प ों के पौधों के बराबर से घूमती चली जाती ह।
Paraphrase: The river flows through the bushy wilderness creating a soft and low sound
at night under stars and moon. It flows leisurely over the rounded pebbles which
obstruct its pace and flow. The brook moves around cresses growing near its bank.
(a) What is ‘brambly wilderness?’

(b) Where does the brook murmur?
(c) Where does the brook loiter round?
Answer:
(a) It means thorny wastelands.
(b) The brook flows in a soft low murmuring sound ‘under moon and stars’.
(c) The brook loiters round the leafy green plants like ‘cresses’.
Question 12.
And out again I curve and flow
(Lines 49—52)
अनुवाद : और िफर म बाहर िनकल कर मुड़ती और बहती ई उस बड़ी नदी म जो िकनारों तक लबालब
पानी से भरी है , म िमलने के िलए चली आती ह। ोंिक मनु चाहे इस संसार म ज लेने के िलये आय या
मरकर इससे बाहर चले जाय, म तो सदै व यूँ ही बहती र ंगी।
Paraphrase: Then the brook comes out curving and flowing to join the big river that is
filled with water to the brim. Worldly activities will have no bearing on the brook. Men
may take birth or die but the brook goes on flowing onward forever.
(a) Describe the poetic device used in these lines.

(b) What is the brimming river?’
(c) Quote a line that shows the eternal existence of the river.
Answer:
(a) ‘Personification’ is the poetic device used in these lines.
(b) The bigger river which is filled to the brim and where the brook joins is the brimming
river’.
(c) ‘But I go on forever’.
Extract Based Questions. (3 Marks each)
Read the extracts given below and answer the following questions:
Question 1:
I come from haunts of coot and hern;
And sparkle out among the fern,
To bicker down a valley’.
(a) Who comes from the haunts of coot and hem?
(b) What does it do among the fern?
(c) Why does the word, ‘bicker’ mean here? (Board Term
1,2015 6SOOKQ5)
Answer:
(a) The brook
(b) It shines.
(c) Rush quickly (CBSE,Marking Scheme,2015) (1
× 3 = 3)
Question 2:
I chatter, chatter, as I flow ‘
(a) What is the rhyme scheme of the above stanza?
(b) Name the poetic device used in the first line.
(c) Explain the meaning of the third and fourth lines. (Board
Term 1,2014 NCT-R)
Answer:
(a) abab.
(b) Onomatopoeia/Personification.
(c) It means that man is mortal but the objects of nature are immortal. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 3:
I chatter, chatter as I flow,
(a) Who is T in the above lines?
(b) Which figure of speech is used in these lines?
(c) What does the expression chatter, chatter indicate? (Board Term 1,2014
ZEZDXJX)
Answer:
(a) The Brook.
(b) Personification/Onomatopoeia.
(c) The continuous crackling flow of the brook. (1 × 3 =
3)
Question 4:
“Till last by Philip’s farm I flow
But I go on forever.”
(a) Where is Philip’s farm situated?
(b) What does the phrase brimming river mean?
(c) Which poetic device is used here? (Board Term 12013, AGRO-91;
2012, Set-28)
Answer:
(a) Philip’s farm is situated close to the river into which the brook finally merges.
(b) The river is full to the brim; it is overflowing with water.
(c) Personification/Refrain. (1 × 3
= 3)
Question 5:
“I wind about, and in and out,
With here a blossom raining,
, And here and there a lusty trout,
And here and there a grayling.”
(a) Name the poem from which the above stanza has been taken.
(b) What has been described in the above lines?
(c) What does ‘trout and ‘grayling’ refer to? (Board
Term 12012, Set 34)
Answer:
(a) The Brook.
(b) The life of the brook.
(c) Trout and grayling refers to different kinds of fishes. (1 ×
3 = 3)
Question 6:
“I chatter over stony ways,
In little sharps and trebles,
I bubble into eddying bays,
I babble on the pebbles.”
(a) How does the brook move?
(b) What is the mood of the brook as it flows towards the river?
(c) What poetic device has been used in the last two lines? (Board
Term 12012, Set 37)
Answer:
(a) The brook moves in swift current with tremendous noise.
(b) The brook is in a joyous mood. It seems to be talking and looking forward to joining
the river.
(c) Alliteration. (1
× 3 = 3)
Question 7:
“I come from haunts of coot and hern,
And sparkle out among the fern to bicker down a valley.”
(a) Explain: ‘I make a sudden sail’.
(b) How does the brook sparkle?
(c) Name a poetic device used in the above lines. (Board Term
12012, Set 38)
Answer:
(a) It means that the brook emerges suddenly.
(b) The brook reflects the sunlight and sparkles.
(c) Alliteration/Personification. (1
× 3 = 3)
Question 8:
“I slip, I slide, I gloom, I glance,
Among my skimming swallows;
I make the netted sunbeam dance Against my sandy shallows.”
(a) Name the literary device used in this stanza.
(b) Why did the swallows touch the surface of the brook?
(c) What do ‘slipping’, ‘sliding’, ‘glooming’ and ‘glancing’ reflect? (Board
Term 12012, Set 43)
Answer:
(a) Alliteration.
(b) The swallows touch the surface of the brook to catch the fish.
(c) All these words reflect the various moods and movements of the
brook. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 9:
“I murmur under moon and stars;
in brambly wilderness;
I lingerby my shingly bars;
I loiter round my cresses.”
(a) Who is ‘I’ here?
(b) What does the word ‘linger’ indicate?
(c) When does ‘I’ murmur? (Board Term
12012, Set 44)
Answer:
(a) The Brook. .
(b) The word ‘linger’ indicates slow and soft movement.
(c) The brook murmurs while passing through brambly wilderness under the moon and
stars. (1×3=3)

Marks each)
Question 1:
Why has the poet used the word ‘babble’ for ‘The Brook’? (Board Term
12015)
Answer:
As the brook moves, its swift current strikes against the pebbles and stones under it,
producing a tremendous noise. Thus, the brook seems to be ‘talking? as it moves.Also
its rapid spiral movement creates spirals of bubbles and it sounds very cheerful.
Question 2:
Asa reader of’ The Brook’, you feel the music created by the words used in it You write a
diary page appreciating the musical side of the poem. Write the diary page about the
musical effect created by the words. (Board Term 12012, Set 28)
Answer:
The brook’s varying movements create an exhilarating musical effect. “Chattering over
stony ways” creates the effect of a rhythmic movement combining high and low
musical notes. “I steal by lawns” creates a slow, lethargic and rhythmic movement. The
“Lingering”, “Loitering” movements are followed by speedy “pace, curve and flow”.
Question 3:
What are the different companions of the brook? (Board
Term 12012, Set 40)
Answer:
The brook carries all that comes in its way, from the blossoms to fishes, the sand,
pebbles, small stones and all that comes floating by.
Question 4:
Why have the lines ‘For men may come and men may go,But I go on forever’ been
repeated in the poem several times? What is the significance of these
lines? (Board Term 12012, Set 41)
Answer:
The lines “For men may come and men may go, But I go on forever” have been repeated
in the poem several times in order to lay emphasis on the brook being immortal. It is
ironical that man is so arrogant though he is merely a mortal.
Question 5:
How does the poet compare the life of a brook with that of a man? (Board Term
12012, Set 47)
Answer:
The brook flows through the fields and meadows and joins the sea. Similarly, man takes
birth, grows old and dies. Men live for a short period but the brook goes on forever.
Question 6:
What are the different things found floating in the brook? (Board Term 12010, Set B1
and 2012, Set 46)
Answer:
The different things that can be found in the brook are the blossoms, the lusty trout,
grayling and the foamy flakes.
Question 7:
How many hills and bridges does the brook pass during its journey? (Board Term
12012, Set 49)
Answer:
The brook passes through thirty hills and fifty bridges during its journey before it finally
Question 8:
How is the journey of the brook similar to the human life? (Board Term
12012, Set 32,52)
Answer:
The brook is immortal whereas the human life is transient. The brook overcomes all
hurdles on the way to its destination whereas the humans are subjected to emotional
breakdowns and despair.
Question 9:
“Tennyson not only describes the beautiful journey of die brook but also comments on
the transitory nature of human life.”
Comment. (Beard Term 12012, Set
53)
Answer:
Man’s life is not eternal. He takes birth, lives and then dies. For a human being, death
marks the end of his life. The brook is immortal. Though the brook merges into a river, it
remains ever flowing from its origjn.to the point of merger. It goes on forever.
Question 10:
What is the ‘refrain’ in the poem, ‘The brook’? What effect does it create? (Board
Term 12012, Set 61)
Or
What is the symbolic meaning conveyed by ‘For men may come and men may go, but I
go on forever’?
Answer:
The refrain of the poem is ‘For men may come and men may go, hut I go on forever’. It
shows the transitory. nature of human life and the eternal life of nature. Man is mortal
and continues his journey till he meets his death. The brook on the other hand is
immortal. It is perennial and flows on till eternity.
Question 11:
The journey of a brook is eternal and forever. Explain. (Board Term
12012, Set 68)
Answer:
The brook has a constant and an eternal journey. It moves on incessantly overcoming
all the difficulties that it faces on its way. Though it merges into the sea, it remains ever-
flowing from its origin to the point of merger. It is immortal. It goes on forever.
Question 12:
Describe a lesson of life that the brook teaches us. (Board Term
12010, Set A1)
Answer:
The brook teaches us that life is full of hurdles but we should not slow down. We must
continue ahead keeping our goals in mind. If we do so, we are sure to achieve
happiness and fulfilment.
Question 13:
What is the message given by the brook? (Board Term
12010, Set B2)
Or
What does the poet want to convey through this poem? (Board Term
12010, Set B2)
Answer:
The message given to us by the brook is that man is mortal and the brook immortal.
There are many hurdles in life’s long journey but we should carry on keeping our goals in
mind.
Question 14:
Describe four movements that the brook makes during its journey. (Board Term
12010, Set C2)
Answer:
The four movements that the brook makes during its journey are swift, splashy bubbly
and noisy.
Question 15:
How do the expressions ‘bicker down’, ‘hurry down’, ‘slip between ridges’, ‘chatter,
chatter’ help in creating the image of the young
river? (Board Term 12010, Set Al)
Answer:
All the expressions suggest energy, enthusiasm, frivolous behaviour that can be
associated with a young person- always quarrelling, talking, hurrying, taking short cuts
etc.
Question 16:
flow has the poet given speed and rhythm to his poem ‘The Brook’ ? (Board Term
12010, Set C2)
Answer:
The poet has given speed and rhythm to the poem ‘The Brook’ through the ample use of
rhyming words and onomatopoeic words.
Question 17:
Describe the brook’s journey from thirty hills to the brimming river. (Board Term
12010, Set C1)
Answer:
The movement of the brook is swift, splashy, bubbly and noisy on its journey. It passes
through 30 hills, ridges, twenty villages, a little town and fifty bridges till finally it joins
the brimming river.

Marks each)
Question 1:
How does the poem, The Brook, teach the value of generosity, courtesy and
benevolence? Which values out of these do you think are missing and need to be
imbibed by our young generation? (Board Term 1,2015 6SOOKQ5,
BR7GWHM)
Answer:
Value Points:
 The brook is generous, it deposits silt across its bank throughout the way; it
nourishes the soil and prevents soil erosion
 Courteous as it never repels anything, but draws everything along.
 Today’s generation misses the quality of courtesy above everything else. This
needs to be imbibed
Detailed Answer: The poet draws a parallelism between the journey of a brook and the
humans. The brook is generous. It deposits silt across its bank throughout the way. It
nourishes the soil and prevents soil erosion. The brook is also very courteous as it never
repels anything, but draws everything along. Just like the journey of the brook, humans
also have to pass through various ups and downs in life. Like the brook, we too have to
overcome them and move on, forgetting mutual differences. Today’s generation misses
the quality of courtesy and patience above everything else. This needs to be imbibed.
Question 2:
What kind of an attitude does the brook reflect in general towards the various situations
that it comes across on its journey towards the river? What message do we get from
it? (Board Term 1,2014 MZPD310)
Or
Bring out die parallelism between the movement of the brook and the course of human
life. (Board Term 1,2014 NCT-R; 2012, Set 56)
Answer:
The brook is a symbol of life. The poet has compared the brook’s journey with that of
human life. Just like a human being, the brook also emerges (takes birth), grows young,
becomes old and wise. In its childhood, it is very cheerful. It moves rapidly and swiftly.
In its youth, it is full of strength. It ‘frets’, ‘bickers’ and ‘chatters’ which are symbolic of
young age. It is a source of life and support for other living things like fish, blossoms,
etc. Then it reaches its old age. Like human beings, it becomes weak and moves slowly.
It ‘slides’ by hazel covers and ‘steals’ by lawns. Now the brook flows silently. Its ultimate
aim is to reach its destination, i.e., the brimming river.
The brook faces and overcomes many difficulties and hurdles in its way. Man should
learn a lesson from the brook. He should not lose heart in the face of hurdles, pressures
and dangers. He should not be fret and fume in the face of difficulties.
Question 3:
Obstacles and hurdles are a part and parcel of man’s life. Discuss with reference to the
poem ‘The Brook’. (Board Term 12013, NVZJUD2; EWAJ2JM)
Or
The brook comes across many hurdles in the course of its journey. Compare its journey
with man’s life. (Board Term 12012, Set 35)
Answer:
The journey of both, the brook and human beings commences with birth. Both have a
desire to move forward and explore the world. Neither the life of a man nor the journey
of the brook is smooth. Both come across different situations. Just as the brook passes
through many ups and downs throughout its journey, man also faces many ups and
downs in his life. As man moves forward, he becomes mature and finally his life comes
to an end. Similarly, the brook moves forward and its journey ends when it merges in the
river. The only difference between the two is that die brook is eternal whereas man’s
existence is transitory.
Question 4:
The Brook is a symbol of energy and determination to us. Describe in about 150
words. (Value Based Question) (Board Term 12012,
Set 64)
Answer:
The poem draws a parallel between the journey of the brook and the journey of human
life. Similar to the journey of the brook, human life also passes through many ups and
downs.The brook passes through many hills, ridges, towns, villages and bridges and
reveals its mood by the sound it makes when it moves on. Similarly, man also has to
overcome many hurdles and difficulties in life and struggle hard to reach his
destination.Neither the life of man nor the journey of the brook is smooth. But, just as
the brook goes on undaunted and heads towards its destination, human beings must
also go on.
Question 5:
Write a note on the brook’s journey from ‘the haunts Of coot and hem’ to the brimming
river in 150 words. (Board Term 12012, Set 50)
Answer:
The brook emerges from the places which are frequently visited by water birds like ‘coot
and hern’.It emerges suddenly to flow down a valley with a lot of noise. During its
journey it passes many hills, towns, villages and passes under bridges. It silently
crosses both fertile and fallow land, lawns filled with flowers and goes through the
wilderness full of thorny bushes. The brook also passes many ‘fairy fore lands’ which
are covered with willow weed and mallow. It flows slowly when it passes the strange
places. It then curves and flows to join the brimming river.
Question 6:
Like human beings, brook also has different stages of life. Describe its various stages
with suitable examples from the poem ‘The Brook’. (Value Based Question) (Board
Term 12010, Set A1)
Answer:
The brook goes through different stages of life as does a human being. In the way a
child takes birth, the brook emerges from the haunts of coot and hern. Just like a child,
the brook chatters and babbles. It is as energetic as a human being in the initial stages
of its life. As human beings work to fulfil their aim in life, the brooks aim is to join the
brimming river. Man faces a lot of challenges in life, likewise, the brook takes many
twists and turns during its second course.
In the third course, the brook slows down and slips, slides, find steals by the lawns and
grassy plots. In the same way, in old age, man becomes quiet and understanding.
Question 7:
Does the title ‘The ‘Brook’ suit the poem? Comment
Answer:
‘The Brook” is an autobiographical poem. The poet has used the poetic device
personification in this poem. The brook narrates its journey right from the time it
emerges from the ‘haunts of coot and hems’ to its end which is ‘to join the brimming
river’. personification has made this narration quite interesting. The use of words like
frets, bicker, chatter bring before us an image of a young angry man, whereas the
movement is described by many other beautiful comparisons. The description is very
vivid and makes one feel as if the brook is a living thing, narrating the story of its own
life. Hence, the title “The Brook” is appropriate.
Question 8:
How has the poet made use of the comparisons in ‘The Brook’?
Answer:
The lines ‘For men may come and men may go, but I go on forever’ are very significant.
These lines are the refrain of the poem- They depict the striking contrast between the
brook whose journey is eternal and never ending and the human life which is transitory
and has to come to an end one day or the other. These lines tell that man is mortal,
whereas the brook, a symbol of nature, is immortal.
Question 9:
How is an aura of mystery and magic created in the
poem? (HOTS)
Answer:
The brook enjoys a long journey. It emerges from the place which is frequently visited
by water birds. From there it flows down the valley and through towns. On its way it
creates a lot of noise while crossing stony paths and fields. Sometimes, the brook
moves in a zig-zag manner. It’s a, source of life for the fish and flowers. The water in it
is so transparent that its bottom is clearly visible. The sunbeams also seem to dance on
it. When passing through thorny wilderness, it just murmurs. When the brook originates
it flows rapidly but gradually it slows down. It has only one thought in its mind and that
is to join the fiver which it finally meets at Philip’s farm and becomes one with the river.
The description of its journey and, the places it passes by, like many a ‘fairy foreland’
give the poem its aura of mystery and magic.
Question 10:
What is the central idea of the poem?
Describe. (HOTS)
Answer:
The central idea or the theme of the poem is the comparison l ween the eternal,
continuous and never-ending journey of the brook and the transitoriness of a man’s life.
The brook overcomes many hurdles and struggles throughout its journey and keeps on
moving. It never stops.
Similarly, human beings also have to face many ups and downs, They should not accept
defeat, but must go on like the brook.
One must keep on moving towards one’s goal and reach, their destination.

Literature Reader Chapter 7 The Road Not
Taken
Question 1.
Sometimes the choices we make have far-reaching consequences. Think about choices
you make on a daily basis, and the importance of these choices.
Answer:
For self-attempt.
Question 2.
Complete the web chart showing choices and decisions you may have to make in the
next few years and the factors that affect these choices:
Share your choices and decisions with your partner.

Answer:
Question 3.
Have you made choices that are acceptable and less ‘risky’ or have you followed the
beaten track? Why?
Answer:
I know I am a student of just above average intellect and skills. I am not extraordinary or
unique. Hence, I prefer to make choices that are ‘acceptable’ and less ‘risky’. I can’t
afford to be very innovative and adventurous.
Question 4.
List common dilemmas that teenagers face involving the choice of one or more “roads”.
Give examples of “roads” that you must travel (e.g. facing peer pressure, choosing
friends, observing rules laid down by school and parents, acting on your own values).
Answer:
The teenagers do face common dilemmas involving the choice of one or more “roads”.
The common dilemmas that most of the teenagers face in life are:
(a) facing peer pressure
(b) choosing the right kind of friends
(c) observing rules laid down by school and parents
(d) following the instructions of the parents
(e) choosing the right profession
(f) following the right moral and social values
(g) choosing appropriate clothes and shoes In all these common dilemmas, I want to
opt for ‘safer’ and ‘less risky’ options.
Question 5.
(a) Listen to a recording of the poem.
(b) What choice did the poet have to make?
(c) Did he regret his choice? Why/why not?
Answer:
(a) Do it yourself.
(b) The poet faced a genuine dilemma. ‘Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.’Naturally,
he couldn’t travel both. He stood there in confusion which one he should leave and
which one he should follow. Both of them were equally beautiful. At last, he made a
choice. He left the first one for another day. He chose the other road as it was ‘grassy’
and ‘wanted wear’.
(c) The poet regrets his choice. Had he chosen the other road, perhaps all his ambitions
in life might have been fulfilled. Hence, he sighs with a sense of dissatisfaction.
Question 6.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
Question 7.
ticking the correct choice:
(a) In the poem, a traveller comes to a fork in the road and needs to decide which way to
go to continue his journey. Figuratively the choice of the road denotes __________.
(i) the tough choices people make on the road of life.
(ii) the time wasted on deciding what to do.
(iii) life is like a forest.
(iv) one must travel a lot to realise his dreams.
Answer:
(i) the tough choices people make on the road of life.
(b) The poet writes, ‘Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.’ The word diverged means
________.
(i) appeared
(ii) curved
(iii) branched off
(iv) continued on
Answer:
(iii) branched off
(c) The tone of the speaker in the first stanza is that of

(i) excitement
(ii) anger
(iii) hesitation and thoughtfulness
(iv) sorrow
Answer:
(iii) hesitation and thoughtfulness
Question 8.
(i) Describe the two roads that the author comes across.
(ii) Which road does the speaker choose? Why?
(iii) Which road would you choose? Why?
(iv) Does the speaker seem happy about his decision?
(v) The poet says “I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference.”
What is ‘the difference’ that the poet mentions?
Answer:
(i) The poet sees two roads diverging in a yellow wood. Perhaps it was autumn and both
the roads were covered with dead or fallen yellow leaves. The first one went down in
‘the undergrowth’ of the forest. The other road was equally beautiful, grassy and
‘wanted wear’. It was less frequented by than the first.
(ii) The poet had to come out of the dilemma as he couldn’t travel on both the roads at
the same time. He left the first one for the other day. He chose the second road which
had been less travelled by and ‘wanted wear’. It was equally fair, grassy and covered
with yellow leaves.
(iii) I would choose the second road. I am a young man with great ability to face
challenges and adventures that come in life. The untrodden road would give me
opportunities to come across several new adventures which I like the most.
(iv) The speaker doesn’t seem to be happy about his decision. Whether the choice is
right or wrong can’t be decided on the spur of the moment. Only after ‘ages and ages’ he
will realise the mistake that he made years ago. He will be ‘telling with a sigh’ to others
that it was not a wise decision. Two roads diverged in a wood and he ‘took the one less
travelled by’. The roads are fascinating metaphors for life. The choice has made all the
difference in his life.
(v) The poet says “I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference”.
The difference is that he did not choose that way of life which most people generally
choose to get easy success, fame and money in life. On the other hand, he chose the
road that was “less travelled by”. It was certainly risky and adventurous to choose such
a road. Perhaps, he means that he chose to be a poet and sacrificed other convenient
traditional and more lucrative professions. To be a poet, perhaps, turned out to be a
risky and adventurous choice. Perhaps he realised it ‘ages and ages’ after he had made
the decision.
Question 9.
Write the rhyme scheme of the poem.
Answer:
The rhyme scheme of the poem is : ab, aa, b.
Question 10.
Fill in the blanks to complete the following paragraph that gives the theme of the poem.
Use the words given in the box below:
The poem “ The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost is about the 1. that one makes in life.
It tells about a man who comes to a 2. in the road he is travelling upon. He feels 3. that
he cannot travel 4. paths as he must choose one. Frost uses this fork in the road to
represent a point in the man’s life where he has to choose the 5. he wishes to take in
life. As he thinks about his 6. he looks down one path as far as he can see trying
to 7. what life will be like if he walks that path. He then gazes at the other and decides
the outcome of going down that path would be just as 8. At this point he concludes that
the 9. that has been less travelled on would be more 10. when he reaches the end of it.
The man then decides that he will save the other path for another day, even though he
knows that one path leads to another and that he won’t get a 11. to go back. The man
then says that he will be telling this story with a sigh someday in the future suggesting
that he will 12. what life would have been like if he had chosen the more walked path
even though the path he chose has made all the difference.
Answer:
1. choices
2. fork
3. sorry
4. both
5. direction
6. decision
7. foresee
8. pleasant
9. trail
10. rewarding
11. chance
12. wonder
Question 11.
Roads are fascinating as metaphors for life, change, journeys, partings, adventure, etc.
or simply as roads. This is probably why they, and all their attendant images, have
permeated art, literature and song. In the poem, Frost uses the fork in the road as a
metaphor for the choices we make in life. Thus the roads are, in fact, two alternative
ways of life. What other nouns could be used to represent life?
 River
 __________
 __________
 __________
 __________
 __________
Answer:
 River
 Milestone
 Weather
 Changing seasons
 New leaves
 Train/Ship/Boat.
Question 12.
In groups of six, select, write the script of and present a skit that demonstrates decision
making and conflict resolution. Follow the steps given below:
 choices to be made
 options to be considered
 the influence of others
 the decisions/actions taken
 the immediate and future consequences of the decision.
Answer:
Classroom activity.
Question 13.
‘The Road Not Taken’ is a biographical poem. Therefore, some personal biographical
information is relevant to the deeper understanding of the poem we have read. Go to
www.encarta.com and complete the following worksheet about Robert Frost.
(a) What “momentous decision” was made by Frost in 1912?
(b) How old was he when he took this decision?
(c) Why was it so difficult to make this decision? Think and give more than one reason.
(d) Was the ‘road’ Frost had taken easy ‘to travel’?
(e) Do you think he wrote “The Road Not Taken” before sailing from the USA to England
or after? Can you quote a line or two from the poem that can support your answer?
(f) Do you think Frost finally became popular in America as a poet?
Answer:
(a) Frost made the momentous decision of going to England from America.
(b) He was 38 when he made that momentous decision.
(c) It was quite difficult to take that decision because:
 He was leaving the country of his birth and going to a foreign country.
 He was risking to adopt a profession that was not very rewarding.
 He had to sell his property to go there.
(d) No, the road was not easy to travel.

(e) I think Frost wrote “The Road Not Taken’ after sailing from the USA to England. The
lines that prove this point are: ‘I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and
ages hence.’
(f) Robert Frost became very popular in the USA. He was widely read and appreciated as
a poet in his lifetime.
Question 14.
You can find more information about Robert Frost at the following websites:
http://www.poets.org/poets/poets. cfm?prmID= 1961.
Hear the poet (who died almost forty years ago!) reading the poem at .
http://www.poets.org/poems/poems. cfm?prmID= 1645
To view a beautiful New England scene with each poem in this web site: “Illustrated
Poetry of Robert Frost” : http://www.geocities.com/Athens/ Olympus/1487/index.html
Answer: For self-attempt.
Question 1.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
(Lines 1—5)
अनुवाद : (पतझड़ म) पीले वन म से दो सड़क दो अलग-अलग िदशाओं की ओर अलग कर रही थीं। मुझे
अफसोस है िक म दोनों सड़कों पर (एक ही समय) नहीं चल सकता था। म काफी दे र तक वहाँ खड़ा उस
सड़क को िजतनी दू र दे ख सकता था दे खता रहा जहां से वह झािड़यों और छोटे -छोटे पेड़ों म मुड़ कर लु
हो गयी थी।
Paraphrase: The poet was standing at a junction in a yellow forest where two roads
separated in two different directions. The poet feels sorry that being the lonely traveller,
he could not walk on both the roads at the same time. He stood there for a long time
looking at the road down as far as he could. The road then bent and disappeared from
his eyes in bushes and the undergrowth.
(a) Why does the poet feel ‘sorry’?

(b) Where do the two roads diverge in?
(c) What is the mood of the poet in these lines?
Answer:
(a) The poet feels sorry that he can’t travel on both the roads diverging in the forest
before him.
(b) The two roads diverge in the wood where the leaves have turned yellow in the
autumn.
(c) The mood of the poet appears to be serious and pensive.
Question 2.
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
(Lines 6—10)
अनुवाद: मने दू सरी सड़क पकड़ ली, जो िक पहली िजतनी ही सु र थी। और शायद वह अपने पर चलने
का बेहतर दावा पेश करती थी ोंिक वह घास से ढकी ई थी और िघसी भी नहीं थी। य िप जहां तक उन
पर याि यों के चलने से िघसने का था, वे दोनों समान प से ही िघसी ई थीं।
Paraphrase: Then the poet took the other road which was as beautiful as the first one.
The second road presented a better claim because it was (still) grassy and had not
worn off due to walking of the travellers. As far as the question of their being worn due
to walking of the travellers, both of them had worn in the same way.
(a) How was the other road?

(b) Why did the second road present a better claim than the first?
(c) What is the rhyme-scheme of the given lines?
Answer:
(a) The other road was as fair and beautiful as the first one.
(b) The second road presented a better claim as it was still grassy and had not worn off
due to walking of travellers.
(c) The rhyme-scheme of these lines is: ab, aa, b.
Question 3.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
(Lines 11–15)
अनुवाद: उस सुबह दोनों सड़क मेरे सामने बराबर प से फैली ई थीं। दोनों िगरे ए प ों से बराबर ढकी
ई थीं। यह था िक दोनों के ऊपर पड़े ए प ों को याि यों के पैरों ने अभी मैला नहीं िकया था। हाँ मने
पहली सड़क को िकसी और िदन के िलये छोड़ िदया। हाँलांिक म यह जानता था िक एक रा े से दू सरा
रा ा िनकलता जाता है और मुझे स े ह भी था िक म िफर कभी लौटकर (छोड़ी ई) पहली सड़क पर चल
पाऊंगा।
Paraphrase: Both the roads lay in front of the poet almost in the same condition. They
were covered with the fallen leaves. And the leaves had not been blackened by the
steps of the walkers. The leaves still lay there uncrushed by the steps. The poet left the
first road thinking that he would use it on some other day. When he was doing so, he
knew that how one way leads to another. He would go so far from the first road that he
doubted if he would ever come back to walk on it.
(a) How did both the roads lie?

(b) Why did the poet leave the first road?
(c) Why did the poet suffer from a doubt?
Answer:
(a) Both the roads lay there with their leaves and grass not crushed by the steps of the
travellers.
(b) The poet left the first road in the hope that he would travel on it on another day.
(c) The poet doubted if he would ever come back to the same place to walk on the road
that he had left for another day.
Question 4.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
(Lines 16—20)
अनुवाद: किव अपने िनणय से अिधक स नहीं है। एक दम ण भर म यह िनणय लेना ब त किठन है ।
शायद अनेक वष बाद, वह दु ख के साथ जािहर कर पायेगा िक उसका फैसला उिचत नहीं था। वहां दो
सड़क थीं जो दो िवपरीत िदशाओं की ओर जा रही थीं। और उसने उस सड़क पर चलने का फैसला िकया
िजसका कम योग िकया गया था। यह उसका अपना फैसला था, और इसी फैसले ने उसके जीवन म अंतर
ला िदया था।
Paraphrase: The poet does not seem to be very happy with his choice. Just now, it is
very difficult to pass the judgement on the spur of the moment. After many years,
perhaps he will be telling with a sigh that his choice was not very rewarding. There were
two roads that separated in two different directions. And he chose the road which had
been less travelled by. The choice was his own. And this choice has made all the
difference in his life.
(a) Does the poet seem to be happy with his choice?

(b) What will the poet be telling with a sigh?
(c) What has made all the difference in his life?
Answer:
(a) The poet doesn’t seem to be happy with his choice.
(b) The poet will be telling with a sigh about the option he had chosen many years ago.
(c) The exercise of the option or the choice of the road that was less travelled by made
all the difference in his life.
Question 1:
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And looked down one as far as I could”
(a) Name the poem and the poet of above extract.
(b) What does the poet mean by ‘yellow wood’?
(c) He could not travel both the roads, why? (Board Term I 2012,
Set 35)
Answer:
(a) The poem is ‘The Road Not Taken’, and the poet is Robert Frost.
(b) ‘Yellow wood’ means the decomposing leaves and the autumn season.
(c) Being an individual, the poet could not travel two roads at the same time. (1 × 3
= 3)
Question 2:
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And by one traveller, long I stood
To where it bent in the undergrowth”;
(a) What does the yellow wood mean?
(b) Why does the poet stand long?
(c) What is the rhyme scheme of die stanza? (Board Term I 2012,
Set 45)
Answer:
(a) Yellow wood refers to the decomposing leaves and the autumn season.
(b) The poet was in a dilemma about which road to take. Both the roads were equally
worn and were covered with leaves.
(c) abaab. (1 ×
3 = 3)
Question 3:
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.
To where it bent in the undergrowth.”
(a) Name the poem and the poet of these lilies.
(b) Why did the poet look down as far as he could?
(c) What do the roads represent in these lines? (Board Term
12012, Set 49)
Answer:
(a) The poem is ‘The Road Not Taken’ and the poet is Robert Frost.
(b) The poet is at a point where he cannot travel on both the roads and has to make a
decision. He looks down one as far as he can to help him make the decision.
(c) The roads represent the choices that one has to take in life. (1
× 3 = 3)
Question 4:
“And both that morning equally lay,
In leaves no step had trodden black,
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way.
I doubted if I should ever come back.”,
(a) Who does ‘both’ refer to?
(b) Why does the poet doubt his coming back?
(c) Why would the poet like to come back? (Board Term
12012, Set 52)
Answer:
(a) ‘Both’ refers to the two roads.
(b) The poet doubts his coming back because one path would lead to another path.
(c) The poet would like to come back to travel on the road not taken. (1 x
3 = 3)

each)
Question 1:
‘The Road Not Taken’ is a poem of all times. Comment on it. (Board Term
1,2015 BR7GWHM)
Answer:
Value Points:
The poem is relevant for all times as everyone faces dilemmas at every step in life and
they have to take decisions. (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2015)
Detailed Answer: The poem is relevant for all times as everyone faces dilemmas at
every step in life.We have to face the difficulty of making a choice in life.One should
move on without looking back or thinking whether it was a right choice or not.
Question 2:
In the poem “The Road Not Taken”, where is the poet and what does he see in front of
him?
(Board Term 12015,6SOOKQ5)
Answer:
Value Points:
The poet was in a forest and he saw a road dividing into two in front of him leading into
the forest
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2015)
Detailed Answer: Robert Frost came across a path which diverged into two roads. One
road is less trodden and full of challenges, while the other is a beaten track without any
difficulty.
Question 3:
Which road does Robert Frost choose and why?
(Board Term 12014, NCT-R; 2013, AGRO-91; 2012, Set 34)
Answer:
Robert Frost comes across a path which diverges into two roads. One road is less
trodden and full of challenges while the other is a beaten track without any difficulties.
He chooses the road which is less travelled by the people, because, it is more inviting
and the poet is adventurous by nature and loves to take challenges.
Question 4:
How is a road a metaphor? Use examples from the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ to
support your answer.
(Board Term 12014, MZPD310)
Or
Bring out the symbolism in the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’. (Board Term
12012, Set 72)
Answer:
The poem is concerned with a choice made between the two roads. The poet tells
himself that he will explore one and then come back and explore the other, but he
knows that he will probably be unable to do so. The poem is about something more
than the choice of paths in a wood, for that choice might be relatively unimportant. We
interpret his choice of a road as a symbol for any choice in life between alternatives that
appear almost equally attractive. Through the years, however, we come to find that the
choices we make and the paths we choose, will make a difference in our lives.
Question 5:
The final stanza in the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ starts ‘with a sigh’. Why?
(Board Term 12013, NVZJUD2)
Answer:
The final stanza in the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ starts ‘with a sigh’. It is a sigh of
relief and satisfaction. The poet is satisfied with all that has happened in his life and the
position that he is in. It is a sigh of relief that on that day he had taken the ‘road less
travelled by’ and ‘that has made all the difference.’
Question 6:
The title ‘The Road Not Taken’ is an appropriate title for the poem. Comment.
(Board Term 12013, PNZTXU9)
Or
Justify the title, The Road Not Taken. (Board Term 12012, Set 54)
Answer:
The title brings out the theme of the poem in which every person at some stage of his
life comes across situation where he has to make a choice. The decision taken to do
things differently makes one stand out of the crowd.The title is figurative as the roads
symbolize the dilemmas of life. The title “The Road Not Taken’ is fully justified.
Question 7:
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.” What do the two roads indicate here? What was
the poet’s dilemma?
Answer:
The two roads indicate the choices one makes in life. The poet has presented the
dilemma that one goes through while taking a decision regarding one’s future. Man
faces such dilemma as he is afraid of making the wrong choice which could have far
reaching consequences. Man, therefore, takes a less risky and acceptable decision.
Question 8:
What is the theme of the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’? (Board Term 12012,
Set 40)
Answer:
The theme of the poem is that one should accept the challenges in his life. Man should
dare to walk on the untrodden path and take risk. Tough challenges have far reaching
consequences. They can change a person’s life.
Question 9:
Why did the poet leave the first road? (Board Term 12012,
Set 46)
Answer:
The poet leaves the first road that is well trodden and chooses the one that is less
travelled by’. It is the second road that is full of challenges. It is this road that would
make him standout and that has ‘made all the difference’.
Question 10:
The poet says, ‘I took the one less travelled by and that has made all the difference’.
What is the difference that the poet mentions? (Board Term 12012, Set 56)
Answer:
The poet says that it was his choice of that particular road which has shaped his
life.The poet adopts the less travelled path and faces problems. But later, he achieved
both success and fame as a famous poet in America as well as in his own country,
England.He stands out in the crowd today as a result of his tough decision.
Question 11:
What conflict does the poet face in “The Road Not Taken”? (Board Term
12012, Set 60)
Or
What dilemma did the speaker face in the poem “The Road Not Taken”? (Board Term
12010, Set B2)
Answer:
The conflict that the poet faces is to choose one of the two, roads and whether his
decision would be the right one.
One road is less trodden, adventurous and full of challenges, while the other road is
more trodden upon.It is a beaten track which is easy and without any difficulties.
Question 12:
In the poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’, why did the poet feel like travelling both the roads?
Answer:
Once, the poet came across a junction when his path diverged into two. One road was
well trodden upon while the other road was grassy as less people had travelled on it. He
felt like travelling both the roads because he was not sure of the outcome of his choice.
He wanted to have an experience of both the situations.
Question 13:
What do the two roads symbolize in the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’? (Board Term
12012, Set 63)
Or
What does the road symbolize in the poem? How much important is it to take the right
‘road’ in life?
Answer:
The two roads symbolize the choices that one has to make in life. It is very important to
make the right choice because we can never retrace our path and go back. One road
would lead on to another and there is no coming back.
Question 14:
The poet kept the other road for another day. Was he able to travel back on that road?
Explain.
Answer:
The author had kept the other road for some other time. He could never come back as
the road he took led to other roads. Each road taken would have something new for him
to explore.There was no coming back to that road again.
Question 15:
“Robert Frost did not feel dejected and disappointed on choosing the second road.”
Justify the statement with suitable examples from the poem ‘The Road Not
Taken’. (Board Term 12010, Set A1)
Answer:
The poet leaves a sigh of relief on having made this choice.Repetition of ‘I’ shows his
sense of pride in exercising his individualism and his saying that it has made all the
difference.
Question 16:
What makes the narrator’s choice difficult in the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’. (Board
Term 12010, Set B1)
Answer:
One road is frequently travelled by people. It is a known, beaten track which seems to be
safe. The second road appears to be a less travelled one and full of challenges. That is
why it is a difficult choice.
Question 17:
What message does Robert Frost give to his readers through his poem ‘The Road Not
Taken’.
Answer:
It shows us that one should be Willing to exercise one’s individualism.One should not
follow the crowd but be different from others.We should accept challenges and be
ready to take risks in order to succeed in life.
Question 18:
What does the choice made by the poet indicate about his personality in the poem ‘The
Road Not Taken’?
(Board Term 12010, Set A1)
Answer:
The poet chose the road less travelled by. This indicates that he believes in charting his
own path in life rather than doing what others expect him to do. He is adventurous and
loves to take risks in life. He wants to stand out in the crowd.
Question 19:
Why did the poet doubt his coming back on the same intersection in life? (Board
Term 12010, Set C1)
Answer:
The poet is pragmatic enough to know that one way leads to another, meaning that life
moves on, retracing one’s steps is not in the nature of things. The choices made today
will mark his life later through the years.
Question 20:
According to the poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’, what Robert Frost would tell after a
period of time?Why?
Answer:
According to the poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’, the poet would be telling with a ‘sense of
sigh’, that he took the road ‘less travelled by’ and that has made all the difference. It is
only by taking challenges that one can become successful in life. Following the crowd
will not make you stand out.
Question 21:
What message does the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ give us?
Answer:
The poet conveys a very important message in this poem.He tells us that man comes
across many situations when he has to take a decision which sometimes can be
crucial.
We must make the right choice by keeping in mind that ‘opportunity knocks only once’.

each)
Question 1:
What would you like to become in life? Would you follow the crowd or choose a
destination which would be exemplary for others.Give reasons for your answer taking
hints from the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’. (Board Term 12013, PNZTXU9)
Answer:
I would like to make my individualistic choice that would help me to choose a
destination which would be exemplary for others.It is true that every person faces a
dilemma in life. He comes across the problem of making choices in life. The important
thing is how the decisions are taken. The road is symbolic of the opportunities that
come in our life and compel us to take the right decision. The divergence of the-road is
symbolic of the dilemma we face in life when one is caught in a problem. The choices
have to be made thoughtfully and wisely.Adventurous people take the less travelled
path. All these choices decide their future. Their life is affected by these choices as the
step once taken cannot be retraced.
Question 2:
Imagine Robert Frost writes a letter to his friend Tom Hawkins about the factors that
helped him to decide on what to do next in life and why he chose to be adventurous and
different from others.Write the letter in about 150 words.
Answer:
Robert house
Washington 23th September, 1957
Dear Tom,
Hope you are in the best of spirits.
A time comes in the life of every man when he has to make a difficult and an important
choice. The decision taken can prove to be wrong, but the decision has to be made as
the choice made affects one’s future prospects.I too came across such a junction in my
life when I had to choose between poetry and teaching in school.I gave a serious
thought to each road. I was well aware of the fact that my life was affected by the
choice I would make because the step once taken cannot be retraced. Finally, I chose
the less travelled path as I am adventurous by nature and also because I want to be
different horn others.I took the risk of shifting my family to England to promote my
professional interest.I am grateful to God that my choice was right. I employed
traditional patterns to write poems. Today, I stand out in the crowd.I am among one of
tire country’s best loved poets. I am a well known and an acknowledged poet today.
With lots of love,
Robert Frost –
Question 3:
Does the speaker seem happy about his decision? (Board Term
12012, Set 28)
Answer:
The poet is in an indecisive state. He is assailed by doubts concerning his choice.He is
well aware of the fact that if his choice turns out to be misplaced, there will be no going
back. He also has a feeling that his choice might be crowned with success. ,
The unknown is not always a risky business. It might open the door to success too, as it
happened in the case of the poet himself. Being adventurous by nature, he decides to
plunge into the unknown.He seems happy about the decision as taking risk is a part of
his nature.
Question 4:
At every stage of life, man has to make crucial decisions.Keeping in mind Robert Frost’s
poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’, describe a peculiar situation where you took a decision
that changed the course of your life.
Answer:
Everyone comes across a problem in life in which he has to take a decision which can
change his life.The decision can prove to be wrong as its impact on our future is
unpredictable. Consequences of wrong choices will have to be faced by the person
himself. Nonetheless, the decision has to be taken.It is not always a risky business.The
choice may be crowned with success too as it happened in the case of the poet himself.
The poet, once, came across a junction when his path diverged into two.He wanted to
experience both the situations, but the decision had to be made. It was ultimately his
choice of that particular road which changed his life.The poet adopted the less travelled
path, faced problems but later achieved both success and fame not only in England, but
in America too.
One cannot get everything in life.He has to take a decision and stick to it.Tough
decisions make him stand out in the crowd. We should accept challenges and be ready
to take risks in order to succeed in life.
Question 5:
Based on your understanding of the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’, write a diary entry of
the speaker in the poem about the day he had to make a
choice. (Board Term 12010, Set A2)
Answer:
Monday, 25th April, 2015
10.30 p.m.
Dear Diary
In every person’s life there comes a point of time when he has to make a choice. Such a
time came in my life too.I was in a dilemma as to what I should do. People generally
take the much travelled path as it is tried and tested. However, there was another path
that I could take on which hone had travelled. There would be difficulties and problems
and risks. Maybe it would not be the right choice, but it appealed to me more, as if it
was waiting to be tried.I decided to keep the first one for another day, knowing well that
I might not ever come back. I have made a decision, how it will turn out, nobody
knows.In the evening of my life, I will be telling this story to someone. It is difficult to
forecast whether I will be happy or full of regret at the choice I have made. Well, only
time will decide.
Good night.
Question 6:
The poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ revolves around a serious conflict of life. What is this
conflict? How is it resolved?
(Value Based Question)
Answer:
The serious conflict in this poem is the choice that one often comes across in his
lifetime.Man gets many opportunities in life. He gets an opportunity to choose between
them.The decision that he has to take is important as it can change his whole life. He
can’t retrace his steps once he starts moving on the path he has taken.So, one must
make a choice after weighing the pros and cons of the opportunities that life shows in
one’s path.It is none the less important to stick to the decision once taken. Risks
involved will help him stand out in the crowd.
Literature Reader Chapter 8 The Solitary
Reaper
Question 1.
Sometimes we see something beautiful and striking, and we remember it for a long time
afterwards. Can you recollect this ever happening to you? If so, what was it? What do
you remember about it now? Are the details of what you saw or the feelings you
experienced at that time fresh in your mind? Think for a few minutes, then share your
thoughts with the class.
Answer:
Question 2.
Listen to one of William Wordsworth’s poems that describes a memorable experience
he had while out on a walk. (Your teacher will play a recording.) Listen to the poem at
least twice.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
Question 3.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
Question 4.
Imagine that you are the poet, William Wordsworth. You continue on your walk, and
when you reach home you tell a friend what you saw and felt. Which of the following
best describes your experience? (Work in pairs, then have a class discussion.)
(a) “I was walking past some fields when I saw a young girl, a farm worker, harvesting
grain by hand, with a sickle. She was so beautiful that I stood out of sight and watched
her for a long time. I have never seen anyone more gorgeous! In fact, she reminded me
of other beautiful experiences I’ve had—the song of the nightingale or the cuckoo, for
instance. I’d certainly like to see her again!”
(b) “As I was standing on the hill top just now, I heard a very sad and plaintive song. I
looked down, and saw a young woman reaping grain, singing as she did so. She seemed
very melancholy as she sang. But somehow her song brought great comfort and joy to
me. In fact, I found it a very emotional experience. As I continued my walk along the hill
top, I also heard a nightingale and a cuckoo. But the young farm worker’s song affected
me most deeply, even though I couldn’t understand the words.”
(c) “Just now, as I was walking in the valley, I saw a young farm worker in die field. She
was singing to herself as she worked. I was so affected by her singing that I stopped
and listened. She had a beautiful voice, which seemed to fill the whole valley. The song
was a sad one, and I couldn’t understand the words. But its plaintive tone and
melancholy sound tquched me greatiy, and, its beauty reminded me of the song of a
nightingale or a cuckoo. After some time I walked up the hill, carrying the memory of the
young woman’s song with me.”
Answer:
The best answer is ‘(c)’.
[A Classroom Activity]
Question 5.
The poet could not understand the words of the song, yet he raised several possibilities
about its theme. In the diagram below are some of these possibilities. Read the third
stanza again, and find the phrase that matches each. Copy and complete the diagram,
writing each phrase in die empty boxes. Work in pairs:
Answer:
Question 6.
(a) The central idea of the poem ‘ The Solitary Reaper’ is
(i) well sung songs give us happiness
(ii) melodious sounds appeal to all
(iii) beautiful experiences give us lifelong pleasure
(iv) reapers can sing like birds
Answer:
(iii) beautiful experiences give us lifelong pleasure
(b) In the poem ‘ The Solitary Reaper ’ to whom does the poet say “Stop here or gently
pass’?
(i) to the people cutting com
(ii) to himself
(iii) to the people who make noise
(iv) to all the passers-by
Answer:
(iv) to all the passers-by
(c) ’The Solitary Reaper’ is a narrative poem set to music. This form of verse is called a
……..
(i) ballad
(ii) soliloquy
(iii) monologue
(iv) sonnet
Answer:
(i) ballad
(d) The poet’s lament in the poem ‘ The Solitary Reaper’ is that
(i) he cannot understand the song
(ii) he did not know the lass
(iii) she stopped singing at once
(iv) he had to move away
Answer:
(i) he cannot understand the song
(e) The setting of the poem is

(i) Arabia
(ii) Hebrides
(iii) Scotland
(iv) England
Answer:
(iii) Scotland
Question 7.
(a) Read the second stanza again, in which Wordsworth compares the solitary reaper’s
song with the song of the nightingale and the cuckoo. On the basis of your reading (and
your imagination), copy and complete the table below. (Work in groups of four, then
have a brief class discussion.)
Place Heard by Impact on listener
Solitary Reaper Scottish Highlands the poet holds him spellbound
Nightingale
Cuckoo
(b) Why do you think Wordsworth has chosen the song of the nightingale and the
cuckoo for comparison with the solitary reaper’s song?
(c) As you read the second stanza, what pictures come to your mind? Be ready to
describe them in your own words, to the rest of the class. (Do not be afraid to go
beyond what the poet has written.)
Answer:
(a)
Place Heard by Impact on listener

Solitary Reaper Scottish Highlands the poet holds him spellbound
Nightingale Arabian Sands weary travellers feel refreshed
Cuckoo Hebrides islanders thrilled
(b) The nightingale and the cuckoo are the two birds which are famous for their sweet
and melodious songs. So, it is quite natural that Wordsworth compares the sweet song
of the solitary reaper to these birds.
(c)
 The first picture that comes to my mind is the desert of Arabia. The scorching sun
is burning everything. Poor travellers are tired and thirsty. They are making their
camels run for some shady haunts. At last, they find a shady place with water.
They lie down to have some rest. Suddenly, a melodious voice captures their
hearts. The nightingale’s song refreshes the tired travellers. They are up again for
their onward journey.
 The Hebrides are wrapped in silence. A ship anchors there. A sweet voice breaks
the silence of the seas. It is the melodious voice of the cuckoo. The song thrills all
the seamen. The whole mountain region resounds with the song.
Question 8.
In the sixth line of the first stanza, we read:
“… and sings a melancholy strain…. ”
This “s” sound at the beginning of sings and strain has been repeated. Poets often do
this.
Do you know why? Do you know what this “poetic repetition” is called? Can you find
other instances of this, in The Solitary Reaper?
Answer:
In ‘sings’ and ‘strain’, “s” sound has been repeated. The use of the same letter or sound
at the beginning of words that are close together is quite common in poetry. This
“poetic repetition is called “alliteration”. It is used to heighten the musical and lyrical
impact of the poem.
Repetition of “s” sound in ‘silence of the seas’.
Repetition of “a” sound in ‘Among Arabian Sands’.
Repetition of “1” sound in ‘Listened, motionless and still’.
Question 9.
In the first stanza, some words or phrases have been used to show that the girl working
in the fields is alone. Which are those words and phrases? What effect do they create in
the mind of the reader?
Answer:
The poet uses some words or phrases in the first stanza to show that the girl working in
the field is alone. These words are:
“Single” in the field
“solitary” Highland lass
singing “by herself’
“Alone” she cuts
These words and phrases focus our attention solely on the reaper. We keep our eyes
only on her and our ears to her melodious song. These words create a sense of‘mystery’
and the presence of a lonely girl among those natural surroundings does create a
romantic setting.
Question 10.
Wordsworth was so moved by this experience that later he wrote this poem. Think back
in your own life and try to recall an experience that affected you greatly and left a deep
impact on you. Then write a poem for your school magazine in which you describe that
experience and its impact.
Answer:
For. self-attempt.
Question 1.
Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
(Lines 1-4)
अनुवाद : उस ॉटलै के पहाड़ी े म रहने वाली युवा लड़की को अकेले खेत म काम करते ए
दे खो। वह अकेली अपने आप फसल काट रही है। या तो यहां क जाओ (और उसे चुपचाप दे खते रहो) या
िफर चुप-चाप यहां से गुजर जाओ।
Paraphrase: The poet asks us to look at a young girl of the mountainous region of
Scotland. She is reaping and binding the crop all by herself. No one is there to help her.
The poet suggests of two options. Either you stand and watch her working or gently
pass from there without disturbing her.
(a) Which region does the solitary reaper belong to?

(b) What was the girl doing?
(c) What does the poet suggest?
Answer:
(a) The girl belongs to the mountainous highland region of Scotland.
(b) The girl was reaping and singing by herself in the field.
(c) The poet suggests the passers-by either to stand silently and listen to her song or
leave the place silently.
Question 2.
Alone she cuts, and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.
(Lines 5—8)
अनुवाद : वह अकेली ही फसल काट कर उसे बाँध दे ती है। और (काम करते करते) वह एक उदास करने
वाला गीत गाती है । ओ सुनो। (सारी) गहरी घाटी उसके गीत की िन से ओत-पोत हो रही है ।
Paraphrase: The solitary reaper is alone in the field. She cuts and binds the grain all
herself. And she is singing a sad song. The poet urges us to listen to her song. The deep
valley is overflowing with the sound of the reaper’s song.
(a) What is the girl doing in the field?

(b) What is the nature of her song?
(C) What is the result of the song?
Answer;
(a) The girl is reaping and binding the sheafs of grain.
(b) Her song is melodious but sad.
(c) The whole valley is overflowing with the sound of the reaper’s song.
Question 3.
No nightingale did ever chant
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of Travellers in some shady haunt.
Among Arabian Sands;
(Lines 9—12)
अनुवाद : शायद (आज तक) िकसी भी बुलबुल ने अरब के म थलों म छायादार जगहों (म ानों) म थके
ए याि यों के समूह के सामने इससे अिधक सुरीले ागत गीत नहीं गाये होंगे।
Paraphrase: No nightingale ever sang such melodious welcome songs to the groups of
tired travellers resting in shady places in the desert of Arabia.
(a) What is the poetic device used in comparing the song of the reaper and the
nightingale?
(b) How does the girl’s song affect the tired travellers in the desert?
(c) What is a shady haunt?
Answer:
(a) The poet uses a simile to compare the two songs.
(b) The girl’s song soothes the tired travellers with its melodious welcome notes. It
affects in the way as the travellers haunting in the desert finds a shade.
(c) A shady haunt is a place in a desert where water and shady trees are found.
Question 4.
A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard
In spring-time from the cuckoo-bird.
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.
(Lines 13–16)
अनुवाद : ॉटलड के इस दू र थ ीप समूह म, वसंत के समय इसके पूव कभी भी समु की खामोशी को
भंग करती कोयल की ऐसी रोमां चक आवाज नहीं सुनी गई थी।
Paraphrase: The poet says that such a sweet voice was never heard by him even from
the cuckoo in the spring season. The voice of the girl was so sweet that it broke the
silence of the seas and of the far off islands on north-western cost of Scotland.
(a) Whose voice fascinated the poet so much?

(b) Why does the poet compare the girl’s voice with that of cuckoo?
(c) Write the adjective form of ‘silence’.
Answer:
(a) The voice of the reaper enthralled the poet very much.
(b) The voice of a cuckoo is very sweet. That is why the poet compares the sweet voice
of the reaper with that of a cuckoo.
(c) Silent.
Question 5.
Will no one tell me what she sings?
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
(Lines 17—20)
अनुवाद : ा मुझे कोई यह नहीं बतायेगा िक वह ा गा रही है ? शायद उसके उदास गीत िकसी पुरानी,
उदास या उन चीजों के बारे म ह जो ब त पहले घटी थीं। शायद उसके गीत उन लड़ाइयों के बारे म ह जो
ब त पहले लड़ी गयी थीं।
Paraphrase: The poet can’t guess the subject matter of her song. He asks if any one
can tell him what the theme of her songs is. Then, he himself makes a guess. Perhaps
her sad songs are related to some old, unhappy events that took place in the distant
past. It is possible that her song is related to the battles that were fought long long ago.
(a) Does the poet know anything about the subject matter of the reaper’s song?
(b) What is the nature of her song?
(c) What does the poet guess about the theme of the reaper’s song?
Answer:
(a) The poet doesn’t understand the subject matter of the reaper’s song. Perhaps she is
singing in a different dialect.
(b) Her song is sad but melodious.
(c) Perhaps the reaper is singing about old and unhappy things of the past. Her song
may be related to some battles that were fought long ago.
Question 6.
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
that has been, and may be again?
(Lines 21—24)
अनुवाद : या िफर इसका गाना आजकल के साधारण मामलों से स ंिधत है । या िफर वह अपने गाने म
िकसी ाकृितक िवपदा, हािन, या क का वणन कर रही है , जो पहले घट चुका है और आगे भी घट सकता
है ।
Paraphrase: It is quite possible that her song is related to some ordinary and
unimportant matters of day-to-day life. It is quite possible that in her song she is
describing some natural calamity, loss or pain that happened in the past and may
happen again in future.
(a) Explain: ‘Or is it some more humble lay’.

(b) What can be ‘some natural sorrow?’
(c) What is the rhyme-scheme of the given lines?
Answer:
(a) The reaper’s song may be about some ordinary and unimportant things.
(b) The ‘natural sorrow’ can be some natural calamity or disaster.
(c) The rhyme-scheme of the lines is aa, bb.
Question 7.
Whate’er the theme, the maiden sang
As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o’er the sickle bending;
(Lines 25—28)
अनुवाद : चाहे उस क ा के गीत को भाव (िवषय) कुछ भी रही हो, उसने ऐसा गाया जैसे िक उसके गीत
का कोई भी अ न हो। मने उसे झुक कर अपना काम करते और गाना गाते सुना। और वह झुक कर
दराँती से फसल काटती गा रही थी।
Paraphrase: Whatever might be the theme of the maiden’s song, she sang in a way that
it appeared to have no ending. The poet saw her singing at her work and bending over
her sickle.
(a) What is the rhyme-scheme of the given lines?

(b) How did the poet feel about the song?
(c) What was the girl doing?
Answer:
(a) The rhyme-scheme of the given lines is abcb.
(b) The poet felt as if the song would never end.
(c) The girl was bending over the sickle while reaping and singing.
Question 8.
I listen’d, motionless and still
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The Music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.
(Lines 29-32)
अनुवाद : मने िबना िहले-डु ले, चुपचाप (शां ित से) उसके गाने को सुना। और जैसे म पहाड़ी पर चढ़ा, तो मेरे
िदल म उसका सं गीत उतर गया और उसके समा होने के कफी अरसे बाद तक िदल म समाया रहा।
Paraphrase: The poet listened to the song of the reaper silently without disturbing her.
Then he climbed up the hill. The song entered deep in the heart of the poet. He heard its
echo in his heart long after it was heard no more.
(a) What did the poet do?

(b) What was the effect of the song?
(c) What is the rhyme-scheme in the given lines?
Answer:
(a) The poet stood motionless listening to the melodious song of the reaper.
(b) The song had a profound impact on the poet. It echoed in his heart long after it was
heard no more.
(c) The rhyme-scheme of the given lines is aa, bb.
Question 1:
follow:
‘Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary highland lass !
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here or gently pass!’ (Board Term 12014,
MZPD310)
(a) Why does a speaker ask to stop or gently pass?
(b) To whom does the poet say ‘stop here or gently pass’ !
(c) What does ‘behold her’ mean?
Answer:
(a) The speaker says so lest the girl should be disturbed and stop singing?
(b) To the passers-by
(c) look at her (CBSE Marking Scheme 2014) (1 ×
3 = 3)
Question 2:
“Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow.
For old, unhappy, far off things.”
(a) What do the ‘plaintive numbers’ refer to?
(b) Why does the poet use the word ‘perhaps’ here?
(c) Pick out a word similar in meaning to ‘to move continuously’. (Board Term
12013, EWAJ2JM)
Answer:
(a) ‘The plaintive numbers’ refer to, the highland girl’s
(b) The poet uses the word ‘perhaps’ here because he does not know her language.
(c) Flow. (CBSE Marking Scheme 2013) (1 × 3 =
3)
Question 3:
“I listened motionless and still And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.”
(a) What music is the poet talking about in these lines?
(b) What effect does the music have on the poet?
(c) How is the poet able to hear this music even after the maiden has stopped singing?
Answer:
(a) The poet is talking about the music of the maiden’s song in these lines.
(b) The music mesmerizes the poet and he stops to listen to it. He carries the memories
of the song in his heart long after he moves away from the scene.
(c) The poet carries the music as a cherished memory in his
heart. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 4:
‘A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard
In spring time from the cuckoo bird;
Breaking the silence of the seas ………….
Among the farthest Hebrides”
(a) Why does the poet compare the reaper’s voice to the song of the cuckoo bird?
(b) Name the poet of the poem.
(c) Name the literary device used in the third line. (Board Term
I 2012, Set 41,47)
Answer:
(a) The poet feels that the girl’s voice is sweeter than the sweet voice of the cuckoo,
that is why; he makes this comparison.
(b) William Wordsworth.
(c) Alliteration/personification. (1
× 3 = 3)
Question 5:
“Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of today?
Some natural sorrow loss or pain,
That has been and may be again?”
(a) Who is singing and where?
(b) What is the poet trying to guess?
(c) What does ‘humble lay’ stand for? (Board Term I
2012, Set 46)
Answer:
(a) The Solitary Reaper is singing in the field.
(b) The poet is trying to guess the theme of the song.
(c) ‘Humble lay’ stands for common man of the song and the song may be about the
common, simple people or
situations. (1 × 3 =
3)
Question 6:
“Alone she cuts and binds the grain;
And sings a melancholy strain;
Listen for the vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.”
(a) Who is ‘she’ in the above lines?
(b) What kind of a song is she singing?
(c) What does the expression ‘vale profound’ mean? (Board Term
I 2012, Set 53)
Answer:
(a) ‘She’ in the above lines refer to the solitary reaper.
(b) She is singing a sad and melancholic song.
(c) ‘Vale profound’ means the deep valley. (1 × 3 =
3)
Question 7:
“No nightingales did ever chant,
More welcome notes to weary bands,
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian Sands.”
(a) Who are the weary bands?What welcome notes do they hear?
(b) Why are the notes of the nightingale welcome?
(c) What are “Arabian Sands”? (Board Term I
2012, Set 54)
Answer:
(a) The weary bands are the travellers.They hear the welcome notes of the nightingale.
(b) The notes of the nightingale are welcome because they are sweet and soothing.
(c) Deserts signifying weariness are the ‘Arabian Sands’. (1 ×
3 = 3)

each)
Question 1:
How was the poet affected by the song of the Solitary Reaper?
(Board Term 12014, NCT-R/ZEZDXJX; 2012, Set A1)
Or
What is the effect of Solitary Reaper’s song on die poet William Wordsworth? (Board
Term 12012, Set 58)
Answer:
The poet was spellbound by the sweetness of the song of the Solitary Reaper. Though,
he could not understand the language of the song, he stood there motionless and
captivated enjoying the melodious song. It fascinated him so much that he carried its
sweet melody in his heart for a long time.
Question 2:
Why was William Wordsworth fascinated by the Solitary Reaper’s song?
(Board Term 12013, AGRO-91; 2012, Set 34)
Answer:
The poet was spellbound when he heard the melancholic song of a Solitary Reaper in
Scotland. She was alone, reaping the harvest. The melodious song fascinated him so
much that he compared it with the song of a nightingale and a cuckoo.
Question 3:
Why does the poet want the passers-by to “stop here or gently pass”?
(Board Term 12012, Set 35,37,60)
Answer:
The poet was fascinated by the melodious song of the Solitary Reaper.The musk of her
song and the melodious voice made him spellbound.The girl was busy in her work.So,
the poet wishes the passers-by to “stop here or gently pass” so as to not disturb her.
Question 4:
Why is the nightingale’s song a welcome song? (Board Term
12012, Set 42)
Answer:
The poet feels that the weary travellers would forget their tiredness and they would feel
refreshed when they, listened to the melodious notes of the nightingale’s song.The
soothing song would give relief to the travellers from fatigue and exhaustion, that is why
he compares it to a ‘welcome song’.
Question 5:
Why has William Wordsworth compared the Solitary Reaper’s song with the song of a
nightingale and a cuckoo bird?(Board Term 12012, Set 48)
Answer:
William Wordsworth has compared the Solitary Reaper’s song with the song of a
nightingale and a cuckoo bird to emphasize the sweetness of the girl’s song.He himself
is spellbound and the song resounds in his ears long afterwards.
Question 6:
What are the probable themes of the song sung by the Solitary Reaper? (Board Term
12012, Set 49,71)
Answer:
The probable themes of the songs sung by the Solitary Reaper which the poet presumes
are a tale of some far off happening, or of a natural sorrow, or of a loss or of a parting
from some dear ones.
Question 7:
Why does the poet call the reaper ‘Solitary’? (Board Term
12012, Set 50)
Answer:
The poet calls the reaper ‘Solitary’ because she is all alone in the field, reaping the crop
and singing a sad song all to herself.
Question 8:
How does the poet bring out the beauty of the song of the Solitary Reaper? (Board
Term 12012, Set 72)
Answer:
He compares her song to the sweet notes of the nightingale and the cuckoo, both birds
that sing in romantic surroundings. The song of the nightingale is a very welcome
sound to the tired travellers as it signifies that they are approaching an oasis. The song
of the cuckoo bird brings joy to the listeners as it is a harbinger of spring after the long,
cold winter. The song of the reaper arouses the same feelings of pleasure and joy in the
poet’s heart. It also lends a feeling of romance to the poem.
Question 9:
How was the poet affected by the song of the Solitary Reaper? (Board
Term 12010, Set A1)
Answer:
The poet was held spellbound by the sweetness of the song. He stood motionless and
still so that he could listen to her song. The melodious song fascinated him so much
that he carried its sweet melody in his heart for a long time.
Question 10:
The poet could not understand the theme of the song? Why? What were the guesses
made by him?
Answer:
The poet could not understand the theme of the song because the dialect used by the
reaper was unfamiliar to him.He presumed that she might be singing about some
battles fought long ago or some personal sorrow due to some tragic incidents in the
past.
Question 11:
Where was the Solitary Reaper? How did the poet hear her? (Board
Term 12010, Set B2)
Answer:
The Solitary Reaper belonged to Scotland. She was alone in the fields. The poet was
passing that way when he heard the girl singing while reaping the harvest. The whole
valley was resounding with her melodious voice. The poet stood motionless to listen to
her song.
Question 12:
The ‘Solitary Reaper’ describes a memorable experience of William Wordsworth.
Describe.
Answer:
The poet describes the memorable experience which he had a long time ago. A young
girl was standing all alone in a Scotland valley and was singing a song. The song was
so enchanting that the poet compared if to the song of a nightingale or a cuckoo. He
was spellbound and stood there for a longtime. Even now he remembers her song as he
carried the memory of the young girl’s song in his heart. ‘
Question 13:
The Solitary Reaper sings a melancholy strain. How does it affect the poet? (Board
Term 12010, Set C2)
Answer:
The poet was very much moved by the song of the reaper, because even though he
could not understand the language he could understand well that it was a sad song.
Question 14:
When and where does the cuckoo sing? (Board Term T2010, Set
C2)
Answer:
The cuckoo sings in spring time, in the most remote group of Islands (Hebrides) that lie
to the north west of Scotland.
Question 15:
Discuss the comparison of the Solitary Reaper’s song with the other birds as given in
the poem.
(Board Term 12010, Set Cl)
Answer:
The Solitary Reaper’s song was sweeter than the song sung by the nightingale or the
cuckoo bird. The poet compares the Solitary Reaper’s song to that of a nightingale or a
cuckoo bird. He says that the solitary reaper’s song is as much welcoming to the heart
as that of a nightingale’s song to a weary traveller. He says that it induces as much thrill
in the atmosphere as that of a cuckoo bird announcing the arrival of the spring time.
Question 16:
At the end how did the poet react to the reaper’s song in the poem ‘The Solitary Reaper’?
(Board Term I 2010, Set C2)
Answer:
The poet was very much touched by the song of the reaper even though he could not
understand the language, he could understand well that it was a sad song.
Question 17:
How could the poet hear the song of the Solitary Reaper? When could it be heard no
more?
Answer:
The poet could hear the song as he carried the music in his heart. He remembered the
music even after he could not hear the song any more.
Question 18:
Does the title ‘The Solitary Reaper’ suit the poem? Comment. (Board Term 12010,
Set B1)
Answer:
The title ‘The Solitary Reaper’ is quite significant. The girl was all alone in the field,
reaping and binding the grains.She was quite engrossed in her work and singing. She
was unaware of the presence of the poet or other passers-by, the whole valley was
echoing with her sad song which equally specifies that the reaper was all alone.
Question 19:
How has the poet made use of the comparisons in ‘The Solitary Reaper’? (Board Term
12010, Set A1)
Answer:
‘The Solitary Reaper’ is a poem in which beautiful comparisons have been made. The
girl is compared to the talented singers of nature like the nightingale and the cuckoo
bird. But her song is even more melodious than theirs. The song mesmerizes the poet
who stands still just to listen to the melodious song of the reaper.
Question 20:
How is an aura of mystery and magic created in the
poem? (HOTS)
Answer:
The song sung by the Solitary Reaper is melodious and magical. It is sweeter than the
songs of the nightingale and the cuckoo bird. Her melodious voice cast a spell on the
poet Who is mesmerized by the melody of the song. The song haunts him for a long
time and leaves an everlasting impression on his mind,
Question 21:
Why do you think Wordsworth has chosen the song of the nightingale and the cuckoo
for comparison with the Solitary Reaper’s song?
Answer:
Wordsworth has compared her song with the songs of the cuckoo and the nightingale
because both ore very melodious and have a very sweet voice.
Their songs always have a thrilling effect.They are liked by many poets and travellers.
The poet himself is spellbound as the solitary reaper’s song resounds m his ears long
afterwards.
Question 22:
In the first stanza, some words or phrases have been used to show that the girl working
in the fields is alone. Which are those words and phrases? What effect do they create in
the mind of the reader?
Answer:
The words-‘single’, ‘solitary’ and ‘singing by herself’ emphasize that the solitary reaper
was working all alone and in a lonely place.
The reader is forced to feel that she has experienced something tragic in the past and
these phrases relate to her tragedy,they also create a picture of romance and isolation.
Marks each)
Question 1:
William Wordsworth describes the scene of the solitary reaper to his sister Dorothy in a
letter. As Wordsworth write the
letter. (Board
Term 12012, Set 72)
Answer:
667 Maple Road
25th December, 20xx
Dear Dorothy,
I want to share my experience with you when I was in Scotland during the summer
season. I had such a memorable experience that I could not restrain myself from writing
to you.
I have had a wonderful time walking in the countryside and feel the need to share my
feelings with you. While walking, my feet were arrested by a musical voice which was
filling the valley. A highland girl was cutting the grain and singing on her own. She was
oblivious of anyone. Her voice was certainly sweeter than that of the nightingale in the
Arabian desert. There was a thrilling quality about her song. I was reminded of the
Cuckoo bird’s song in the Hebrides island. I couldn’t understand the words as she was
singing in a strange dialect, but the tone made me feel that it was a sad song.As I
continued on my walk, her voice kept reverberating in my ears.I shall never forget it. I
really missed you at that time, lake care of yourself.
Yours lovingly,
Wordsworth
Question 2:
How has the poet brought out that the song sung by the Solitary Reaper was really
enchanting and
incomparable? (Board
Term 12012, Set 40)
Answer:
The song is enchanting and the poet is mesmerized by it. He compares it to the songs
sung by the nightingale and the cuckoo. He feels that the song sung by the maiden is
better than the songs sung by these birds that are known for enchanting people with
their beautiful songs. The song has left a permanent mark in his heart. It has left an
everlasting impression on his mind. It has remained a lovely memory with the poet for
ever afterwards. The music had a calming effect on him and he has carried the music in
his heart.
Question 3:
“Music is a universal language that binds us all.” Write a diary entry describing your
experience of listening to the reaper’s song. (Board Term 12012,
Set 61)
Or
Imagine you are William Wordsworth. Write a diary entry in about 150 words describing
your experience of listening to the reaper’s song. (Board Term 12012, Set
52)
Or
Wordsworth had a wonderful experience listening to file highland girl while out for a
walk in the countryside.He comes home and pens down his feelings in his diary. Write
his diary.
Answer:
Monday 26‘November,20×× 10.30p.m.
Dear Diary,
I had such a wonderful time walking in the countryside and feel the need to record my
feelings.While walking, my feet were arrested by a musical voice which was filling the
valley. A highland girl was cutting the grain and singing on her own. She was oblivious
of anyone. Her voice was certainly sweeter than that of the Nightingales in the Arabian
desert.There was a thrilling quality about her song. I was reminded of the Cuckoo bird’s
song in the Hebrides island. I couldn’t understand the words as she was singing in a
strange dialect, but the tone made me understand that it was a sad song. As I continued
on my walk, her voice kept reverberating in my ears. I shall never forget it.
Question 4:
Some beautiful experiences amidst nature become sweet memories to us. Reflecting
upon William Wordsworth’s poem ‘The Solitary Reaper’ write your memories in the form
of a diary entry. (Board Term 12012, Set 68)
Answer:
Sunday 26th April,2013
10:00 a.m.
Dear Diary,
Natural experiences that man comes across enhance his inner joy. They bring him
closer to God and his creation. They leave an everlasting impact on his mind and heart. I
had a similar experience with nature. While passing through the hills of Scotland, a
melodious song caught my attention. The song was so enchanting and melodious
that it still lingers in my ears. The entire valley seemed to be flooded with the beautiful
voice of the Solitary Reaper The song was so captivating that I stood there motionless
so as not to disturb her singing.
The song was sweeter than the sweet notes of both the nightingale and the cuckoo,
who sing in romantic surroundings. I couldn’t understand the theme of the song as the
dialect was unfamiliar to me. Perhaps, she was singing some sad and plaintive note.
Whatever the theme, the music of the song made me spellbound and I stood there
motionless listening to the girl’s song. It seemed as if the song was never-ending. It
touched my heart. The. song has left an everlasting impression on my mind. I still bear
in my heart the memory of the melodious song.
Thank you diary.
Question 5:
How does the poet bring out the incomparable quality of the reaper’s song? What effect
does it have on the
poet? (Board
Term 1 DAV 2009)
Answer:
The incomparable quality of the reaper’s song is brought out by comparing her with the
nightingale and the cuckoo bird. These two birds are best known for their remarkable
and melodious quality of singing. The poet is impressed by the girl’s song and says that
she sang better than these two singing birds. The poet is spellbound by the magic of the
song. It leaves an everlasting impression on his mind.
Question 6:
How has Wordsworth admired and idealised the simple rustic life in ‘The Solitary
Reaper’? (HOTS)
Answer:
Wordsworth was an admirer of simple rustic life. The ‘Solitary Reaper’ is a Scottish
peasant girl who is full of life. She is reaping and binding the grain, but all this time, she
is singing all by herself, unaware of the poet’s presence. The song is sung in an
unfamiliar dialect; hence, the theme of the song is not clear to the poet. Even then the
song is melodious and the poet carries its everlasting memory with him.
Literature Reader Chapter 10 The Seven
Ages
Question 1.
What according to you are the stages of a person’s life? What characteristics would you
associate with each stage? (e.gchildhood : innocence, joy)
Answer:
The other stages of life which are not mentioned in the extract by Shakespeare are:
Stages Characteristics
(1) Childhood innocence, joy, carefree life
(2) Youth dynamism, strength and romance
(3) Middle responsibility, maturity and Age wisdom
Besides the above mentioned stages, Shakespeare describes seven stages in man’s
life. They are
(1) Infant mewling and pucking.
(2) Schoolboy unwilling to go to school, shining face.
(3) Lover sighing, writing romantic ballads for mistress.
jealous in honour, quick in quarrel, seeking bubble

(4) Soldier
reputation.
(5) Justice full of wise sayings and modem instances.
(6) Old pantaloon Shrunk shank, manly voice turns into childish treble.
(7) Last stage Second childishness, without taste, without eyes.
Question 2.
Listen to this extract from Shakespeare’s play As you like it, As you listen, read the
poem aloud, you can do this more than once.
Answer:
For self-attempt.
Question 3.
(a) All the world’s a stage is an extended metaphor for ______
(i) the life shown in well known plays.
(ii) seeing the well known plays.
(iii) life of well known actors.
(iv) the life of man.
Answer:
(iv) the life of man.
(b) All ‘have their exits and their entrances Exits and entrances refer to ______
(i) birth and death
(ii) beginning and end of play
(iii) coming and going of actors
(iv) the end of the Shakespearean era
Answer:
(i) birth and death
(c) The seven roles that a man plays correspond to his ______
(i) chronological age in life
(ii) desires
(iii) mental age in life
(iv) idea of a perfect life
Answer:
(i) chronological age in life
Question 4.
Having read this extract, identify the stages of a person’s life as Shakespeare has done.
Write down these gtages in your notebook, and sum up the characteristics of each
stage in two or three words. e.g.
(1) infancy crying
Answer:
(1) infancy crying
(2) Schoolboy unwilling to go to school.
(3) Lover sighing for mistress.
(4) Soldier searching for bubble reputation.
(5) Justice full of wise sayings and instances.
(6) Old pantaloon grows weak
(7) Last stage second childhood.
Question 5.
Work individually, and rank the seven stages in order of attractiveness. If you think
being a schoolboy is most attractive, you could rank it number 1. Then, work in groups
of four and compare your individual rankings.
Answer:
S.No Stages Rank
1. infancy 1
2. Schoolboy 2
3. Lover 3
4. Soldier 4
5. Justice 5
6. Old pantaloon 6
7. Last stage 7
Question 6.
Explain the meaning of the following:
(a) …all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances…
(b) And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace…
(c) a soldier,
…Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth.
Answer:
(a) Shakespeare compares this world to a stage. All men and women are like actors.
They play their individual roles and go away. Like the stage of dramas, life too has its
own exits and entrances. In this world, men take birth and go out when they die.
(b) The third stage of life is that of a lover. He is always sighing like furnace for his
beloved. He is full of passions and emotions for his beloved.
(c) The fourth stage of life is that of a soldier. He is ready to die for honour. He is very
quick to seek honour and reputation. He is ready to sacrifice his life and jump into a
cannon’s mouth just for a momentary reputation.
Question 7.
You already know the two literary devices generally used by writers for comparison, Le.
metaphor and simile. e.g.
(a) He was a lion in the battle, (metaphor)
(b) He fought like a lion, (simile)
In (a) the writer talks of the soldier in terms of a lion. The comparison is implied. In (b)
the writer compares the soldier to a lion with the use of the word like, (as may also be
used for such comparisons.)
Read the poem again and note down the metaphors and similes. Copy and complete
the following chart:
Item Metaphor Simile
world all the world’s a stage
men
women
schoolboy
lover
soldier
reputation
voice
Which comparison(s) do you find most interesting? Why?

Answer:
The metaphor of‘stage’ is quite interesting. Men and women are merely players. The
simile describing the lover sighing like a furnace is quite apt and logical. So is the
metaphor ‘bubble reputation’. It shows the transitory nature of honour or reputation the
soldier is seeking. The metaphor ‘childish treble’ highlights the high-pitched sounds
created when the ‘old pantaloon’ speaks.
Item Metaphor Simile

world all the world’s a stage
men merely players
women
creeping like a snail
schoolboy whining schoolboy sighing like a furnace
bearded like the pard
lover
soldier
reputation bubble reputation
voice childish voice

Question 8.
In this poem, life is compared with a play. Just as in a play a man acts many parts, so
also in life, a man plays many roles. Can you think of some other comparison for life ?
(For example, life could be compared with the seasons in nature, the days of the week,
the lessons in a school day.) Select one of these comparisons (or choose one of your
own), and write about the similarities that life has with it. (80-100 words)
Answer:
Similarities of Seasons in Nature with Stages of Life The cycle of seasons in nature is
very similar to the cycle of man’s life. Men take birth and make entrance on the stage of
life. Similarly, seasons start with the spring. Everything sprouts and blooms. It is the
best period of man’s life. It is full of colour, romance and beauty. Then comes the
summer. It is full of warmth and heat is unwilling to go to school. He carries a satchel
with him and walks slowly like a snail towards his school.
Question 1.
All the world’s a stage
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
(Lines 1—5)
अनुवाद : सम संसार एक रं गमंच की तरह है । और इस संसार के सभी नर और ना रयाँ िसफ नाटक के

खलाड़ी ह। उनके अपने िनकास और वेश ार ह। (वे संसार म ज लेकर आते ह और मर कर इससे
बाहर चले जाते ह)। एक ही अपने जीवन म कई भूिमकाएँ करता है । उसे सात भूिमकाओं
(अव थाओं) को िनभाना पड़ता है ।
Paraphrase: This world is like a stage in a theatre. All the men and women are only the
actors of this stage of life. Like the stage, this world has its exits and entrances. People
come into this world when they are born and go away from it when they die. One man
has to play many parts in his lifetime. He plays and enacts seven stages of life.
(a) What are all the men and women of this world?
(b) Explain: ‘They have their exits and their entrances’.
(c) How many parts does every man enact and play?
Answer:
(a) The men and women of the world are just like players on the stage of life.
(b) They take birth and enter the world. They die and depart from the world.
(c) Every man enacts and plays seven different roles in life.
Question 2.
At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school.
(Lines 5—9)
अनुवाद : सबसे पहली अव था एक नवजात िशशु की है । वह अपने पालने-पोषणे वाली धाय की भुजाओं म
रोता और उलटी करता रहता है । िफर एक रोते-िशकायत करते ू ल जाने वाले ब े की अव था है । वह
अपने चमचमाते चेहरे और ब े के साथ अिन ा से एक घोंघे की तरह रगता आ ू ल जा रहा है ।
Paraphrase: The first stage of life is that of an infant. He is always crying and vomiting
in his nurse’s arms. The second stage is that of a schoolboy who is complaining as he
is not interested in going to his school. With his shining morning face and a small bag
over his shoulder, he is walking slowly towards his school inching like a snail.
(a) What does man do in the first stage of life?

(b) Does the schoolboy show eagerness to go to school?
(c) How does the schoolboy walk up to his school?
Answer:
(a) In the first stage of life man plays the role of an infant. He is always crying and
vomiting in the nurse’s arms.
(b) No, the schoolboy doesn’t show any interest in going to school. Rather he is
unwilling to go there.
(c) He is inching slowly and unwillingly like a snail towards his school.
Question 3.
And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow.
(Lines 9–11)
अनुवाद : और तीसरी अव था एक ेमी की है । वह एक भ ी की तरह आह भरता, अपनी ेिमका की भवों
पर एक अित उदास ेमगीत िलख उसे अिपत करता है ।
Paraphrase: The third stage is that of a lover. He sighs like a furnace and shgs a sad
song dedicated to his lover.
(a) What is the third stage of life?

(b) What is the poetic device used in the second line?
(c) What does the lover do for his mistress?
Answer:
(a) The third stage of man’s life is that of a lover.
(b) ‘Simile’ is used as a poetic device in the second line.
(c) The lover is always sighing and longing for his beloved. He writes a sad ballad
describing the eyebrow of his mistress.
Question 4.
Then a soldier.
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation.
Even in the cannon’s mouth.
(Lines 11—15)
अनुवाद : िफर (चौथी अव था) एक िसपाही की है। वह अजीबो-गरीब कसमों से भरपूर है , और एक तदु ऐ
की (दाढ़ी) तरह अपनी दाढ़ी रखता है। वह स ान ा के िलये सतक रहता है । लड़ाई-झगड़े म तेज और
त र रहता है । और िणक स ान की ा हेतु तोप के मुँह म भी जाने के िलये तैयार रहता है ।
Paraphrase: The fourth stage is that of a soldier. This stage in full of strange oaths. He
is attentive for honour. He is always ready to quarrel. He can even enter the mouth of
cannons for temporary fame.
(a) Describe the two traits of a soldier.

(b) What is the poetic device used in : ‘bearded like a pard’?
(c) Why does the soldier risk his life and what for?
Answer:
(a) A soldier is always ready to swear and is full of oaths. He is ever ready to compete
for honour and glory.
(b) The poet uses a simile for comparison.
(c) The soldier risks his life a momentary reputation and is ready even to enter the
cannon’s mouth.
Question 5.
And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part.
(Lines 15—19)
अनुवाद : और िफर अगली अव था एक ायाधीश की है। मोटे -मोटे मुग खाकर उसका पेट अ ा-खासा
बड़ा हो गया है । उसकी आँ ख कठोर िदखायी दे ती ह और उसकी दाढ़ी औपचा रक शैली की है । वह
बु मान कहावतों और आधुिनक उदाहरणों से प रपूण है। और इस कार वह अपनी भूिमका िनभाता है ।
Paraphrase: The next stage of life is that of a judge. He has a very big round belly as he
is so fond of eating big and fat male chickens. He is a man of severe or hard looks. He
wears a beard of formal cut. He is very intelligent and is full of wise sayings and modern
examples. And so the justice plays his own role.
(a) Who is a justice?

(b) Describe the appearance of a justice.
(c) What are the two mental abilities of a justice?
Answer:
(a) A justice is a person well-versed in law. He hears and decides cases in a court of
law.
(b) He has a fair round belly as he devours lot of chickens. He keeps a beard of formal
cut.
(c) A justice is full of wise sayings and modern examples.
Question 6.
The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound.
(Lines 19–25)
अनुवाद : छठी अव था म मनु एक दु बला पतला ीपर पहने एक ढीली पतलून पहनने वाले म
प रवितत हो जाता है । उसकी नाकों पर च े और कमर पर थैली लटकी रहती है । उसने अपने मोजों को
िज उसने अपनी जवानी म खरीदा था, अ ी तरह बचाकर रखा आ है , और ये मोजे उसकी िसकुड़ी
टाँ गों के िलए ढीले ह। और उसकी मदानगी भरी भारी आवाज इस अव था म ब े की तरह बाँ सुरी और
सीटी बजने वाली हो जाती है ।
Paraphrase: In the sixth stage of his life a man turns into a lean and thin, slipper-
wearing pantaloon with loose trousers. He wears glasses on nose and keeps a leather
pouch on his side. He bought stockings in youth and have saved them well. Those
stockings are too loose for his shrunk and thin legs. His coarse and loud manly voice
produces whistles and piping sounds like a child as he speaks.
(a) What is a ‘lean and slippered pantaloon??

(b) What does the phrase “a world too wide’ here mean?
(c) How does the ‘mainly voice’ turn into ‘childish’ in the sixth stage of life?
Answer:
(a) It means a thin old man wearing slippers and loose trousers.
(b) The stockings he bought in his youth have become too loose for his shrunk and thin
legs.
(c) His manly voice turns into childish trebles and whistles when he speaks as he has
no teeth in his mouth.
Question 7.
Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
(Lines 25—28)
अनुवाद : सबसे आ खरी , जो िक इस घटनापूण जीवन-इितहास का अंत करता है , दू सरा बचपन’ है ।

इस अव था म आदमी भुल ड़पन का िशकार हो जाता है । वह िबना दाँ त, िबना ाद का हो जाता है ।
उसकी आँ ख कमजोर हो जाती ह।
Paraphrase: The last scene which ends the eventful life-history of man is second
childishness and mere forgetfulness. In this stage man loses teeth, loses taste and
loses everything.
(a) What is the last scene of man’s life?
(b) Why is the last stage of man has been called a ‘second childishness’?
(c) How is the last stage of man’s life a ‘mere oblivion?
Answer:
(a) The last scene that ends man’s eventual life is a ‘second-childishness’. In this age he
appears and behaves like a child.
(b) The last stage of man’s life has been called a ‘second childishness’ as man’s
appearance and activities in this stage are quite similar to those of a child.
(c) The last stage of life is a ‘mere oblivion’as old age is another stage of forgetfulness.
ABOUT THE POEM
‘The Seven Ages’ by William Shakespeare occurs in the play As You Like It. It is a
speech by one of the characters of the play, Jacques, who is a cynic.
The poem conveys the idea that the world is like the stage of a theatre where men and
women are actors. They come on the stage, enact their roles and then quit the stage.
Human life can be divided into seven stages. The first stage in man’s life is infancy. The
next stage is that of a school-going child. In the third stage the boy grows into a
romantic lover. The next stage is that of a soldier ready to make sacrifices. The next
role man plays is that of a self-satisfied, wise and prosperous justice. Then he becomes
a weak, thin man. And finally comes the age of senility when man loses all his faculties.
Thus ends the drama of his eventful life.
Question 1:
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances.
(а) Which stage of life has been described here by Shakespeare ?
(b) What are the features of this stage ?
(c) Explain the last line. (CBSE2014)
Answer:
(a) Here Shakespeare describes the fifth stage of life, that is, of a justice.
(b) In this stage man enjoys prosperity, self-satisfaction and wisdom. He is fashionable.
He has stem looks.
(c) At this stage man is full of wise sayings and examples from contemporary life. He
impresses others with his knowledge and wisdom.
Question 2:
All the world’s a stage
And all the men and women merely players :
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
(а) What is the world compared to ?
(b) Exits and entrances mean________ .
(c) What do you mean by ‘acts’ in the last line.
Answer:
(a) The world is compared to the stage of a theatre.
(b) deaths and births.
(c) ‘Acts’ in the last line mean roles which a person enact in his life-time.
Question 3:
At first the infant
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.
(а) Which stage of life is being referred to here ?
(b) What are the characteristics of this stage ?
(c) Give the meaning of ‘mewing’.
Answer:
(a) The stage of life described here is infancy.
(b)At this stage an infant in helpless and dependent.
(c) ‘crying’
Question 4:
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like
snail Unwilling to school.
(а) What is the school going by described as ?
(b) How does the school boy walk to school ?
(c) Which simile has been used here ?
Answer:
(а) The school-boy is described as unwilling to go to school.
(b) The school boy walks very slowly like a snail while going to school.
(c) ‘creeping like snail’.
Question 5:
And then the lover
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress’ eyebrow
(a) Is the lover described happy ?
(b) How does he behave ?
(c) Which figure of speech has been used in the first two lines here ?
Answer:
(a) He is not happy. He is sorrowful.
(b) He sighs and writes sad verses in praise of his beloved’s beauty.
(c) It is a simile. It also acts as an image.
Question 6:
Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and feared like a pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon’s mouth.
(а) What is the soldier ready to do ?
(b) What is the poetic device used in the second line ?
(c) What does ‘bubble reputation’ mean ?
Answer:
(a) The solider is ready to die for name and fame.
(b) It is a simile.
(c) It means that reputation is as short-lived as the life of a bubble.
Question 7:
………………… The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered Pantaloon
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side.
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide For his shrunk shank; and his big manly
voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound
(а) What does the phrase ‘shrunk shank’ in this stanza mean ?
(b) How is the voice of a man at this stage ?
(c) What stage of a man’s life is referred to in these lines ?
Answer:
(а) It means that his legs become weak and thin.
(b) The voice of a man at this stage becomes shrill like that of a child,
(c) It is the sixth stage of man’s life.
Question 8:
Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
(a) What is man’s condition in the last stage of life ?
(b) What do you mean by ‘sans’ ?
(c) What does ‘second childishness’ mean ?
Answer:
(a) Man is very old and dependent in the last stage of life.
(b) It means ‘without’.
(c) It means that man is helpless like a child.
Question 1:
What is the significance of the words ‘entrances’ and ‘exits’ in the poem ‘The Seven
Ages’ ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Human life has been compared by the poet to a stage of theatre where actors , appear,
enact their roles and quit. ‘Entrances’ here signify human births and ‘exits’ deaths.
Human beings take birth, play their parts and die.
Question 2:
Explain‘mewling and puking’in the nurse’s arms. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The infant cries and vomits milk in the arms of his nurse. He can do nothing but cry to
express his needs. He is totally helpless and dependent.
Question 2:
Why does a man in his life play many parts ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
A man. is fated to play many roles in his life. As he grows, his role changes and his
character also changes accordingly. He takes birth only to play different roles-the roles
of an infant, a school boy, a lover, a soldier, a judge, an old and senile person.
Question 4:
Describe the second stage of life as elaborated by Shakespeare in the poem ‘The Seven
Ages’. (CBSE)
Answer:
The second stage of life is the school-going age. The school boy sulks as he does not
want to go to school. He walks to school as slowly as a snail. He has, of course, a bright
face, like that of a sunny morning.
Question 5:
Explain the first stage of human life. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Infancy is the first stage of human life. An infant cries and vomits milk in the arms of his
nurse. He is helpless and dependent.
Question 6:
What characteristics would you associate with the stage of a soldier ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Energy, enthusiasm, rashness and patriotism are some of the characteristics of a
soldier. A soldier can sacrifice even his life for short-lived reputation.
Question 7:
Explain the line ‘the lean and slippered pantaloon’. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The line reveals that in the sixth stage of life, man becomes quite lean and thin. He
wears slippers. He looks a funny old man in his loose clothes.
Question 8:
Explain the stage of justice. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The stage of being a judge is perhaps the best. At this stage, man is prosperous and
well-fed. He looks stern and impressive. He is full of wise sayings and examples from
contemporary life to prove his point.
Question 9:
Compare the sixth stage with seventh stage. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The sixth stage is that in which man becomes old, weak and thin. In his loose clothes he
looks funny. In the seventh stage he becomes senile. He enters into ‘second
childishness’. He is as dependent upon others as a child. He has no teeth, no sense of
taste and loses every mental faculty.
Question 1:
If human life is nothing but a ‘tamasha’, what message does the poet want to convey to
us ?
Answer:
Shakespeare, through one of his characters Jaques, wants us to realize the fact that
human life is like the stage of a theatre. Men and women, like actors, come, play their
roles and quit. Each stage of life has its own peculiarities. Nothing good and charming
remains for long. The same man who looks charming and dashing looks weak, thin and
funny in old age. Then why should we take life seriously ? Why should we sulk and
complain ? We should accept our fate humbly. We should be ready to play our role on
the stage of life to quit for ever. Nothing in this world is permanent. Nothing is in our
hands.
Question 2:
Describe in brief the seven stages in man’s life.
Answer:
Shakeshpeare conveys through his character Jaques, that human life can be divided
into seven stages. The first stage is that of an infant who is totally helpless and
dependent. Then the second stage is that of the school-going boy. He is unwilling to go
to school. In the third stage, man plays the role of a lover who heaves deep sighs in the
absence of his beloved. In the next stage, he is an energetic, rush soldier who is ready to
sacrifice even his life for short lived reputation. In the fifth stage, he plays the role of
prosperous, well fed judge. He shows off his wisdom and knowledge to impress others.
Then in the sixth stage he is a weak, thin old man. He looks funny in his loose clothes.
The last stage is that of senility when man becomes childlike. He loses his reflexes and
senses. Thus, ends the drama of his life.
Literature Reader Chapter 11 Oh, I Wish I’d
Looked After Me Teeth
Question 1.
Parents alone are responsible for inculcating a good sense of dental hygiene amongst
children. Do you agree/disagree? Discuss with your partner.
Answer:
A class activity.
Question 2.
Answer:
For self-attempt.
Question 3.
On the basis of your reading of the poem, complete the following table:
Stages in the life of the poet Activities Consequences
eating toffees
(a) Youth
____________
(b) Adulthood ____________ gazing at the dentist in despair
Answer:
Stages in the life of the poet Activities Consequences
eating toffees cavities
eating sweet sticky food, fillings
(a) Youth eating gobstoppers, cavity
licking lollies caps and cavities
eating Sherbet dabs filling and cavities
(b) Adulthood sitting in the dentist s chair gazing at the dentist in despair
Question 4.
(a) The title ‘Oh, 1 wish I’d looked after me teeth’ expresses ______
(i) regret
(ii) humour
(iii) longing
(iv) pleasure
Answer:
(i) regret
(b) The conscience of the speaker pricks her as she has ______
(i) been careless
(ii) been ignorant
(iii) been fun loving
(iv) been rude
Answer:
(i) been careless
(c) The speaker says that she has paved the way for cavities and decay by ______
(i) eating the wrong food and not brushing
(ii) not listening to his mother
(iii) laughing at his mother’s false teeth
(iv) not listening to the dentist
Answer:
(i) eating the wrong food and not brushing
(d) The tone of the narrator is one of ______

(i) joy
(ii) nostalgia
(iii) regret
(iv) sorrow
Answer:
(iv) sorrow
Question 5.
(a) ”… But up-and-down brushin’
And pokin’ and fussin’
Didn’t seem worth the time—I could bite!” What do these lines convey?
(b) Why did the poet go to the dentist? How could she have avoided it?
(c) “If you got a tooth, you got a friend”, what do you understand from the line?
(d) With reference to the poem, how can you look after your teeth?
(e) Give an appropriate proverb that conveys the message that this poem carries.
Answer:
(a) The act of brushing her teeth up and down and checking them carefully didn’t help her much.
It was too little and too late. Most of the time she hajl been biting lollies, toffees, sweets and
candies. And that had already done the damage.
(b) The poet went to the dentist for fillings and drilling. She lay in the chair of an old dentist who
was drilling into her teeth with his machine. She could have avoided all these if she had taken
proper care of her teeth.
(c) ‘If you got a tooth, you got a friend’ expresses a practical truth of life. Without healthy teeth
you can’t chew and eat things properly. Good teeth are your good friends. They keep your taste
and digestion all right.
(d) The poem gives us a definite message. We should not neglect our teeth but take a proper care
of them. We should not eat toffees, lollies, candies and sweets. If we don’t care, it means we are
paving the way for cavities, caps and decay.
(e) Make hay while the sun shines.
Question 6.
Listen to the conversation between Doki and his sister, Moki. As you listen complete the
idioms and expressions listed below:
1. sleep ……………….
2 ………………. me the willies
3. crack the ………………
4. take the …………….. to water
5. ……………tail.
6. wonders will …………….
7. ……………… can’t be undone.
8. reap what I …………….
Idioms are metaphorical expressions rather than literal. For example ‘give someone the
willies’ does not simply mean ‘to hand over something called willies to someone’, but ‘to
make someone feel nervous’. It is important for learners of English to understand them
and be able to use them.
Answer:
1. sleep like a log. (sleep very well)
2. unwanted guests give me the willies (make me nervous)
3. crack the whip (use your authority)
4. take the well to water (do the opposite)
5. I know neither its head nor its tail (know nothing about it)
6. Wonders will never cease (wonders will continue to happen)
7. What has been done, can’t be undone (can’t be changed)
8. Reap what I sow. (bad result of what you did in the past)
Question 7.
Read the following statement where 7’ refers to ‘you’
“I can’t afford to, after what Jack s done to his teeth. ”
What is it, you think you can’t afford and why? Write a diary entry of not less than 100-
120 words.
(in-class activity; not to be set up as homework).
Answer:
Classroom Activity.
Just Think
Question 8.
In line 35, the poet has misspelt the word ‘amalgum’. Why do you think she has done
that? Discuss.
(Teacher would point out the use of ‘me’ instead of ‘my’ and other linguistic variations
that make the poem enjoyable.)
Answer:
Classroom Activity.
Question 1.
Oh, I wish I’d looked after me teeth,
And spotted the perils beneath.
All the toffees I chewed,
And the sweet sticky food,
Oh, I wish I’d looked after me teeth.
(Lines 1—5)
अनुवाद : काश! म अपने दाँतों की दे ख-भाल कर पाती। काश! म अपने दाँ तों के नीचे (पनपते) खतरों को
ठीक समय पर पता लगा पाती। वे सभी टॉिफयाँ जो मने चबायीं और वे मीठा िचपिचपा भोजन इनका कारण
है । काश! इनसे म बच पाती। काश! म अपने दाँ तों का ाल रख पाती।
Paraphrase: The poet wishes she had cared for her teeth. If she had done so, she would
have spotted or located the dangers that cropped up below them. All this was the result
of chewing toffees and eating sweet sticky food. She would have avoided them. She
again wishes she’d looked after her teeth.
(a) What does the poet wish and why?

(b) What was the effect of all the toffees she chewed and the sticky sweet food she
ate?
(c) What is the rhyme scheme of the given lines?
Answer:
(a) The poet wishes if she had cared for her teeth and spotted the dangers that cropped
up
below them.
(b) The effect of chewing toffees and eating sweet sticky food was quite disastrous on
her teeth. She suffered from various ailments of the teeth.
(c) The rhyme scheme of the given lines is aa, bb, a.
Question 2.
I wish I’d been that much more willin’
When I had more tooth there than fillin’
To pass up gobstoppers.
From respect to me choppers,
And to buy something else with me shillin’.
(Lines 6–10)
अनुवाद : जब मेरे भराई वाले दाँ तों से अिधक कहीं ादा ( थ) दाँ त मेरे मुँह के अ र थे तभी मुझे
अपने उस एक िशिलग का योग स िमठाई, (gobstoppers) िज म स ान से अपने चाकू से काटती
थी उसकी जगह कोई और चीज खरीदने के िलये करना चािहये था।
Paraphrase: The poet feels that she was not wise enough to look after her teeth. She
used her only shilling to buy hard sweets and candies like gobstoppers which she cut
with all respect with her knife. She should have used her shilling for buying something
that was good for teeth rather than buying gobstoppers. She should have taken all these
precautions when she had many more healthy teeth than the ‘filled’ ones.
(a) Was the poet wise enough to look after her teeth?
(b) What should she have done with her shilling?
(c) What are ‘gobstoppers’?
Answer:
(a) The poet was not wise enough to look after her teeth because she allowed them to
decay and deteriorate.
(b) She should have made better use of her shilling and she should not have bought
sweets and candies with it.
(c) Gobstoppers are a large, hard sweet made from the dried root of the liquorice plant.
Question 3.
When I think of the lollies I licked,
And the liquorice all sorts I picked,
Sherbet dabs, big and little,
All that hard peanut brittle,
My conscience gets horribly pricked.
(Lines 11–15)
अनुवाद : जब म उन लॉलीपॉपों के बारे म, िज म चूसा करती थी, और उन हर कार की Liquorice

कै यों के बारे म, िज म खरीदती थी; (और) छोटी-छोटी और बड़ी िमठाईंयों के बारे म, और उन सभी
भुरभुरी चीिनया बादामों के बारे म सोचती ह, तो मेरे अ :करण म भयानक प से एक टीस उठती है ।
Paraphrase: The poet says that when she thinks about the lollies she licked and all sort
of liquorice candies, big and small sweets and hard but brittle peanuts that she bought,
her conscience starts pricking her horribly.
(a) How does she feel when she thinks of the lollies that she licked?
(b) What is liquorice?
(c) Find a word in the extract which is same as to “moral sense’.
Answer:
(a) Her conscience starts pricking her horribly when she thinks of the lollies that she
liked.
(b) Liquorice is a black substance used as a sweet.
(c) Conscience.
Question 4.
Oh I showed them the toothpaste all right,
I flashed it about late at night,
But up-and-down brushin’
And pokin’ and fussin’
Didn’t seem worth the time— I could bite!
(Lines 16—20)
अनुवाद : ओह, ये ठीक है िक मने अपने दाँ तों को ठीक ढं ग से श से साफ िकया। मने उ दे र रात को
चमकाया। लेिकन श को ऊपर नीचे और उ ान से जाँ च करने का कोई खास प रणाम नहीं िदखा।
उसका कारण यह है िक िजतना समय मने दाँ तों को चमकाने पर िदया, उससे कहीं ादा समय िमठाईयाँ
खाने म तीत िकया।
Paraphrase: The poet says that she did brush her teeth properly. She even tried to make
them shining even late at night. But these up and down actions of the tooth-brush and
her checking them carefully didn’t produce the desired results. The time that she spent
on all these things was much less and not worthwhile than the time she spent on eating
sweets and licking lollies and candies.
(a) Did she brush her teeth properly?

(b) Did her brushing give her the desired results? If not, why?
(c) How did she damage her teeth?
Answer:
(a) Yes, she did brush her teeth properly.
(b) No, brushing her teeth didn’t give her the desired results. Sweets, lollies and candies
had already damaged her teeth.
(c) She damaged her teeth by chewing lollies and candies and eating sweets.
Question 5.
If I’d known, I was paving the way
To cavities, caps and decay,
The murder of fillin’s
Injections and drillin’s,
I’d have thrown all me sherbet away.
(Lines 26—30)
अनुवाद : यिद मुझे यह पता होता िक (लॉलीपॉप, कै ी और िमठाई इ ािद खाकर) म अपने दाँ तों म
सुराख, खोल और सड़न पैदा करने का रा ा तैयार कर रही ँ और मुझे आगे जाकर दाँ त भरवाने, इं जै न
लगवाने और दाँ तों म िडल मशीन जैसी जान मार दे ने वाले काम करवाने पड़गे तो म अपनी सारी (खरीदी
ई) िमठाईयों को बाहर फक दे ती।
Paraphrase: The poet regrets if she had known it before (that by eating lollies, candies
and sweets) that she had been preparing the way for cavities, caps and tooth decay and
suffer the fillings, injections and drilling machines in the future, she would have thrown
all those sweets away.
(a) Did she have any idea that she was paving the way for cavities, caps and decay?
(b) What would she have done if she had known that sweets and candies would do her
harm?
(c) What is the rhyme scheme used in the above lines?
Answer:
(a) No, she didn’t have any idea that she was paving way for cavities, caps and decay by
eating sweets and candies. (b) She would have thrown all the sweets and candies if she
had known that they would do her a lot of harm.
(c) The rhyme-scheme of the lines is: aa, bb, a.
Question 6.
So I lay in the old dentist’s chair,
And I gaze up his nose in despair,
And his drill it do whine,
In these molars of mine.
“Two amalgum,” he’ll say, “for in there.”
(Lines 31—35)
अनुवाद : इसीिलये म एक बूढे दाँ तों के डॉ र की कुस म पड़ी, उसके नाक को िनराशा से दे खती रही।
और उस (डा र) की बेधनी मशीन (drilling machine) के अपने बड़े दाँ तों (दाड़ों) म घुर-घुर करते सुन
ही थी
Paraphrase: The poet lay in the old dentist’s chair and gazed up his nose in
disappointment. She heard the whining noise of the drilling machine working into the
molars or the big teeth.
(a) Where did the poet lie?

(b) Why was the poet in despair?
(c) What are molars?
Answer:
(a) The poet lay in the old dentist’s chair.
(b) The poet was in despair as she had developed many tooth ailments.
(c) The molars are twelve big teeth used for chewing food.
Question 7.
How I laughed at my mother’s false teeth,
As they foamed in the waters beneath.
But now comes the reckonin?
It’s me they are beckonin’
(Lines 36—40)
अनुवाद : जब मेरी माँ अपने नकली दाँतों को झाग वाले पानी म रखती थी, तो म उसकी हँ सी उड़ाती थी।
लेिकन अब िहसाब-िकताब तय करने का समय आ चुका है और माँ के वे नकली दाँ त मेरी ओर इशारा कर
रहे ह। ओह अफ़सोस, मने अपने दाँतों का ाल रखा होता।
Paraphrase: When the poet’s mother put her false teeth in the foam, she just laughed at
her and her false teeth. But now the time of reckoning has come. Those false teeth of
the mother remind her that it is her turn now. The poet regrets that she neglected her
teeth and wishes she’d looked after them.
(a) What did the poet do when she looked at the false teeth of her mother?
(b) How has the time for reckoning come for the poet?
(c) Find the phrase in the extract which means ‘took care of.
Answer:
(a) The poet used to laugh when she looked at the false teeth of her mother
(b) Now, the time for reckoning has come for her as she is lying in the old dentist’s
chair.
(c) Looked after.
ABOUT THE POEM
The poem conveys the necessity of taking care of teeth in one’s childhood. The poet
regrets that she did not take care of her teeth during her childhood. So she developed
many cavities beneath her teeth. She harmed her teeth by eating a lot of toffees, sweet
and sticky food. Now she realizes that she should not have eaten those lollies, candies
and tiny sweets. She feels guilty on thinking about her bad habits. To make the matter
worse, she did not brush her teeth properly. Now she had to go to the dentist for
treatment. She had to bear the pain of injection and of the dentist’s drill. When she sat
in the dentist’s chair, she became desperate. When she looked at the false teeth of her
mother she reminded herself to be careful otherwise she would also have to get false
teeth.
Question 1:
‘Oh I showed them the toothpaste all right,
I flashed it about late at night,
But up-and-down brushin’.
And pokin ‘and fussin’.
Didn’t seem worth the time—I could bite.
(a) What is ‘them’ being referred to in the first line ? Why did the poet show them the
toothpaste ?
(b) Explain the phrase ‘pokin’ and ‘fussin’.
(c) What didn’t seem ‘worth the time’ to the poet ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
(a) The word ‘them’ refers to teeth. The poet did not brush the teeth properly. She only
showed them the toothpaste.
(b)The phrase pokin’ and fussin’ mean checking carefully.
(c) To the poet, brushing the teeth carefully is not worth the time.
Question 2:
When I think of the lollies I licked And the liquorice all sorts I picked,
Sherbet dabs, bit and little,
And that hard peanut brittle,
My conscience gets horribly pricked.
(a) How does the poet feel when she thinks of all the sweets she has taken ?
(b) What do you think of her as a child ?
(c) What are ‘liquorice’ and ‘sherbet dabs’ ?
Answer:
(а) The poet feels guilty when she thinks of all the sweets she has taken.
(b) She was very fond of sweets and careless about her teeth.
(c) ‘Liquorice’ is a kind of candy. ‘Sherbet dabs’ are tiny sweets.
Question 3:
‘Oh I wish I’d looked after me teeth,
And spotted the dangers beneath All the toffees I chewed.
And the sweet sticky food
(а) What is the poet’s wish ?
(b) What harmed her teeth ?
(c) Give the meaning of‘spotted’.
Answer:
(а) The poet wishes that she should have taken proper care of her teeth.
(b) The toffees that she had chewed during childhood harmed her teeth.
(c) ‘saw’.
Question 4:
How I laughed at my mother’s false teeth.
But now comes the reckonin’
It’s me they are beckonin’.
(а) What did the poet make fun of ?
(b) What do you mean by ‘they’ in fourth line ?
(c) Give the meaning of the word ‘beckonin’.
Answer:
(a) The poet made fun of the false teeth of her mother.
(b) ‘They* refers to false teeth.
(c) ‘beckoning’ (calling)
Question 5:
“But now comes the reckonin’
Oh, I wish I’d looked after me teeth”.
(а)‘But now comes the reckonin’. Explain.
(b) Who are beckoning the poet ?
(c) What is the poet’s regret ?
Answer:
(а) It means that she harmed her teeth by eating many sweets. Now the time has come
to estimate or calculate the harm.
(b) The false teeth of the mother are calling the poet.
(c) The poet’s regret is that she did not take proper care of her teeth
Question 6:
If I’d known, I was paving the way
To cavity, caps and decay
the murder of fillin”s
I’d have thrown all me sherbet away
(а) Why did the poet develop cavities in her teeth ?
(b) Which poetic device does the poet use in the second line ?
(c) Give the meaning of‘sherbet’.
Answer:
(a) The poet developed cavities in her teeth because she had been eating too much
sweets, lollies and toffees, etc.
(b) It is alliteration.
(c) ‘A sweet candy’.
Question 7:
So 1 lay in the old dentist’s chair And I gaze up his nose in despair And his drill it do
whine
In these molars of mine “Two amalgum,” he’ll say, “for in there”.
(а) Why did the speaker go to the dentist ?
(b)How did the speaker feel in the dentist’s chair ?
Question 1:
What are the different kinds of sweets that the poet ate which led to the cavities
? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The poet, as a child, used to eat all sweets things such as lollipops, caramels,
chocolates and chewing gums. She enjoyed candies and the other sticky stuff.
Question 2:
Why has the line, “Oh ! I wish I’d looked after me teeth’ been repeated in the poem by
Pam ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The line has been repeated for emphasis. The poet realizes and regrets that she has not
been taking proper care of her teeth. That is why, her teeth were now in a bad state.
Question 3:
What should the poet have known ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The poet should have known the consequences of eating many sweets and neglecting
the teeth. She should have known that if she continued to neglect the care of her teeth
they would be causing her a lot of trouble.
Question 4:
What were the consequences of the poet’s actions in her childhood according to the
poem ‘Oh!I wish I’d looked After Me Teeth’ ?(CBSE 2014)
Answer:
In her childhood the poet ate a number of sweets of all kinds. She did not brush her
teeth carefully. The result was that cavities developed beneath her teeth, and she had to
go to the dentist and underwent a lot of pain.
Question 5:
“Two amalgum”. What does this expression mean ? (CBSE 2014)
Or
Why has the word ‘amalgum’ been misspelt in the poem ‘Oh ! I wish I’d looked After Me
Teeth’ ?
(CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The poet deliberately misspells the word ‘amalgam’ as ‘amalgum’. She wants to
emphasise in an amusing way that there were two cavities beneath her teeth which the
dentist was to fill with amalgam—a mixture of mercury and another metal used for such
purposes.
Question 6:
Why does the child find brushing a useless activity ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The child found brushing a useless activity because she was ignorant about dental
hygiene at that time. She casually brushed her teeth and thus harmed them greatly.
Question 7:
What perils did the poet spot ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The poet spotted perils, that is, cavities beneath her teeth. These cavities were caused
by her eating sweets and sticky stuff and by her neglect of her teeth.
Question 8:
How does the poem successfully ‘awaken the reader to his dental hygiene and care’
? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The poem repeats the line ‘Oh, I wish I’d looked after me teeth’ to emphasise the
necessity of dental hygiene. She repeatedly expresses her regret and tells the reader
how she had harmed her teeth by eating many sweets and by the neglect of her teeth.
Thus, the poem succeeds in its explicit aim of making the reader aware of the
significance of dental care.
Question 9:
Who is whining a ‘drill’ in the poem, ‘Oh, I wished……………….. ’, and why ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The dentist is using his drill- which gives the sound of whining-in filling the holes in the
teeth of the poet. It is so because there are cavities beneath the poet’s teeth, caused by
her neglect of her teeth.
Question 10:
“But up-and-down brushing and pokin’ and fussin”. What do you understand by the
line. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The line tells us that the poet did not brush her teeth properly and carefully. She did not
move the brush up and down as recommended. She took the activity of brushing as
useless.
Question 11:
On what should the poet have spent her money ?
Answer:
The poet should have spent her money on the right kind of food. She should have spent
money on healthy and nutritious food that would have made her teeth strong and
healthy. She should not have wasted money on buying toffees, lollies, candies and
sweet, sticky food.
Question 12:
Why does the conscience of the poet prick her ?
Answer:
The conscience of the poet pricks her because she had been eating wrong kind of food.
She had been eating toffees, lollies and candies and sweet, sticky food. This kind of
food caused cavities in her teeth. She had to bear painful injections and the pain of the
dentist’s drill. Thus, she feels guilty.
Question 13:
What did the poet do with her cavities in her teeth ?
Answer:
She went to the dentist for treatment. She wanted to get the cavities filled medically.
She had to get the painful injections. She had to sit in the dentist’s chair and bear the
pain of the dentist’s drill. She regretted that she had not looked after her teeth.
Question 14:
What signal did her mother’s false teeth give to the poet ?
Answer:
Her mother’s false teeth gave her the signal that if she did not take care of her teeth,
she, too, would have to get the false teeth for herself. She had neglected the care of her
teeth. She developed many cavities in her teeth. She was likely to lose some teeth. So
she thought that her mother’s false teeth gave a sort of warning to her.
VALUE – BASED LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (SOLVED)
Question 1:
“The body is a temple”. It is believed that the body given by God should be treated with
care, as it is one’s temple. Comment on this thought with reference to the poem ‘Oh I
wish I’d looked After Me Teeth’.
(CBSE 2014)
Answer:
A temple is a place which we respect and honour. The body given to us by God is
nothing but a venerable temple. If we neglect it we are sure to suffer in one way or the
other. If we do not take proper care of any of its organ we will have to bear the
consequences.
In the poem ‘Oh ! I Wish I’d Looked After Me Teeth’ the poet paid no attention to her
teeth in her childhood. She continued to eat sweets and sticky stuff. To make the
matters worse, she did not brush her teeth carefully. She thought that brushing was a
useless activity. The result was that many cavities developed beneath her teeth. She
had to go to the dentist to fill those holes. She suffered from a lot of needless pain. Had
she treated her teeth with respect she would not have to suffer at all.
Question 2:
What message does the poet want to convey to children in his poem ‘Oh, I Wish I’d
Looked After Me Teeth’ ? Support your answer with reference to the following lines :
How I laughed at my mother’s false teeth,
But now comes the reckonin’
Answer:
The poet regrets that she had not taken care of her teeth during her childhood. She
conveys a message to the children that they should inculcate in themselves a good
sense of dental hygiene. She regrets that she harmed her teeth by ; neglecting their care.
Due to the neglect of her teeth, she developed many cavities beneath her teeth. It
happened because she had been eating a lot of toffees and sweet, sticky food. Now,
she realizes that she should not have eaten sweets and hard candies. She feels guilty
that she had been eating
lollies, candies and tiny sweets. Her conscience pricks her because she had been eating
wrong food. The poet regrets that she did not brush her teeth properly. She did not
brush her teeth by moving brush up and down. She did not consider it worthwhile to
spend some time in cleaning her teeth. Consequently, the poet had to go to the dentist
for treatment.
Question 3:
What is the role of parents and teachers in teaching dental care to children ? Discuss it
with reference to the poet’s experience in the poem ‘Oh ! I Wish I’d Looked After Me
Teeth’.
Answer:
There is no denying the fact that parents and teachers can play an active role in
teaching dental hygiene to children. Mothers at home must ensure that her children do
not eat too many sweets. She should ensure that they brush their teeth at least twice a
day. She should also tell them the proper use of toothbrush. If the children pay no or
little attention to their teeth, they should be taken to the dentist and show the horrible
scene of treating the teeth.
In the poem ‘Oh ! I Wish I’d Looked After Me Teeth’, it seems as if her parents were quite
negligent. They did not persuade or force her to avoid sweets and brush her teeth
carefully. Had they played their role well the poet would not have to suffer a lot of pain
at the dentist in filling her cavities

Literature Reader Chapter 12 Song of the
Rain
Question 1.
(a) Given below are five lines from a poem but they are not in the right order.
Get into groups of four. Read the lines and put them in the right order. Read the version
that you develop to the whole class:
(b) What is ‘I’ in these lines?

(c) Imagining yourself as the subject of this poem, write five lines about yourself in less
than five minutes.
You may like to
— define yourself
— state what you do
— explain why people like/dislike you
— mention any other characteristic about yourself
Answer:
(a)
(b) ‘I’ stands for the rain.

(c) For self-study.
Question 2.
Now listen to a poem about the rain. As you
listen number the stanzas given in the boxes.
Answer:
For self-attempt.
Question 3.
Read the poem on Page 90.
Answer:
For self-attempt.
Question 4.
ticking the correct choice.
(а) The rain calls itself the ‘‘dotted silver threads’ as ______
(i) the shimmering drops fall one after the other
(ii) it ties heaven and earth
(iii) it dots the earth with shimmering water
(iv) it decorates the fields
Answer:
(i) the shimmering drops fall one after the other
(b) The tone and mood of the rain in the poem reflect its ______
(i) love for the earth
(ii) desire to take revenge
(iii) merriment as it destroys
(iv) desire to look beautiful
Answer:
(i) love for the earth
Question 5.
(а) Why is the rain divine?
(b) In this universe, rain performs many functions. What are those?
(c) “When / cry the hills laugh;
When I humble myself the flowers rejoice;
When I bow, all things are elated. ”
Cry, humble and bow indicate different intensity with which the rain falls. Explain the
three in context.
(d) How do you think the rain quenches the thirst of the fields and cures clouds’s
ailment?
(e) Think about million little ways in which the rain embraces the trees. Mention a few of
them.
(f) “…All can hear, but only The sensitive can understand”
What does the poet want to convey?
(g)
 Notice the imagery built around ‘sigh of the sea*, daughter of the field* and
dears of heaven ’. Explain the three expressions in context of rain.
 How would you express rain as
– an agent of floods?
– a source of water for dams?
(h) “I am like earthly life… ”

Why does the poet call rain as earthly life?
(i) Explain the ending of the song.
Answer:
(a) The rain appears to be divine because it comes down from heaven. The shimmering
drops of rain look like silver threads dropped from heaven. Moreover, it is a life-giving
force that elates and smiles all—flowers, fields and valleys.
(b) In the universe the rain performs many functions. It is sent by Nature to adorn its
fields apd valleys and gardens. Hills laugh, flowers rejoice and all are elated when it
rains. The rain quenches the thirst of fields and relieves the clouds of their heaviness of
vapours. It embraces flowers and trees in a million little ways.
(c) Certainly, ‘cry’, ‘humble’ and ‘bow’ indicate different intensities with which the rain
falls. ‘Cry’ means full blast of the rain that makes ‘hills laugh’ as they receive a lot of
rainy water. ‘Humble’ stands for mild intensity of the rain that makes flowers dance and
rejoice themselves. ‘Bow’ here means a general rainfall that elates all.
(d) Naturally, when the rain falls it quenches the thirst of fields. The parched fields only
wait for the rain. The rain cures the ailment of clouds. It means the clouds become
heavy and want to burst out. But when it rains, they empty themselves into showers and
become light again to float in the sky.
(e) The poet says that the rain embraces the trees in about million little ways. It is just a
hyperbolic expression. The rain embraces the trees when the showers fall on them. The
showers fall on the trees and go deep into their roots. Even rivers, lakes and drains carry
rain water that reaches plants and trees.
(f) The rain has its own music. Everyone can hear the music and song of the rain. But
not all can understand and feel it deeply. Only those with sensitive and delicate hearts
can feel and understand the song of the rain.
(g)
 The poet has built a very suggestive imagery of rain. He uses the
alliteration ‘sigh of the sea’ to express the way sea water evaporates in the
form of water vapours. The rain becomes the ‘laughter’ of the field when it
helps the growing crops to smile and laugh in joy. As it drops from the sky,
it appears as if heaven (sky) is shedding ‘tears’ from above.
 Rain as an agent of flood:
Tears of sorrow
— Source of water for dams:
Water of life
(h) There is a similarity between earthly life and life cycle of rain. Rain’s arrival and
departure is just like birth and death of earthly life. In both the cases, the end is
inevitable.
(i) Kahlil Gibran ends the poem with philosophical overtones. The rain has been termed
as a ‘sigh’ rising from the deep love of affection. It is like a laughter that colours the
soul. It is like ‘tears’ that fall from the endless heaven of memories.
Question 6.
‘Ode to Autumn’ is a beautiful poem written by the famous poet John Keats. Listen to an
excerpt from the poem and pick phrases which personify autumn. Phrases
Answer:
Phrases
______ ______
______ ______
______ ______
Answer:
personifying autumn
(i) Thee sitting carelessly on a granary floor
(ii) Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind
(iii) while thy hook/Spares the next watch
(iv) And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
(v) Steady thy laden head across a brook
(vi) Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.
Question 7.
Rain in the hills and rain in the desert present entirely different scenario. In the hills it
revitalises the greenery and freshens the vegetation; it waters the parched land and
relieves the thirsty and panting souls in the desert.
This has been a year of scanty rains. Imagine how the rain would be welcomed when it
pours in the hills and in the desert after a long dry spell. Choose one of the places and
describe
(a) What are you likely to see?
(b) What would happen to the rain water?
(c) What would be the scene before and after the rain?
Answer:
Raining in the Hills
(a) The rain revitalises the greenery washing out all dust and dust particles from plants,
trees and their leaves. The rain refreshes the vegetation which comes to life again with
the arrival of the rain.
(b) The rain water flows from the tops of the hills into small channels and brooks and
soon takes the shape of a river.
(c) No doubt, greenery and vegetation were there even before the rain. But its
appearance was dull and dusty. After the rain, everything looks refreshed, more green
and full of life.
Question 1.
I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven
By the gods. Nature then takes me, to adorn
Her fields and valleys.
I am beautiful pearls, plucked from the
Crown of Ishtar by the daughter of Dawn
To embellish the gardens.
(Lines 1—6)
अनुवाद : म दे वताओं ारा ग (आकाश) से िगरायी गयी गोल-गोल बूं दों की एक चाँ दीनुमा लड़ी ह।
कृित ने अपने खेतों और घािटयों को सजाने के िलये मुझे अपना िलया है । म बागों को सजाने के िलये उषा
की पु ी के ारा उवरता दे वी Ishtar के ताज से तोड़ी ई सु र मोती ँ ।
Paraphrase: The rain calls itself the shimmering drops falling one after another from
heaven sent by gods. Nature has adopted it to decorate her fields and valleys. The rain
calls herself the ‘pearls’ that were plucked from the crown of Ishtar, the goddess of
fertility by the daughter of Dawn to decorate the gardens.
(a) How does the rain define itself?

(b) Why has nature adopted the rain?
(c) ‘I am beautiful pearls’. Name the poetic devices used in this line.
Answer:
(a) The rain calls itself the shimmering drops falling one after another from heaven sent
by gods.
(b) Nature has adopted it to add beauty to the fields and valleys.
(c) ‘Personification’ and ‘metaphor’ are the poetic devices used in this line.
Question 2.
When I cry the hills laugh;
When I humble myself the flowers rejoice;
When I bow, all things are elated
The field and the cloud are lovers
And between them I am a messenger of mercy.
I quench the thirst of the one;
I cure the ailment of the other.
(Lines 7—13)
अनुवाद : जब म चीखती ँ तो पहािड़याँ हँसने लग जाती ह। जब म यं को िवन कर लेती ँ तो फूल

खुशी मनाते ह। जब म झुकती ँ तो सभी चीज फु त हो जाती ह। खेत और बादल ेमी ह और म उन
दोनों के बीच दया की एक संदेशवाहक ँ । म एक की ास बुझाती ँ और दू सरे के रोग को ठीक करती ँ ।
अथात् बरसकर बादल के भारीपन को ह ा करती ँ ।
Paraphrase: The rain continues telling that when it cries the hills laugh. When it shows
its modesty, the flowers make merry. When it bows down and fall, all things are very
happy and excited. The fields and clouds are lovers and the rain is a messenger of
mercy between them. The rain quenches the thirst of the field and cures the ailment of
the other (cloud). In other words, it relieves the heavily vapour-laden clouds by taking
the form of water drops.
(a) What happens when the rain shows its humility?

(b) What role does the rain play between fields and clouds?
(c) Name the poetic device used in the lines.
Answer:
(a) When the rain shows its humility and modesty, the flowers bloom and rejoice.
(b) The rain plays the role of a messenger of mercy between the two lovers, the fields
and clouds.
(c) “Personification’ is the poetic device used in the lines.
Question 3.
The voice of thunder declares my arrival;
The rainbow announces my departure.
I am like earthly life, which begins at
The feet of the mad elements and ends
Under the upraised wings of death.
I emerge from the heart of the sea and
Soar with the breeze. When I see a field in
Need, I descend and embrace the flowers and
The trees in a million little ways.
(Lines 14—22)
अनुवाद : िबजली की गड़गड़ाहट मेरे आगमन की घोषणा करती है। इ धनुष मेरे जाने की घोषणा करता
है । म पृ ी के जीवन की तरह ँ जो कृित के िविभ अवयवों से ज लेता है और अंत म मृ ु को ा
होता है । म समु के दय से ऊपर उठती ँ और समीर के साथ ऊपर उड़ जाती ह। जब िकसी खेत को
मेरी ज रत होती है , तो म नीचे उतरती ँ और लाखों छोटे -छोटे पों म फूलों और वृ ों को अपने आगोश
म ले लेती ँ ।
Paraphrase: The thundering sound of lightning announces the arrival of the rain. The
rainbow announces its departure. The life of rain resembles the earthly life. The earthly
life is born out of different elements of nature and meets its death in the end. The rain
rises up from the heart of the sea nd it soars high with the breeze. When it sees a field
in need, it comes down (rains) and embraces flowers and trees in a million little ways.
(a) How are the arrival and departure of the rain announced?
(b) Describe the poetic device used in the third line.
(c) How and when does the rain oblige fields, flowers and trees?
Answer:
(a) The thundering sound of lightning announces the arrival and the rainbow announces
the departure of the rain.
(b) The poetic device used in the third line is simile.
(c) When the rain sees fields, flowers and trees in need, it obliges them in a million little
ways.
Question 4.
I touch gently at the windows with my
Soft fingers, and my announcement is a
Welcome song. All can hear, but only
The sensitive can understand.
I am the sigh of the sea;
The laughter of the field;
The tears of heaven.
(Lines 23—29)
अनुवाद : म अपनी नरम ऊंगिलयों से खड़की को ह े से छूती ँ और मेरा आगमन एक ागत गीत की
तरह है । इसे सभी सुन सकते ह लेिकन केवल कोमल दयी ही इसे समझ सकते ह। म समु की आह ँ ,
खेत की हँ सी ँ । और आकाश की आँ सू ँ।
Paraphrase: The rain touches the windows with its soft fingers. Her arrival is like a
welcome song. All hear it but only sensitive souls can understand it. The rain is the sigh
of the sea, the laughter of the field and tears of the sky.
(a) How does the rain touch the windows?

(b) Who can hear’ and ‘understand’ the rain?
(c) What is the rain for the sea, the fields and the sky?
Answer:
(a) The rain touches the windows with its soft fingers.
(b) All can hear but only sensitive souls can understand the rain.
(c) It is the sight of the sea, the laughter of the field and tears of the sky.
Question 5.
So with love-
Sighs from the deep sea of affection; Laughter from the colourful
field of the spirit; Tears from the endless heaven of memories.
(Lines 30—32)
अनुवाद : इसीिलए ार से म ेह ( ार) के गहरे समु से आह भरती ँ , और आ ा के रं गीन खेतों से

हँ सती ँ । और यादों के अनंत आकाश से आँ सू बहाती ँ ।
Paraphrase: So, with love the rain sighs from the deep sea of love and affection. It rises
like a laughter from the colourful fields of the soul. It falls down like tears from the
endless heaven of memories.
(a) What does the rain sigh from the deep sea of affection?
(b) How does it fall down from the endless heaven?
(c) What is the rain for the colourful fields of the soul?
Answer:
(a) From the deep sea of love and affection the rain heaves a deep sigh of lvoe.
(b) The rain falls down like tears from the endless heaven of memories.
(c) It is like a laughter for the colourful fields of the soul.
ABOUT THE POEM

‘Song of the Rain’ describes the origin and end of rain—a natural phenomenon— in the
voice of rain itself. The rain tells us of the various functions it performs. It falls down
from the sky on the earth. It decorates fields, valley and gardens. When it falls down on
flowers in the form of gentle showers, flowers become happy. It quenches the thirst of
fields.
The voice of thunder announces the arrival of the rain. The appearance of a rainbow in
the sky announces the departaure of the rain.
The rain tells it origin. The water from the sea mixes with the air and forms a cloud in
the sky. When the cloud bursts, it becomes rain. The water from the cloud falls on the
field. The rain is merciful. The rain declares that it is the sigh of the deep sea, laughter
of the colourful fields and tears of the sky.
Question 1:
I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven
By the gods. Nature then takes me to adorn
Her fields and valleys. (CBSE 2014)
(a) Name the poem and the poet of the above extract.
(b) Who is T ? Why is T being compared to silver threads ?
(b) Explain the line ‘Nature…. valleys’.
Answer:
(а) The poem is ‘Song of the Rain’. The poet is Kahlil Gibran.
(b) ‘I’ is the rain. T, that is the rain, falls in strings of sparkling drops, like silver threads.
(c) The line means that Nature uses rain to decorate fields and valleys. Fields and
valleys look fresh and beautiful with rain drops.
Question 2:
I touch gently at the windows with my Soft fingers, and my announcement is a Welcome
song. All can hear, but only
The sensitive can understand. (CBSE 2014)
(a) How is the arrival of rain announced ?
(b) Why is it welcomed ?
(c) What is the difference between hearing and understanding ?
Answer:
(а) The arrival of the rain is announced by a welcome song.
(b) It is welcomed because it is needed by all – men, animals, plants.
(c) Hearing means hearing casually, whereas understanding implies hearing something
with understanding its meaning as well.
Question 3:
‘The voice of thunder declares my arrival,
The rainbow announces my departure.
I am like earthly life which begins at The feet of the mad elements and ends Under the
wings of death’.
(а) Whose arrival is declared by ‘the voice of thunder’ ?
(b) ‘I am like earthly life’. Explain.
(c) What do you mean by ‘wings of death’ ?
Answer:
(a) The rain’s arrival is declared by ‘the voice of thunder’.
(b) The rain’s life is similar to the worldly life. It takes birth and then dies.
(c) “Wings of death’ means various causes or forces of death.
Question 4:
I am beautiful pearls, plucked from the Crown of Ishtar by the daughter of dawn To
embellish the gardens.
(а) Who is compared to “beautiful pearls’ ?
(b) What is the function of rain ?
(c) What do you understand by ‘Ishtar’ ?
Answer:
(a) Rain drops are compared to beautiful pearls.
(b) Rain decorates gardens. Rain drops make them look more beautiful.
(c) ‘Ishtar’ is the Goddess of fertility, love, war and sex.
Question 5:
‘I am the sigh of the sea, the laughter of the field The tears of heaven’.
(a) Who is the speaker in these lines ?
(b) How is the speaker the ‘laughter of the field’ ?
(c) ‘I am the sigh of the sea’. Explain.
Answer:
(a) Rain is the speaker in these lines.
(b) When rain falls and quenches the thirst of the field, the field becomes happy and
seems to laugh.
(c) It refers to the birth of the rain when water evaporates and rises high in the sky.
Question 6:
The field and the cloud are lovers
And between them I am a messenger of mercy.
I quench the thirst of the one I cure the ailment of the other.
(a) How is the rain ‘a messenger of mercy’ ?
(b) What does the rain do ?
(c) What do you mean by ‘ailment’ ?
Answer:
(а) Rain takes mercy on the field and the cloud (the separated lovers) and unite them by
mediating between them.
(b) Rain satisfy both the field and the cloud.
(c) ‘disease’.
Question 1:
Who plucks the pearls from the Crown of Ishtar ? Why does she do so ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
It is the daughter of dawn that plucks the pearls (rain drops) from the Crown of Ishtar,
the goddess of fertility. These pearls are picked up to give new life to seeds sown in the
earth.
Question 2:
Who drops the silver threads in the poem ‘Song of the Rain’ and who takes them
? (CBSE 2014)
Or
List any two things that happen when the ‘dropped silver threads from heaven’ fall on
the earth. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
God drops the silver threads (series of sparkling rain drops looking like silver threads)
down on the earth. When the silver threads, that is, rain drops, fall, fields, gardens and
valleys become happy and look beautifully adorned.
Question 3:
How do the hills, flowers and fields respond to the arrival of the rain ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
When the rain comes, hills, flowers and fields become happy. They get decorated and
look fresh and beautiful. The rain seems to give them new life.
Question 4:
How does the rain embrace the flowers and trees in the poem ‘Song of the Rain’
? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The rain embraces flowers and trees with tenderness and affection. Flowers begin to
bloom. Everything in nature is rejuvenated and looks fresh and colourful.
Question 5:
Why are all the things elated when the rain falls ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
All the things are elated when the rain falls. It is so because the rain brings life and
rejuvenate everything. The thirst of fields is quenched. Everything in nature looks fresh,
green and beautiful.
Question 6:
How do you think the rain quenches the thirst of the fields and cures the ailment of the
clouds ?
Answer:
Fields and clouds are like lovers. They want to get united. When the rain falls, the thirst
of the fields is quenched and the clouds get cured of its love sickness.
Question 7:
How is the rain a “messenger of mercy” ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The rain takes pity on the fields and the cloud. When it falls, it rejuvenates
fields, plants and trees. It also cures the ‘love-sickness’ of the cloud.
Question 8:
Explain the line ‘All can hear hut only the sensitive can understand’ from the poem ‘Song
of the Rain’. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The welcome song of the rain is heard by all. But only those who are sensitive and can
feel can understand its meaning and enjoy it.
Question 9:
How has rain been personified in the poem ‘Song of the Rain’ ?
Answer:
The rain has been personified in many ways. It is seen as a manifestation of new life, a
messenger of mercy, etc. It is also viewed as the sigh of the sea, the laughter of the
field and the tears of heaven.
Question 10:
‘I am sigh of the sea, the laughter of the field and tears of heaven’. Explain.
Answer:
The poet sees the whole phenomenon of the origin, birth and death of rain poetically.
When water evaporates and rises up in the sky, it seems to sigh. In this sense, the rain is
the sigh of the sea. When rain drops fall from the sky, they look like tears of heaven. The
fields seem to laugh when the rain falls. In this sense, the rain is the laughter of the
field.
Question 11:
What are the different intensities with which the rain falls ?
Answer:
When the rain falls heavily the hills cry out in joy. A loud sound is produced. When the
rain falls lightly it makes flowers rejoice. When it drizzles, everyone enjoys it and feels
happy.
Question 12:
Notice the imagery built around ‘sigh of the sea’, ‘laughter of the field’ and ‘tears of
heaven’. Explain the three expressions in the context of rain.
Answer:
‘Sigh of the sea’ is a brilliant image. It creates an image of the soft, gentle and tender
movement of the sea when the rain falls in it.
‘Laughter of the fields’ is a beautiful image. It creates an image of the happiness of the
field when the rain falls on it and quenches its thirst.
‘Tears of heaven’ is a subtle image. It creates an image of the drops of the rain falling
from the sky on the earth when the cloud bursts. When the cloud bursts, it dies. So the
drops of rain are referred to as the tears of heaven.
Question 13:
“I am like earthly life……………. ”
Why does the poet call rain as earthly life ?
Answer:
The poet calls rain as earthly life because the fate of rain is like that of man on the
earth. When the child is bom, it grows up into the young man and then an old man, and
finally dies in the end. Similarly, rain is bom in the form of a cloud in the sky. When the
cloud bursts, it dies.
Question 14:
Explain the ending of the poem.
Answer:
At the end of the poem, the rain declares affectionately that it is the sigh of the deep
sea, the laughter of the colourful fields and the tears (drops of water)of the sky. When
the rain falls in the sea, it (the sea) sighs. When the rain falls on the fields and quenches
their thirst, the fields rejoice, become colourful and feel happy. When the cloud bursts, it
becomes rain. The cloud dies and the drops of rain (tears of heaven) fall on the earth.
Question 15:
“When I cry the hills laugh,
When I humble myself the flowers rejoice,
When I bow, all things are elated.”
Cry, humble and bow indicate different intensity with which the rain falls.
Explain the three in context.
Answer:
Cry : When the rain falls heavily on the hills, they produce the sound of laughter.
Humble : When the rain falls gently and softly, the flowers bloom and rejoice. Bow :
When the rain changes itself into a soft drizzle, all things are elated.
Literature Reader Chapter 13 Villa for Sale
Question 1.
If you could buy your dream house today what are some specific features you would
want for your house? Write them in the bubbles below:
Answer:
Question 2.
Discuss with your partner the similarities and dissimilarities in your dream house.
Answer:
For self-attempt.
Question 3.
See page textbook on page 95.
Answer:
For self-attempt.
Question 4.
Copy and complete the following paragraph about the theme of the play using the clues
given in the box below. Remember that there are more clues than required.
sell, buying, house, enthusiastic, comes, 200 thousand francs, taking, favour, get, sleeps,
money, 300 thousand francs, unhappy, his in-laws, walks in, strikes, keep
Juliette, the owner of a Villa, wants to 1. it as she is in need of 2. Moreover, she is not
in 3. of the house. Jeanne and Gaston, a couple, visit her with the aim of 4. the villa.
While Jeanne is 5. high ceiling good surroundings about buying, Gaston detests the idea
as he does not want his 6. in that house. Also, he finds the asking price of 7. to be
expensive. When Jeanne and Juliette go around the house another customer 8. and
starts talking to Gaston 9. him to be Juliette’s husband. Gaston 1o. a deal with the
customer by which he is able to give 11. to the owner and 12.
himself.
Answer:
1. sell
2. money
3. favour
4. buying
5. enthusiastic
6. in-laws
7. 200 thousand francs
8. walks in
9. taking
10. strikes
11. two hundred thousand francs
12. keep
Question 5.
(a) Why does Jeanne want to buy a villa?
(b) Why is Gaston not interested in buying the villa in the beginning?
(c) Mrs. A1 Smith makes many statements about the French. Pick out any two and
explain them.
(d) Juliette says “ now I have only one thought that is to get the wretched place off my
hands. I would sacrifice it at any price.” Does she stick to her words? Why/ Why not?
(e) Who is better in business—Juliette or Gaston? Why?
(f) Do you like/dislike Gaston? Give your reasons.
Answer:
(a) Jeanne wants to buy a villa for her old parents.
(b) Gaston is not interested in buying the villa in the beginning. He is very clear that his
wife Jeanne is not buying the villa for themselves. She wants to put her father and
mother in it. Her parents would take possession of it every year from April to
September. They would also bring all her sister’s children with them. Therefore, he
starts finding fault with the villa and its excessive price.
(c) Mrs. A1 Smith makes many statements about the French. She asks Gaston to
consult his wife before making a deal. Gaston replies that he need not consult her. Mrs.
A1 Smith considers Gaston an ‘exception’. She comments, “Frenchmen usually have to
consult about ten people before they get a move on.” Her next comment is that “the
French think about the past all the time while Americans always think about the future.
She also mocks at the funny way of the Frenchmen while doing business deals.
(d) Juliette tells her maid that she wants “of get the wretched place off’ her hands. She
is ready to sacrifice it at any price. But she doesn’t stick to her words. She demands two
hundred and fifty thousand francs. Gaston finds it “decidedly excessive”. Then she tells
him that she can’t let it go for less than two hundred thousand francs. She is interested
in making a bargain. She accepts two hundred thousand francs when the final deal is
made.
(e) Gaston is definitely better in business. Juliette is also a hard bargainer. She pretends
that she is going to sell the wretched place at any price. But she makes a bargain at two
hundred thousand francs. She thinks that she is outsmarting Gaston. But Gaston proves
more than her. He outsmarts both—Juliette and Mrs. A1 Smith. He buys the house in
two hundred thousand and sells it for three thousands francs to Mrs. A1 Smith. In the
bargain he saves a cool hundred thousand francs.
(f) It is rather difficult to dislike Gaston. He is a man of this world with the vices and
virtues of a worldly-wise businessman. He is not interested in buying the villa : He
knows that his wife is simply trying to put up her father and mother in it. What is more,
all the children of his wife’s sister will live with them. However, he changes his stand in
the end. He realises that he can earn one hundred thousand francs by outwitting both
Mrs. A1 Smith and Juliette.
Question 6.
Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow by choosing the
correct options:
(A) But the sign has been hanging on the gate for over a month now and I am beginning
to be afraid that the day I bought it was when I was the real fool.
(a) Why is Juliette disappointed?
(i) She is unable to get a role of cook in the films.
(ii) Her maid is leaving as she has got a role in the films.
(iii) She is unable to find a suitable buyer for her villa.
(iv) Gaston is offering a very low price for the villa.
Answer:
(iii) She is unable to find a suitable buyer for her villa.
(b) Why does she call herself a fool?

(i) She has decided to sell her villa.
(ii) There are no buyers for the villa.
(iii) She had bought the villa for more than it was worth.
(iv) The villa was too close to the film studios.
Answer:
(i) She has decided to sell her villa.
(B) ‘But your parents would take possession of it, every year from the beginning of
spring until the end of September. What’s more, they would bring the whole tribe of your
sister’s children with them.’
(a) What does Gaston mean by ‘take possession’?
(i) Her parents would stay with them for a long time.
(ii) Juliette’s sister has many children.
(iii) Gaston does not like children.
(iv) Juliette’s sister’s children are badly behaved.
Answer:
(a) (i) Her parents would stay with them for a long time.
(C) ‘While you were upstairs, I have been thinking a lot about your Papa and Mamma. ’
(a) What is the discrepancy between what Gaston said earlier and what he says now?
(i) Earlier he did not want Jeanne’s parents to stay with them but now he is showing
concern for them.
(ii) Earlier he wanted Jeanne’s parents to stay with them but now he does not want
them to come over.
(iii) Earlier he wanted to buy a house for them but now he wants them to come and stay
in their villa.
(iv) Earlier he stayed in Jeanne’s parents’ villa but now he wants them to stay with him
and Jeanne’s.
Answer:
(i) Earlier he did not want Jeanne’s parents to stay with them but now he is showing
concern for them.
(b) What does the above statement reveal about Gaston’s character?
(i) He is selfish.
(ii) He is an opportunist.
(iii) He is a caring person.
(iv) He is a hypocrite.
Answer:
(ii) He is an opportunist.
Question 7.
Select words from the box to describe the characters in the play as revealed by the
following lines. You may take the words from the box given on the next page:
Lines from the play Speaker Quality revealed
One hundred thousand francs if necessary and that’s

(a) greedy
only twice what it cost me.
If you don’t want the house, tell me so at once and we

(b)
’ll say no more about it.
No! I am very fond of your family, but not quite so

(c) Gaston
fond as that.
(d) Quite so. I have, but you haven’t.
I have never cared such a damned little about

(e)
anybody’s opinion.
On the principle of people who like children and
(f)
haven’t any can always go and live near a school.
The garden is not very large, but you see, it is

(g) Juliette
surrounded by other gardens.
I will be philanthropic and let you have it for two

(h)
hundred thousand.
I have been thinking a lot about your Papa and

(i) clever
Mamma. You see, I am really unselfish.
Answer:
One hundred thousand francs if necessary and that’s

(a) Juliette greedy
only twice what it cost me.
If you don’t want the house, tell me so at once and we
(b) Jeanne critical
’ll say no more about it.
No! I am very fond of your family, but not quite so

(c) Gaston disapproving
fond as that.
(d) Quite so. I have, but you haven’t. Gaston domineering
1 have never cared such a damned little about

(e) Gaston overbearing/ haugh
anybody’s opinion.
On the principle of people who like children and

(f) Gaston witty
haven’t any can always go and live near a school.
The garden is not very large, but you see, it is

(g) Juliette cunning
surrounded by other gardens.
I will be philanthropic and let you have it for two

(h) Juliette boastful
hundred thousand.
I have been thinking a lot about your Papa and
(i) Gaston clever
Mamma. You see, I am really unselfish.
Listening Task
Question 8.
Listen carefully to the description of a Villa on sale. Based on the information, draw the
sketch of the Villa being described.
Answer:
For self-attempt.
Question 9.
You are Jeanne. After coming home you realise that the villa was not actually bought
and your husband has fooled both you and the landlady of the villa. You are filled with
rage, disgust and helplessness because of your husband’s betrayal. Write your feelings
in the form of a diary entry.
Answer:
Nogent-sur-Mame. 20th July, 20XX.
All my dreams have ended in smoke. My husband, Mr. Gaston, has fooled both of us,
me and the landlady of the villa. It is too much. There’s a limit to everything. Mr.
Gaston’s main concern is money. He knows it that I wanted to buy the villa not only for
ourselves but also for my parents. The cunning Mr. Gaston went on finding faults with
the villa only not to buy it. Then suddenly comes the change. I was surprised how he got
ready to buy the villa in two hundred thousand. He had rejected it just a while ago. He
was not ready to pay more than sixty thousand. I was oveijoyed when he finally made
the deal. I thought that the villa had been bought for us and my parents. Little did I know
that Mr. Gaston was befooling all, myself, Juliette and Mrs. A1 Smith. He had earned a
neat one hundred thousand francs in the …bargain. But I have lost both—the villa and my
husband’s confidence.
Question 10.
Now dramatise the play. Form groups of eight to ten students. Within each group, you
will need to choose
 a director, who will be overall incharge of the group’s presentation.

 the cast, to play the various parts.
 someone to be in charge of costumes.
 someone to be in charge of props.
 a prompter.
Within your groups, do ensure that you

 read both scenes, not just your part within one scene if you are acting.
 discuss and agree on the stage directions.
 read and discuss charafcterisation.
 hold regular rehearsals before the actual presentation. Staging
The stage can be very simple, with exits on either side representing doors to the outside
and to the rest of the house respectively.
Answer:
Question 1.
Not at all. Mind you, if someone had bought it on the very day I placed it for safe, then I
might have felt sorry because I would have wondered if I hadn’t been a fool to sell it at
all. But the sign has been hanging on the gate for over a month now and I am beginning
to be afraid that the day I bought it was when I was the real fool.” (Page 96)
(a) How would the speaker have felt if someone had bought the villa on the very day she
placed it for sale?
(b) What has been hanging on the gate for over a month now?
(c) How does the speaker feel now?
Answer:
(a) If someone had bought the villa on the very day she placed it for sale, the speaker
might have felt sorry. She would have wondered if she had been a fool to sell at all.
(b) The sign ‘Villa for Sale’ has been hanging on the gate for over a month now.
(c) The speaker feels that she was the real fool the day she brought that villa.
Question 2.
For the first week, I was annoyed every time I passed that ‘Villa for Sale’ sign. The
neighbours
seemed to look at me in such a strange kind of way that I began to think the whole thing
was going to be much more of a sell than a sale. (Page 96)
(a) Why was the speaker annoyed?
(b) How did the whole thing become a ‘sell’ than a sale?
(c) Name the speaker and the play from which these lines have been taken.
Answer:
(a) The speaker was impatient to dispose of her villa and had put up a ‘Villa for sale’
sign for this purpose. She was annoyed as she couldn’t get a suitable buyer for the villa
even waiting for a long time.
(b) Juliette had waited for a long time but couldn’t find a suitable buyer for her villa. The
whole thing became quite distressing and disappointing rather than a sale.
(c) Juliette, the owner of the villa is the speaker and these lines have been taken from
Sacha Guitry’s play ‘Villa for Sale’.
Question 3.
That was a month ago and now I have only one thought, that is to get the wretched
place off
my hands. I would sacrifice it at any price. One hundred thousand francs if necessary
and that’s only twice what it cost me. (Page 96)
(a) What does the speaker think about the villa?
(b) Whatis she ready for?
(c) Is she really sacrificing the villa at any price? Give a reasoned answer.
Answer:
(a) The speaker has only one thought in her mind. She wants to get the ‘wretched’ villa
offher hands as soon as possible.
(b) She is ready to sacrifice or get the villa offher hands at any price.
(c) No, Juliette is a perfect saleswoman. Even the lowest price she may demand (one
hundred thousand francs) is only twice what it cost her.
Question 4.
Oh! I’m fed up with the place. Because nobody really wants it! What time did those
agency
people say the lady would call? (Page 96)
(a) Who was fed up with the place and why?
(b) Who was coming and what was her objective of coming there?
(c) Was the speaker really ready to sacrifice her villa ‘at any price’?
Answer:
(a) Juliette, the owner of the villa was fed up with the place as she couldn’t get a
suitable buyer for it. She was distressed at not selling it as she had expected.
(b) Mr. Gaston and Jeanne were coming to see and buy Juliette’s villa.
(c) No, the speaker, Juliette was only pretending to sacrifice her villa at any price. She
wanted not even a franc less than two hundred thousand, twice the actual cost of the
villa.
Question 5.
They want a cook in the film as well. They asked me if I knew of anybody suitable. You
said just now. Madame, that times were hard. …Would you like me to get you the
engagement?
(Page 97)
(a) Who were ‘they’ and what did they want?
(b) Who had said that “times were hard” and to whom?
(c) What did the speaker say about the ‘engagement’?
Answer:
(a) ‘They’ were the people at Joinvilla Studio. They wanted someone to play the role of a
cook in their forthcoming film.
(b) Once Juliette, disappointed and dejected, declared that “times were very hard” for
her. She was speaking to her maid.
(c) The speaker told Juliette that she had already talked to the people at the Studio
regarding her role as a cook in the film. She was only waiting for her reply.
Question 6.
“They might take you on for eight days, Madame. That would mean eight hundred
francs. It’s really money for nothing. You would have to peel potatoes one minute and
make an omlette the next, quite easy.” (Page 97)
(a) Who would take and whom for eight days?
(b) What would working for eight days mean?
(c) Why would she have to peel potatoes and make an omlette?
Answer:
(a) The people at the Joinville Studio could employ Juliette for eight days for the role of
a cook in a film.
(b) Working for eight days would mean a cool eight hundred francs.
(c) She would have to peel potatoes and make an omlette as her role as a cook in the
film demanded it.
Question 7.
“It’s not lbr us … it’s for your parents. You are simply trying to make me buy a villa so
that you can put your father and your mother in it. You see, I know you. If you got want
you want, do you realise what would happen? We would spend the month of August in
the villa, but your parents would take possession of it every year from the beginning of
April until the end of September.” (Page 99)
(a) Why is she trying to make him buy a villa?
(b) What would happen, if she got what she wanted?
(c) Does the speaker want to buy the villa? If not, why?
Answer:
(a) Gaston thinks that his wife Jeanne is trying to make him buy villa not for them but
for her parents.
(b) Her parents would take possession of the villa and would bring even her sister’s
children with them.
(c) No, the speaker is not interested in buying the villa. He knows that his wife is simply
trying to make him buy it for her parents.
Question 8.
What’s more they would bring the whole tribe of your sister’s children with them. No! I
am very fond of your family, but not quite so fond as that. (Page 99)
(a) Who is the speaker and what is the occasion?
(b) What is the speaker’s fear?
(c) Explain: “but not quite so fond as that.”
Answer:
(a) Mr. Gaston is the speaker of these lines. He has come with his wife Jeanne to see
Juliette’s villa which is for sale.
(b) The speaker knows that his wife Jeanne is buying the villa to put her father and
mother in it. His fear is that they will also bring her sister’s children to live with them.
(c) Mr. Gaston says that he is quite fond of her wife’s family. But he reminds her very
frankly that he is not so fond of her family as to keep her sister’s children with him in his
house.
Question 9.
‘Quite so. I have, but you haven’t. Anyway, there’s no use discussing it. I will not buy a
villa and that ends it. ’ (Page 100)
(a) Who is speaking and to whom?
(b) What has the speaker made while this other person hasn’t?
(c) What does the speaker finally decide and why?
Answer:
(a) Mr. Gaston is speaking here to his wife Jeanne.
(b) The speaker claims that he has made a fortune and earned the money. He tells his
wife that she hasn’t earned that money.
(c) The speaker finally decides not to buy Juliette’s. He fears that his wife wants him to
buy it for her parents.
Question 10.
1 tell you what I will do. I will be philanthropic and let you have it for two hundred
thousand. (Page 102)
(a) Who is telling whom?
(b) Why does the speaker claim to be philanthropic?
(c) Is the speaker really trying to be philanthropic? Give an example from the text.
Answer:
(a) Juliette, owner of the villa, is talking to Mr. Gaston.
(b) The speaker claims to be philanthropic as she is ‘sacrificing’ the villa at a throwaway
price just to help Mr. Gaston and Jeanne.
(c) No, the speaker has no intention to be philanthropic. She is a perfect saleswoman
who doesn’t want to sell the villa not even a franc less than two hundred thousand.
Question 11.
You are an exception. Frenchmen usually have to consult about ten people before they
get a move on. (Page 103)
(a) Who is the speaker and what is her profession?
(b) Why is the speaker interested in buying that villa?
(c) Why does the speaker feel that Mr. Gaston is an exception?
Answer:
(a) The speaker is Mrs. A1 Smith, a Hollywood actress who was going to sho*ot some
films at the Paramount Studio.
(b) Mrs. A1 Smith was interested in buying the villa as it was near Paramount Studio
where she was going to shoot some films.
(c) The American lady, Mrs. A1 Smith thinks that Frenchmen can’t decide anything
promptly. They consult about ten people before deciding a thing. Mr. Gaston was an
exception as he made the deal so fast and without consulting anyone.
Question 12.
You folk are queer. You think about the past all the time. We always think about the
future. (Page 104)
(a) What do the words “You” and “We” stand here for?
(b) Why does the speaker say that Frenchmen are ‘queer’?
(c) How do the speaker and her countrymen differ from Frenchmen?
Answer:
(a) Here the word ‘You’ stands for Frenchmen and ‘We’ stands for the Americans.
(b) The French people are really funny and strange as they always think about the past
unlike the Americans.
(c) The speaker and her countrymen always think about the future while Frenchmen
think about the past all the time.
follow:
Question 1:
“While you were upstairs, I had been thinking a lot about your papa and mamma.”
(a) Who spoke these words and to whom?
(b) How does the statement differ from the statement made by him earlier?
(c) What impression do you form about the speaker? (Board Term I 2015,
BR7GWHM)
Answer:
(a) Gaston speaks these words to jeanne.
(b) Earlier he did not want Jeanne’s parents to stay with them but now he is showing
concarn for them.
(c) He is a selfish and hypocritical man.
Question 2:
Mind you, if someone had bought it on the very day I placed it for sale, then I might have
felt sorry because I would have wondered if I hadn’t been a fool to sell at all.
(a) How long ago had the speaker put up her Villa for sale?
(b) Why would she have considered herself a fool if she had managed to sell it on the
day she put up the notice?
(c) In what way is. her remark ironic? (Board Term I 2014,
FROK4WI)
Answer:
(a) The speaker had put up her villa for sale more than a month ago.
(b) Because then she would have realized the villa’s true Worth too late.
(c) She is fooled by Gaston and loses a lot of money. (CBSE Marking Scheme,
2014) (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 3:
Please don’t joke, Gaston. What this lady says is perfectly right.Will you tell me,
Madame, what price you are asking for the Villa?
(a) Who asks Gaston not to joke? Who does ‘this lady’ refer to?
(b) What was the joke told by Gaston?
(c) Why was Gaston joking while speaking to the lady? (Board Term I
2014, NCT-R)
Answer:
(a) Jeanne asks Gaston not to joke. ‘This lady refers to Juliette.
(b) ‘On the principle of people who like children and haven’t any can always go and live
near a school’.
(c) Gaston was joking because he was not at all interested in buying the
villa. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 4:
“You are an exception.Frenchmen usually have to consult about ten people before they
get a move on listen! Do you or don’t you want to sell this house?”
(b) Who is being talked about here?
(c) What is the nationality of the speaker? (Board
Term I 2012, Set 34)
Answer:
(a) Mrs. Al. Smith a Hollywood filmmaker.
(b) Frenchmen.
(c) American.
(1 × 3 = 3)
Question 5:
“You said just now, Madame, that times were hard…
Would you like me to get you the engagement?
(a) Who speaks these lines and to whom?
(b) Were ‘times’ really bad for Madame?
(c) What ‘engagement’ was the speaker talking about? (Board
Answer:
(a) These lines are spoken by the Maid to the Juliette.
(b) Yes, the times were really bad for the Madame.She was hard pressed for money.
(c) The speaker was talking about the rote of a cook in a
film. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 6:
“Nobody thinks about anything else round here now. You see, they pay so well. The
manager is offering a thousand francs for a real beggar who has had nothing to eat for
two days.”
(b) To whom is she speaking?
(c) What proposal does she make to the listener? (Board
Answer:
(a) The Maid.
(b) Juliette.
(c) The Maid proposes to the listener to take up a rote in a film in order to supplement
her dwindling
income. (1
× 3 = 3)
Question 7:
“That was a month ago and now I have only one thought, that is to get the wretched
place off my hands. I would sacrifice it at any price.One hundred thousand francs if
necessary and that’s only twice what it cost me.”
(a) Who is the speaker in the above lines?
(b) ‘Why does the speaker refer to the place as ‘wretched’?
(c) How much will the speaker sell the place for? (Board
Answer:
(a) Juliette.
(b) Juliette was in need of money and no one had come to purchase the villa yet. So,
she refers to the place as wretched.
(c) 100 thousand
francs. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 8:
“I made a hundred thousand francs and a Corot!”
(a) Who is the speaker here? What question is he/she answering?
(b) ‘A Corot’ What does this expression mean in the conversation?
(c) What quality of the speaker’s character is revealed here? (Board Term I
2012, Set 39)
Answer:
(a) The speaker is Gaston. He is talking about the profit he has made.
(b) A Corot refers to the painting of the great French painter.
(c) It shows that the speaker is shrewd and money-
minded. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 9:
“I am going upstairs for a moment. If that is the lady, tell her I will not be long. It won’t
do to give her the impression that I am waiting for her.”
(a) Who speaks these words to whom?
(b) Who is the ‘lady’ here? Why is she expected to visit the speaker?
(c) What does the speaker try to pretend here? (Board Term I
2012, Set 40)
Answer:
(a) Juliette to her maid.
(b) The lady is Jeanne who had come to see the villa. .
(c) Juliette was trying to show that she was not waiting for Jeanne. She didn’t want to
seem too eager.
(1 × 3 = 3)
Question 10:
“But the sign has been hanging on the gate for over a month now and I am beginning to
be afraid that the day I bought it was when I was the real fool.”
(a) Who is the speaker in the above extract?
(b) What sign has been hanging on the gate for more than a month?
(c) Why does the Speaker feel that she was a fool? (Board Term I 2012, Set
41,42)
Answer:
(a) Juliette.
(b) for Sale’ was the sigh hanging on the gate for more than a month.
(c) The speaker felt that she was foolish to have purchased the villa. She also felt that
she had paid more than it was
worth. (1×3=3)
Question 11:
“I am going upstairs for a moment. If that is the lady, tell her I will not be long. It won’t
do to give her the impression that I am waiting for her.”
(a) Why is the speaker going upstairs?
(b) ‘It Won’t do to give her the impression’, what impression is the speaker talking
about?
(c) What character traits of the speaker are revealed in the above passage? (Board
Answer:
(a) The speaker is going upstairs to avoid the lady.
(b) The speaker is talking about the impression that there were no buyers for the villa.
(c) The speaker is calculating, clever and
pretentious. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 12:
“You are an exception. Frenchmen usually have to consult about ten people before they
get a move on,”
(a) Who is the speaker?
(b) Why is the speaker interested in buying that villa?
(c) Why does the speaker feel that Mr. Gaston is an exception? (Board Term I
2012, Set 44)
Answer:
(a) Mrs. Al. Smith, a Hollywood film maker.
(b) The speaker is interested in buying the villa because it is near Paramount Studios
where she was supposed to shoot for a movie.
(c) The speaker feels that Mr. Gatson is an exception because he made the deal very
fast and did not consult
anyone. (1
× 3 = 3)
Question 13:
‘I tell you what I will do. I will be philanthropic and let you have it for two hundred
thousand.”
(a) Who is the speaker?
(b) What is the speaker going to do?
(c) What is two hundred thousand? (Board Term I
2012, Set 45)
Answer:
(a) The speaker is Juliette.
(b) The speaker is going to sell her villa.
(c) Two hundred thousand francs is the selling price for the
villa. (1 × 3 = 3)
Question 14:
“You folk are queer. You think about the past all time. We always think about the future.”
(a) Who are ‘you’ and ‘we’ here?
(b) What is the difference between ‘you’ and’ we?
(c) Why does the speaker can “you” queer? (Board Term I
2012, Set 46)
Answer:
(a) ‘You’ are the Frenchmen while ‘we’ are the Americans.
(b) Difference between the Frenchmen and the Americans is in the thinking about past
and future respectively.
(c) The speaker calls the Frenchmen queer because they think about the
past. (1 × 3 = 3)
marks each)
Question 1:
What was the maid’s suggestion to Juliette in the play ‘A Villa For Sale’?
(Board Term I,2015 6SOOKQ5)
Answer:
Value Points:
Maid shows concern-suggests she join the movie she was acting in offers to teach her
cooking.
Detailed Answer: As Juliette’s business was hitting an all time low, her maid suggested
her to play the part of a cook in a movie so as to earn some money she also offered to
teach her cooking.
Question 2:
Why was Mrs. Al Smith not interested in going over the house?
(Board Term I,2015 6SOOKQ5)
Answer:
Value Points:
She wanted to bring it down and raise a new building. (CBSE Marking
Scheme, 2015)
Detailed Answer : Mrs. Al Smith, an American lady, wanted a place near Paramount
where she was going to shoot some films so she wanted to bring the villa down and
raise a new building convenient for her So she was not interested in going over the
house.
Question 3:
Does Sacha Guitry’s ‘ A Villa For Sale’ define human behaviour through the character of
Gaston? Give reasons.
(Board Term I,2015 BR7GWHM)
Answer:
Yes, the playwright, devised Gaston’s character to satirize the vices that exist in
man owing to competition for material acquisitions.Gaston is selfish and makes every
attempt not for his wife.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2015)
Question 4:
Why does Juliette call her house ‘a wretched place’? (Board Term I,2015
BR7GWHM)
Answer:
Value Points:
(a) Juliette could not get any prospective buyers.
(b) The sign ‘For Sale’ had been put up for one month. (CBSE Marking
Scheme, 2015)
Detailed Answer: The sign ‘For Sale’ had been put up for one month by Juliette. She was
expecting a healthy deal, but could not get any prospective buyers. This set her calling
her house ‘a wretched place’,
Question 5:
Why is Gaston not interested in buying the villa in the beginning?
(Board Term 1,2013 AGRO091; 2012, Set 28)
Answer:
Gaston was reluctant to buy the villa because he thought his wife was buying it for her
parents, who would bring her sister’s children with them.
Question 6:
What is your impression about Mrs. Al Smith? (Board Term I, 2013
XIT1MG7; 2012, Set 37)
Answer:
Mrs. Al. Smith is a rich American lady who is engaged in making films. She is a self-
opinionated, over-confident and a brusque lady. She is prejudiced against the French
people and has a high opinion of Americans. In the end, she is outsmarted by Gaston,
who is a Frenchman.
Question 7:
How did Jeanne react to Gaston’s decision to purchase the villa? (Board Term I,2012,
Set 51)
Answer:
Jeanne was extremely surprised at Gaston’s decision to purchase the villa. She was
taken aback by her husband’s views and his sudden change of plans.
Question 8:
What proposal does the maid make to Juliette? Why? (Board Term I,2012,
Set 35)
Answer:
The maid’s proposal to Juliette was that she should accept the role of a cook in a film
as she was facing great financial difficulties.
Question 9:
Why did Gaston quote three hundred thousand francs for the villa? (Board Term
I,2012, Set 52)
Answer:
Gaston did not want to spend money on a villa that would later be utilized more by his
wife’s parents and her sister’s children. He quoted only three thousand francs for the
villa with an expectation that the owner would refuse to sell off the villa at such a low
price and he then would not be forced by his wife any longer.
Question 10:
Why was Jeanne so desperate to buy a villa in the play, ‘A Villa for Sale’? (Board
Term I,2012, Set 38)
Or
Why does Jeanne want to buy a villa? (Textual)
Answer:
Jeanne was desperate to buy a villa for her parents so that they could come and stay
with Jeanne for a month or so every year. She also wanted to make a modern kind of
study.
Question 11:
Who is better in business—Juliette or Gaston? Why? (Board Term I,2012, Set 53;
2010, Set C1, C2)
Or
How does Gaston eventually prove himself better in business than Juliette? (Board
Term I,2010, Set 1)
Answer:
Gaston was a better businessman as he outsmarts Juliette in making a deal. Juliette
waits for one month before, Gaston sells it within seconds, without even buying it, and
that too at a much higher price.
Question 12:
Briefly describe Mrs. Al Smith. (Board Term
1- 2012, Set 55)
Answer:
Mrs. Al Smith is an American lady who works in films. She is a rich business woman
who does not like, to waste time. She is highly self-opinionated and a jingoist. She is
thoroughly professional by nature and quick in taking decisions.
Question 13:
What were the expectations of Juliette after putting the ‘Villa for Sale’ sign?
(Board Term I 2012, Set 59)
Answer:
Juliette was facing hard time as her business was running very low. She decided to sell
off her villa. Since it was near Joinville, the French Hollywood, she was expecting to find
a buyer soon who would be willing to buy it for a good price.
Question 14:
Explain “the whole thing was going to be much more of a sell than a sale.”
Answer:
Juliette had put her villa for sale expecting a healthy deal but even after a period of one
month, she could not strike a good deal as there were hardly any buyers. This set her
thinking that the task of selling the villa may not be a profitable proposal. Rather it may
prove to be a great disappointment.
Question 15:
What were the flaws pointed out by Gaston in the villa put up for sale by Juliette?
Answer:
Gaston pointed out that the garden was merely a yard with a patch of grass in the
middle. The salon was impossible and the one existing could not be called a salon. He
felt that the 25 yards of cretonne and a desk of paint was no special offer at all.
Question 16:
“On the principle of people who like children and haven’t any can always go and live near
a school.” Explain this comment
contextually. (Board Term I 2012, Set 65)
Answer:
Gaston made this comment in response to Juliette’s observation that even though the
garden of the villa was very small yet it made no difference as it was surrounded by
other gardens. In harmony with this line of thought, people who don’t have children of
their own but like children, ran go and live near a school
Question 17:
In what way did Juliette flatter Jeanne? (Board
Answer:
Juliette flattered Jeanne by saying that the villa would suit her as she suited it and also
by saying that there was no other graceful house for the elegant lady Jeanne.
Question 18:
Why is Mrs. Al Smith in a hurry? (Board
Answer:
Mrs. Al Smith was a film maker. She did not waste time as she always had a lot of work
to do. She did not have time for petty things. Hence, she was always in a hurry.
Question 19:
Why was Juliette disappointed? (Board Term I
2012, Set 70)
Answer:
Juliette was in a hurry to dispose off the villa as her business was very low. As the villa
was near Joinville, near French Hollywood, she was expecting to find a buyer soon for a
lucrative price. She felt disappointed as she was unable to find a suitable buyer for her
villa even after a month.
Question 20:
Why did Mrs. Al Smith want to buy the Villa? (Board Term I
2010, Set B1)
Answer:
Mrs. Al Smith was an American lady who worked in films. She wanted a place near
Paramount where she was going to shoot some films as it would be quite convenient
for her.
Question 21:
Give any two personality traits of Jeanne. Support your answer with examples.
(Board Term I 2010, Set C2)
Answer:
Two personality traits of Jeanne are as follows:
(i) Jeanne is easily impressed. Juliette’s praise of her impresses her and she Feels
flattered.
(ii) She is docile. She takes her criticism lightly.
Question 22:
In the end, Gaston has changed his views of buying the Villa. Give reasons to support
your answer.
(Board Term I 2010, Set A1)
Answer:
He has done better business during the absence of Juliette and Jeanne. Being an
opportunist, he Ranges his mood of buying the Villa in the end.
Question 23:
Why did the maid agree to act in the film? (Board Term I
2010, Set A1)
Answer:
Her mistress gave her a fixed salary and she would earn much more by acting daily for
one hour only. So, the maid agreed to act in films to add spice to her salary.
Question 24:
Gaston was indeed a clever businessman. Explain. (Board
Term I 2010, Set B2)
Answer:
Gaston really proved to be a clever businessman. Very cleverly he sold Juliette’s Villa,
pretending to be its real owner, for three hundred thousand francs. He then bought the
villa for two hundred thousand francs, thus making a cool hundred thousand francs
profit for himself.
Question 25:
While you were upstairs, I have been thinking a lot about Papa and Mama. Describe how
Gaston contradicts himself through this dialogue. (Board
Term I 2010, Set C2)
Answer:
Earlier, he did not want Jeanne’s parents to stay with them, but now he is showing
concern for them.

each)
Question 1:
Do you agree that Mrs, Al Smith is the representative of the American outlook. How?
(Board Term I 2014, FROK4WI)
Answer:
I do agree that Mrs. Al Smith is the representative of American outlook. She is always
complaining that the French people have a queer way of doing business. They usually
consult ten people before they decide on anything. She takes pride in saying that the
Americans only think about the future whereas the French stick to the past. Thus she is
proud of her culture and critical of the French. She also believes that Frenchmen are
apprehensive and backward looking. She is not justified in her opinion. Gaston proves
that he is a shrewd businessman who can outsmart any American.
Question 2:
Why was Mrs. Al Smith not interested in going over the house?
(Board Term I 2014, MZPO310)
Answer:
Being an American filmmaker, Mrs. A1 Smith wanted a place near Paramount where
she was going to shoot some films. She wanted to knock the villa down and build a
bungalow in its place. So, she wasn’t interested in going over the house. Moreover, she
trusts and believes others easily. She does not care to examine and analyse Others
when she presumes that Gaston is the owner of the villa, she asks him the price of the
villa and gives him a Cheque for the amount and leaves the place in a hurry.
Question 3:
Gaston clinched a deal with Mrs. Al Smith and made a good profit. Will you call his deed
a businessman’s skill or unethical practice?Discuss the values Gaston lacked and what
would you have done if you had been Gaston? (Board Term I 2014, ZEZDXJX)
Or
How was the sale of the villa a battle of wits between Gaston and Juliette in the
play ‘villa for sale’?Discuss the values Gaston should have possessed with regard to
moral ethics.
(Board Term I 2014, FROK4WI)
Answer:
Value Points :
 juliette had thought of giving away the villa at only double the price she had
bought it. – later changes her mind on seeing Gaston and Juliette – quotes a
really high price – lower it only a little
 Gaston – not interested in buying the villa – initially – changes his mind on
meeting Mrs. Al Smith.
 Juliette doesn’t harm anybody – does business ethically.
 Values – moral standards, rightful, concerned, trustworthy.
Detalied Answer :
julitte had thought of giving away the villa at only double the price she had bought it But
later she changed her mind on seeing Gaston and Jeanne and quoted a price really
higher then its actual worth. Gaston too was not interested in buying the villa but
eventually changed his mind on meeting Mrs. Al Smith. Juliette didn’t harm as she did
business ethically. On the contrary, Gaston was unethical, manipulative, unscrupulous
and opportunistic. He first rolls in his villainy and never bothers about social or moral
values.Thus,Gaston should have possessed moral standards, righteousness and truth.
Question 4:
Imagine you are Gaston. Write a letter to your father telling him how chance and
intelligent thinking helped you make a huge profit (150 words). (Board
Answer:
43, Ashok Vihar
New Delhi
16th September, 20xx
Dear Father,
I am thrilled today as I have struck upon a deal in which I have made a huge profit.
Jeanne had a craze for a villa. I was not keen on buying one, so only went to have a look
for Jeanne’s satisfaction. Juliette, the owner of the villa, demanded two hundred
thousand francs which I felt was quite high. When Jeanne had gone upstairs to see the
villa, I came across Mrs. Al Smith, who was keen to buy the villa for three hundred
thousand francs. 1 realized it was a good opportunity to make a profit. So, I pretended
to be the owner of the house and struck a good deal with Mrs. Al Smith making a profit
of hundred thousand francs, i am sure you would appreciate my presence of mind. See
you soon.
Yours affectionately,
Gaston
Question 5:
You are Gaston. Write a diary entry expressing your Joy on having made a huge profit by
selling the villa. Also, share your feelings of regret for cheating your unsuspecting wife.
Write the diary entry in about 150 words. (Value Based Question) (Board Term I 2012,
Set 34)
Answer:
Saturday 30th December, 20xx 10.00
p.m.
Dear Diary,
Jeanne’s craze for a villa led Us to Juliett’s villa. I was uninterested in buying the villa
but went there to have a look for Jeanne’s satisfaction. When the ladies went for an
inspection of the villa, there was an entry of Mrs. Al Smith. She was in a great hurry and
hence, mistook me to be the owner of the villa. Taking advantage of the situation, 1 got
her to make a deal, thereby earning a profit of a hundred thousand francs. My wife was
pleasantly surprised when I finalized the deal with Juliette. Although I am happy to
strike this deal, at the same time I regret cheating my wife, Jeanne. She does not
suspect my actions. Tomorrow, I shall tell her the reality. Hope she too will excuse me
this time. I pledge not to cheat her again in the future. It was immoral and unethical to
indulge in such an act. I shouldn’t have betrayed her confidence. I shall apologise to her,
first thing in the morning.
Thank you diary.
Question 6:
Imagine you are Jeanne Gaston’s wife. You come to know about Gaston’s dishonest
deal. Write a letter to Mrs. Juliette revealing the truth mid requesting her to cancel the
deal with Gaston and to sign a fresh, deal with Mrs. A1 Smith in 150
words. (Value Based Question) (Board Term I 2012, Set 50)
Answer:
43, Ashok Vihar
New Delhi
2nd January, 20 xx
Dear Juliette,
I am greatly disheartened and shocked by the unprincipled behaviour of my husband.
He has showed his true colours of cleverness. He has proved himself to be shrewd,
calculating, business-minded and opportunistic. Initially, he was unwilling to buy the
villa for he feared that the villa would be occupied by my parents and sister’s children.
Later I was shocked when I came to know the truth that he has cheated both you and
me. He has made a handsome profit out of the deal.
f am shocked to realize that my feelings are not important to him. I have lost trust in my
husband and want to teach him a lesson. I request you to kindly cancel the deal with
Gaston and sign a fresh deal with Mrs. Al Smith. Thanks.
Yours truly
Jeanne
Question 7:
You are Jeanne. After coming home, you realize that the villa was not actually bought
and your husband has fooled both you and the landlady of toe villa. You are filled with
rage, disgust and helplessness because of your husband’s betrayal. Write your feelings
in the form of a diary entry. (Board Term I 2012, Set 41)
Or
You are Jeanne. After coming home you realize that the villa was not actually bought
and your husband has fooled both you and toe landlady of toe villa. You are angry as
you find yourself in a helpless situation. Express your feelings in your diary. (Board
Answer:
Sunday
20thOctober,20xx 10:00p
.m.
Dear Diary,
I am full of disgust after being cheated by Gaston today. I am disheartened to learn that
I have been fooled by him. It was very selfish of him to say that he was buying toe villa
for my parents, hater, I was shocked when I came to know the truth. He has cheated
both Juliette mid myself. Now, 1 understand why he was in such a hurry to buy toe villa.
He has proved himself to be very practical and money minded. How could he be so
uncaring of my feelings? I am feeling very depressed and curse the day when I got
married to him. His behaviour has lately been very unprincipled and unscrupulous, I wish
Gaston would have behaved better I feel so helpless because of his betrayal I have
decided I shall not talk to him. .
Goodnight.
Question 8:
What does the sale of toe villa reveal about Gaston? (Board Term
I 2012, Set 44)
Answer: Jeanne wanted the villa for her parents and her sister’s children. Gaston was
not at all enthralled on account of it and found fault in the villa and said that the price
was too high for the purchase. Juliette, the owner of the villa offered two hundred
thousand francs while Mrs. Al Smith was ready to buy it for three hundred thousand
francs. As Mr. Gaston was mistaken for the owner, he struck the deal iii order to make
money. Gaston is an opportunist. He was clever and hypocritical. He could turn any
situation to his advantage. He had great presence of mind and insight into Mrs. Al
Smith’s psychology,
Question 9:
Do you think Gaston is a shrewd businessman or a plain cheater? Give reasons to
support your answer. (Value based) (Board Term I 2012, Set 60)
Answer:
Gaston was not a cheater, but a shrewd businessman. He had a strong business
instinct. Seeing Mrs. Al Smith, he sensed profit. He showed presence of mind by posing
as the owner of the villa and selling it for three hundred thousand francs. He then
bought the villa for two hundred thousand francs, thereby making a clear and effortless
profit of one hundred thousand francs.
Question 10:
You are Gaston.You reveal your fake deal with Mrs. Al Smith to your wife Jeanne and
she leaves you to stay with her parents. Write a letter to her expressing your repentance
over the issue and requesting her to come back. (Value Based Question)
Answer:
73-A, Joinville ‘
Britain
14th October, 20xx
Dear Jeanne,
I was well aware of the fact that you wanted toe villa for your parents. Though I was
disinterested1 in the beginning, I had reconciled with the situation. Entry of Mrs. Al
Smith made me sense profit and I could not refrain myself from making toe deal with
her I had.no intention of hurting you or anyone else. I just tried to grab the opportunity
that came to me. I am sorry for the betrayal and will surely undo toe wrong. ! shall buy
an equally elegant villa for your family. But please come back early.
Waiting for you.
Gaston
Literature Reader Chapter 14 The Bishop’s
Candlesticks
Discuss In Groups
Question 1.
What would you do in the following situations? Give reasons for your answer:
 If you were travelling by bus and you saw someone pick another
passenger’s pocket.
 If you found a wallet on the road.
 If you were in a shop and you saw a well- dressed lady shoplifting.
 If your best friend is getting involved with an undesirable set of friends.
 If you were in school and you saw one of your classmates steal another
child’s pen.
Answer:
 I would raise an alarm to ask others to overpower him.

 I would return it to its rightful owner or hand it over to the police.
 I would inform the police and the owner.
 I shall advise him to give up the company of the bad boys.
 I would inform the class teacher or the principal.
Question 2.
Imagine a child has been caught stealing in school. In groups of eight play the roles of
 The child caught stealing

 The child she/he stole from
 The teacher
 The headmaster
 The witnesses
Try to find the reason why the child stole and the possible advice you can give her/ him.
Should the child be punished? Or should she/he be counselled?
Answer:
Question 3.
Read the text on Page 112.
Answer:
Self study.
Question 4.
Copy and complete the following paragraph about the theme of the play in pairs:
The play deals with a 1. and 2. Bishop who is always ready to lend a 3. hand to anyone
in distress. A 4. breaks into the Bishop’s house and is 5. and warmed. The benevolence
of the Bishop somewhat 6. the convict, but, when he sees the silver candlesticks,
he 7. them, and runs away. However, he is 8. and brought back. He expects to go back
to jail, but the Bishop informs the police they are a 9. The convict is 10. by this kindness
of the Bishop and before he leaves he seeks the priest’s blessing.
Answer:
1. convict
2. a
3. helping
4. convict/thief
5. given food
6. changes the heart of
7. steals
8. caught.
9. gift given to him
10. converted/impressed
Question 5.
(a) Working in pairs give antonyms of the following words:
Answer:
Words Words
1. kind-hearted cruel-hearted/ stone- hearted
2. credulous incredulous
3. wild controlled/tamed
4. sentimental unsentimental
5. embittered delighted
6. unscrupulous scrupulous
7. generous mean
8. innocent guilty
9. forgiving revengeful
10. pious impious
11. penitent remorseless
12. trusting mistrusting
13. suspicious credulous
14. clever foolish
15. protective harmful
16. stem soft
17. sympathetic unsympathetic
18. brutal kind

19. concerned unconcerned
20. cunning straightforward
21. benevolent malevolent
22. understanding misunderstanding
23. caring Indifferent
24. honourable Dishonourable
(b) Select words from the above box to describe the characters in the play as revealed
by the following lines from the play:
1. “You told him she was feeling poorly, did you ?
And so my brother is to be kept out of bed, and

go without his supper because you told him she
was feeling poorly. ”
2. ….. “take my comforter, it will keep you warm. ”
3. “If people lie to me they are poorer, not I. ”
“You are like a child. I can’t trust you out of my
4. sight. No sooner my back is turned than you get
that minx Marie to sell the silver salt cellars. ”
“My dear there is so much suffering in the world,

5.
and I can do so very little. ”
“My mother gave them to me on—on her death
bed just after you were born, and…. and she

6.
asked me to keep them in remembrance of her,
so I would like to keep them. ”

7. “I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff. ”
8. “You have your soul to lose, my son.”
“Give me food or I’ll stick my knife in you both

9.
and help myself. ”
“…they have made me what I am, they have

10.
made me a thief. God curse them all. ”
“Why the devil are you kind to me? What do you

11.
want? ”
“I—I—didn’t believe there was any good in the
world… but somehow I—I—know you’re good, and

12.
—and it’s a queer thing to ask, but could you,
would you bless me before I go? ”
Answer:
“You told him she was feeling
poorly, did you ? And so my
brother is to be kept out of bed,

1. Persome stem, hard-hearted
and go without his supper
because you told him she was
feeling poorly. ”
……… “take my comforter, it will

2. Bishop kind-hearted, generous, caring
keep you warm. ”
“If people lie to me they are

3. Bishop forgiving
poorer, not I.”
“You are like a child. I can’t trust

4. Persome protective, concerned
you out of my sight. No sooner
my back is turned than you get

that minx Marie to sell the silver
salt cellars. ’’
“My dear there is so much
5. suffering in the world, and I can Bishop generous, kind-hearted
do so very little. ”
“My mother gave them to me
on— on her death bed just after
you were born, and………….. and

6. Bishop nostalgia, remembrance
she asked me to keep them in
remembrance of her, so I would
like to keep them. ”
“I am too old a bird to be caught

7. Convict cunning
with chaff.’’
“You have your soul to lose, my

8. Convict pity and religiosity
son. ”
“Give me food or I’ll stick my
9. knife in you both and help Convict desperate, hard-hearted
myself. ”
“…they have made me what I
10. am, they have made me a thief. Convict pitiless, revengeful
God curse them all. ”
“Why the devil are you kind to

11. Convict pitiless, rudeness
me? What do you want? ”
“I—I—didn’t believe there was
any good in the world…but
somehow I—I— know you ’re
12. good, and —and it’s a queer Convict repentance,transformation
thing to ask, but could you,
would you bless me before I
go?”
Question 6.
(a) Do you think the Bishop was right in selling the salt cellars? Why/Why not?
(b) Why does Persome feel the people pretend to be sick?
(c) Who was Jeanette? What was the cause of her death?
(d) The convict says, “I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.” What does he mean
by this statement?
(e) Why was the convict sent to prison? What was the punishment given to him?
(f) Do you think the punishment given to the convict was justified? Why/Why not? Why
is the convict eager to reach Paris?
(g) Before leaving, the convict asks the Bishop to bless him. What brought about this
change in him?
Answer:
(a) The Bishop was right in selling the salt cellars. Like” a true Christian, the Bishop
always tried to help the needy. Mere Gringoire was ill and had not paid the rent. The
bailiff would not wait any longer and threatened to throw her out. So she sent little Jean
to the Bishop for help. He had no money. So he had to dispose of the salt cellars to help
her.
(b) Persome is made of different stuff. She lacks the basic understanding and sympathy
for men. She only believes in safeguarding her and her brother’s interests. She believes
that people are not really sick. They only pretend to be so to get help from the Bishop.
(c) Jeanette was the wife of the convict. It was a bad year and Jeanette fell ill. The
convict had no job and money even to buy food. She was ill, starving and dying. So, he
stole to buy her food. At last, she died of illness and starvation.
(d) The convict tries to give a message to the Bishop and Persome that he is a hard-
hearted and cunning person. He is not an innocent fool who can be caught by chaff like
a new bird. He had lived in prison or ‘the hell’ for quite a long time. He had learnt all the
tricks and cunningness of seasoned criminals. The Bishop’s outwardly soft behaviour
and kind gestures can’t trap him in their net.
(e) It was really a bad year for the convict. He had no job and no money. His wife
Jeanette fell ill. She was starving. He had to steal to buy her food. He was caught
stealing and sent to prison. He told them why he stole, but they laughed at him. He was
sentenced to ten years in the prison hulks.
(f) I think, the punishment given to the convict was not justified. He was not a seasoned
or habitual criminal. He had no money and had to steal for food for his ill wife. He was
sentenced to ten years in the prison hulks. He should have been let off with a mild fine
or a token punishment.
He is eager to reach Paris as it is abig city. He cannot be easily traced by the police in
such a big city and would be able to lead a new life.
(g) Love and human sympathy are great healers. The large-heartedness of the Bishop
saved the convict from going to ‘hell’ again. The Bishop told the police that those
candlesticks were given by him as a gift. It left a deep impression on the convict. The
wild beast was a man again. He was a reformed and transformed man now. Therefore,
he asked the Bishop to bless him before leaving him.
Question 7.
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct
options.
(A) Monseigneur, the Bishop is a… a hem!
(a) Why does Persome not complete the sentence?
(i) She used to stammer while speaking.
(ii) She was about to praise the Bishop.
(iii) She did not wish to criticise the Bishop in front of Marie.
(iv) She had a habit of passing such remarks.
Answer:
(iii) She did not wish to criticise the Bishop in front of Marie.
(b) Why is she angry with the Bishop?

(i) The Bishop has sold her salt cellars.
(ii) The Bishop has gone to visit Mere Gringoire.
(iii) He showed extra concern for Marie.
(iv) She disliked the Bishop.
Answer:
(i) The Bishop has sold her salt cellars.
(B) She sent little Jean to Monseigneur to ask for help.

(a) Who sent little Jean to the Bishop?
(i) Mere Gringoire
(ii) Marie
(iii) Persome
(iv) Marie’s mother
Answer:
(i) Mere Gringoire
(b) Why did she send Jean to the Bishop?

(i) so that he could pray for her.
(ii) as she knew that he was a generous person
(iii) as she was a greedy woman
(iv) as she was a poor woman
Answer:
(ii) as she knew that he was a generous person
(C) I offered to take her in here for a day or two, but she seemed to think it might
distress you.
(a) The Bishop wanted to take Mere Gringoire in because .
(i) she was sick.
(ii) she had no money.
(iii) she was unable to pay the rent of her house.
(iv) she was a close friend of Persome.
Answer:
(iii) she was unable to pay the rent of her house.
(b) Persome would be distressed on Mere Gringoire’s being taken in because .

(i) she did not want to help anyone.
(ii) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop.
(iii) she was a self-centred person.
(iv) she would be put to a great deal of inconvenience.
Answer:
(ii) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop.
Question 8.
The term irony refers to a discrepancy, or disagreement, of some sort. The discrepancy
can be between what someone says and what he or she really means or verbal irony.
The discrepancy can be between a situation thq| one would logically anticipate or that
would seem appropriate and the situation that actually develops or situational irony.
The discrepancy can even be between the facts known to a character and the facts
known to us, the readers or audience or dramatic irony. Working in groups of four
complete the following table. Find instances of irony from the play and justify them.
Extract Justification
Later, the convict says, “its a queer thing to ask,
I believe you want to convert me; save my soul, but-could you, would you bless me before I go.”
don’t you call it? Well, it’s no good………. see? I ●______________________________
don’t want any damned religion. ●______________________________

● ________________________________
●_________________________________
● Why the devil do you leave the window

If the door had been barred the convict couldn’t
unshuttered and the door unbarred so that anyone
have entered the house.
can come in? ’
______________________________
●__________________________________
●______________________________
●__________________________________
● My mother gave them to me on………………………. on
her death bed just after you were bom, Later he hands the convict the candlesticks and
and…………….. and she asked me to keep them in tells him to start a new life.
remembrance of her, so I would like to keep them. ● _________________________
● _______________________________ ● __________________________
● _______________________________
Answer:
Extract Justification
I believe you want to convert me; save my soul, Later, the convict says, “it’s a queer thing to ask,
don’t you call it? Well, it’s no good………. see? I but-could you, would you bless me before I go. ”
don’t want any damned religion. ● The situation becomes ironical because earlie
● Stay, my son, you have forgotten your property. Bishop teUs Persome, “I don’t want to sdl them.”
● I was sentenced to ten years in the prison ● It is ironical that the prison which should refor
hulks, ten years in HelL a person has turned into hell for him.
● Why the devil do you leave the window

If the door had been barred the convict couldn’t
unshuttered and the door unbarred so that anyone
have entered the house.
can come in? ’
● It is quite ironical that one is fed in hell but
● They feed you inhelL When you escape from it
starves when comes out of it● It is quite sad tha
you starve.
the police can be an instrument of repression an
● They caught me. I pleaded to them. I told them
blind to human misery.
why I stole, but they laughed at me.
● My mother gave them to me on on her death Later he hands the convict the candlesticks and
bed just after you were bom, and…………. and she tells him to start a new life.
asked me to keep them in remembrance of her, so ● It is ironical that the Bishop calls the convict a
I would like to keep them. ’ friend who steals his candlesticks.

● this gentleman is my very good friend. ● It is ironical that child-like innocence of the
● You are like a child. Bishop saves the convict
Question 9.
Identify the situations which can be termed as the turning points in the convict’s life.
Answer:
1. The most important situation in the life of the convict was the bad phase of
his life. It was a bad year. He was out of job and had no money. His wife
was ill and dying. He had to steal to buy food for her and was arrested. He
was sentenced to imprisonment for ten years. It was the turning point in his
life.
2. The convict was badly treated in the jail. He was chained up like a wild
animal. He was lashed like a hound. He was fed on filth and was covered
with vermin. He had to remain in such a harsh condition for ten years.
Finally, he managed to escape. But alas! he was not a man but just like a
wild beast. The ill-treatment of the jail employees proved a turning point in
the convict’s life.
3. His meeting with the Bishop and the hospitality he received at his
(Bishop’s) cottage, softened him a little but still he stole his candlesticks.
4. The Bishop saved the convict by telling the police that the silver
candlesticks were given to the convict by him as a gift. It was the point
which transformed him and he became a “man” again. Finally, he was
blessed by the Bishop.
Question 10.
The convict is the product of the society he lived in, both in terms of the suffering that
led him to steal a loaf of bread, as well as the excessive sentence he received as
punishment for his “crime”. He was imprisoned for stealing money to buy food for his
sick wife, this filled with despair, hopelessness, bitterness and anger at the injustice of it
all.
Conduct a debate in the class (in groups) on the following topic. Instruction for
conducting a debate (and the use of appropriate language) are given in the unit
‘Children’ of the Main Course Book.
‘Criminals are wicked and deserve punishment ’
Answer:
Respected President and Dear Friends!
They say hate the sin and not the sinner. How did the convict in the story become a
“convict”? He was a man like us once. He had a wife. Then suddenly, things changed for
the worse. He was out of job. His wife fell ill. She was starving and dying. He stole for
food, caught and sentenced to ten years in prison.
Sir, do we think the punishment he received justified his crime? He was not a seasoned
criminal. He had no previous record of stealing. A poor man out of job and his wife ill
and dying. What would he do? Let me ask it the other way round: What will we do in
these circumstances?
The laws are to punish the guilty and not to punish the victims of circumstances,
disease and poverty. The prisons are to reform the criminals. Sir, certainly, they are not
the slaughter houses. They can’t be turned into little ‘hells’ where prisoners are fed on
filth and tortured. I personally feel, and all of you will agree with me, that such a cruel
punishment for such a petty offence only makes a person a hard-hearted criminal like
the convict.
Question 11.
The convict goes to Paris, sells the silver candlesticks and starts a business. The
business prospers and he starts a reformatory for ex-convicts. He writes a letter to the
Bishop telling him of this reformatory and seeks his blessings.
As the convict, Jean Valjean, write the letter to the Bishop:
Answer:
Jean Valjean Reformatory
Paris
20th March, 20XX
Venerable Father,
Faith can move mountains. You blessed me and I got a new life. I became a ‘man’ again.
I went to Paris to start a new life. I sold the silver candlesticks and got a good amount
to start life afresh. I invested the money in business and it made me a prosperous man.
With the money earned, I started a reformatory for ex-convicts. They say hate the sin but
never the sinner. Everyone is gifted with a human heart. Feelings of compassion, pity
and sympathy are never dead in man. They irihy hibernate for a period of time. But
someone like you can rekindle them. Even the hardest of criminal can be transformed
into a ‘man’ again. The reformatory’s main focus is to arouse human kindness,
sympathy and compassion for our fellow beings. We make them earn money through
various handicrafts and cottage trades. Every evening all of them gather for prayers and
moral lessons. Fortunately, there has been no major hurdles in our campaign so far. We
have decided to invite you on the annual function of the reformatory. I hope you will
oblige all of us by your noble presence and bless us to achieve our aim.
Yours sincerely
JeanValejean
Question 12.
The play is based on an incident in novelist Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Miserables.’ You may
want to read the novel to get a better idea of the socio-economic conditions of the
times and how people lived. Another novel that may interest you is Charles Dickens’ ‘A
Tale of Two Cities. ’
Divide yourselves into two groups in the class and read a book each. Later you may
want to share your views of the book each group selected. Select an incidentfrom the
novel to dramatise and present before the class.
Answer:
Question 1.
“Mere Gringoire indeed! Mere Gringoire! What, the old witch who lives at the top of the
hill, and who says she is bedridden because she is too lazy to do any work? And what
did Mere Gringoire want with the money, pray?” (Page 115)
(а) Why is Persome angry at Mere Gringoire?
(b`) Why does Mere Gringoire pretend to be bedridden, according to Persome?
(c) Find a word from the extract having same meaing as ‘confined to bed’.
Answer:
(a) Persome is angry at Mere Gringoire because her brother, the Bishop has sold the
beautiful salt cellars only to help her with money.
(b) According to Persome, Mere Gringoire pretends to be bedridden because she is too
lazy to do any work.
(c) Bedridden.
Question 2.
Oh, mon Dieu! it is hopeless, hopeless. We shall have nothing left. His estate is sold, his
savings have gone. His furniture, everything. Were it not for my little dot we should
starve! And now my beautiful-beautiful (sob) salt cellars. Ah, it is too much, too much.
(She breaks down crying.) (Page 115)
(a) Who says the situation is hopeless and why?
(b) What saved them from starving?
(c) Find a word in the extract having same meaning as ‘Property’.
Answer:
(a) Persome, Bishop’s sister feels that her brother’s actions have brought them in a
hopeless
situation. He has sold his estate, furniture and spent all his savings. They have nothing
left now. .
(b) Persome thinks that the little dowry that she had helped them from starving.
(c) Estate.
Question 3.
“Yes, or meat off the floor, I suppose. Oh, it’s coming to that. And as for that old wretch,
Mere Gringoire, I wonder she had the audicity to send here again. The last time I saw her
I gave her such a talking to that it ought to have had some effect.” (Page 116)
(a) Explain: “Oh, it’s coming to that”.
(b) What wrong did the ‘old wretch’ Mere Gringoire do according to Persome?
(c) What did Persome do when she met Mere Gringoire last time?
Answer:
(a) The Bishop had sold the beautiful silver salt cellars and now suggests eating salt out
of China. Persome gets angry and taunts him that they can eat meat off the floor.
Things have come to such a hopeless situation.
(b) The ‘old wretch’, Mere Gringoire had the audacity to send a message to the Bishop
for helping her with money.
(c) The last time when Persome met Mere Gringoire, she gave a piece of her mind to
her. She asked her to mind her own business and not to harass the Bishop for nothing.
Question 4.
Good to you, yes! I should think so. I should like to know where you would be without me
to look after you. The dupe of every idle scamp or lying old woman in the parish! (Page
116) lestions
(a) Who speaks these lines and to whom?
(b) What would happen if Persome doesn’t look after the Bishop?
(c) How would the Bishop become the ‘dupe of every idle scamp or lying old woman’ of
the parish?
Answer:
(a) These lines are spoken by Persome to her brother, the Bishop.
(b) Persome feels that if she doesn’t look after her brother, he will be miserable and
become an easy target for cheats and liars.
(c) Without Personae’s control, the Bishop would become an easy target for cheats and
liars in the parish. They would exploit his generosity to serve their own interests.
Question 5.
it down!!! (The Bishop sits smiling.) None of that, my friend! I’m too old a bird to be
caught wfth chaff. You would ask your sister for the keys, would you? A likely story! You
would rouse the house too. Eh? Ha!! ha! A good joke truly. Come, where is the food? I
want no keys. I have a wolf inside me tearing at my entrails, tearing me; quick, tell me;
where the food is. (Page 118)
(a) Why does the Convict say that he is too old a bird to be caught with chaff?
(b) Wliat does the Convict want the Bishop to be asked from his sister?
(c) Explain: “I have a wolf inside me tearing my entrails”.
Answer:
(a) The Convict reminds the Bishop that he is not a novice but clever and mature. He is
not to be ‘caught with chaff’ or small temptations.
(b) The Convict wants the Bishop to ask his sister to handover the keys to him.
(c) It means that the Convict is very hungry and can’t afford to be hungry any more.
Question 6.
Suffer? (puzzled) suffered? My God, yes. (Drinks) But that’s a long time ago. Ha! ha!
That was
when I was a man. Now I’m not a man; now I’m a number; number 15729, and I’ve lived
in Hell for tern years. (Page 120)
(a) When was the Convict “a man?”
(b) Why was he reduced to a number?
(c) Where’did he live in for ten years?
Answer:
(a) Before he was arrested and sent to jail, the Convict was a man with all human
qualities.
(b) The hard life of the prison, the cruelties and tortures of the police took away all
human qualities from him. He was reduced to a number and they never called him by
his name.
(c) The Convict led’ most hellish life in prison for ten long years.
Question 7.
They caught me. I pleaded to them, I told them why I stole, but they laughed at me, and I
was sentenced to ten years in the prison hulks (pause), ten years in Hell. The night I was
sentenced, the gaoler told me—told me Jeanette was dead. (Sobs with fury) Ah, damn
them, damn them. God curse them all. (Page 121)
(a) Why did the police arrest the Convict?
(b) Did they listen to his pleadings? What did they do with him?
(c) Find a word in the extract opposite in meaning to ‘praise’.
Answer:
(a) They arrested the Convict because he was stealing to buy food for his hungry wife.
(b) No, they didn’t listen to his pleadings and he was sent to jail for stealing.
(c) Curse.
Question 8.
“Yes, to starve. They feed you in Hell, but when you escape from it you starve. They were
hunting me everywhere and I had no passport, no name. So I stole again. I stole these
rags. I stole my food daily. I slept in the woods, in bams, anywhere. I dare not ask for
work, I dare not go into a town to beg, so I stole, and they have made me what I am, they
have made me a thief. God curse them all.” (Page 121)
(a) What is the difference of being ‘in the Hell’ and out of it?
(b) Why did the Convict steal?
(c) Why does the Convict curse them all?
Answer:
(a) When you are inside the prison, the police at least give you some food to eat. But
when you are outside it, you starve.
(b) The Convict had no money. He needed food and rags. He was without any work.
Hence, he had to steal for buying food and clothes.
(c) The Convict curses them all as they made him a thief and a beast from a man.
Question 9.
Tell you about it? Look here, I was a man once. I’m a beast now, and they made me what
I am. They chained me up like a wild animal, they lashed me like a hound. I fed on filth, I
was covered, with vermin, I slept on boards, and I complained. Then they lashed me
again. For ten years, ten years. Oh God! They took away my name, they took away my
soul, and they gave me a devil in its place. (Page 121)
(a) The speaker was a man once but he is a beast now. How?
(b) Who made him what he was?
(c) Describe the tortures and sufferings the speaker had to go in prison.
Answer:
(a) Before he was arrested and put in prison, the Convict was a man with all human
qualities. The jail-life has reduced him to a beast.
(b) The tortures of the police made him a beast and reduced him to what he was.
(c) The Convict was chained and lashed like an animal. He was fed on filth and covered
with vermin and it continued for ten years.
Question 10.
You are going to try to convert me. Oh! ha! ha! That’s a good idea. Ha! ha! ha! No, no,
Monseigneur the Bishop: I don’t want any of your Faith, Hope, and Charity-see? So
anything you do for me you’re doing to the devil—understand? (defiantly) (Page 122)
(a) Who is going to convert and whom?
(b) What does the speaker want?
(c) Doing anything for him means ‘doing to the devil’. How?
Answer:
(a) The Convict says that the Bishop is trying to convert him to his Faith.
(b) The speaker doesn’t want any of the Bishop’s Faith, Hope and Charity.
(c) The Convict is no more a man but a beast. Hence, doing anything good to him
means ‘doing to the devil’.
Question 11.
Worth hundreds I’ll warrant. If I had these turned into money they’d start me fair.
Humph! The old boy’s fond of them too, said his mother gave him them. His mother,
yes. They didn’t think of my mother when they sent me to Hell. He was kind to me too-
but that’s a Bishop for except to be kind to you? Here, cheer up, my hearty, you’r getting
soft. God! Wouldn’t my chain-mates laugh to see 15729 hesitating about collaring the
plunder because he felt good. Good! Ha! ha! Oh, my God! Good! Ha! ha! 15729 getting
soft. That’s a good one. Ha! ha! No, I’ll take his candlesticks and go. (Page 123)
(a) What and how will the candlesticks help the speaker to start fair in life again?
(b) Why doesn’t the speaker consider the fact that those candlesticks were given to the
Bishop by his mother? Why does he steal them?
(c) Write the noun form of ‘warrant’.
Answer:
(a) The silver candlesticks could fetch a lot of money if they were sold. With that money
the Convict could start his life afresh again.
(b) The Convict knows that the Bishop is very fond of the candlesticks as they were
given to him by his mother. However, he doesn’t respect this fact. They didn’t care for
his mother when he was sent to jail.
(c) Warranty.
Question 12.
“If you won’t tell the police, I will. I will not stand by and see you robbed. I know you are
my brother and my Bishop, and the best man in all France; but you are a fool, I tell you, a
child. I will not have your goodness abused, I shall go and inform die police.” (Page 124)
(a) Who is the speaker and why can’t she stand by and see him robbed?
(b) Why is the “best man in all France” a fool?
(c) How will she not have his goodness abused?
Answer:
(a) The speaker of these lines is Persome, the Bishop’s sister. She can’t stand by and let
the Convict rob him of his silver candlesticks.
(b) The Bishop has all noble and human qualities in him to be the “best man in all
France.” However, he is also a fool as he is an easy target of every cheat and liar in the
Parish.
(c) Persome will not have the Bishop’s goodness abused by the Convict. She will go to
inform the police about the theft.
Question 13.
“Yes, madam, we found this scoundrel slinking along the road, and as he would not give
any account of himself we arrested him on suspicion. Holy Virgin, isn’t he strong and
didn’t he struggle? While we were securing him these candlesticks fell out of his
pockets.” (Page 124)
(a) Who is’ the ‘scoundrel’ being referred to here and who found him stealthily along the
road?
(b) Why did the police arrest that ‘scoundrel’?
(c) What happened when they were seeming him?
Answer:
(a) The Convict who stole.the Bishop’s candlesticks is being referred to as a ‘scoundrel’
here. The police found him moving stealthily along the road.
(b) The police arrested that ‘scoundrel’ on suspicion. He failed to give any satisfactory
account
of himself. ,
(c) When they were arresting him, the silver candlesticks that he stole from the Bishop’s
house, fell down from his pocket.
Question 14.
Ah, thanks, thanks, Monseigneur. I—I—(He sobs.) Ah, I’m a fool, a child to cry, but
somehow you have made me feel that—that it is just as if something had come into
me—as if I were a man again and not a wild beast.
(a) Why does the speaker thank the Bishop? –
(b) What did the Bishop make the Convict feel?
(c) Why does the Convict feel as if he were a man again and not a beast?
Answer:
(a) The Convict thanks the Bishop for saving him from getting arrested and going to
that hellish prison once again.
(b) The Convict felt as if he were a transformed man with human feelings.
(c) Because the Convict is no more a hardened and ferocious beast. He is sobbing like a
child
and is filled with human feelings once more.
Question 15.
(Putting his hand on his shoulder). Always remember, my son, that this poor body is the
Temple of the Living God.
(a) Who is speaking and to whom?
(b) Did the Convict still behave like a wild beast? What was the transformation?
(c) What final advice did the Bishop give to the Convict?
Answer:
(a) The Bishop is speaking to the Convict.
(b) No, the Convict was no more like a wild beast. He sobbed and behaved like a child.
(c) The Bishop advised the Convict that the poor body of man is the Temple of the
Living God. Man must keep it chaste and pure by his noble actions.
ABOUT THE PLAY
‘The Bishop’s Candlesticks’ brings home the idea that no one is a born criminal. It
shows how a good and humane treatment can bring out hidden goodness in a hardened
criminal. The convict who enters the Bishop’s house demands food at the point of his
knife. The Bishop remains calm and composed. He calls him ‘son’ and readily offers
him food and wine and then a bed to sleep. In his conversation, the convict tells him
how he stole out of a dire need to save his ailing and starving wife. He was sent to jail
where ill-treatment made him a beast. When the Bishop leaves him to rest for the night,
he decamps with the Bishop’s silver candlesticks. He is, however, caught and brought
back to the Bishop. The Bishop gets him released by telling a lie to the police. He says
that the candlesticks were his gift to his friend. When the police leaves, he actually gifts
the candlesticks to the convict and shows him the way to Paris where he can start a
new life. The convict falls on his knees and promises to become a good man again.
CHARACTERS
(i) The Bishop
In the play, the Bishop is an embodiment of all noble qualities. He is selfless and
charitable. He often helps the poor and the needy. He sells his salt-cellars to enable an
old, poor lady to pay off her rent. He is loving and affectionate, kind and generous. The
convict tries to intimate him and demands food. He readily provides him food and
shelter. The convict steals his silver candlesticks. The Bishop saves him by saying that
he himself gave the candlesticks to him. He wins the heart of the convict by actually
gifting the candlesticks to him. Thus, he proves to be an ideal priest.
(ii) The Convict

The convict in the play was once a normal human being. He fell on bad days and stole.
He was sent to jail. In the jail he was treated so badly that he became a beast. When he
escaped from jail, he had become inhuman. He has no faith in man’s goodness. He has
no respect for society, religion or state.
However, he is essentially human. He has innate goodness which circumstances have

concealed. The Bishop’s love and kindness overwhelns him. He regains his faith. The
Bishop’s generosity reforms him totally and sets him on the right path. He is ready to
lead a normal life of a good man.
Question 1:
Marie : Pardon, Madam, but I think it was for Mere Gringoire.
Persome : Mere Gringorie indeed. Mere Gringoire. What, the old witch who lives at the
top of the hill, and who says she is bedridden because she is too lazy to do any work ?
And what did Mere Gringoire want with the money, pray ?
(a) What was done for Mere Gringoire ?
(b) Why does Persome refer to Mere Gringoire as an old witch ?
(c) What does the extract reveal about Persome’s character ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
(a) The Bishop had to sell his salt-cellars to pay the house rent of Mere Gringoire.
(b) Persome does so as she feels Mere Gringoire is wicked and selfish woman.
(c) The extract reveals that Persome is short-tempered and narrow-minded. She is not
generous like her brother.
Question 2:
You told him she was feeling poorly, did you ? And so my brother is to be kept out of his
bed, and go without his supper because you told him she was feeling poorly. There’s
gratitude for you !
(a) Who is ‘she’ in the above extract ?
(b) Who is the speaker’s brother and why was he kept out of bed ?
(c) Explain the line ‘there’s gratitude for you’. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
(a) ‘She’ in the extract is Mere Gringoire.
(b) The speaker’s brother is the Bishop. He was kept out of bed in order to help Mere
Gringoire.
(c) Persome remarks ironically that Marie had paid her gratitude to the Bishop by
making him help her mother in such a bad weather. She wants to say that she had
proved to be ungrateful to the Bishop.
Question 3:
Bishop : That is why they are left open.
Convict: Well they are shut now!
Bishop (sighs) : For the first time in thirty years.
(a) Why were ‘they’ left open ?
(b) Why are they shut now ?
(c) Why weren’t they shut for thirty years ?
Answer:
(a) ‘They’ are doors and windows which were left open to welcome any person who
came in.
(b) ‘They’ are shut now by the convict to prevent anybody else in the house.
(c) ‘They’ were not shut for thirty years to let anyone come at any time to see the
Bishop.
Question 4:
Bishop : The knife, oh, well, you see, dear, perhaps he may have thought that 1-1 had
sold ours, (laughs gently)
Persome : Brother, I am frightened. He glares at us like a wild beast (aside to him).
(а) What is the tone of the Bishop in the above extract ?
(b) Why is Persome frightened ?
(c) Why is‘he’being compared to a wild beast? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
(a) The Bishop’s tone is kind and gentle.
(b) Persome is frightened because the convict’s looks are very cruel and dangerous.
(c) ‘He’ is being compared to a beast as there is no human feeling on his face.
Moreover, his way of eating is just like any beast’s.
Question 5:
None of that, my friend ! I’m too old a bird to be caught with chaff. You would ask your
sister for the keys, would you ? A likely story ! You would rouse the house too. Eh? Ha! A
good joke truly. Come, where is the food. I want no keys. I have a wolf inside me tearing
at my entrails, tearing me; quick, tell me where the food is,
(а) What does the convict mean when he says I’m too old a bird to be caught with chaff
?
(b) Why does the convict say, ‘I have a wolf inside me’ ?
(c) Why does the convict think it is ‘a good joke’. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
(а) The convict wants to say that he is too experienced to be duped in by cheap tricks.
(b) The convict says so as he is very hungry and can tear anything apart like a hungry
wolf.
(c) The convict thinks it to be a good joke that the Bishop will ask his sister to bring keys
and she will go out to seek help.
Question 6:
I -I didn’t believe there was any good in the world One does’t when one has been in Hell,
but somehow, I -I know your’re good and, and it’s a queer thing to ask but, but could you,
would you bless me before I go ? 1-1 think it would help me.
(a) Why didn’t the speaker believe that there was any good left in the world ?
(b) How did the speaker know about hell ?
(c) Why did he seek the Bishop’s blessing ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
(а) The speaker believed so as he had been ill-treated and tortured all those years for a
petty crime.
(b) The speaker knew about hell as he had been in prison where conditions were as bad
as in hell.
(c) He sought the Bishop’s blessings so that he could begin his life anew like a normal
human being.
Question 7:
Convict: Ah, thanks, thanks, Monseigneur. I, I (he sobs) Ah ! Trn a fool, a child to cry, but
somehow you have made me feel that, that it is just as if something had come in to me,
as if I were a man again and not a wild beast.
Bishop (putting his hand on his shoulder) : Always remember, my son, that this poor
body is the Temple of the Living God.
(а) Why was the convict crying like a child ?
(b) How is the speaker ‘a man again’ ?
(c) Explain the phrase ‘the poor body is the temple of the living God’. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
(a) The convict was crying like a child as he felt guilty and remorseful. He realized he
had been on the wrong track.
(b) The speaker is a man again as he has regained his faith in God and humanity.
(c) The human body is a sacred place where God dwells.
Question 8:
‘My dear, there is so much suffering in the world, and I can do so little…………. ’
(a) Who speaks these lines and to whom ?
(b) What do you learn about him from the given line?
(c) What do you mean by ‘suffering’ ?
Answer:
(a) The Bishop speaks these lines to his sister Persome.
(b) The Bishop is extremely generous, selfless and kind-hearted.
(c) ‘pain’.
Question 9:
‘One must do a great deal for the devil in order to do a little for God’.
(b) What does he want to say ?
(c) Give the meaning of the word ‘devil’.
Answer:
(a) The Bishop is the speaker.
(b) He wants to say that one has to do a lot to remove wickedness (devil) in doing a bit
of service to God.
(c) ‘a wicked being’ (satan).
Question 10:
‘Look-here, why the devil are you-ki-kind to me ? What do you want V
(b) Why is he so confused ?
(c) What has he actually expected ?
Answer:
(а) The convict is the speaker.
(b) He is baffled at the kind behaviour of his host, the Bishop.
(e) He has actually expected to be treated badly.
Question 11:
You have your soul, to lose, my son; it is of more value than my heart’.
(а) Why does the Bishop call the convict ‘my son’ ?
(b) What tells you that he is a fearless person ?
(c) What does he want to do ?
Answer:
(а) The Bishop calls the convict ‘my son’ as he would call anyone else. In his eyes, he is
as good as any other human being.
(b) He does not care for his life. He is not afraid of being killed by the convict.
(c) He wants to reform the convict by showing him the right path through love and
compassion.
Question 12:
You told him she was feeling poorly, did you ? And so my brother is to be kept out of his
bed, and go without his supper because you told him she was feeling poorly”
(а) Who is ‘she’ referred to in the above lines ?
(b) What is the tone of the speaker ?
(c) Explain ‘kept out of his bed’.
Answer:
(а) ‘She’ referred to in the above lines is Marie’s mother.
(b) The speaker (Persome) here speaks in a reproachful tone.
(c) ‘Did not sleep and take rest’.
Question 13:
If you call out you are a dead man !
(а) What was the Bishop doing when the convict entered ?
(b)What warning did the convict give the Bishop ?
(c) What does‘call out’mean ?
Answer:
(a) He was reading then.
(b) The convict warned the Bishop that if he called for help he would be killed.
(c) ‘Shout’.
Question 14:
“I believe you want to convert me; save my soul, don’t you call it ? Well, it’s no good-see
? I don’t want any damned religion, and as for the church – bah ! / hate the church.”
(a) What does the convict resent ?
(b) Why does he hate the church ?
(c) Give the meaning of the word ‘damned’
Answer:
(a) The convict resents the Bishop’s talking of saving his soul.
(b) He hates the church for even the church did not come to his rescue.
(c) ‘accursed’.
Question 15:
‘Ah, that is hard, very hard, I – He might have left me those. They were all I had.’
(a) Who speaks these words and to whom ?
(b) What does‘those’refer to here ?
(c) What does ‘hard’ mean in the context ?
Answer:
(a) The Bishop speaks these words to his sister Persome.
(b) Those’ refers to the silver candlesticks stolen by the convict.
(c) ‘difficult’.
Question 16:
Yes, to starve. They feed you in Hell, but when you escape from it you starve.’
(a) Who is the speaker ? Who are ‘they’ ?
(b) Why has he come to ‘starving* ?
(c) Give the meaning of‘starve’.
Answer:
(a) The convict is the speaker. ‘They’ refers to jail authorities.
(b) He is out of jail, but he has no work and no money. He cannot do work for fear of
police. So he has come to the state of starvation.
(c)‘to die of hunger’.
Answer each of the following questions in 30-40 words ?
Question 1:
What makes Persome lost her temper ?
Answer:
Persome feels irritated that the Bishop has gone out in the extreme cold. When she
learns from the maid, Marie, that he has gone to see Marie’s ailing mother, she loses her
temper.
Question 2:
What grouses does Persome have about her brother ?
Answer:
Persome is the Bishop’s sister. The Bishop is in the habit of helping all who seek his
help. He has sold his estate, his furniture and many other valuable things to help the
poor. Persome who feels concerned about his future naturally has grouses in her mind
about this kind of behaviour on his part.
Question 3:
What comes as a shock to Persome ?
Answer:
Persome is already pained at her brother’s excessive magnanimity. When she learns
about his selling of his silver salt-cellars to help an old lady to pay her rent, she is
shocked.
Question 4:
How and when does the convict enter the Bishop’s room ?
Answer:
It is almost midnight. The Bishop is reading in his room. A convict enters his room
stealthily. It is not difficult for anyone to enter the Bishop’s house as its doors and
windows are never shut.
Question 5:
How does the convict behave when he encounters the Bishop ?
Answer:
The convict enters the Bishop’s room. He seizes the Bishop from behind and demands
something to eat at once. He threatens to kill him if he raises an alarm.
Question 6:
How is the convict treated by the Bishop ?
Answer:
The Bishop treats the convict as if he were his guest. He calls him ‘son’ and tries to
calm him down. He asks his sister to bring some food for the guest. He offers him bed
for rest.
Question 7:
Why was the convict caught and imprisoned ?
Or
‘Now I’m not a man, now I’m a number.’ How had the speaker become a number ?
Answer:
The convict’s wife was ill and starving. He had no money and work at that time. He had
to steal to feed his sick wife and was thus caught and imprisoned. In the prison, he was
given a number. He suffered there so much that he had forgotten his name. He had
been reduced to a mere number.
Question 8:
Why does the convict call the prison a hell ?
Answer:
The convict recalls his days in the prison which was nothing short of Hell. He was
chained like an animal. He was fed on filth. He was made to sleep on boards. He
suffered from vermins. He was often beaten mercilessly. He became a beast.
Question 9:
Why does the convict show contempt for the Bishop’s good behaviour ?
Answer:
The convict was in the prison for ten years. He was treated very badly. He lost faith in
God and humanity. So he has nothing but contempt for any good behaviour shown by
the Bishop.
Question 10:
Who was Jeanette ? What was the cause of her death ?
Answer:
Jeanette was the convict’s wife. She fell seriously ill. The convict was out of work then.
He had no money to feed and treat her. When he stole and got arrested, she died of
starvation.
Question 11:
Do you justify the Bishop’s behaviour in not handing over the convict to the police when
he decamps with his silver candlesticks ? Give reason.
Answer:
Had the Bishop handed the convict over to the police, the convict would never have got
another chance to reform himself. As the Bishop wants to give him a chance to start a
new life he saves him from the police.
Question 12:
What brings about real transformation in the convict ?
Answer:
When the Bishop gives the convict his silver candlesticks as a gift before he leaves for
Paris, the convict is speechless. He kneels himself down before the Bishop and weeps.
He feels that he has become a ‘man’ once again. His tears are a symbol of his
transformation.
Question 13:
Do you think the punishment given to the convict was justified ? Why/ Why not ? Why is
the convict eager to reach Paris ?
Answer:
The punishment given to the convict for a minor crime was too much and was
unjustified. He did not commit a murder or indulge in any other major crime. His
circumstances had forced him to steal. No, it.
He should have been given a light punishment instead of ten years in a helllike jail.
Question 14:
Before leaving, the convict asks the Bishop to bless him. What brought about this
change in him ?
Answer:
The convict had lost all faith in goodness. The Bishop’s love, kindness and generosity
bring about a remarkable change in him. He feels as if he were a man once again. He
regains his faith in God. So he asks the Bishop to bless him.
Question 15:
Identify the situations which can be termed as the turning points in the convict’s life ?
Answer:
There are many situations in the play which can be termed as the turning points in the
convict’s life. He stole to feed his sick wife. His consequent arrest on the charge of
stealing was the first significant turning point in his life. His encounter with the kind,
noble and generous Bishop was another turning point in his life. Again, his arrest for
having stolen the Bishop’s candlesticks and the Bishop’s magnanimity and kindness in
saving him from the police and gifting him his candlesticks are the other turning points
in the convict’s life.
Question 16:
How does the Bishop’s attitude touch the convict ?
Answer:
The Bishop’s attitude towards the convict is extremely amiable, kind and geneous. He
calls the convict his ‘son’ and ‘friend’ – the words the convict has forgotten in his life.
He offers him food and shelter. Even when the convict decamps with his cherished
candlesticks, he saves him from the clutches of the police. He even gifts the
candlesticks to the convict and helps him escape to Paris. His attitude moves the heart
of the convict. The convict feels as if he were a human being again. He sees a ray of
hope in his life.
Question 1:
‘It is easy to close the doors but difficult to open a window.’ Comment with reference to
the play ‘The Bishop’s Candlesticks’. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The statement -‘It is easy to close the doors but difficult to open a window’- is true. It is
easy to close the doors implies that man can easily live selfishly; he can easily shut
doors on others and live a life of a recluse, as some religious people do. It is not difficult
to dislike or hate others. But to open a window for others is not easy. To go out of one’s
way to show the right path ‘ or to help other is indeed a difficult but divine task.
The Bishop in the play ‘The Bishop’s Candlesticks’ keeps his doors and windows literally
open for needy persons. He does everything possible to help the poor. But the way he
treats the convict is something uncommon. He goes beyond the call of his duty. When
his beloved candlesticks are stolen, he finds it difficult to forgive the thief, but very soon
he realizes his mistake. By gifting the candlesticks he touches the raw nerves of a
hardened criminal. He opens a window at the back of his house for the convict to go to
his destination and start a new life. What a noble act !
Question 2:
‘Minds are open only when hearts are open. Keeping this in mind, the Bishop’s house
had unshuttered windows and unbarred doors for thirty years. Discuss. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
It is unthinkable that one could keep the doors and windows of one’s house open for
thirty long years. Only a really fearless hermit can do it. The Bishop keeps the doors and
windows open so that the poor and the needy could come anytime to his house. It
reveals that his mind and heart are open. He is so generous and magnanimous that he
attaches no importance to any material thing. He sells his estate, his silver salt-cellars
and many others valuable things to help the poor. Though he cherishes his silver
candlesticks, he readily gifts them to the convict.
Earlier in the play, Persome reminds the Bishop how people take undue advantage of his
generosity. Even the convict mocks at him for leaving his windows and doors open. But
the Bishop does not have a second thought at what he does.
Question 3:
Love, compassion and forgiveness are great human values which we must try to
imbibe. Discuss it in the context of the play ‘The Bishop’s Candlesticks.’
Answer:
There is no doubt that love, compassion and forgiveness are great human virtues. We
should try to imbibe them in our day-to-day life. We should learn to love all. We should
be compassionate towards the weak. We should forgive all those who offend or harm
us in any way.The Bishop in the play ‘The Bishop’s Candlesticks’ is a true Christian who
has imbibed in him the divine virtues of love, compassion and forgiveness. He loves one
and all without any discrimination. He treats even the convict as his friend and guest.
The convict proves to be ungrateful by stealing the silver candlesticks of a person who
offered him food and shelter and comforted him. However, the Bishop forgives him
easily. Rather he gifts the candlesticks to him so that he may start a new life. This is
what we sould do in our life, though it is not an easy task.
Question 4:
The prison is meant for reformation, not punishment. Justify this statement with
reference to the lesson ‘The Bishop’s Candlesticks’.(CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The prison is meant for reformation. That is why, it is often called ‘Sudhar Ghar’. Here
the prisoners should be treated in such a way that they realize their mistakes and
reform themselves. They should not be treated like animals as was done in the prison
which the convict calls ‘Hell’. The convict had to steal out of compulsion. When he was
in the prison, he was given a number. He was fed on filth. He had to sleep on boards. He
was beaten mercilessly. They turned him into a hardened criminal. He lost faith in
humanity. He began to hate everybody. When he escaped from the prison, he was not a
reformed person. He again stole-this time the silver candlesticks of a really noble
person, the Bishop.
If he was changed man towards the end, it was due to the Bishop’s extremely kind and
humane treatment. The Bishop changed his heart by his kindness and generosity.
Question 5:
‘I’m a number, number 15729’. An individual’s human identity is being degraded to a
mere number.
What does your conscience tell you about this ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The convict became a victim of circumstances. He was once a normal human being. He
led a poor life with his wife, Jeanette, in a little cottage. She was ill and starving. He was
out of work and had no money to buy food for his wife. So he stole money to buy her
food and was caught by the police. He tried to explain to the policemen why he had
stolen. But they laughed at him and he was sentenced to ten years in the prison hulks.
The convict was treated like a beast. He was tortured and beaten. The policemen
chained him like a wild beast and lashed him like a hound. He was fed on filth and was
covered with vermin. He slept on the board and when he complained, he was lashed
again. They treated him cruelly and took away his soul and made him a devil. They took
away his name. Now he was not a man; he was a number; number 15729 and he had
lived in Hell for ten long years. He lost faith in the essential goodness of man. As for the
church he began to hate church. He was so fed up with the society that he told the
Bishop that he did not want any of his Faith, Hope and Charity. He considered himself a
devil and told the Bishop that his efforts to convert him would fail. He lost belief in
religion. He had no identity, no faith in humanity, no faith in church and religion.
Thus, a man who is brutally treated loses his identity and conscience. But it is the
society which is at fault in making him what he is.
Question 6:
In the end realization dawns upon the convict that he is a man again and not a wild
beast. Who do you think is responsible for this change in the convict and what qualities
would you associate with him ? (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
The convict, who had been brutally treated in jail for ten long years, escaped, but only to
starve. One night he entered the Bishop’s room and demanded food at the point of
knife. The Bishop was very kind, generous and loving towards him. He gave him cold
pie, bottle of wine and some bread. He also gave him bed to sleep. But the convict stole
his candlesticks and ran away. He was arrested by the police and brought to Bishop’s
house. The Bishop pleasantly surprised the convict and the sergeant by saying that the
convict was his very good friend. The Bishop told the sergeant that he had supped with
him the previous night and that he had given him the candlesticks. He called the convict
his ‘son’. So unlike the police and the rest of the society, the Bishop treated him gently
and kindly. He called him son and friend. Such affectionate words were not heard by the
convict in his life. The Bishop offered him food, shelter and saved him from the clutches
of police. The kindest act that the Bishop did was to gift the prized silver candlesticks to
him and suggested him a safe passage to Paris. Bishop’s kindness, benevolence and
love helped the convict to rediscover his innocence and goodness. In fact, he
rediscovered his essential human self. Finally, he learnt from the Bishop that the body is
the Temple of the Living God. In this way, the Bishop reformed the convict.
Question 7:
The Convict goes to Paris, sells the silver candlesticks and starts a business. The
business prospers and he starts a reformatory for exconvicts. He writes a letter to the
Bishop telling him of this reformatory and seeks his blessings.
As the convict, Jean Valjean, write the letter to Bishop.
Answer:
J.V. Reformatory Paris
16 March, 20…
Venerable Father
You will be delighted to know that your ‘son’ has at last found his feet. The candlesticks
that you gifted me did wonders for me. I sold the candlesticks and opened a workshop.
By the grace of God and with your blessings, my business flourished and I earned a lot
of money. I am now a happy and respectable person in the society. I have recently
opened a reformatory for exconvicts. My aim is to enable the ex-convicts to lead a life
of dignity and respect. They work and lead a comfortable life. Learned men are invited
for weekly discourses on religious and moral matters. Their discourses leave a great
impact on them.
I seek your blessings.
Yours sincerely
Jean Valjean

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NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English

Literature Reader Chapter 1 How I Taught

(ii) A Story told by my grandmother

(iii) The things I admire the most about my grandmother

(iv) The difference between my mother and my grandmother

(d) Why did the grandmother touch her granddaughter’s feet?

Speaker Quotation Quality Highlighted

(a) ‘Awa, is everything all right? Are you O.K.?’

‘At times, I used to regret not going to school,

(b) so I made sure that my children and

grandchildren studied well.’

‘Awa, don’t cry. What is the matter? Can I help

‘We are well-off, but what use is money when I

‘I will keep Saraswati Pooja day during

I am touching the feet of a teacher not my

Speaker Quotation Quality Highlighted

‘Awa, is everything all right? Are you concerned sympathetic,

‘ At times, I used to regret not going to

and grandchildren studied well.’

‘Awa, don’t cry. What is the matter? Can Sympathetic/helpful,

‘I will keep Saraswati Pooja day during

‘For a good cause if you are determined

I am touching the feet of a teacher not

1. They feel dependent.

(c) Complete the following :

1. We can make our grandparents happy by ________________

1. giving them proper care.

 getting the attention of your audience

Extract Based Questions (3 marks each)

Short Answer Type Questions (30-40 Words) (2 Marks

Long Answer Type Questions (80-100 Words) (4 Marks

(a) This is the other word for trembling

(b) Duke never jumped on Chuck again because ________

(d) “_______ even Duke’s presence didn’t reach Chuck”. Why?

 Who are ‘they’?

News spread that Hooper and Duke had made it to an

Hooper walked independently from the clinic to the branch offi

Duke met with a fatal accident

News spread that Hooper and Duke had made it to an

Hooper walked independently from the clinic to the branch

March 1 Hooper planned to start a full day’s work at office

October 12 Duke met with a fatal accident

1. Saumik Mishra Uttar Pradesh foiled theft

3. Kavita Kanwar Chhattisgarh

4. Jodhpur dodged marriage to 40 year old

5. Rahul-balloon seller National

6. M. Marudu Pandi Tamil Nadu averted rail disaster

7. Bangalore saved a baby caught in bull figh

8. Silver Kharbani Meghalaya

10. Uttar Pradesh saved people from drowning

11. Haryana/Jind helped nab armed miscreants

12. Kritika Jhanwar fought off robbers

1. Saumik Mishra Uttar Pradesh foiled theft

2. Prachi Santosh Sen West Bengal saved a child

3. Kavita Kanwar Chhattisgarh kills a man- eater leopard

4. Asu Kanwar Jodhpur dodged marriage to 40 year old

gave prompt news about a live

6. M. Marudu Pandi Tamil Nadu averted rail disaster

(i) _______

(iii) ______

(iv) ______

(i) _______

(ii) ______

(iii) ______

(iv) ______