Academic Update: English Class: XII

Cycle :9 Dates: 3 January 2022-12th January2022

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Topics:
Writing:

1. Report Writing

Literature:

1. Indigo
2. Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger
3. Should Wizard Hit Mommy

REPORT
A report is a writen account of an incident heard, seen, done or experienced and meant to be published.

Types of Report
Newspaper Report
School Magazine Report
Points to Remember
Use past tense
Use active / passive voice in reported speech
Divide the report into three parts
Part I : Introduction – Mention what, date, time, place
Part II : Body – detail of the incident, causes, consequences, effects, guests, steps, activities, people involved,
relevant details.
Part III : Conclusion – Reactions / Statements of people / Promises by authorities / Steps taken.
Report in third person
School Magazine Report
Format :-
 Heading
 Name of the writer
Newspaper Report
Format :-
 Heading
 Name of the reporter
 Date and Place

SCHOOL MAGAZINE REPORT

Example : You are Shweta / Sahitya, head of the History Club of ASN Public School, Janak Puri, Delhi. Your
school organised Heritage Awareness Programme in your school to create awareness regarding our monuments.
Write a report on this programme in about 125–150 words

HERITAGE AWARENESS PROGRAMME

–By Shweta / Sahitya
Heritage Awareness Programme was organised by the History Club of ASN Public School, Janak Puri, Delhi on
09 August 2016 from 10 am to 2 pm in the school auditorium. The school was well decorated with posters of
various historically important monuments. Mr. Deep Dayal, Dean of History Department of JNU was the Chief
Guest. Around 2000 students and parents attended the programme. The Programme began by lighting of
theceremonial lamp by the Chief Guest. After that a skit was presented by the students of Class XI showing the
importance of our heritage and monuments. The history club presented an engrossing documentary giving a
brief detail of 100 monuments from different parts of India. In the end, the chief guest gave a very motivating
speech about the role of Youth in preserving our national heritage. The Principal presented vote of thanks after
which light refreshment was served.

Questions for Practice

1. You are Neha / Narayan, a consultant in Jai School of Management. You organised a seminar on Right to
Education Act for Teachers and students in which educationist were invited to talk on the topic, its problem and
implications. Write a report in about 125–150 words for the school magazine.

2. You are Geet / Geeta, head of health club of GTB School, Shalimar Bagh. Your club organised a talk to make
students aware about alarming use of chemicals in vegetable and fruits. Experts from medical field and
consumer forum were invited to answer the queries of the audience. Write a report in about 125 words for your
school magazine.

NEWS PAPER REPORT

Example : You are Sanjay / Sanjana, a reporter with. The Hindustan Times. You witnessed a fire accident in a
crowded market in Delhi. Write a report to be published in the newspaper. Invent necessary details

Fire Engulfed Central Market

–Sanjay / Sanjana, Staff Reporter
10 May, 2016, New Delhi
Over a hundred persons were trapped for two hours when a devastating fire broke out yesterday in the Central
Market Lajpat Nagar between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Though no casualties were reported officially, fifty people were
injured.

According to eye-witness, the fire broke out around 4.50 p.m. due to a short circuit in the main line and spread
quickly. There was panic and stampede as people rushed out of the overcrowded market place. Fire brigade and
police arrived at the venue within half an hour. About a dozen firemen battled for two hours to bring the fire
under control. The loss incurred is estimated to be about five crore rupees.

The injured persons were rushed to a nearby hosp[ital. Many people sustained minor burns. The Governor has
announced an enquiry into the mishap. The police is investigating the matter.

Questions for Practice

(a) You are Akshay / Akshita, a press reporter with Indian Express. Recently a few trains were cancelled due to
fog in winter. Passengers were stranded at the New Delhi Railway Station. Write a report in about 125–150
words highlighting the problems faced by the passangers.

(b) Incessant rains have caused inrecoverable damage in your area. A flood relief programme was organised
where various flood relief measures were carried out. As a newspaper reporter, write a report in about 125–150
words about the programme.

(c) Write a report on the following topics :

1. Annual Day & Prize Distribution
2. Sports Day
3. Van Mahotsav
4. Literacy Week
5. Fancy Dress Competition / Debate Competition
Literature:

2.Aunt Jennifer's Tigers –Adrienne Rich

Points to Remember
 Aunt Jennifer's tigers symbolise spirit of freedom which she herself is bereft of.
 The tigers are the dwellers of the green forest, are fearless and ferocious this is in stark contrast to the
suppressed womanhood in aunt's personality.
 Uncle made her life very burdensome, the expression 'massive weight of uncle's wedding band'
symbholises male dominance.
 'Ringed' refers to the confines, constraints and the demands of marriage that bind a woman, within the
vicious grip of her unhappy married life.
 Even after her death she would feel terrified by the trauma which she faced due to her dominating
husband
 l Aunt Jennifer's tigers will survive her. The tigers she knitted on the panel will remain fearless, brave
and majestic.
 The aunt herself will remain alive through her art form.
Questions for Practice
1. Aunt Jennifer's fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of uncle's wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand.
(a) Why are Aunt Jennifer's fingers fluttering?
(b) What is the result of fluttering?
(c) Explain : 'The massive weight of Uncle's Wedding band?
(d) What is Aunt Jennifer's state of mind?

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

Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
Questions
(a) What is the status of the Aunt in her family in her lifetime?
(b) Why are Aunt's hands said to be terrified?
(c) Explain : 'Still ringed with ordeals'?
(d) What will happen to her tigers after her death?
Answer the following quetions in about 30-40 words each :
1. Where do the tigers appear? Write two qualities of the tigers as depicted by the poet?
2. Why is the ivory needle hard to pull?
3. What is the significance of the wedding ring in Aunt Jennifer's life.
4. Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer. What is the attitude of the speakers towards Aunt Jennifer?

1. Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a screen.

Bright topaz denizens of a world of green
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
Ans. The poem 'Aunt Jennifer's Tiger's is written by Adrienne Rich.
(b) What was Aunt Jennifer doing at that moment?
Ans. She was creating embroidered tigers on a piece of woollen cloth.
(c) What do tigers symbolise?
Ans. Tigers symbolise fearlessness, bravery and self confidence.
(d) What are the traits of tigers that are a contrast to the aunt?
Ans. The tigers are fearless and 'Chivalric' whereas the aunt's own married life has left her weak and timid.

4. INDIGO —Louis Fischer

Points to Remember
 Gandhiji's meetings with Shukla
 Gandhiji at Indian National Congress Annual Convention
 Shukla, a poor Indigo peasant, requested him to come to Champaran
 Gandhiji agreed to do so after completing task in Calcutta
 Visited Rajendra Prasad's place in way to Champaran
 peasants come to meet him at Muzaffarpur
 Gandhiji met lawyers and scolded them for charging fee from poor peasants.
Problems of Peasants
 Landlords forced sharecroppers to grow indigo in 15% of the land
 Germany developed synthetic indigo
 landlords demanded compensation for freeing the peasants from 15% arrangement.
 Some agreed but later demanded money back.
Gandhiji Arrived at Champaran
 Wanted to meet Secretary of British Landlord's Association but was refused
 tried to meet Commissioner of Tirput region
 was bullied and ordered to leave Champaran but he defied orders.
 Prohibited from meeting peasants
 disobeyed notice to leave Champaran
– was summoned at court
– worked whole night to get support
– peasants gathered in large number to show support to him
– Gandhiji proved that British power was no longer unchangeable.
– authorities got afraid and postponed the case, Gandhiji, released on bail.
– lawyers decided to follow Gandhiji
First Attempt of Civil Disobedience
– case dropped against Gandhiji
– he planned Civil Disobedience
– Commission of inquiry appointed by Governor
– evidence against landlords found
– Gandhiji agreed for 25% refund as was agreed by landlords
– indigo share cropping abandoned and land given to peasants., Gandhiji's foresight – beyond political &
economic solutions
 aimed to improve social and cultural status of Champaran.
 status of Champaran
 aimed at improving health services
 took help of volunteers
 taught villagers about cleanliners and hygiene and to be selfreliant and independent
 freedom from fear move important than freedom from legal justice
 real relief for peasants was to be free form fear, courts were useless for fear stricken peasants
 Self reliance, strong will an courage to win battles, must protest against injustice.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:

Q.1 How was Gandhiji able to influence the lawyers?
Ans. The lawyers realized their narrow-minded approach and selfish interests when Gandhiji declared that he
was to be imprisoned for the cause of the share croppers. They resolved to fight for them.
Q.2 How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?
Ans. Gandhiji undertook the battle in Champaran all because of a simple peasant named Raj Kumar Shukla. Be
it the educated i.e. lawyers Prof. J.B. Kriplani and students or the illiterate peasants; all came together to
contribute their mite to support Gandhiji to champion the cause of the peasants who were mercilessly exploited
by the Britishers.
Q.3 How did Shukla succeed in persuading Gandhiji to visit Champaran?
Ans. Raj Kumar Shukla was bent on taking Gandhiji with him to Champaran. He expressed his blind faith in
Gandhiji's, leadership. He also patiently waited for Gandhiji to finish his assignments and escorted him
wherever he went. Gandhi's visit to Champaran thus, became compulsive.
Q.4 How as Gandhiji able to influence the lawyers at Champaran ?
Ans. The lawyer decided to return to their home town in case Gandhi faced arrest. Their callous attitude incited
Gandhi to question their indifference t the cause of the poor peasants. It awakened their sense of duty and they
were prepared for court arrest.
Q.5 How did Gandhiji help the peasants of Champaran ?
Ans. The peasants of Champaran faced oppression due to the evil designs of the landlords, Gandhiji helped
them and agreed to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers, making them aware of their rights. They also
gained courage and confidence.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:
Answer the following questions in 120-150 words:
Q.1 Why is the Champaran episode considered to be the beginning of the Indian
struggle for Independence ?
Ans. The Champaran episode was one of the major events in the struggle for Independence. It was in the course
of this small but significant movement that Gandhiji decided to urge the departure of the British from India. A
close examination of the problem of the Champaran peasants opened Gandhiji's eyes to the unjust policies of
the British. He realised that people had to be made free from fear and only then could they be freed from foreign
oppression. The spontaneous demonstration of the people proved that Gandhiji had the nation's support in his
fight against the Britishers. The triumph of the civil disobedience at Champaran motivated the launching of the
movement on a large scale during the freedom movement. Gandhiji's winning the case of sharecroppers proved
that British authority could be challenged. Hence, the Champaran episode served as a stepping stone to Indian
struggle for Independence.
Q.2 Why did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers? How did it
influence the peasant-landlord relationship in Champaran ?
Ans. Gandhiji fought the case for the sharecroppers and the evidence that he collected was so overwhelming
that the landlords were asked to repay. When Gandhiji asked for 50% repayment, the landlords offer to pay only
25% as they wanted to create a deadlock and thus prolong the dispute. To everybody's surprise, Gandhiji agreed
on a refund of 25%. Gandhiji explained that the amount of refund was not important. What mattered was that
the landlords were obliged to surrender a part of their money and with it, part of their prestige. The peasants saw
that they had rights and defenders. They learned courage. Gradually, indigo sharecropping disappeared from the
area and the land came back to the poor peasants.
Q.3 The Champaran episode was a turning point in Gandhiji's life. Elucidate.
Ans. The success of the Champaran episode made Gandhiji decide to urge the departure of the British from
India. Gandhiji concluded that the root cause of the problem was fear, so going to law courts to solve and the
dispute was useless. It brought him face to face with reality and he became aware of the miserable condition of
the poor, illiterate farmers. He also realised the exploitation that lay beneath the policies of the Britishers. The
spontaneous demonstration by the peasants was the beginning of their liberation from fear of British. Civil
disobedience had triumphed for the first time in modern India. Gandhiji declared that British could not order
him about in his own country. Thus, it was a turning point in his life, which also served as a source of strength
motivation for his future movements.
VALUE BASED QUESTION:
Answer the following question in 120-150 words:
Q.1 Exploitation is a universal phenomenon. The poor indigo farmers were exploited by the British landlords to
which Gandhiji objected. Even after our independence we find exploitation of unorganised labour. What values
do we learn from Gandhiji's campaign to counter the present day problems of exploitation? The weak have
always and at all times been the victims of injustice and exploitation.

.
Questions for Practice :
1. How could Shukla convince Gandhiji to come to Chamaparan?
2. What arrangements did Gandhiji make before reaching
Champaran?
3. How was Gandhiji treated at Rajendra Prasad's house?
4. Why did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers?
5. How did the Champaran episode change the plight of the peasants?
6. How did Gandhiji help the villagers in improving the conditions
of their life?
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Why did Gandhiji consider the Chamapran episode to be a turning point in his life?
2. How was Gandhiji's method different in solving the problems of the farmers?

SHOULD WIZARD HIT MOMMY

-JOHN UPDIKE
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:
Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each:

Q.1 Why did Roger Skunk go to see the old owl?

Ans. Roger Skunk smelt very bad. Everybody teased him by calling him 'Stinky Stunk.' He had no friends. Nobody
wanted to play with him or even go near him. In order to solve this 'problem', Roger went to see the old owl. The owl was
very wise and experienced and Roger believed that he would certainly come up with some solution.
Q.2 Why does Jo insist that her father should tell her the story with a different ending?
Ans. Jo, being a child, failed to accept the harsh realities of life. According to her, Roger Skunk was happy with the smell
of roses. She didn't want him to smell bad. She was used to stories that ended happily. That was why she insisted that her
father should tell the story in which the wizard hit Mommy Skunk back and did not change Roger's smell back.
Q.3 What did Jo want the wizard to do when Mommy Skunk approached him?
Ans. After the wizard gave Roger the smell of roses, he was very happy. His entire life changed, for he got many friends
to play with. But mother Skunk thought otherwise. She hit wizard on the head and made Roger get back his foul smell.
This made Jo very angry. She wanted that the wizard should hit Mommy Skunk back.
Q.4 How did the wizard help Roger Skunk?
Ans. Roger Skunk went to the wizard to get rid of his awful smell. The wizard asked him what he wanted to smell like,
and Roger replied that he wanted to smell like roses. The wizard then chanted a spell and changed his smell to that of
roses. Roger Skunk was very happy, as now everybody liked to play with him.
Q.5 What part of the story did Jack himself enjoy the most and why?
Ans. Jack enjoyed the part of the story most when he had to speak in the wizard's voice, as it was one of Jack's own
favourite effects. He did it by scrunching up his face and somehow whining through his eyes. He felt being an old man
suited him. Besides, he also enjoyed telling the story when Jo listened carefully, without interrupting him with questions.
Q.6 How did the Roger Skunk pay the wizard?
Ans. The wizard demands seven pennies as fee to make Roger Skunk smell like roses. Skunk has only four pennies. The
wizard tells him how and where to find the rest of the three pennies. Roger follows the wizards instructions and finds the
three pennies in the magic well and pays the wizard the full amount.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:

Answer the following questions in 120-150 words each:
Q.1 Why did Jo disapprove of Jack's ending of the story of Roger Skunk? How did she want it to end?
Ans. Roger Skunk went to the wizard to get rid of the problem of his awful smell. The wizard gave him a new smell of
roses. For Roger it was a moment of happiness, but Mother Skunk was not happy with Roger's new smell. She took Roger
back to the wizard, hit him on his head and ordered him to give Roger back his original smell. The wizard compiled and
gave Roger his same bad smell back. This made Roger lonely and disappointed again. This was the ending of the story of
Roger Skunk. Jo was shocked with Mother Skunk's behaviour. She
felt that Roger was better off with his new smell because he was very happy. He made new friends and society accepted
him. She wanted the story to end happily, and therefore disapproved of Jack's ending of the story. In Jo's ending, when
Mother Skunk hits the wizard, the wizard should hit her back and should not take away Roger's smell of roses.
Q.2 Why is an adult's perspective on life different from that of a child's?
Ans. It is obvious to find a marked difference between in an adult's perspective on life and that of a child's because on
earth, a child is considered as a form of a God as his/her heart is very pure and innocent. It doesn't know what is wrong or
what is right. There is no bad intention in child's mind behind doing any deed. it is just because its perspective on life, its
actions and reactions, are natural and not guided by any past experiences. A child speaks from the heart what seems to be
ethically and morally correct. In the case of an adult, its perspective is based on what it has learnt over the years, the
expectations of society and similar other experiences. It also knows the worth of originality so it thinks according to the
situation and takes a good decision on the basis of right and wrong.
Q.3 What is your stance regarding the two endings to the Roger Skunk story?
Ans. It is interesting to contrast the two endings of the Roger Skunk story. Jack's ending of the story is quite mature and
practical. It points out the harsh realities that one has to go through in life. The world is based on individual differences;
every species of animals has its distinct features, which must be respected and accepted in totality. Moreover, parents
know what is best for their children, and their decisions should be respected and obeyed. Jo wanted the story to end
happily. She wanted Roger Skunk's problems solved and expected that he would live happily, playing with his new
friends. This ending too is justified when we look at it from a child's point of view. As a child, Jo was unable to
understand the worth of one's originality and individuality. Besides, it is difficult for children to understand or explain
unhappy endings.
VALUE BASED QUESTION :
Answer the following question in 30-40 words each:
Q.1 What is the moral issue that the story raises?
-175-
Ans. The moral issue that the story raises is whether parents are the best judge of what is good for their child or not. A
sharp contrast is displayed in the story about the child's viewpoint and an adult's perspective of life. In the story, the child
Jo felt that the happiness of being able to make friends is more than anything else and so she wanted the story to end with
Roger Skunk smelling of roses. On the other hand, her father ended the story by saying that the mother was right in
getting Roger's smell back to its original state, implying to his daughter that parents know what is best for their children.
He also advocates that children should respect their parents' opinions and obey them unquestioningly. Jack also narrated
that all other animals finally accepted Roger, as he was emphasizing the importance of a person's originality and
individuality.