English (Core) 12th Board Exams How to operate?

 

  1. Hello Guys!

    Seeing the response on the blog, I decided to put up all the notes I had!
    To operate this easily, you can change the settings on the top left corner from
     CLASSIC---->FLIPCARD.

    You can then easily surf for whichever chapter notes you want from Flamingo and Vistas.

    Good luck studying!


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  2. A roadside stand


    In this poem Robert Frost has brought out the apathy of the rich, city dwellers towards the poor, roadside shed owners. The owners have made a new shed with a hope of selling his vegetables and fruits to the city dwellers who passes by in their cars. But unfortunately, the rich and sophisticated people of the city are insensitive to the needs of the shed owners, the latter’s desire is to sell their goods and earn an amount sufficient for their survival. The powerful and influential people had promised them support but now the shed owners feel let down and cheated. They have also heard that they would be moved to villages, closer to the market area and theatre. Here, they are told that they will not have to worry about their earnings and would sleep peacefully at night. In reality, the so-called benefactors would benefit from this move and not the shed owners. They would simply lose their hold on their land and would be dislodged, giving them sleepless nights once again. The poet is unable to bear the pitiable plight of the shed owners who wait for a car to stop. The cars do stop occasionally but the passengers have their own selfish motives to achieve. One of them stops to inquire the pieces of the vegetables, another stops to reverse the car and yet another to merely ask where the road leads. The poet is alarmed when someone stops at a shed to ask for a gallon of gas. The poet is agonized to see the miseries of the shed owners .

    Line
    1. There stands an old house at the side of the road. A new little shed is added to it. The shed is
    used as the stand to sell items.

    1. The house is situated at the corner of the road, where the traffic passes at the great speed.

    1. Roadside stand seems to beg pathetically to the passersby to halt and to buy. Or the inmates of the stand beg for financial assistance in order to sustain themselves.


    1. It would not be fair for the people to say they are begging at the roadside stand because they were not begging for a piece of bread but they wanted a respectful living by selling their fruits for money which the passersby had to spend in the city.

    5-6) Villagers crave for the city money to fall into their share so that they could
    sustain themselves. Money , the cityfolk spend in living lavishly, could be
    better used in supporting the lives of village folk.
    (Flower of city: lavish lifestyle and richness of city dwellers
    Sinking and withering faint :from going down and losing its glamour. Prosperity of the city will decline without money)

    1. Polished traffic refers to the well off and sophisticated city folk who pass in their lavish vehicles. Polished traffic also implies luxurious vehicles.
    Their mind is focused on their destination and they are oblivious of the roadside stand.

    1. They do not generally stop or show concern for rustics. But if they momentarily pause to have one look at these people ,they are critical of them.
    (Aside a moment : stop for a moment ,or ,look aside for a moment
    Out of sorts: unhappy ,upset)

      1. City folk feel that these rustics spoil the beauty of the landscape with inelegant paint. They show annoyance as the direction signs are turned wrong.
    (Marred :spoiled
    Artless : crude ,clumsy)

      1. Roadside stand owners sell wild berries in wooden containers or twisted necked golden squash(fruit) with silver lump on it. City dwellers disapprove of this.
    1. Moment of respite is felt in beautiful surroundings. City folks feel that stand spoils the beauty of mountain scene.

      1. City dwellers have money but they are selfish and do not want to share their money. But why they get angry with rustics?

      1. The poet does not want to complain about the harm these people cause to the natural scenery. He is more concerned with the pain and sorrow of their unsaid words cause to the trust of the country people.
    TRUSTING SORROW: Country folk trust their rich brother in city thinking they would come to their help but feel sad when their trust is breached by the city people through their indifference. City people say nothing, but their ugly facial expressions and even their silence speak about cold and indifferent attitude towards rural poor.

      1. Rustics establish roadside stand far away from city and hope some money from city dwellers would pass into their hands and sustain their livelihood and could lead better life.

      1. By letting some money pass into the hands of rustics ,the city dwellers will keep the promise of providing comfortable life which ruling parties have failed to do so. Politicians make false promises to provide better living condition
    (Moving pictures: Luxurious, advanced lifestyle projected in T.V or movies)

      1. The poet remarks that he has heard the news that all poor people whom the poet considers as relatives would be drawn out of their property. Their lands would be bought or acquired for commercial development. They want the stand owners to vacate and shift to village. They promise the villagers with respectable living space in the village.
    ”.
    PITIFUL KIN refer to poor village folk. They are akin to each other in their poverty stricken pathetic condition.
    THEATRE AND STORE signify superior lifestyle to these rustics.

    1. In the village then they need not to be concerned about their sustenance.

      1. GREEDY GOOD DOERS : greedy people posing as benefactors to mankind.
    BENEFICENT BEAST OF PREY: City dwellers want to take away their source of livelihood ,but pretend to be helpful. Men in power are beasts of prey in garb of benefactors. They exploit common people for their vested interests.
    Men in power enforce such benefits on country folk which in reality are meant for their own benefit.Men in power approach country folk with false promises of providing better living conditions. The rustics repose blind faith in these promises and feel comforted to an extent that they fail to see their greedy intentions.

      1. By making fake promises ,they teach innocent people to sleep over or ignore their sufferings .But in reality , they snatch their peaceful moments and sleep through exploitation.

    23-31These lines depict the misery of the poor at the  “roadside stands” who are
    rehabilitated to better places in the village with promises of an increase in earnings
    and a better life. These people are exploited and they end up living a life much
    worse than they lived at “roadside stands”

      1. The poet finds it unbearable to see the childish longing of the people who wait for customers uselessly.
    CHILDISH LONGING: It is the childish and futile desire of the stand owners that the vehicles would pause to buy the products being sold at the roadside stand.
      1. There is a great deal of sadness as the stand owners wait near the open window openly praying for the people to stop.

    36) They wait for loud shrieks of brakes and for sound of stopping cars.It raises their
    hope for some city money to flow into their hands.

      1. Villagers hope vainly that one car out of thousands will stop to inquire about the prices of the products.
    SELFISH CARS: Cars are referred to as selfish as the owners of the cars do not understand their suffering and so they do not contribute in enhancing their financial status.

      1. When one car stops, their hopes are shattered for it only digs up the grass and use the yard to back and turn around. Another stop only to ask directions.

      1. Sometimes some motorists stop to enquire if they could get a gallon of gas from the stand. The people at the stand get annoyed especially when motorists enquire for the gas. They are rather infuriated at the city folk’s ignorance for they could clearly see that they are not selling gas.

    44-45) The poet notes sadly that the prosperity in the city is not trickling down the villages at all. No amount of material gains in the country is uplifting the villagers. Hence the spirit of these poor people remain depressed because of poverty.

    1. The people from countryside complain of the backwardness of the countryside.

      1. The poet accepts that it would be a great relief work to kill all the poor people. For him mass killing is the easiest and the quickest remedy to put them out of pain and suffering.

      1. The poet first longs for the killing of all the poor at one stroke. But, when he regains wisdom he thinks it is a vain and inhuman idea to kill all the poor people. He thinks he should be killed so that he won’t see the miserable plight of the poor people.

    Reference to context
    The little old house was out with a little new shed
    In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,
    A road side stand that too pathetically pled,
    It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,
    But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports
    The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint
    1. Where has the road side stand been set up?
    1. The roadside stand has been set up in front of an old house at the edge of the road.

    4. What is that supports ‘the flower of cities’?
    4. It is flow of money that supports the ‘flower of cities’, i.e. all the best part of city life.
    a) What is the condition of the roadside stand?
    Ans: It was in a miserable condition. The owner lacked resources to give it an artistic look.
    B) What did the stand expect?
    Ans: It expected money from passersby who would buy their wares, so that they could develop the country stand.
    C)Which words bring out the contrast between the rural and urban folk?
    Ans: The city folk speed across while the stand ‘pathetically pled’, shows the huge gap.
    D)Explain! “That too pathetically pled’, Give the figure of speech used.
    Ans: Personification is the figure of speech. The owner desperately pleads to the rich city dwellers to shop at the roadside stand and buy their wares so that some money could flow in their hands.
    E)Why has the road side stand been set up?
    Explain–(i) “Pathetically pled”, (ii) dole of bread.
    (ii)The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,
    Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts
    At having the landscape marred with the artless paint
    Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong
    Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,
    Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,
    or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,
    Questions
    (a) What does ‘Polished traffic” mean?
    (b) In what manner does the traffic pass that way?
    (c) Explain–Out of sorts”
    (d) Why are they feeling out of sorts?

    (iii)Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,
    You have the money, but if you want to be mean,
    Why keep your money (this crossly) and go along.
    The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint
    So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid.
    (a) What attraction does the place offer?
    (b) What should one do if one wants to be mean?
    (c) What does the poet not complain about?
    (d) What do you think is the real worry of the poet?
    Ans. a, b ,c, d
    (iv)The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint
    So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid:
    Here far from the city we make our roadside stand And ask for some city money to feel in hand
    To try if it will not make our being expand. And to give us the life of the moving-pictures promise
    That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.
    1. Who made a road side stand and where?
    1. The poor rural people made a roadside stand in their village that was far from city.
    2. Who wanted to feel the money in hand?
    2. The rural folk wanted to feel money in hand from the city folk.
    3.Who hoped to be helped and by whom?
    3. The rural folk hoped to be helped by the city people.
    4. What was the promise made and who made it?
    4. The promise was made to give a life a motion picture to the poor people. It was made by the government.

    (v) “It is in the news that all these pitiful kin
    Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in To live in villages, next to the theatre and the stone,
    Where greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits
    That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits, And by teaching them to sleep all day,
    Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way”.

    1.Who is going to exploit the rural people and how?
    The politicians and the Government exploit the poor by offering them benefits that are supposed to solve their problems but in reality only add or pose problems of a different nature thereby making them feel cheated.

    2.How will the greedy good-doers soothe the rural poor out of their wits?
    By offering them free benefits like housing and other facilities, they rob the poor of their voice to protest and lull them into a feeling of false security

    (vi)Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear,
    The thought of so much childish longing in vain, The sadness that lurks near the open window there,
    That waits all the day in almost open prayer, for the squeal of brakes.

    (a) What can’t the poet tolerate?
    (b) Who has been longing and for what?
    (c) Why is the longing termed as childish?
    (d) What do the expressions “open window” and “open prayer” mean?

    SHORT QUESTIONS
    Q1 What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
      desired the city dwellers to buy goods ,wanted flow of cash for better standard of living

    Q2 Why are the cars called ‘selfish ?
    Ans. The poet uses a transferred epithet here. He actually means to say that the owners of the cars just pass by without a thought for the plight of the stall owners


    Q3.Who is anguished at the plight of the stand –owners? Why?


    1. The poet, Robert Frost is anguished at the plight of the stand owner because the cars do stop occasionally but the passengers have their own selfish motives to achieve.

    Q5 Why can't the poet bear the childish longing of the poor people?The poet is a true humanitarian who is genuinely concerned for the poor people's misfortunes. He wants a solution for their poverty. But seeing how childish their longings are, the poet feels it unbearable.



    Q6What are the two significant roles of money in the lives of the poor people?Money is the measuring rode of growth for the village people. They estimate their economic growth by means of the small amount of money at hand. Similarly, money is necessary for a villager to feel confident. He feels a ‘lift of spirit’ with money in reach
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  3. POETS AN PANCAKES

    Key Points
    • The Make-up Department
    – The make-up room was like hair cutting salon with bright lights and mirrors
    – headed by a Bengali first, later by Maharashtrian, helped by an Andhdraite, a Madras
    Christian and Anglo-Burmese and a local Tamil
    – Example of national integration
    – Hierarchy was followed
    – Chief actors and actresses
    – Assistant the second hero
    – The office day of the crowd
    • The Office Boy
    – was in early forties
    – did make up of the crowd
    – Joined to become an actor, or a screenwriter, director or lyric writer, was a bit poet.
    – Hopes shattered, seemed frustrated
    • Inside the Gemini Studios
    – Duty of the writer to cut out newspaper clipping
    – everyone thought him as free
    – office boy expressed his anger against Subbu, the No. 2 at the studios.
    • Subbu
    – Kothamangalam Subbu – No. 2 at Gemini Studios
    – always accompanied the boss
    – was in story department
    – story department had lawyer, writers and poets
    – was cheerful and loyal
    – habit of being nice
    – was charitable
    – could suggest many ways of filming a scene
    – was a poet, an amazing actor
    – had many enemies, office boy being the main.
    • The Lawyer
    – was in story department
    – was not very popular
    – recorded outbursts of an actress and played the recording
    – she left acting after this
    – he dressed in pant, coat and tie differently than others
    – story deptt was closed and he lost the job
    • Gemini Studios – The Favourite Meeting Place of Poets
    – Mr. Vasan the boss, was editor of Tamil weekly – Ananda Vikatan
    – Main prominent poets visited studio
    – They wore khadi, were against communism 1952 Frank Buchman’s moral Re-Armament
    army visited studio
    – Tamil plays copied their sets for years
    – Hosting two hundred people of twenty nationalities was great change
    • Visit of the English Poet
    – A tall Englishman, a poet visited the studios
    – The boss welcome the poet
    – The poet had English accent, he spoke without being understood
    – Years after retirement, Asokamitran saw a pile of books, with a book titled the God that
    failed.
    – It was collection of essays by six eminent writers
    – The name of the editor was Stephen Spender
    – The same poet who had visited the studio
    – It cleared the mystery of Spender’s visit to the studios

    NCERT Questions (Think as you read)
    Q 1 What does the writer mean by the fiery misery of those subjected to make-up?
    The ‘fiery misery’ of those in the makeup room suggests the discomfort caused by incandescent lights fitted at all angles. All of them when lit emitted so much heat and light that it was torturous for those who were subjected to make up.
    Q.2.What is the example of national integration that the author refers to in the Gemini Studios?
    Ans: In the studio the people from different regions and religions working together presented a glimpse of national integration. The make-up department was first headed by a Bengali. He was succeeded by a Maharashtrian. He was assisted by a Kannadiga from Dharwar and Andhra, Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and usual local Tamils. All this shows that there was a great deal of national integration in the makeup room of the Gemini Studios
    Q3. What work did the ‘Office Boy’ do in the Gemini Studio?
    ANS.It was the duty of the ‘office boy’ to do the make up of the crowd players at Gemini studio. He mixed his paint in a big container and slapped it on the crowd players.
    Q4 Why was the office boy frustrated?
    Ans. The office boy had joined Gemini Studios in the hope of becoming a star actor, a top screenwriter, a director or a lyricist. He was frustrated as his dreams remained unfulfilled as he remained merely an office boy.
    Q5 Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at Gemini Studios?
    Ans. The author appeared to be doing nothing as his job was to gather relevant newspaper clippings. Throughout the day he could be seen tearing up newspapers sitting at his desk. This made others feel that he had very little to do.
    Q6 Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others?
    The legal advisor recorded the tirade of a temperamental actress bringing her career to an end. That’s why he was referred to as the opposite by others.
    Q7 What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios?
    (While every other member of the Department wore a kind of uniform — khadi dhoti
    with a slightly oversized and clumsily tailored white khadi shirt — the legal adviser wore
    pants and a tie and sometimes a coat that looked like a coat of mail. Often he looked alone and
    helpless — a man of cold logic in a crowd of dreamers — a neutral man in an assembly of Gandhiites
    and khadiites.)
    Q8Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations?
    Most of the people at Gemini Studios were followers of Gandhiji and wore khadi. Beyond that they did not have any particular political affiliations. However, they were all against communism.
    Q9 Why was the Moral Re-Armament army welcomed at the
    Gemini Studios? (Poets and Pancakes)

    Q10.Name one example to show that Gemini studio was influenced by plays staged by MRA.

    Q11. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studio?
    ANS.The people at Gemini Studios could not understand what the Englishman was saying. His accent was also different. It was very strange thing that an English poet was addressing the audience who were making Tamil films. This caused a lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios.
    Q12 Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as unexplained mystery?
    None of the employees of the studio knew the identity of the visitor and his purpose of visiting the studio.Even the speech of the poet was beyond comprehension. They did not know what an English poet was doing in a film studio which made Tamil films for simplest sort of people who had no taste for English poetry.
    Q13How did the author discover who the English poet was?
    Ans. The author wanted to participate in a short story contest organized by a British periodical named ‘The Encounter’. Being unfamiliar with the periodical he went to the British Council Library to find out about the same and discovered that the editor was none other than Stephen Spender
    Q14..What does ‘The God That Failed’ refer to?
    A. ‘The God That Failed’ is a book of six essays by six eminent men of letters that describe their journey to communism and disillusioned return. Stephen Spender was one of the authors.

    NCERT Questions (Understanding the text)
    Ans1. Author has used gentle and subtle humour to point out human foibles and idiosyncrasies.
    • Exposes Robert Clive’s ambitions and his restless nature
    • Office boy’s boasting and bragging about his talent is brought out
    • Legal adviser is known as the opposite
    • -use of pancake –ostensibly to cover the pores
    • Team of make up artists is referred to as ‘gang of nationally integrated make up men ‘ who could turn any decent looking person into a hideous crimson hued monster
    • -Strict hierarchy.
    • Commenting on Subbu’s exposure to affluent situations ,he ridicules his virtue- the virtue of being a Brahmin.His inefficiency is pointed out subtly with a comment “he always had work for somebody” . The rapidity with which Subbu offered his Boss alternatives when he got stuck up is very amusing.
    • pokes fun at the ignorance of all the people . did not know who was Stephen Spenders and why did he arrive


    Q2Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios?
    .Kothamangalam Subbu was considered as No. 2 in Gemini Studio because he was next in a position to the Boss. Apart from the fact that he was a Brahmin ,which was considered a head start by many ,he was a many sided genius. He had a creative mind as he could provide various alternatives as how a scene could be emoted. He was tailor made for films and had a separate identity as a poet. He was also an amazing actor. His sense of loyalty made him identify with the principal. For all these virtues he stood apart from others and enjoyed a higher rank.

    Ans 3.There is incongruity of the English poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studio as he talked about thrills and travails of an English poet in front of Tamil knowing audience who hardly had any taste for English poetry. So the audience could not understand what he was talking about . Moreover his English accent was incomprehensible.

    Ans 4 The author’s job at Gemini Studio was to cut and file paper clippings. Although he performed an insignificant task , he was the most well informed of all the members of the Studio. His literary interest is evident from the fact that he participated in a story writing competition organized by the periodical ‘Encounter’ and he purchased the books to read even when he was short of money.

    EXTRA QUESTIONS (SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS)
    Q1 Through the mention of Robert Clive, how does the narrator bring out the extravaganza of those in power?
    Ans: 1. The make up department of Gemini studio was in a building that was believed to have been Rober Clive’s stable. So the place which was worth to become a studio had been misused by the Britishers. Extravaganza of the Britishers has also been brought out when the author mentions that Robert Clive used to own several buildings
    Q2. Describe the make-up room of the Gemini Studios as described by the author.
    Ans. It looked like a hair cutting salon, with incandescent lights that made the room very hot, placed at all angles around half a dozen mirrors. It was so hot that the ones whose make-up was done there were subjected to ‘fiery misery’
    Q3 A strict hierarchy was maintained in the make-up department . Explain.
    Ans. It was so as each make-up man was allotted his task according to his designation. The chief make-up man attended the chief actors and actresses, his senior assistant the second hero and heroine, the junior assistant the main comedian, the office boy the actors who played the crowd and so forth.
    Q4 why did the office boy come to the author? Why was the author praying for crowd shooting?
    Since the author was wrongly believed to have no work to do , the office boy often came to his cubicle to give went to his frustration and impress upon him that a great talent remained untapped and was being wasted. Since the author was bored with the office –boy’s never ending babble , he prayed for crowd shooting so that the boy would be busy in painting the crowd and would not pester him.
    Q5 What advantage did the office boy think Subbu had?
    d) Subbu, in no way was superior to the office boy in talent or education. It was by the dint of his birth in a Brahmin family that he got a lead over him. His ‘birth” helped him get better openings, opportunities and exposure. Thus he had an edge over the office boy.
    Q6 Who was Subbu’s enemy? Why?
    • office boy
    • convinced that all his woes, ignominy and neglect were due to Subbu / who only by virtue of being born a Brahmin had exposure to more affluent situations and people
    Q7. Subbu was charitable and improvident, yet he had enemies. Why?
    Ans. Subbu’s good qualities were overlooked as his desire to please the boss, the key to his success, made him seem like a sycophant. His non critical attitude was misconstrued as cleverness. So he had enemies, as the office boy, who blamed him for their failures
    Q8 How did the lawyer lose his job ? p-62 ,1st para)
    Q9.What role did the canteen play at the Gemini studio? (p-62 ,2nd para)
    Q10 What was the opinion of the khadi clad poets of Gemini Studios about Communism?
    Ans. They were against Communism as that was the prevailing political notion in South India. A Communist to them was a Godless man, had no filial or conjugal love, could unhesitatingly kill his parents or children and was always out to cause and spread violence and unrest.
    Q11 What shows that the boss knew very little about the poet who was visiting Gemini studio?(p-64 , 1st seven lines)
    Q12Why was the English poet who visited the Gemini Studios as baffled as his audience?
    Ans. The poet Stephen Spender was baffled, as he could comprehend that his audience was unable to understand him. The audience was also baffled as the poet’s accent defeated comprehension and they had no idea as to why the English poet had been invited to address an audience that had nothing to do with English poetry.
    Q13. Why did Stephen Spender visit Gemini Studios?
    Ans. Stephen Spender was an anti Communist like the people at Gemini Studios. He had been invited to talk about his journey into Communism and his disillusioned return
    Q14.The boss of Gemini studio had nothing to do with Spender’s poetry but not with his 'God that failed`. Bring out the significance of this line?

    LONG QUESTIONS:
    Q1 Describe the Moral Re-Armament Army’s visit to Gemini Studios?
      • Frank Buchman’s MRA comprising of two hundred members visited Chennai in 1952.
      • MRA- counter movement to Communism
      • People thought it was an international circus
      • Two plays ‘The Forgotten Factor’ and ‘Jotham Valley’ ran several shows in Madras
      • Good sets and costumes
      • Tamil drama community was extremely impressed
      • For some years almost all Tamil plays had a scene of sunrise and sunset as in ‘Jotham Valley’-bare stage, white background curtain and a tune played on the flute.

    Q2 Analyse the character of Kothamangalam Subbu.
    • Many sided genius
    • Didn’t have much formal education but had learnt from his exposure to prosperous people
    • Sense of loyalty made him to identify completely with his boss. Turned all his creativity to his boss’s advantage.
    • Had a solution for any problem encountered by Mr. Vasan.
    • Gave direction and definition to Gemini Studios
    • A poet capable of writing complex poems but chose deliberately to address the masses
    • Composed several truly original story poems in folk refrain and diction
    • Wrote a sprawling novel- Thilana Mohanambal with dozens of deftly etched characters-recreated manner of Devdasis of the early 20th century
    • Powerful actor- never aspired for lead roles- better in subsidiary roles than lead actors

    Q3. Asokamitran has used humor and satire effectively in Poets and Pancakes.
    Discuss
    Author uses gentle human and mild satire.
    • He has a chatty style which quickly changes from one thought to the other.
    • Makes fun of the make-up applied to the artists which changes a decent person into
    a monster.
    • Sets required the actors to look ugly so that they look presentable in the movie.
    • Characters of the office boy, Subbu No. 2 and the legal adviser has many subtle
    touches of humor.
    • Purpose of the visits of Moral Re-Armament Army and the English Poet baffles
    everyone.
    • Baffled reaction of the staff Gemini studio arouses humor.
    • Satire is also directed towards people who are against communism and would do
    anything to oppose it

    Q.4. What does Asokamitran’s lesson ‘Poet and Pancakes’ deal with?
    Ans: The author, Asokamitran recounts his years spent at the Gemini studios. Gemini Studios was set up in the year 1940 in Chennai and grew into one of the most influential film producing organizations of India in the early years of the Indian film making industry. The studios of film production has never confined its activities within the four walls of the studios but it also gives a fine glimpse of outside world as well.
    The production department has two prominent divisions – the make up department and the story department. In the make up room there had a team of workers from chief make-up man to the office boy who stopped the crowd players with lotions and pancakes. Pancakes were used by the actors and actress. Pancake was the popular brand name there. There was a strict hierarchy of make up man.
    The story department had its significant contribution. There was a legal advisor duly accompanied with an assembly of poets and writers. They were engaged in creating story, songs, social and other work. In those days, it was mainly indoor shooting. The Boss had a strict vigil at every aspect. He was assisted by Kothamanglam Subbu, who was an indispensable person for the studios. Beside this, the Gemini Studios had become the favourite haunt of the poet and other visitors because of its decent mess that served coffee till the late at night. The studios hosted the visit of Moral Re-Armament Army and a poet-cum-editor Stephen Spender. The MRA was a counter movement to international communism but the people at the studios were averse in this ideology. The visit of Spender also became an unexplained mystery for all.

    THE INTERVIEW by Christopher Sylvester
    GIST OF THE LESSON
    PART I
    • Interview has become a commonplace of journalism. Opinions on the functions, methods and merits of Interview vary considerably.
    • Some claim it to be the highest form, a source of truth and in its practice an art.
    • Some despise the interview as an unwarranted intrusion into lives, which diminishes their personality.
      • V.S. Naipaul feels that ‘some people are wounded by interviews and lose a part of themselves’.
      • Lewis Carroll never consented to be interviewed for he believed it to be ‘a just horror of the interviewer’.
      • Rudyard Kipling considered it ‘immoral, a crime, an assault that merits punishment’.
      • H.G. Wells referred interviewing to be an ‘ordeal’.
      • Saul Bellow describes it ‘like thumbprints on his windpipe’.
    • Despite the drawbacks interview is a supremely serviceable medium of communication. Interviews are the most vivid impression of our contemporaries and the interviewer holds a position of unprecedented power and influence.

    PART II
    • An extract from an interview of Umberto Eco interviewed by Mukund Padmanabhan.
    • Umberto Eco was a professor with a formidable reputation as a scholar for his ideas on Semiotics, literary interpretation and medieval aesthetics before he turned into writing literary fiction. He attained intellectual superstardom with his publication “The Name of the Rose”.
    • In the interview Eco shares his idea of empty spaces in our lives just as they exist in an atom, which he calls Interstices. He says that he makes use of these empty spaces to work.
    • Eco’s essays were scholarly and narrative. He likes to be identified more as a university professor who writes novels.
    • Eco’s ‘The Name of the Rose”, a serious novel, which delves into metaphysics, theology and medieval history, enjoyed a mass audience. It dealt with medieval past. He feels that the novel wouldn’t have been so well received had it been written ten years earlier or later.

    NCERT QUESTIONS (Think as you read)
    Q1. List some of the positive views on interviews.
    ANS.Interviews have many positive aspects. It is an art and a source of truth. It is a serviceable medium of communication. We can get information about our contemporaries through interview
    Q2 Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed?
    ( it is an unwarranted intrusion into their lives.
    • feel that the interview diminishes them.)
    Q3. What is the belief in some of the primitive culture about being
    Photographed?
    (Some primitive cultures believe that it is like stealing someone’s soul)
    Q4. What do you understand by the expression’ thumbprints on his windpipe’?
    ANS. Saul Bellow has described interview as being ‘thumbprints on his windpipe’. If somebody presses our throat, our windpipe is choked and we cannot breathe properly. Similarly, he felt choked and suffocated during the interviews

    NCERT QUESTIONS (understanding the text)
    Q1.Do you think that Umberto Eco likes being interviewed ?Give reason s for
    your opinion
    After analyzing the interview extract we see that Umberto Eco does not get perturbed while being interviewed .He is comfortable ,confident and at ease when he is being interviewed. He readily furnishes answers to the questions asked. Moreover he elaborates on everything, volunteering more information than is required..
    He candidly discusses his philosophical and academic interests, his fictional and non-fictional styles of writing and why he considers himself a University Professor He also shares with the interviewer his secret of time management and how he utilizes the empty spaces in his life which he called interstices and how he managed to write such staggeringly large amount of literature. He honestly discusses the trials and errors he faced during his first Doctoral dissertation. He gives details about his novel “The Name of The Rose” in a systematic and methodical way .He was candid enough to admit that it was a mystery why the novel was successful. His tone is friendly and at no point does he seem to wind up the interview.

    Keeping all these factors in mind we can conclude that Umberto Eco does not consider interviewing a crime or an offence rather it is a way of getting a clearer picture of the celebrity.

    Q2. What was distinctive about Eco ‘s academic writing style ?
    A Umberto Eco is a professor at Bologna University who has a staggeringly large and wide ranging amount of written output to his credit. Eco has philosophical interests which he pursues through his academic works and novels. Even the books he writes for children are about non-violence and peace, here again his philosophical and ethical interests surface. His scholarly and non-fictional writing have a certain playful and personal quality to it .It is a marked deviation from his regular academic style which is depersonalized and often dry and boring. He believed that scholarly books should always be written by telling the story of the research which is why his essays always had a narrative style
    Q3. Did Umberto Eco consider himself as a novelist first or an academic scholar?
    Eco considers himself as an academic scholar first as he prefers identifying himself with the academic community .He participates in academic conferences but not in the meetings of pen Clubs and writers. Before he turned to writing fiction he had a formidable reputation as a scholar for his ideas on semiotics (study of signs), literary interpretations and medieval history. Though he is happy at the overwhelming response and the tremendous success he got for his novel “The Name of the Rose “he still prefers to be a Professor at Bologna University who writes novels on Sundays .He started writing Novels by accident. One day when he had nothing to do he started writing one, it was probably to satisfy his taste for narration
    Q4. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel “The Name of the rose”?
    *it is a detective yarn
    *delves into metaphysics, theology, medieval history.
    *written at the right time.
    * reason of success is mystery

    EXTRA QUESTIONS (SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS)
    Q.1.In what way have the interviews become a common place of journalism?
    Ans: Over the last 130 years, the interviews have become a commonplace of journalism. Almost everybody will have read an interview at some point during their life time. Several thousand celebrities have been interviewed over the years. It is a great serviceable medium of communication. The interviewer holds position of unprecedented power and influence
    Q2 What drawbacks of interviews have been pointed out by Lewis Carrol?
    Q3. How does Rudyard Kipling condemn an Interview?
    ANS.According to Rudyard Kipling interview is immoral. It is a crime. It is just like an attack on somebody. Hence, it is punishable. He adds that it is a cowardly and unpleasant act. No respectable man should ask anybody to give interview.


    Q4 What was odd about Rudyard Kipling interviewing Mark Twain?
    (-considers as crime , immoral
    -still interviewed Mark Twain)
    Q5 In what way does the interviewer hold a position of unprecedented power and influence over the person interviewed?
    Q6 How ,when and why did Eco start writing novels ?
    Q7 Why was Umberto Eco’s writer friend Roland Bathers frustrated ?
    (was always frustrated that he was an essayist and not a novelist. He wanted to do creative writing one day or another but he died before he could do so.)
    Q.8. What is the secret of Umberto Eco’s working style?
    Ans: Eco says there are empty spaces in the lives of us all. He calls these empty spaces as ‘interstices or intervals. He explains his style of working in empty spaces through an example. He tells when he waits for somebody coming from the elevator from first to the third floor, he won’t sit idle. He utilises these intervals for his creative work.

    Q9. What do you think were the distinguishing features of his novel ‘The Name of the Rose’?
    A . It is a serious novel .Though it has a detective yarn on one level ,it also
    delves deep into metaphysics ,theology and medieval history .

    Q. 10 Why, according to Umberto Eco, were the journalists puzzled at the popularity of the novel ‘The Name of the Rose’?
    ANS.According to Umberto Eco the journalists were puzzled because journalists believed that people liked the writings of poor quality. They thought that difficult reading experiences were not liked by people. But they were wrong. The novel was liked by millions of people even if it had difficult experiences.

    LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

    Q1 What impression do you form about Umberto Eco as a scholar and
    writer on the basis of “The Interview.”?

    Long Answer type Questions :
    1. “I can’t understand how a man can do all the things he does.” Discuss this statement with reference to Umberto Eco.
    2. Highlight the importance of interview; its drawbacks, positive aspects and reactions of celebrity writers based on the The Interview.


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  5. GOING PLACES


    • Sophie’s Ambition and Unrealistic Dreams
    – wants to start a boutique
    – to earn money by becoming a manager, an actress or even a fashion designer
    – she belongs to the weak socioeconomic background
    – doesn’t have a decent house.
    • Her Friend Jansie
    – simple and nosey
    – wants Sophie to be happy and realistic
    – can’t keep information or secrets to herself
    • Sophie’s Dad
    – is strong, sweaty and hardworking
    – Loves to watch football matches
    – Does not believe in Sophie’s imaginary stories.
    • Sophie’s brother - Geoff
    – is an apprentice mechanic
    – speaks less
    – sophie trusts him and shares her secrets with him
    • Sophie lives in a world of her own/her fantasizing
    – Sophie is fond of hero worship and fantasizing
    – Sophie’s hero is an Irish player Danny Casey
    – Dreams of meeting him
    – Is so much obsessed with meeting him
    – Starts believing her imaginations as real
    – Nobody believes her
    – Feels disappointed
    – She still believes that she has met him.

    NCERT QUESTIONS

    Q1. What did Sophie dream of after leaving school?
    Ans Sophie dreamt of owning a boutique, becoming a Manager or an actress.
    Q2. Why did Jansie discourage her from entertaining such dreams?
    Ans. Jansie was aware of Sophie’s poor socioeconomic condition.Jansie discouraged her from entertaining such dreams because her dreams were wild and can never be realised. Moreover, she knew that they were earmarked to work in a biscuit industry.
    Q.3 Why was Sophie jealous of Geoff silence?
    Ans: Sophie’s brother Geoff was an apprentice mechanic. He was almost grown up yet he hardly spoke any thing of his own. Words were prized out of his mouth like stones from the ground. She could only suspect areas of his life which she wanted to hear from him. So she was jealous of his silence. She took him to be out there in the world, when he was not speaking.
    Q4How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in her fantasy of the future.?
    Geoff had always been the first one with whom she shared her fantasy of her future. She told him about her meeting with Danny. She also shared her plan of meeting him the next week. She longed to know more about Geoff and wished that someday he might take her with him. She imagined herself riding behind Geoff one day.
    Q5. Why did Sophie wriggle when Geoff told her father that she had met Danny Casey?
    Ans Sophie felt uncomfortable because she knew that she was lying and her
    father would not believe her story. She knew that he would get angry.
    Q6 Does Geoff believe what Sophie says about her meeting with Danny Casey ?
    Geoff does not believe in Sophie’s story about her meeting with Casey. Though he listens to her story, he cannot draw himself into believing her story. He dismisses it as the most unlikeliest thing. He even tries to make Sophie see the reality by telling her her that Danny would never keep his promise of meeting her again.
    Q7Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?

    Q8. Do you think Sophie had really met Danny Casey?
    No, Sophie had never met Danny Casey in reality. She was a dreamer. The story of her meeting Danny Casey was one of the wild stories by her
    Q9 Which was the only occasion when she got to see Danny Casey in person?
    Ans: Sophie only got to see Danny Casey in person when she had gone to watch the football match with her family. Sitting amongst the spectators she had only seen Danny Casey from a distance.

    UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT
    Q1.Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends What were the differences between them that showed up in the story?
    Sophie : Imaginative , day dreamer, live in the world of fantasy , harbours unrealistic dreams, escapist ,optimist , romantic , hero worships Danny Casey, good at concocting stories
    Jansie; Mature , sensible , realistic, practical , well wisher of Sophie : dissuade her from living in the world of fantasy, did not nurture big dreams ,accepted her reality , nosey , gossip monger .

    Q2. How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s Father ?
    Ans Sophie’s father is a hardworking man who toils the whole day to make his family comfortable ,however he does not indulge in self –pity nor does he blame his circumstances . His face is grubby and sweaty after the day’s hard work .
    He is a practical man who frowns upon Sophie’s flights of fantasy and insensitive towards her daughter’s dreams. When Geoff told him about Sophie’s meeting with Danny Cassey, he dismisses as one of her ‘wild stories’.. Sophie is somewhat scared of him and does not want any of her stories to reach him. However, there is a lighter side to him. He is a sports enthusiast, he loves watching football .Watching United each Saturday was like a weekly pilgrimage for him. He also cheered for Danny Casey and even celebrated his victory in a pub .

    Q3. Why did Sophie like her brother, Geoff more than any other person? From her perspective what did he symbolize?
    Ans Sophie idolized her brother who was three years out of school. She was very fond of her elder brother who was an apprentice mechanic. He was reticent, hence she felt comfortable sharing her secrets with him .In spite of the fact that she was always concocting fantastic stories of imagination, he was a patient listener and never made fun of her. He carried an air of mystery which intrigued her.
    She felt when he was silent, he was journeying through unknown exotic and beautiful places which were beyond her reach. She wanted to go with him to all those wonderful places. He was always the first one to know her secrets because she wanted to be a part of his affection. Sometimes his silence made her jealous because she couldn’t know what he was thinking. In order to attract his attention, she created a fantastic story about meeting Danny Casey, the football star, knowing that he idolized him
    To Sophie .Geoff symbolized a pathway to the world of romance and excitement, a world which was drawn away from her and beyond her reach. He also symbolized freedom from her drab and impoverished existence.

    Q.4 What socioeconomic background did Sophie belong to? What are the indicators of her family’s financial status?
    Ans. From the story ‘ Going Places’ we come to know that Sophie belonged to a lower middle class family, i.e. a poor socio-economic background.
    Geoff’s occupation of an apprentice mechanic and Sophie being earmarked for working in a biscuit factory reflects the poor socio economic background. Both her parents as well as her brother lacked sophistication.Her father worked hard for a living and his labour was reflected on his face which was grimy and sweaty.Her mother was bent , her back got crooked with the burden of the household work. Sophie wishes that Geoff takes more care of his appearance .
    The house that Sophie lives in was not in a decent locality because when Sophie was fantasizing about buying a boutique, her father said that if money comes, the first thing that was to be done was to buy a decent house for the family. The small room that they lived in was steamy and cluttered with dirty washing piled up in a corner. Her father went to the pub on his bicycle to celebrate.

    All the above indicate that Sophie belonged to a poor socio-economic background.

    EXTRA QUESTIONS
    Q1What did Sophie tell Geoff about her meeting with Danny Casey?
    Q2. On the news ‘Sophie met Danny Casey’ how did their father react?
    Ans: Father looked at Sophie with sadness on their face, he did not believe it. He called it another of her wild stories. He warned her that one day she would put herself into a lot of troubles because of her talks

    Q3 “Damn that Geoff, this was a Geoff thing not a Jansie thing” Why did Sophie say so?
    Q4 What thoughts came to Sophie's mind as she sat by the canal?
    (– thought Danny Casey would come to meet her
    – saddened to realise that such a thing is impossible
    – perfect place to meet)
    Q5. How did Sophie come to know that her dad was not at home? Why was she glad to know it?
    Sophie came to know that her father not at home when she passed by the pub. She saw her father’s Bicycle propped against the wall of the pub. She was glad because she would not have to see her father when she reached home disappointed.
    Q6 Sophie is a typical adolescent hero-worshipper who carries her fantasizing too far .Comment.
    Yes, Sophie is a typical adolescent who worships Danny Casey, the football star. She fantasizes about meeting him and taking his autograph which is quite normal for an adolescent. But she crosses the border of normalcy when she tells her family that she actually met him and that he wants to take her on a date. And then she actually goes to the place and literally waits for him to appear which is abnormal
    Q7.How is the title ‘Going Places’ most appropriate?
    A. The title is appropriate as Sophie the protagonist- a teenager fantasizes and goes to places in her imagination in the story and Geoff’s ‘areas of his life’ which unknown to her holds a special fascination for her about which she romanticizes.

    Short Questions
    1. Who was Sophie? What do you know about her family? (2008)
    2. Sophie flits from one dream to another. What trait of hers is brought out by this action?
    3. What made Sophie dissatisfied with her life?
    4. The unknown things are always a fascination for human beings. How is it true in the case of Sophie?
    5. Did Geof keep his promise? How do you know? (2008)
    6. What made her heave a sigh of relief when she knew that Geoff had not divulged all what she said?
    7. According to Sophie’s father, what dangers does Danny Casey face in his career as a football player
    8. *. Who is responsible for Sophie’s tears ? Why do you think so ?

    Long Answer type Questions :
    1. Fantasy is a pleasant relief at times but at times it can take a serious turn, which may prove detrimental to mental growth. . Elucidate with reference to the text focusing on the negative impact of fantasizing?
    2. What in your opinion is the reason behind her weaving a fantasy, is it a crush for an ace footballer or is it the love for glamour of a celebrity, if not at least the glamour of a person associated with a celebrity. Elucidate
    3. Bring out various aspects of the brother-sister relationship with instances from the lesson ‘Going Places’.
    4. “Going Places” is a story that borders on fantasy and reality. Discuss.
    5. What was Geof’s reaction when Sophie told him about Danny Casey?
    OR
    Contrast Sophie’s real world with her fantasies (2009)


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  6. JOB APPLICATION
    • Start body of the letter giving source of information about the job (newspaper) day, date,
    advertisement number etc.)
    • Close the letter giving note that Bio-data/resume is enclosed.
    • Write 10-12 points in Bio-data
    • Bio-data should include :
    – Name
    – Date of Birth
    – Address
    – Education qualifications : Year, marks, and subjects of the
    (i) – X (ii) – XII (iii) – Graduation (iv) – Diploma/higher qualifications
    – Experience
    (a)
    (b)
    – Hobbies
    – Salary expected
    – Reference

    1. You are Varun/Varuna, a resident of M-204, Block-C, Dilshad Garden, MBA from Amity University, You come across an advertisement in Times of India published by ICICI Bank, New Delhi. Write an application for the post of Business development Manager for the giving your complete bio-data.

    M-204
    Block –C
    Dilshad Garden
    Delhi

    19 November 2012

    The Manager
    ICICI Bank
    New Delhi

    Subject : Application for the post of Business development Manager

    Sir

    With reference to your advertisement in ‘Times of India’ dated 17th November 2012 inviting applications for the position of Business Development Manager , I hereby offer my candidature for the same.

    As regards my qualifications and experience , I am enclosing my bio-data to enable you to make an assessment of my suitability for the given post. In case my application is considered, I am available for the interview at any time suitable to you.

    If selected , I assure you that I shall work with utmost dedication and sincerity to your full satisfaction.

    Hoping for a favourable response

    Yours Faithfully
    Varun
    Enclosures: Bio-data and Testimonials



    BIO-DATA


    Name : Varun

    Address : M-204, Block-C, Dilshad Garden

    Telephone No. : 9898444534

    Age : 25 years

    E-mail I.D. : varun@yahoo.com

    Nationality : Indian

    Academic Qualifications :

    Examination
    Board/University
    Institute


    Percentage


    1. AISSE
    2. AISSCE
    3. B.Com (Hons.)
    4. M.B.A
    CBSE
    CBSE
    Delhi University

    AmityUniversity
    ABC School
    ABC School
    Ramjas College

    Amity School Of Management
    90%
    80%
    70%

    70%

    Work Experience : 1 Have been working as a Assistant
    Manager at HDFC Bank for 1 year
    . 2. Worked as Business Executive at
    XYZ Bank for 1year

    Languages Known : English ,Hindi
    Skills : Excellent Communication skills
    Hobbies : Painting , Singing

    References : 1. Dr. Rajesh , Professor ,Amity University
    2.Mr. Anil Sahai , Manager , HDFC Bank
    Declaration : I hereby declare that the above information is correct to the best of my knowledge.
    Place : Signature:
    Date:





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  7. LETTER TO THE EDITOR

    Points to remember :
    -Draw the attention of the concerned authorities/general Public towards the problem NOT of the Editor
    - Request concerned authorities to take the action NOT to the editor
    - Raise the issue by citing some latest news items / Survey report etc.
    - Analyze the issue, try to find causes.
    - Offer suggestions to solve the problem.
    - Be courteous, even if critical
    Beginning lines:

    Kindly allow me to use some space in your esteemed daily to express my views and concern on _________
    OR
    Kindly allow me to use some space in your esteemed daily to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to the nuisance of______________
    OR
    May I have the privilege of using a few lines of your esteemed newspaper regarding_______________
    OR
    Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper , I would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards________________

    Ending Lines:
    Hope some effective measures will soon be adopted to improve the existing situation
    OR
    Hope the concerned authorities will take notice and do something in this direction.
    OR
    I hope the concerned authorities and the general public will see the gravity of the matter and some measures will be adopted to ___________

    Q.You are Samita/Sunit, resident of C-9, Vasant Kunj, Delhi. You find, participation of children in various reality shows on T.V. a form of child exploitation. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily showing your concern about various forms of child exploitation prevalent in Educated, Urban society giving some suggestions to curtail it.
    Ans.
    C-9, Vasant Kunj
    Delhi

    10th August 2011

    The Editor
    The Times of India
    Delhi

    Subject : Exploitation of children in Urban Society

    Sir

    I want to draw the attention of the general public and the concerned authorities towards the above cited problem through this letter of mine in your newspaper.

    In Urban societies parents are increasingly using their children as means of achieving their own unfulfilled wishes, resulting in physical and mental exploitation of the children. Forcing children to participate in reality shows or cajoling them to play roles in TV serials by shunning games are some examples of child exploitation. Even parents among audience of such programmes openly compare their wards with child actors on TV. In school arena parents put pressure on their wards, to excel in the field of academics, sports and other activities alike without considering their field of interest and abilities.

    The implication of exploitation of children in the guise of making their future bright is evident now. The diseases like hypertension, obesity, diabetes which were known to be adult diseases a decade back are common among children. Psychotic problems among children are also rising with cases of drug abuse, depression or even suicide is reported frequently.

    Authorities in the child’s rights department and educational institutes should come out with bolder steps to curb the problem. There should be a ban on all types of advertisements and programmes on TV with child actors below 14 years of age. There should be regular counselling for parents in schools to make them understand the consequences of stressing the children.

    Yours faithfully

     Smita
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  9. MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD by ZITKALA-SA AND BAMA
    GIST OF THE LESSON
    PART –I
    • The first part deals with the account of Simmons, An American Indian, who fought against the prejudices of the society against American Indians.
    • She describes her experiences on her first day at the Carlisle Indian School.
    • The customs and rules of the place were strange and new to her.
    • She was forced to wear clothes that were considered undignified in her culture
    • At breakfast, she was embarrassed as she did not know the routine of the place.
    • When she comes to know that they were planning to cut her hair, she protests by hiding under the bed, even though she knew it was futile. In her culture, it was the cowards whose hair was shingled.
    • She felt like an animal driven by a herder.
    PART – II
    • The second part is an excerpt from the autobiography ‘Karukku’ by Bama – a Tamil Dalit.
    • She was in her third grade when she becomes aware of the indignities that the lower caste people face.
    • She happens to see an elderly person from her community abase himself in front of a higher caste person as he was not supposed to touch the food that he was ordered to fetch for the landlord.
    • Later, her brother explains to her that the incident was not at all funny as she initially thought, but very pathetic. The people from the lower caste were treated as untouchables.
    She was deeply saddened and decided to study hard to overcome discrimination

    NCERT QUESTIONS
    Q.1. The two accounts that you read above are based in two distant cultures. What is the commonality of theme found in both of them?
    The unit presents autobiographical episodes of the lives of two women from marginalized communities who look back on their childhood , and reflect on their relationship with the mainstream culture.
    Both
    -victims of prejudice ,oppression
    -experienced indignation ,sadness and outrage
    -Affected by their unpleasant experience of childhood
    -Fought against the injustice
    -Both use the power of pen to fight oppression
    Q3 . Bama’s experience is that of a victim of the caste system. What kind of discrimination does Zitkala-sa’s experience depict? What are their responses to their respective situations?
    Ans. Zitkala Sa : victim of racial discrimination / cultural invasion
    The lesson presents a good account of two different girls living at distant places. Both the women belong to the marginalized communities. Zitkala-Sa was a Native American. She was taken away from her mother forcibly because the white people wanted the native Indians to adopt their culture. Zitkala revolted the way the Indian girls were forced to wear dresses in an immodest way. She was shocked to know that that the school authorities were going to cut her long hair because in her community shingled hair were worn only by cowards. She hid herself under a bed in a large room. But when she was caught , she resisted by kicking and scratching.. But she could do nothing when they took her bravely, tied in a chair and cut off her hair. But her spirit could not be suppressed.

    On the other hand, Bama was a low –caste girl. She saw the upper caste people showing discrimination against lower caste people. They could not touch food and other items of the upper caste people. They had to work for them and bow their heads. Her spirit too revolted against this injustice. She felt terribly sad and agitated. She could not understand this human treatment since all are human beings. She wanted honour for all. Her brother Annan told her that she could do away with these indignities if she worked hard. Bama studied hard and stood first in her class. Many people became her friends.

    ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
    Q.1. “I felt like sinking to the floor” ! Who felt so and why?
    Ans. Zitkala-sa felt so when on her first day in Carlisle Indian School her blanket was rudely stripped off her shoulders. She felt exposed, as if her very identity had been snatched away so cruelly
    Q2 How were the Indian girls dressed?(p-94,2nd para “These were Indian............hair”
    Q3 What embarrassing situation arose when Zitkala-sa sat on hearing the first bell?
    Q4.What information did Judewin give Zitkala-sa? (p-95 ,para-2 ,But this eating)
    Q5What were the indignities that the new girls were subjected to at Carlisle Indian School?
    (The girls were scrutinized thoroughly and supervised by a grey-haired woman. They were made to wear tight fitting immodest clothes and stiff shoes. During breakfast a systematic and regimental discipline was observed. The girls with long hair had to get them shingled and they had to submit to the authorities who were strong, unfeeling and cruel)
    Q6 Why was Zitkala-Sa terrified when Judewin told her that her hair would be cut short?

    Q7 Why does the author feel that she has been deprived of freedom in the hostel?
    (Moccasins not allowed in the hostel, strict discipline ,long hair- cut, loss of freedom)
    Q8..Interpret Judewin’s personality on the basis of her comment “We have to submit, because they are strong “.
    (Hints : Judewin’s character – submissive , cowardly, realistic)
    Q9. Why was the girl, Zitkala tied to a chair in ‘Memories of Childhood’?
    Ans: Zitkala Sa tells about her first day in school. She had long hair. According to the culture of the whites they wanted to cut her long hair. But she refused to obey their decision. She was dragged out and tied fast with a chair for cutting her hair. She resisted but all in vain
    Q10. What did Zitkala-Sa feel when her long hair was cut?
    ( – felt indignant / anguished / lost her spirit / looked for comforting / felt
    like an animal driven by a herder / felt helpless like a puppet 2 marks)
    Q11*. What indignities did Zitkala-sa have to suffer after she was separated from her mother? (p-96 ,2nd para)
    Q12.What does Bama say about untouchability at the onset of the story? (p-96 ,3rd para –When i was studying)
    Q13.What was the incident that made Bama laugh as well as feel so provoked and angry?
    Ans. Bama saw an elderly man of her street carrying a packet of ‘Vadais’ by the strings and walking gingerly, holding the parcel away from his body. Bama found his manner of carrying the parcel very funny. But her brother explains to her the higher caste people believed that if the lower caste people touched the parcel it would be polluted. That’s why the elder was carrying it in that manner. This provokes and angers Bama.
    Q.14. Who was Annan? Why was he not amused by Bama’s story?
    Ans. Annan was Bama’s elder brother. Bama’s story didn’t amuse him because he knew the elderly man of their street was carrying a packet of food in the odd manner because they were untouchables and if the food came in contact with their body it would become polluted and unfit for consumption by his upper caste master.
    Q15How did Bama react when she came to know why the elderly man was carrying the packet? (p-99 ,1st &2nd para)
    Q16 What did the author (Bama) think of upper caste people in? Why they didn’t treat them ‘human beings’?
    ( Bama thought that upper class people thought so much of themselves –they had wealth-didn’t mean lose all human feelings)
    Q17 Why did Landlord’s man asked Bama’s brother ,on which street id he live? What was the significance?
    Q18. What advice did Annan offer Bama?
    ( – advised her to work hard / study with care and make progress to throw
    away indignities / if you are ahead in your lesson, people will come to you 2 marks)
    Q19What impact did Annan’s advice have on Bama and with what effect? (p-99 ,last para,p-100 )

    LONG QUESTIONS
    Q1 Seeds of rebellion are sown early in life injustice even can’t escape the eyes of child. Justify the statement with reference to the lesson and “Memories of childhood.”
    Ans. The lesson ‘Memories of Childhood’ is an amalgamation of two autobiographical episodes. One by American Indian woman and second by a Tamil Dalit writer. Both stories highlight the women’s oppression, class barriers, racialism, discrimination and exploitation that tend to pull them down. Both the stories advocate the statement that seeds of rebellion are sown early in life.
    In ‘The Cutting of my long hair’ the feeling of breaking free and gaining freedom are seen in the girl. Zitkala-Sa, in the very first line reports that her first day in school was “bitter-cold”. For her, it not only describes the weather, but also represents the atmosphere of the boarding school. Though she was a child but she could observe the overly disciplined students of the school and and its unfriendly staff. She faced indignity & oppression since she had left her mother. She is not ready to get her hair cut, to lose her & identity. She fights till the end but is helpless as she overpowered.
    Also in ‘We Too Are Human Beings’, when Bama was in class 3rd, no had talked to her about untouchability but still she had experienced it and could notice the difference between landlords and Dalits.The little girl was amused to see how the old man was holding the packet but when she came to discover the truth, she is extremely upset & citizens the way of the rich. Through her struggle & hard work she stands first & wins many friends. Thus we can see that though the children are small & innocent but they cannot tolerate injustice if they are taught early in their life.
    Q2 Describe Zitkala-Sa’s ordeal in school on her first day.
    (Hints : explanation of two incidents , first in the dining room and second the hair cutting episode)
    Q3It took almost an hour for Bama to reach back home from school. Why?
    OR
    What were the ‘novelties and oddities’ in the bazaar which entertained Bama?
    Ans. Bama was a young playful girl studying in class three. Her school was at a distance of ten minutes from her home but she normally took at least thirty minutes to traverse this distance.
    The bazaar on the way was full of novelties and oddities for her-the performing monkey, the snake kept by the snake charmer in its box, the cyclist who had not got off his bike for three days, the spinning wheels, the Maariyaata temple, the pongal offerings being cooked in front of the temple; the various food stalls in front of the temple, the different hues of the street light and the narikkuravan hunter gypsy with its wild lemur in cages. A different kind of performance on stage such as a street play, a puppet show, a magic show or speeches by budding politicians also caught her attention. Even the way the waiters cooled the coffee at the coffee clubs or the way people cut onions held the little girl spell-bound. The fruit growing on a tree as well as the seasonal fruits being sold held her captive.
    Hence we see that before Bama was rudely oriented to the unfortunate reality of her caste she was an innocent child buoyed by the simple sights of life.
    Q4 How does ‘Memories of Childhood.’ Bring out  the plight of marginalized communities in India?
    HINTS: - the text –experiences of two small girls from marginalized communities—forced to accept  the  rules laid by people of so called high caste—both humiliated and tortured for being from low caste—throws light on how they had to sacrifice their self right to self esteem and were subjected to unbearable humiliation—characters symbolize  communities—personal experiences universalized – compels the reader to think how humane is the human world. 
    Q5 Zitkala-sa did not tamely surrender but put up a brave fight. How did she show her resistance to the cutting of her hair?
    Q6 The cutting of my hair shows insensitivity of the mainstream culture towards marginalized
    communities. Discuss

    Q7. What was Bama’s initial reaction to the incident on the street? How did her reaction change later on?
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  10. INDIGO
    By :Louis Fischer
    POINTS TO REMEMBER:
    Rajkumar Shukla- A poor sharecrooper from Champaran wishing to meet Gandhiji.
    • Raj Kumar Shukla- an illiterate but resolute hence followed Gandhiji Lucknow, Cawnpore, Ahemdabad, Calcutta, Patna, Muzzafarpur & then Champaran.
    • Servants at Rajendra Prasad’s residence thought Gandhiji to be an untouchable.
    • Gandhiji considered as an untouchable because of simple living style and wearing, due to the company of Rajkumar Shukla.
    • Decided to go to Muzzafarpur first to get detailed information about Champaran sharecropper.
    •  Sent telegram to J B Kriplani &stayed in Prof Malkani home- a government servant.
    • Indians afraid to show sympathy to the supporters of home rule.
    • The news of Gandhiji’s arrival spread- sharecroppers gathered in large number to meet their champion.
    • Gandhiji chided the Muzzafarpur lawyer for taking high fee.
    •   Champaran district was divided into estate owned by English people, Indians only tenant farmers.
    • Landlords compelled tenants to plant 15% of their land with indigo and surrender their entire harvest as rent.
    • In the meantime Germany had developed synthetic indigo –British landlords freed the Indian farmers from the 15% arrangement but asked them to pay compensation.
    •  Many signed, some resisted engaged lawyers, and landlords hired thugs.
    • Gandhiji reached Champaran- visited the secretary of the British landlord association to get the facts but denied as he was an outsider.
    • Gandhiji went to the British Official Commissioner who asked him to leave Trihut, Gandhiji disobeyed, went to Motihari the capital of Champaran where a vast multitude greeted him, continued his investigations.
    • Visited maltreated villagers, stopped by the police superintendent but disobeyed the order.
    •  Motihari black with peasants spontaneous demonstrations,    Gandhiji released without bail Civil Disobedience triumphed.
    •  Gandhiji agreed to 25% refund by the landowners, it symbolized the surrender of the prestige.
    • Gandhiji worked hard towards social economic reforms, elevated their distress aided by his wife, Mahadev Desai, Narhari Parikh.
    • Gandhiji taught a lesson of self reliance by not seeking help of an English man Mr. Andrews.

    NCERT QUESTIONS
    SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
    Q1 Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?
    Ans. Rajkumar Shukla ,an illiterate sharecropper, came all the way from Champaran district to Lucknow to invite Gandhi to visit his district. When Gandhi mentioned about his prior engagements to go to Cawnpore and other parts of India, Shukla accompanied him everywhere. He also followed Gandhi to his ashram and stayed there for weeks till Gandhi asked him to meet him at Calcutta. Because of his strong will power and determination, he is described as being ‘resolute’.
    Q2.Why do you think the servants thought Gandhiji to be another peasant?
    Ans. As Gandhi was in the company of Rajkumar Shukla ,a poor yeoman ,the servants at Rajendra Prasad’s house assumed that he was another peasant. Moreover ,Gandhi’s emaciated looks and simplicity could have led to his mistaken identity.
    Q3.List the places that Gandhi visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.
    Ans.Between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran ,Gandhi visited Cawnpur ,Calcutta ,Patna and Muzaffarpur.
    Q4.What did the peasants pay to the British landlords as rent? What did the British now want instead and why? What would be the impact of synthetic indigo on the prices of natural indigo?
    Ans. The British landlords compelled the peasants to plant 15% of the land with indigo and to surrender the entire harvest as rent. Now that Germany had developed synthetic indigo ,Britishers wanted the tenants to pay them compensation for being released from 15% agreement.
    As the demand of the natural indigo would reduce due to the advent of synthetic indigo, its price would go down.
    Q5.Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 percent refund to the farmers?
    Gandhi agreed to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers to break the deadlock between the landlords and the tenants. For Gandhi the amount of the refund was less important than the fact that the landlords had been forced to return part of the money and with it, part of the peasants’ prestige. He wanted to establish that the landlords were not lords above law and their rule could be challenged.
    Q6.How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?
    The Champaran episode made the peasants aware of their rights and taught them courage. Apart from getting 25 percent of their compensation they got back their prestige. Within few years ,the British planters abandoned their estates , which reverted to the peasants. Indigo sharecropping disappeared.
    Q 7 How was Gandhi able to influence lawyers? Give instances
    Gandhi chided the lawyers for charging hefty fee from the peasants to fight their case. Later his words encouraged the lawyers to court arrest in case he was arrested. He also dissuaded them from seeking Charles Andrews’ assistance in their battle against the injustice of the Britishers in order to be self reliant.
    Q8.What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of ‘home rule’?
    Being afraid of inviting the wrath of the Britishers, the average Indian in small localities were reluctant to show any sympathy towards the advocates of ‘home rule’.

    LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
    Q 1 Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?
    Ans. The Champaran episode began as an attempt to alleviate the distress of a large number of poor peasants. But it became a turning point in Gandhi’ life.It build up Gandhi confidence that the British rulers could be made to bend and concede a popular demand. He declared that British could not order him in his own country.

    It was during this struggle in 1917 that he decided to urge the departure of the British. When he came to Champaran, he was appalled to see fear –stricken peasants and injustice of landlord system in Chamaparan. His readiness to go to jail for the sake of seeking justice instilled courage among ordinary people and motivated the lawyers for court arrest . He led civil disobedience by refusing to leave Champaran even after he got the official notice. Civil disobedience triumphed for the first time when the case for disregarding the official order against him was dropped. Britisher’s agreement to pay 25 percent of the compensation made him and the peasants confident. It made the peasants realise that they had rights and defenders and he established that the authority of the British could be challenged. He taught the lawyers a lesson of self reliance by dissuading them from seeking the assistance from an English man, Charles Andrew.

    Gandhi never contended himself with larger and political solutions. He also made endeavour to bring about cultural and social upliftment in the village.

    Q2.How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?
    The author mentions several ordinary people who contributed to the freedom movement.

    Rajkumar Shukla was instrumental in arranging Gandhi’s visit to Champaran. Proffesssor Malkani , despite being a government servant, harboured Gandhi when he arrived at Muzzafarpur. When the news of Gandhi’s advent spread through Muzzafarpur and Champaran , Sharecroppers from Champaran began arriving on foot to see their champion.Their gathering in huge number at Motihari was the beginning of their freedom from the fear of the British. The lawyers also agreed to court arrest in case Gandhi went to Jail.

    Gandhi and the lawyers conducted a detailed inquiry into the grievances of the farmers. They prepared cases for about ten thousand peasants and collected relevant documents.

    Moreover the masses volunteered to help in bringing cultural and social reforms in the village. The two young men ,Mahadev Desai and Narihari Parikh and their views volunteered to work. Several people came from Bombay ,Poona and other distant parts of the land. Devadas ,Gandhi’s youngest son arrived from the asharam. Kasturbai taught ashram rules on personal cleanliness and community sanitation.

    EXTRA QUESTIONS :SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

    Q1.Why did Rajkumar Shukla go to meet Gandhi? (CBSE 2008)
    Ans. Rajkumar Shukla came to meet Gandhi at the December1916 Congress Session in Luknow to complain about the injustice of the landlord system of Bihar and to invite him to visit his district.
    Q2. What was the conflict of duties in which Gandhi was involved? (Question Bank ,NCT)
    Ans. In court, Gandhi pleaded guilty for having disobeyed the official notice to quit Champaran. He read out a statement claiming he was involved in a conflict of duties. He clarified that he disobeyed not to break law and set a bad example but to render the humanitarian and national services for which he had come to Champaran.
    Q3.When did Gandhi say ‘The battle of Champaran is won ? (Question Bank ,NCT)
    Ans. When the lawyers reconsidered their decision about their course of action in case of Gandhi’s arrest and volunteered to court arrest for the cause of sharecroppers, Gandhi felt pleased and said ‘The battle of Champaran is won’
    Q4. “Civil disobedience had triumphed the first time in India” . How did it happen ? (Question Bank ,NCT)
    Ans.When Gandhi disobeyed official order to quit Champaran , a case was initiated against him for disregarding the orders. The spontaneous demonstration of thousands of peasants around the courtroom baffled the officials. Not knowing how to handle the case , the judge postponed the judgement for few days. Then finally few days later, the case was dropped by Lieutenant Governor himself.So civil disobedience triumphed for the first time in India.
    Q5 What did Gadhiji say to his friends when they suggested that Charles Andrews should be retained for the sake of the Champaran movement ? (Question Bank ,NCT)
    Ans.Gandhi vehemently opposed the lawyer’s suggestion to seek Andrew’s assistance and said that taking the support of an Englishman would reveal the weakness of their hearts. He urged his friends to rely upon themselves to win the battle.

    LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
    Q1 Justify the appropriateness of the title ‘Indigo’ to this extract.
    The title ‘Indigo’ focuses our attention on the central issue of the chapter –exploitation of indigo sharecroppers at the hands of cruel British planters. Britishers compelled them through a long term agreement to plant indigo on 15 percent of their land and surrender the entire harvest as rent. After the development of synthetic indigo by Germany , The British planters extracted money from the peasants as compensation from being released from the 15 percent agreement. The peasants who wanted their money back filed civil suits. Rajkumar Shukla persuaded Gandhi to take up the case of Indigo sharecroppers.

    So indigo sharecropping exemplifies the injustice of the Britishers and Indians’ submission to British authority. The exploitation of indigo sharecroppers led Gandhi to arrive in Champaran to alleviate their distress. Peasants not only got back the compensation but also became courageous and confident. They learnt the lesson of self reliance.

    The Champaran movement that centred on indigo sharecropping led to social and cultural upliftment of the peasants.Their education , health and hygiene received due attention.

    Thus the title ‘Indigo’ is highly suggestive and appropriate.

    Q2 How did Gandhi use Satyagraha and non-violence to achieve his goal?
    Ans. Non violence and satyagraha were the weapons used by Gandhi to secure justice for oppressed peasants of Champaran. He adopted legal ,moral and democratic path of negotiation.

    Gandhi refused to leave Tirhut division in which Chamaparan district lay despite being told by the British official commissioner to do so. Later he defied the official order to leave Chamaparan for which he received summon to appear in the court. When the British authorities could not regulate the unmanageable crowd at Motihari , he pacified the crowd in polite and friendly way. Thus he gave concrete proof of the power of satyagraha and non violence.

    In the court he clarified that he did not want to set a bad example as a law breaker but intended to render humanitarian and national service..His convincing argumentation baffled the magistrate who released him without the bail.
    Later he fought the case of the peasants peacefully by collecting evidences and the documents pertaining to the case. When the Britishers agreed to pay the compensation he peacefully negotiated with the landlords and accepted 25 percent of the amount due.

    So the peasants got a partial refund of the compensation with the use of satyagraha and nonviolence.

    Q3. How did Rajkumar Shukla prove to be an important link between Gandhi and his Champaran campaign?
    Rajkumar shukla was a poor and emaciated sharecropper from Champaran. Though he was poor and illiterate he was determined to oppose the injustice of the British planters. He used to seek legal recourse to get justice and was in constant touch with Rajendra Prasad ,an eminent lawyer. He came to December 1916 annual convention of the Indian National Congress party in Lucknow to meet Gandhi as someone had told him that Gandhi Gandhi could give a solution to their problems. He complained about the injustice of landlord system in Bihar and invited Gandhi to visit his district.
    When Gandhi mentioned about his prior engagements to go to Cawnpore and other parts of India, Shukla showed tremendous patience and perseverance and accompanied him everywhere. He also followed Gandhi to his ashram and stayed there for weeks. Impressed by his determination and tenacity Gandhi promised to meet him at Calcutta on a particular date. Few months later Shukla arrived at Calcutta and took him to Champaran.
    So, Rajkuma Shukla’s strong will power and painstaking efforts were instrumental in arranging Gandhi’s visit to Champaran and thus improving the plight of the poor peasants.
    Short Questions
    1. Why did Rajkumar Shukla go to meet Gandhi?( To complain about injustice of the landlord system in Bihar.) (SP)
    2. How did Shukla pursue Gandhi to visit Champaran. (2008)
    • (showed great patience and perseverance
    • accompanied Gandhiji wherever he went
    • waited for him at Calcutta
    • impressed him with his determination)
    1. What proves that Gandhiji was an unknown figure in Patna?
    2. Why was Gandhi not allowed to draw water from the well of Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s house ? (p-47 ,2nd last para ,last 4 lines “But Gandhi was not permitted....”)
    3. Where did Gandhi stay in Muzaffarpur ? How does he comment about it ? ( p-48 ,1st para “Gandhi stayed there......home rule.)
    4. What was the ‘conflict of duties’ that Gandhiji underwent ? How did he resolve it ? (p-50 ,7th para – Gandhi protested against the delay ...)
    5. . What did Gadhiji say to his friends when they suggested that Charles Andrews should be retained for the sake of the Champaran movement ? (2009) (p-54 ,3rd last para)

    Long Answer Type Questions
    1. “The visit undertaken casually on the entreaty of an unlettered peasant occupied almost a year of Gandhiji’s life” What events unfolded and with what results “
    2. Give a detailed account of the problem of sharecroppers in Champaran.How did Gandhi help them to overcome the problems? (2008)
    3. What idea do you get about Gandhiji from the Chapter ‘Indigo’?



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  11. THE RATTRAP
    NCERT QUESTIONS
    1From where did the peddler get the idea of this world being a rattrap?
    While plodding along the road, left to his own meditations ,the peddler was struck by the idea that this world around him with its lands and cities is a big rattrap.It had never existed for any other purpose than to set baits for its people.
    2 Why was he amused by this idea?
    The peddler’s life was sad and monotonous. Since the world had never been kind to him, he was full of bitterness and malice against it. He peddler experienced unwonted joy at everyone else’s discomfort, pain at being ensnared by the devilish ways of the world. It gave him sadistic delight to see others caught in the snare and still others cicling around the bait.
    3 Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
    The peddler was accustomed to being greeted by sour faces or better still be refused help of any kind if he approached someone. The crofter , on the contrary was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. The crofter served him with porridge for supper and tobacco. He also played a game of cards with him.
    4 Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
    The crofter was an old man without a wife or child. He was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. He valued the presence of the peddler so much that he shared his confidences generously with him. It was probably a way for the crofter to infuse a sense of joy in his otherwise dreary life
    5 Why did he show the thirty kronor notes to the peddler?
    The crofter told the peddler that he had earned a reasonable sum of money from his extraordinary cow that gave him so much milk for creamery everyday and had earned thirty kronor last month. The peddler seemed incredulous to acknowledge this piece of information.
    So, in order to assure his guest of the truth, he showed thirty kronor to him.
    6 Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
    • crofter offered hospitability
    • shared his secrets, showed him the money
    • next morning peddler smashed window panes
    • got the pouch, stole the notes
    • hung the leather pouch at its place
    • smartly walked away with the money
    7 What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
    When the peddler realized that he had been walking around in circles in the forest, he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. He felt that now his own time had come and the forest was like an impenetrable prison, a rattrap. Since he had taken the bait, the thirty kronor, he was caught and escape may not be possible.
    8Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
    The ironmaster mistook the peddler for his old acquaintance ,the regimental comrade, Captain von Stahle. He was shocked to see that his old comrade had fallen on bad days. So ,he invited him to his own house to give him company at Christmas and to make his future secure.
    9 Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
    The peddler declined the invitation as he was afraid of being detected as a thief. He felt that by accepting the invitation to go to the ironmaster’s house, he was voluntarily walking into lion’s den. He only wished to sleep in the forge and sneak away as inconspicuously as possible.
    10 What made the peddler accept Edla’s invitation?
    Edla’s kindness, persuasive nature, friendly and compassionate manner allowed the peddler to have confidence in her. Her assurance that he would be just as free to leave as he came left him with no option but to accept the invitation.
    11What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
    When Edla approached him and lifted his hat the man jumped up abruptly and seemed to be quite frightened. She noticed that the man was afraid as if he had either stolen something or escaped frm jail. Next morning she went on to express her reservations about the man and told her father that he did not seem educated at all.
    12 When did the ironmaster realize his mistake?
    When the stranger had been bathed, shaved and had his hair cut by the valet, he appeared truly clean and well dressed.The ironmaster looked at him with puckered brow, and it was easy for him to understand that when he had seen the strange fellow in the uncertain reflection from the furnace he might have made a mistake.
    13 What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought that he was?
    The peddler insisted that it had not been his fault for he never pretended to be anything but a poor trader, and begged to be allowed to stay in the forge. He offered to put on his rags and go away.
    14Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
    Edla did not think it proper to chase away a human being whom they had invited to their house and had promised him Christmas cheer. She also felt pity for the peddler, who she felt had no place to rest without the fear of being chased away. She wanted him to have a day of peace and rest with them. She wanted the peddler to enjoy the Christmas festivities with them. Hence she still entertained the peddler even after knowing the truth about him.
    15Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?

    16 Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain Von Stahle?
    The peddler signed the letter as Captain Von Stahle to vindicate his stand and prove that it was Edla’s kindness and compassion which enabled him to behave in a manner worthy of her trust. Signing his name as Captain Von Stahle was an acceptance of the exalted stature of the captain that the peddler had been placed at.

    17 How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?
    Answer: Legerlof's first scene of compassion is from the old man's hospitality. Despite the fact that he did not know the peddler, the old man still opened his arms and acted charitable by providing food and shelter. Showing scant regard to the crofter’s generosity and violating the trust the old man reposed in him, he stole thirty kronors from his house. Feeling no compunction about robbing him of his hard earned money, the peddler thought he had acted very smartly.

    . As the peddler ponders on the road of guilt, he soon receives a second action of care from the ironmaster’s hospitality which also did not touch the peddler’s heart. When the iron master mistook him as an old acquaintance he did not clear his doubt in hope of getting a couple of kronor notes. When he is invited by the ironmaster to his house to celebrate Christmas, he feels a sense of entrapment and thus , declines the invitation. On realizing his real identity when the ironmaster shows him the door, the ungrateful vagabond gives him a piece of his mind saying that he too might be ensnared in the rattrap of this world.

    However Edla’s warmth, friendliness and hospitality touched him. When the girl treated him like a Captain, he spontaneously behaved like a real Captain. He left a rattrap as a Christmas gift for Edla and enclosed a letter of thanks and confession in it. Leaving behind the stolen money to be restored to the owner, he redeemed himself from his dishonest ways and emerged an altogether transformed person.

    18 What are the instances in the story that show that the character of the ironmaster is different from that of his daughter in many ways?
    Answer: The ironmaster misunderstood the peddler for an old acquaintance,whereas his daughter could make out that the man was afraid, which was suggestive of him having stolen something. Though the father and the daughter express compassion for the vagabond both do so for different reasons .The ironmaster was sure to help the vagabond get over his tramp manners because he had mistaken the latter for his old comrade. The daughter however wishes to feed him and welcome him inspite of knowing that he was not Captain Von Stahle. The father acts impulsively and casually and invites him without confirming the stranger’s identity. On realizing his mistake he recklessly wants to hand him over to the sheriff. Only when he is threatened to be ensnared by the rattrap of this world that he thinks otherwise. Edla on the other hand shows a strong sense of observation. She rightly judges him to be a tramp without any education. She persuades her father to let him stay because they had promised him Christmas cheer. When the blacksmith's daughter infects the protagonist with her true altruism the peddler's inner soul experiences a rapid transformation form an ugly duckling to a dazzling swan.

    19 The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
    Answer: The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others.

    Used to being greeted by sour faces the crofter seems taken aback at the peddler’s request for accommodation for the night. Then the peddler’s act of stealing does not match the reader’s expectations. The breach of trust comes as a bit of a shock.Then the ironmaster’s sudden invitation to the tramp comes as the next surprise. The peddler’s vehement refusal to accompany him and later on accepting the invitation at Edla’s insistence all generate surprise. Edla’s readiness to entertain the peddler even after knowing his reality was quite unexpected.

    The most unexpected of gestures is when the peddler leaves for Edla a Christmas gift, a letter of thanks and the stolen money to be returned to the old crofter. His transformation is that which completes the chain of unexpected reactions.

    20 The story “The Rattrap” focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Comment.
    ‘The Rattrap’ tells us the story of a lonely peddler who has nothing and no one to call his own. He wanders from place to place mistreated and mistrusted by the world.
    .Then we come across the old crofter who leads a solitary life and hungers for company. He accords a warm reception to the peddler as he views him as someone to talk to and pass a few lonely hours with. It is his need to bond that makes him trust the peddler and show him his money.
    Similarly, the ironmaster shows his eagerness for the peddler’s company mistaking him for an old aquaintance. His wife is no more, his sons are abroad.and he has no one but his eldest daughter at home. He offers his hospitality to the peddler wanting some suitable company to ward off his loneliness. Even his daughter, a shy and modest girl, persuades the peddler to stay with them on Christmas Eve as she has no one to look after and make comfortable except her father. She looks forward to some company to make the occasion more festive. Finally the peddler is also enticed by the kindness of the ironmaster’s daughter and the proposition of peace, rest, good food and excellent company for a change.
    The theme of loneliness and the need to bond is projected strongly in all the characters in the story.

    21 The story is both entertaining and philosophical. Discuss
    The narrative enthralls the reader toning down its philosophical didacticism. The fast paced third person narrative together with graphic description of characters, elements of humour, drama and irony make it an interesting read(Give examples). The element of surprise with regard to the flow of events holds our interest. This is true of being accepted as a guest by the crofter, breaking his trust, getting lost in the forest, being invited by the ironmaster and subsequent refusal together with Edla’s insistence and peddler’s final submission.The final acts of transformation and redemption make the narrative quite gripping and entertaining.

    The author has used the metaphor of a rattrap to highlight the human predicament. Just like the rats are trapped by cheese and food similarly men are lured by land, food, shelter, clothing etc. these are baits. Those who touch them are trapped by material benefits. The rattrap brings home the fact that human goodness is an intrinsic part of ones nature. It can be forever kept alive through love and understanding. No one is infallible and in ones weak moments is susceptible to falling to temptation. There could be some individuals with the strength of character to break through the rattrap and discover the essential human goodness.Thus the story comes across as both entertaining and philosophical.

    22.The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story. Why this is so? Is the sympathy justified?
    The peddler wins the readers’ sympathy for his way of life and how the world treats him. The vagabond moves about selling small rattraps. As his business is not rewarding , he takes to begging and petty thievery to keep his body and soul together.

    His life is sad and monotonous. He plods along the road lost in his own meditation. HE CONSIDERS THE WHOLE WORLD AS A BIG RATTRAP. The world has never been kind to him and it gives him unwonted joy to think ill of it . Whenever he asks shelter for a night , he meets sour faces. He is an unwelcome , unwanted and undesirable figure. The blacksmith at forge glance at him only casually and indifferently. The master smith nods a haughty consent without honouring him with a single word.

    His sympathy is justified not only because he was a victim of circumstances but also because he redeems himself in the end. Edla Willmanson’s kind and compassionate behavior arouses the tramp’s goodness. He thanks her for her sympathy and returns the stolen money.

    23. What made the peddler finally change his ways?
    The peddler had been living a despicable life of poverty, despair and frustration without ever coming across any soul to understand, sympathize, love and guide him. Neither the crofter’s hospitality nor the ironmaster’s invitation to the manor house made any impact on him. In fact he repaid the crofter by stealing his earnings and the ironmaster by giving a piece of his mind when the latter talked of taking the matter to the sheriff.

    However , the meeting with the ironmaster’s daughter was the turning point in his life. The kindness , the concern and the understanding that she showed him touched the core of his heart and transformed his way of thinking. The ironmaster’s daughter understood that he needed security and succor and convinced her father to allow him to stay on in their house to share the Christmas cheer. She restored his dignity and self worth. She treated him like a captain of the army though she was aware that he was a common tramp.

    When the girl treated him like a Captain, he spontaneously behaved like a real Captain. He left a rattrap as a Christmas gift for Edla and enclosed a letter of thanks and confession in it. Leaving behind the stolen money to be restored to the owner, he redeemed himself from his dishonest ways and emerged an altogether transformed person.

    24. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
    The author Selma Lagerlof tells a universal theme through all her stories. One can not imagine how dull and sad a vagabond might be walking slowly along the roads for his bread. The metaphor of the rattrap struck on one such occasion. He was plodding along the road, duly lost in his own meditations. The whole world about him- the whole world with its lands, seas, cities and villages was nothing but a big rattrap. The world had never existed for any other purpose than to set baits for people to trap them. The world offered riches, joys, food, shelter and clothing like a bait offering cheese and pork in a rattrap for the rats. As soon as anyone is tempted and he to touches the bait, it closes on him and then everything came to an end for him in life.
    The peddler remembered his thoughts about the world and the rattrap when he was lost in a huge , confusing forest , with the stolen money in his pocket. He felt now his turn had come. He had let himself befooled by bait. Now he had been caught and there was no escape. Once again the metaphor of rattrap gets relevant in connection with the peddler’s encounter with the ironmaster. The ironmaster invited the peddler to his house. He refused to go there thinking that going up there would mean throwing himself into the lion’s den.

    Whenever a person finds himself at the crossroads of temptation and righteousness, the mirage of materialism fools him and he gets entrapped in the world’s dangerous snare. This is where human predicament follows suit.
    The metaphor of a rattrap reveals man’s helplessness in pursuit of life’s ambitions. The world thus becomes a huge rattrap. Though one can’t see the bars and wires yet one gets firmly entrenched in the quagmire of situations and circumstances. The pettiness and triviality of life’s situations pull an individual deeper into the abyss of loss with no scope for deliverance.

    EXTRA QUESTIONS:
    Short answer questions:
    1. *. How did the peddler earn his livelihood? (p-32 ,1st para)
    2. Why does the peddler feel that the whole world is a rattrap?(2009)(p-33 ,1st para)
    3. The crofter can be called as a good host. Why? (SP) (he welcomed the tramp, Offered him hot supper, gave him tobacco to smoke , played cards with him)
    4. *. What did the crofter reveal about his past? (p-33,4th para-The old man)
    5. Why did the Peddler choose to go through the forest?
    (After stealing the thirty kroners from the crofter, the Peddler knew that he would be caught and put in prison if he continued to walk by the man road. So he chose the back roads that went through the forest.)
    1. Why did the Peddler not reveal his true identity when the ironmaster mistakes him to be the Captain?
    (The Peddler thought that the ironmaster might take pity on him give him some money if he thought he was an old acquaintance. So he keeps quiet and allows the iron master to presume he was the captain).
    1. What was the first impression that Edla got about the peddler? (p- 38 , 3rd para-She looked at him )
    2. .What shows that Edla was very observant, quick and sharp by nature?
    3. When the ironmaster threatened to call the Sherriff, how did the peddler react?
    Ans: (The peddler defended himself that he was a poor man. He said that the whole world is nothing but a big rattrap. All the good things that are offered to him were just baits. The baits were set out to drag a poor man into trouble. In case the Sherriff came to lock him up, the day was not far when the ironmaster would be trapped himself.)
    1. Why did the ironmaster decide not to hand over the peddler to the sheriff?
    2. What news did Edla get at the church?(p-42 ,1st para –At Church she had learnt)
    3. GIve two instances from the story ‘Rat Trap’ to show that the peddler realized he himself was trapped.

    LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
    Q1 ‘A simple act of mercy and kindness can bring about a change of heart’. Discuss the significance of love and kindness with reference to the story ‘The Rat Trap.’(2009)
    .Q2 Attempt a character sketch of the peddler. (2008)
    Q3 Comment on the title. (2008)
    Q4.How did the peddler get out of the rattrap he had fallen into? (2009)
    Q5Why did the ironmaster’s invitation to the peddler to spend Christmas eve with him make him think that he was going to fall into a trap? (2008)
    (-thought the world to be a rattrap
    -after stealing from the crofter got lost in the jungle
    -it offered him the temptation of shelter just as the rattrap would offer cheese and pork as bait
    -to go to the manor house would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion’s den)
    Q6“Man surely has the freedom of choice to escape temptations.” Discuss with reference to the story The Rat Trap.

    CRITICAL ANALYSIS
    The Rat Trap" written by Selma Lagerlof is a short story about an old disheartened beggar and thief who is taken in and shown generosity by a young woman, her kindness changes his bitter attitude about life. The peddler is a man who has fallen upon misfortune and now resorts to selling rattraps, begging, and thievery. He is very pessimistic about the world around him and sees the world as merely a "rat trap". He believes that society tempts us with riches and fine things, and when we accept, we are caught in the trap and are left with nothing.
    The warmth of compassion extends its rays around the world, engraving mankind with its characteristic. Selma Legerlof supports the theory of compassion in her modern day short story "The Rat Trap" which depicts the powerful and positive impacts of such care. In the story, cynicism grips the protagonist rat trap peddler until the old man and the blacksmith's daughter infect the protagonist with their altruism. Thus, the peddler's inner soul experiences a rapid transformation form an ugly duckling to a dazzling swan.
    Legerlof's first scene of compassion is from the old man's hospitality. Despite the fact that he did not know the peddler, the old man still opened his arms and acted charitable by providing food and shelter. This action is not typical in the today's world; a majority of us would turn a blind eye. However, although the old man showed a sign of compassion, it was not appreciated—the protagonist stole from the old man. As the peddler ponders on the road of guilt, he soon receives a second action of care from a little girl.
    Compassion is illustrated when the blacksmith's daughter takes pity on the protagonist. Although she knew the fact that he was not Captain von Stahle, whom he claimed to be, the girl said, " I think he ought to stay with us today. I don't want him to go." The girl's compassionate words cracked the foundation of the protagonist's cynical world. Throughout the story, the protagonist only believed in the dismal side of human nature, survival of the fittest, and viewed the world as a battlefield. His whole belief system was shattered when he received the girl's pity and an opportunity to enjoy his first "true" Christmas.
    Lagerlof's "The Rat Trap" strongly validates the concept that compassion revolves around humankind. She provides evidence when the old man and the blacksmith's daughter show compassion towards the protagonist. As a result, the girl acted as the North Star, guiding the protagonist out of the trap of cynicism.
    Another lesson the mendicant learns throughout the course of the story is to be considerate of others. At the end of the novel, he makes amends with the old man by returning his money and writing Edla a thank you note. He understands what he did to the man was wrong and that was not returning the kindness and trust given to him. He apologized for lying to the girl and her father and leaves her a present, a rat trap and the stolen money(thirty croner bills) of the old man to be returned.


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  13. A THING OF BEAUTY
    Romantic – It is used to describe literature ,music or art especially of the 19th century that is concerned with strong feelings, imagination ,and return to nature, rather than reason ,order and intellectual ideas.
    Keats belonged to the 2nd generation of Romantic Poets. He was a worshipper of beauty. Beauty for him was the moving spirit of his life and art. The present poem is a statement of Keats’ conviction that beauty is a heavenly thing.
    1. A thing of beauty is a joy for ever
    A beautiful thing is a source of never ending joy , perennial satisfaction and happiness. It leaves an indelible mark on our minds and we relive the joyful experience whenever we think about it.
    1. Its loveliness increases
    It becomes more enchanting with the passage of time. Whenever we think of a BEAUTIFUL THING , OUR JOY MULTIPLIES.
    1. it will never Pass into nothingness;
    It is never forgotten and its loveliness never fades away. So the joy provided by a beautiful thing is eternal.
    1. but will keep A bower quiet for us,
    A beautiful thing is like a bower or a shady place , as it is a good source of peace and tranquillity. When we are tensed or tired , a beautiful thing or its memory heals the sorrow and gives relaxation to mind.
    1. and a sleep Full of sweet dreams,
    Memories of beautiful objects come in form of sweet dreams when the person sleeps. So, a lovely object gives us sleep full of sweet dreams.
    OR
    Joy a person gets by visualizing a beautiful thing is similar to the joy of sound sleep with sweet dreams.
    1. and health, and quiet breathing.
    It is also the source of peace and health .Beautiful sights act like nutrition for a mind and thus relax and refresh us. We experience a sense of peace and serenity on seeing a beautiful thing and thinking about it. It drives away aggression and restlessness.
    1. Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
    A natural object in the form of flower is used which strengthens our attachment to the earth. Flowers are nature’s best morning gifts.
    1. Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
      Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkened ways Made for our searching
    Despair ,dejection and pessimism prevails around the world. There is also a cruel shortage of good and generous people. (Gloomy days : sad ,dismal and troublesome days.
    Unhealthy and over darkened ways: difficult, dangerous and unknown paths or roads on which the person treads)
    In his journey of life human being encounters trials , tribulations and adversities. But he tries to escape the darkness (troubles and ignorance). He searches the path out of darkness towards light , optimism and knowledge.
    1. yes, in spite of all, Some shape of beauty moves away the pall From our dark spirits.
    In spite of experiencing sadness and remorse ,man is able to find his happiness in some form of beauty which drives away sadness from dark or gloomy life. Beautiful object removes cloud or curtain of darkness. (pall: thick dark cloud or shroud)
    1. Such the sun, the moon, Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon For simple sheep;
    The poet lists the objects of beauty. Some are heavenly bodies such as sun and moon. Trees whether old or young provide shelter to the sheep. (Shady boon : Nature in the form of trees bless the sheep with pleasant shade) Sheep are called simple as lambs and sheep are envisioned as the embodiment of innocent and serene beauty. Jesus Christ , as an apostle of peace , was a shepherd and was seen surrounded by his flock of sheep. So the sheep is shown as a symbol of divine beauty.
    1. and such are daffodils With the green world they live in; and clear rills
      That for themselves a cooling covert make 'Gainst the hot season
    The daffodils are encased in the green leaves. True joy and happiness can be enjoyed by looking at daffodils in lush green meadows and pastures. Rills or streams flow through the shady passage which they make to protect themselves from heat.
    1. the mid-forest brake, Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms:
    In the thick forests , thickets or bushes are covered with scented flowers. It seemed that the flowers have been sprinkled on the bushes.
    1. And such too is the grandeur of the dooms We have imagined for the mighty dead;
      All lovely tales that we have heard or read      :
    The blossoming of beauty is to be experienced in the grandeur of the death of those mighty and powerful kings and knights who fought bravely and died noble deaths. So , the beauty is visible in tragedies as we admire the tragic end of such mighty souls.
    1. An endless fountain of immortal drink, Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink.
    Beautiful objects are like a perennial fountain falling from the edge of heaven , from which we receive the elixir of life. Beautiful objects are the gift of God which has been showered from heaven.

    1. A thing of beauty is a joy forever
    Its loveliness increases, it will never
    Pass into nothingness; but will keep
    A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
    Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
    Questions :
    1. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?
    - It never passes into nothingness.
    - Its loveliness and beauty goes on increasing.
    b. How does the poet attribute beauty for sound physical and mental health?
    c. What kind of a sleep does it provide?

    Comprehension Questions
    Answers
    1. What is being said by John Keats to be ‘a joy forever’?
    1. The poet says that a thing of beauty is a joy forever.
    2. What is peculiar about a beautiful thing?
    2. A beautiful thing is a source of joy forever. Its loveliness goes on enhancing.
    3. What can a beautiful thing do for the human beings?
    3. A beautiful thing gives us a sleep full of sweet dreams, health and a peaceful breathing.
    4. In what way does beauty keep a bower quiet for us?
    4. When we tired, tensed, the thing of beauty heals our sorrows and restores happiness for us again. Provides peace and relaxation

    2. Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
    A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
    Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
    Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
    Of all the unhealthy and o’ er-darkened ways
    Made for our searching:
    Questions:
    a. What are we doing every day
    b. Is the poet happy with the human beings? Why?
    c. What does ‘inhuman dearth of noble nature’ lead to?
    e. Explain: “o’ er darkened ways”

    Comprehension Questions
    Answers
    1. Why are we weaving a flowery band?
    1. We are weaving a flowery band that keeps us bound to the earth.
    2. What dearth does the poet talk of?
    2. It is the dearth of noble natures among the human beings.
    3. What are the evil things that one possess?
    3. We possess malice of disappointment, lack of noble qualities and unhealthier ways.

    3. ..................................... yes, in spite of all,
    Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
    From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
    Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon
    For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
    With the green world they live in; and clear rills
    That for themselves a cooling covert make
    ‘Gainst the hot season;
    Questions :
    1. What does the word ‘all’ in line 1 stand for?
    2. What sprouts a shady boon for sheep and how?
    3. Mention some of the things from the world of Nature that move away the pall from our dark spirits.
    4. What do streams do?
    5. How do ‘daffodils’ and ‘rills’ enrich the environment?

    1. What removes away the pall from our evil spirits?
    1. Some shape of beauty removes away the pall from our evil spirits
    2. Who do germinate a shady boon and for whom?
    2. The trees, both old and young, and the nature germinate a shady boon for sheep and the human beings.
    3. What is the common thing that the poet points out?
    3. The poet points out that nature has endless things of beauty. It gives us happiness.

    4. .................................... the mid forest brake,
    Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose bloom;
    And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
    We have imagined for the mighty dead;
    All lovely tales that we have heard or read;
    An endless fountain of immortal drink
    Pouring into us from the heaven’s brink
    Questions :
    a.What makes the mid forest brake rich?
    b. What is the beautiful scene that one sees in the middle of the forest?
    c. Whom does the word ‘mighty dead’ refer to?
    d. How are ‘lovely tales’ a thing of beauty?
    e. To what does the poet compare the lovely tales?
    f. Explain ‘the grandeur of the doom’.

    g. What is the source of the ‘endless fountain of immortal drink’?
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  14. KEEPING QUIET
    GIST OF THE POEM
    • The poet talks about the need of silence and quiet introspection and the importance of quietude and calmness. He also talks about creating a feeling of mutual understanding among human beings.
    • The poet asks us to keep still and count up to twelve. He also asks us to sit still. For a moment we should not speak any language. We should not move our arms so much.
    • It will be a moment of complete silence without rush or worry. This would be an exotic moment.
    • Then a sudden strangeness will prevail which we will all enjoy. It will be bliss.
    • The fisherman would not harm the whales on the cold sea. Even the man gathering salt would stop working and look at his hurt hands and reflect at the pain and harm his strenuous task has caused him.
    • All kinds of wars must be stopped at once. The green wars against the environment, wars with poisonous gases, firearms, must be stopped at once.
    • People who are all the time preparing for wars leaving no survivors behind ought to find time to wear clothes and walk around with their brothers strengthening the message of peace and brotherhood.
    • At the same time the poet cautions not to confuse stillness with total inactivity. Life is an ongoing process and should not be associated with death. It is to be lived with a positive attitude.
    • He does not want us to ruminate over death.
    • But he feels that if for once we do not focus ourselves single-mindedly to keep our lives moving but do some introspection or spend some time in silence doing nothing, we can understand ourselves better and escape from the threatening calls of death.
    • The earth can teach us a lesson how everything comes to a dead end and comes to life again.
    • In the same manner a quiet introspection can bring all evil thoughts to an end and bring in a new life of peace and tranquility.
    • Now the poet will count up to twelve and they should keep quiet and he will go.

    REFERENCE TO CONTEXT
    1. Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still………………..
    …………………………….. we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.
    1. What does “not speak in any language” imply?
    Ans: Different languages cause barriers and words can be misunderstood and cause conflict.
    Therefore, the poet wants us to be one in silence.
    1. Why does the poet feel that it is important to keep quiet and suspend all activity?
    Ans: The purpose of this exercise, according to the poet, is to create a sense of togetherness in the minds of all people and give them an opportunity to introspect.
    1. What “exotic moment” does the poet refer to? Why do you think he deems it to be exotic?
    Ans: The poet refers to the moment of silence, when all movement and mindless activities would be suspended.
    It would be exotic because of the tranquility that would prevail in the absence of the unnecessary hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Moreover the ecstasy a person experiences during meditation , has never been experienced earlier.

    2 It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines,
    we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.
    (a) What does ‘it’ refer to?
    (b) Who is the poet speaking to?
    (c) What would be the moment like?
    Ans. a,b,c
    3. “Fishermen in the cold seA Would not harm whales
    And the m an gathering salt Would look at his hurt hands.”
    a) What is ‘fisherman’ symbolic of?
    The fisherman symbolizes man’s indiscriminate exploitation of nature for his vested interests.
    b) What will happen when fishermen do not harm whales?
    The whales will be no longer on the verge of extinction. The suffering of the whales would reduce.
    c) What would happen in this moment of silence?
    He will become conscious of the harm causing to others and to themselves.
    d) What image does the poet create in the last line?
    He creates the image of incessant suffering. In his effort to add comforts to his life he has paid no heed to the pain that caused him. So at the moment of silence, the person would analyse the harm he has done to himself.

    e)What are the fishermen harming whales, a metaphor for?
    Ans: It is a metaphor for humans destroying nature and wildlife for their own selfish needs.
    f)What do the hurt hands imply?
    Ans: In the mad rush of living, man does not realize the pain he is inflicting upon himself by his mindless and self destructive activities

    4, “Those who prepare green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire,………………..
    …………………….and walk about with their brother in the shade, doing nothing.”
    a) Whom does ‘those’ refer to here?
    ( ‘Those’ refers to the politician, the statesmen and the scientists who are involved in initiating and aggravating wars ) (1)
    b) What does the poet mean by ‘victory with no survivors’?
    During wars, though a nation becomes victorious , but it leads to the death of a number of people. So there are a few survivors to celebrate the victory.
    Moreover the war which man is waging against nature will one day convert this ‘living planet’ into a dead one and human beings will become an extinct species. The war may be a victory of man’s scientific knowledge, but the defeat of humanity.
    c)What lesson will man learn when he just walks about with his brothers doing nothing? ( Man will realize the strength of humanity and become conscious of universal brotherhood. His destructive activities would come to an end. )

    Comprehension Questions
    Answers
    1. What are the different wars mentioned in these lines?
    1. The wars mentioned are green wars, wars with gas and wars with fire.
    2. What do you think is meant by green wars?
    2. war against nature
    3. What advice does the poet impart on the war-mongers?
    3. He advises the war-mongers to stop wars and to put on clean clothes to be in the company of their brothers.

    5.” Perhaps the earth can teach us As when everything seems dead And later prove to be alive Now I’ll count up to twelve. And you keep quiet and I will go.”.
    .
    a) Explain-‘you keep quiet and I will go’?
    The poet wants all to keep quiet and experience the moment of peace. He will go and pass on the message to another group of people.







    i) everything not dead on this earth / there is life under apparent stillness
    • teaches us to be alive / regeneration / power to recover from loss

    1. there are twelve markings on the clock to measure time / there are 12 months / taking time to calm down. Counting is a part of an exercise in meditation. All distractions and digressions are washed away and man is in a moment of bliss
    1. understanding of ourselves / peace and tranquillity /ceasing of all cruel activities / introspection.
    SHORT QUESTIONS
    Q1 Do you think the poet, Pablo Neruda advocates total inactivity and death? Why / Why not?
    (– No, not doing anything, not speaking in any tongue would give mankind
    an opportunity to introspect and know how it has been harming itself
    and the others / wants to have no truck with death / life sprouting out of
    seemingly dead surroundings / lesson to learn from the earth 2 marks)
    Q2. What is the sadness that the poet, Pablo Neruda refers to in the poem, 'Keeping Quiet' ?
    ( – never understanding oneself 2 marks
    – being oblivious of consequences3 6
    – in a frenzy of activities – no time for introspection
    – fail to understand fellow human beings
    – threat of death / own disaster
    – sadness of isolation)
    Q3 What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?
    Ans: The poet invokes the earth to teach us a valuable lesson by remaining dormant in winter and springing back to life in the spring season. So quietness is productive this is the lesson nature is trying to teach us. A period of stillness can produce positive and constructive energy and the end result will always be productive.
    Q4. Explain: ‘no truck with death’.
    Q5What are we single minded about?
    Ans: We are single minded about OUR SURVIVAL ,FULFILLING MATERIALISTIC DESIRES.and indulging in futile and harmful activities under the false notion of progress
    Q6 Write the central theme or the message that the poem conveys?

    Moment of silence leading to introspection and analysis will help man to unite, live in peace and foster universal brotherhood.
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  15. AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM IN A SLUM
    STANZA 1
    The opening stanza of "An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum" provides a clear, dreary depiction of the students in the classroom.
    The opening line of the poem uses an image to contrast the slum children’s faces with those of others. The image used is ‘gusty waves’ indicating brightness, verve and animation. But these are missing from faces of these children. The next image of ‘rootless weeds’ produces double effect. ‘Weeds’ indicate being unwanted and ‘rootless’ indicates not belonging. The slum children are like ‘rootless weeds’ unwanted by society and not belonging to society. Their uncombed hair fall on their pale faces. The first child is a "tall girl with [a] weighed-down head." This girl is physically and emotionally exhausted, as if all life has been dredged from her body and sapped from her mind. Her classmates are in no better condition. "The paper- / seeming boy, with rat's eyes" is paper-thin and weak. His eyes are defensive and scared, like a scavenger, a rat.His eyes might be searching food like rats’ eyes do. His prospect for survival, let alone success, is bleak. Another student, "the stunted, unlucky heir / Of twisted bones," is the victim of a genetic disorder. Spender writes that the boy has inherited his "father's gnarled disease"; he has been left disfigured, trapped in a physically challenged body. Spender has used the word ‘reciting’ to show that in addition of studying/reciting the lesson, the boy shows/recites his inherited crippling disease in the class
    Spender then describes the boy "at back of the dim class," stating, "His eyes live in a dream." This last student represents both a glimmer of wary hope and a shiver of mental damnation. It is unclear whether he is dreaming of a life he may achieve or has lost his mind to the "squirrel's game." This vague distinction between these two conflicting interpretations exposes all the students' futures: there is little or no expectation that they will succeed, and the best they can hope for is to keep their sanity and not fall victim to a faux reality. Beneath it all, the boy's dreaming eyes may harbor an honest desire for true success. This last boy, "unnoted, sweet and young," may understand his position in society and see the sadness of his fellow students. With this understanding, he may represent hope for social change, instead of merely being an individual who has lost his mind.
    Stanza 2
    In the second stanza, the poet describes the slum classroom in Tyrol- A suburb in Austria and the classroom contents. The word ‘sour’ used to describe the cream walls of the classroom indicates its derelict condition. The classroom is full of "donations." The children are from the lowest class; they are the children of proletarians. The classroom is constructed through donations of others' capital. All that the students possess comes from their oppressors, the bourgeoisie. The upper class, which holds these children in their place, also offers them their only tools to escape. The maps, books, and "Shakespeare's head" that give the students hope of something outside their dreary existences are gifts from the very hands that clamp them down in their economic and social position.
    .The "donations" may give a glimpse of some world to the students, but not of their world. The students do not perceive their world as like the one depicted in the classroom's "donations." Contradicting their state and the slum children are Shakespeare’s head indicating erudition, the picture of a clear sky at dawn and a beautiful Tyrolese valley indicating beauty of nature and hope, dome of an ancient city building standing for civilization and progress and a world map awarding the children the world. The lines “Open-handed map / Awarding the world its world” could refer to the map of the world hanging on the wall of the classroom giving/showing (awarding) everyone (the world) the world out there to explore and know (its world). But the world of the slum children is the limited world that can be seen though the windows of the classroom and not what the map promises. To these children the window which opens to them only shows a grey sky and a foggy future which never changes. Their future is bleak, unknown, and dreary.. Their life/world is confined within the narrow streets of the slum enclosed by the dull sky far away from rivers, seas that indicate adventure and learning and from the stars that stand for words that can empower their future. 'Lead sky' means a dullsky or a dimly lit sky. It suggests pollutin and burden of industrial world.
    This symbolises the bleak, dull life and future of the slum children. The children in "An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum" are trapped by their social and economic status as children of proletarians.
    Stanza 3
    In the third stanza, Spender responds cynically to the reality of the students' futures. He calls Shakespeare "wicked" and the map a "bad example." He writes that "ships and sun and love" are "tempting them [the students] to steal." The world presented by the bourgeoisie to the students in "An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum" is intended to lure them and drag them into a life of crime..
    Although Spender voices cynicism, he does not lose sight of the true victims of the injustice of the class struggle: the children. In this stanza, he continues to describe the children "on their slag heap." Their emaciated wasted bodies are compared to slag (waste) heaped together. He returns to their thin, malnourished bodies, stating that they "wear skins peeped through by bones."." Even their glasses are repaired ones, as they cannot afford new ones-the lenses are like broken pieces of bottle. Spender is making a resounding humanist statement about the treatment of children in this poem. It appears that he is more sickened by humanity's disregard for the children than by the social and economic framework that has doomed these children to the slums.
    Stanza 4
    In the final stanza, Spender comes full circle. He replaces cynicism with hope, a plea for a new manifesto for the children. He is petitioning "governor, inspector, visitor" to all to join hands in order to educate and uplift these children.. He uses the words ‘Break o break open’ to say that they have to break out from the miserable hopeless life of the slum world so that they can wander beyond the slums and their town on to the green fields and golden sands (indicating the unlimited world). Spender further hopes that the children will be able to "let their tongues / Run naked into books the white and green leaves open." If these children get the opportunity like other children get, their world can also they get a good education they can spread the light and awareness to all. Thus eradicating poverty and darkness

    REFERENCE TO CONTEXT
    .1. Far far from gusty waves these children’s faces…………………..
    ………………………Of squirrel’s game, in tree room, other than this.
    Q1 Why is the head of the tall girl “ weighed down”?
    Ans. The head of the tall girl is weighed down because her life might be burdened with poverty , difficulties and responsibilities. Probably she is feeling depressed, ill and exhausted.
    Q2. What do you understand by “The paper-seeming boy, with rat’s eyes”?
    Ans. The phrase “paper seeming boy” suggests that the boy is very thin and emaciated because of undernourishment. His eyes are compared to those of rats because his eyes are timid and searching for food and security like the eyes of a rat are.
    Q3 Who is the “unlucky heir” and what has he inherited?
    Ans.The underdeveloped boy who is reading the lesson from his desk is referred to as “unlucky heir”. He has inherited twisted bones from his father. Along with his disease, he has inherited his poverty.
    Q4. Whose ‘eyes live in a dream’ and what is his dream about?
    Ans. A sweet young boy sitting at the back of the class is referred to here. He dreams of playing like a squirrel in the lap of nature rather than sitting in small ,dim and dingy classroom.
    Q5. What does the image “rootless weeds” suggest?
    Q6 What is the stunted boy reciting?(father’s disease , his lesson)
    Q7 Why is the class described referred to as ‘dim’? (no proper facility of light)
    Q8 Pick two images each of despair and disease from these lines.

    2. Belled, flowery, Tyrolese valley. Open-handed map
    Awarding the world its world
    ............................ and yet for these children, these windows
    not this map, their world, where all their future’s painted with a fog.
    A narrow street sealed in with lead sky far far from rivers,
    capes and stars of words
    Q1. What do the classroom walls have?
    Ans.The walls of the classroom have a portrait of Shakespeare, pictures of building with domes ,sunrise and beautiful alpine valley ,and world map.
    Q2. Why does the poet refer to the Tyrolese valley in these lines?
    Ans. The beautiful Tyrolese valley is in sharp contrast to dim and dingy slums. . The life of slum children is far removed from the life represented in the photograph of alpine valley as they never get to enjoy the natural beauty of the mountains and the flowery valley.
    Q3.What is the future of these children?
    Ans. The future of these children is bleak and uncertain.
    Q4.What are the narrow street and lead sky indicative of?
    Ans. Narrow streets are indicative of restricted and confined lives of slum children . Lead sky signifies dullness, dreariness and despair invading the lives of the slum dwellers.
    Q5 Who are these children? What is their world like?
    (These children are poor and deprived children - slum school, dismal,
    impoverised world, authorities - apathetic unfair)
    Q6. Explain: ‘civilized dome riding all cities.
    Q7Why is the ‘window’ depicted as the world of the children?
    Q8. What is the specialty of the Tyrolese valley?
    ( It is full of coloured flowers & resonated with the bells.)

    3. Surely, Shakespeare is wicked, the map a bad example…………………..
    ………………………………..So blot their maps with slums as big as doom
    Q1 Why is Shakespeare described as wicked? 2
    – no correlation between Shakespeare’s works and the life of the slum children
    – classic literature of Shakespeare beyond the understanding of slum children
    – beautiful world depicted by Shakespeare is denied to the slum children
    - Arouses the desire among the students to taste the joy of higher education, which for them seems to be unattainable
    Q2 What does the reference to 'slag heap' mean ? 1
    ( – miserable condition of the slum children / unhygienic conditions / extreme
    poverty / waste / rejected / neglected / considered useless)
    Q3.Why is the map a bad example?
    Ans.. The map is a bad example as it gives the children an idea of viewing vast and bountiful world , which for them is a distant dream. In order to fulfil their desires and aspirations they adopt illegal ways.
    Q4.How does the poet describe their present condition in these lines?
    Ans. The slum children live in dingy, unhygienic holes which they call homes. They lead miserable and pathetic lives devoid of hope.
    Q5.Explain “from fog to endless night.”
    Ans. “Fog” stands for obscurity and uncertainty and “endless night” signifies endless darkness and misery. The phrase means that slum children have no hope of progress and prosperity. They simply exist in their cramped holes stumbling from one despair to another.
    Q6. How are the children described in these lines?
    Ans. Children wear torn clothes and their bones often protrude from them.
    Even their glasses they wear are repaired ones, as they cannot afford new ones.
    Q7 Which two images are used to describe the slums?
    Q8 What sort of life do these children lead?
    Q9 Which figure of speech is used in the last line?
    Ans. 7,8,9

    -Slag heap
    -foggy slums
    -slums as big as doom (any two)

    -dirty / unhygienic / miserable / pathetic / full of woes and wants
    -Uncertain future / blotted / life of disease and despair
    -Impoversihed/ poor/ bones peeping through skins
    -spectacles of mended glass/ their time and space are foggy (any one)

    Q10Explain ‘skin peeped through by bones’
    Q11Why is the mended glass referred to as ‘bottle bits of stones’?
    4. “Unless, governor, inspector, visitor,
    This map becomes their window and these windows
    That shut upon their lives like catacombs
    Q1Why does the poet invoke ‘governor, ‘inspector’ and ‘visitor’?
    The poet invokes the ‘governor, ‘inspector’ and ‘visitor’ because they are the powerful people who can bring about a drastic change in the miserable lives of the slum children. They can remove the social injustice and class inequalities.
    Q2 What have ‘these windows’ done to their lives?
    These windows have cramped their lives, stunted their physical and mental growth shutting them inside filthy and dingy holes.
    Q3 What do you understand by catacombs?
    Catacombs are long underground graves. Here they stand for the dirty slums which block their progress.
    Q4 Which literary device has been used? Explain.
    Simile has been used to describe the oppressive effect of the surroundings on their pathetic lives. The simile is: ‘these windows that shut upon their lives like catacombs.’

    5. Break O break open till they break the town
    And show the children to green fields, and make their world
    Run azure on gold sands, and let their tongues
    Run naked into books the white and green leaves open
    History theirs whose language is the sun.
    Q1To whom does 'they' refer? 1 (– refers to governor, inspector, visitors)
    Q2 What would they break? 1
    ( – break the mental and physical barriers / break boundaries of discrimination)
    Q3What other freedom should they enjoy? 2
    ( – free and happy life away from slum
    – freedom to education
    -Freedom of speech and expression so as to become responsible citizens and powerful speakers
    – freedom to explore the world / gold sand / green fields
    – opportunity to prosper)
    Q4 What is expected of the governor, inspector and visitor?
    Ans. The governor, inspector and the visitor need to take appropriate steps to break the barriers that stand in the way of the progress of the slum children .They need to release the children from poverty , get them educated and give them opportunity to experience the beauty of the world.
    Q5 What are the windows doing in their lives at present?
    Ans.The windows offering the view of dirty surroundings have cramped their lives ,and blocked their mental and physical development. They have shut the children inside the drab holes like the dead bodies are shut in underground graves.
    Q6.What is meant by white and green leaves?
    White and green leaves refer to the colourful pages of the book which the poet wishes to provide to the students.
    Q7. ‘History is theirs whose language is the sun’. Explain.
    This statement means that those who have the power and confidence in speech to influence others create history. One can make a mark only if one can outshine others. Education only can give them power and strength like the sun which will bring about a change in the lives of the people.

    NCERT QUESTIONS
    Q1 What do you think is the colour of ‘sour cream’? Why do you think the poet has used this expression to describe the classroom walls?
    Ans. The colour of ‘sour cream’ is off white. The poet refers to the dull and pale looking walls to suggest dull and dreary atmosphere of the classroom. It also suggests hopelessness and grimness that engulf students’ life.
    Q2 The walls of the classroom are decorated with the pictures of ‘Shakespeare’ ,’buildings with domes’ , ‘world maps’ and ‘beautiful valleys’. How do these contrast with the world of these children?
    Ans. The pictures present the world full of richness ,beauty and progress. On the other hand the lives of the slum children comprise of small, dim and dingy huts as well as narrow and dirty lanes. The world of these children is full of dullness, hopelessness and hunger.

    EXTRA QUESTIONS
    .Q1 What does the map on the wall signify?
    Ans. The map signifies vast and beautiful world. It also represents limitless opportunities of which the slum children are deprived of.
    Q2. What is the theme of the poem?
    In the poem, Spender depicts the pathetic life of slum children who are victims of social injustice and class inequalities that prevails in society. The poem is a bitter criticism on the state of education in elementary schools in slum areas.
    Q3 Elaborate on the optimistic note of the poem.
    The poem begins with despair and ends on an optimistic note. According to the poet, the slum children’s miserable plight could be improved if the powerful people take an initiative to bring them out of the catacomb of poverty and provide them a proper education.
    Q4. How does the poet see the slum children as victims of social injustice?
    The slum children are deprived of good educational opportunities. They study in dim and dingy classroom having colourless walls. Their impoverished and emaciated condition shows that they are not provided with proper health facilities. They are deprived of the bounties of the world and their world comprised of narrow and dirty lanes.
    Q5. Explain : ‘Far from gusty waves’.
    ‘Gusty waves’ represents energetic and cheerful children who are like strong waves. The slum children are unlike the usual children. They are undernourished, impoverished and enervated.
    Q6 What does the poet wish for the children?
    • (for the governors, inspectors, visitors / authorities to bring about a change
    • to widen their horizons
    • to take the children closer to nature / liberate them from their miserable condition
    • provide good education
    Should be given opportunities in life)
    Q7 How does the poet describe the class-room walls?

    -Sour cream walla
    Bleak/ depressing/ gloomy. pictures of Shakespeare ships /  sun / cities / scenery / flowers / 
    Tyrolese valley
    Q8 The poet says,” and yet for these children, these windows, not this map, their world.” Which world do these children belong to? Which world is inaccessible to them?

    -World of slums
    -world of narrow streets
    -World of Poverty
     (any one)

    Inacessible world
    Worl of rich/ world outside the slums / green fields/ open sky / world of books


    Q9 “So blot their maps with slums as big as doom,” says Stephen
    Spender. What does the poet want to convey?

    SLums are a blot on the map/ blot out these slums from the map
    No representation of the slums on the world map of Big cities
    Map is blotted with all the misery associated with slums
    The poverty and misery of the slum children

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  17. THE TIGER KING
    GIST OF THE LESSON
    • The Maharaja Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bhadur was called “Tiger King”.
    • When he was just 10 days old he asked intelligent questions to the astrologers and was told that he would be killed by a tiger. He uttered “Let tigers beware!”
    • No other miracle took place, the child grew like any other Royal child drinking white cow’s milk, taught by an English tutor, looked after by an English nanny and watched English films.
    • When he was 20, he was crowned as king. It was then the prediction of his death by the tiger reached the Maharaja’s ear and he in turn to safe guard himself killed a tiger and being thrilled he told the astrologer who replied that he can kill 99 tigers but should be careful with the 100th.
    • From then on he started killing tiger and none was allowed to hunt tigers. A high-ranking British officer visited the state that was fond of hunting tiger and his wish was declined.
    • The officer requested for getting a photograph with a tiger killed by Maharaja and this request was rejected.
    • So to please the officer’s wife he sent 50 diamond rings expecting that she would take 1 or 2 instead she kept all the rings costing 3 lakh rupees and sent ‘thanks’ to the Maharaja. But his state was secured.
    • In 10 years he killed 70 tiger and didn’t find any in Pratibandapuram so he decided to marry a girl from royal state which had more tigers to complete his target.
    • Whenever he visited his in-laws he killed 5-6 tigers. So he killed 99 tigers and was feverishly anxious to kill the 100th but couldn’t find.
    • News about the presence of a tiger near a village proved disappointing.
    • Now the Dewan was warned of his danger so he visited ‘People’s Park in Madras’ and brought an old tiger and placed it in the forest and informed the Maharaja.
    • The Maharaja took great care and shot the tiger and left the place with great triumph.
    • The bullet did not hit the tiger but out of fear the tiger had collapsed. Now the staff killed the tiger and brought it in grand procession.
    • It was the 3rd birthday of the Maharaja’s son and he wanted to buy a present from the toyshop. He bought a wooden tiger which was poorly carved.
    • While the Maharaja was playing with the prince a tiny sliver of the wooden tiger pierced his right hand which later on caused his death. Thus the hundredth tiger takes his final revenge upon the “Tiger King”.

    NCERT QUESTIONS
    Q1. “The story is a satire on the conceit of those in power”. How does the author employ the literary device of dramatic irony in the story?
    The story – a satire on the conceits, whims & fancies of people in power. The king’s arrogance, obstinacy & anger are of very high dimension – All his minions tremble when he calls them

    (Dramatic irony involves a situation in which the readers shares with the author knowledge of which a character is ignorant.)
    Examples:
    1. King didn’t know the 100th tiger was brought by dewan , but readers knew
    2. King did not know that the actual cost of the toy tiger was 2 annas
    3. When the king had shot the tiger ,he thought he killed the 100th tiger. But the readers as well as king’s officers and minions knew that it was not killed , but only fainted.
    4. King was not aware that the prediction of the astrologer proved correct and he was killed by 100th tiger (i.e. toy tiger)

    Q2 What is the author’s indirect comment on subjecting innocent animals to the wilfulness of human beings?
    Ans. Through this satirical story the author has rightly portrayed how human beings have subjected innocent animals to untold torture and death, merely to fulfill their own whims and fancies. The maharaja’s indiscriminate killing of tigers led to their extinction in some states, but the maharaja was oblivious to the grave consequences his action was leading to. In order to prove an astrologer wrong the maharaja went on a killing spree proving his dominance over the hapless animals.

    Q3. How would you describe the behaviour of the Maharaja’s minions towards him? Do you find them truly sincere towards him or are they driven by fear when they obey him? Do we find a similarity in today’s political order?
    Ans. Maharaja’s minions were subservient and sycophantic. Most of them were scared of Maharaja and tried to keep him in good humour by obeying his orders. They did not dare to disobey him as his displeasure could mean loss of their job or even loss of their lives.
    The astrologer was afraid of predicting his death , till Maharaja told him to “ speak without fear”. Dewan who should have advised the king not to kill the tigers did not dare to go against his wishes and aided his marriage to a princess whose father’s kingdom possessed a large number of tigers. Being afraid of losing his job, he presented an old tiger to satisfy the whims of his Maharaja. Likewise , the hunters chose not to inform him of the survival of the 100th tiger and instead killed it themselves fearing that they might lose their jobs. Even the shopkeeper, who sold the king a cheap wooden toy tiger, quoted a higher price lest he should be punished under the rules of emergency.
    So ,it is evident that the king’s minions were driven by fear rather than any feelings of sincerity towards their ruler.

    Today’s political order is no different--- we know too well that many of the people in power are not there because of their ability but because of their influence and power. Moreover, others pander to them for their own vested interests rather than for the good of the country.

    ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

    Q1 Why do you think, the author goes into detailed identification of the Tiger King through a variety of titles ? Does he really mean to humour him ?
    Answer : Kalki, the author of the story , has no intention of praising the king. In fact, immediately after addressing him with a variety of titles, he brings an anticlimax by telling his readers that his name is shortened to “ Tiger King “ .
    Q2 How did the tiger king acquire his name? (2009)
    Ans. The Tiger King was Maharaja of Pratibandapuram. He came to be known as tiger king as at his birth it was predicted by the royal astrologer that he would be killed by a tiger .And to disprove this prediction he started killing the tigers indiscriminately and killed 99 tigers.. Moreover , he was ferocious like a tiger.
    Q3.What do you understand by “threat of a Stuka bomber”?
    Ans. Stuka Bomber was a German ground attack aircraft which was known for its high accuracy in hitting its target and terrorizing sound it emitted.
    Through the reference of Stuka Bomber , the author wants to convey that he intends to tell why Maharaja of Pratibandapuram came to be known as Tiger King and nothing ,not even horrifying Stuka Bomber could compel him to digress from the topic.
    Q4 What was the miracle that took place in the royal palace?
    Ans. When the Maharaja was a 10 day old infant, he spoke and asked intelligent questions about his death. After knowing that he would be killed by a tiger he uttered saying “Let tigers beware.”
    Q5 What predictions did the astrologers make at the birth of the tiger king?
    • Ans: The astrologers predicted that the newly born prince will grow up to become the hero of heroes, brave of the bravest and a great warrior. He also predicted that the baby was born in the hour of the bull. The bull and tiger were enemies. Therefore, he would die because of the tiger
    Q6 What led Maharaja to set on tiger hunt?

    Q7 What justification did the tiger king give before he started out on tiger hunt?
    ( Believes in the saying ‘You may kill a cow in self defence’
    Had no objection in killing tigers in self defence)
    Q8 What did the State astrologer say he would do ‘if the hundredth tiger were also killed’?
    Ans. The State astrologer was so sure of his prediction that he announced that he would cut off his ceremonial tuft, crop his hair short and become an insurance agent in case the king was able to kill the 100th tiger, too. He was sure that the Maharaja’s death would be caused by the 100th tiger.
    Q9. What did the high-ranking British officer wish to do? Was his wish fulfilled?
    Ans. The high-ranking British officer wanted to kill a tiger. When he was denied the permission for hunting, he sent a word to the king that he would be happy if he was allowed to get photographed with the dead body of a tiger killed by the king. However, his wish remained unfulfilled.
    Q10 What did the British officer’s secretary tell the Maharaja? Why did the Maharaja refuse permission?
    Q11 How did the Maharaja manage to save his throne?
    Ans. The Maharaja had annoyed the visiting senior British officer over the issue of tiger-hunting and ‘stood in danger of losing his kingdom itself’. So, the Maharaja and the Dewan decided to placate and pacify the officer through bribe by sending gifts of expensive diamond rings to the ‘duraisani”, the wife of the British officer. Thus he managed to save his throne.
    Q12 How did the ‘duraisani’ behave on receiving the gifts?
    Ans. Some fifty samples of expensive diamond rings were sent to the duraisani and it was expected that she would select one or two and return the rest. But the lady proved to be greedy as she retained all of them and merely sent a letter of thanks.
    Q13. What unforeseen hurdle brought the tiger hunt to a standstill?
    Ans. Within ten years Maharaja’s tiger hunting had resulted in the killing of seventy tigers. However his tiger killing mission came to a sudden standstill because the tiger population became extinct in the forest of Pratibandapuram.
    Q14 Why did the Maharaja suddenly decide to marry? Whom did he wish to marry?
    Ans. The Maharaja suddenly decided to marry because firstly, he was of marriageable age and secondly, he wanted to kill thirty more tigers in his father-in-law’s state in order to complete the tally of hundred tigers .For this reason he wished to marry a girl in the royal family of a state with a large tiger population.
    Q15 Why did Maharaja order the dewan to double the tax?
    Ans. The Maharaja called the dewan and ordered him to immediately double the tax of the villagers who had informed him of a tiger in the forest because despite his best efforts he was unable to locate the beast. This infuriated the Maharaja.
    Q16.Why did the Dewan decide to give up his own tiger to be killed by the Maharaja?
    Answer : The dewan had hidden in his house an old tiger which had been brought from the People’s Park in Madras . He feared that if the Maharaja did not get a tiger to hunt, the result would be catastrophic and he would lose his job.
    Q17 What was Dewan’s tiger like? How did he take it into the forest?
    • weak, senile
    • Dewan arranged the tiger from The People’s Park
    • at midnight dragged the tiger and shoved him into the car, went to the forest, hauled the beast out of the car, and pushed him to the ground near Maharaja’s camp
    Q18 How the 100th tiger was finally found & killed?
    Ans. The Dewan took the 100th tiger which he had brought from people’s park in Madras. The tiger wondered into Maharaja’s presence. The king shot it but it was not killed; the hunters killed to escape from king’s anger.
    Q19 Why was the Maharaja overcome with elation when he thought he had killed the hundredth tiger?
    Answer : The Maharaja was overcome with elation on having killed the hundredth tiger because his vow had been fulfilled. By killing the hundredth tiger, he thought the prophecy about his death had been disproved. On his command , the dead body of the hundredth tiger was taken in grand a procession through the town and buried . A tomb was erected over it.
    Q20 What did the Maharaja buy as a birthday gift for his son?
    Ans. The Maharaja wished to give his son a very special gift on his birthday and he bought a wooden toy tiger as a perfect birthday gift for his son.
    Q21.Why does the author say the hundredth tiger took its final revenge?

    LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
    1. How did the Tiger King meet his end? What is ironical about his death?
    The wooden toy tiger the king had got as a birthday present for his son had been carved by an unskilled carpenter. It had a rough surface with tiny slivers of wood standing up like quills all over it. One of those slivers pierced the Maharaja’s right hand and although the king pulled it, his arm got infected. In four days, it developed into a suppurating sore and spread all over the arm. The king died while being operated upon.
    The king’s death is ironical but not surprising for the reader who is, in fact, looking forward to it. Having ‘killed’ the 100th tiger, the king is jubilant for he has fulfilled his vow and disproved the prediction of the royal astrologer. He is now at ease for he thinks he cannot die of a tiger’s attack. No wonder, he orders the ‘dead’ tiger to be taken in a procession through the town and gets a tomb erected over it. All this while he does not know that the 100th victim was not killed by him but by other hunters. That is indeed quite ironical. Death is lurking around him and the king is unaware of it. Again, it is ironical that a king who has killed 99 tigers and is bold and fearless dies of a mere ‘sliver’ on the body of a wooden tiger. Thus, ironically death does come to him from a tiger.

    Q2 “The operation is successful. The maharaja is dead.” comment on the irony of the situation.
    • The three famous surgeons were called from Madras to treat the Maharaja.
    • The whole incident is a satire on the life of rich and people in power.
    • Everything in their life should be grand be it a disease, purchases or treatment.
    • So when the Maharaja got hurt by a wooden splinter, specialist from Madras were called
    • The surgeons discussed and debated for some time and decided to operate
    • At the end of the operation they said the operation was successful but the Maharaja was dead.
    • As if the procedure was important to them but life had no meaning for them.
    • The job of doctors is to save people and not highlight the technicalities of the treatment.
    • But here it was just that, poor Maharaja was relegated to a nonentity whose life was not of much consequences to them.

    Q3 . Discuss the title of the story ‘The Tiger King’.
    Ans. The Tiger King is an appropriate title for the story for several reasons. First of all, the king
    is very involved with tiger hunting so much so that he marries a princess whose father’s
    kingdom has a sizable population. He kills hundred tigers just to fulfill his vows. Secondly,
    the king with all his frenzy, anger and ruthlessness is as ferocious as a tiger. Thirdly, he
    dies of a silver prick received from a wooden tiger toy. Finally the prediction that a tiger
    would cause the king’s death also comes true. Since the story revolves round the king
    and the hundred tigers he kills, the title could not be more apt

    Q4. ‘The Tiger King’ can be seen as Kalki’s comment on the British influence on the
    feudal lords and the reason for their alienation from their own culture and people.
    Discuss.
    Ans. The Tiger King comes across as a person who was given to understand that everything
    belonging to the English was worth emulating and everything Indian was useless. So
    much so that the milk given to the young prince was from an English cow. He was
    brought up by an English nanny, tutored in English by an Englishman and if he ever saw
    movies they were English films. This lifestyle was not peculiar to the king’s family alone
    but it was the case of most of the feudal lords all over India. This resulted in the lopsided
    development of these rulers and was the main cause of their alienation from their culture,
    environmental needs of their kingdom. In their attempts to please the Britishers they had
    different set of norms for their own subjects. Hence, where compassion was required
    they showed ruthlessness and brutality.

    Q5 Bring out satire in the chapter.
    1. Satire on young princes and maharajas of native Indian states having long names and descriptive titles
    2. satirizes the upbringing and education of crown princes of Indian States. Ridicules the attitude of Indian princes who emulate Britishers
    3. Criticizes Indian who considered Britishers as Gods and Goddesses (durai ,duraisani)
    4. Satirises the conceit and whims of those in power

    Q6*. “The king was capricious, arbitrary and whimsical” Do you agree? Give a reasoned answer
    Q7.The story` Tiger King` reflects `the whims and fancies of people in power’ Elucidate
    Q8.Describe the efforts made by the Tiger King to achieve his target of killing a hundred tigers? (2
    Q.9. What prediction was made by the astrologers about the Tiger King? How did it come true?






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  18. THE THIRD LEVEL

    Charlie : 31 year old, office goer, claims visiting the third levels
    • Description of the Third level
    – Small room, few ticket windows and train gates, wooden and old looking information booth.
    – Men had beards, side burns, fancy moustaches
    – Women wore skirts, high buttoned shoes and leg of muttons sleeves.
    – A man looking at a pocket watch
    – Old style locomotive with funnel shaped stack
    – Open gaslights being used
    – Brass spittoons on floor
    – Wants to visit his home town, Galesburg
    – Past is quiet and peaceful
    – Tries to buy two tickets to Galesburg (one ticket for his wife Louisa)
    – Clerk grows suspicious as Charlie doesn’t have old style currency.
    – Back to present day world
    • People’s reaction to Charlie’s experience
    – Presidents of NY railroads swear on the existence of two levels.
    – Psychiatrist friend Sam refuses to believe
    – Interprets it as an escape from insecurity fear, war and worry of the modern world.
    – Louisa too disbelieves Charlie
    • Charlie’s determination to find the Third Level
    – Withdraws money, buys old currency worth 300 dollars.
    – Fails to find the Third Level
    – Louisa and Psychiatrist worried.
    • Unexpected Ending
    – Sam disappears
    – Charlie finds a first day cover, never seen before
    – Note from Sam dated 18th July 1894 from Galesburg
    – Sam asks Charlie and Louisa to come to Galesburg and enjoy quiet and peaceful life.
    – Charlie discovers Sam had bought old currency worth 800 dollars.
    – Enough to help him start hay and grain business in 1894 at Galesburg

    NCERT Questions:
    Q1. Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley ? Why?
    Ans.: .If Yes
    • it was a waking dream
    • a wish fulfilment
    • provided escape from modern day fear, insecurity, worry
    If No
    • then the place really existed as Charley describes vividly railway station, people, dresses, newspaper and counters
    • Sam exchanging money, disappearance, letter in the first day cover

    Q2. What do you infer from Sam’s letter to Charlie?
    Ans. Sam’s letter from Galesburg in 1894 to Charley in the twentieth century leaves the readers mystified and perplexed. Charley finds this letter among the first day covers of his grandfather’s collection. Someone had mailed it to his grandfather at his home in Galesburg. The address on the envelope said so. But the paper inside the envelope was not blank ,rather Charley found a letter written to him by Sam in which he informs that he has reached the third level.

    Several inferences could be drawn from Sam’s letter. Firstly ,it is possible that Sam ,getting influenced by Charley’s glowing description of idyllic Galesburg , got transported to the peaceful past through the medium of imagination. His inability to cope up with rigours of harsh reality led him to take recourse in the tranquil world of Galesburg. So ,through the letter , Sam suggests Charley and Louisa to keep looking for the third level till they find it.

    Secondly. the question could be raised about the authenticity of the letter. Is the letter written by Sam or it is written by Charley himself? If charley could speak about his journey in the third level which is unknown to others, so his possibility of writing the letter in the name of Sam could not be ruled out. The introductory part of the letter seems to be a projection of Charley’s waking dream wish fulfilment. It confirms his belief in the existence of the third level.

    Thus, the letter appears to be a strange mixture of the real and the fantastic and the author has made a very clever use of it so that it boggles the reader’s mind.

    Q3.  The modern consumerist world is full of fear, insecurities, stress and wars. What are the ways in which we try to combat them? Answer with reference to The Third Level.
    Ans Value Points
    Present world- rat race
    • Everybody running after power, money or success.
    • One gets stressed out
    • Feeling of being a failure develops
    • To overcome such insecurities and fears one starts imagining
    • Charley starts imagining his grandfather and the village he came from
    • He starts believing that there is a third level at the grand station, New York from where trains went to Galesburg, Illinois, where his grandfather used to live
    -Pursuing hobbies such as collecting stamps is also a way to escape harsh reality.

    Q4. Do you find an intersection of time and space in the story ?
    Ans. “The Third Level” is a story based on the idea of time –travel where Charley is transported from the present world to the year 1894.

    Charley while wandering inside Grand Central Station suddenly finds portal that transports him to 1894 where the dim and flickering light of open-flame gaslights illuminated the place .Everyone in the station was dressed like eighteen nineties.

    Charley comes back to the twentieth century while his friend Sam disappears into Galesburg of 1894. Thus ,Sam’s stay in Galesburg of 1894 and yet his communication with Charley in twentieth century brings about a convincing intersection of time and space.

    Q5. Apparent illogicality sometimes turns out to be a futuristic Projection ? Discuss
    Ans. Logic is not the only yardstick for guiding ,motivating and inspiring
    human thought and feelings .Every occurrence in nature cannot be
    explained by logic .The visualization of something that the world is
    unfamiliar with is often termed as illogical .All the great scientists ,poets
    and philosophers have had vision about the future ,these dreams may not
    have appeared logical at that time but may come true later on .For
    example: The diaries of Leonardo de Vinci contained sketches of aero
    planes and many such inventions which may have appeared illogical at
    that time but scientists invented and developed them later. Similarly in the
    Chapter ‘The Third level ‘the concept of time travel has been dealt with
    Today it may appear to be a illogical but who knows in the future it may
    become a reality and man may travel back and forth in time

    Q6. Philately keeps the past alive .Discuss other ways in which this is done.
    What do you think about the human tendency to constantly move
    between the past, present and future?

    A: The study of stamps is known as philately .It is one of the oldest hobbies in
    the world. Through Philately we study about the nations , politics
    ,important events ,persons or development. Stamps reveal a country’s
    history, culture and civilization, this is how it keeps the past alive. Some
    other hobbies through which one can keep the past alive are coin
    collection , archaeology, Paleontology(study of fossils ) and the study of
    plants. It is strange that we retrospect about the past , anticipate the future
    and yet live in the present. The past ,present and future are like links in
    the chain of existence. It is human tendency to flit between the past,
    present and the future .Shelly has aptly said “We look before and after
    and pine for what is not”

    Q.What des the Third level refer to?
    Ans.The Third level refers to that level where one transcends the boundaries of time and space and reaches far flung destinations like Galesburg, Illinois, 1894.Few people like the narrator and his friend Sam dare to explore it “Third Level’Could also symbolize man’s yearning to get transported to the world of imagination as an escape from the world of harsh realities.

    Q Why is the fact that Sam has moved to the third level ironical?
    Ans     Sam believed that only two levels existed.
    • He explained Charley’s experience as ‘ Waking – dream wish fulfilment .
    • He believed 3rd level was a medium to escape foam tension of modern life.
    • But later, Sam himself found the 3rd level and got settled there.
    • Earlier he believed there was not third level at all but ironically he himself became a resident of Galesburg . He even urged charley to keep finding it .

     Q Imagination is a ‘temporary refuge from reality’ Explain.
    • Believed it was a waking dream, perhaps wish fulfilment.
    • Felt that like many man in the modern world Charley too was unhappy.
    • Modern world is full of trials and tribulations, worries and insecurities.
    • Felt Charley wanted to escape this world.
    • People indulge in some sort of hobby to escape the stark harsh realities.
    • Even stamp collecting was a kind of temporary escape.
    • Charley refuted his contention- said people do not wander about due to stress.
    • Besides his grandfather had also collected stamps in the good old peaceful days of eighteen-nineties and did not need to escape as life was quite stress free in those days.
    Q. Elaborate the theme of the story
    / Value Points- The story primarily focuses on the atrocities of the modern world – full of insecurity, stress, fear, war & hatred – one feels caged – by modern advancement – leads to tension and worries – leading people to look for means of an escape. In the story Charlie – creates the third level to seek refuge – cases his pressure – provide sweet power to relax.

    Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each
    1. How does the psychiatrist friend interpret Charley’s visit to the Third Level? (p-1 ,para 1) (2008)
    2. Why did the psychiatrist’s interpretation upset Charley’s wife? How did the psychiatrist pacify her?
    3.Why does Charley feel that Grand Central is growing like a tree?( SP)
    (Charley had been the station for long
    • But each time he bumped into new doorways, stairs and corridors
    • Once had entered a long tunnel and came out near Roosevelt hotel)
    4.Why did Charley feel that Grand Central was an ‘exit’ a means of escape?
    5..How did Charley defend himself from being accused as an escapist?
    6. Why did Charley decide to take the subway from Grand Central? (p-2 , para 2: “Anyway , here..”
    7.How did Charley reach the third level?(2009)(P-2 ,2nd last para: “I turned into ....and got lost” , p-3 2nd para : The corridor I was .......at Grand Central station)
    8. Why did Charley make a quick escape from the platform on the third level after the clerk at the
    ticket counter refused to accept the money?
    9. How did Charley realize that he wasn’t at the second level? (p-3 , para2 , p-4 para-1)
    10.. How did Charley confirm that he had arrived in 1890’s? (p-4 ,2nd para)
    11. Why did Charley want to visit Galesburg of 1894? (p-4 , last para)
    12. What preparations did Charley make to go to Galesburg? (drew 300 dollars out of bank and purchased and purchased old style currency)
    13. Why was Charley not worried even though he got two hundred dollars in exchange of three
    hundred dollars?
    14. What do you know about a first-day cover? (p-5 ,last para)
    15. How did Louisa react to Charley’s quest for the Third Level? How did her attitude change later? (p-5 , 2nd last para)
    16. How were Charley and Louisa convinced about the existence of the third level? (Sam’s letter)
    Answer the following in about 125-150 words
    1. What differences did Charley observe at the third level of the Grand Central? (2009)
    2. Hobbies provide a refuge from reality from our otherwise monotonous lives. Elaborate the statement in the light of the lesson.
    3. Charley is so engrossed with fiction that he loses touch with reality. Do you agree. Give reason
    4.Discuss the importance of the presence of the psychiatrist in the lesson.


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  19. LOST SPRING
    NCERT QUESTIONS
    Q.1.Who is Saheb? What is he looking for in the garbage dumps and where has he come from?
    Ans: Saheb is a rag-picker of Seemapuri. The writer encounters him every morning scrounging for gold in the garbage dumps in her neighbourhood. He hails from Dhaka and he was migrated from Bangladesh in 1971. His house and fields were destroyed by storm.

    Q2. Why did people migrate from the village in Dhaka to Delhi ?
    (Better education, job opportunities and living conditions)

    Q3 What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing foot wear?
    When the author asked the children why they were always barefoot , one said it was because his mother had not pulled his shoes from the shelf while the other explanation was that it was a tradition in their community to walk barefoot. The author did not quite believe it and realized that it was their perpetual state of poverty which was responsible for their moving around in that manner.

    Q4. What makes the city of Firozabad famous?
    Firozabad is famous for bangles. Every other family in Firozabad is engaged in making bangles. It is the centre of India’s glass blowing industry where families have spent generations working around furnaces, welding glass, making bangles for women all over India.

    Q5 Mention any two hazards of working in the glass bangles industry
    ( .- glass furnaces with high temperature
    - dark and dingy cells without air and light
    the chances of losing one’s eye- sight
    • There is possibility of skin burn too)

    Q6.Why was not Saheb happy on getting a job?
    A. Saheb was not happy on getting a job in tea stall for a salary of Rs.800/- per month as he lost his freedom. He had to carry the stall owner’s steel canister in place of his bag. He lost his carefree look He was now no longer his own master.
    Q7 What forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty?
    Lack of education and awareness, stigma of being born in the caste of banglemakers, vicious nexus of sahukars, middlemen, politicians and police suppresses the bangle makers and keep them poverty stricken. Broken spirit, dormant initiative, fear of being beaten and dragged to jail, absence of leadership are the other forces which conspire to keep them in poverty.

    EXTRA QUESTIONS
    Q1 How did Saheb manage to embarrass the author?
    Ans. The author like many others who gave hollow advice had told Saheb to attend school, only to be informed that there was no school in his locality. She jokingly enquired whether he would enroll in her school if she happened to open one. Saheb happily agreed and a few days later when he met the author he enquired about the school. The author was embarrassed because the promise was not meant to be fulfilled.
    Q2 What prompted the author to remark that promises like the one she made abound in every corner of Saheb’s bleak world?
    Ans. The author had promised to open a school in which Saheb could study but had no intention of doing so. She says that hollow promises like hers guaranteeing a better life were made to the deprived section of the society all the time but were never fulfilled
    Q3 What was the full name of Saheb. Describe the irony of his fate?
      1. “Saheb-e-Alam” – lord of universe-but had to pick rags – was not the master of himself.
    Q4. What is special about the story of the man from Udipi?
    Q5. Why do the rag pickers have ration permits but no identity ? (can vote , get food at subsidized rates)
    Q6. Why did the rag pickers have to leave their green fields in their country ?
    Q7 ‘Garbage to them is gold.’ Why does the author say so about the rag-pickers?
    Ans: More than 10,000 rag-pickers of Seemapuri live in squatters. For them is garbage is gold and it is wrapped in wonder. For a child, it is their bread. Sometimes a child can find a silver coin or more in a heap of garbage. For the elders it is a means of survival.
    Q8 Why does the author say that Seemapuri in spite of being on the periphery of Delhi was miles away from it?
    Ans. The author remarks so to highlight the economic disparity between the people of Delhi and the rag pickers of Seemapuri. The opulence of Delhi is in no way related to the dire poverty of the residents of Seemapuri.
    Q9 How do children of rag pickers become equal partners in survival ?
    Q10 Through the years rag picking has acquired the ‘proportion of a fine art’ in Seemapuri. Justify the statement.Ans.. The means of survival of migrants of Bangladesh in Seemapuri is rag picking. Garbage to them is gold. Like a fine art that has no end in appealing the sense of beauty the rag picker’s scrounging the garbage is a never ending process which provides them their daily bread day after day.
    Q11 How did garbage hold different meanings for adults and children?
    Ans. For adults rag picking was only a means of survival but for children a lot of excitement was associated with the same for they often found unexpected things as a ten rupee note in the same. There was always a hope of coming across unexpected surprises and so garbage was wrapped in wonder for them.
    Q12 How has “a dream come true “ for Saheb but what is “out of his reach”? (got a pair of shoes, playing tennis was out of his reach)
    Q13 Who is Mukesh? What is his dream? Why does it look like a ‘mirage amidst the dust’?
    Q14 . How is the bangle industry of Firozabad a curse for childhood ?
    Q15 How does Mukesh’s grandmother view the family occupation of bangle making and its poverty?
    Ans. Mukesh’s grandmother views bangle making as the destiny of her family. Her husband’s blindness, their misfortune and impoverished condition, she feels, are ordained by destiny. Years of suffering makes her accept everything in the name of karma or fate.
    Q16 What do bangles symbolize? What is ironical in making of bangles by Savita and wearing of bangles by an elderly woman who has no light in her eyes?
    Q17 Has Firozabad changed with time ? Give reasons
    Q18 Why did not the bangle makers organize themselves into a co-operative?
    Ans. Banglemakers did not do so because if they tried to get organized they would be beaten up by the police and dragged to jail for doing something illegal. They had no leader who could show them the way.
    Q19 What are the two worlds that the author talks about?
    Ans. The first one was that of the families of the bangle makers, caught in a web of poverty and burdened by the stigma of the caste to which they belonged. The second one was that of a vicious circle of sahukars, the middlemen, the policemen, the keepers of law, the bureaucrats and the politicians.
    Q20 Why does the author say that the bangle makers are caught in a vicious web? (Lost Spring)
    Q21. How is Mukesh different from Saheb?
    Ans. Saheb sacrificed his freedom when he took job at the tea stall but Mukesh insisted on being his own master. Though Saheb wanted to study but he was not ready to make effort to get educated, rather he accepted his fate. On the other hand Mukesh was determined to become motor mechanic and was ready to make every possible effort to accomplish his dreams.

    LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
    Q1 ‘Lost Spring’, is a sad commentary on the political system of our country that condemns thousands of people to a life of abject poverty. Comment.
    Saheb, optimistic and enthusiastic—prospect of finding gold in garbage—likes going to school but no opportunity—freedom and joy of childhood to burdens of job at tea-stall.
    Mukesh, born at Firozabad (bangle maker)—works under inhuman condition—dark room, hot furnaces—caught in web of poverty—vicious circle of sahukars, policemen, politicians, bureaucrats and moneylenders—resigned to fate—unaware of child labour act—stifled initiation and hope—lose eyesight before becoming adults

    Q2 How is the line ‘few airplanes fly over Firozabad’ symbolically significant?
    • The author finds a spark of motivation in Mukesh who is quite determined about realizing his dream of becoming a motor mechanic
    • He is ready to walk to a garage far from his home
    • The author asks if he ever dreams of flying a plane- the question embarrasses him and Mukesh replies in the negative
    • He is satisfied with the more tangible and attainable dream related to the fast moving cars that he saw on the streets each day
    • Airplanes symbolize something distant, just like a far-fetched dream –people of Firozabad were not exposed to grand dreams like that.

    Q3 The life of bangle makers of Firozabad was full of obstacles which forced them to lead a life of poverty and deprivation. Discuss with reference to Lost Spring
    Value Points:
    • Bangle makers born in poverty, live in poverty, die in poverty.
    • For generations people have been engaged in this trade.
    • Work in inhuman conditions.
    • Although they work hard but the profit is meagre.
    • Their hovels have crumbling walls, wobbly doors and no windows.
    • They are overcrowded with humans and animals.
    • Social customs, traditions, stigma of caste and people in authority combine so that
    they remain poor and uneducated
    • Money lenders, middlemen, politicians and policemen are all against them.
    • Unable to organize themselves into a co-operative due to lack of a leader.
    • They have lost the ability to dream.
    • They can only talk but not act to improve their lot

    Q4 The bangle-makers of Ferozabad make beautiful bangles and make everyone happy but they live and die in squalor. Elaborate
    Value points
    --- utter poverty generation after generation
    -----believe they are destined to work in bangle factories
    ----make beautiful bangles but live in dark
    -----bright furnaces to do welding
    ----they lose their eyesight
    ----victims of vicious circle of middlemen
    ---law enforcing authorities prey upon them
    --- bleak future

    Q5 Give a brief account of the life and activities of the people like Saheb-e-Alam settled in Seemapuri.
    Value points:
    – poor rag pickers / unschooled / barefoot / sometimes taking up odd jobs like
    working at tea stalls
    – garbage to them is gold, it is their daily bread
    – migrants (squatters) from Bangladesh, came to Delhi in 1973
    – their fields and homes swept away in storms
    – live in structures of mud with roofs of tin and tarpaulin, devoid of sewage,
    drainage or running water
    – have lived for more than 30 years without identity, without permits but with ration cards
    – no intention of going back to their own country
    – wherever they find food, they pitch their tents

    Q6 'Lost Spring' explains the grinding poverty and traditions that condemn thousands of
    people to a life of abject poverty. Do you agree? Why / Why not?
    Yes – duly supported by examples from text
    – both caught in the vicious cycle of poverty, apathy, affected by the greed ofothers, injustice
    – lost childhood – spring of life
    Mukesh’s story – bangle making industry
    – caught in the web of middlemen, politicians, policemen, the keepers of law, bureaucrats
    – lose all spirit and ability to dream
    Saheb-a-Alam’s story
    – rag picker, scrounging for gold, walking bare foot, got job, not happy because
    no freedom, lost childhood
    – any other relevant point

    Q7. Explain the significance of title ‘Lost Spring’.
    Ans: In this lesson, the author Anees Jung examines and analyses the grinding poverty and tradition that condemn children to a life of exploitation.
    Saheb as a ragpicker whose parents have left behind a life of abject poverty in Bangladesh. His family, like the many other families of rag pickers lives in Seemapuri. They live in miserable condition. The writer is pained to see Saheb, whose name means the ruler of the Earth, lose the spark of childhood. She then proceeds to tell about Mukesh who does want to be his own master. Hailing from Firozabad, the centre of India’s bangle making and glass blowing industry, he has always worked in the glass making factory. His family does not know that it is illegal for children to work in such close to furnaces with such high temperatures. They are exposed to various health hazards like losing their eyesight as they work in dark and dingy cells. The family of bangle maker of Firozabad are so burdened that they have lost their ability to dream. The writer’s observation is that these poor hopeless people are but pawn in the games that are played by Sahukars, middlemen, the policemen, the bureaucrats and the politicians.
    The title is meaningful as they lost their spring (childhood). The writer has beautifully essayed the story of stolen childhood with a view to sensitizing us to the plight of these poor unfortunate children.

    Q8 “Seemapuri , a place on periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it metaphorically.”
    Comment
    Q9 Bring out the significance of Mukesh’s dream of becoming a motor mechanic.
    Q10 “There is a vast gulf that separates dreams from reality” Discuss with special reference to Mukesh and Sahib.
    Q11 Bring out irony and pathos in the story of Anees Jung.


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  21. My Mother at 66

    In this poem Kamala Das’s relationship with her mother is treated in a very restrained and poignant manner. It echoes the painful realisation of the poetess that her mother was ageing and inching closer to death. The poet chooses the moment of parting to reveal how painful the parting of her mother could be.

    IMPORTANT POINTS:
    • Poetess travelling to the Cochin airport with her old mother in a car.
    • Looks at the wan, pale face of her dozing mother.
    • Old fear of losing her mother returns
    • Sprinting trees and merry children provide the contrast and relief.
    • After the security check the old familiar ache returns.
    • Tries to hide her face by smiling.
    • Ends with a positive note.
    • Simile –“like that of a corpse”. ”as a late winter moon”
    • Alliteration –“smile and smile and smile.
    There is contrast used.




    Q 1 What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
    The emotional pain and ache that the poet feels is due to the realisation that her mother has gone old and has become frail and pale like a corpse. She also feels the pain of separation from her mother whom she is leaving.
    Q2.Why are the young trees described as sprinting?
    The young trees are personified in the poem. Trees appear to be running because from moving vehicle stationary objects seem to be moving in opposite direction. The sprinting trees signify fervour, vigour and youth. This is a sharp contrast to the decaying, frail and lifeless condition of the poet’s mother.
    Q3. Why has the poet bought in the image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’?
    The merry children present an image of happiness, joyousness, vitality and spontaneous overflow of life. This image is in stark contrast to the ‘dozing’ old mother whose ‘ashen’ face looks lifeless and pale like a corpse. She is an image of ageing, decay and passivity. Children symbolize the beginning of life and old woman’s pale face symbolizes her imminent death.
    Q4.Why has the mother been compared to ‘late winter’s moon’?
    The poet has compared her mother to the ‘late winter moon’ to convey the idea of her old age. Winter comes in the last phase of the year , in the same way, the mother is approaching the last phase of her life.
    As late winter’s moon lacks brightness and looks hazy and misty, in the same way the mother is looking pale ,old and weak. She has also lost the charm and the strength of her youth.
    Q5. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
    -Optimism , - ahope to see her mother again , -reassuring her mother
    -hiding her anxiety and fear , -emotions hidden behind the smile

    Reference to Context
    1. ‘Driving from my parent’s home to Cochin last Friday morning, I saw my mother beside me doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that of a corpse and realized with pain that she thought away and looked but soon put that thought away’

    Q1 What do the words ‘ashen, open-mouthed and corpse’ signify?
    Ans. The poet uses a simile to describe her mother’s condition. Her face was pale and lifeless like that of a dead body. This signifies loss of vitality and death.

    Q2 What do these words signify about the poet’s state of mind?
    Ans. The poet is very disturbed looking at her old mother. The deep fear of her mother’s imminent death upsets and grieves her.

    Q3 Explain ‘put that thought away’?
    Ans. The poet was grieved to see her mother’s condition. The fear of her impending death troubled her. She swept away this thought by looking out of the car window.

    Q4 Why does the poet look out?
    Ans. The poet looked out from the window of the car to dispel the painful and agonizing thoughts that she experienced on seeing her old and helpless mother.

    2 “…Standing a few yards away, I looked again at her wan, pale as a late
    winter’s moon”.

    Q1. Where was the poet standing?
    Ans. The poet was at the airport waiting to board the plane after the security check.

    Q2 Pick out a poetic device from the above lines. Explain.
    Ans. The poet uses a simile -‘pale as a late winter’s moon’ to reinforce her mother’s frail physical health. Like a late winter moon is pale, devoid of sheen her mother is lifeless indicative of her impending death.

    Q3 Why does the poet look at her mother again?
    Ans. The poet looks at her mother again to reassure herself of her mother’s well-being for the last time before she left.

    3. “..and felt that old familiar ache, my childhood’s fear but all I said was,
    see you soon Amma, all I did was smile and smile and smile.”

    Q1 Explain that ‘old familiar ache’.
    Ans. The ‘old familiar ache’ refers to a constant fear and agony that haunts the poet. It is an apprehension of separation from her mother that terrifies the poet.

    Q2 What were the poet’s childhood fears?
    Ans. The fear of losing her mother. The terror of death engulfing her were the childhood fears that the poet experienced.


    Extra Short Questions (30-40 words)
    1. How does the poet describe the old age of her mother?
    Ans. The poet’s mother is sitting next to her in the car. The poet observes her dozing off almost open mouthed. With a pale face she totally lacked the vigour of life. The poet later compares her to a late winter’s moon.

    1. Bring out the contrast portrayed by the scene outside with the state of the poet’s mother.
    Ans. The world outside the window of the car with the sprinting trees and the children spilling out in energetic exuberance are a sharp contrast to the poet’s old mother who lacks the vigour of life

    1. Though filled with negative thoughts in her mind did the poet share her feelings with her mother?
    Ans. The poet did not share her fears and anxiety with her mother. Sharing her emotions of agony would have grieved her mother all the more. Instead she bid adieu and smiled with the hope to see her again.

    1. Explain the irony inherent in the conclusion of the poem?

    Ans. The poet’s words ‘See you soon Amma’ and her prolonged smile at parting are ironical. They are a sharp contrast to the fear and agony which she experiences with regard to her ageing mother and her frail health.
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  22. THE LAST LESSON BY ALPHONSE DAUDET.
     
    The language of any country is the pride of that country. It not only defines the culture but also tells us about the people,literature and history of of the country.Language for some people is just the medium of communication but for others it is the question of life and death.


    The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War[7] (19 July 1870 – 10 May 1871) was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and Bavaria. The complete Prussian and German victory brought about the final unification of Germany under King Wilhelm I of Prussia. It also marked the downfall of Napoleon III and the end of the Second French Empire, which was replaced by the French Third Republic. As part ofthe settlement, the territory of Alsace-Lorraine was taken by Prussia to become a part of Germany, which it would retain until the end of World War I when it was given back to France in the Treaty of Versaillesath.
     
    'The Last Lesson' very prominently raises the question of linguistic and cultural hegemony of the colonial and imperial powers and their lust for controlling the world and influencing their cultures and identities.
     
    The Last Lesson raises the burning question very innocently through the words of little Franz that "Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?" This raises the question of immorality of imposing imperial languages and cultures on the colonies. The child questions that when even the birds and animals can't be forced to abandon their language and speak others then what forces the man to think that it would be prudent force other human beings to forcibly accept any language other than theirs.
     
    The language of a country is not only a medium of communication for the people but also the link for identity, once the native language is snatched away from the people. It's not only the loss of convenient communicating medium but also the loss of identity for people for what they have been and what they might become.
    When a small child like Franz can think of the irrationality behind snatching away the right of language and identity from people then why can't the war lords and colonizers understand the fact?
    Sumary
    Franz Notices Changes
    • Crowd Gathered
    • School quiet
    – No sound of desks, lessons, teacher’s ruler.
    M. Hamel
    – didn’t scold/spoke kindly
    – wearing green coat, frilled shirt, black silk cap.
    – announced last lesson in French, German to be taught

    • Villagers, Hauser, postmaster, others – On back benches.

    Franz’s reaction to last lesson in French
    • Shocked, realized deficiency in language, Wished-not wasted time.
    • felt sorry, repented for wasting time.
    • appreciated M.Hamel, accepted him with his faults.
    • wanted to impress M.Hamel with knowledge of French.
    • Understands presence of villagers
    – to thank master
    – to show solidarity for country
    – repenting for not attending school

    M. Hamel made the class realize
    • reluctance to learn, postponing learning
    • parents sending them to work
    • himself sent to water plants
    • all to blame for situation
    • too late to make amends
    • no time to make up for lost time
    • Germans will laugh at inability to speak French.
    Main Characters
    1. M. Hamel
    • Sincere French teacher
    – knows subject well
    • Passionate about French
    – considers French-clearest, most beautiful, logical
    – feels-key to person’s sense of freedom
    – advises to hold on to French
    • Proud of being French
    – upset by occupation of Alsace by Germans
    - attached to town, school, people.
    • Hard Task Master
    – particular about discipline and learning
    – students scared
    – last day - exercises on all aspects of language
    • Sensitive, Honest
    – blames himself for selfishness
    – emotional by sound of Prussian soldiers
    2. Franz
    • Sensitive, Honest
    – Blames himself for ignoring lessons
    – Wonders if pigeons will coo in German
    – Understands feelings of Hauser
    • Loves outdoors
    – Sunshine, birds, butterflies, collecting bird’s eggs.
    • As a student
    – repents, good observer, notices changes.
    • Empathizes with M. Hamel
    – Understands emotions, accepts him with faults

    NCERT Questions

    Short Questions:
    1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
    Ans. That day Franz was expected to be prepared with participles because M. Hamel had said that he would question them on participles . Franz did not know anything about participles.
    1. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
    Ans. Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the street. But it was all very still that day. Everything was as quiet as a Sunday morning. There was no opening or closing of desks. His classmates were already in their places. The teacher’s great ruler instead of rapping on the table, was under M. Hamel’s arm.
    1. What had been put up on the bulletin-board?
    For the last two years all the bad news came from the bulletin-board. An order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The Germans had put up this notice on the Bulletin board.
    1. What change did the order from Berlin cause in the school that day?
    Mr. Hamel had put on his best dress – his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and the little black silk cap, all embroidered. The whole school seemed so strange and solemn. On the back benches that were always empty, the elderly village people were sitting quietly like the kids.
    1. How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and the school change?
    Franz came to know that it was the last lesson in French that M. Hamel would give them. From the next day they will be taught only German. Then he felt sorry for not learning his lessons properly. His books, which seemed a nuisance and a burden earlier were now old friends. His feelings about M. Hamel also changed. He forgot all about his ruler and how cranky he was.
    LONG QUESTIONS

    Q“When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they have the keys to their prison.” What could this mean?
    Ans. Language is an important aspect of the culture of any nation. Native language unites the people of a particular area or nation. During colonization colonizers enforce political domination by exerting their rules and regulation over the people of colonized nation and enforce cultural domination by imposing their own language on them. In some cases, colonizers prohibit the teaching of the native language and try to deprive the people of their identity.
    In such cases ,when people are attached to their native language, their identity would be kept intact. Their language is the key to their prison as their language keeps them united against the invaders and urge them to fight against the enslavement.

    Q Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons ?” What could this means?
    Ans. Alphonse Daudet's 'The Last Lesson' very prominently raises the question of linguistic and cultural hegemony of the colonial and imperial powers and their lust for controlling the world and influencing their cultures and identities.
    Prussians acquired the districts of Alsace and Lorraine in Franco-Prussian War , but they were not satisfied with mere political domination ,they desired to enforce their own language on the people of the defeated nation. They released the order that from now German would be taught in schools rather than French.
    Franz wondered whether they would make even pigeons sing in German. It means that they had grown up using French as their language and now snatching away their language from them would be unfair and unkind. The language was as natural to them as cooing is to the pigeon. So, compulsion to speak another language is like dominating the force of nature and enslaving it. As it is next to impossible to alter the way pigeons sing, in the same way it is difficult for people to accept a language which is forcibly imposed on them. Adopting a new language causes pain and discomfort.

    Answer the following in 30-40 words each.

    1. Why was Franz afraid to go to school that morning?
    2. What temptations did Franz overcome to proceed to school? (p-2 ,para-1)
    3. What was the significance of the bulletin-board in the town hall? (p-2, para-2)
    4. Why was Franz blushing and feeling frightened when he entered the class room? (was late ,easily noticed as everyone was settled)
    5. How and why was M. Hamel dressed differently that day?(p-3 ,last para)
    6. Why were the old men of the village present in the class room? (p-5 ,1st para)
    7. How was the order from Berlin going to make a difference to the lives of the students?(not study the native language , will be compelled to study a foreign language)
    8. How did Franz’s attitude towards his books change after he heard about the order from Berlin? (p-4 ,2nd last para)
    9. What happened when Franz attempted to recite the rule for participles in class? (p-5 ,2nd para: “But i got mixed up.......look up”
    10. What does M. Hamel find wrong with the attitude of Alsace towards learning? (puts off learning till tomorrow)
    11. How does M. Hamel held parents and himself responsible for students neglecting learning?(p-5 ,2nd last para)
    12. How does M. Hamel praise the French language? (p-5 ,last para)
    13. How is the mother tongue important for the enslaved people?
    14. Why was Franz able to understand everything?(Franz- listening carefully ,Hamel-explaining everything with patience)
    15. How had the school changed in the forty years of M. Hamel’s stay ?(p-8 ,para-1)
    16. “I never saw him look so tall”. Who is the person mentioned? What does the speaker mean by the above statement?
    17. Why did M. Hamel make a gesture to the students to leave?(was choked up ,overwhelmed with emotions)
    18.How does M. Hamel evoke feelings of patriotism in the class ?

    Answer the following in about 150 words each
    1. Justify the title “The Last Lesson.”
    2. In the story M. Hamel emerges not only as a dedicated teacher but also as a sensitive and
    understanding human being”. Elaborate the character of M. Hamel in light of the above
    statement.
    3*. “The importance of a thing dawns upon us when it is no longer with us”. Do you
    agree ? Give reasons based on the text ?
    4. Language becomes a tool in the lands of the conquerors to establish their superiority over the loser. Critically analyse the statement with reference to the lesson.

    5.Describe the classroom scene on the last day as painted in the story.
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  23. JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH
    Points to Remember
    • Summary
      1. The writer visited Antarctica, the coldest, driest and windiest continent in the world, aboard the Russian research vessel, Akademik Shokalskiy.
      2. The journey, beginning at Chennai, passed through many areas, geographical, legal, ecological and temporal.
      3. The writer’s first reaction to the continent was of relief, followed by wonder at its vastness, seclusion and geological history.
    • Part of History
      1. Before human evolution, Antarctica was part of a huge tropical landmass called the Gondwana land, which flourished 500 million years ago.
      2. Biological (flora and fauna), geological (changing continents) and geographical (climatic)changes occurred and Antarctica separated and moved away evolving into what it is today.
      3. A visit to Antarctica gave the writer a deeper understanding of fold mountains, the earth’s history, ecology and environment.
      4. The writer felt unsettled in two weeks time not only because she came from a much hotter place, but also because all features of human civilization were absent from an already desolate landscape.
      5. The long summers, the silence broken occasionally by cracking ice sheets and avalanches, the blue whales and ice bergs, all contribute to an ecological implication that the future for humans isn’t good.
    • Human Impact
      1. Humans, who are known to have existed for a mere 12000 years, have caused tremendous impact and played havoc with nature.
      2. Population explosion, putting a strain on available resources, carbon emissions, fossil fuels and global warming have all resulted in climatic and ecological imbalances that have also affected Antarctica.
      3. Antarctica, though unpopulated, has been affected and there are concerns for its half a million year old carbon records trapped under its ice sheets.
      4. The ‘Students on Ice’ programme, an initiative of Canadian adventure educator, Geoff Green takes students on expeditions to Antarctica, to create awareness in them, the future policy makers.
      5. The stark proof of global warming and environmental threats helps students attain an understanding of ecosystems and biodiversity of our planet.
      6. An amazing display of the food chain of the Southern Ocean helps in the understanding that further depletion of the ozone layer, will set off a chain reaction that will affect the global carbon cycle.
      7. The simple truth is, take care of the small things and the bigger ones will automatically be taken care of.
    • Walk on The Ocean
      1. Before their return, the writer got an opportunity to walk on the ocean at 65.55 degrees south, which made her realize that she was walking on 180 meters of ocean water, a rich kaleidoscope of life.
      2. Reaching home, she wondered whether Antarctica would ever be warm again, how much difference a million years can make and, that each day makes a difference.


    NCERT Questions (Think as you read)
    Q1.How does the geological phenomenon help us to know about the history of mankind ?
    Ans Geological phenomena gives one an insight into why and how the present landforms came into being. About six hundred and fifty million years ago , there existed a giant southern supercontinent Gondwana.It thrived for 500 million years and finally it broke into separate countries as they exist today.
    By visiting Antarctica we can know from where we have come from and where we are heading .It also helps us understand the importance of Cordilleran folds and pre-Cambrian Granite shields ,ozone and carbon and also about the evolution and extinction. . Its ice cores hold more than half –million-year old carbon records which are useful for the study of past.

    Q2 .What are the indication for the future of mankind ?
    • Future of mankind appears dismal.
    • Increase in population has led to a “ population boom.”
    • Greatly depleted our resources of nature that destroyed forests and extinction of certain species of wildlife.
    • Excessive burning of fossil fuels has created a blanket of carbon dioxide around the earth.
    • Antarctic environment has been affected by global warming- this is clear from receding glaciers and collapsing ice shelves.
    • These grave indications do not anger will for the future of mankind
    NCERT QUESTIONS ( understanding the text)
    Q1 How is the study of this region useful to us?
    • Antarctica – only place in the world remaining pristine (never sustained human population)
    • holds in its ice-cores half million year-old carbon records
    • only place to study Earth’s past, present and future
    • gives an insight into how the earth forms and continents as they are today came into being
    • tells us about repercussions of environmental changes (phytoplanktons)
    can enable us to
    • study problems of global warming (glacier retreating, ice-shelves collapsing)
    • concept of evolution and extinction
    • significance of Cordilleran folds and granite shields; ozone and carbon

    Q.2. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students on Ice Expedition?
    • Ans: A visit to Antarctica makes it quite clear and there one can see the ice shelves melting. ‘Students on Ice’ is a programme headed by Canadian Geoff Green. He aims at organizing this programme by taking high school students to the ends of the world. He thinks it most essential to provide the students with inspiring educational opportunities to know more about the Antarctica. Through this they will generate a new understanding and respect for our planet. Earlier Geoff Green had organized programme with celebrities and rich people which gave him back only in a limited way. Since the students are young minds and full of adventurous activities they can learn, act and absorb much by visiting the Antarctica. They can see through their own eyes glaciers retreating and ice-shelves collapsing. They can realize the future dangers, catastrophic effect of climatic changes and the global warming. The Antarctica provides the young students a perfect place to study the varied changes occurring in the environment. These little changes can have significant consequences. The students can see those grasses of the sea that flourish, nourish and sustain the entire Southern Ocean’s food chain. Thus the programme provides a lively study of changes and the realities going on the Antarctica.
    Q3. ‘Take care of small things and big things will take care of themselves.’ What is the relevance of this statement in the context of the Antarctica’s Environment ?
    • Ans : Antarctica has a simple ecosystem and lacks biodiversity ,it is the best
    place to study how little changes in the environment can have big consequences.

    The author gives the example of very small single celled plants called phytoplankton which nourish and sustain the entire southern ocean‘s food chain. The phytoplankton uses the energy to absorb carbon and also synthesize various organic compounds through photosynthesis. Scientists have forewarned that if Ozone layer depletes any further it will have a direct impact on the activities of the phytoplankton this will lead to a chain reaction adversely affecting the lives of marine animals and birds of the region which will further result in the disturbance global carbon cycle .

    So, it is expected of man to pay special attention to tiny forms of animal and plant life and prevent the depletion of ozone layer by reducing carbon dioxide emissions.If we take care of small things big things will automatically fall into place

    Q4. Why is Antarctica a place to go to ,to understand Earth’s present ,past and future?
    Ans. Antarctica is a place to go to ,to understand Earth’s present ,past and future.

    Six hundred and fifty million years ago , the present day Antarctica was surrounded by a giant amalgamated Southern supercontinent called Gondwana. Thus Antarctica belongs to ancient geological era when human beings had not yet evolved ,the climate was warm in the continent and supported a huge variety of flora and fauna. Later ,the dinosaurs were wiped out and mammals began to evolve . At this juncture Gondwana got separated into countries.So to visit Antarctica is now to be a part of that history.It is to understand the significance of Cordilleran folds and pre-Cambrian granite shields; ozone and carbon; evolution and extinction. (past)

    Since the planet is unravaged by human population and civilization ,it remains relatively pristine. Its ice cores hold more than half –million-year old carbon records which are useful for the study of past ,present and future of our planet.

    We can realize the threat of global warming by seeing glaciars melting and ice shelves collapsing. (present)

    Antarctica is the best place to study how little changes in the environment can have big repercussions. Phytoplanktons nourish and sustain the entire Southern Ocean’s food chain. Further depletion in the ozone layer would affect the lives of all the marine animals and birds of the region and the global carbon cycle. It could also lead to the end of the world. In this way it suggests future possibilities about our planet. (future)

    ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SHORT QUESTIONS
    Q1.What was the Akademik Shokalsky? Where was it headed and why?
          1. (Akademik Shokalsky was a Russian Research vessel.It was heading
    towards the coldest, driest windiest continent in the World ,Antarctica
    They were heading to be part of ‘Students on ice Programme’)
    Q2.How does the author describe the Antarctica?
    Q3.How did the Antartica amaze the writer when he first saw it?
    ( relief followed by immediate and profound wonder at Antarctica’s immensity and isolation)
    Q4 How is present day Antarctica different from GONDWANA? (p 19 ,1st para)
    Q5 Why does Tishani Doshi call her two week stay in Antarctica ‘a chilling prospect’?
    (For the author who was accustomed to live in a warm climate ,staying for 2 weeks in a place where 90% of earth’s total volume are stored is a chilling prospect. Coldness of the region not only restrains her circulatory and metabolic functions but also her imagination.
    Q6.Why does one lose all earthly perspective on reaching Antarctica?
    (-its like walking into a giant ping pong ball
    -devoid of any human markers-no trees , billboards and buildings
    -visual scale ranges from microscopic to macroscopic)
    Q7 What sort of brightness and silence prevail in Antarctica during summer?(p-20 ,1st para)
    Q8."And for humans, the prognosis is not good". Explain the situation & observation.
    (The span of 12000 years of human existence is quite insignificant in comparison to earth's history-but man has created ruckus- by concretizing to nature, burning fossil fuels-that ascertain & bleak future)
    Q9 How long have the human civilizations been around? How has it affected the earth and its resources? (p-20 ,2nd para)
    Q7.How is Antarctica a crucial element in the debate on climate change?
    (Because it has no population, but more importantly its holds in its ice-cores half million-year old Carbon record)
    Q8 What was the objective of the ‘Student on Ice Programme’ ? (p-21 ,1st para)
    Q9 What are the reasons behind the programme’s success? (p-21 ,2nd para)
    Q10 How does Antarctica differ from the earth?
    (Antarctica-has never supported human existance-24 hrs austral light makes one lose entire earthly sense-the visual scale ranges from microscopic to the mighty-a different phenomenon-no trees, no bill boards , no buildings)
    Q11 What experience did the author have near the Antarctica circle?
    Q.12 What is Gondwana?
    • Six-fifty million years ago, a super continent existed present day Antarctica called Gondwana.
    • Gondwana thrived for 500 million years. As mammals replace the dinosaurs the landmass separated into countries.


    LONG QUESTIONS
    Q1 Describe the author’s journey to the end of the Earth ?
    Ans The Author was part of the ‘Student on Ice programme’ which made her head to Antarctica .To go there she boarded the Russian research vessel –Akademik Shokalsky and headed towards Antarctica .Crossed nine time zones ,six checkpoints, three water bodies and many ecospheres .

    She was with a group of teenagers on ‘Student on Ice ‘ programme, whose aim was to develop new understanding and respect for the planet They closely saw glaciers retreating and ice shelves collapsing and began to realize that the threat of global warming was very real. Most enjoyable
    experience of the author was walking on the ocean with a metre-thick ice underneath and 180 metres of living ,breathing salt water below the ice

    Q2 Describe the impact of Antarctica on the writer.
    • It was an amazing, alluring and mind boggling experience.
    • Amazed to see the wide stretch of sea under the blue horizon. It was a place which has the history of mankind embedded deep into the layers of the ice.
    • The sight of collapsing ice shields, breaking of ice-bergs and melting of ice was an eye opener.
    • It made the author and his team aware of the dangers the future times are having in their folds.
    Q3 What are phytoplanktons? How are they important to our ecosystem?

    Q4. What is the significance of the title` Journey to the End of the Earth’.
    The title, ‘Journey to the End of the Earth,’ has more than one meaning. It describes an educational journey to Antarctica undertaken by groups of high school students to learn more about the real impact of Global Warming and the future of the earth. 52 students went to the coldest, driest, windiest continent in the world called Antartica in a Russian research vessel, the Akademik Shokalskiy.
    The author calls it a journey to the end of the earth because it began 13.09 deg North of Equator in Madras, involved crossing nine time zones, six checkpoints, three oceans and three ecospheres. She travelled over 100 hours in combination of a car, an aeroplane and a ship.     The journey, being to the extreme south of the earth, is really towards the end of it. Another meaning of this title is more significant as the warnings that Antarctica gives are shocking and much concerning the humanity and the millions of other species on the earth. The changes taking place in Antarctica are pointing a warning finger at the existence of the earth; the earth is journeying to its end!
    Q5 “A lot can happen in a million years but what a difference a day makes”. Discuss with reference to the lesson.
    Q6. By whom and with what objective was the “Students on Ice” Programme started? How far has it achieved its goals?



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  25. NOTICE

    Format -2 Marks [Name of organization,NOTICE,Title,Date,Name,Designation] Content-3 M
    (The wh questions give the skeleton form of the answer)
    What is being organized? Who is organizing?
    Which is the target group? When is it being held?
    Where is it being held? Additional information
    Whom to contact Last date of submission and to whom
    Agenda is written if it there is a meeting
    1. underline the heading. (Do not underline name of institute and the word ‘NOTICE”)
    2. If place of the institute is mentioned write it along with the name
    3. Do not use informal language
    4. Do not use 1st and second person.
    Notices issued by ‘Residents Welfare Association’.
    Power Cut

    What, When : This is to inform all the residents of the society that there will be a power cut for four hours on 8th Aug. 2010 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    Reason : due to the installation of electronic meters. Inconvenience is regretted.
    Name with designation of issuing authority : President, R.W.A., Mayur Vihar Phase I, Delhi.


    Water Shortage
    Considering the acute water shortage in the colony this summer, all the residents of Vasant Kunj,
    A-Block are requested not to waste potable water by cleaning their cars, verandahs, drive ways etc. or watering the plants with a hosepipe. A fine of Rs. 500/- will be imposed on the defaulters. Kindly save water for better tomorrow.
    President
    Resident Welfare Society
    Vasant Kunj, A Block.


    1. S.K.V. Dilshad Garden is organising an educational tour to Goa for the class XI and XII. Write anotice for your school notice board inviting students to join the tour. Invent other necessary details.
    Issuing Authority : S.K.V. DILSHAD GARDEN
    The Word : NOTICE
    Heading : Excursion Tour
    Date : Aug. 7, 2010
    Body of Notice : The students of class XI and XII are hereby informed that our school is organizing an educational tour to Goa as per the details.
    Details of Programme : Destination : Goa
    Duration : From 13 Sept. to 18 Sept. 2010
    Expenses : Rs. 3500/- pp. includes, Train fare, boarding, lodging, sightseeing, etc.
    Body of Notice : Interested students may give their names to the undersigned along with the fees latest by 30th Aug. 2010.
    Name and designation of person issuing the notice : Mrs. S. Krishna (P.E.T.)



    Q You are Suresh Pandey, Secretary of K.A. Residents’ Welfare Society, Indirapuram. Write a notice requesting the members of the society to attend a meeting to discuss the problem of R.O water supply and D.G power back-up of your society.

    K.A. RESIDENTS’ WELFARE SOCIETY, INDIRAPURAM
    NOTICE
    September 10, 2010
    URGENT MEETING!
    The residents of K.A Residents’ Welfare Society, Indirapuram are informed that an urgent meeting of the Society will be held on September 20, 2010 at 9.30 a.m. in the RWA office, H-block. All the members are requested to attend it.
    Agenda:
    1. The problem of R.O. water supply.
    2. The problem of poor D.G power back-up in the society

    Sign.
    (SURESH PANDAY)
    Secretary


    Q. Your school is organizing a Blood Donation Camp in association with the Red Cross Society of India. Write a notice giving essential details about the same. Sign yourself as the Principal of the school. (Word limit – 50 words)

    JAWAHAR NAVODYA VIDYALAYA, KAPURTHALA
    NOTICE
    BLOOD DONATION CAMP
    28 January 2011
    All the members of the staff as well as the students of this school are hereby informed that the Red Cross Society of India is organizing a Blood Donation Camp in our school as per the following details:
    Date : 02 February, 2011
    Time : 8 AM to 5 PM
    Venue : School Assembly Hall
    Age Limit: Above 15 Years
    All are requested to please come forward and donate blood for a noble cause.
    (S.K. Pant)
    PRINCIPAL

    Q. Ramanujan has lost his English Book entitled “History of English Literature’ by Smith. He decides to put up a notice on the students’ notice board of the school. He is a student of class XII of Saint Kabir School, New Delhi. Write a notice in not more than 50 words
    NOTICE
    Lost English Book
    25 January 2012
    A very costly red bound book entitled “History of English Literature” written by Smith has been lost today during preparation time near the Physics Laboratory. It has a laminated transparent cover with the author’s name written on the first page .It bears the stamp of British Council Library, New Delhi.

    Finder is requested to hand over the same to the undersigned. A Suitable reward is promised to the finder.
    Ramanujan
    Class xii A




































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  26. ADVERTISEMENTS
    Points to Remember
    (a) Types (i) Classified (ii) Display
    Classified Advertisements are covered through different headings :
    -Property/Tolet/For sale/Accommodation available:
    - Employments-Situation vacant/jobs wanted/lost and Found/Vehicles/Pets and Kennels.
    - Educational/Missing Persons/Language courses/Hobby classes.
    - Utility services : Packers and Movers/Tour and Travels
    - Vehicles : For sale
    - Tenders
    (b) How to write a Classified Advertisement
    - Write in a box
    -Specify the category of the advertisement.
    - Educational, To Let/ For Sale etc.
    - Be brief, give only relevant information.
    - Information in abbreviated and short forms is acceptable.
    - Must mention contact address and telephone no.
    - Classified advertisements should not be spread out but should be written in running
    lines.
    - Language-formal and concise, not in complete sentence.

    CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS
    FOR SALE
    Property
    -Details of the kind of house (Flat/ independent house/ first floor/ farm house).
    - Details about surroundings-centrally located, facing park, near railway station, airport/shopping complex.
    - Covered area and kind of colony-posh colony.
    - Details of inside of the house : no of rooms, drawing-cum-dining, kitchen, baths,
    servant quarters, garage, lawn etc.
    - Use adjectives like airy, well-ventilated, fully furnished, brand new, newly constructed etc.
    - Whether to be given on company lease.
    - Expected rent/ price.
    - Contact address and telephone number; e-mail address.
    - Begin with ‘Available’ if you are to sell/ let out your house.
    - Begin with ‘Wanted’ if you require an accommodation on rent/for purchase
    Heading: FOR SALE
    Type size floor, No. of rooms : For sale, Dilshad Garden DDA Flat MIG, First floor, two Bedrooms with attached Baths, Drawing and Dining with two balconies.
    Other Attractions : Well furnished, airy, East and park facing.
    Location/surrounding : Nearby market, school, hospital and Bank, Metro and bus stand. Best
    location.
    Selling Price : Price Negotiable.
    Contact Details : Om Properties, H Block, Dilshad Garden or Ring : ..........

    SALE : MOTOR VEHICLES
    - Model No., Year of manufacturing, colour.
    -Colour, Accessories (new seat cover, new mats, stereo etc.).
    -Single-hand driven, good condition, non-accidental, mileage, mat, invite for test drive.
    -Paper-Insurance papers, pollution under control certificate.
    -Expected price
    -Contact address, telephone number.

    FOR SALE (HOUSEHOLD / OFFICE GOODS)
    -Item name, Brand name and year of manufacturing.
    - Gereral condition-excellent working condition, looks brand new etc.
    - Reasonable Price
    -Reason for selling
    Specify material in case of furniture
    - Contact address and telephone no. Also mention the day and time on which to contact.

    Q.You want to sell off some household items at a reasonable rate. Draft on advertisement for local daily giving necessary details.
    Heading : HOUSEHOLD GOODS FOR SALE
    Beginning : Available Household goods for sale as per the details
    Item Name and Brand : (a) LG fully automatic Washing Machine, model splash 2006.
    (b) Samsumg Colour TV. 21” with remote control;
    General Condition : Excellent working condition.
    Specific Details : (c) Brand new furniture of Teak Wood five seater sofa set, six seater dining
    table and double bed with box.
    Reason: owner going abroad
    Selling Price : At very reasonable price,
    Contact Details : A.B. Singh 43/1, B Block, Dilshad Garden or ring 9212734510.

    TO LET
    Details of kind of house (plot/Flat/ independent house)
    Details of Location and surroundings
    Details of no. of rooms, kitchen, garage and lawn, etc.
    Rent expected, Bank and company Lease preferred.
    Contact address and telephone number (can give an e-mail address)

    ACCOMMODATION WANTED
    • Accommodation required : No. of rooms, size, floor
    • Location and surrounding : area, colony, facilities • Contact Add. (Ph. No.)

    1. You want to purchase an independent house in a posh area. Draft a suitable advertisement under the classified column. ‘Accommodation Wanted’ giving your requirements and capacity to pay.
    Heading :ACCOMMODATION WANTED
    Beginning : Required a newly built independent house in a posh area of East Delhi,
    Type size and No. of rooms : Having three bed rooms with attached baths, drawing and dining
    along with modular kitchen, well ventilated.
    Facility : Fully furnished, 24 hrs. Electricity and drinking water, parking.
    Location and Surrounding : East and Park facing, nearby school, Bank and shopping complex,
    Rent Offered : Rent offered 5 thousand per month.
    Contact Details : Mr. R.V. Singh. Mob. : ...............................

    MISSING PERSON/PET ANIMALS
    - Name. age, sex of Child/ Person/ Pet.
    - Built - tall/ medium/ slim/ fat etc.
    - Height (person).
    - Complexion, colour of hair, eyes (Person).
    - Specify when he/ she was seen last and in which clothes.
    - Any particular mark/scar or characteristic which will help in locating the person.
    - Specify any message/ reward.
    - Contact - name/ address/
    - Pet (specific) - breed, colour of fur/skin etc.
    1. You are the sister of a boy who has been missing from his home for the last two days. Draft an advertisement under the caption ‘Missing’ for a local newspaper provide necessary details and also offer a reward.

    Heading : MISSING PERSON
    Name and Age : Missing a boy, Suresh Kumar, 14 years old, 5”3’
    Physical Description : Wheatish complexion, average built. Wearing white T-shirt and blue jeans.
    Identifying Features : Specks, cut mark over the right eye brow.
    Missing Details : since 4.8.2010 from Central Market Lajpat Nagar at 4.30 p.m.
    Reward if any : Informer will be duly rewarded.
    Contact Details : Inform Lajpat Nagar Police Station or ring : .....................

    Q.Your lovely Cat named Tessa is missing since 5th Aug. 2010. Draft an advertisement under the “Missing” Column of a local daily newspaper providing all details in about 50 words.
    Heading : MISSING PET
    Physical description : Missing, our beautiful lovely cat Tessa, White brown fur, 1 year old, with a red ribbon around the neck.
    Missing Details : Since 5th Aug, 2010 from the Central Park of Dilshad Garden.
    Contact Details : Kindly inform Mr. A.B. Singh if found.
    Reward : To be rewarded. Ring : ...............

    MATRIMONIALS
    Begin with wanted/Alliance or proposals invited.
    Write in box seeking details regarding the girl/boy.
    . Education/ professional quailfications
    Service/profession income
    Age, height, complexion, built
    Caste/ sub-caste - religion
    Qualities sought in partner
    End with Box No. c/o the Daily

    Words/Expressions that may be used for a -
    GIRL
    Words /Expressions that may be used for a -
    BOY
    1.Homely
    2.Slim
    3.Smart
    4. Beautiful
    5.Convent educated
    6. Fair-complexioned
    7.Sharp –featured
    8.Charming
    9. Sociable
    10.Gracious
    11.Well settled
    12Cultured
    13. Pretty


    1.Well settled
    2. Well qualified
    3.Pleasing personality
    4.Tall
    5. Handsome
    6.Good natured
    7. Cultured
    8.From business family
    9.Non smoker
    10 Teetotaler
    11. High status family
    12.Fair l
    13. Wheatish


    Q.After completing his M.B.A. from reputed University, your son is working as a manager in an M.N.C. in Noida. He wants to marry a beautiful, educated, well cultured girl, Draft an advertisement for the “Matrimonial” For Bride of a national newspaper.
    Heading : BRIDE WANTED
    Beginning : PQM invited for.
    Physical description : 26 years, 5’8” tall, handsome.
    Academic and Professional : M.B.A from IIM, very well settled in an M.N.C. in Noida, having a
    package of 15 Lakh per annum.
    Caste and Religion : belongs to a well cultured Brahmin family.
    Requirement : Seeks a very beautiful, charming, slim girl, Caste no bar,
    Contact Details : Contact No. ........................

    LOST AND FOUND (NEWSPAPERS/SCHOOL NOTICE-BOARD)
    1. Essential Details.
    2. Use the word ‘Lost’ or ‘Found’ at the beginning so that it is clear whether the article/object has been lost or found.
    3. Name of the Object/article lost or found.
    4. Brand. Colour, condition - VIP, brown, leather bag.
    5. Where/when - in a bus, school
    6. What time -
    7. Reward/ Contact.
    8. For Lost’ give all the details whereas for ‘Found’ the details need not be given
    completely.
    Q.You have lost your bag in Metro between Uttam Nagar and Dwarka while going for an interview. It contains a file having important certificates. Draft an advertisement for a national daily under column ‘Lost and Found’ in not more than 50 words.
    LOST
    Lost a black VIP Bag, 16” × 20” in Metro between Uttam Nagar & Dwarka on 24 Jan. 2011 at 9:40 a.m. Contains valuable documents including Certificates for graduation and post graduation. Urgently required for interview. Suitable reward promised. If found kindly contact Arjun, 245, Lawrence Road, New Delhi, Phone 9597994457.

    SITUATION VACANT
    Name of Employer with address.
    Nature of the post Vacant.
    No. of Posts.
    Required qualifications (Eligibility)
    Salary offered.
    Whom to apply (with necessary contacts)
    Time limit for submission of application.
    Q.You are the General Manager of a leading industrial concern. You need a Chartered Accountant for your office. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words to be published in The Times of India, New Delhi, under the classified columns.
    SITUATION VACANT
    Organisation : Required a Chartered Accountant for a leading concern Brakes and Brakes IndiaLtd.
    Qualification/Knowledge or Experience : Well experienced, between the age group of 30-35 years, with a multiple knowledge of finance, matters of taxation and legal matters.
    Pay Scale and Perks : Attractive salary with other benefits.
    Mode of Applying : Apply to General Manager within seven days with Resume/CV
    Contact Add. and Phone No. : Contact G.M. Brakes and Brakes Ltd. Hari Nagar, Delhi.
    Ph. No. ..........................

    SITUATION WANTED
    Name of post/specialization
    educational qualifications and experience
    Personality traits/ result oriented etc.
    Terms and conditions
    Salary / remuneration
    1. Arun Gupta of M-3, Neel Kamal Appt. ‘Shimla, has a very good knowledge of tourists places in Shimla. He wants to work as a Tourist Guide. Write out a suitable ad. for publication in the Tours and Travels Section of a local newspapers in about 50 words

    SITUATION WANTED
    A Tourist Guide widely travelled, well acquainted with hilly and historical places round about Shimla.Well-versed in English, Hindi, Punjabi and Local Language seeks a good job with the Local Tours and Travels. Desirous Party may contact Arun Gupta. M-3, Neel Kamal Appartment Shimla or ring....................

    TRAVELS & TOURS
    -Begin with the phrase ‘package available’
    -State the name of travel agency
    -Specify destination and duration
    -Provide details of package-food / boarding
    /lodging / sight seeing
    -Give estimated cost and special discount
    -end with contact address and phone number

    EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
    -Name of the institution /its past record
    -Courses offered / duration
    -Eligibility criteria
    -facilities available and fee structure
    -Last date for registration
    -Address / contact details.
    1. You propose to sell your flat as you are going abroad. Draft an advertisement for it to be published in Daily Times under classified columns.
    2. You own an independent house in west Delhi and you want to sell it. Draft a suitable advertisement to be published in a local daily, giving details about the exact location, number of rooms, the facilities and the expected price.
    3.. You want to sell your blue coloured Maruti 800 car. Draft an advertisement for the
    classified columns of the Times of India giving particulars of models, mileage and the
    expected price. You may add other details too.
    4. You want to buy a new car and hence want to sell your 4 year old motorcycle first Draft a ‘For sale’ advertisement to be put up at the notice board of the community centre giving necessary details.
    5. Your family is moving out of Delhi since your father has been transferred. You want to sell a number of household items at a reasonable rate. Draft an advertisement for this purpose to be put up outside the RWA’s office specifying the items and giving necessary details.
    6. You want to sell off some of the electronic items that are in use at your home. Draft an advertisement to be published in your colony’s news letter with details about their brand, condition and the expected price.
    7.. You are Zaheer Khan of 22, Sports Lane, Delhi. You wish to give on rent the Ist floor of your newly constructed house. Draft an add to be published in the ‘To let’ classified columns of ‘The Indian Times.” 50 words
    8. You want to purchase an independent house in a posh area. Draft a suitable
    advertisement under classified columns ‘FOR PURCHASE’ giving your requirements and capacity to pay.
    9. You are Mayank/ Mona of G.K.I. Your pet dog is missing since July 13, 2009. Draft an advertisement for the ‘missing’ column of a news paper giving details about the breed of the dog, name, sex, mark of identification etc. and also offer an award.
    10. Your nephew, a kid of 5 years has got lost, giving full details of the missing kid, draft an advertisement for a local newspaper.
    11. A retired army officer is looking for a suitable match for his smart, convent educated daughter. Write out a matrimonial advertisement for publication in newspaper.
    12. A highly placed I.T. Professional settled in America seeks alliance with an exceptionally beautiful, educated, cultured, tall girl of Brahmin family. Write a suitable
    advertisement for the “Matrimonial” column of a national daily.
    13. You have found a briefcase in the compartment of Rajdhani Express while travelling from Delhi to Mumbai. Draft an advertisement for the Hindustan Times under the classified column
    14. You are the secretary in Herbal India Ltd.. Draft an advertisement for the situation vacant column for the post of Sales Executive in your company.
    15. You are a psychiatrist and counsellor and have a ten years experience. Now you are looking for a better job in a public School. Draft an advertisement to be published in the newspaper.
    16.You are C.A.. You are capable of handling accounts and managing finances.Write an advertisement seeking a job.
    17. Indian Institute of Foreign Languages is starting courses in foreign languages. Write an advertisement giving description about the courses.
    18. Sita Travels offers a package tour for Mauritius. Draft an advertisement.
    19.. You are Dr. Madhu. You are looking for an independent house in Ghaziabad on a reasonable rent for your residence –cum –clinic. Draft an advertisement.Your phone no.. is 45355667.




    ANSWERS:

    CAR FOR SALE

    FOR SALE

    MISSING PERSON
    AVAILABLE Maruti 800 DX ,2000 Model in excellent condition. Blue, scratchless ,self driven ,sparingly used. Average 18 km a litre. Driven 17000 km. All accessories intact. Expected price not below Rs. 1.40 lacs. Contact :Malhotra ,011-22238954
    FOR IMMEDIATE SALE ,a brand new Akai TV 29”purchased in 2009 ;LG washing machine Model RC121 ,purchased 2008 ;5 seater sofa set made of teak wood. All in excellent condition. Owner transferred. Prices negotiable. Contact : XYZ ,Phone 011-23487869
    MISSING from Khan Market 22 August ,2010 my nephew Shubham ,aged 5 ,86 cm ,fair , slim built ,curly hair , birth mark below right ear ,wearing white T-shirt and black shorts. Speaks Hindi and English. Informer will be suitably rewarded. Contact: XYZ , 9892443382
    Q.3 Q.5 Q.10

    MISSING PET

    GROOM WANTED

    TO LET
    MISSING since 2nd August , 2010 a dark brown , male Labrador ,20’’ height , one year old . Scabbie has a hole on his left ear and a strap of black leather round his neck. If found please contact : Mayank GK 1 , Delhi .Phone: 9899987875
    (Finder will be suitably rewarded)

    ALLIANCE invited for beautiful, slim ,fair ,smart ,convent educated Punjabi girl 25/5’4”. B.Com, M.B.A and working in a reputed bank. Father retired Army Officer, living in South Delhi. Boy must be well qualified from well established reputed family. Respond for early and decent marriage to
    P.O.BOX : 136 A , The Times of India ,New Delhi
    E-mail : ram@rediffmail.com

    AVAILABLE on rent basis the 1st floor of a newly built house in Sports Lane. Three bedrooms with attached bathrooms, a drawing –cum-dining room and modular kitchen. All amenities and parking space. 24 –hour water supply, power backup. Close to Metro Station. Company lease preferred. Contact : Zaheer Khan ,22 ,Sports Lane Delhi. Phone: 989875698.
    Q9 Q.11 Q.7



    BRIDE WANTED

    FOUND

    FLAT FOR SALE
    PROPOSAL invited from an exceptionally beautiful ,highly educated ,tall ,Brahmin girl for very handsome ,tall and cultured boy 29/5’10”. IT professional settled in London as CEO of a reputed firm. Parents having business in Delhi. Only sister married. Horoscope must. Send bio data and photo to
    akshay@yahoo.com
    Mob: 9849284934
    FOUND an unlocked black VIP briefcase on 31 Aug. 2011 at 9 : 40 a.m. while travelling by the Rajdhani Express (Mumbai to Delhi ). Contains important certificates. Will be handed to the owner after ascertaining the particulars, identification and content. The rightful claimant may contact : XYZ , 45, Nehru Place ,Delhi. Mob: 98785738545
    AVAILABLE a spacious, fully furnished MIG flat in prime locality of Dwarka,Delhi. Close to metro station. Ground floor ,3 bedrooms with attached bathrooms ,modular kitchen ,east facing. Car parking available.24hr water and power supply. Owner going abroad. Reasonable price. Genuine parties may contact: A.B. Singh ,234567567
    Q.12 Q.13 Q1




    FOR SALE


    ACCOMODATION WANTED

    TRAVELS AND TOURS
    AVAILABLE a black PULSAR, 2006 ,with disc brakes and 4 stroke engine 180 cc , installed with self start technology .Alloy wheels ,digital meter ,average around 40kmpl ,complete documents. Excellent condition, self driven. Price negotiable.
    Contact: Ramesh ,15 ,Greater Kailash ,Delhi. Ph: 23454355.



    WANTED a spacious and well built independent house with a basement in Ghaziabad for a house-cum –clinic. Exquisitely designed, 3/4 bedrooms with a drawing room and lobby. Prefer separate entry for clinic and parking. 24 hr water supply 7 power back up. Rent terms to be negotiable.
    Contact :Dr. Madhu ,Ph: 45355667.
    ATTRACTIVE PACKAGE available for Mauritius , 3 nights/4 days , breakfast and dinner , stay at 4-star hotel , all transfers and sightseeing by deluxe coach. Rs. 10,000 per person. Special discount for booking till 10th October,2010.
    Contact: Sita Travels ,227 Jagriti Enclave ,Delhi. Ph: 9854778385.
    Q4 Q.19 Q 18


    SITUATION WANTED

    SITUATION VACANT

    EDUCATIONAL
    A well qualified and expert C.A. with handsome personality & 35 yrs. of age seeks a job in Delhi. Highly competent to handle accounts and mange finances .Having 10 yrs experience and presently working with Jindal Iron and Steel industries, Hisar but shifting to Delhi. Working knowledge of computers & good communication skills. Minimum pay acceptable: Rs. 50’000 p.m..
    Contact :P.K. Jain , 35,Urban Estates ,Hisar. Ph: 9886544549.
    Herbal India Limited , a reputed pharmaceutical company requires a Sales Executive for its marketing division . Minimum qualifications-B. Pharmacy. Work experience of at least 3 years. Proficiency in English, impressive personality and ready to travel. Handsome salary and other perks. Apply with detailed resume till 15th October ,2010 to: Manager,
    Herbal India Limited,
    247 ,Ashok Vihar ,Delhi.
    Phone: 23453234

    Indian Institute of Foreign Languages announces the commencement of its short term courses in French , Chinese and Japanese. Duration : 6 months. Eligibility: senior secondary. Excellent faculty, computerised training. Fee-Rs. 10,000/-.Last date for registration : 25 October, 2010. Contact : Manager , Indian Institute of Foreign Languages , Sector 15 , Gurgaon. Ph: 9685857439.
    Q16 Q.14 Q.17











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  27. NOTE MAKING
    1. Must write the title. It should state what the majority of the passage talks about.
    2. Minimum 4 abbreviations to be used in note making and make key to abbreviations after writing the notes and not after the summary. (maximum abbreviations :7)
    3. Helping verbs ,articles ,pronouns and determiners could be omitted
    4. Write minimum 3 main heading and 3 sub headings (do not write too many subheadings)
    5. Write phrases not complete sentences
    6. Do not forget to use indentation
    7. Do not use numbers as abbreviations :
    WRONG : 2 –two Wid- with
    CORRECT : Edu. – education (use 1st few letters)
    Achvmnt-achievement (omit vowels)
    b’ful- beautiful , can’t -cannot (write first few and last few letters)
    BBC –British broadcasting Corporation (acronyms)
    @,& ,= (conventionall symbols)
    Govt. ,Ans. ,Ltd (standard abbreviations)
    1. Notes making should not be lengthy. It should not cover more than 2 sides of a page.
    SUMMARY
    1. Do not exceed word limit given in the exam
    2. Summary is made out of notes not the passage
    3. Do not divide the summary in different paragraphs.
    4. It should be attempted just after the note making
    5. Do not start like this : ‘The passage talks about’
    6. Do not use any abbreviations in summary
    7. Write complete , grammatically correct sentences.
    8. Try to follow the order of the notes as far as possible
    FORMAT:

    TITLE (underline the title)

    NOTES

    1. Main Heading

    A.1 Sub heading
    Left Margin
    A.1.1 Sub Sub-Heading (optional_
    (do not
    A.1.2 Sub Sub-Heading
    Write no.
    A.2 Sub heading
    In margin)
    A.2.1 Sub Sub-Heading

    A.2.2 Sub Sub-Heading



    1. Main Heading

    B.1 Sub heading

    B.1.1 Sub Sub-Heading

    B.1.2 Sub Sub-Heading

    B.2 Sub heading

    B.2.1 Sub Sub-Heading

    B.2.2 Sub Sub-Heading




    Q.Read the passage given below and make the notes.
    The small village of Somnathpur contains an extraordinary temple, built around 1268 A.D. by the Hoyasalas of Karnataka-one of the most prolific templebuilders. Belur and Helebid are among their-better-known works. While these suffered during the invasions of the 14th century, the Somnathpur temple stands more or less intact in near-original condition. This small temple captivates with the beauty and vitality of its detailed sculpture,covering almost every inch of the walls, pillars, and even ceilings. It has three shikharas and stands on a star-shaped, raised platform with 24 edges. The outer walls have a profusion of detailed carvings: the entire surface run over by carved plaques of stone. There were vertical panels covered by exquiste figures of gods and goddesses. with many incarnations being depicted. There were nymphs too, some carrying an ear of maize (a symbol of plenty and prosperity. The elaborate ornamentation, very characteristic of Hoyasala sculptures, was a remarkable feature. On closer look - and it is worth it - the series of friezes on the outer walls revealed intricately carved caparisoned elephants, charging horsemen, stylized flowers, warriors, musicians, crocodiles, and swans.

    The temple was actually commissioned by Soma Dandanayaka or Somnath (he named the village after himself), the minister of the Hoyasala king, Narasimha the Third. The temple was built to house three versions of Krishna. The inner center of the temple was the kalyana mandapa. Leading from here were three corridors, each ending in a shrine, one for each kind of Krishna-Venugopala, Janardana and Prasanna Keshava, though only two remain in their original form. In the darkness of the sanctum sanctorum, I tried to discern the different images. The temple’s sculptural perfection is amazing and it includes the doors of the temple and the three elegantly carved towers.
    Ans.
    Temple of Somnathpur
    Notes
    A. Prominent temples at Somnathpur:
    A.1 built around 1268 A.D.
    A.2 built by Hoyasalas.
    A.3 built by most prolific temple-builders.
    A.3.1 Belur and Helebid
    A.3.2 suffered during the invasions of 14 century

    B. Temple: the beauty and vitality:
    B.1 Detailed sculpture- covering walls, pillars, ceilings.
    B.2 Three shikharas- stands star-shaped, raised platform - 24 edges
    B.3 The outer walls- detailed carvings
    B.4 the entire surface- carved plaques of stone,
    B.5 Vertical panels covered by exq. Fig. of gods& goddesses

    C Characteristic of Hoyasala sculptures:
    C.1 the series of friezes on the outer walls
    C.2 revealed intricately carved caparisoned elephants .
    C.3 charging horsemen
    C.4 stylized flowers
    C.5 warriors, musicians, crocodiles, and swans.

    D. Temple in the History:
    D.1 actually comm.. Soma Dandanayaka or Somnath
    D.2 inner center of temple was the kalyana mandapa.
    D.3 Leading - three corridors, each ending in a shrine
    D.4 Each kind of Krishna-Venugopala, Janardana and Prasanna
    Keshava, Life-test, of plu.


    KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS
    S.NO. ABBREVIATIONS WORDS
    1. Inc. includes
    2 Exq. exquisite
    3. Fig. figures
    4. Tstmny testimony
    5. Plrlty Plurality
    6. Comm.. commissioned


    Summary
    Somnath temple is situated in a small village of Somnathpur. It was commissioned by Soma Dandanayaka or Somnath and it was build around 1268A.D. The temple of Somnath is extraordinary due to the sculptures on the walls, pillars, and even the ceiling which are covered by exquisite figures of gods and goddesses. The sculptures have a series of finches on the outer walls. The various molifs are carved elephants, charging horsemen and stylized flowers.It had three corridors ,each ending in a shrine ,one for each version of Krishna- Venugopala, Janardana and Prasann Keshava.

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  29. READING COMPREHENSION

    Points to remember:
    1. First understand the passage and then read the questions.
    2. Underline the lines having the answers.
    3. Write complete ,grammatically correct answers.
    4. Answers should be brief ,to the point and clear
    5. Give one point for 1 mark question and two points for 2 marks question.
    6. Do not answer the questions in points.
    7. The answer should be in the same tense as used in the question.

    Common Errors:
    1.Not giving to the point answer and beating about the bush.
    2.Reading the questions before scanning the passage.
    3.Answering the questions without reading the passage thoroughly and comprehending the main idea.
    4.Writing the answers in phrases rather than in complete sentences

    Passage (Factual)

    Read the following passage and answer the question that follow:-
    The Indian team’s win in Pakistan will without doubt gets laced with romanticism of the kind reserved for any major achievement. Tradition and history may not mean much to generation of compulsive consumers [of the IT technology and MTV channel kind], but it may still not be out of place to remind young generation that when India won its first Test Match – against England in 1952 in Madras – the whole nation beamed with pride even though there were no corporate sponsors to remind us how great a nation we had become.
    In the near seven-decade history of India’s Test Cricket, the year 1971 will rank as one of the greatest. It was a year when Ajit Wadekar and his men won a series in the west Indies and then went on to beat England in England.
    Who can forget B. S. Chandrashaker’s spell of 6 for 38 at The Oval that helped India win on the England soil for the first time ever,. In fact, to most of us that achievement still ranks as one of the finest moments of Indian cricket and that team itself was one of the best India has ever had.
    Move on to the eighties, the 1983 World Cup win & the demotion of England in England in 1986. That we have still to win a series out side the sub-continent after that makes the 2-0 victory of Kapil Dev’s team even more amazing and creditable. Just imagine! The Indian side of the eighties had Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikanth as openers and had a batting lineup that figured the likes of Gr Vishwanath, Dilip Vengsarksr, Mohinder Amarnath, Md. Azaharuddin, followed by the all around skills of Kapil Dev, it was as formidable a batting line up as one can imagine and it that team had the support of Javagal Srinath and the spin quartet of Bedi, prasanna, chandra & Venkat, it would be safe to assure that India would have been Test Cricket’s world champions at that time of course, we still would have needed a Jhon Wright to be around.
    In the nineties, India under Mohammad Azahrauddin became the undisputed world Champions in home conditions but their record away from home was so abysmal that it led to the team being dubbed as ‘lions at home‘ lambs abroad.
    History is being changed and reshaped by Saurav Ganguly’s unorthodox but very effective leadership and the great skills of his men. The last three years have seen the seeds of professionalism being sown in the team with. Wright playing a phenomenal role in helping this side acquire that cutting edge which teams of the past lacked
    India now has a team that played wonderfully joyous cricket in the past couple of years. It did not lose a series away from home against England and most importantly, in Australia. And now, it has won in Pakistan, its first away series win since 1993.
    It will always be debatable to say to say which Indian team has been the best ever, though one won can safely take the risk and say that if ever there was a team hard to beat, it has to be this one. Coupled with a batting line –up that must be surely giving nightmares to any opposition is the emergence of two outstanding swings bowlers L Balaji and Irfan Pathan. And then there is Anil Kumble who has now shown that if he has the back –up of runs and quality bowlers, he is a match winner even in alien conditions.
    The team’s support system of Wright, Andrew Leipus and trainer Gregory kings (continuing with the trainings revolution started by Adrean Le Roux ) has knitted together a bunch of extremely talented players into a favorable professional set up.
    Though they lack a genuine all rounder; an accomplished wicket keeper and they suffer from self-created problems of a settled opening pair, it may still be sage to say that not only is this the best Indian team ever, it has the making of the best team in the world.
    Sponsors keep your spending options open. Australia beware!

    On the basis of your reading of the passage answer the following questions:-
    a)
    Why was 1971 remarkable in the cricketing history of India? 1
    b)
    What glory did Kapil Dev’s team bring in the eighties? 2
    c)
    What could have made the Indian cricket team word champions in the eighties? 2
    d)
    How was the Indian team dubbed as in the nineties? 2
    e)
    How did Saurav Ganguli’s leader ship help reshape the team? 1
    f)
    However, what is it that the Indian team still lacks? 1
    g)
    Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:-

    i.
    Of quite good standard; deserving praise. [ para 4 ]

    ii.
    Impressive, powerful but difficult. [ para 4 ]

    iii.
    Inviting two opinions. [ para 8 ]


    Answer :-
    a)
    The year1971 was remarkable because in this year Ajit wadekar and his team won a series in West Indies and then went on to beat England in England.
    b)
    Kapil Dev’s team won the world cup in 1983 and beat England in England. It was an amazing and creditable achievement.
    c)
    India had formidable batting line-up in the eighties with players like Sunil Gavaskar, Kris Srikanth etc. If it had the support of the ace players like Javagal Srinath, Bedi and Prasanna and some others, then it could be the world champions
    d)
    The Indian team was dubbed as ‘lions at home, lambs abroad’ because their performance was great in the homeland but outside it was abysmal.
    e)
    Saurav Ganguly’s leadership sowed the seed of professionalism in the team. The team has acquired the cutting edge which teams of the past lacked.
    f)
    Indian team lacks a genuine all rounder, and accomplished wicket keeper and suffers from problems of settled opening pair
    g)
    (i) Creditable

    (ii) Formidable

    (iii) Debatable




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  30. Letter of Complaint (The complaint could be against)
    • A social problem
    • Poor services by an agency/organization
    • Defect in product

    Sample Letters
    You are Sidhi/ Sanjay of U-03 G Block Kasturi Nagar Mysore-37.Write a letter to the Director NGO Bird Links Society, Bangalore expressing your concern about the decrease in the number of the birds in Delhi.
    House No- U/08
    G Block
    Kasturi Nagar
    Mysore -37


    30 June 2011
    The Director
    NGO Bird Links Society
    Bangalore
    Karnataka


    Sir
    Subject: Diminishing number of birds

    With deep regret I wish to bring to your kind notice about the decrease in the population of birds in Mysore. Mysore is known to have more than 500 species of birds but many of them are on the verge of extinction.

    According to the reports from the recent seminar held on Conservation of Birds, there was a time, when a number of birds would flock to the banks of river Kaveri, Bandipur wild life sanctuary and forested canopy in Mysore. These numbers have come crashing down in the recent years.

    The main reasons are rampant construction of buildings, bridges and flyovers, cutting of forests and of course environmental pollution. Many species have become endangered. It is time the people of Mysore were made aware of this grave situation by conducting seminars and workshops.
    The locals should be given incentives for preserving the birds. Sanction for the construction of buildings, malls, bridges ands so on should be given only after proper evaluation of the environmental impact of those constructions over the life of species there. Let’s not forget that birds are an important link in the food chain.
    I request the government, environmentalists and the society to show their concern before it is too late.
    Yours faithfully
    (Sidhi Sharma)


    DEFECT IN PRODUCT:
    Points to remember
    1. Include all important facts about your purchase, including the date , reference number and place where you made the purchase and any information you can give about the product such as brand , model number ,etc.
    2. Mention the problem and state exactly what you want to be done about the problem and how long you are willing to wait to get it resolved.
    3. Language should be polite rather than angry , sarcastic or threatening



    SAMPLE LETTER:

    You are Manisha , staying at 22 ,Kirti Nagar ,Delhi. You bought a mobile phone from “Mobile Villa” , Roop Nagar ,Delhi. The phone developed a problem within a few days of the purchase. Write a letter to Sales Manager of the showroom complaining about the defect and seeking immediate replacement.

    22 , Kirti Nagar
    Delhi

    15 December 2010

    The Sales Manager
    Mobile Villa
    Roop Nagar
    Delhi

    Sir

    Subject : Complaint against defective mobile phone

    I bring to your kind notice that I bought NOKIA N73 mobile on 5th December 2010 vide
    receipt no.SE/099 from your showroom. The phone carries a guarantee of 2 years against
    any defect.
    I regret to inform that after one week of using it, problems started to appear. The flash of the camera is no longer working. Also, the display screen is getting blurred which makes it difficult for me to see the SMS messages clearly.

    Under the terms and conditions of the sale ,the phone carries a guarantee of two years towards any defect. You , are ,therefore requested to replace it at the earliest so that I would be spared from further inconvenience.

    Yours faithfully
    Manisha



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  31. ON THE FACE OF IT

    • Mr. Lamb Welcomes Derry
    – in his garden in spite of jumping over the wall
    – Tries to make him comfortable
    – Tells him to pick crab apples
    – Talked to him, without considering his disability
    – Derry thinks, pretending not to be afraid of his burnt face
    – Tells usually people afraid of his face
    – Mr. Lamb asks but doesn’t probe
    – Tells Derry that he has a tin leg

    • Mr. Lamb’s advice to Derry
    – Tells that in Nature shapes differ but the quality is the same
    – no difference among the plants whether they are weeds, flowers and others all grow
    – Inside is more important than outside
    – Accept yourself not to fear of others
    – Calling Lamey-Lamb not bother him
    – Not to keep thinking of these things
    – Life offers many more things
    – Isolation isn’t good
    – Inspires to look at things positively

    • Derry’s reaction to Mr. Lamb’s advice
    – Initially, very suspicious of Mr. Lamb
    – Never had anybody to talk and understand
    – Couldn't believe that he does not find him ugly
    – Later, fascinated by Mr. Lamb’s talk
    – Motivated and drawn towards him

    • Mr. Lamb
    – An old man with a tin leg
    – Lives alone, lonely
    – Found ways to overcome his loneliness
    – Keeps his gate open
    – Never curtains his windows
    – Imagines kids and people walking all over
    – Spends time listening to the bees
    – Has a positive approach to life

    • Derry’s Transformation
    – Had bitter experience in the world
    – Tells Mr. Lamb about sarcastic comments about his looks
    – Even his mother kisses on the other side of face
    – Not trust people and ignore their comments about his face
    – Sad that he will have only half a face
    – Mr. Lamb’s meeting changes his outlook towards life
    – Talks to Mr. Lamb about his likes, dislikes and fears
    – Wants to be loved and appreciated
    – Wants to break free from the stigma of being disabled
    – His going back to Mr. Lamb’s garden shows his changing personality.

    Q1. Who is Derry? What self-opinion does he hold?

    Derek, also called Derry was a young boy of 14. He was a quiet, shy and defiant boy. One side of his face was totally burnt by acid. He was a victim of an inferiority complex.

    Q2. ‘I am not afraid, people are afraid of me’, why does Derry say so?

    Derry lives in a cocoon of  complexes – due to his burnt face – isolated himself – don’t mix up – considers his burnt face `an unpleasant sight` - people are afraid of

    Q3. Mr. Lamb says to Derry; ‘it’s all relative, beauty and the beast’, what essentially does he mean by that?

    Mr. Lamb means to say that different people have different view pints to look at the same thing. Some find one thing beautiful, others find it ugly. It all depends on outlook and attitude. It is, therefore, important to adopt a positive attitude towards everything just like the Princess Beauty who loved the monstrous Beast in the fairy tale. The point is that what you look like, but what you are inside.

    Q4 What does Derry know about the fairy tale ‘Beauty and the Beast’? Why is he not convinced by its moral?

    -Derry had heard the tale; Beauty liked the monstrous Beast; when she kissed he turned into a handsome prince; moral was not how you look outside but how you look inside is important; Derry was not convinced as even if someone kissed he would never change and his mother always kissed him only on the other cheek

    Q5Mr. Lamb has successfully learned to cope with his loneliness. How?

         *keeps busy by gardening, rearing bees, making apple jam etc. Also
    keeps windows and doors open, welcomes all companies.  

    Q6. What did Derry’s mothers think of Mr. Lamb?
                                       OR
    Why did Derry’s mother stop him, going to Mr. Lamb?

    Derry’s mother does not hold a good opinion about Mr. Lamb. She had heard many things about the old man, therefore stops Derry to visit Mr. Lamb.

    Q7. How does Lamb try to remove the baseless fears of Derry?
    Mr. Lamb influences Derry – his optimistic philosophy – advised him not to give attention on other’s comments – try to be internally pure and strong – eliminate the negativity of life.

    Q8. Comment on the moral value of the play
     The moral of the play is very loud and clear. The physically disabled  should focus on the brighter side of life and not to brood over the shortcomings.  The society should accept them as they are and expand their social interactions .In this way they can fight out the loneliness, depression and disappointment.

    Q9“When I look in the mirror...I’m afraid of me.” Why does Derry say so?

    *burn scar on his face, curious looks by people make him conscious,                                          
     avoids meeting others, sour experiences have made him bitter. 

    Q10What is ironical about his mother’s behaviour towards Derry?  

    *her over-protective attitude stops Derry from meeting new people, discourages him, instead of making him brave – makes him timid. 

    Q11 “It’s got nothing to do with my face and what I look like.” What attitudinal change do Derry’s words to his mother indicate?

    *Derry attitude is now positive & he looks forward to a better life, no longer hiding from others

    Q12Though the play ends with Mr. Lamb’s death there is still an element of hope. Explain.

    *positive change in Derry’s attitude by Mr. Lamb will be permanent,
    his life will get better. Mr. Lamb has passed his knowledge and philosophy to younger generation. Though Mr. Lamb is physically dead, but his ideas will remain alive in Derry’s heart. 

    Q13. What is it that draws Derry towards Mr. Lamb?

    *Lamb makes Derry feel comfortable, doesn’t question him about his disability, instills confidence in him, is a good friend to him

    Q14Why does Mr. Lamb leave his gate always open?

    (a) – happy to have visitors / children to come there for apples, pears and
    toffees / to overcome his feeling of loneliness

    Long answer questions

    Q1 How did Mr. Lamb’s meeting with Derry become a turning point in Derry’s life?

    – Both Lamb and Derry handicapped
    – Derry in the beginning withdrawn and defiant
    – couldn’t stand people staring at him
    – Lamb open-minded and generous.
    – kept garden gate open and welcomed all
    – had a positive attitude, taught Derry not to indulge in self pity/love life
    – taught him the ways of dealing with people
    – Derry confessed to his mother that Lamb talked of things that nobody had ever talked of – things that gave him an optimistic outlook.
    – Even defied his mother.
    – Derry’s return to Lamb’s garden shows his appreciation for Lamb/ restored confidence.

    .Q2 How did Mr. Lamb try to give courage and confidence to Derry?

    Welcomed him and accepted him as he was.
    Told him its important to see how you are on the inside than how you look on the outside
    One cannot go through life being scares and alienated
    Shouldn’t brood over limitations but count on his blessings-he had brain legs tongue arms and thus was totally functional-this was a blessing
    Enjoy simple joys of everyday living with people around and nature, ignoring the unpleasant-see beauty in beez buzzim or humming-weeds growing-flowers blooming
    One’s attitude that matters
    Individuals make a difference to the problem
    Extended unconditional love
    Inspired him with love for life and instilled confidence in him to look at life in an optimistic way. Embrace his burnt face and rise above it.
    Q3. The lesson, 'On The Face of It', is an apt depiction of the loneliness and sense of alienation experienced by people on account of a disability. Explain.

    – loneliness and sense of alienation experienced by Derry and Mr Lamb
    Derry
    – loner / pessimistic / suffered from severe negative complexes / anger and
    frustration / withdrawn and introverted / low confidence / indulged in self pity
    / suspicious of the intent of others
    (any two)

    Mr Lamb
    – inwardly - lonely, craved for company and acceptance
    – outwardly - jovial, optimistic, lover of nature, social, outgoing, tolerant (didn’t
    mind children calling him Lamey Lamb or picking the Crab apples)
    – helpful, sensitive, independent

    Q4 Mr. Lamb inspite of his bravado is a lonely man. Comment.
    ·       He lived alone in a huge house with a sprawling garden
    ·       He left his gate open, hoping that people would just walk in
    ·       He pretends to have hundreds of friends but in reality has none
    ·       Welcomes Derry in his garden and keeps him engaged in conversation
    ·       He puts Derry’s fears to rest
    ·       Doesn’t curtain his windows as he doesn’t want to be shut away from the world
    ·       The open window gives him the feeling of space and part of the world
    ·       When he narrates his routine to Derry he creates an image of the house being full of people
    ·       He visualizes people walking and sitting in front of fire sharing food and time
    ·       In the end he says “they never come back.” Indicating the sadness he feels on alienation
    ·       One almost can see through his bravado of being very busy with lots of friends

    Q5. The actual pain or inconvenience caused by a physical impairment is often much less than the sense of alienation felt by the person with disabilities. What is the kind of behavior that the person expects from others?

    Actual pain or inconvenience caused by physical impairment is often less than the sense of alienation felt by the person with disabilities
     – Physical disabilities caused pain once in life time like during war when Mr. Lamb got hurt and sometimes when its rainy.
    – But after it this physical disability – set chain for other actions – caused mental agony – called Lamely lamb, mothers were afraid of sending the children because of his tin leg.
    -Derry -burnt face –everyone pities him-only a mother could love that face
     -Both Mr. Lamb and Derry have been the victims of verbal atrocities –
     -Mr. Lamb takes comments lightly
     -But Derry does not have the attitude like Mr. Lamb – Attitude of the people needs to be changed
      -Do not want sympathy but accept them as they are
       -Wounds get healed –but bitter comments never forgotten leaves a scar

    Q6“Acid…ate my face up. It ate me up.” Describe the miseries suffered by Derry after the unfortunate incident he refers to.

     *ignored by others or has to face curious looks, glances and questions, feels awkward and abnormal, sense of isolation, unkind comments, over-protective attitude of mother, no true friends. 

    Q7 Various factors can lead to psychological changes in one’s personality. Discuss with reference to Derry’s experiences in On the face of it.

    *burn scars and unkind attitude of others make him negative, encouraging, positive and kind attitude of Mr. Lamb changes his attitude.

    Q8 Physically challenged people don’t want sympathy, they just need acceptance. Comment with illustrations from On the face of it.

    *need for acceptance by fellow beings, pain of being ignored ...don’t want to be reminded of disabilities again and again, emotional scars deeper than physical one, sympathy weakens them, need to be inspired
    and encouraged.. 

     Q.9.Explain: “Derry is a victim of his own complex.” How does there come a change in his thinking?

    Ans:Derry is a young boy of fourteen years. One side of his face is badly burnt due to falling of the acid. He thinks it ‘the ugliest thing’ in the world. When he sees his face in the mirror, he gets afraid of himself. He has heard ladies saying ‘What a terrible face!’ None will like him. He becomes dejected, withdrawn and defiant. He is unable to face the world. He avoids the general public. All these facts turn Derry a victim of his own inferiority complex and negative attitude. By chance he sneaks into the garden of Mr. lamb thinking it to be a secluded place. But Mr. Lamb interrupts him and tells that his door is always open. People can come and he has got so many friends. Consequently a surge of relief starts flowing in the mind of Derry. He is drawn towards him. Mr. Lamb tells that children tease and call him ‘Lamey Lamb’ but he never minds. He plays with them and gives them toffees. His viewpoint brings a great change in Derry. He becomes free from inferiority complex and decides to face the realities of life.

    Q10. Both Mr. Lamb and Derry represent two serious aspects of life, though their origin can be called the same. Explain the statement.

    Suggested Answer / Value Points-   
     Both Mr. Lamb & Derry are physically handicapped – but have a different perspective on life – Derry an escapist – intentionally distances himself  from people – likes solitude – considers his burnt face as the most ugliest thing – believes none even his mother will never love him.

    On the other hand Mr. Lamb – an open hearted & broad minded – does not let his disability affect his life – being an optimistic – takes life as it comes
    - enjoys sitting in the sun – reading books – growing flower & weeds – with his positivism enlightens Derry who then follows his foot step

    Here are other short questions for testing yourself.
    OTHER SHORT QUESTIONS
    1.        How does Derry enter the garden? What had he thought about it?
    2.        . How did Derry’s face get disfigured?
    3.        How does Mr. Lamb differentiate between weeds and flowers? What does it tell about Mr. Lamb?
    4.         What did Mr. Lamb tell Derry about his handicap?
    5.         Why isn’t Mr. Lamb troubled by the poeple who stare at him?
    6.        What cruel things did the woman at the bus stop say about Derry?
    7.        “It was so cruel”. What does Derry refer to?
    8.        Which peculiar things does Derry notice about Mr. Lamb? (2008)
    9.        How do people react to Derry’s burnt face?
    10.    How does Mr. Lamb convince Derry of the uselessness of being a recluse?
    11.   * Why were there no curtains in Mr. Lamb’s house?
    12.   How does Mr. Lamb spend his time?
    13.    What did Derry overhear his parents talking about his future?
    14.   How is Mr. Lamb’s concept of a “friend” different from that of Derry’s?
    15.   Why does Mr. Lamb advise Derry to stop having feelings of hatred towards the people?
    16.    How do Derrry’s parents add to his feelings of insecurity?
    17.    How does Mr. Lamb treat the people who visit his house?
    18.   What according to Derry, would happen if Mr. Lamb continued his friendship with him?
    19.    What has Derry been told by people who stare at him?
    20.   Why does Mr. Lamb tell Derry that if he went back he would never return?
    21.    Why does Derry’s mother object to his going to Mr. Lamb’s house? or
                    What did Derry’s mother think of Mr. Lamb ?(2009)
    22.   Why does Derry say “if I don’t go back there I’ll never go anywhere in this world”?
    23.   * Do you think Derry is a changed person at the end of the play? Give reasons.


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  33. THE ENEMY

    What is more important - loyalty to your country or saving a person's life no matter to which country they belong?

    - Story is set during World War II
    - Japan is fighting America
    - It is a story of conflict between fellow-feeling and loyalty
    - Shown through the situation between Tom, the American prisoner and the Japanese couple, Dr. Sadao and Hana.

    Characterization of Sadao

    - A dedicated surgeon and doctor
    - A nice human being
    - Full of fellow, feeling, kindness for people in distress
    - Sadao undergoes a conflict due to the prisoner's identity – Tom is an American
    - Sadao is afraid of being called a traitor
    - He is also prejudiced against the white man
    - His goodness wins in the end as he removes the bullet
    - Risked his own life by sheltering an enemy.
    - He is loyal to his country as well - informs the General
    - The General agrees to have the prisoner killed by private assassins
    - Undergoes conflict again-spends three restless nights
    - Overcomes conflict- decides to help the white man escape
    - Helps the soldier escape
    - Couldn't understand why he saved the prisoner

    Character Sketch of Hana

    - A balanced woman
    - Affectionate
    - Responsible - she washes the prisoner and treats him respectfully
    - Dignified and graceful about servants leaving the house
    - Kind and sympathetic towards the soldier
    - Obeyed Sadao and helped him in carrying out the operation
    - Maintains her calm, though she is extremely tense and fearful
    - Becomes an anesthetist when the need arises
    - Is a true human being

    The American Soldier- Tom
    - Flung out of the ocean
    - A prisoner of war-hardly 17
    - Escaped but was shot at the back
    - Suffered torture and hunger
    - Wounded, bleeding, was in great pain, lay unconscious
    - Needed medical aid
    - Had strong will power
    - At first he is afraid - later feels secure in the house of Japanese couple
    - Full of gratitude towards Dr. Sadao

    How Sadao and Hana help the soldier?

    - Sadao packed the wound with sea moss to stop bleeding
    - Together both lifted the prisoner and laid him on a deeply matted floor of their father's bedroom
    - Hana washed his wounds with steaming hot water
    - Sadao operated on his body, pulled the bullet out
    - Hana helped Sadao with anesthesia
    - Both took care of his weak body
    - Hana fed him with her own hands
    - Later towards the end of the story help the prisoner to escape

    Reaction of servants

    - The servants did not like the idea of helping an enemy
    - Yumi refused to wash a white man
    - The gardener felt that Sadao should have allowed the soldier to die.
    - He said the sea and the gun would take revenge if Sadao saved the soldier presenting his superstitious nature.
    - The cook said that Sadao was proud of his skill and used it irresponsibly
    - They left the house when the American prisoner was treated and nursed by Sadao and Hana.

    The General
    - Selfish- thought of his own treatment
    - Did not think of anyone else except himself
    - A ruthless general-has private assassins
    - Promised to send his assassins to kill and remove the body of the soldier
    - Doesn't want the doctor to be arrested because he needs him
    - Had faith in Sadao's skills as a doctor
    - Careless - forgot to send assassins

    How Sadao helps the American soldier escape?
    - Sadao put his boat with food and extra clothing
    - Asked the soldier to row to an uninhabited island nearby
    - Asked him to wait for a Korean fishing boat on the island
    - Told him that he could catch fish but eat it raw
    - Gave him his flashlight.
    - Asked the soldier to signal him two flashes if his food ran out and one flash if he was alright
    - Sadao gave him Japanese clothes and covered his hair with a black cloth

    1.      Mention instances which show that Sadao’s father had strong feelings for his motherland?

    Ans. a).His father would never accept a daughter –in law her unless she had been pure in her race.
    b) Everything in his room had been Japanese to please the old man, who would never in his own home sit on a chair or sleep in a foreign bed

    2.     *. How did Sadao and Hana establish the identity of the man washed ashore?

    Ans.  A)Through his face they came to know he was a white man.
    b) They examined his battered cap closely and realised that he was a sailor from an American warship. The words ‘U.S Navy’ were written on the cap in almost faint lettering. They realised that he was an escaped prisoner of war.

    3.      Why didn’t Dr Sadao put the wounded man back in the sea even though he was his enemy?

    Ans: Dr Sadao could not put the wounded man back in the sea even though he was an enemy because he was a Doctor and the foremost duty of a doctor is to save life. He knew the man would die if not tended medically. This would be against medical ethics. So, he rescued him to give medical treatment.

    4.      Why did Hanna hesitate to put the injured soldier on his deceased father in law’s bed?

    Ans. A) Tom is extremely dirty.
             b) He is their enemy. Moreover father was truepatriot .

    5.     Why did Sadao decide to treat the injured man?

    a)    According to Sadao if the man were whole he could turn him over to the police without difficulty as he was his enemy.  But since he was  wounded his professional  ethics could not allow him to let the man die.
    b)    They were not able to bring themselves to drop him back into the sea because of their compassionate and humane nature

    6.      “What was the reaction of the servants? Mention reaction of gardener, Yumi ,cook.

    Reaction of servants
    - The servants did not like the idea of helping an enemy
    - Yumi refused to wash a white man
    - The gardener felt that Sadao should have allowed the soldier to die.
    - He said the sea and the gun would take revenge if Sadao saved the soldier presenting his superstitious nature.
    - The cook said that Sadao was proud of his skill and used it irresponsibly
    - They left the house when the American prisoner was treated and nursed by Sadao and Hana.



    7.     This man” he thought there is no reason under heaven why he should live.” What prompted Dr. Sadao to say this? What does he do after this?

    Ans. i) a) enemy was source of worry and vexation for doctor as harbouring him could lead him to arrest. So his treatment was an ultimate test of his patience. So he was going through mental conflict.
    b) Wife nauseates during operation and he is unable to attend her. So, became impatient and said the statement in question.

     ii)Unconsciously this thought made him ruthless and he proceeded swiftly. In his dream the man moaned but Sadao paid no heed except to mutter at him

    8.      What impression do you form of General Takima?

    Ans. Brave and courageous: fought victorious battle in Manchuria
    Ruthless, inhuman, cruel: beat his wife

    9.      What happened on the seventh day, after the doctor and his wife saved the wounded man?

    Ans. Two things happened on the day the letter was typed. The cook, the gardener and Yumi had packed up their belongings and left together. Though the servants cried, Hana put up a brave front. The second thing that happened was the arrival of a messenger to tell Sadao that he had been called to the palace as the general was in pain again.

    10.                  Why did servants leave Mr. Sadao’s house? (2008)

    Ans. Did not want to help Dr Sadao to save the enemy and to show their disapproval of his action

    11.                   Hana’s fears on the messenger’s arrival proved false. How?

    Ans. Hana thought servants had informed police authorities about their harbouring the enemy and messenger had come to arrest them. But messenger came to inform Sadao that General was in pain again and needed his care.

    12.                  What did General tell Dr. Sadao when he heard about the prisoner war?

    Ans. “Of course,” the General said weakly, “I understand
    fully. But that is because; I once took a degree in Princeton.
    So few Japanese have.”
    “I care nothing for the man, Excellency,” Sadao said,
    “but having operated on him with such success…”
    “Yes, yes” the General said. “It only makes me feel you
    more indispensable to me. Evidently you can save anyone
    — you are so skilled.

    13.                   Why did the general assure Dr. Sadao that he would not be arrested?

    Sadao’s skill at operating on the prisoner with success, made the general believe more firmly that he was indispensable to him. He did not want to have him arrested because Sadao was the only person who he believed could save him if he had another of his attacks and required an operation.

    14.   Why do you think Sadao could not sleep properly after his meeting with the General?

    a) Though he got agreed with General plan but his conscience pricked him and heart reproached him for betraying his guest whom he had treated.
    b) So remained perturbed and sleepless on account of fear of assassins killing enemy. Subconsciously wishes that man should survive.

    15.                   *. Why couldn’t the General’s plan of eliminating the prisoner succeed?

    a)     Careless General did not send assasins
    b)    Sadao helped the American to escape

    16.                  How did Sadao help the prisoner to escape?(2008)

    Sadao decided to help the American soldier to escape to safety. He told him to go to an island nearby and wait for a Korean fishing boat to pass by. He even gave him a boat, some food and bottled water. He kept two quilts for him and gave him clear instructions so that this plan would not fail.

    17.                   Why did Sadao feel that the General was in the palm of his hand?

    Sadao fulfilled his duty as a patriot by informing general about the enemy and acceding to his plan. But General did not keep his promise of sending assassins. So because of General carelessness the enemy escaped.

    18.                   What impression do you form of the prisoner?

    a)    Extraordinary vitality as he gets saved repeatedly from bullet ,rocks and waves.
    b)    Even in his unconscious state, has indomitable will
    c)     Thankfully acknowledge effort made by Sadaos in saving him

    19.                  What are the two moral implications on which the whole story is built upon?

    ‘The Enemy’ gives the message that humanism transcends all manmade prejudices and barriers. Here Dr Sadao upholds the ethics of medical profession in treating an enemy. So doctor must treat patient without considering his identity. The story is a great lesson of peace, love, sympathy, fellow feeling and humanism.

    20.            ‘‘But Sadao searching the spot of black in the twilight sea that night, had his reward’’. What was the reward?

    The “reward” was the escape of the enemy-Dr. Sadao searched the spot of black in the twilight sea that night- see if the man was still there-but there was no light. Obviously the man had gone- The escape of the prisoner was his reward.

    21.            What message does “The Enemy” give?

    The message is clear-great lesson of humanism. Dr. Sadao by nursing his country’s enemy proves true to his professional ethics.

    Q22.How did Dr. Sadao rise above narrow prejudices of race & country to human being in need?

    Dr. Sadao- a renowned Japanese surgeon- believed in professional loyalty & human kindness- saw  an American wounded soldier in a terrible condition on beach in front of his house-took him to his house with the help of his wife Hana-successfully removed the bullet-nursed him back to his life-thus rose above racialism.
    As a patriot, reported the prisoner’s presence at his house to the Army General. The general decided to have him killed-he grew restless to see him & finally decided to help him to escape from his house-gave him boats & instructed him how he could safely escape.

    Q23.Do you think the doctor’s final solution to the problem was the best possible one in the circumstances?

    It is the best possible option-general had promised him that he would get the soldier quietly killed through his private assassins-but he forgot to get rid of- Dr. Sadao could do nothing-he wanted to get rid of the wounded soldier-as the servants had left the house-& news could be spread-so he devised his own plan to get the soldier off to the nearby island-managed his boat for the soldier & instructed him. The white soldier took leave of him & followed his instruction & managed to escape safely. Thus all proves that that was the only way out for Dr. Sadao to the problem.

    Q24. Dr Sadao was compelled by duty as a doctor to help the enemy soldier. What made Hana, his wife, sympathetic to him in the face of open defiance from the domestic staff? 

    Ans. Loyalty towards husband- Pride in being his wife-Humanity, ability to recognize what is right and what is wrong.-Rising above prejudices and superstitions. Being there when her husband needed her and not backstabbing.

    Q25. How would you explain the reluctance of the soldier to leave the shelter of the doctor’s home even when he knew he couldn’t stay there without risk to the doctor and himself?


    LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

    1.      *. “Prejudices are obstacles in smooth interaction among human beings” In the light of the lesson elaborate the statement.

    Ans.a) Sadao was prejudiced towards Americans (p-46, last para)
    b) Servants disapproved of harbouring enemy
    c) Mention instances where Sadao and Hana express hatred towards Tom

    2.     Describe how Pearl S. Buck’s story, The Enemy shows that basic human goodness overpowers all other factors.(2009)

    3.      Why did Dr. Sadao let the wounded American soldier escape? Explain highlighting the character of Dr. Sadao? (2008)

    Ans. Humanitarian consideration , professional ethics
          As already spent 3 sleepless nights so could not bear strain of waiting for assassins anymore
    Q. Dr Sadao’s instinctive affinity transcends national and cultural prejudices and barriers. Discuss.
    • As a young boy he obeyed his father and honoured the fact that his education was his father’s chief concern.
    • Sadao was skilful Japanese surgeon who lived in Japan during World War II.
    • Together with his wife Hana, and the servants, Sadao had a comfortable life.
    • Earlier, he had several years in the United states during medical school.
    • While in the United States, Sadao experienced cultural prejudice and bias first hand. Even though he did have a positive experience including that of a teacher and landlady Americans did.
    • Is a dutiful son, an excellent husband a thorough professional- believes that it is a “cardinal  sin” on part of a surgeon not to know the human body completely
    • Faces a dilemma whether to help the POW or to assert loyalty to the country and finally gives in to the call of humanity.
    • His instinctive affinity transcends cultural and national prejudices and barriers.
    Q. Sadao and Hana were true patriots and human beings. Justify with reference to the story.
      • Both full of patriotism, proud of Japan and its culture.
      • Hated Americans, found them repulsive, full of prejudices against Japanese.
      • Both Sadao and Hana considered humanity above patriotism
      • As a doctor, he could not leave his patient in distress, could not stop himself from saving the life of the wounded American soldier.
      • Both risked their lives and reputation by helping and sheltering the soldier
      • Hana was equally compassionate- washed the soldier’s wounds herself when Yumi refused.
      • Considered every soldier as a human being in distress.
      • Did not hand him over to police initially as the soldier was weak and could die.
      • Did not want to keep the American soldier when he fully recovered.
      • Sadao told the General about the soldier. He had no objection if the soldier was killed by the assassins- but was ill-at ease and worried that harm may come to him- shows that he is essentially kind.
      • Helped the soldier to escape, gave him food, clothes and water on his boat.
      • Sadao found relief when the soldier did not give any signal through his flash light as he was safe.
      • Saved the soldier as true human beings.
      • Wanted to get rid of him as true patriots.
    Q3. There are moments in life when we have to make hard choice between our role as private individuals & as citizens with a sense of national loyalty. Discuss with reference to the story.

    Suggested Answer / Value Points- Dr. Sadao encounters with the dilemma-to live as private individual whose moral and ethical responsibility is to save the soldier & second is a Japanese to make the soldier arrest.
    So as a doctor and as an individual his first job is to save man-takes ethical responsibility, he risks his life, fame & social status- takes him to his house and makes efforts to save him.
    But his other side-sense of patriotism & nationalism also involves a report to police, takes the general in confidence, & plans to make him killed but later on again helps the soldier in escaping off. Thus Dr. Sadao personality is displayed.  

    Q While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially during wartime, what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices. Answer with reference to ‘The Enemy’

    • The feeling of hatred for enemy country is created by the system/ government
    • People are made to hate each other
    • It is considered to be patriotic/ nationalistic
    • Personally knowing or not knowing has no meaning in such cases.
    • There are people who rise above such petty thoughts
    • Like doctor Sadao- for him saving the patient was most important
    • As a doctor that was his first duty-the sick, injured needed attention and the
    country to which the patient belongs did not matter to him.
    Sadaos rose above narrow prejudice because: Professional ethics, humanitarian considerations, sensitivity
    -Having been himself subjected to hatred and indifference in America, he does not want to follow a ‘tit for tat policy’.

    Other questions

    1.       What did Dr. Sadao’s father tell him showing the islands visible from seashore?(p-24 ,last 5 lines, “Those islands..............make it”)
    2.       . What was his father’s chief concern?(p-25,1st para , lines 4-7)
    3.        Why was Sadao not sent abroad with the troops?(2009)(p-25 , 1st para ,     
    “because he was perfecting..........in Japan”
    4.       .Why didn’t Dr. Sadao show his interest in Hanna before knowing that she was a Japanese? (p-25 , 3rd para, “He had met Hana...........pure in her race)
    5.       Why did Dr. Sadao hesitate to go to the American professor’s house?
    (rooms were so small , food so bad , professor’s wife –voluble)
    6.       What did they think would be the best & the kindest thing to do for the injured man? Why? (2008) (p-28 ,para2-5 ,”The best thing ..................he would certainly die”
    7.       Why did they think of handing over the man to the police?(p-29 ,1st para
    8.       How did the gardener react when Dr. Sadao told him about the wounded American soldier? (2009)(p-30 , 3rd&2nd last para , “The two servants ........revenge on us”
    9.       How did Yumi react when Hana told her to wash the soldier?(2008)(p-31, 2nd-6th para ,”When she saw him ..........not my business”)
    10.  What thoughts came to Hanna’s mind when she was washing the wounds of the soldier?(page 31 , last 3 lines)
    11.  How did Hana react to the servants’ leaving the house? (p-38 , 3rd para-On the 7th day)
    12.  What did general decide to do with enemy?
    OR
    .         What plan did the General suggest to get rid of the prisoner?(2008)(p-41   
              ,para-3-5, “ It would be best .........remove the body”)

    Long Answer type Questions :
    1.      Give an account of the efforts made by Dr. Sadao and Hana to save the life of the injured man.
    2.     Describe the difficulties faced by Dr. Sadao when he decided to help the enemy soldier.(2009)
    3.      Discuss the reaction of the servants to the efforts made by Sadao and Hana to save American’s life.

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