COMREHENSIVE NOTES ON

XI

SCIENCE, COMMERCE AND ARTS

 MCQ's * A Visit to a small Planet

 Short Q / A * Ozymandias
 Words/ Meanings * Don't Quit
 Explanation * Good Timber

BY

KHURRAM QAMAR
(M.A Philosophy, M.A English M.A Urdu)

Lecturer
at
Government Degree Girls College 11-B North Karachi
A VISIT TO A SMALL PLANET
Exercise 1: Write the synonyms of the following words contextually and use them in sentences.

Contextual
S.No Words Sentences
Meaning
1 Impromptu Unprepared Girls are always ready for impromptu photo-shoot.

2 Lunatic Crazy He talks like a lunatic person.

3 Blazing Heated Boys are playing cricket in the blazing sunlight.

4 Giddy Dizzy He felt giddy after hearing his marks.

5 Reconnoitering Surveying Before moving to new place you must reconnoiter.

6 Disposition Temper I always have a cheerful disposition.

7 Primitive Developing, basic Writings were rare in primitive societies.

8 Seethe Hot, angry On her win every other girl was seething.

The unctuous salesman exposed after the

9 Unctuous Sycophantic
unsuccessful deal.

10 Fidgets Toys, Fiddle Children can not sit still for long without fidgeting.

I don't want to hear the sordid details of your

11 Sordid Disreputable, sleazy
relationship.
His voice sounded oddly resonant in the empty
12 Resonant Booming
room.

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions from Textbook Exercise

01. ''A 'Visit to a Small Planet'' is written by
(a) Maupassant (b) Emerson (c) Gore Vidal (d)Stephen Leacock
02. ''A Visit to a Small Planet'' is a
(a) Travelogue (b) Science fiction (c) Narrative essay (d) Short story
03. The alien intended to see
(a) The Civil War (b) The World War II (c) The Renaissance (d) Industrial Revolution
04. Civil War was fought during
(a) 1857 (b) 1861 (c) 1957 (d) 18th Century
05. The play takes place in
(a) Maryland (b) Virginia (c) Washington (d) Indiana
06. ''A 'Visit to a Small Planet'' was written in
(a)1857 (b) 1947 (c) 1957 (d) 18th Century
07. ''A 'Visit to a Small Planet'' was originally written for
(a) Television (b) Film (c) Theatre (d) Radio
08. Roger Spelding was a
(a) A general (b) a newscaster (c) a soldier (d) a technician
09. John was a ____________.
(a) Merchant (b) Pilot (c) Farm owner (d) Professor
10. Mr. Spelding wanted Ellen to marry
(a) John (b) Kreton (c) An Army man (d) A wealthy man
11. Spelding criticizes John for growing
(a) Cabbage (b) Walnuts (c) Corn (d) Peanuts
12. John grows in his garden
(a) English walnuts (b) Peanuts (c) American Almond (d) Kiwi
13. The spaceship landed
(a) In the garden (b) on a hill (c) on the roof (d) in the fields

14. Ellen listened to the broadcast of ____________.

(a) Her daddy (b) her mother (c) her fiancé (d) Mr. Kreton
15. The visitor was dressed in the fashion of ____________.
(a) 1960 (b) 1900 (c) 1860 (d) 1850
16. Kreton appears to be in his
(a) Twenties (b) Thirties (c) Forties (d) Fifties
17. The impression of Kreton on seeing the inside of the house was
(a) Disgusted (b) Callous (c) delightful (d) sorrowful
18. Splendid called the spaceship a/an
(a) Meteor (b) Optical illusion (c) Mass hysteria (d) All of them
19. To escape, Mrs. Spelding suggested to going
(a) Outside (b) in the garden (c) to the cellar (d) To the spaceship
20. Kreton said that the earthmen were his
(a) Hobby (b) Ruination (c) Hope (d) Models
21. Kreton mistakenly thought that he had come to earth in the ________ century.
(a) 18th (b) 19th (c) 20th (d) 21st
22. The first person who arrived to investigate the space ship was
(a) Powers (b) Laurent (c) US President (d) Neighbour
23. The National Guard is a federal military reserve force of
(a) UK (b) USA (c) UNO (d) None of these
24. An assistant to an important person, especially a military officer is called a/an
(a) Aide (b) Attaché (c) Adjutant (d) None of these
25. The rank of Power's assistant was a
(a) Lieutenant (b) Major (c) Colonel (d) Captain
26. How many years are required to tell the story of travel?
(a) One hundred (b) Five hundred (c) two hundred (d) seven-hundred
27. Kreton said that people on his planet did not
(a) Fight (b) Speak (c) Die (d) Love

28. Kreton’s ship is _____________ in shape.

(a) Elliptical (b) Cubical (c) Rectangular (d) Triangular
29. What is the diameter of the spaceship?
(a) Fifteen feet (b) Fourteen feet (c) Sixteen feet (d) Several feet
30. Kreton’s spaceship is made of a/an
(a) Unknown metal (b) Precious metal (c) silver (d) steel
31. What is inside the spaceship?
(a) Nothing (b) Food cans (c) Wires (d) Water bottles
32. The house of Spelding comes under ____________.
(a) Civil law (b) Company law (c) Criminal law (d) Martial law
33. General Powers was thinking about ____________.
(a) His promotion (b) Arrest of Kreton
(c) Security of the country (d) the murder of the visitor
34. Mrs. Spelding likes Kreton's
(a) Height (b) Whiskers (c) Smile (d) Accent
35. How many Silver stars does Power have on his shoulder?
(a) Two (b) Three (c) Four (d) None of these
36. Kreton can speak
(a) English language (b) Alien Language (c) All languages (d) No language
37. One day of Kreton's planet is equal to the earthly
(a) 500 years (b) 2000 years (c) 2 days (d) One light year
38. According to Kreton, civilization is just
(a) At the ending (b) At the beginning (c) Full bloom (d) Creeping
39. The elements of science fiction in this passage are most pronounced in
(a) Kreton's supernatural abilities (b) Reaction to Kreton
(c) Kreton belongs to another breed of human (d) Hobbies of Kreton
40. Kreton placed an invisible wall around the spaceship because
(a) The army told him to (b) The army was going to take it apart
(c) The earth's atmosphere was damaging it (d) His own people suggested it.
41. Power accused Kreton of coming to earth
(a) 100 years too soon (b) To spread a mysterious disease
 (c) To discover some natural resources (d) To reconnoiter before invasion
42. Kreton said John's thoughts about Ellen were
(a) Black (b) Read (c) Purple (d) Yellow
43. Kreton considers human civilization
(a) Modern (b) Primitive (c) Conservative (d) Rational
44. Kreton intends to take charge of
(a) Rose Guarden (b) Spelding's House (c) USA (d) World
45. What is Spelding concluding?
(a) His chat (b) His speculation (c) His broadcast (d) Mission
46. How does Mrs. Spelding look?
(a) Young and wise (b) Tall and beautiful (c) Boring and vague (d) Smart and intelligent
47. Ellen is ____________.
(a) 16 (b) 20 (c) 18 (d) 22
48. Where does Ellen want to live after marriage?
(a) In a big city (b) in the mountains (c) on a farm (d) on an island
49. What does Spelding call Ellen?
(a) know-it-all (b) sensitive (c) idle (d)lazy
50. Whom should Ellen marry according to Spelding?
(a) A journalist (b) A reliable man
(c) a farmer (d) a hard-working and ambitious man
51. Brings the news of the landing of the spaceship?
(a) Ellen (b) Technicians (c) General Powers (d) John
52. How does the spaceship open?
(a) From under (b) From front (c) From its side (d) from behind
53. How does Kreton look?
(a) Harsh (b) Rough (c) pleasant (d) ignorant

54. Where from did Kreton belong?

(a) Earth (b) Moon (c) Mars (d) From some other planet
55. Who goes to look at the ship first?
(a) Ellen (b) General Powers (c) Spelding (d) John
56. Whom could Kreton tell about his solar system?
(a) A chemist (b) an optician (c) a mathematician (d) an engineer
57. Who says that Kreton is a hostile alien?
(a) SSG General Power (b)Spelding (c) the President (d) Ellen
58. General Powers is a vigorous product of the ____________.
(a) National Guard (b) American culture (c) Space technology (d) War industry

SHORT QUESTION ANSWERS

Q.NO1: What is ironic about Spelding's broadcast at the beginning of the play?
Answer. The play starts with an ironical situation. It is when Roger Spelding has concluded
his T.V broadcast quoting General Powers that the flying object which has given rise
to meaningless suppositions is nothing more than a meteor passing through the
earth’s orbit, and that Americans will be the first to travel in space. And when he is
boasting, a spaceship lands in his own garden with an alien in it.
Q.No.2: Why is Spelding unhappy about the relationship between Ellen and John?
Answer: Roger Spelding is unhappy about the relationship between Ellen (his daughter) and
John (his son-in-law) because he does not like his daughter’s fiancé. He believes
that John is everything except a hard-working, ambitious man who can not make his
mark in the world.
Q.No.3: Why did Kreton want to visit earth?
Answer: Kreton says that he has come to the Earth as a tourist. His hobby is to study the
planet, Earth and the civilization on it. He, however, declares, at the end of the play,
that he has come to take charge of the planet, Earth.
Q.NO.4: How is Kreton able to communicate with the people on earth?
Answer: Kreton is able to communicate with the people of earth very easily because he
knows all languages of the world. In fact he has the ability to read minds of people.
Though he says that he finds it exhausting to get familiar with all languages but still
he manages to learn them all.
Q.NO.5: Describe the reaction of different characters to Kreton's visit?
Answer: When, out of nowhere, Kreton appears in the beginning of the play. Different
characters show different reactions on the arrival of Kreton. He looks perfectly nice to
Mrs. Spelding. She likes his side-whiskers. On the other hand, Roger Spelding thinks
that the alien is either a monster or an impostor.
Q.NO.6: Why is General Power paranoid about Kreton's visit?
Answer: General Power is very suspicious about the reality of Kreton. He does not believe
that he is an alien who comes from another planet. That is why in the beginning of
the play he calls him a monster or a joker, because of his dressing. Afterward, he
thinks that he is a lunatic from the earth or a spy from some other world. In the end
when General Power starts believing that Kreton is an alien from another planet in
another solar system, he becomes paranoid that he has been sent here by another
civilization for the purpose of reconnoitering before invasion.
Q.NO.7: What restrictions are imposed upon Spelding's family?
Answer: General Power declares that Spelding’s house is under martial law. So Spelding can
not interview Kreton or break the news about aliens in his TV broadcast because of
 complete censorship on any leaking of the story about the alien. As John moves to
telephone his family to tell them that he is all right, AIDE forbids him to do so. He
also forbids him to leave the house without General Powers' permission.
Q.NO.8: What extra ordinary powers does Kreton possess and how does he exhibit these powers?
Answer: Kreton possesses some extraordinary powers, which he displays from time to time.
He has the ability of reading the minds and behaviour of the people before
revelation. He has a highly technological way of operating his spaceship without
instrument or control panel. Above all, when General Powers orders Aide to
penetrate into Kreton's spaceship, he creates an invisible protective defence wall,
surrounding his vessel. In short, he is strong and advanced enough to take the
control of the whole world.
Q.NO.9: Why does Spelding want Kreton to stay?
Answer: Roger Spelding shows that he wants Kreton to stay on earth a bit longer, unless he
gets a good impression of them. But Kreton reveals Spelding's thought by reading
his mind that Spelding wants to be the first journalist to interview Kreton.
Q.NO.10. Why did Kreton's friends consider him pervasive?
Answer: Kreton's friends think him perverse to be interested in a primitive society. They
believe so because technologically they are very much advanced and consider the
people of earth as under-developed. So, none of them is interested in the present
age of our primitive civilization. Only Kreton loves the planet earth and therefore
considered pervasive by his friends.
Q.NO.11: How does Kreton reveal that he does not have any favourable views of earthlings?
Answer: In the course of the play, Kreton shows his disregard about the earth, earthlings and
other earthly things.
Q.NO.12: How does Kreton foil General Power's attempt to confine him?
Answer: For security purpose, when General Powers orders Aide to take Kreton's spaceship
apart, Kreton foils General Powers' attempt by creating an invisible protective wall
around his vessel. Aide comes and tells General Powers that something happens to
the spaceship. The door is shut and because of the invisible wall they can not get
near it.

Q.NO.13: Who is Aide? What is his role in the play?

Answer: Aide is a military officer, acting as a confidential assistant to a senior officer. ''Aide'' is
the short form of 'aide-de-camp'. In the late 17 th century it was called 'camp adjutant'
in French. Here, in the play, Aide is the captain, and assistant to the General Power.
 He follows his all commands. He surveys Kreton's spaceship. He implements
marshal law, put by General Power and he attempts to take Kreton's ship apart
though not succeeds.
Q.NO.14: How did Aide describe Kreton's spaceship?
Answer: Aide reports that the flying object is elliptical, with a fourteen-foot diameter. He adds
that it is made of an unknown metal that shines, and there is nothing inside the
spaceship – neither any instrument, nor food, nor any other things.
Q.NO.15: Describe the main comic incidents of the play?
Q.NO.16: How is media depicted in the play?
Q.NO.17: The play is a satire on American society. Discuss.
Answer: Satire" is any work of art that uses ridicule, humor, and wit in order to criticize and
provoke change in human nature or social institutions. Vidal is widely known as a
satirical writer, and Visit to a Small Planet is a work that strengthens such a
reputation: when Kreton, an alien visitor, invades a middle-class Virginia home, the
characters react to him in ways that showcase their fears and frustrations with their
own lives. The play examines and makes fun of contemporary ideas about war, the
fear of "foreign" invasion, and attitudes toward different sex. Vidal ridicules military
bureaucracy and obsession through General Powers, the influence of television on
American life with Roger Spelding, and, in general, the irrational, "primitive" impulses
that often govern our lives.
Q.NO.18: How does the playwright expose the inferiority of the present race to that of the future?
Answer: Gore Vidal exposes the limitation of the modern civilization in an effective way. He
believes that the modern civilisation is not civilised enough. In fact the civilisation is
just beginning on the earth. Modern man knows too little. His knowledge of science
and humanities is superficial. Modern man is carried away by superstitions. He is
also addicted to self-glorification. This has resulted in arrcgance and disrespect for
others. Consequently, nations are engaged in never ending wars. The writer is also
of the view that modern man has not yet learnt to conquer time and space. Men in
future civilisation would be quite different. They might live in other planets. According
to the writer they will live forever by conquering time and space. They will be much
more knowledgeable. They will not be the victims of hatred. They will live peacefully.
The civilization will be in its full bloom. The inhabitants of all the planets will be
united. Thus, the future men would be the members of a universal civilisation.
Q.NO.19: Describe the arrival of the flying saucer in your own words.
Answer: The arrival of the flying saucer was very sensational and event. When this spaceship
landed in the rose garden, there was a great excitement. Only John dared to go
near. Mr. Spelding was shouting at his family to beware of it. Mrs. Spelding
suggested to take shelter in the basement. Ellen was worried about John who ran
 outside to watch the landing of the space ship. The tension decreased after the safe
landing of the spaceship.
Q.NO.20: How much advanced is the civilization of Kreton than of the Earth?
Answer: According to Kreton, the civilization of Kreton is so much advanced that the people
of the Earth cannot be parallel to them. the civilization on Earth is only at the initial
stages. The people of the Earth still stick to their primitive traits like wonder, fear and
pride. Kreton, on the other hand, is immortal, can read people’s minds and can
foretell any happening. They are advanced scientifically and technologically. They
can fly spaceships without instruments. The Earth people cannot do that. They can
speak all languages of the world. The Earth people cannot do that. They do not die
while the Earth people die. They can control their feelings. The Earth people cannot
do that.
Q.NO.21: Why can the people of earth not compete with people of Kreton?
Answer: The people of the Earth cannot compete with those of Kreton. His people are much
more advanced scientifically. They can be immortal and can control their thoughts.
On the other hand, the Earth people are mortal. They have not yet gotten rid of their
primitive traits. Their civilization is only at the initial stages.
Q.NO.22: What type of life do you foresee in the year 5000?
Answer: In the year 50000, people will be living on different heavenly bodies. They will have
conquered diseases, social and economic problems and perhaps even death. Their
lifestyle and ways of enjoyment will be totally different.
Q.NO.23: What are the literary elements used in ''A visit to a Small Planet'' and how they enhance the story?

Answer: The play is a satire, or more specifically, a comedy of manners. The play examines
and ridicules contemporary ideas about war and the fear of "foreign" invasion. Vidal
ridicules military bureaucracy and obsession through General Powers, the influence
of television on American life with Roger Spelding, and, in general, the irrational,
"primitive" impulses that often govern our lives. The characters incarnate
stereotypes: John and Ellen, the wistful young couple; Mrs Spelding, the fastidious
domestic housewife; Mr Spelding, the fortune hunter social striver; General Powers,
the aggressive military professional. The main character Kreton uses metaphors in
his speech. He refers to people as "poor fragile butterflies" and later visualises their
emotions in colours - red for anger, purple for passion and black for death wishes.

Q.NO.24: Who is your favourite character in the story and why?

Answer: Obviously, Kreton, the titular character of the play, is my favourite one. He has many
lovable characteristic. He behaves very nicely and elegantly, even when General
Power behaves harshly with him, he does not mind and misbehave in response. He
does not try to scare others and does not punish those who try to damage his space
ship. He is quite frank and soft with them all. He has certain extraordinary powers.
 For example, he can travel in a spaceship without instruments, he is a mind reader,
he can speak all languages of the world. He is immortal and he can defend himself
against any attack.

OZYMANDIAS
By
Percy Bysshe Shelly
Introduction to the Poet:
Percy Bysshe Shelley is one of the most popular English Romantic poets, and is regarded as a
great lyrical poet in English language. His poetry reflects passion, beauty, imagination, love,
creativity, political liberty and nature. Being very sensitive and possessing distinctive qualities of
hope, love, joy and imagination, Shelley strongly believed in realization of human happiness. The
best known classic poems of Shelley include “Ode to the West Wind, “Ozymandias”, “Music, When
Soft Voices Die”. There are also other major works which include “Adonais”, “The Triumph of Life”,
“The Revolt of Islam'', “Prometheus Unbound” and “The Cenci”.
Introduction to the poem:
“Ozymandias” is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem metered in iambic pentameter. The rhyme scheme
is somewhat unusual for a sonnet of this era; it does not fit a conventional Petrarchan pattern, but
instead interlinks the octave (a term for the first eight lines of a sonnet) with the sestet (a term for the
last six lines), by gradually replacing old rhymes with new ones in the form ABABACDCEDEFEF.
Background of the Poem:
Shelley wrote the poem in friendly competition with his friend and fellow poet Horace Smith, who
also wrote a sonnet on the same topic with the same title. At this time, members of the Shelleys'
literary circle would sometimes challenge each other to write competing sonnets on a common
subject: Shelley, John Keats and Leigh Hunt wrote competing sonnets about the Nile around the
same time. Shelley and Smith both chose a passage from the writings of a Greek historian about an
Egyptian statue of Ozymandias. Shelley wrote the poem quickly. In 1818, the poem was printed
in The Examiner, a weekly paper published by Leigh's brother John Hunt in London.
Summary
The speaker recalls having met a traveler “from an antique land,” who told him a story about the
ruins of a statue in the desert of his native country. Two vast legs of stone stand without a body, and
near them a massive, crumbling stone head lies “half sunk” in the sand. The traveler told the
speaker that the frown and “sneer of cold command” on the statue’s face indicate that the sculptor
understood well the emotions (or "passions") of the statue’s subject. The memory of those emotions
survives "stamped" on the lifeless statue, even though both the sculptor and his subject are both
now dead. On the pedestal of the statue appear the words, “My name is Ozymandias, king of
kings: / Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” But around the decaying ruin of the statue,
nothing remains, only the “lone and level sands,” which stretch out around it.

Exercise 1: Match the appropriate meaning & write your answer in column C.
S. Column A Column B Column C
1 Frown A The parts left over 1d
2 Visage b An artist who makes sculpture 2g
3 Sculptor c Huge 3b
 4 Mock d A displeasing or concentrating face 4e
5 Pedestal e Make fun of 5f
6 Colossal f The base of sculpture 6c
7 Remains g A human or animal face 7a

Exercise 2: Read the poem again and encircle the correct option.
1. ''Ozymandias'' is poem depicting that the life is ________.
(a) Beautiful (b) transient (c) attractive (d) alluring
2. The poet met a traveler from______
(a) An ancient land (b) abroad (c) a neighbouring country (d) a desert
3. The traveler told the poet that he had seen ________ in the desert.
(a) A statue (b) a sculptor (c) an oasis (d) a snake
4. The words on the base of the statue tell us that the king Ozymandias was a ____ king.
(a) Kind (b) humble (c) proud (d) cruel
5. The message of the poem for all powerful, authority and glory is__________.
(a) Sends stretch far away (b) frown & wrinkle lips
(c) nothing remains. (d) stamped on lifeless things
6. In the poem '' Ozymndias'' the condition of the statue is _________.
(a) Good (b) bad (c) excellent (d) marvelous
7. ''My name is Ozymandias—King of kings'' is ______ litrery device.
(a) Simile (b) irony (c) personification (d) metaphor
8. One of the following line does NOT make use of alliteration in the poem.
(a) The lone and level sands stretch far away (b) I met a traveler from antique land
(c) Nothing beside remains round the decay (d) half sunk, a shattered visage, lies whose frown

Exercise 4: Read the poem again and answer the following questions.
Q.No.1: What did the traveler see in the desert and whom he told about it?
Answer: In the first line, the poet talks about meeting a traveler from an antique country.
Greeks called Ramses II a powerful Egyptian pharaoh, Ozymandias. So, it is easy to
recognize the “antique land” is Egypt. In lines two through four, the traveler describes
a statue he saw in Egypt, two massive legs carved from stone lying in the desert
 sand. Nearby, the face of the statue is half-buried. The face is broken, but the
sculpture is wearing a frown and a sneer on the face.
Q.No.2: How can you say that the sculptor was a great artist?

Answer: In the line 6, the traveler turns his attention to the sculptor who made the statue. He
comments that whoever the sculptor is, he knew his subject very well. Anyone could
say that the artist had exceptionally captured the passions of the ruler. Though the
pharaoh is long dead, he exists through the creation of a mere sculptor. So, we can
surely say that the sculptor was a great artist.
Q.No.3: What was written on the pedestal of the statue of Ozymandias?
Answer: My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

These words carved on the pedestal, on which the Ozymandias sits, also tell his
personality. He is ordering those who see him to look upon all that he has created
but do not appreciate what he has done. Instead, the speaker has to despair and be
afraid of it. These words perfectly depict the leader’s pride and arrogance.
Q.No.4: What is the meaning of the phrase in the poem ''the heart that fed''?
Answer: This line provides an interesting dichotomy often found in the most terrible of
leaders. First, his hands show that the pharaoh mocked his people, yet his heart was
not all bad: he fed and cared for his people, as well. The “hand” stands for
Ozymandias as a whole. It is a use of synecdoche. Another interpretation is
that he(Ozymandias) fed on his people, meaning he was not a kind or caring ruler,
but instead exploited them.

Q.No.5: What is ironic about the fate of Ozymandias?

Answer: Although the poem primarily depicts an ironic picture of all rulers specially, and time-
bound humanity generally. But the irony of “Ozymandias” is much bitter as he was
one of the ancient world's most powerful rulers. He reigned as pharaoh for more than
six decades. But his neglected statue tells there is a special justice for the tyrants
''boundless and bare''.
Q.No.6: What is the message of the poem?
Answer: The major theme behind "Ozymandias" is that all power is temporary, no matter how
prideful or tyrannical a ruler is. Although the poem only discusses Ozymandias, it
implies that all rulers, dynasties, and political regimes will eventually crumble as
well, as nothing can withstand time forever.
Q.No.7: How does this poem relate to your life?
Q.No.8: The proud Ozymandias lies forgotten in the desert. Comment.
Answer: Ozymandias or Ramesses II was one of the ancient world's most powerful rulers. He
reigned as pharaoh for 66 years, led the Egyptians to numerous military victories,
built massive monuments and temples, and accumulated huge stores of wealth. He
eventually became known as Ramesses the Great and was revered for centuries
after his death. Throughout the poem, Ramesses' pride is evident, from the boastful
inscription where he declares himself a "king of kings". But the statue of
"Ozymandias" makes it clear that every person, even the most powerful person in
the land, will eventually be brought low, their name nearly forgotten and monuments
to their power becoming buried in the sand.

Exercise 7: Explain the following lines.

Stanza 1

I met a traveler from an ....... the heart that fed:

Explanation:
In these lines, the poet tells that he met a traveler from an old and deserted land. The traveler told
him that he saw two big legs standing in the desert. The two huge legs, which were made of stone,
were standing without the upper part of the body. The other part of the statue lay nearby. The arms
and the face were broken and it was in a miserable condition. It was half sunk into the sand. The
sand and dust covered the body. Yet the signs of displeasure and expressions of ruthlessness and
pride could be noticed on the face of the sculpture. The poet says that the skillful hands of the
sculptor had left the accurate expression of the man into his sculpture. The expression of
aggression, power, and pride was even obvious on the lifeless body of the King. The poet has tried
to explain that immorality has a permanent impression on our body as well as on our soul. So, it
cannot be erased even we pass away.

Stanza 2

And on the pedestal ...... stretch far away

Explanation:

In these lines, the poet has described what we can call the message of the poem. As the traveler
continues to describe what he saw in the desert, he says that there were some texts written in the
base of the statue. It read as
My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!
The texts tell that the name of the king was Ozymandias. He was the most powerful king. He
ordered the kings to see his statue and feel belittled. But the tragedy is that now nothing remains
except a lifeless statue of the king. The huge statue itself tells about the glory of the king. But now
this huge and splendid statue has fallen the victim of nature.The broken pieces of the statue are
being vanished in the sand. The sand is stretching far away and the statue of King Ozymandias is
getting a thick layer of sand on it. It cannot be seen anywhere.

Don't Quit
By
Edgar A. Guest
Introduction to the poet:
Edgar Albert Guest (20 August 1881 – 5 August 1959) was a British-born American poet who became
known as the People's Poet. His poems often had an inspirational and optimistic view of everyday life.
From his first published work in the Detroit Free Press until his death in 1959, Guest penned some
11,000 poems which were syndicated in some 300 newspapers and collected in more than 20 books.
Guest was made Poet Laureate of Michigan, the only poet to have been awarded the title.
Introduction to the poem:
The poem was published in March 1921. It is a four-stanza poem divided into uneven sets of lines. The
first two stanzas contain five lines, known as quintains, the second stanza contains three lines, known
as a tercet, and the fourth stanza contains four lines. This is known as a quatrain. The stanzas also use
consistent examples of perfect rhymes. The first stanza rhymes AABBC, and the second stanza rhymes
AABCD. The third stanza rhymes: ABB, and the final, four-line stanza rhymes: ABBC.
Summary:

Life is a journey and it is not always easy. Sometimes it is pleasant while other times things tend to go
wrong. Regardless of how meticulously you have planned everything, some things still go awry. There
are times when the funds are limited and one finds themselves in debt they must persist. Stop for a
while and take a rest but do not give up. When a person gives up, life becomes meaningless. There is
nothing worthwhile to fight for and all will to live diminishes. Although the problem seems colossal, if
they only fight for a little longer, victory will be theirs. The progress may seem slow but you are still
progressing and that is a sign of success. One more try and you shall succeed.The goal is often closer
than it seems to a tired person who has been struggling for a while. The struggler gives up so close to
winning that it’s a pity. Success is achieved by overcoming fears and self-doubt. What you thought
would be a terrible choice often turns out to be the complete opposite and makes you a winner. You are
not aware of just how close you are to winning and hence you must keep persevering and never give
up. Just like after every storm emerges a rainbow after the most severe hardship will come the solution.
When things get hard you must still not give up and continue to fight for you shall soon earn sweet
victory and then it will all be worth the strive.

Exercise 1: Match the appropriate meaning & write your answer in column C.
S. Column A Column B Column C
1 Trudge a Strange 1d
2 Quit b Speed 2e
3 Queer c A long deep breath 3a
4 Pace d To walk slowly 4b
 5 Twist e To stop 5g
6 Stuck f Caught 6f
7 Tint g An unexpected change 7h
8 Sigh h Shade 8c

Exercise 2: Read the poem again and encircle the correct option.
1. The figure of speech in 'The silver tint of the cloud of doubt' is ________.
(a) personification (b) metaphor (c) onomatopoeia (d) simile
2. ''When things seem worst'', we should________
(a) Run away (b) take some other way (c) stop moving ahead (d) stick to them
3. ''You might succeed with another blow'', means you________
(a) Give the blow (b) receive the blow (c) continue struggle (d) withdraw struggle
4. The struggler learns too late that he was/should __________
(a)Unable to struggle (b) close to his victory (c) have taken rest (d) have quit
5. The moral of the poem is that we shoud_______
(a) Face challenges (b) enjoy success (c) run away from hardships (d) think positively
6. ''So stick to the fight when you're___________''
(a) Hardest hit (b) betrayed (c) unhappy (d) unlucky
7. The phrase ''Golden crown'' means__________
(a) Wealth (b) power (c) victory (d) throne
8. In the first stanza of the poem, the word 'sigh' symbolizes________
(a) Happiness (b) regret (c) courage (d) pain

Exercise 4: Read the poem again and answer the following questions.
Q. No.1: What is the poet's message in the first stanza?

Answer: In the very first stanza of the poem, the poet coveys the idea to us that life is a
journey and it is not always easy. Sometimes it is pleasant while other times things
tend to go wrong. Regardless of how meticulously you have planned everything,
some things still go awry. There are times when the funds are limited and ones find
themselves in debt they must persist. Stop for a while and take a rest but do not give up.
Q. No.2: Which line of the poem do you like the most and why?

Answer: The line I like the most in this poem is ''success is a failure inside out.'' It is a great
motivational line that enables you to learn that success is the fruit of failure. It never
comes straight but through failure. Because the more you fail, the better you're going
to get at succeeding. Remember, success is failure turned inside out. It's a matter of
believing in yourself and looking in that mirror and trusting who you are. “Stick to the
fight when you're hardest hit. It's when things seem worst that you must not quit!
Failure can be frightening, however, as Winston Churchill reminded us,

"Success is all about going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm".

Q. No.3: Write the central idea of the poem.

Answer: It is very obvious that we have a tendency to work within our comfort zone and when
a hardship strikes, we tend to flee or battle with it only for a while before giving up.
However, this poem significantly inspires us to never quit and never give up in the
face of calamity. This is life and it is full of surprises. Think of it as a ride, sometimes
high and sometimes low. The one who manages to stick until the end wins the
victory cup. Although the victory seems far, it is close. One must just persist.

Q. No.4: Find similes, metaphors and alliterations in the poem.

Answer: Throughout ‘Don’t Quit,’ the poet makes use of several literary devices.
Alliteration: “smile” and “sigh” in line four of the first stanza and “twists” and “turns” in
first line of the second stanza.
Simile: “When things go wrong as they sometimes will”
Metaphor: “The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.”

Q. No.5: Discuss how the poem helps the reader to be optimistic in every situation.

Answer: Dr. Seligman in the book “Learned Optimism” states that there are some differences
in the way a pessimist and an optimist view a problem. His explanation gives a lot of
insight as to why some people manage to overcome setbacks and difficulties and
others spiral into a dungeon of defeat and self-doubt. So as the poem ''Don't Quit'' is
a source of strength and hope for many during difficult and stressful times. The
reason is that it states a simple truth so well that for many it is like shining a light in
the darkness.
Q. No.6: What effect does the poem create on the reader?

Answer: The poem ''Don't Quit'' should be stuck on the wall of everyone's room. The reason
for putting it on the wall is simple. It creates a magnificent effect on the reader. When
things are going wrong the light in our lives also often goes off. The message on the
wall is like a light shining in the darkness. It is a reminder that no matter how bad it
may seem, there is always hope. At such times, often after failing a test or just being
so overwhelmed with schoolwork, it would be a great source of hope and
encouragement.

Q. No.7: What is the message of the poem?

Q. No.8: Why does the poet term life 'queer with twists and turns''?

Answer: The poet Edgar A. Guest rightly termed life as queer with its twist and turns. it means
that life is complicated and unpredictable. Our entire life is like a journey on a road
with many turnings. We have no idea what will happen next. It may bring good or bad
things. In the journey of life we face new things, events, discoveries, surprises,
successes, and failures.

Q. No.9: What is the benefit of not quitting as suggested in the poem?

Answer: The poet motivates us to keep going on. If we keep trying, we may win anytime.
Success actually is nothing but moving on from one failure to another without getting
disappointed. The poet demands us that when we are facing the hardest times, it is
at this time that we must not quit. That is how we can succeed in getting our goal.

Exercise 7: Explain the following stanzas.

Stanza 1
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
when the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
when the funds are low and the debts are high,
and you want to smile but you have to sigh,
when care is pressing you down a bit – rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Explanation:

In the first stanza of the poem, the reader should immediately take note of the poet’s use of
anaphora. This occurs when the writer repeats the same word or phrase at the beginning of multiple
lines. In this case, four of the five lines of the first stanza begin with the word “when.” These lines set
up a series of instances in which readers are going to have to persevere through the hardest
moments in their lives. For example, the poet says that when “the funds are low, and the deaths are
high” or when “the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,” it is important to rest “if you must, but don’t
you quit.” The main theme of the poem is revealed in the fifth line of the stanza. Readers should
walk away from the poem after they finish all four stanzas with newfound strength and determination
to persevere through any hardship they might have to deal with.

Stanza 2:
Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow – you may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man;

Explanation:

In the second stanza, the speaker emphasizes how complicated life is. It is not going to play out the
way that one expects. The speaker describes a “fellow” who turns away from hardship rather than
persevering. This person would’ve “won” if he had “stuck it out.” The speaker uses this very vague
example as a way to inspire readers to persevere, no matter if the issue they’re dealing with seems
impossible. In combination with descriptions of perseverance, the speaker uses endurance-based
images that compare working hard to get through a tough time to running at a consistent speed, or
“pace.” The second stanza ends with the speaker saying that often, the end is closer than it seems,
especially when one is “faint and faltering” (a great example of alliteration and imagery).

Stanza 3:
Often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor’s cup;
and he learned too late when the night came down,
how close he was to the golden crown.

Explanation:

The third stanza is the shortest of the three. It returns to the same images that the poet used in the
previous two stanzas, asking readers to remember how important it is to continue working hard no
matter how negative the situation is. Just like the “fellow” in the previous stanza, here, the speaker
refers to a “struggler” who would’ve captured the “victors cup” if he had not given up. The speaker
also uses metaphors like “the golden crown” to refer to success in the broadest of terms. This could
be a financial success, success in a relationship, a difficult family matter, or any other issue that one
has to deal with.

Stanza 4:

Success is failure turned inside out – the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
and when you never can tell how close you are,
it may be near when it seems afar;
so stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit – it’s when things seem worst, you must not quit.

Explanation:

In the final stanza, the speaker says that “success is failure turned inside out.” Here, the speaker is
trying to emphasize the fact that in failure or in struggle, success is always there. One has to see the
“silver tint of the clouds of doubt” and know that happiness and success are close by. It’s when
things seem the hardest that one “must not quit.”The poem ends with the same few words that the
first stanza used in its final line. This helps create a unified feeling and reminds readers of the
central theme that they were introduced to at the beginning of the poem.

GOOD TIMBER
By
Douglas Malloch

Introduction to the poet:

Douglas Malloch (May 5, 1877 – July 2, 1938) was an American poet, short-story writer and
Associate Editor of American Lumberman, a trade paper in Chicago. He became known as a
"Lumberman's poet" both locally and nationally. He is noted for writing Round River Drive and "Be
the Best of Whatever You Are" in addition to many other creations. He was commissioned to write
the Michigan State Song.
Introduction to the Poem:
This beautiful and concise poem was first appeared in 1922 and proved an instant hit, winning
praises for the poet on account of its simple yet effective thematic idea and six-
verses stanza type. Good Timber is a four stanza poem that is separated into sets of six lines or
sextets. It is one of Malloch’s most well-known pieces and follows a consistent and structured rhyme
scheme. The lines conform to a pattern of aabbcc, alternating as the poet saw fit from stanza to
stanza. This was a common structure for Malloch. His rhyming pairs carry a reader through the
piece from beginning to end. The couplets give the poem a sing song-like sound, resembling a
song lyric.
Summary:

The poem begins with the speaker describing how there are two types of trees and men. First, there
are those who are readily given everything they need to survive. This type of person or tree never
has to worry about where their food and water is going to come from. On the other hand, there are
the trees and men who must fight, from birth, to survive. Their broken branches and scars are
evidence of their ability to survive on and become “forest king.” The poet presents the example of a
tree to teach the lifelong lesson that fighting with valor for one’s rights makes one the master of their
fate. However, it all depends on how much effort is put into the competition for life. The poet says
that a tree that never goes high to win air, sunlight, and open space does not become the king of the
forest. And the same goes with such calm and reserved persons who never toil or fight to get more.
In fact, he is of the view that, like the good timber that does not “grow with ease” such great people
do not become heroes without much toil. A hard and tough competition awaits both such trees and
such heroes. His final argument rests on the last verse, “This is the common law of life.”

Exercise 1: Find out the meaning of the following words by using dictionary.
No
Words Contextual Meaning
.
1 Timber Wood
2 Scrubby Of little importance
3 Toil Hard work
4 Patriarch Head
5 Counsel Advice
6 Scars Mark of wound
Exercise 2: Read the poem again and encircle the correct option.
1. The poem explains to us that good qualities always develop in______
(a) hardships (b) ease (c) idleness (d) illness
2. ''Never become a forest king'' means never
(a) Become a lion (b) acquired a position (c) possessed courage (d) enjoyed life
3. ''But lived and died as he began'' points out towards _______ human being.
(a) A courageous (b) an effortless (c) a wealthy (d) a successful
4. In the poem ''Good Timber'' the poet discusses the theme of________
(a) Nature, wealth & defeat (b) power, relationship & hope
(c) nature, struggle & fulfillment (d) nature, nurture & chaos
5. The poem teaches us that the people reach their true potential by overcoming_______
(a) Feelings (b) enemies (c) desires (d) adversities
6. ''But lived and died a scrubby thing'' means lived a/an_______ life.
(a) Unimportant (b) high status (c) useful (d) comfortable
7. ''By sun and cold, by rain and snow'' is _______ literary device.
(a) Metaphor (b) oxymoron (c) alliteration (d) simile
8. ''Broken branches'' in the last stanza is the example of ________
(a) Simile (b) metaphor (c) hyperbole (d) none of them

Exercise3: Read the poem again and answer the following questions.
Q. No.1: What is the significance of the title of the poem?

Answer: The significance of the title of the poem lies in its meaning. The word timber has got
a dual meaning. The meaning of this word is 'the wood prepared for use in building
and carpentry'. It also means 'personal qualities or character'. So 'good timber' can
be used for the trees and human beings both. As it happens in the second verse of
the fourth stanza, we find the patriarchs of both.

Q. No.2: What happened to the people who work hard?

Answer: The development of successful life lies in facing hardships and in overcoming
hurdles. AS a tree gets its strength through snowy storms and strong winds, it has to
 fight and face the sun and cold, so does a man. A man, who finds himself in danger,
confronts the tragic realities of the world, encounters hardships, and copes up with
the problems, at last, grows himself as a stronger man.

Q. No.3: How can one achieve one's true potential in life according to the poem?

Answer: The message of this poem is that people, like trees, grow and reach their true
potential by overcoming adversity. It is only through struggles, like a tree fighting
through forest growth to reach the sun, that we grow and discover our true potential.
Because good Timber and good qualities always develop in hardships. Stronger
winds make the trees more strong and harsh conditions make the men stronger and
give potential to them.

Q. No.4: Why does the poet suggest people to be like good timber?

Answer: Good timber means stronger wood in trees and strong character in man. So when he
suggests people to be like good timber, he, in fact, wants to make them strong at
hearts. His desire is that they should be bold enough to face the challenges of life.
When we have strong houses, we can protect ourselves from the angry wind. In the
same manner when we are strong at heart we can face the challenges of life.

Q. No.5: Which poetic devices are used in the poem?

Answer: Throughout ‘Good Timber’ Malloch makes use of several literary devices. These
include metaphors, alliteration, and enjambment.
Alliteration is an interesting formal device that can be seen through the repetition of
consonant sounds at the beginning of multiple words, for example, “broken
branches” in stanza four and “storm” and “strength” in stanza three.
Enjambment is also an important technique to take note of in ‘Good
Timber’. Readers can look to the transitions between lines one and two of the first
stanza and lines three and four of the second stanza for examples.

Q. No.6: Write the central idea of the poem.

Answer: The central idea of the poem “Good Timber” is that struggle is necessary to live a full
life. Those who live through the hardship of life, face storms, and adversities in life
 are blessed with real potential, tolerance, and broad vision which are the best
rewards for struggle.
Q. No.7: How does this poem relate to your life?

Exercise 8: Explain the following stanzas.

Stanza 1:
The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.

Paraphrase:
A tree that does not struggle for its basic rights of sun, sky, light, and air, although this tree always
gets its share of water through the rain in open grassy meadows, does not become the head of the
forest. It struck down as a useless and inferior creature.

Explanation:

In the first stanza of this piece the speaker begins by describing one particular type of tree and the
life it lived. It is clear from the first stanza that the tree is standing in for a human being. There is an
extended metaphor that stretches the length of the poem through which Malloch uses trees to
represent humans and they different lives they lead.

He speaks first on the “tree that never had to fight.” From just this line it is clear that he is looking
down on this type of person. The “fight” already feels necessary. In the next lines he describes how
the tree, or person, who lives an easy life does not worry about resources. They have all the food,
water, air and light they need to survive. These needs don’t register for them. Additionally, due to
their position, they “always” get enough rain.

The position of the tree speaks to the way that one’s lot in life is determined by their birth. One
cannot choose the life they were born into. The tree did not have to fight for what it has. In the last
two lines the speaker reveals the outcome of such a life. This kind of tree will never become a
“forest king,” or one of the largest, strongest trees in the forest. It will live and die “a scrubby thing.” It
may have a position, but that position did nothing to further its interior strength.

Stanza 2:
The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.

Paraphrase:
A man who does not work hard on his piece of land for growing and gaining, one who never tries to
win his share in all things like sun, sky, air, and light does not become a brave man this kind of
person as uncultivated as he was born.

Explanation:
In the next six lines of ‘Good Timber,’ the speaker compares the tree to the man who never
“became a manly man.” This person lived a similar life. He never had to “toil / To gain and farm his
patch of soil.” Just like the tree was given all the elements of life it needed, so too was the man
given his “share” without effort. The last two lines solidify the comparison between the man and the
tree. He “lived and died as he began” without development. His position, socially, morally and
economically did not improve because he did not feel the need to reach beyond his readily available
resources.

Stanza 3:

Good timber does not grow with ease,

The stronger wind, the stronger trees,
The further sky, the greater length,
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.

Paraphrase:

Good Timber and good qualities always develop in hardships. Stronger winds make the trees more
strong and give potential to them. They get enough power from powerful storms. Good timber in
trees and fine qualities in men always grow due to facing the hardship of summer, winter, rain, and
snow.

Explanation:

The third stanza of '‘GOOD TIMBER,'’ is dedicated to describing what does make “Good,” or strong,
“timber.” A tree that is going to live a long and successful life “does not grow with ease.” It
encounters throughout its days “stronger wind” and “further sky” than the “scrubby” tree ever did. It
also lives through more storms and an uncertain amount of sun, cold and “rain and snow.” The final
line joins together the tree of good timber with the “manly man.” The same forces forged both types
of life.

Stanza 4
Where thickest lies the forest growth
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.

Paraphrase:
Where there the forest growth is dense, we can find founders or forefathers of both trees and men.
Due to their greatness, they consult with stars. Their broken branches show the wounds and scars
of their struggle against many winds and hardships. At last, this becomes the common law of life
that nothing can be gained without pain.

Explanation:

In the last six lines of ‘Good Timber,’ the speaker goes on to describe the environment of the man
and the good timber tree. Both are in the “thickest” part of the forest. This contrasts with the tree of
the first stanza. It grew in an opening in the forest canopy. The men and trees are in the shade and
far from the sun. They both are the “patriarchs” or male leaders of their species. From where they
are situated, away from the light of the sun and city, they are able to “hold counsel with the stars.”
They tap into a deeper knowledge, and commune with forces that others cannot understand. The
tree and the man share “broken branches” and “scars.” The “strife” of their lives has become the
“common law.” It structures who they are and how they live.