Passage-1: All houses wherein men … .. .. .

no sound upon the floors

Que- (i) What kind of opening statement is made by the poet?

Ans: The poet suggesting that all individuals carry with them the indelible influences of people
they have known throughout their lives, akin to how houses are “haunted” by the spirits of those
who have lived and died in them.

Que- (ii) In what way are all houses ‘haunted’?

Ans: All house ‘haunted’ represent individuals’ lives marked by the enduring presence and
influences of people they have encountered, whose memories and impacts linger like harmless
phantoms.

Que- (iii) The phrase ‘harmless phantoms’ seems to be exceptional. Why?

Ans: The phrase ‘harmless phantoms’ is exceptional because it reframes the typical notion of
haunting, portraying these enduring influences as benign rather than malevolent, emphasizing
their subtle, often unnoticed presence in our lives.

Que- (iv) What kind of the spirit-world is conceived by the poet later in the context?

Ans: The poet later conceptualizes the spirit-world as a benign, ethereal layer surrounding our
everyday existence, where the quiet influences of past associations float around us, enriching our
lives without direct visibility or acknowledgment.

Que- (v) Where can we, according to the poet, meet ghosts?

Ans: According to the poet, we encounter these ‘ghosts’—the lingering influences of past
associations—in everyday moments and places, such as at the doorway, on the stair, and along
the passages of our lives, subtly impacting our thoughts and actions.

Passage-2: We meet them at … …. ….. moving to and fro.

(Haunted House Comprehension Passage: Treasure Chest Workbook Solutions of ICSE Class 10
English written by H.W Ch-11)

Que- (i) What kind of ghosts are conceived by the poet earlier in the context?

Ans: Earlier in the context, the poet conceived of ‘ghosts’ as the benign, invisible impressions
left by people we’ve known, affecting our lives in quiet, often unnoticed ways.

Que- (ii) Where do we ‘meet’ them? Are they visible?

Ans: We ‘meet’ these ‘ghosts’ in the metaphorical spaces of our existence—our memories and
experiences—where they influence us subtly, not visible to the eye but felt in the heart and mind.

Que- (iii) Explain the last two lines.

Ans: The last two lines express that these influences are intangible, like impressions on the air,
felt rather than seen, as a sensed presence or impact moving through our lives, guiding or
affecting us in unseen ways.

Que- (iv) Which figure of speech is used in Line 3?

Ans: In Line 3, a metaphor is used, likening the intangible influences of people in our lives to
‘impalpable impressions on the air’, emphasizing their unseen yet felt presence.

Que- (v) Where do they ‘throng’, as mentioned later in the context?

Ans: As mentioned later, these influences ‘throng’ our mental and emotional spaces, particularly
during moments of reflection or decision-making, much like quiet, inoffensive ghosts filling an
illuminated hall, silently shaping our lives.

Passage-3: There are more guests … … … pictures on the wall

(Haunted House Comprehension Passage: Treasure Chest Workbook Solutions of ICSE Class 10
English written by H.W Ch-11)

Que- (i) Who are uninvited guests at table?

Ans: The uninvited guests at the table metaphorically represent the unexpected, often
unconscious influences of people from our past, whose memories and impacts join us in the
journey of life without formal acknowledgment.

Que- (ii) Why are they there uninvited?

Ans: They are there uninvited because their influences on us were not consciously chosen but
naturally accrued over time, shaping our thoughts and actions subtly, like guests who have
silently taken their place at the table of our lives.

Que- (iii) What is surprising about these uninvited ghosts?

Ans What is surprising about these uninvited ‘ghosts’ is their benign presence, contradicting the
typically ominous connotation of hauntings, and highlighting how these influences can quietly
enrich our lives, unnoticed yet impactful.

Que- (iv) Which figure of speech is used in the last line here?
Ans: The figure of speech used in the last line is a simile, comparing the silent influence of these
‘ghosts’ to the silence of pictures on the wall, underscoring their quiet yet pervasive presence in
our lives.

Que- (v) What can the speaker see and hear which others cannot, as referred to later in the context?

Ans The speaker, perhaps more introspective or sensitive, can perceive the subtle impacts and
presences of these ‘ghosts’—the enduring influences of past relationships—more acutely than
others, seeing and hearing their guidance and impact where others may not.

Passage-4: The stranger at my fireside .. .. .. .. visible and clear.

(Haunted House Comprehension Passage: Treasure Chest Workbook Solutions of ICSE Class 10
English written by H.W Ch-11)

Que- (i) What contrast is made in the first two lines here?

Ans: The contrast made in the first two lines highlights the difference between the speaker’s
ability to perceive the subtle influences and memories of past associations, likened to seeing and
hearing ‘ghosts’, and a stranger’s inability to perceive beyond the tangible present.

Que- (ii) What do you think of the extraordinary powers of the speaker?

Ans: The speaker’s ‘extraordinary powers’ suggest a heightened sensitivity or awareness to the
layered complexities of human existence, enabling them to perceive the enduring impacts of past
relationships and experiences that others might overlook.

Que- (iii) What has been told by the speaker about the unseen ‘forms’ earlier in the context?

Ans: Earlier in the context, the speaker described the unseen ‘forms’ as the benign, invisible
presences of people who have left an indelible mark on our lives, their influences felt as
‘impalpable impressions on the air’ or a sensed presence moving through our existence.

Que- (iv) ‘All that has been is visible and clear. Explain.

Ans: ‘All that has been is visible and clear’ conveys the idea that the speaker possesses a
profound connection to their past, with the ability to clearly perceive and reflect upon the
impacts of past relationships and experiences, as if these elements were still present and tangible.

Que- (v) Who is ‘He’ in Line 3? Is he a normal human being?

Ans: ‘He’ in Line 3 refers to a stranger or any individual other than the speaker, presumably a
normal human being who perceives the world in a more conventional, less introspective manner,
focusing on the physical reality rather than the nuanced influences of past associations.
Passage-5: We have no title-deeds … … … old estates.

(Haunted House Comprehension Passage: Treasure Chest Workbook Solutions of ICSE Class 10
English written by H.W Ch-11)

Que- (i) What conception of ghosts is given earlier in the context?

Ans: Earlier in the context, ‘ghosts’ are conceived as metaphorical representations of the lasting
influences and memories of people we’ve known, shaping our thoughts and lives in subtle, often
unnoticed ways.

Que- (ii) Where can we ‘meet’ the departed spirits?

Ans: We ‘meet’ the departed spirits in the corridors of our memories and experiences, where
their influence persists as if they still occupied a place in our lives, impacting us in unseen but
significant ways.

Que- (iii) Who do not have title-deeds to their ‘house or lands’?

Ans: In the metaphorical sense, individuals do not have permanent title-deeds to their ‘house or
lands’, suggesting that our lives and the impacts we make are not owned or fixed but are part of a
larger continuum of influence and memory.

Que- (iv) What do the departed spirits claim from their graves?

Ans: From their graves, the departed spirits claim a continuing connection to the living world,
asserting a metaphorical ‘ownership’ or presence within the lives they’ve touched, much like
holding onto their influence from beyond.

Que- (v) Explain the phrase ‘hold in mortmain’.

Ans: The phrase ‘hold in mortmain’ refers to the enduring grip or influence the departed have on
the living, suggesting that their impacts and memories hold a place in our lives with a
permanence that transcends legal or physical ownership.

Passage-6: The spirit-world around … … … ethereal air.

(Haunted House Comprehension Passage: Treasure Chest Workbook Solutions of ICSE Class 10
English written by H.W Ch-11)

Que- (i) Why does the poet describe all houses as haunted earlier in the context?
Ans: The poet describes all houses as ‘haunted’ to metaphorically express the idea that everyone
carries with them the enduring influences of people they have encountered, shaping their being
in a manner akin to spirits inhabiting a house.

Que- (ii) How have the ghosts been described by the poet?

Ans: The ‘ghosts’ have been described by the poet as benign and intangible presences—
memories and influences of past relationships that hover around us, subtly shaping our lives and
decisions without direct visibility.

Que- (iii) What can the speaker see or hear?

Ans: The speaker can see and hear the quiet, often unnoticed impacts of these metaphorical
‘ghosts’, perceiving the nuanced layers of influence and memory that shape the fabric of their
existence.

Que- (iv) What kind of the world of spirits is?

Ans: The world of spirits is described as a delicate, ethereal realm that surrounds and permeates
the tangible world, where the influences of past associations float like an atmosphere,
influencing the living in subtle yet profound ways.

Que- (v) What crosses through earthly mists and vapours?

Ans: A ‘vital breath of more ethereal air’ crosses through the earthly mists and vapours,
symbolizing the permeation of the spiritual influences and memories of past relationships
through the dense complexity of our tangible, day-to-day existence.

Passage-7: Our little lives .. …. .. noble instinct that aspires

(Haunted House Comprehension Passage: Treasure Chest Workbook Solutions of ICSE Class 10
English written by H.W Ch-11)

Que- (i) Whose lives are being referred to in Line 1?

Ans: The lives being referred to are those of all individuals, emphasizing the universal
experience of being influenced by a blend of contrasting desires and memories from past
associations.

Que- (ii) What brings about balance in our short lives?

Ans: Balance in our lives is brought about by the interplay of opposite attractions and desires—
the innate urge for pleasure and the aspiration for higher, more noble goals, reflecting the
complex influences of past relationships.
Que- (iii) Explain the last two lines.

Ans: The last two lines depict the internal conflict between the instinctual pursuit of immediate
gratification and the aspiration towards higher, more altruistic goals, illustrating how our lives
are shaped by a blend of varied influences from people we’ve known.

Que- (iv) State what fills our life with anxieties and fears, as mentioned later in the context.

Ans: Anxieties and fears in our lives are filled by the perpetual internal conflict between earthly
desires and higher aspirations, influenced by the unseen force of past relationships and the
uncharted impacts of memories.

Que- (v) What ‘bridge of light’ connects our world to the heavenly world?

Ans: The ‘bridge of light’ that connects our world to the heavenly realm symbolizes the pathway
through which the influences of past associations and memories transcend the tangible world,
guiding our thoughts and emotions towards the ethereal and the unknown.

Passage-8: These perturbations, .. .. .. . planet in our sky

(Haunted House Comprehension Passage: Treasure Chest Workbook Solutions of ICSE Class 10
English written by H.W Ch-11)

Que- (i) What brings about balance in our lives, as mentioned earlier in the context?

Ans: Balance in our lives, as mentioned earlier, is achieved through the equilibrium between the
conflicting desires for sensual pleasures and the yearning for higher, more noble aspirations,
influenced by the enduring impacts of past associations.

Que- (ii) The poet uses a metaphor in the first two lines. Explain it.

Ans: The metaphor in the first two lines likens the internal turmoil and conflict arising from our
earthly wants and higher aspirations to a ‘perpetual jar’, suggesting that these contrasting forces
continuously shape and redefine our existence.

Que- (iii) What do you mean by ‘earthly wants and aspirations high’?

Ans: ‘Earthly wants and aspirations high’ refer to the duality of human nature: the pursuit of
material and sensory pleasures versus the pursuit of lofty, altruistic, and spiritual goals,
illustrating how past influences shape our desires and motivations.

Que- (iv) What are ‘perturbations’?

Ans: ‘Perturbations’ are the disturbances or fluctuations in our mental and emotional state,
caused by the ongoing conflict between material desires and spiritual or higher aspirations,
influenced by the memories and impacts of those we’ve encountered.

Que- (v) What is determined by an unseen, undiscovered planet in our sky?

Ans: The metaphorical ‘unseen, undiscovered planet’ suggests that external, unknown forces,
possibly symbolizing the influence of past associations and memories, play a role in shaping our
internal conflicts, desires, and aspirations, influencing our lives in profound ways.

Passage-9: And as the moon …. .. .. .. .. mystery and night,–

(Haunted House Comprehension Passage: Treasure Chest Workbook Solutions of ICSE Class 10
English written by H.W Ch-11)

Que- (i) When and how is a ‘bridge of light’ formed?

Ans: A ‘bridge of light’ is formed when the moon emerges from behind dark clouds, casting a
luminous path across the sea. This imagery symbolizes the connection between the tangible
world and the realm of memory and influence, illuminating the path of our thoughts towards the
unknown.

Que- (ii) What is the function of this bridge?

Ans: The function of this bridge is to provide a metaphorical pathway for our thoughts and
emotions to traverse from the realm of everyday reality into the domain of mystery, memory, and
the ethereal influences of those we’ve known.

Que- (iii) Which figure of speech is used in the first two lines here?

Ans: The figure of speech used in the first two lines is a metaphor, likening the moonlight’s
reflection on the sea to a ‘floating bridge of light’, symbolizing the connection between the
physical world and the realm of memories and past influences.

Que- (iv) Where does our fancy take us?

Ans: Our fancy takes us into the ‘realm of mystery and night’, a metaphorical journey into the
depths of our memories and the unseen influences of past relationships, exploring the ethereal
and the unknown aspects of our existence.

Que- (v) Which rhyme scheme is used in this stanza?

Ans: The rhyme scheme used in this stanza is ABAB, a common pattern in the poem that ties the
imagery and themes together, enhancing the lyrical quality and the evocative exploration of
memories and influences.
Passage-10: So from the world .. .. .. .. .. dark abyss.

(Haunted House Comprehension Passage: Treasure Chest Workbook Solutions of ICSE Class 10
English written by H.W Ch-11)

Que- (i) What has the poet told us about the world of spirits?

Ans: The poet has told us that the world of spirits, representing the cumulative influences and
memories of past relationships, exists as an ethereal realm closely connected to our tangible
world, affecting us in unseen ways through a metaphorical ‘bridge of light’.

Que- (ii) Where can we ‘meet’ the departed spirits?

Ans: We ‘meet’ the departed spirits within the realms of our memories and emotions, where
their influences linger and shape our thoughts and feelings, symbolized by the moments we
reflect on their impact upon our lives.

Que- (iii) What is the significance of ‘So’ in Line 1?

Ans: The significance of ‘So’ in Line 1 introduces a comparison or continuation, linking the
metaphorical depiction of the moon’s bridge of light to the idea that similarly, the world of
spirits connects to ours, influencing our thoughts and guiding us across the unseen.

Que- (iv) Which bridge descends from the world of spirits? What has it been compared to?

Ans: The bridge that descends from the world of spirits is a metaphorical ‘bridge of light’,
likened to the moonlight’s reflection on the sea, symbolizing the pathway through which the
influences of past relationships and memories enter our consciousness.

Que- (v) What do we often think of?

Ans: We often think of the mysteries of existence, the unknown, and the profound impacts of our
past relationships, as we traverse the metaphorical ‘bridge of light’, contemplating the ethereal
and the enduring influences that shape our lives and thoughts.