BA 1st Year Business English FlaxGolden Tales

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UNIT TWO: ANCIENT TALES
Yudhishthira’s Wisdom
Source: The Mahabharata
The story “Yudhishthira’s Wisdom” is adapted from Mahabharata. The
story is about the importance of obedience, patience, truth, righteousness and
courage in the life to achieve the goal successfully.
Long ago, five Pandava brothers were following a deer in the forest. It was
scorching sun. The deer vanished somewhere in the dense forest. They were tired
and thirsty, and were far from their hut. Due to thirst, Yudhishthira sent
Sahadeva in the search of water. Sahadeva went to search water. After a short
walk, he reached to a beautiful pond. He wanted to drink water to fulfill his thirst
so he bowed the head towards the water. At the meantime, a strange sound warned
him not to drink water before answering the questions. He disobeyed the sound,
drank water that caused to lie unconscious at the edge of the pond. When Sahadeva
didn’t return back for long time, Yudhishthira sent Nakula. He too didn’t return
back. Then Yudhishthira sent Arjuna and Bheema respectively. They too didn’t
return back because the same situation occurred as it was for Sahadeva for all. At
last, Yudhishthira went himself in search of brothers and water. After a short walk,
he reached to the same pond where his brothers were lying unconscious at the edge
of the pond. When he saw his brother’s miserable condition, he started crying. He
appealed the devil spirit to let him die with his brothers. He was thirsty so he tried
to drink water bowing the head towards the pond. At the meantime, a strange
sound warned him not to drink the water before answering the questions
introducing himself as Yaksha. Then being patient, Yudhishthira requested Yaksha
to ask the questions. Then Yaksha asked:
 What makes the sunshine?
Yudhishthira replied, “The power of the god.”
 What is man’s surest weapon against the danger?
Yudhishthira replied, “Courage.”
 What gives more to man then even the earth does?
Yudhishthira replied, “A mother gives birth, feeds and sustains us.”
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 When does a man become loved by his fellows?

Yudhishthira replied, “When he gives up the pride.”
 What is that which makes a man happy when he has lost it?
Yudhishthira replied, “Anger.”
 What can a man give up and immediately become rich?
Yudhishthira replied, “Desire.”
With the answers of Yudhishthira, Yaksha became well-pleased and asked

Yudhishthira to choose one of his brothers whom he would like to revive.
Yudhishthira claiming the truth and righteousness are a man’s only weapon and
protection. So he requested Yaksha to revive Nakula because he didn’t want to end
the chain of his step-mother, Madri, as he was alive from the side of Kunti. Yaksha
became happy with the wiseness of Yudhishthira and revived all the brothers and
told them to go to Matsya Himal assuring them to help in the problems.
Hence, the story is about the importance of obedience, patience, courage,
truth and righteousness to lead the life towards success.
Four levels of the story Yudhishthira’s Wisdom:
1. Literal Comprehension
The story “Yudhishthira’s Wisdom” is adapted from Mahabharata. Long
ago, five Pandava brothers were following a deer in the forest. It was scorching
sun. the deer vanished somewhere in the dense forest. They were tired and thirsty,
and were far from their hut. Due to the thirst, Yudhishthira sent Sahadeva in search
of water. Sahadeva went to search water. After a short walk, he reached to a
beautiful pond. He wanted to drink water to fulfill his thirst so he bowed the head
towards the water. At the meantime, a strange sound warned him not to drink water
before answering the questions. He disobeyed the sound, drank water that caused
him to lie unconscious at the edge of the pond. When Sahadeva didn’t return back
for a long time, Yudhishthira sent Nakula. He too didn’t return back. Ten
Yudhishthira sent Arjuna and Bheema respectively. They too didn’t return back
because the same situation occurred as it was for Sahadeva for all. At last,
Yudhishthira went himself in search of brothers and water. After a short walk, he
reached to the same pond where his brothers were lying unconscious at the edge of
the pond. When he saw his brother’s miserable condition, he started crying. He
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appealed the devil spirit to let him die with his brothers. He was thirsty so he tried
to drink water bowing the head towards the pond. At the mean time, a strange
sound warned him not to drink the water before answering the questions
introducing himself as Yaksha. Then being patient, Yudhishthira requested Yaksha
to ask the questions. Then Yaksha asked:
 What makes the sunshine?
Yudhishthira replied, “The power of the god.”
 What is man’s surest weapon against the danger?
Yudhishthira replied, “Courage.”
 What gives more to man then even the earth does?
Yudhishthira replied, “A mother gives birth, feeds and sustains us.”
 hen does a man become loved by his fellows?
Yudhishthira replied, “When he gives up the pride.”
 What is that which makes a man happy when he has lost it?
Yudhishthira replied, “Anger.”
 What can a man give up and immediately become rich?
Yudhishthira replied, “Desire.”
With the answers of Yudhishthira, Yaksha became well-pleased and asked

Yudhishthira to choose one of his brothers whom he would like to revive.
Yudhishthira claiming the truth and righteousness are a man’s only weapon and
protection. So he requested Yaksha to revive Nakula because he didn’t want to end
the chain of his step-mother, Madri, as he was alive from the side of Kunti. Yaksha
became happy with the wiseness of Yudhishthira and revived all the brothers and
told them to go to Matsya Himal assuring them to help in the problems.
2. Interpretation
The story is about the importance of obedience, patience, truth,
righteousness and courage in the life to achieve the goals successfully.
3. Critical thinking
The story is about the importance of obedience and patience. But some of
the ideas in the story are not convincing. In the story, it is said that a strange sound
warned five Pandava brothers not to drink water in the middle of the forest. Can
we believe this? When answering the questions of Yaksha, Yudhishthira said due to
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the power of the god, the sun shines. Does the god really exist? Yudhishthira said
desire should be given up to be rich. Doesn’t the development stop if we give up
desire? Etc.
4. Assimilation
After reading this story, I really understood the importance of patience for
the successful life. The story taught me that anger and pride are the enemies of the
human beings. Truth and righteousness are the fundamental components of our
life. It is my perceived idea from the story.
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The Brave Little Parrot

Source: Buddhist legend
The story “The brave little parrot” is adapted from Buddhist legend. The
story is about the importance of selfless help that is even rewarded by the God.
“Selfless help to be helped” is the central idea of the story.
Once long ago, Buddha was born as a little parrot. He had an interesting life
in the forest. One day, due to lightening flash and thunder crash, the forest started
to flame. The wild animals became terrified and started wondering here and there
in search of safe place. When the parrot saw the miserable condition of the
animals, he flew to the river, dipped, returned back over the fire and flapped the
wings to drop the drops of water in order to put out the fire and save the life of the
animals. But the drops of water vanished into the flame with a sound hissssss. But
the parrot didn’t stop his work. His eyes were red and wings were burnt due to the
hot smoke. At the mean time, a group of Gods was going somewhere through the
same jungle. They saw the work of the parrot and started laughing teasing the
absurd work. One of the Gods, in the form of a golden eagle, came to the parrot
and advised him to stop the work. But the parrot replied that he needed help but not
advice which made the God feel ashamed. He became emotional and started
crying. The tears from the eyes of the God started flowing like the heavy rain or
the stream. That swept away the fire from the forest. Then the forest got new life,
animals were saved and the bird was decorated with different colors of feathers
like red, green, yellow and became a handsome bird. The animals that were saved
from the fire cheered up for the selfless work of the parrot.
Hence, the story tries to give the moral lesson that everyone should be
involved in the selfless help that always helps to get helped.
Four levels of the story The Brave Little Parrot:
The story “The Brave Little Parrot” is adapted from Buddhist Legend. Once
long ago, Buddha was born as a little parrot. He had an interesting life in the forest.
One day, due to lightening flash and thunder crash, the forest started to flame. The
wild animals became terrified and started wondering here and there in search of
safe place. When the parrot saw the miserable condition of the animals, he flew to
the river, dipped, returned back over the fire and flapped the wings to drop the
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drops of water in order to put out the fire and save the life of the animals. But the
drops of water vanished into the flame with a sound hissssss. But the parrot didn’t
stop his work. His eyes were red and wings were burnt due to the hot smoke. At
the mean time, a group of Gods was going somewhere through the same jungle.
They saw the work of the parrot and started laughing teasing the absurd work. One
of the Gods, in the form of a golden eagle, came to the parrot and advised him to
stop the work. But the parrot replied that he needed help but not advice which
made the God feel ashamed. He became emotional and started crying. The tears
from the eyes of the God started flowing like the heavy rain or the stream. That
swept away the fire from the forest. Then the forest got new life, animals were
saved and the bird was decorated with different colors of feathers like red, green,
yellow and became a handsome bird. The animals that were saved from the fire
cheered up for the selfless work of the parrot.
2. Interpretation
The story is about the importance of selfless help that is even rewarded by
the God. “Selfless help to be helped” is the central idea of the story.
3. Critical Thinking
The story is about the importance of selfless help to get helped but some of
the ideas in the story are not convincing. In the story, it is said that the parrot tried
to put out the fire bringing the drops of water on the wings. Does a bird do so? It is
also said that the tears from the God flowed like the stream and put out the fire of
the forest. Isn’t it fanciful idea? Does the God really exist? Etc.
4. Assimilation
After reading the story, what I understood is we should always try to be
involved in the selfless work that brings necessary happiness and success. The
story reminded me an incident of few years ago. Our village was about to be
caught by the fire. It was a sunny day. We were trying to put out the fire with the
bucketful water but it was almost impossible. At the mean time, the rain drizzled
mixing up with the rays of the sun. Then, the fire was put out.
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If Not Higher
I.L.Peretz, Poland (1852-1915)
The story “If Not Higher” is based on Jews religion, written by I.L.Peretz.
The story is about the importance of help for the helpless people instead of
wondering in search of temples for the spiritualism. “We have to be involved in the
help of helpless people instead of visiting temples for the religious gain” is the
central idea of the story.
Every Friday morning, at the time of Penitential prayer, the Rabbi would
vanish. The followers wanted to know where their master would go. So one of the
followers, Litvak went to the room of Rabbi and hid under the bed. At night Litvak
could feel the groaning.
The following day, early in the morning, the Rabbi woke up and set his journey
towards the forest in the peasantry dress. On the way, Rabbi collected the firewood
and ultimately reached to a hut of an old Jewish widow. There the Rabbi recited
the third portion of
Penitential prayers. As the Rabbi put the wood into the oven, he recited first
portion, as he kindled the fire and the wood burnt brightly, he recited second and
when the fire was set, he recited the third portion of Penitential prayer and then he
shut the stove. Litvak, who saw all these activities of Rabbi, became the
follower/disciple.
Hence, the story is about the importance of involving in the help of helpless
people instead of wandering in search of temples for the religious pursuit.\
Four levels of the story “If Not Higher”:

The story “If Not Higher” is based on Jews religion, written by I.L. Peretz.
Every Friday morning, at the time of Penitential prayer, the Rabbi would vanish.
The followers wanted to know where their master would go. So one of the
followers, Litvak went to the room of Rabbi and hid under the bed. At night Litvak
could feel the groaning. The following day, early in the morning, the Rabbi woke
up and set is journey towards the forest in the peasantry dress. On the way, Rabbi
collected the firewood and ultimately reached to a hut of an old Jewish widow.
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There the Rabbi recited the third portion of Penitential prayers. As the Rabbi put
the wood into the oven, he recited first portion, as he kindled the fire and the wood
burnt brightly, he recited second and when the fire was set, he recited the third
portion of Penitential prayer and then he shut the stove. Litvak, who saw all these
activities of Rabbi, became the follower/disciple.
2. Interpretation
The story is about the importance of help for the helpless people instead of
wondering in search of temples for the spiritualism. “We have to be involved in the
help of helpless people instead of visiting temples for the religious gain” is the
central idea of the story.
The story is about the importance of human help for the spiritualism instead of
worshipping the God. But some of the ideas in the story are not convincing. In the
story, it is said that Rabbi would be vanished somewhere at the time of Penitential
prayer. Does a religious master do so? Litvak, the follower of Rabbi, went to the
room and hid under the bed to know the disappearance of Rabbi. Can we suspect the
visit of Rabbi to an old woman? Etc.
4. Assimilation
After reading this story, I remembered the poem “Yatri” by Nepalese great
poet, Laxmi Prasad Devkota in which the poet mocks those people who believe on
visiting the temples and worshipping there for religious pursuit being indifference
on the sentiment of human beings. The story taught me the moral lesson that “It is
far better to be faithful on the human help being conscious on that the God lies
within ourselves and helps the helpless people.”
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UNIT THREE: EDUCATION
Why Go To University?
Moti Nissani, USA (1947- )
The essay “Why Go To University?” is written by an American writer, Moti
Nissani. In the essay, the writer is trying to show the importance of university
education. The central idea of the essay is “University education enlightens the
mind, makes critical, creative and inquisitive, makes people aware on the
importance of good health, helps us to be conscious on the basic fundamental
rights of life like life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, makes practical, helps to
handle the situation rationally, makes people democratic etc.”
In the beginning of the essay, the writer is talking about the disadvantages of
going university for the acquisition of knowledge. He says that we may already be
responsible for our job, family and going university creates additional stress. We
may wish to spend our leisure time relaxing but we have to be busy on doing
homework. We sometime have to pay for our education and living expenses that
we have to pay later. Moreover, in the time of going university, we could be
working and earning money. Our papers are compared, evaluated and graded. It is
not sure that knowledge always brings greater happiness. To some extinct
ignorance is bliss. University education encourages for social evils like
environmental degradation, materialistic value system and political transition. But
the writer in the essay has given tremendous advantages. The writer has stated ten
excellent advantages. They are:
1. University education ensures better job and income opportunities that helps
for our prosperous life. For an educated person the doors of an opportunity are
always opened that helps for name, fame and existential life.
2. University education helps for the practical application of knowledge. An
educated person can handle the situation logically, rationally and practically being
conscious on the negative sides of the problems than an illiterate person.
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3. University education helps people to be conscious on the importance of good

health. An educated person is more likely to have more appreciation for the
hazards of smoking, overweight, lack of exercises or stress.
4. University education makes people conscious on the importance of physical
exercise for physical, mental and emotional well-being. A sound mind in a sound
body is focused on in the university education.
5. University education helps for the exchange of cultural values as university is
the place where the people come from across the world having different cultural
backgrounds.
6. University education makes people inquisitive. Scientific discovery, innovation,
inventiveness, reasoning, rationality are increased while getting the university
education.
7. Going to university expands our social horizons, as we meet new people; make
new friends, share new experiences that help for satisfying our needs for
companionship, personal growth and friendship.
8. Education increases our personal freedom. University education teaches us the
true meaning of the life and helps us for an existential life.
9. University education provides the knowledge about the universe like
geographical condition, species, biosphere, human mind, world economies etc.
10. The last advantage according to the writer is university education makes people
democratic. An educated person knows the norms and values of democracy being
conscious citizen and fulfilling duties and responsibilities.
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Don’t Cut down the Trees, Brother Woodcutter

Balakrishna Sama, Nepal (1902-1981)
The poem “Don’t Cut down the Trees, Brother Woodcutter” is written by a
Nepalese literary figure known as The Father of Nepali Drama, Balakrishna Sama.
Through the poem, the poet is trying to give moral lesson that we shouldn’t cut
down the trees because the trees are the source of imagination, freshness, and
reincarnation means simply the nature. The poet, in the poem, tries to give us the
moral lesson that it is our duty and responsibility to protect and conserve the trees
because trees are the source of survival.
In the poem, the poet says the woodcutter not to cut down the trees because
they protect us from sun and rain, give fruits and flowers, help for the refreshment,
give warmth, bring newness in our life like season, spring, taught us to sing, give
shelter etc. If we cut they don’t speak to us but weep and we can see ooze sap. The
trees bring dream for the morning for the beginning of our life. In the winter
season, we gather inside the house and take warmth from the fire. The trees stretch
their arms for our convenience but we cut it.
Hence, the poem teaches us to protect the trees and conserve the nature that
helps for flourishing the life and the civilization.
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“Surely You Are Joking, Mr. Feynman!”

Richard P. Feynman, USA (1918-1988)
With Ralph Leighton
The essay “Surely You Are Joking, Mr. Feynman!” is an autobiographical
essay. In the essay, the writer is trying to show the importance of curiosity for the
academic achievement. We shouldn’t limit our academic strivings only in a subject
in the way of experiencing the world. “Different subject matter should be given
emphasis for academic excellence” is the main idea of the essay. “Errors are the
ways of improvement” is the suggested idea of the essay.
Feynman completed his under graduation from MIT University in physics
and admitted in Princeton for his further education. In the college welcome
program. In which he was participated, Mrs. Eisenhart asked him if he would
prefer cream or lemon in the tea? In response he told that he would prefer both
Mrs. Eisenhart laughed and told him, “Surely you‘re joking, Mr. Feynman” on his
social error. He was unfamiliar in Princeton because the gowns hadn’t been
washed since three years. Likewise, he saw Cyclotron which was kept in the
underground made by the college students and was kept in disorder. He studied or
took classes of biology and did research on ‘a phase’ and discovered double
mutation process which made him popular among biology students so he was
invited to give a lecture for biology in Harvard University.
Hence, the essay deals with the importance of curiosity not limiting the
focus on in only a subject for excellent academic achievements.
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A 1996 Commencement Speech

Salman Rushdie, India (1947-)
“A 1996 Commencement Speech” is the speech delivered by an Indian
writer, Salman Rushdie on the auspicious occasion of Commencement day of Bard
University, USA, in 1996, where he was invited as the chief guest. The speech is
about the importance of standing on own leg to ensure freedom, dignity and
sovereign life. The message of the text is “We should not bow our head in front of
any authority to get an unalienable right on the name of power and post. We must
be adventurous, demanding, inquisitive, defiant and creative being governed by
self-nature defying the God because civilization is run due to male and female but
not by the God.” “To get the fundamental rights we should not bow our head in
front of any authority” is the central idea of the essay.
Rushdie, in the beginning of the speech is talking about his own experience
of Cambridge University from where he was graduated in 1968. According to him,
the days in the beginning were interesting but on the course of the completion of
graduation, he was suffered by all the means. Before a few nights of his graduation
day, someone had spilled up a bucketful of a thick brown gravy-and-onion sauce
that destroyed the interior decoration, books and clothes. He wasn’t responsible for
the crime but the college administration blamed him instead of investigating the
incident and compelled him to pay the compensation of the destruction. He went to
the ceremony wearing brown shoes and was sent out of the parade of his gowned
and properly black-shod contemporaries and had to change his shoes. Fortunately,
he was able to attend the program after changing his shoes. If he wasn’t able, he
would have to wait for a year. At the time of getting certificate, vice-chancellor
called him and ordered to kneel down the legs and raise his hands up and spoke
few words in Latin that he couldn’t understand. It means Rushdie faced injustice,
exploitation, intolerance, hostility (dislike) though it was his fundamental rights to
get the certificate after the completion of the graduation. He had to surrender with
the college administration to get his unalienable right. So in the speech, he
encouraged Bard students not to bow the head to get the fundamental rights that
hindrance for intellectual solidarity.
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Rushdie, in the speech has used the Greek word “Hubris” which means the sin of
defying the God. He encouraged the Bard students to defy their Gods as he
believes on “defiance is an inventible and essential aspect of what we call
freedom”. Rushdie from this statement meant we have to be guided with our self-
nature defying the Gods those human beings have based expressed their humanity.
He says that it was men and women who had made the world in spite of their
Gods. So we should behave ourselves and know our place. It is that we must be
guided by our natures though it can’t be true, arrogant, venal, corrupt or selfish; but
in our best selves and will be joyous, adventurous, loving, inquisitive, demanding,
creative, competitive and defiant. At last, Rushdie suggested Bard students not to
bow their heads know their place, defy the God being guided with their better
natures to be an existential, free, and dignified and to spend the sovereign life.
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UNIT FIVE: TELEVISION
The Wretched Stone

Chris Van Allsburg, USA (1949-)
The story “The Wretched Stone” is written by an American writer, Chris
Van Allsburg. This is symbolic story in which the writer is talking about the
disadvantages of the television. The title “The Wretched Stone” symbolizes the
television. The story tries to show the negative sides of the television i.e. it kills the
creativity, makes idle, irresponsible, violent etc. The writer with an incident of
voyage tries to relate the story with disadvantages of the television.
The article is about a voyage from 8th May to 12th July. The name of the ship
was Rita Anne. In the beginning of the voyage, the crew members were in the good
condition. They use to read the books, tell the stories, share the views to each other
and were conscious, helpful, harmonious etc. On the process of voyage, they
reached to an island where they saw a glowing stone that symbolizes the television,
which they brought into the ship. Then they started watching it being unconscious.
Once the ship was in the trouble due to the storm and the captain was expecting
help from the crew members but they were inside the room locking the door and
were indifference even on their own life. They were stricken by fever. They turned
into an ape which means their creativity, duty, and responsibilities were forgotten.
Later, the captain played a violin and was able to turn their unconscious state of
mind into consciousness. At last, the captain thinks of burning the ship in order to
destroy the glowing stone or television that destroyed the creativity of the crew.
Hence, this is a symbolic story because wretched stone and glowing stone
meant television and the crew turned into an ape symbolically meant it destroyed
creativity, potentiality, imagination and innovativeness of the people.
2
TV Can be a Good Parent

Ariel Gore, USA (1970-)
The article “TV Can be a Good Parent” is written by an American writer,
Ariel Gore. This article is about the advantages of television and television is
compared with the good parents. “Television helps children to be creative, curious,
and potential and plays the role of the parents” is the central idea of the article. The
television programs are very useful for the children as the programs are related to
education, entertainment, discovery, invention etc. The parents get an opportunity
to do the household works and part time jobs and can earn money in the time when
children are busy watching television. The programs like PBS suggested that
television helps the parents to bring up their children and plays the role to
transform the children from house to the society developing at appropriate social
emotional and cognitive skills (internal skills).
Television helps the parents to be released from children’s inquisitiveness and
provides time to do extra work and earn money.
Hence, the article is about the positive effects of the television.
1
UNIT FIVE: TELEVISION
The Wretched Stone

Chris Van Allsburg, USA (1949-)
The story “The Wretched Stone” is written by an American writer, Chris
Van Allsburg. This is symbolic story in which the writer is talking about the
disadvantages of the television. The title “The Wretched Stone” symbolizes the
television. The story tries to show the negative sides of the television i.e. it kills the
creativity, makes idle, irresponsible, violent etc. The writer with an incident of
voyage tries to relate the story with disadvantages of the television.
The article is about a voyage from 8th May to 12th July. The name of the ship
was Rita Anne. In the beginning of the voyage, the crew members were in the good
condition. They use to read the books, tell the stories, share the views to each other
and were conscious, helpful, harmonious etc. On the process of voyage, they
reached to an island where they saw a glowing stone that symbolizes the television,
which they brought into the ship. Then they started watching it being unconscious.
Once the ship was in the trouble due to the storm and the captain was expecting
help from the crew members but they were inside the room locking the door and
were indifference even on their own life. They were stricken by fever. They turned
into an ape which means their creativity, duty, and responsibilities were forgotten.
Later, the captain played a violin and was able to turn their unconscious state of
mind into consciousness. At last, the captain thinks of burning the ship in order to
destroy the glowing stone or television that destroyed the creativity of the crew.
Hence, this is a symbolic story because wretched stone and glowing stone
meant television and the crew turned into an ape symbolically meant it destroyed
creativity, potentiality, imagination and innovativeness of the people.
2
TV Can be a Good Parent

Ariel Gore, USA (1970-)
The article “TV Can be a Good Parent” is written by an
American writer, Ariel Gore. This article is about the advantages of
television and television is compared with the good parents.
“Television helps children to be creative, curious, and potential and
plays the role of the parents” is the central idea of the article. The
television programs are very useful for the children as the programs
are related to education, entertainment, discovery, invention etc. The
parents get an opportunity to do the household works and part time
jobs and can earn money in the time when children are busy
watching television. The programs like PBS suggested that
television helps the parents to bring up their children and plays the
role to transform the children from house to the society developing
at appropriate social emotional and cognitive skills (internal skills).
Television helps the parents to be released from children’s
inquisitiveness and provides time to do extra work and earn money.
Hence, the article is about the positive effects of the television.
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UNIT SIX: CROSSCULTURAL BRIDGES
Marriage is a Private Affair

Chinua Achebe, Nigeria (193 0-2013)
The story “Marriage is a Private Affair” is written by the Nigerian writer, Chinua
Achebe. The story is about the Nigerian cultural belief on marriage that is based on
arranged marriage. The story focuses on that marriage is a private affair so there
should not be any kind of obstacles by the parents on the name of tribe, caste,
culture, religion, economic status, regional variation.
In the story, there are three main characters i.e. Okeke, the father of Nnaemeka who
spent whole life in the Ibo tribe who believes on modern progressive ideas and
Nene, a Christian girl and a teacher who is in love with Nnaemeka. Nnaemeka is in
Lagos city, a young man, who is originally from a remote Ibo village and is engaged
to marry with Nene, a non-Ibo teacher. In the Ibo culture, marriage is usually
arranged within the tribal group by a family elder. But Nnaemeka’s decision to get
married with Nene from the different tribe is unheard of, shocking and distressing.
Okeke forbids a love marriage to an outsider and requested Nnaemeka to get
married with a local girl. But he got married with Nene challenging the culture and
his father that made Okeke angry and their relationship was totally detached for
years. Many years later, Nene wrote a letter to Okeke that his two grandsons wished
to see him. At last, the heart of Okeke melted and he thought that he shouldn’t be
such a rude person for his grandsons. So he requested them to come to the house as
soon as they can.
Hence, the story is about the contradiction between modem thought and
traditional superstitions belief and the victory if rationality over the tradition. The
conflict of the story is caused due to generation gap that caused misunderstanding
between Okeke and Nnaemeka in the story though the conflict is resolved.
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Then and Now: Finding My Voice

Elaine H. Kim, Korea (1961-)
The essay “Then and Now: Finding My Voice” is written by a Korean writer,
Elaine H. Kim. This is an autobiographical essay in which the writer has expressed
her personal feelings, faith, hope, and experiences while bringing up in USA. The
essay shows the problems to be faced in bio-cultural situation, in which one has to
face lingual, cultural, religious and regional problems along with an existential
crisis. The essay is about the problems, sufferings and difficulties to be experienced
while spending the life in the foreign country being an outsider.
The writer, in the essay, expresses her views on the difficulties she faces in USA.
While bringing up in USA, she had to speak Korean inside the house and English
outside. It means she faced cultural and lingual problems. In the school, her
American friends called her ‘Chink’ or ‘Jap’ thinking that Korea was the province
of China or Japan. It means she felt as if she lost her national identity. She wanted
to be a real citizen of USA and sustain her life as a real American citizen. So once
she participated on the cheerleader competition in school to prove that she was the
real citizen of USA.
In the essay, she is talking about 1950’s Korean War which was the real cause to be
migrated to USA. It was destructive. Many Koreans were killed and compelled to
leave their homeland and go to America. She used to believe on her Saju (birth
horoscope) to hope of her success and used to visit fortune-teller and once she was
told that her goal and achievement of future had been shaped in between twelve to
seventeen years. She studied US false belief on race and determined to educate
people against racism and sexism.
Hence, the essay is about the problems faced by the writer in USA and the
American false belief on so-called white superiority that let the people from other
countries feel prejudiced and discriminated losing their identity.
1
UNIT SEVEN: CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Arranging a Marriage in India

Serena Nanda, USA (1909-1959)
The article “Arranging a Marriage in India” is written by an American writer,
Serena Nanda. The essay is about the socio-cultural belief of India in terms of
marriage. This is an autobiographical writing in which Serene Nanda tries to
explore her experience of the cultural belief of India in the case of marriage
contrasting with the belief of America.
American society believed on the love marriage so, she found the arrange
marriage oppressive because she used to think about the importance of romantic
love for a happy marriage. She became curious to know if Indian young people
who were at the age of marriage prefer love or arrange. She met a girl, Sita, who
was a college graduate with a degree in political science. She asked her which
marriage she would prefer. She replied arrange. Nanda thought that how would a
person spend a life with a stranger. But Sita her arrange marriage is arranged by
family members, parents and relatives so there is less possibility of deception. That
convinced her. Nanda found the marriage in India a long lengthy process fulfilling
all the cultural norms and values along with the taboos. Later, Serena Nanda was
able to arrange a marriage between her friend’s son and a girl though she was
unable to participate in the marriage ceremony held in Bombay.
Hence, the article is about the Indian cultural belief in terms of marriage that is
based on arranged marriage.
2
Life is Sweet at Kumansenu

Abioseh Nicol, Sierra Leone (1924-1994)
The story “Life is Sweet at Kumansenu” is written by Abioseh Nicol. The story is about the
power of love to the children by the mother and to the mother by the children. The story can be
interpreted as love, faith, compassion and influence between parents and children. In the story, the
supernatural incident is used to show the power of love and relationship between parents and
children.
Kumansenu, a small village of Africa, is a beautiful place. All the incident of the story
occurred in that village. Bola, a widow, lived with Asi, her granddaughter. Actually, Bola gave
birth to seven children but all of them died untimely. Mr. Meji lived for many years and was able
to become a government official. Mr. Meji and Mrs. Meji used to live far from the house.
Unfortunately, Mr. Meji also died. According to Mrs. Meji, he died while trying to call a
messenger. He was about to call the messenger from the window at that time the window pane
fell on his neck and it almost cut the neck off. But, the most surprising incident in the story is that,
Mr. Meji came on Friday to meet his mother and left the house on Sunday and had brought the
things for his daughter. The villagers gathered on the house of Bola and concluded that the claim
of Bola is the influence of love to her children. Musa, a magician, told that if Bola had destroyed
the bones of her children, he wouldn’t have come to visit her. But Bola was happy of getting an
opportunity to talk with her child.
Hence, the story is about the power of love between parents and children.
1
UNIT EIGHT: THE HUMAN CONDITION
The Lunatic
Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Nepal (1909-1959)
The poem “The Lunatic” is written by the Nepalese great poet, Laxmi Prasad
Devkota. The poet through the poem tries to show the evil works of his contemporary
world. The Lunatic is his own translation into English from his Nepali poem ‘Paga!’ In the
poem, the persona wearing the mask of a lunatic, tries to give a memorable expression of
his own deepest personal feelings and events of his life along with a clinically accurate
observation of the hollowness of the so- called intellectual aspirants and leaders of the time
and maybe of anytime.
The persona, in the poem, is a mad because he is different from an ordinary people in
the sense that he visualizes the sound, hears the visible, tastes the fragrance, touches the
objects whose existence the world denies, sees a flower in the stone, and understands the
language of the bird. He says that in his calculation one minus one is always one. He is
different from other people because he experiences the things that the majority if the people
don’t believe so he is mad but in fact ordinary people don’t have creativity and
imagination.
He hates the rich but praises the poor because rich people have ambitious plans so
they aren’t spiritual but material. They are always unhappy. Likewise, he hates the
prostitutes because they are dead in their existence. He hates political leaders because they
are dead in their existence. He hates political leaders because they are corrupted and selfish
and don’t have humanity. At last, he had shown his dissatisfaction and thinks to punish
them. Anyway, Devkota tries to show bad aspects of the society through the poem.
Four levels of the poem The Lunatic:
The poem “The Lunatic” is written by the Nepalese great poet, Laxmi Prasad Devkota. The
persona, in the poem, is a mad because he is different from an ordinary people in the sense
that he visualizes the sound, hears the visible, tastes the fragrance, touches the objects
whose existence the world denies, sees a flower in the stone, and understands the language
of the birds. He says that in his
2
calculation one minus one is always one. He is different from other people because he
experiences the things that the majority if the people don’t believe so he is mad but in fact
ordinary people don’t have creativity and imagination. He hates the rich but praises the
poor because rich people have ambitious plans so they aren’t spiritual but material. They
are always unhappy. Likewise, he hates the prostitutes because they are dead in their
existence. He hates political leaders because they are dead in their existence. He hates
political leaders because they are corrupted and selfish and don’t have humanity.
2. Interpretation
The poet through the poem tries to show the evil works of his contemporary world.
The Lunatic is his own translation into English from his Nepali poem ‘Paga!’ In
the poem, the persona wearing mask of a lunatic, tries to give a memorable
expression of his own deepest personal feelings and events of his life along with a
clinically accurate observation of the hollowness of the so-called intellectual
aspirants and leaders of the time and maybe of anytime. He had shown his
dissatisfaction and thinks to punish them. Anyway, Devkota tries to show bad
aspects of the society through the poem.
The poem tries to show the bad aspects of the society and the hollowness of the so
called intellectual aspirants and leaders of the time and maybe anytime. But some
of the ideas in the poem are not convincing. In the poem, it is said that the persona
visualizes the sound, hears the visible, tastes the fragrance, touches the objects
whose existence the world denies, sees a flower in the stone and understands the
language of the birds. Is it really possible? Doesn’t it prove that the poet is really
mad? Etc.
3
How Sane Are We?

Anuradha Chaudhary Bangladesh (1947-)
The essay “How Sane Are We?” is written by Bangladeshi writer, Anuradha
Chaudhary. The essay is about the importance of ecological balance and the nature of
human beings who are completely unaware on the importance of environmental
conservation. The essay tries to show the irrational activities of human beings on the name
of modern science and technology and materialism that are curses for natural world.
Human beings are being selfish, corrupted, and vile, educated and indifference on the
importance of ecology. The essay shows human irrationality and irresponsibility for the
future generation. The writer says that we are selfish, corrupted, and vile and we don’t care
of others. “We are completely unaware about the importance of nature, so we are
destroying the nature means ourselves” is the central idea of the essay.
We are being unaware about the importance of the nature. Our ancestors preserved it
but we are deceitful offering of our ancestors. The writer says that many of us may think
that political leaders are far-sighted but they don’t pay any attention to save the
environment. Nature was clear and unspoiled in the past, but it is being degraded. On the
name of modem science and technology, we have made various thing but we don’t care
about its effect. The writer has given the example of CFCS gas. We invented the freeze but
the gas that is used in it causes the green- house effect and reduces the potential quality of
ozone layer that means the harmful rays aren’t filtered. Due to the harmful rays, various
diseases have become the cause of death. The CFCS gas that was introduced in 1930 and in
1974, it was known that the gas is major cause of the destination of ozone layer but no any
attention was paid. Later in 2006, the gas was banned. The writer says that though the
negative consequences of our activities are very near we are not able to pay the attention on
it.
The writer says that we are being selfish and have lost conscience. We have done
everything for the personal benefits not for the welfare of the earth, so the writer urges that
we should be aware about our activities and should take the rational decision for the
prosperous future.
4
Gala
Shreedhar Lohani, Nepal (1944-)
The poem “Gala” is written by a Nepalese popular literary figure, Shreedhar Lohani.
The title “Gaia” symbolizes the Earth or the biosphere. The poem is about the greatness,
patience and endurance of the earth. Gaia, who forgives each and every bad activities of her
children like a mother does for her children. So, the poem can be compared with the mother
or the earth and the mother are synonymous.
The searing wind among withered palms, the destructive rain, and the sea with its
frothy mouth, the heavy mountain peak, the mildew, turbulence and hunger are all around
but she doesn’t do anything, but she stares and bears, when the mushroom covers her chest.
She endures, remains silence and forgives the bad activities of human beings.
Hence, the poem is about the grandeur of the earth and its grace for the entire
human beings to survive.
1
UNIT EIGHT: THE HUMAN CONDITION
The Lunatic
Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Nepal (1909-1959)
The poem “The Lunatic” is written by the Nepalese great poet, Laxmi Prasad
Devkota. The poet through the poem tries to show the evil works of his contemporary
world. The Lunatic is his own translation into English from his Nepali poem ‘Paga!’ In the
poem, the persona wearing the mask of a lunatic, tries to give a memorable expression of
his own deepest personal feelings and events of his life along with a clinically accurate
observation of the hollowness of the so- called intellectual aspirants and leaders of the time
and maybe of anytime.
The persona, in the poem, is a mad because he is different from an ordinary people in
the sense that he visualizes the sound, hears the visible, tastes the fragrance, touches the
objects whose existence the world denies, sees a flower in the stone, and understands the
language of the bird. He says that in his calculation one minus one is always one. He is
different from other people because he experiences the things that the majority if the people
don’t believe so he is mad but in fact ordinary people don’t have creativity and
imagination.
He hates the rich but praises the poor because rich people have ambitious plans so
they aren’t spiritual but material. They are always unhappy. Likewise, he hates the
prostitutes because they are dead in their existence. He hates political leaders because they
are dead in their existence. He hates political leaders because they are corrupted and selfish
and don’t have humanity. At last, he had shown his dissatisfaction and thinks to punish
them. Anyway, Devkota tries to show bad aspects of the society through the poem.
Four levels of the poem The Lunatic:
The poem “The Lunatic” is written by the Nepalese great poet, Laxmi Prasad Devkota. The
persona, in the poem, is a mad because he is different from an ordinary people in the sense
that he visualizes the sound, hears the visible, tastes the fragrance, touches the objects
whose existence the world denies, sees a flower in the stone, and understands the language
of the birds. He says that in his
2
calculation one minus one is always one. He is different from other people because he
experiences the things that the majority if the people don’t believe so he is mad but in fact
ordinary people don’t have creativity and imagination. He hates the rich but praises the
poor because rich people have ambitious plans so they aren’t spiritual but material. They
are always unhappy. Likewise, he hates the prostitutes because they are dead in their
existence. He hates political leaders because they are dead in their existence. He hates
political leaders because they are corrupted and selfish and don’t have humanity.
2. Interpretation
The poet through the poem tries to show the evil works of his contemporary world.
The Lunatic is his own translation into English from his Nepali poem ‘Paga!’ In
the poem, the persona wearing mask of a lunatic, tries to give a memorable
expression of his own deepest personal feelings and events of his life along with a
clinically accurate observation of the hollowness of the so-called intellectual
aspirants and leaders of the time and maybe of anytime. He had shown his
dissatisfaction and thinks to punish them. Anyway, Devkota tries to show bad
aspects of the society through the poem.
The poem tries to show the bad aspects of the society and the hollowness of the so
called intellectual aspirants and leaders of the time and maybe anytime. But some
of the ideas in the poem are not convincing. In the poem, it is said that the persona
visualizes the sound, hears the visible, tastes the fragrance, touches the objects
whose existence the world denies, sees a flower in the stone and understands the
language of the birds. Is it really possible? Doesn’t it prove that the poet is really
mad? Etc.
3
How Sane Are We?

Anuradha Chaudhary Bangladesh (1947-)
The essay “How Sane Are We?” is written by Bangladeshi writer, Anuradha
Chaudhary. The essay is about the importance of ecological balance and the nature of
human beings who are completely unaware on the importance of environmental
conservation. The essay tries to show the irrational activities of human beings on the name
of modern science and technology and materialism that are curses for natural world.
Human beings are being selfish, corrupted, and vile, educated and indifference on the
importance of ecology. The essay shows human irrationality and irresponsibility for the
future generation. The writer says that we are selfish, corrupted, and vile and we don’t care
of others. “We are completely unaware about the importance of nature, so we are
destroying the nature means ourselves” is the central idea of the essay.
We are being unaware about the importance of the nature. Our ancestors preserved it
but we are deceitful offering of our ancestors. The writer says that many of us may think
that political leaders are far-sighted but they don’t pay any attention to save the
environment. Nature was clear and unspoiled in the past, but it is being degraded. On the
name of modem science and technology, we have made various thing but we don’t care
about its effect. The writer has given the example of CFCS gas. We invented the freeze but
the gas that is used in it causes the green- house effect and reduces the potential quality of
ozone layer that means the harmful rays aren’t filtered. Due to the harmful rays, various
diseases have become the cause of death. The CFCS gas that was introduced in 1930 and in
1974, it was known that the gas is major cause of the destination of ozone layer but no any
attention was paid. Later in 2006, the gas was banned. The writer says that though the
negative consequences of our activities are very near we are not able to pay the attention on
it.
The writer says that we are being selfish and have lost conscience. We have done
everything for the personal benefits not for the welfare of the earth, so the writer urges that
we should be aware about our activities and should take the rational decision for the
prosperous future.
4
Gala
Shreedhar Lohani, Nepal (1944-)
The poem “Gala” is written by a Nepalese popular literary figure,
Shreedhar Lohani. The title “Gaia” symbolizes the Earth or the biosphere.
The poem is about the greatness, patience and endurance of the earth. Gaia,
who forgives each and every bad activities of her children like a mother does
for her children. So, the poem can be compared with the mother or the earth
and the mother are synonymous.
The searing wind among withered palms, the destructive rain, and the
sea with its frothy mouth, the heavy mountain peak, the mildew, turbulence
and hunger are all around but she doesn’t do anything, but she stares and
bears, when the mushroom covers her chest. She endures, remains silence
and forgives the bad activities of human beings.
Hence, the poem is about the grandeur of the earth and its grace
for the entire human beings to survive.
1
UNIT NINE: NATURAL SCIENCE
The Making of a Scientist

VS. Ramachandran, India (1951-)
The essay “The Making of a Scientist” is written by an Indian writer, V.S.
Ramachandran. This is an autobiographical essay in which the writer is trying to
give his views on the ways to be a successful scientist. According to him, good
environment, complete freedom, support from the significant people, good
economic condition, influence, inquisitiveness are necessary to be a scientist.
i) The writer says that to be a scientist, one should be curious but general
curiosity doesn’t work. According to the writer, there must be three types of
curiosity i.e. obsessive, passionate and pathological.
ii) The writer defines the science as the love affair with nature which is the source
of inspiration and imagination.
iii) In fact, to be scientist there must be the support of family members and the
teachers, as the writer was helped. His mother brought him the sea-shells to
make his study easier and his father brought microscope. In the school, he was
helped by the teachers as they allowed him to take chemicals at home for
experiments.
iv) He says to be a scientist; there must be good environment and complete
freedom.
v) To be a scientist one must have sound economic condition.
The writer thinks that past was more advanced than the present in terms of new
inventions. He has admired the Victorian era where many new inventions were
invented. In the present time, people want to be a scientist to be popular. However,
the writer has accepted some of the twentieth century inventions like DNA and the
inventions of technology like fMR and PET which help to study the brain. Finally,
he has described why he selected the field of neurology. He further says that he
chose the field of neurology because he could study the human nature and the mood
and could get more fun and to investigate neural mechanism underlying human
mental function.
2
Scientific Inquiry: Invention and Test

Carl G. Hempel, Germany (1905-1997)
The essay “Scientific Inquiry: Invention and Test” is written by a German writer, Carl G.
Hempel. In the essay, the writer is trying to show the importance of sensitiveness according to the
profession. “No one is perfect but should be involved in the work being responsible to avoid the
potential negative effects of the work. Doctors also can make the mistakes but sensitiveness is
necessary according to the profession” is the central idea of the essay.
Hempel, in the essay, has shown the medical investigation of a physician Seinmeiweis who
was curious to know the death of women due to child death fever in Vienna, General Hospital. He
divided the hospital into two divisions and conducted the experience in First Maternity Division to
find the death rate of the women. In the beginning, he reduced the medical students to minimize
the crowd. He provided the training for the health workers but his reports went in vain. When he
saw his friend Kolletchka’s death due to a minor injury, he realized that the real cause of child
death fever was doctors’ carelessness who looks after the patients without washing hands properly.
In fact, medical students would involve in post mortem but without washing hands they go to look
after other patients so, he ordered the doctors to wash their hands properly that decreased the death
rate of First Maternity Division and came to 1.27% while in the Second, there was 1.33%. He also
asserts the cause of child death fever is the decaying living organism but no only the cause of
washing hands properly.
Hence, the essay emphasizes the importance of sensitiveness according to the profession to
deal with the problems.
1
UNIT TEN: HUMOR AND SATIRE
King John and the Abbot of Canterbury

Anonymous, England (before 1695)
“King John and the Abbot of Canterbury” is a poetic prose written by an
English poet but unfortunately the poet is anonymous. The poem is about the
importance of using knowledge practically. “Practical knowledge is better than the
bookish knowledge” is the central idea of the poem. For example, the Abbot, an
educated person, visited Oxford and Cambridge Universities but couldn’t find the
answer but a simple shepherd answered the questions of the king using his
practical knowledge.
King John, who 11 led over England, did great wrong and maintained little
right. But the Abbot of the Canterbury was able to maintain his high renowned
(popularity). So, King was jealous to the Abbot of the Canterbury. Abbot had kept
hundreds of housekeepers in his house and his popularity was increasing day by
day. King wanted to kill the priest to increase his own popularity. So, the King
called the Abbot in the palace and asked three nonsense questions, “What is the
King ‘s value?”, “How fast can he travel the whole world?” and “What is he
thinking now?” The King warned the Abbot that if he was unable to answer the
questions in the given time, he would be beheaded. To find the answers’ of the
questions, the Abbot visited the Oxford and Cambridge Universities and met the
learned men but no one could answer the questions, which made him hopeless.
When he was returning back to home, he met a shepherd who asked him about the
cause of sadness whom the Abbot told the reality. Then the shepherd assured the
Abbot that he would answer the questions going in the disguise form of the Abbot.
The shepherd went to the palace and answered the questions: “His value was 29
pence because Christ was measured 30.”, “If he travelled with the rise of the sun to
the setting sun, he could travel the whole world within 24 hours.” and “The king
was thinking that he was the real Abbot of Canterbury but was actually a poor
shepherd.” respectively. The King was satisfied with the answers of the shepherd
and proposed him to be the real Abbot of the Canterbury but the shepherd rejected
the proposal of the King that he was an uneducated person and couldn’t handle the
responsibility.
2
Hence, the poem is about the importance of practical knowledge to

overcome from the problems in the life.
3
Third Thoughts
E. V. Lucas, England (1868-1938)
The story “Third Thoughts” is written by an English writer, E.V. Lucas. This
story is trying to state that business is a kind of gambling having both possibilities
of winning and losing. The story shows that “The relationship between customer
and seller is never good though they try to maintain harmonious relationship
laughing each other because the seller tries to sell the things as expensive as s/he
can and the customer tries to buy the things as cheap as s/he can” is the main idea
of the story. This story was told to the writer by his friend who was always failure
in his business. In order to be popular in the locality, the writer’s friend used to buy
the thing in expensive price and sell in cheaper price than he bought. So, he wasn’t
able to sustain his business. According to the writer’s friend, he visited a curiosity
shop once and bought a painting thinking that it was painted by a well-known
English painter, Turner. If it was the original one, it would cost much more price
than he bought. Fortunately, it was the original that he sold to one of his customer
and got forty-nine pounds and ten shillings profit. Then, he became happy with the
profit.
After the profit, he came to his house and slept. But suddenly awoke at 3:30
and started thinking about profit sharing. But later, he thought he shouldn’t be
idealist. He changed his ideas of sharing half profit and came to ten, later five
pounds. At last in the morning, he thought that five pounds were also enough and
he thought that if he spent that money, the Goddess of the wealth would be angry.
Ultimately, he decided to share only one pound and kept into an envelope. Then,
he went to the club for breakfast where he joined a group who were playing a kind
of game called ‘Bridge’. He lost the entire money even one pound that was
separated to give to the shopkeeper. At last, he concluded that “Business is a
straight forward matter between dealer and customer and there’s no sense of profit
sharing.”
4
The Clock Tower

Bhupi Sherchan (1936-1989)
The poem “The Clock Tower” is written by a Nepalese poet, Bhupi
Sherchan. In the poem, the poet captures the image of a retired pensioner who
passes his days without worry and anxiety. The description of the clock tower and
characterization of senior pensioner seems to merge into the fabric of the poem.
The poem realistically shows the images of an old veteran.
The pensioner is not happy with the present state of life and is compelled to
pass his long sad days of old age. His military clothes have been gone, some are
torn and some are eaten by rats, and some distributed to the relatives. By using
simile, the poet compares the life of an aged retired person with the clock tower.
The words like gnawed by rats, old, gone, hanging, sad days of old age etc. express
the poet’ s sympathy and these words denote the slow arrival of c1ath. Both clock
tower and senior veteran is the victim of time. They are degrading due to the pace
of the time.
Hence, the poem is about the change that can be seen with the change in
time.
Four levels of the poem The Clock Tower:
The poem “The Clock Tower” is written by a Nepalese poet, Bhupi Sherchan. The
pensioner is not happy with the present state of life and is compelled to pass his
long sad days of old age. His military clothes have been gone, some are torn and
some are eaten by rats, and some distributed to the relatives. By using simile, the
poet compares the life of an aged retired person with the clock tower. The words
like gnawed by rats, old, gone, hanging, sad days of old age etc. express the poet’s
sympathy and these words denote the slow arrival of death. Both clock tower and
senior veteran is the victim of time. They are degrading due to the pace of the time.
2. Interpretation
In the poem, the poet captures the image of a retired pensioner who passes his days
without worry and anxiety. The description of the clock tower and characterization
5
of senior pensioner seems to merge into the fabric of the poem. The poem
realistically shows the images of an old veteran.
The poem is about the importance of time that changes everything. Time is ever
powerful and no one can defeat it but some of the ideas in the poem don’t seem
convincing. In the poem, it is said that the clothes of the veteran are eaten by rats.
Can’t a retired person manage his belongings? Doesn’t the poem overvalue the
time as we all know that time doesn’t wait? Anyway, the poem is a symbolic poem
that tries to justify the power of time.
4. Assimilation
After reading this poem, I really understood the power of time that wait for
no one. What I equally understood is after birth, time leads us to death. I
believe that our life is considered by time. So, "everything should be done in
time wisely” is my perceived idea from the poem.
1
UNIT ELEVEN: CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING
The Stub Book

Pedro Antonio de Alarcon, Spain (1833-1891)
The story "The Stub Book" is written by Spanish writer, Pedro Antonio de
Alarcon. The story is about using the creativity to solve the problems in life. "To
claim anything we must have the sufficient convincing proof not to be justified as
wrong" is the central idea of the story.
Uncle Buscabeatas had grown up forty big pumpkins, who was a gardener at
Rota. He used to love the pumpkins as a father loves the daughter. He was
planning to sell the pumpkins tomorrow morning in Cadiz. When he went to
garden next morning, he found all his pumpkins stolen. He didn't lose the hope and
went to Cadiz with an expectation of getting all his pumpkins. When he reached to
the Cadiz, he found all the pumpkins in a vegetable shop. At first, he blamed the
shopkeeper as a thief but later he came to know that the pumpkins were stolen and
sold by Mr. Fulano. As a proof, Uncle Buscabeatas had the stub-book of all the
pumpkins. The inspector, the crowd of the people, and policemen were also agreed
with the proof of Buscabeatas, the Mr. Fulano returned fifteen duros to the
shopkeeper and the shopkeeper gave the amount of pumpkins to an old man. Then
Uncle Buscabeatas returned back to the house with the money whereas Mr. Fulano
was taken to the prison.
Hence, the story is about importance of using logic and creativity to solve
the problem in life.
2
Mr. Know-All
W. Somerset Maugham, England (1874-1965)
The story, "Mr. Know-All" is written by an English writer, W. Somerset
Maugham. In the story, the writer shows two important issues: racial feeling i.e.
the writer's reluctance to share the cabin with Mr. Kelada, a Negro and next is the
nature of women's in the absence of their husbands' i.e. Mr. Kelada said, "If I have
a pretty little wife, I shouldn’t let her spent a year in New York while I stayed at
Kobe."
The writer was going to Yokohama, Japan from San Francisco, USA. It was
a journey of fourteen days. The writer had to share the cabin with Mr. Kelada but
he didn't want. Mr. Kelada was frank and became familiar with everyone in the
ship. He put his logic on different pictures and politics. Though the writer didn't
like him, Mr. Kelada served the drink. Because of his logic on different issues in a
pragmatic and logical way, his nickname was kept 'Mr. Know-All'. One day Mr.
Kelada was sharing table with Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay who were returning back to
Kobe from New York. Mrs. Ramsay was pretty woman with pleasant manner. She
was left in New York for a year in the absence of her husband. One evening when
they were having dinner, they started talking about pearls. Mr. Kelada told Mr.
Ramsay that he knew everything about pearls. They bet on the chain that had been
owned by Mrs. Ramsay. Mr. Kelada told that the chain costs fifteen to thirty
thousand dollar but Mr. Ramsay was told by his wife that the chain was bought in
eighteen dollars and was a duplicate. Mr. Kelada observed it minutely and found
that it wasn't a duplicate. Mr. Ramsay was deceived by his wife. While discussing
about the chain, Mr. Kelada found Mrs. Ramsay restless, nervous and scared.
Then, Mr. Kelada knowingly lost the bet and paid hundred dollars to Mr. Ramsay
because he didn't want to destroy the conjugal life of Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay. Next
morning Mr. Kelada found an envelope where hundred dollars was kept. Mr.
Ramsay was cheated by Mrs. Ramsay that can clearly be experienced as Mr.
Kelada said, "If I have a pretty little wife, I shouldn’t let her spent a year in New
York while I stayed at Kobe."
Hence, the story raises the issues of racial feeling and the nature of the
women. The title of the story is justified in the sense that Mr. Kelada who is
3
known as Mr. Know-All not only knows about the issue of the world around him
but also the psychology of Mrs. Ramsay.
Four levels of the story Mr. Know-All:
The story "Mr. Know-All" is written by an English writer, W. Somerset
Maugham. The writer was going to Yokohama, Japan from Francisco, USA. It was
a journey of fourteen days. The writer had to share the cabin with Mr. Kelada but
he didn't want. Mr. Kelada was frank and became familiar with everyone in the
ship. He put his logic on different pictures and politics. Though the writer didn't
like him, Mr. Kelada served the drink. Because of his logic on different issues in a
pragmatic and logical way, his nickname was kept 'Mr. Know-All'. One day Mr.
Kelada was sharing table with Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay who were returning back to
Kobe from New York. Mrs. Ramsay was pretty woman with pleasant manner. She
was left in New York for a year in the absence of her husband. One evening when
they were having dinner, they started talking about pearls. Mr. Kelada told Mr.
Ramsay that he knew everything about pearls. They bet on the chain that had been
owned by Mrs. Ramsay. Mr. Kelada told that the chain costs fifteen to thirty
thousand dollar but Mr. Ramsay was told by his wife that the chain was bought in
eighteen dollars and was a duplicate. Mr. Kelada observed it minutely and found
that it wasn't a duplicate. Mr. Ramsay was deceived by his wife. While discussing
about the chain, Mr. Kelada found Mrs. Ramsay restless, nervous and scared.
Then, Mr. Kelada knowingly lost the bet and paid hundred dollars to Mr. Ramsay
because he didn't want to destroy the conjugal life of Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay. Next
morning Mr. Kelada found an envelope where hundred dollars was kept. Mr.
Ramsay was cheated by Mrs. Ramsay that can clearly be experienced as Mr.
Kelada said, "If I have a pretty little wife, I shouldn’t let her spent a year in New
York while I stayed at Kobe."
2. Interpretation
In the story, the writer shows two important issues: racial feeling i.e. the writer's
reluctance to share the cabin with Mr. Kelada, a Negro and next is the nature of the
women's in the absence of their husbands' i.e. Mr. Kelada said, "If I have a pretty
little wife, I shouldn’t let her spent a year in New York while I stayed at Kobe."
4
The story raises the issues of racial feeling and the nature of the women. But
some of the ideas in the story are not convincing. In the story, Mr. Kelada knows
not only the issue of world around him but also the psychology of Mrs. Ramsay,
while Mr. Ramsay is unknown about his own wife's psychology. Can a person in a
first meet understand the psychology of another person? Etc.
4. Assimilation
After reading this story, I really understood the importance of keeping
knowledge about each and every little thing we go by on our day to day life. It not
only makes us updated but helps in the actions or steps we take in process of our
problem solution or leading our steps to success.
5
Keep Errors at Bay

Bertrad Russell, England (1872-1970)
The essay "Keeping Errors at Bay" is written by an English writer, Bertrad
Russell. In the essay, the writer has given various ideas to keep the errors at bay in
our life. According to the writer, the following are the ways to avoid errors in our
life:
i. The writer says that we don't know anything easily. We should go in depth
to know exactly and we can reach in conclusion. To understand the thing
exactly, it is necessary to have close observation and great attention.
ii. If we become unable to pay attention and close observation, we have to
compare our ideas, logics and reasons with our opponents.
iii. To avoid our dogmatism, we need to be conscious on the opinions held in
social circles different from your own. We should travel different places and
read the opponents newspaper.
iv. Imaginary opponents should be made and should compare our ideas with
that, if we don't have the opponents.
v. We shouldn't praise ourselves and should avoid our self-estimation. We
should accept the existence of other people and should respect them.
vi. Fear is the main source of wrong ideas. E.g. Fear of pain, death, dark etc. In
frightening situation, mind can't be used properly and wrong ideas emerge
in the mind. Because of the fear, human beings are being conservative and
superstitious. To overcome from the fear is the beginning of the wisdom.
6
What Is Intelligence, Anyway?

Isaac Asimov, USA (1920-1992)
The essay "What Is Intelligence, Anyway?" is written by an American
writer, Isaac Asimov. In the essay, the writer is trying to broaden the concept of
intelligence going beyond the traditional definition of it. The traditional definition
intelligence is 'the ability which can secure the highest marks in an aptitude or IQ
test'.
The writer, Asimov, used to be boosted on his intelligence because he was able to secure 160 against 100 of
his competitors in an aptitude test that was held among the soldiers. In many other aptitude tests, he was
able to secure the top score, so that he used to show a kind of proud on his ability. The writer had a hardware
mechanic who had the habit of making pranks, who once asked the writer a question, "How would a
response, the writer started making his fingers
blind man ask the scissors from the shop?" In
into the scissoring motion. What actually he forgot is the blind man can speak. In
such situation, the writer felt uneasy.
Hence, the essay is about the multiple types of intelligence that the human
being possesses. The story can be interpreted as the criticism on the traditional way
of definition of intelligence that is based on only the ability to secure highest score in
IQ test which is fixed and permanent that couldn't include the multiple and
emotional intelligence of human beings.
1
UNIT TWELVE: LOVE
To His Coy Mistress

Andrew Marvell, England (1621-1678)
The poem "To His Coy Mistress" is written by an English metaphysical
poet, Andrew Marvell. In the poem, the poet is trying to show power of the time in
our life that change everything and waits for no one. "Time, beauty and youth wait
for no one" is the message of the poem. "Beauty and youth are transfigured due to
time" is the central idea of the poem. Time waits for no one; so that everything
should be done in time is the moral lesson of the poem.
The poem is divided into three parts. In the first part, the poet is talking
about the impression and influences his beloved. He says that if time and world
enough, her coyness would be no crime. They would sit down and think which
way to walk and pass the long love's day. His love would grow like the empires
and he would love her before the flood. He would spend thousands of years to
describe her beauty i.e. a hundred years to praise the eyes, two hundred years to
worship each breast and thirty thousand years to the rest parts. On the last age, the
poet would show her heart. As she deserves the higher level beauty, he doesn’t
love her at the lower rate. In the second part of the poem, the poet shows the
importance and the power of time i.e. winged chariot that waits for no one. One
day the time will turn her into an old lady and her beauty shall no more be found.
Then she’ll die and will be buried where there would be no one to embrace her.
Her long preserved virginity will be turned to dust and his lust into ashes. So in the
last part, the poet suggests her to roll the sweetness and the strength into one ball,
playing the sporting game of sexual intercourse while the youthful hue sits on her
skin like morning dew. The poet says that though it isn’t possible to make our own
sun, we can make him run carrying out the life activities according to the pace of
it.
Hence, the poem is about the importance of time that changes everything
and we should do every activity in time.
Four levels of the poem To His Coy Mistress:
2
The poem “To His Coy Mistress” is written by an English metaphysical

poet, Andrew Marvell. The poem is divided into three parts. In the first part, the
poet is talking about the impression and influence of his beloved. He says that if
time and world enough, her coyness would be no crime. They would sit down and
think which way to walk and pass the long love’s day. His love would grow like
the empires and he would love her before the flood. He would spend thousands of
years to describe her beauty i.e. a hundred years to praise the eyes, two hundred
years to worship each breast and thirty thousand years to the rest parts. On the last
age, the poet would show her heart. As she deserves the higher level beauty, he
doesn’t love her at the lower rate. In the second part of the poem, the poet shows
the importance and the power of time i.e. winged chariot that waits for no one. One
day the time will turn her into an old lady and her beauty shall no more be found.
Then she’ll die and will be buried where there would be no one to embrace her.
Her long preserved virginity will be turned to dust and his lust into ashes. So in the
last part, the poet suggests her to roll the sweetness and the strength into one ball,
playing the sporting game of sexual intercourse while the youthful hue sits on her
skin like morning dew. The poet says that though it isn’t possible to make our own
sun, we can make him run carrying out the life activities according to the pace of
it.
2. Interpretation
In the poem, the poet is trying to show the power of the time in our life that
change everything and waits for no one. “Time, beauty and youth wait for no one”
is the message of the poem. “Beauty and youth are transfigured due to the time” is
the central idea of the poem. Time waits for no one; so that everything should be
done in time is the moral lesson of the poem.
The poem is about the power of time that changes everything and waits for
no one but some of the ideas in the poem are not convincing. In the poem, the poet
says that if the time was not limited, he would spend thousands of years to describe
her beauty like hundreds of years for eyes, two hundreds of years for each breast
and other thirty thousand years for the rest. Isn’t it fanciful idea? He says that the
3
worms destroy her virginity after death. Isn’t it manipulative language to involve in
sexual intercourse? Is the love only lust? Etc.
4. Assimilation
After reading this poem, I really understood the importance of time and its
power in our life. I’m determined to be conscious on the role of the time and to
carry out the life activities according to the pace of the time.
4
The Telegram on the Table

Parashu Pradhan, Nepal (1943- )
The story “The Telegram on the Table” is written by a Nepalese writer,
Parashu Pradhan. The story is about the importance of family life and birth place
that ensure happiness. The story tries to show the imaginary dream of Nepalese
youths who want to elope in the foreign country thinking that it is easy to earn a lot
of money there which is an illusion.
The story is based on the imaginary dream of some of the Nepalese youths
of foreign countries. Krishna, the character of the story, represents the Nepalese
youths. He is from a village. He is in Kathmandu and is working as a tourist guide.
While leaving the house, he was dreaming that in Kathmandu he would be a tourist
guide, would be able to persuade the foreign girl, would fallow her and would
reach USA and earn a lot of money. As he was dreaming, he is in Kathmandu, is a
tourist guide, and is trying to persuade a foreign girl. He is totally detached from
his family life, birthplace, village, relatives, and society and is only dreaming about
USA. In Kathmandu, he has a busy schedule. He goes to his office early in the
morning and has to deal with the strangers smiling as if he knows them and returns
back to his room in a tired mood. One day he gets a letter where it was written that
“Your wife died yesterday.” Instead of being shocked, he became happy thinking
that he is released from the burden of his wife. In response of the sympathy
expressed by his friends, he just smiles. One day, he returns to his room at late
evening in an exhausted mood and starts remembering the village, family life, and
relatives and reads a letter that was on the table and gets information of his wife’s
death again. Then he confesses his cruelty and realizes his illusionary dream arid
cries like a child tearing the letter into different pieces with an aggression on his
delusion.
Hence, the story is trying to show the fanciful dream of Nepalese youths
who wants to be vested on the foreign strand on the name of pelf.
Four levels of the story The Telegram on the Table:
The story “The Telegram on the Table” is written by a Nepalese writer,
Parashu Pradhan. The story is based on the imaginary dream of some of the
5
Nepalese youths of foreign countries. Krishna, the character of the story, represents
the Nepalese youths. He is from a village. He is in Kathmandu and is working as a
tourist guide. While leaving the house, he was dreaming, that in Kathmandu he
would be a tourist guide, would be able to persuade the foreign girl, would follow
her and would reach USA and earn a lot of money. As he was dreaming, he is in
Kathmandu, is a tourist guide, and is trying to persuade a foreign girl. He is totally
detached from his family life, birthplace, village, relatives, and society and is only
dreaming about USA. In Kathmandu, he has a busy schedule. He goes to his office
early in the morning and has to deal with the strangers smiling as if he knows them
and returns back to his room in a tired mood. One day he gets a letter where it was
written that “Your wife died yesterday.” Instead of being shocked, he became
happy thinking that he is released from the burden of his wife. In response of the
sympathy expressed by his friends, he just smiles. One day, he returns to his room
at late evening in an exhausted mood and starts remembering the village, family
life, and relatives and reads a letter that was on the table and gets information of
his wife’s death again. Then he confesses his cruelty and realizes his illusionary
dream and cries like a child tearing the letter into different pieces with an
aggression on his delusion.
2. Interpretation
The story is about the importance of family life and birth place that ensure
happiness. The story tries to show the imaginary dream of Nepalese youths who
want to elope in the foreign country thinking that it is easy to earn a lot of money
there which is an illusion.
The story is about the imaginary dream of Nepalese youths of foreign
countries with an expectation of earning money. But some of the ideas in the story
are not convincing. In the story, it is said that Krishna was totally detached from
the family life and became even happy on the death of his own wife. Can a person
forget the family life? Does a person become happy on the death of his own wife?
Doesn’t the story mock the Nepalese youths? Etc.
6
4. Assimilation
After reading this story, I really understood the importance of family life and birth
place that ensure happiness. I’m determined not to be vested on the foreign strand
on the name of pelf.
7
Piano
David Herbert Lawrence, England (1885-193 0,)
The poem “Piano” is written by an English poet, David Herbert Lawrence.

This is a nostalgic poem in which the poet has recalled his childhood days and
experiences that was glamorous and were spent with his mother. In the poem, the
poet has shown the magic of music which fascinates us and the poem can be
interpreted as the love, compassion and the influence of the mother to the poet who
was the source of love and inspiration.
A woman is playing a piano at the evening in order to attract the persona of
the poem, the poet. The tune of the piano forced him to go to the past childhood
days that were spent with his mother. The poet felt that the tune played by the
woman of without having any charm and mastery could feel the tune fascinating
played by his mother on the Sunday evenings, winter outside, in the cozy parlor
smiling onto the poet. So now the poet feels it’s indulged into the flood of
remembrance of those old childish days and weeps like a child for
the past.
Hence, the poem is about the magic of music that fascinates us.
Four levels of the poem Piano:
The poem “Piano” is written by an English poet, David Herbert Lawrence. A
woman is playing a piano at the evening in order to attract the persona of the poem,
the poet. The tune of the piano forced him to go to the past childhood days that
were spent with his mother. The poet felt that the tune played by the woman of
without having any charm and mastery could feel the tune fascinating played by
his mother on the Sunday evenings, winter outside, in the cozy parlor smiling onto
the poet. So now the poet feels it’s indulged into the flood of remembrance of
those old childish days and weeps like a child for the past.
2. Interpretation
8
This is a nostalgic poem in which the poet has recalled his childhood days
and experiences that was glamorous and were spent with his mother. In the poem,
the poet has shown the magic of music which fascinates us and the poem can be
interpreted as the love, compassion and the influence of the mother to the poet who
was the source of love and inspiration.
The poem is about the power of music that fascinates us but some of the
ideas in the story are not convincing. In the poem, it is said that the poet was not
attracted by the tune of piano played by a woman. Can we believe that the poet
weeps like a child for the past? Does a man weep like a child? Etc.
4. Assimilation
After reading this poem, I remembered my childhood days that were spent
with my grandmother. She used to sing the song in a melodious time that still
compels me to return back to the childhood days that were glamorous and
fascinating. Remembering the past, I wish to return back to my childhood days. The
poem impressed me that music plays vital role to remember, to be fresh, for the
reincarnation of thoughts as it has magical power to touch the sentiment of us.
UNIT THIRTEEN: LIFE AND DEATH
The Great Answer

Fultun Oursler, USA (1893-1952)
The story “The Great Answer” is written by an American writer, Fultun
Oursler. The story is about the importance of struggle to overcome from the
problems regarding the life. The alternative name of the life is the struggle. So that
we have to struggle until the last drop of energy is prevailed inside the body.
“Struggle is the great answer of the riddles of life” is the central idea of the story.
The story is based on the incident during the Second World War. A group of
people were lodged who were Zeus refugees who wanted to cross the Spanish
border. But it was the difficult journey of miles far. There was a young woman
having a daughter. It was rumor outside that Gestapo, the secret agent of Nazi and
1
the Nazi soldiers were following them. If they found the refugees, they would be
burnt alive. So the woman having a daughter was praying with the God for the
help. At the mean time a strange man appeared from the underground and
introduced himself as a guide who would lead the group of refugees up to the
Spanish border. Then they started their journey. On the way an aged man, middle
aged men, women and young joined the group. The three aged men carried the
child turn wise. But after a distance they couldn’t move anymore and started to
groan. They requested the leader to leave them there to die but the leader
encouraged them to struggle the journey until the last drop of energy is prevailed in
the body and they tried to do so. The following morning they were able to cross the
Spanish border with the new strength, life and were ready to face a new world of
freedom.
Hence, the story is about the importance of the struggle to overpower the
riddles of the life.
Four levels of the story The Great Answer:
The story “The Great Answer” is written by an American writer, Fultun
Oursler. The story is based on the incident during the Second World War. A group
of people were lodged who were Zeus refugees who wanted to cross the Spanish
2
border. But it was the difficult journey of miles far. There was a young woman
having a daughter. It was rumor outside that Gestapo, the secret agent of Nazi and
the Nazi soldiers were following them. If they found the refugees, they would be
burnt alive. So the woman having a daughter was praying with the God for the
help. At the mean time a strange man appeared from the underground and
introduced himself as a guide who would lead the group of refugees up to the
Spanish border. Then they started their journey. On the way an aged man, middle
aged men, women and young joined the group. The three aged men carried the
child turn wise. But after a distance they couldn’t move anymore and started to
groan. They requested the leader to leave them there to die but the leader
encouraged them to struggle the journey until the last drop of energy is prevailed in
the body and they tried to do so. The following morning they were able to cross the
Spanish border with the new strength, life and were ready to face a new world of
freedom.
2. Interpretation
The story is about the importance of struggle to overcome from the problems
regarding the life. The alternative name of the life is the struggle. So that we have
to struggle until the last drop of energy is prevailed inside the body. “Struggle is
the great answer of the riddles of life” is the central idea of the story.
The story is about the importance of struggle to overpower the riddles of the
life. In the story, the writer explains that a man came from the underground for
their help. But can we believe the presence of a man from the underground? In the
story, the aged old man already told that he can’t move further anymore. Then how
can an aged and helpless man continue the journey due to the encouragement?
How can they travel hundreds of miles in one night? Etc.
4. Assimilation
After reading this story, I understand that the struggle is a belt why to
overpower the riddles of the life. This story reminds me of an incident that
occurred one afternoon during a sunny day. A building was on fire and all of us
were walking hard to put of the fire but it was such a sunny day that I couldn’t
3
believe it would rain. It was like a miracle, raining in a sunny day as a help from
the God to put off the fire as a blessing for our hand work.
4
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Robert Frost USA (1874-1963)
The poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is written by an
American poet, Robert Frost. In the poem, the poet is talking about the life’s
journey. The life’s journey in which we entrusted with responsibilities and duties,
we have to fulfill. “Nature has various things to fascinate us and is the source of
reincarnation but we shouldn’t forget the duties and responsibilities of our life” is
the central idea of the poem.
The persona, in the poem, is stopped by the wood on the snowy evening and
things that he knows the owner of the woods. The persona is a horse rider. He is
stopped in the jungle without farmhouse near so he thinks his horse must think the
strangeness. The horse shakes his harness bell to ask if there is some mistake. The
poet feels the sweep of the easy wind and downy flake. The poet finds the wood
lovely, dark and deep and wishes to enjoy the nature but he remembers his
promises of his life to continue the journey until he reaches to the destination i.e.
death and he says ‘and miles to go before I sleep’.
Four levels of the poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening:
The poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is written by an
American poet, Robert Frost. The persona of the poem is the poet himself and is a
horse rider. The persona is stopped by woods on a snowy evening. He thinks that
he knows the owner of the woods. Though his house is in the village, the persona
thinks that his little horse must think strange because they are stopped without farm
house near between the woods and frozen lake in the dark evening. The horse
shakes his harness bell to ask if there is some mistake. Along with the bell of the
horse, the person feels the sweep of the easy wind and downy flake. The persona
finds the woods lovely dark and deep and wishes to enjoy the nature but he
remembers his promises of reaching to the destination. While starting his journey
he says ‘Miles to go before I sleep’.
2. Interpretation
5
The poem is about the importance of fulfilling the duties and responsibilities
in the journey of the life. “Nature has various things to influence us but we should
be responsible and dutiful while spending the life” is central idea of the poem.
The poem is about the life and journey that is attached with the nature in which we
shouldn’t forget our duties and responsibilities but some of the ideas in the poem
didn’t seem convincing. In the poem, the persona says that the horse shakes his
bell to ask the cause of stopping in the forest. Does the horse do so? The poet
(persona) uses the words lovely, deep and dark to show the fascination of the
nature. Doesn’t the word ‘dark’ contradict with the words ‘lovely’ and ‘deep’? Etc.
4. Assimilation
After reading this poem, I really understood the importance of nature that
fascinates us and is the source of survival. The poem taught me the moral lesson that
we should not forget our duties and responsibilities of our life until we reach to the
destination.
6
A Tale
Bishweshwar Pd. Koirala, Nepal (1914-1982)
The story “A Tale” is written by a Nepalese politician and literary figure,
Bishweshwar Pd. Koirala. In the story, the writer is trying to show the importance
of family life that ensures happiness, satisfaction and ecstasy. “Sexual desire is a
biological need that can never be repressed” is the message of the story. “Family
is not the block and hindrance for supreme knowledge and satisfaction” is central
idea of the story.
This is the story of long ago, when human beings were in competition with
the God. Whenever there was the conflict between Gods and Devils, the Gods
didn’t hesitate to take the help of human beings but when the human beings tried to
achieve the supreme knowledge and godhood transcending their soul through their
deep penance, the Gods used to be worried and destroyed the penance using the
nymphs of the heaven. While spending the life in the cities and villages, a man
realized that supreme knowledge and godhood are blocked by social obligations,
the love of family and friends. Then he went to the dense forest abandoning
(learning) the physical world pleasure. He fasted for many days, sat around the fire
in the summer season, plunged (dive) into icy cold water in the winter and couldn’t
even feel the nest of termites that was built supporting his legs. He began to feel
thousands of suns inside him and seat of heaven shook. Anyway, the hermit was in
deep penance. Due to the penance, he was about to achieve the godhood. At that
time the seats of heaven started trembling that made the King of Gods, Indra
worried. So, he called the most beautiful nymph and sent her to the hermitage with
the responsibility of destroying the penance. Then she came to hermitage, stepped
towards the river, and started bathing in the naked spell binding posture. At that
moment, the eyes of the hermit opened involuntarily, then they fell in love, got
married, returned back to the village, gave birth to two baby boys and started
spending simple domestic life helping the villagers but the villagers didn’t forgive
them. They saw the nymph as an evil seductress who caused the downfall of the
saint. But the sage never ceased to experience the ecstasy and bliss, as he was in
the meditative trance.
Four Levels of the story A Tale:
7
The story “A Tale” is written by a Nepalese politician and literary figure,

Bishweshwar Pd. Koirala. This is the story of long ago, when human beings were
in competition with the God. Whenever there was the conflict between Gods and
Devils, the Gods didn’t hesitate to take the help of human beings but when the
human beings tried to achieve the supreme knowledge and godhood transcending
their soul through their deep penance, the Gods used to be worried and destroyed
the penance using the nymphs of the heaven. While pending the life in the cities
and villages, a man realized that supreme knowledge and godhood are blocked by
social obligations, the love of family and friends. Then he went to the dense forest
abandoning (learning) the physical world pleasure. He fasted for many days, sat
around the fire in the summer season, plunged (dive) into icy cold water in the
winter and couldn’t even feel the nest of termites that was built supporting his legs.
He began to feel thousands of suns inside him and seat of heaven shook. Anyway,
the hermit was in deep penance. Due to the penance, he was about to achieve the
godhood. At that time the seats of heaven started trembling that made the King of
Gods, Indra worried. So, he called the most beautiful nymph and sent her to the
hermitage with the responsibility of destroying the penance. Then she came to
hermitage, stepped towards the river, and started bathing in the naked spell binding
posture. At that moment, the eyes of the hermit opened involuntarily, then they fell
in love, got married, returned back to the village, gave birth to two baby boys and
started spending simple domestic life helping the villagers but the villagers didn’t
forgive them. They saw the nymph as an evil seductress who caused the downfall
of the saint. But the sage never ceased to experience the ecstasy and bliss, as he
was in the meditative trance.
2. Interpretation
In the story, the writer is trying to show the importance of family life that ensures
happiness, satisfaction and ecstasy. “Sexual desire is a biological need that can
never be repressed” is the message of the story. “Family is not the block and
hindrance for supreme knowledge and satisfaction” is central idea of the story.
8
This story is about the importance of the family life. Sexual desire is a biological
need that can never be repressed. But some of the ideas in the story are not
convincing. In the story, a man fasted for many days. Can a man fast for many
days? Does the God exist? Is it possible for a man to sit in the middle surrounded
by fire in the summer season and plunge into the icy cold water in the winter
season? How can a nymph marry a man and live in a society? Etc.
4. Assimilation
After reading this story, I really understood the importance of family life. Family
life is not a source of frustration. I also understood that the sexual desire is a
biological need which can’t be repressed.
9
Ethics
Linda Pastan, USA (1932-)
The poem “Ethics” is written by an American poetess, Linda Pastan. This is
an autobiographical nostalgic poem in which Pastan has recalled her childhood
memories while she was the student in the school. “The importance of
understanding the level of the students while teaching to make the teaching
learning process programmatic and fruitful, unnecessary questions should not be
asked going beyond the level of students” is the central idea of the poem. In the
poem, the poet has given the justice for both life and art. Though life is perishable
and the art never dies. In the poem, the poet is talking about the ethics class when
she was in the school. Many years ago, the poet’s teacher would ask question “If
there were fire in a museum which would you save, a Rembrandt painting (art) or
an old woman (life) who hasn’t many years left anymore?” In response, they
would choose once the art and the next life, being half-heartedly. Once, feeling
clever, Linda replied why not let the woman decide herself? In response, the
teacher would report she was trying to escape from the burden of responsibilities.
Now Linda is standing in front of the real museum and thinks woman, painting and
season are almost one and are beyond saving by children.
Four Levels of the poem Ethics:
The poem “Ethics” is written by an American poetess, Linda Pastan. In the
poem, the poet is talking about the ethics class when she was in the school. Many
years ago, the poet’s teacher would ask question “If there were fire in a museum
which would you save, a Rembrandt painting (art) or an old woman (life) who
hasn’t many years left anymore?” In response, they would choose once the art and
the next life, being half-heartedly. Once, feeling clever, Linda replied why not let
the woman decide herself? In response, the teacher would report she was trying to
escape from the burden of responsibilities. Now, Linda is standing in front of the
real museum and thinks woman, painting and season are almost one and are
beyond saving by children.
2. Interpretation
10
This is an autobiographical nostalgic poem in which Pastan has recalled her

childhood memories while she was the student in the school. “The importance of
understanding the level of the students while teaching to make the teaching
learning process programmatic and fruitful, unnecessary questions should not be
asked going beyond the level of students” is the central idea of the poem. In the
poem, the poet has given the justice for both life and art. Though life is perishable
and the art never dies.
This poem is about the importance of understanding the level of the students
for the practical learning but some ideas in the poem are not convincing. In the
poem, it is said that the teacher in the ethics class used to ask the question that was
beyond the capacity of the students. Does a good teacher do so? In the poem, the
poet says that life, art and season are almost one. Is it possible? How can we
compare life with art? Are a piece of art and a human being of equal value? Etc.
4. Assimilation
After reading this poem, I really understood the importance of life and art
and both are almost same. I also remembered an incident that was occurred in my
life. While I was in Grade 5, our Math teacher used to talk and ask the question
regarding politics and force us to answer the questions. Now, as a teacher, I
realized that our teacher’s teaching method was beyond the level of us.
11
Where the Mind Is Without Fear

Rabindranath Tagore, India (1861-1941)
The poem “Where the Mind Is without Fear” is written by an Indian
remarkable poet, Rabindranath Tagore. In the poem, the poet has shown his deep
patriotic feelings towards his motherland. The poet imagines an ideal state having
freedom of knowledge, unity among people, truth, the perfection of the works, the
respect for the modem belief, ever widening thoughts and actions that ensures
freedom, equality, harmony, co-operation, prosperity, justice, dignity, recognition
and helps for the freedom of heaven. The poet finds his country people devastating
into the traditional belief so that the poet is praying with the God to awake his
country people and give the strength to believe modem progressive thoughts.
Four Levels of the poem Where the Mind Is without Fear:

The poem “Where the Mind Is without Fear” is written by an Indian
remarkable poet, Rabindranath Tagore. In the poem, the poet wants to make his
motherland the freedom of heaven, praying with the God that he wishes to have the
mind without fear, the freedom of knowledge, unity among people, truth, and
perfection of the work, modem progressive belief, ever widening thoughts and
actions in his nation.
2. Interpretation
The poet, in the poem, is showing patriotic feelings towards his motherland,
wishing and praying of dignity, recognition, existence, justice, unity, truth, equality
and freedom to make his nation prosperous and peaceful.
The poem is about patriotic feelings towards the motherland to ensure an
existential and dignified life but some of the ideas in the poem are not convincing.
In the poem, the poet is praying with the God to make his nation like the heaven.
12
Does the God exist? Is there heaven? The poet says everyone should speak the
truth. Is it possible? Etc.
4. Assimilation
After reading this poem, I really understood the importance of motherland
which is the symbol of dignity and identity. I’m determined to be respectful
towards my motherland for an existential life.
13
New Year
Parijat, Nepal (1934-1993)
The poem “New Year” is written by a well-known Nepalese female writer,
Parijat. In the poem, the poet sings the glory of the natural world and expresses her
disgust towards the routine human life. “Life without changes is no progress” is the
central idea of the poem. The poet wants to come out from the routine life for the
freedom and ecstasy. However, the poet seems disappointed living in the same
abode. So, the poet wants to run out away from the real world and try to form an
imaginary world which is optimism.
The poet sees the wind that chases March away, sun that clambers up the
hills, nightingales flit to and fro, the buds of the bottlebrush that let her presume a
new day has arrived. But when she sees the mason wasps return to the old nests
gathering the old dreams, she thinks the thinking and perception had not got the
new nest though the entire nature afresh. We find the poet is disappointed with her
life because her unfulfilled desires and ambitions are not addressed by the New
Year.
Hence, the poem is about the changes in the nature with the arrival of the
New Year but the consistent misery of human beings that is indulged in the
scheduled life.
Four Levels of the poem New Year:
The poem “New Year” is written by a well known Nepalese female writer,
Parijat. The poet sees the wind that chases March away, sun that clambers up the
hills, nightingales flit to and fro, the buds of the bottlebrush that let her presume a
new day has arrived. But ‘when she sees the mason wasps return to the old nests
gathering the old dreams, she thinks the thinking and perception had not got the
new nest though the entire nature afresh. We find the poet is disappointed with her
life because her unfulfilled desires and ambitions are not addressed by the New
Year.
2. Interpretation
14
In the poem, the poet sings the glory of the natural world and expresses her disgust
towards the routine human life. “Life without changes is no progress” is the central
idea of the poem. The poet wants to come out from the routine life for the freedom
and ecstasy. However, the poet seems disappointed living in the same abode. So,
the poet wants to run out away from the real world and try to form an imaginary
world which is optimism.
The poem is about the changes in the natural surrounding with the arrival of the
New Year and her dissatisfaction on same schedule of human beings but some of
the ideas in the poem are not convincing. The poet says that her life wasn’t
changed though natural surrounding was fresh. Doesn’t the idea contrast as we are
dependent on the nature? She says that the mason wasps returned lazily to the old
nests. Does it mean that we have to build the new house every year? Is it possible
to forget the dreams of the past with the arrival of New Year? Etc.
4. Assimilation
After reading this poem, I really understood that the New Year brings the changes
in the natural surroundings but human beings should try to catch the dream of the
past in the same scheduled life. The poem taught me that the New Year brought the
changes in the nature though the life of the poet wasn’t much wonderful and was
covered with physical, mental and psychological turmoil.
15

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To get notes for School/college, Loksewa, and Banking Subscribe Binod Rijal on YouTube

UNIT TWO: ANCIENT TALES

 When does a man become loved by his fellows?

With the answers of Yudhishthira, Yaksha became well-pleased and asked

With the answers of Yudhishthira, Yaksha became well-pleased and asked

The Brave Little Parrot

Four levels of the story “If Not Higher”:

UNIT THREE: EDUCATION

3. University education helps people to be conscious on the importance of good

Don’t Cut down the Trees, Brother Woodcutter

“Surely You Are Joking, Mr. Feynman!”

A 1996 Commencement Speech

UNIT FIVE: TELEVISION

The Wretched Stone

TV Can be a Good Parent

UNIT FIVE: TELEVISION

The Wretched Stone

TV Can be a Good Parent

UNIT SIX: CROSSCULTURAL BRIDGES

Marriage is a Private Affair

Then and Now: Finding My Voice

UNIT SEVEN: CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Arranging a Marriage in India

Life is Sweet at Kumansenu

UNIT EIGHT: THE HUMAN CONDITION

How Sane Are We?

UNIT EIGHT: THE HUMAN CONDITION

How Sane Are We?

UNIT NINE: NATURAL SCIENCE

The Making of a Scientist

Scientific Inquiry: Invention and Test

UNIT TEN: HUMOR AND SATIRE

King John and the Abbot of Canterbury

Hence, the poem is about the importance of practical knowledge to

The Clock Tower

UNIT ELEVEN: CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING

The Stub Book

Keep Errors at Bay

What Is Intelligence, Anyway?

UNIT TWELVE: LOVE

To His Coy Mistress

The poem “To His Coy Mistress” is written by an English metaphysical

The Telegram on the Table

David Herbert Lawrence, England (1885-193 0,)

The poem “Piano” is written by an English poet, David Herbert Lawrence.

UNIT THIRTEEN: LIFE AND DEATH

The Great Answer

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

The story “A Tale” is written by a Nepalese politician and literary figure,

This is an autobiographical nostalgic poem in which Pastan has recalled her

Where the Mind Is Without Fear

Four Levels of the poem Where the Mind Is without Fear:

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