CLASS 10TH ENGLISH NOTES

PART: PROSE

Footprints without Feet

Thinking about the text

1. How would you assess Griffin as Scientist?

Answer: Griffin was a brilliant scientist that was evident from his drug of invisibility. After repeated experiments, he had discovered how to make human body invisible. This was a big achievement. However, he misused his discovery to hurt others. He seemed to enjoy the feeling of power which he got out of his invisibility. The power to hurt anybody without getting noticed can give sadistic pleasure to somebody. A true scientist makes discovery for the larger benefit of the society but Griffin misused it for personal gains. Thus, though he can be termed as a brilliant Scientist, he was not a noble one.

2. The two boys in London were surprised and fascinated. Why?

Answer: The two boys saw muddy imprints of a pair of bare feet without man. As they gazed, a fresh footmark appeared again. Further, footprints followed, one after another and soon became fainter and fainter and at last disappeared completely. All this surprised and fascinated the boys.

3. What did Griffin do inside the shop (London store)?

Answer: Griffin had chosen mid-winter of the year to wander about London without clothes. The air was bitterly cold and it was not easy for him to wander naked about the streets of London. He entered a big London store for warmth and food. There he got the pleasure of clothing and feeding without expenses. He broke open  boxes and wrappers and fitted  himself with warm clothes,shoes,an overcoat and a hat. This way he made himself fully dressed and visible person. In the kitchen of restaurant, he got the pleasure of feeding with cold meat and coffee and followed up the meal with some sweets and wine. Finally, he laid down on a pile of quilts for rest.

4. How did Griffin escape from the London store?

Answer: Griffin didn’t wake up before the assistants of store arrived next morning. When he saw two of them approaching, he ran in fear. They chased him, but could not catch him as he quickly took off his clothes and became invisible, finally escaped from the store.

5. What did Griffin do inside the shop of a theatrical company?

Answer: Griffin found a suitable shop of the theatrical company to get not only clothes, but also to hide the empty space above his shoulders. There he wrapped bandages round his forehead, wore dark glasses, false nose, big whiskers and a large hat. To escape from shop, he attacked the shopkeeper from behind and robbed him off all the money.

6 Why was the arrival of the stranger in a village inn an unusual event? Write your answer by giving two reasons.

Answer: Griffin booked two rooms at a local inn of village Iping where his arrival was thought to be in any case an unusual event. He came there at the time of winter when nobody comes there. Second, his appearance was uncommon which surprised everyone there.

7. How did the scientist look when he came to the inn?

Answer: The scientist looked very strange in appearance when he came to the inn. He puzzled everyone with his uncommon look. He had bandages round his forehead and was wearing dark glasses. He had a false nose, big bushy side-whiskers and a large hat. He had worn all these things to hide his empty space above his shoulders as to become visible.

8. What made Mrs Hall to think Griffin as ‘an eccentric scientist’?

Answer: Griffin came to an inn at the time of winter which was an unusual event. Besides bearing an uncommon appearance, his arrival surprised everyone. Mrs hall wanted to be friendly with him but he didn’t respond in a cold manner. He had no desire to talk, and told her that his reason for coming Iping was to get solitude. He didn’t want to be disturbed in his work. All this made her to think that Griffin was an eccentric scientist.

9. What was the curious episode that took place in the clergyman’s study?

Answer:   Early in the morning Clergyman and his wife were awakened by noises in the study. They heard the chink of money being taken from the clergyman’s desk who tried to catch the thief with a poker in his hand. He flung open the door but found the room empty. He and his wife looked under the desk and behind the curtains, and even up the chimney and could not find sign of anybody. Yet they were shocked to find the housekeeping money missing. It was a curious episode, and the clergyman kept saying the words “extraordinary affair” for the rest of the day.

10. Why were Landlord and his wife surprised to see the scientist’s door wide open? What were the extraordinary things that happened in the room of inn?

Answer: The landlord and his wife had woken early in the morning, and were surprised to see the scientist’s door wide open. It was a rare sight for them because usually it was shut and locked. However, he was furious if anyone entered his room. Therefore both of them were surprised on seeing the door open.

Many extraordinary things happened inside the room when landlord and his wife entered into. They saw the clothes and bandages that he always wore were lying about the room. Suddenly, Mrs hall heard a sniff close to her ear. A moment later the hat on the bedpost leapt up and dashed into her face. Then, the bedroom chair became alive. Springing into air it charged straight at her legs. As she and her husband turned away in terror, the chair pushed them away out of the room, and then appeared to slam and lock the door after them.

11. Mrs Hall almost fell down the stairs in hysterics. Pick out an example of humour from what follows this incident.

Answer: The chair inside the room pushed Mrs Hall and her husband out of the room and then appeared to slam and lock the door after them. She fell down the stairs in hysterics and thought that the room was haunted by spirits. She moaned that her mother used to sit on that chair which rose against her and pushed her out of the room. This example of humour makes the readers to have pearls of laughter.

12. The scientist was furious. What did he do in anger? Why were the people in the bar horrified?

Answer: The scientist was a quick-tempered person. Mrs Hall demanded him how he had entered the locked room. On hearing this, he lost his temper and became furious. In state of furry, he threw off bandages, whiskers, glasses, and even nose and became half-invisible. The people present in the bar were horrified because they found themselves staring at a headless man.

13. What happened to the constable?

Answer: The policeman tried to catch the scientist who threw off his clothes one after another and became invisible. The constable found struggling with the man he could not see at all. Some people present at scene, tried to help the constable, but found themselves hit by the blows. In the end, the policeman was knocked unconscious as he made a last attempt to catch the invisible scientist.  

14. How will you prove that the scientist was a man of ‘irritable temper’?

Answer: The scientist was surely a man of irritable temper that describes his character in the text. When Mrs. Hall wanted to be friendly with him he showed no desire to talk and told her that his reason for coming Iping was to get solitude. At another occasion, Mrs. Hall demanded him his entry into the locked room. He lost his temper and became furious, there by created horror in the bar.  

‘Writing Work and Discussion’ Based Questions

1. Do you think Griffin misused his Discovery? How?

Answer: There is no doubt that Griffin misused his discovery. He made a drug of invisibility and discovered how to make the human body transparent. This was an extraordinary achievement. However, he misused his discovery to hurt others. A true scientist makes discovery for the benefit of society but Griffin misused it for his personal gains.

After becoming invisible, Griffin set fire to his landlord’s house and became homeless wanderer. He entered into a big London store for warmth and broke open some boxes to steal clothes, shoes hat and eatables in the restaurant. At the shop of theatrical company he hit the shopkeeper from behind and robbed him off all the money. The house keeping money of clergyman was stolen. Mrs. Hall and her husband were thrashed and pushed out of the room. The constable was knocked down unconscious.

Additional Questions

1.”Griffin was rather a lawless person” comment.

Answer: Griffin never thought twice before harming anybody. He put his landlord’s house on fire. Then his stealing acts at shops and later in the village indicate towards this. When he was encountered by the landlady of the inn, he threw chair at her and her husband. Lawless persons never think about safety and well being of others. They are always preoccupied by their benefits only.

Prepared by: Shahid Shafi Sheikh (English Language Trainer & Teacher, Veterinary Pharmacist and post graduate in English Literature).
For any query contact me on my mobile number 9906506194

Email: urwithshahid@gmail.com

 

An Excellent Father

Thinking about Text

1. What does Mrs Bennet Tells her Husband?

Answer:  The Neitherfield Park is occupied by a young Bachelor of large fortune named as Bingley. Mrs Bennet feels jubilant over the message of his arrival. As the man is bachelor with handsome income of four or five thousand a year, Mrs Bennet thinks  him to be a good match for one of her three daughters. She tells all about this to Mr Bennet and wants him to visit the young man and form an acquaintance.

2. Who takes over Neitherfield Park? Why is Mrs Bennet happy over it?

Answer:  Mr Bingley takes over the Neitherfield Park. He is an unmarried and young man from the north of England. He is a man of large fortune with four or five thousand per year. He was delighted to see the park and agreed to take it.

Mrs Bennet feels jubilant over the message of his arrival. As the man is bachelor with handsome income a year, she feels that he could be a good match for one of her three daughters. She tells all about this to Mr Bennet and wants him to pay a visit to the young man, and form an acquaintance with him.

3. Why does Mrs Bennet insist on her husband to meet Mr Bingley?

Answer: Mrs Bennet has three daughters, and all of them are of a marriageable age. She is anxious to find a good life partner for one of them. Mr Bingley a young Bachelor takes over the Neitherfield Park. He is a bachelor of handsome income a year. She feels happy over this news and sees in him a very good match for one of her daughters. She predicts to her husband that the young man may fall in love with one of her daughters and insists him to meet Mr Bingley and form an acquaintance with him.

4. ‘You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves’. Explain.

Answer: Mrs Bennet is very particular that her husband pays a visit to Mr.Bingley which will help in getting one of their daughters married to the rich man but gets cold response from him. He in response teases her by saying that the young man would be more pleased to see her as she is equally beautiful as her girls. These words annoy Mrs Bennet as she feels vexed and says the above given lines which means that Mr.Bennet doesn’t care about her intentions but amuses himself in annoying and teasing her and has not a bit sympathy on her anxious state.

5. Why does Mrs Bennet think that Mrs Long is selfish?

Answer: Mrs Long had promised that she would introduce Mr.Bingley to Mrs Bennet and her daughters at the assemblies. But Mrs Bennet doesn’t believe that she will do any such thing to happen as she has two nieces of her own. Mrs Bennet calls her a selfish woman that she might use the opportunity to one of her nieces instead of any other girl.

6.  How does Mr Bennet react to the plan designed by his wife?

Answer: Mrs Bennet is very particular that Mr.Bennet pays a visit to Mr Bingley and form an acquaintance with him which will help in getting one of their daughters married to the rich man. At the beginning of conversation he doesn’t show willingness to meet him but flatters his wife that the young man would be more pleased to see her than girls. He teases Lizzy while trimming hat and says, “I hope Mr Bingley will like it, Lizzy.” When Mrs Bennet says that she is sick of Mr Bingley, her husband discloses the fact of his earliest meeting with Bingley and tells it in a surprising way. It was his desire to surprise the ladies. He is a good reader of his wife and handles the situation with great care, not letting the drama of suspense to go down in the least but discloses it in the end.

7. Why does Mrs Bennet tell her girls that they have an excellent father?

Answer: After raising the volume of suspense and emotions Mr Bennet finally comes up with a delightful surprise that he is among the earliest of those who has already visited Mr.Bingley. Mrs Bennet gets overjoyed by knowing this and exclaims, “What an excellent father you have, girls! 

‘Writing Work and Discussion’ Based Questions

1. Draw a character sketch of Mrs Bennet?

Answer: Mrs Bennet is a caring mother having three daughters: Elizabeth, Lizzy and Kitty. Like all mothers, she is worried about their marriage. She does not want to lose any chance of finding a suitable match for each of them. She comes to know that a young bachelor with handsome income has occupied the Neitherfield Park. She at once designs a plan to marry one of her daughters with the young man and asks her husband to form an acquaintance with him

We also see Mrs Bennet as a selfish woman. She is very fond of money and fame. Her main concern in life is seeing her daughters married to wealthy men. She insists her husband to meet Mr Bingley, a rich man of large fortune, as early as possible. She has an apprehension that some other mother with an eligible daughter would exploit such a golden opportunity. No doubt she is sensitive about the marriage of her daughters but her single-minded pursuit of future rich husbands for them can also blind her in spoiling their welfare.

2. Do you feel that mother’s love is different from father’s love? Why or why not? Prove your answer with an example taken from the story “An Excellent Father”

Answer: Children are always loved by their parents. It is hard to say weather a father loves child the most or a mother. Both have equal love for their children. But it is a naked truth that mother’s love seems more dominant than father’s. A father too loves his child gravely as a mother but doesn’t express it like a mother. His love can be judged from his actions than expressions. The fact of matter is that Mother’s love is more affectionate than a father. Her love is emotional, feminine and natural for her children. She weeps, cries and sobs over their misery. It is unbearable for her to see them in problem.

In the lesson, both Mr.Bennet and Mrs Bennet are anxious about the marriage of their three daughters. Mrs Bennet is very particular that Mr.Bennet pays a visit to Mr Bingley and form an acquaintance with him which will help in getting one of their daughters married to the rich man.Mr Bennet is also an excellent father. Though he pretends to be not interested in Bingley, yet he is the first to visit him. He keeps the secret about his visit till the last moment and discloses it in a surprising manner.

Questions asked in board examination

1. Describe the character of Mr Bennet?

Answer: Mr Bennet lives with his wife and three daughters- Elizabeth, Lizzy and Kitty. He is a very jolly person with full of wit and humour. He takes delight in vexing his nervous wife and three silly daughters. He flatters his wife by his witty remarks and says, “Mr Bingley might like you the best of the party.

Mr Bennet is an excellent father. He loves his daughters and is very serious about their marriage. Though he pretends to be not interested in Bingley, yet he is the first to visit him. He keeps the secret about his visit till the last moment and discloses it in a surprising manner. His wife gets overjoyed on knowing this and exclaims, “What an excellent father you have, girls!”

Prepared by: Shahid Shafi Sheikh (English Language Trainer & Teacher)
        Email: urwithshahid@gmail.com

 

Diary of Anne Frank

Thinking about Text

1. Was Anne right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year old girl?

Answer: No she was not right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year old girl. She wrote the dairy which was published under the name “The dairy of a Young girl”. The dairy was originally written in Dutch language and was translated into many world languages. It became one of the world’s most widely read and famous books. There are also several films and television productions based on the dairy. It is considered therefore as the work of a mature and insightful mind.

2. In which language was The Dairy of Anne Frank originally written?

Answer: Anne’s dairy was originally written in Dutch.

3. Why does Anne need to give a brief sketch of her family? Does she treat Kitty as an insider or outsider?

Answer: Anne gives brief sketch of her life because no one shall understand the story that she writes on the dairy Kitty. Moreover, a good introduction helps in drawing reader’s attention to the topic. It gives background information about the writing. By providing brief sketch of her life, Anne gives an overview of her family, her relatives, and her age. This helps the reader to develop connection with the author. She treats Kitty as an insider because she doesn’t want to jot down the facts the way most people would do, but she wants the dairy to be her friend and is ready to confide in it.

4 How does Anne Feel about her father, her grandmother, Mrs Kuperus and Mr Keesing?

Answer: She feels that her father is the most adorable father she has ever seen.

Her statement, no one would understand her intensity of love for her grandma, tells that she loved her grandmother gravely. Moreover, the touching gesture of lighting up one candle for grandmother on her birthday is also a poignant reminder of the love for grandma. She often misses her grandmother after death.

Mrs Kuperus, the headmistress is also dear to Anne. Both Anne and Mrs Kuperus were in tears when they departed from each other at the end of the year with heartbreaking farewell.

Mr Keesing is her Maths teacher whom she calls an old fogey person. Anne was fond of talking too much. It can be assumed that like all strict teachers Mr. Keesing thought talkativeness as distraction for study and was annoyed with Anne. He punished her to write an essay on ‘chatterbox’, the person who talks much.

5. What does Anne write in her first essay?

Answer: In her first essay, titled ‘A chatterbox’, Anne wants to come up with convincing arguments to justify the necessity of talking. She writes that talking is student’s trait and would never be able to cure herself of the habit since her mother talks as much as She does. She argues that it is not easy for a person to leave inherited traits.

6. Anne says teachers are the most unpredictable. Is Mr Keesing unpredictable? How?

Answer: Mr Keesing, the Maths teacher assigns Anne to write some essays as a punishment for her being talkative throughout lessons. She is asked to write an essay on ‘ A chatterbox’. This way he tries to play a joke on her but when she writes her last essay in verse form Mr Keesing is impressed by her talent that he likes the essay and reads it to the whole class. Finally he allows her to talk in the class and does not assign any extra homework. This is how Mr Keesing behaves in an unpredictable way.

Questions asked in board examination

1. What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother?

Answer: Her statement, that no one could understand her intensity of love for her grandma tells that she loved her grandmother deeply. Moreover, the touching gesture of lighting up one candle for grandmother during Anne’s birthday is also a poignant reminder of the love for grandma.

2. Why was Mr Keesing annoyed with Anne? What did he ask her to do?

Answer: Anne was fond of talking too much. It can be assumed that like all strict teachers Mr. Keesing thought talkativeness as distraction for study. So he was annoyed with Anne. He asked Anne to write an essay on ‘chatterbox’, the person who talks too much.

3. How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essay?

Answer: In her first essay Anne justified her talkativeness by explaining that it was in her genes, because her mother was also talkative.

Although detail about second essay is not given but it can be assumed that it was a good essay, because Mr. Keesing didn’t complain about Anne’s habit for a long time. In the last essay Anne made a humorous poem about a father duck and his ducklings. That essay amused and pleased Mr. Keesing so much that he stopped rebuking Anne for her talkativeness.

4. Do you think Mr Keesing was a strict teacher?

Answer: Whatever actions a teacher takes, that is done in good intention. Teachers always think about knowledge development of child. It is the differences in perspective of students vis-à-vis that of teachers which creates an image of a strict teacher.

Mr. Keesing was also trying to control a supposedly bad habit of Anne. When he was convinced that Anne was good at writing and her talkativeness was not coming in the way of her studies then he started behaving properly with Anne.

5. What made Mr Keesing allow Anne to talk in class?

Answer: Anne’s last essay was like an anecdote. This helped Mr. Keesing to see the lighter side of a natural bubbly behavior of a teenager. This helped bridge the generation gap between the teacher and the student.

 

 Prepared by: Shahid Shafi Sheikh (English Language Trainer & Teacher

    Email: urwithshahid@gmail.com

 

 

 

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Thinking about Text

1. Why May 10 is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?

Answer: As South Africa is in the southern hemisphere so it is autumn season there. In the southern hemisphere, the autumn months are March to May while in the northern hemisphere; these months are the time of spring.

Here ‘the autumn day’ has a symbolical meaning also. Here autumn symbolizes the season of fruits when South Africans will taste the new sweet fruits of freedom after a long summer of slavery.

2. At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions “an extraordinary human disaster”. What does he mean by this? What is the “glorious … human achievement” he speaks of at the end?

Answer: The extraordinary human disaster was the practice of apartheid in South Africa. During apartheid regime there was racial segregation based on skin colour of people. Black people did not have proper constitutional rights.

The end of apartheid regime and the beginning of a more tolerant society was the glorious human achievement.

3. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?

Answer: Mandela set out the ideals of poverty alleviation, removal of suffering of people. He also set the ideal for a society where there would be no discrimination based on gender or racial origins.

4. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?

Answer: The presence of large number of international leaders was a gesture of solidarity from international community to the idea of the end of apartheid. It signified the triumph of good over evil, the triumph of the idea of a tolerant society without any discrimination.

5. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone before him?

Answer: As Mandela was carrying forward the baton of the freedom struggle, he was also carrying the legacy of leaders of yesteryears. In a baton race the new runner simply carries forward the work done by his predecessors. This is what Nelson Mandela was doing. That is what he was trying to convey by making this statement.

6. Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this argument?

Answer: I agree with the statement that depths of oppression create heights of character. Nelson Mandela illustrates this by giving examples of great heroes of South Africa who sacrificed their lives in the long freedom struggle.

India is full of such examples. During our freedom struggle there was a galaxy of leaders of great characters. Probably the oppression of British rule created so many men of such characters. If we compare this with the quality of political leaders India is having today, then Nelson Mandela seems to be absolutely right.

7. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?

Answer: In South Africa or in any nation there are two obligations for a person. One is at the personal level towards his family. Another obligation is towards the society. Apart from striving for personal goals a person should also work hard to contribute something to the society.

8. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?

Answer: During young age freedom for Mandela meant a freedom on a personal level. The freedom to raise a family, and the freedom to earn a livelihood. After gaining experience the freedom meant a lot more to Nelson Mandela. It was a freedom for everybody. It was a freedom from fear and prejudice. Age and experience made his perspective more wide.

9. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?

Answer: Slowly Nelson Mandela’s hunger for freedom turned from that on a personal level to a broader mass level. This changed the fearful man to a fearless rebel. He sacrificed the comforts of a settled family life to fight for a greater cause.

Questions asked in board examination

1. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?

Answer: During apartheid era many country had severed diplomatic ties with South Africa. On that day most of the countries dignitaries were present to attend the swearing in ceremony. This was a gesture of international recognition to a newly born free nation. Nelson Mandela was thanking them for this recognition.

2. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?

Answer: Military generals salute Nelson Mandela, which is having tis own importance as during apartheid era they would have arrested Mandela. The change in their attitude was because of struggle and sacrifices put in by many heroes of South Africa. This struggle not only ensured the freedom of South Africa but also brought a change of mindsets for many. As Nelson Mandela believed that like hate love can also be taught and human being is naturally oriented towards love rather than hate.

3. Why were two national anthems sung?

Answer: The rendition of national anthem from old republic as well as new republic was sign of the pledge of those who were laying the foundation of a new nation. As it was pledge to build a society devoid of any type of discrimination so the old republic song was also sung to show solidarity with white people and to show that it will be a truly multicultural society.

4. How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country (i) in the first decade, and (ii) in the final decade, of the twentieth century?

Answer: In the first decade after the Anglo-Boer war it was the birth of an oppressive regime which created a system to deprive the black people of every basic human rights. In the final decade, of the twentieth century the system developed a strong pattern of even ignoring the sacrifices made by so many great leaders of South Africa. It was like as if black never existed for the apartheid regime.

5. What does courage mean to Mandela?

Answer: For Mandela courage does not mean the absence of fear but a victory over fear. According to him brave men need not be fearless but should be able to conquer fear.

6. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?

Answer: Mandela thinks for human beings it natural to love rather than to hate.

7. what did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student? How does he contrast these “transitory freedoms” with “the basic and honorable freedoms”?

Answer: Like any other kid for Mandela also the freedom meant a freedom to make merry and enjoy the blissful life. Once anybody becomes adult then antics of childhood looks like transitory because most of the childish activity is wasteful from an adult’s perspective. Once you are adult then someday you have to earn a livelihood to bring the bacon home, then only you get an honorable existence in the family and in the society.

8. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?

Answer: Mandela does not think that oppressor is free. Because, the oppressor is, the prisoner of hatred and prejudice.

                
Prepared by: Shahid Shafi Sheikh (English Language Trainer & Teacher)

 Email: urwithshahid@gmail.com

The Sermon At Benares

1. What is sermon? How is it different from a lecture?

Answer: A sermon is a talk on a religious or moral subject. Sermons address a theological, religious or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts.

     A lecture is oral presentations intended to present information or teach people about a particular subject. For example, by a university teacher or college teacher.

2. When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?

Answer: Kisa Gotami goes from house to house in the hope of getting some wonder drug which would rekindle the life in her dead child. She is unable to get that medicine. It is a universal truth that once somebody dies no medicine can bring back life in him or her. Death is the final destination of life’s journey.

3. Kisa Gotami again goes from house to house after she speaks with the Buddha. What does she ask for, the second time around? Does she get it? Why not?

Answer: When Kisa Gotami asks for Buddha’s help he asks her to bring a handful of mustard seed. But there is a condition that the mustard seed should from a house where nobody has ever died. Death is as certain as birth. Nothing is immortal on this earth. Everything gets finished off in due course of time. Kisa Gotami is up to an impossible task of finding a household where nobody ever died.

4. What does Kisa Gotami understand the second time that she failed to understand the first time? Was this what the Buddha wanted her to understand?

Answer: After she was unable to find a house as per Buddha’s criteria she understands the inevitability of death. She understands how futile it is to cry endlessly over death of someone. She understands that the life should go on as people carry on with their lives after abrupt intervals of tragedies in their lives.

5. Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding?

Answer: When she was seeking for miracle medicine she was not in a position to understand the certainty of death. She was only thinking about her grief. When she went in search of mustard seeds she could understand that grief strikes everybody. She understood that she was not the only person on this planet have lost a dear child. Buddha guided her to discover the sorrow of others. Most of us have a tendency to think about ourselves and that is why we feel too happy or too sad. If we try to take a wider perspective then we can be in a position to withstand ups and downs of life in a better way.

6. How do you usually understand the idea of ‘selfishness’? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being ‘selfish in her grief ’?

Answer: Selfishness is preoccupation with I, me, and myself. Kisa Gotami was not in a position to think about other people’s grief. It is natural to feel sad over death of near and dear ones. But most people carry on their next responsibility of performing proper last rites of the dead. People seldom carry a dead body in the hope of some miracle happening to that. The family and the society always come to be with those in hours of grief. But later on the life goes on. But Kisa Gotami was so engrossed in her sorrow that she forgot to think about live members of her family and society.

Prepared by: Shahid Shafi Sheikh (English Language Trainer & Teacher)

    Email: urwithshahid@gmail.com

Pappachi’s Moth

Thinking about Text

1.Sketch the characters of Pappachi and Mammachi.

Answer:  Pappachi:   Pappachi was an imperial entomologist under British rule. His real name was Benaan John Ipe. He had retired as a director in the department of entomology. His life’s greatest setback was not having had the moth that he had discovered named after him because Government scientists had failed to recognize it as a new species until later when the discovery was credited to someone else.

        He was an arrogant and cruel person. His façade of being a perfect husband and father hides his abusive tendencies towards his family. He didn’t help his blind wife in the business of pickle-making because he thought it beneath for his rank. He was jealous of all the sudden attention and fame that she was getting. Seventeen years older than her, he was extremely resentful of her and beat her regularly with a brass flower vase until Chacko came and ordered him never to do it again.

Mammachi:   Mammachi, practically blind, was the wife of Pappachi. She was seventeen years younger to her husband. Besides being an elegant wife, she was a determined and self-confident woman. She started pickle-making business after Pappachi’s retirement from government service and got a lot of fame and attention in it. She was an oppressed woman regularly beaten by her husband. She was a strong and patient woman who stands the cruelty and beating of her husband without sigh. Although blind, she was never helped in her business by husband. When Pappachi died, she cried over his funeral because she had been used to him not because she loved him. 

2. ‘I never want this to happen again’, he told his father, Ever’. Who says it and Why?

Answer:  Pappachi’s son Chacko says these words to him. He comes to home for a summer vacation from Oxford and finds his father beating the mother in a room. He catches his  hand, twists it around his back and warns him never to do it again.

3. ‘Ammu told the twins that Mammachi was crying more because she was used to him than because she loved him’. In the light of the statement of Mammachi’s daughter, comment on the relationship between Mammachi and Pappaci.

Answer:  The relationship between Pappachi and Mammachi is a physical one. We do not find any sign of love between the two. Their character is quiet opposite to one another. Pappachi is an arrogant and cruel person where as Mammachi is a patient and resilient woman.They hate each other. He never speaks a single word of love to her. He beats her regularly and she bears it silently.He doesn’t help her in business though she is practically blind. When Papachi died, she cries over his funeral because she is used to him not because she loves him. Therefore, we can easily say that the relationship of couple doesn’t show any satisfactory results because Pappachi has created an unpleasant horror in it.

4. How does Mammachi stand out as an independent and resilient woman in the text?

Answer:  Mammachi possesses dual nature of character. On the one hand she is an oppressed woman who silently bears the beatings of husband and on the other hand she is a determined and confident woman quiet alone manages her livelihood. She is a patient woman silently resists her husband’s cruelty. She is a woman of substance and runs her business successfully. She starts making pickles on commercial scale. She works very hard all alone in her business.

Questions asked in board examination

Write a short paragraph to show that the lesson is a reflection of male chauvinism?

Answer: Gender discrimination is a major social evil in our society. Man has always been dominant over woman from ages. He has never treated woman equal to his status. She has always been a mere slave to him. She is for him the ‘other sex’. He abuses her in every respect. She is exploited by man physically, sexually, morally, economically and also politically. She has never been given equal rights. Even her fundamental rights have been snatched from her. She is used by man as a plaything to satisfy his lust. She is treated as a weaker sex.

The lesson is a perfect example of male chauvinism. Gender discrimination is a main theme of the lesson. Mammachi is an oppressed woman who is daily beaten by her husband. She is fed up with the regular beating of her cruel husband. Pappachi gives no respect to her. He never speaks a single word of love to her.

           

 

 

 

Prepared by: Shahid Shafi Sheikh (English Language Trainer & Teacher)

                                                Email: urwithshahid@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

Thinking about Text

1. Why does Shylock hate Antonio?

Answer: Shylock hated Antonio because he used to lend money to people in distress and would never take any interest for the money he lent.

2. How does Antonio help Bassanio?

Answer: Bassanio, who was in love with rich and beautiful lady called Portia, needed money to propose her. He went to Antonio and asked him three thousand ducats. Antonio had no ready money to give as he had invested all his money in trade. Being eager to provide money his friend, he borrowed it from his enemy Shylock by signing a dreadful bond that if he failed to repay the money on time, Shylock would cut a pound of flesh from his body.

3. How does Shylock feel when Antonio asks for some money? Why is he interested to pay the required sum?

Answer: Shylock feels happy when Antonio asks for some money because it is the right opportunity for him to catch Antonio into trap. He is interested to pay the required sum to him in order to take revenge of the shames he has put upon him and to kill him as his rival in Business.

4. What condition does Shylock put forth if the debt is not paid in time?

Answer: Shylock made a condition if Antonio failed to pay the debt in time that he would cut off a pound of flesh from his any part of the body.

5. How does Bassanio marry Portia?

Answer: Basanio was in love with Portia who lived in the city of Belmont. He wanted to travel to Belmont to propose her but didn’t have the money. He asked three thousand ducats to his friend Antonio who borrowed it from Shylock and gave it to him. Thus Bassanio succeeded in winning the hand of Portia by the help of Antonio.

7. Who is disguised as the learned counselor (Doctor Balthasar)? Why has he come to the court of Venice?

Answer: Portia, wife of Bassanio is disguised as the learned counselor (Doctor Balthasar). He has come to the court of Venice to plead for Antonio.

8. How did the counselor start his argument and how was he able to get the judgment in Antonio’s favour?

Answer: The counselor began his argument in favour of Shylock and said that he indeed had the right to cut a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body. He appealed him to have mercy on Antonio but to no effect. Although shylock insisted upon the pound of flesh the counselor was able to get the judjment in Antonio’s favour by his witty and cleaver arguments. He showed Shylock the bond on which was signed “a pound of flesh” without shedding a drop of blood. It was utterly impossible for Shylock to cut off a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body without shedding of blood.

9. How does Portia get back her ring?

Answer: When Bassanio asked Portia to accept a gift she suggested that he could give her the ring on his finger. He replied that the ring had been given to him by his wife and had made him promise to never part with it. Portia turned away pretending to be angry.Antonio insisted Bassanio to give her the ring as she had done a great service him. Bassanio could not say no to Antonio who had risked his life for him, unwillingly gave away the ring to Portia. Thus she got her ring back by her intelligence.

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by: Shahid Shafi Sheikh (English Language Trainer & Teacher)

Email: urwithshahid@gmail.com

 

 

PART:  SHORT STORIES

 “The Necklace”        Henri Albert Maupassant

Thinking about Text

1. The Course of Loisel’s life changed due to neceklace. Comment.

Answer: Because of necklace Loisel fell in a debt trap which forced her to live like an ordinary lower middle class housewife. After replacing the lost necklace with a new one, they had to repay all the money that they had taken as loan. They sent away the maid and changed their lodgings. She started doing all the household chores which a lady of her status normally does. Loisel worked in the evenings, putting the books of some merchants in order. It took them many years to pay the loan which changed their life to misery. The irony is that they discovered truth that the borrowed necklace was false at the end when they had paid their entire loan.

 This was good for Matilda as it taught her to cut her coat according to her cloth at the end. People should always try to live within their means. Aspirations have no limits but one should never forget the ground realities.

2. What was the cause of Matilda’s ruin? How could she have avoided it?

Answer: Matilda wanted to live life like a queen. Her family background did not permit this. She was not ready to accept her life’s realities. She was hell bent on showing off. She could have avoided it by learning to accept her current situation. Another way could have been to try getting a job or starting a business. One should either try to work hard to realize one’s dreams or stop dreaming altogether.

3. What would have happened to Matilda if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost her necklace?

Answer: As the end of the story suggests it being a necklace made of fake diamonds so it was possible that Matilda and her husband did not have borrow beyond their means. Another angle worth attention is the good nature of her friend. The ease by which she showed all her jewellery to Matilda suggests that even if it was of original diamonds she would not have been angry at getting it lost.

5. Draw a character sketch of Matilda.

Answer: Matilda is a central character in the story. She is a beautiful young lady born in a family of clerks. She is living a simple and poor life. She feels miserable for all the delicacies and luxuries of life.  She dislikes her own circumstances. She is not satisfied with her life that makes her angry and disappointed. Her husband M.Loisel works as a clerk on poor salary.

     She borrows a necklace from her friend to go in a dance party and loses it which costs 36,000 francs. They buy a new similar necklace to return. Her husband has only 18,000 francs of savings and the rest is taken as a loan to pay the bill. It takes them ten years to refund the loan and changes their whole life to misery. She works very hard, learns odious work of kitchen and very nicely attends the domestic chores. She changes into a very strong and hard woman. She loses her beautiful look. All this happens due to loss of the borrowed necklace. At the end of the story she is shocked to know that the lost necklace was a false one which changed her life to dust.

Questions asked in board examination

1. Give the character sketch of Mr.Loisel?

Answer: Mr. Loisel was a clerk in the office of the Board of Education. Unlike Mme Loisel, he was content with his life. While Mme Loisel used to suffer thinking about luxuries and delicacies, he could derive great sense of satisfaction even from a humble ‘potpie’. He was also an affectionate husband as is seen from his care and love towards his wife. He readily gave four hundred francs to his wife for buying a dress to attend the Minister’s party. It shows that he was very much concerned about his wife’s happiness. After losing the borrowed necklace, he did not lose temper but bore all the loss as a strong man. He worked in the evenings, putting the books of some merchants in order.

2. Comment on the surprise ending of the story ‘Necklace’?

Answer:  The story ends surprisingly when Matilda learns the fact that her lost necklace was a false one. Up to the end of story, Matilda and her husband remains in an illusion that the lost necklace she has borrowed from her friend costs hefty sum and do not know about its falsehood. She returns the new same necklace to her friend by working hard day and night. They fall into debt trap which take them many years to pay the loan and change their life to misery. The irony is that they discover the truth at the end when they have paid their entire loan.

    Until the end, the reader also remains in an illusion that the borrowed necklace was a true one but he learns the fact when Matilda herself learns it. The author has deliberately kept the ending surprising one in order to keep readers in suspense and to teach Matilda a good lesson of life. He wants to remove the veil of false idealism from her eyes and to show her reality.

3. What are the major themes of the story ‘Necklace’?

1. Contrast between False values and real values: It is the main theme of the story. The central character of the story Matilda sees only false day dreams, which becomes the cause of her misery. She is unhappy because she has been living a poor life. She has big dreams but no means to realize those dreams. She feels herself born for all delicacies and luxuries. The shabby walls and worn chairs of her house worry her.  She has a beautiful dress but no jewellery. In order to attend a party she borrows a necklace from a friend and loses it. To return the same necklace to her friend, she falls in a debt trap which becomes the cause of her misery.

    If she will have seen and realized the real value of things she may not have suffered much. She should remain satisfied with her real position of life so that she would have saved herself from misery. At the end she is taught a good lesson that “we should be content with what life gives us”.

2. Theme of pride: The necklace is a story about greed and pride. Matilda Loisel is a pride woman. She lives above the fate of human circumstances. Her current situation bothers her. She is vain and completely caught in her own beauty. Her pride leads her to taste the bitter end of life.

 

 

 

Prepared by: Shahid Shafi Sheikh (English Language Trainer & Teacher).  For any query drop your comment on my Email: urwithshahid@gmail.com or my Facebok Account: shahid shafi or reply me on my contact no: 9906506194.

 

 

 

“Bholi”          K.Abbas

Thinking about Text

1. For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?

Answer: Bholi is sent to school by her parents for many unusual reasons. She is considered backward child with face full of pockmarks and as such is paid little attention. Her parents are in an opinion that there is least chance of getting her married. Therefore they send her to school which is not any honor to her but their difference as girl education is considered an ill omen in the village. Moreover Bholi’s father Ramlal being Nambardar of the village is asked by the Tehsildar  to send his daughters to school in order to set an example for others to give education to their daughters. Nambardar and his wife think Bholi a burden; therefore want her to be cared under the vigilance of teachers.

2. How does Bholi find her teacher different from other people?

Answer: Bholi finds her teacher very different from other people because she talks to her in a loving and soothing manner. She feels a great closeness and boost in the cheerful speech of her teacher. As her parents do not treat her in a good way, she feels kindness and affection in her lap. She assures her that in time she will be more learned person in the village, and no one will ever be able to mock at her. People will listen to her and respect her. This speech filled Bholi with new hope of life.

3. Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?

Answer: Bishember proposed to marry Bholi on which her parents were ready to agree. They thought that if they refused his proposal, Bholi may remain unmarried. They were glad to see Bishamber a well-to-do man with his own house and money in bank. Bholi’s mother talked and praised much about him as he was not asking for any dowry. She said to Ramlal that there could be no better groom for Bholi than Bishember who had his own shop.

4. Do you think her decision not to marry Bishember makes her rebellious or being an Individual and a woman of substance?

Answer: Bholi has no wish to dishonor her family. She is ready to accept Bishember her future groom even though he is too old from her age. However at the time of marriage ceremony, he asks five thousand rupees as dowry to accept her as his wife. Ramlal who was a poor man fell on his knees and pleads him to take two thousand rupees instead of five but all in vain. This greedy and coveting behavior of Bishember forces her to reject him. She decides to serve her parents in their old age. We can now certainly say that she is a woman of great courage and a woman of substance who is not ready in anyway to accept disgrace to her family and her own self. 

5. Bholi’s real name is Sulekha. We are told this right at the beginning. But only in the last but one paragraph of the story is Bholi called Sulekha again. Why do you think she is called Sulekha at that point in the story?

Answer: The word Bholi means a simpleton. Throughout the story she had been a simpleton hardly expressing her opinion. The word Sulekha means the person with beautiful sense of letters. In this story this word has a larger meaning of being a literate, intelligent and mature individual. After her education Bholi has really changed to Sulekha and her assertion during marriage is her announcement to the world that she is no more a Bholi but Sulekha.

Questions asked in board examination

1. Give the character sketch of Bholi.

 Bholi is the central character in the story. Her real name is Sulekha but being mentally weak, everyone calls her Bholi means ‘simpleton’. She is the fourth daughter of Nambardar Ramlal. She has smallpox marks on her face. She is not able to talk as a normal girl as she stammers. Being unfortunate from her childhood, she is ignored and less cared by her parents and everyone. Her parents consider her mentally retard child and has little hope that anyone may marry her. They send her to school which is not any honor to her but the difference of her parents as girl education is considered as an ill omen in the village. She is being laughed at in her school as she tries to tell her name. However, it was her teacher who filled her heart with a hope that she will become most learned person in her village with no one laughing at her. She changes Bholi into a courageous and confident girl. At the end of the story, she refuses to marry the old and greedy Bishamber. She proves to be brave and learned woman. She tells her parents that she will not marry but serve them in their old age.

2. Give the character sketch of Bishamber Nath.

Bishamber was a well-to-do grocer. He was an old man. His age was near to forty five or fifty. His first wife had died long ago and had grown up children of her previous wife. He was not walking properly as had limp in his walking.

 He proposed to marry Bholi on which her parents were ready to agree. They were glad to see Bishamber a well-to-do man with his own house and money in bank. Bholi’s mother talked and praised much about him as he was not asking for any dowry. She said to Ramlal that there could be no better groom for Bholi than Bishember who had his own shop.

Bishember was a greedy Grocer which got proved at the marriage ceremony when he refused to accept Bholi’s hand in marriage while seeing pockmarks on her face. He asked five thousand rupees as dowry to accept her as his wife. Ramlal who was a poor man fell on his knees and pleaded him to take two thousand rupees instead of five but all in vain. 

3. Comment on the major theme of the story ‘Bholi’.

Discrimination of weak and disabled children: Bholi is not treated in a good way. She is disgraced both at home and outside home. No one treats her human being. She is called Bholi a simpleton. She has smallpox marks on her face. She is not able to talk as a normal girl as she stammers. Being unfortunate from her childhood, she is ignored and less cared by her parents and everyone in the society. Her parents consider her mentally retard child and have little hope that anyone may marry her. They send her to school which is not any honor to her but the difference of her parents as girl education is considered as an ill omen in the village. But one person changed her life that is her teacher. She talks and treats her in a loving and soothing voice and builds confidence in her that she will be the most learned person in the society. And at the end teacher’s prediction comes true when Bholi refuses to marry Bishember. She stops stammering and learns to be a real human being.

     The author sets teacher an example, which people like Ramlal and his wife should follow to treat disabled children. The story explains the importance of emotional security and family support for children. It indicates the need of love, encouragement and education for the disabled to fight against their odds.

 

Prepared by: Shahid Shafi Sheikh (English Language Trainer & Teacher).  For any query drop your comment on my Email: urwithshahid@gmail.com or my Facebok Account: shahid shafi or reply me on my contact no: 9906506194.

“Abhiley”          Abdul Ghani Sheikh

Thinking about Text

1.    Do you think that Abhiley represents the simplicity of Ladakhi Women? Give two examples of her innocence and ignorance from the text.

Answer: Abhiley represents the simplicity of Ladakhi Women. She is too ignorant about modern technology and the outside world. She has never travelled out of her village. She is so simple that she is not able to differentiate the distance between Srinagar and Delhi. Dolma tells her that she lives in Delhi. At this, Abhiley at once concludes that she must be meeting Rukksana daily.When an earthquake has hit Turkey; she becomes apprehensive about Rukhsan’s well being who is in Srinagar. She doesn’t know that Turkey is thousand miles away from srinagar.   She is so simple and ignorant about the modern technology that once their relative left a hunting gun in the kitchen, she guarded the kitchen all day. She was of the opinion that if anyone only touched the gun, bullets would burst out in numbers.  

3.How will you estimate Abhiley’s response to modern technology?

Answer: Abhiley’s response to modern technology is funny and full of ignorance. Although she is a traditional loving old woman yet she is backward and ignorant. She is completely ignorant to the operation of modern technology and feels herself stranger to its use. She is not able to understand a cinema film. When she watches it, she claims headache. When she hears of a bus breaking down on its way, she feels certain that all its passengers must have died. Therefore we can estimate her ignorant and illiterate old woman.

4. What are the major themes of the story Abhiley?

      1.   Simplicity of rural life: The simplicity of village life and traditional life is a   loving but we should not remain ignorant to modern technology   

2.          Tradition versus Modernization:  Tradition should be respected but they must be cleaned from superstition. They should keep pace with modern values. They should not restrict us to acquire knowledge and education.

3.         Generation Gap: Generation gap is a serious issue of the story. Old people like Abhiley always wonder what has gone to young generation. They are worried about the behavior of young people. In the same way, young boys and girls feel that they can take their own decisions about life. They get worried the way old people behave. Therefore it is the paramount need of the hour to bridge the gap between these two generations.

Prepared by: Shahid Shafi Sheikh (English Language Trainer & Teacher).  For any query drop your comment on my Email: urwithshahid@gmail.com or my Facebok Account: shahid shafi or reply me on my contact no: 9906506194.

 

PART:  POETRY

Delineate poetry?

Answer:  Poetry is a branch of literature that involves aesthetic (artistic) and rhythmic qualities of language such as sound (rhyme), metre, and symbolism in order to please and instruct readers. Poetry has not any certain definition but eminent poets expressed its nature according to their own perception. Some definitions of famous poets are given as under.

 “Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings…”       Wordsworth

 “Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and thought has found words”

                                                                                           Robert Frost

“Poetry is an orphan of silence. The words never quite equal the experience behind them”                                                                                Walt Whitman

  

 “The best words in their best order”                                      Coleridge

 “Poetry is a sword of lightning, ever unsheathed, which consumes the scabbard that     would contain it”                                                                     P B Shelley

 “Poetry is the image of man and Nature”                               Wordsworth

“Poetry we will call musical thoughts”.                                   Carlyle

“Poetry in a general sense, may be defined to be the expression of the imagination”

                                                                                          P B Shelley

“I would define, in brief the poetry of words as the rhymical creation of beauty”

                                                                                  Edgar Allen Poe

Prepared by: Shahid Shafi Sheikh (English Language Trainer & Teacher).  For any query drop your comment on my Email: urwithshahid@gmail.com or my Facebok Account: shahid shafi or reply me on my contact no: 9906506194.

                                      

“Prayer” G.A Mahjoor

Summary:  The poet beseeches God to guide him to the path of truth. Earlier, he has been living life full of ignorance, so he earnestly requests his lord give him to drink the nectar of knowledge. He pleads his lord to pay heed to his wailings and pleas and cure him of all distress and pain. He wants that his lord shall remain always kind to him so that he will never feel want and need of anything. He prays God to save him from sloth, infirmity and doubt. He requests lord to impregnate his heart with passion, zest and hope.

      The poet wants to avoid those songs which will induce sleep among the people and want to chant such songs that can fill enthusiasm into their dead souls. He wants that his songs should inspire people with love and rid hatred that exists between them. God has brought him to bloom (to life) like the flowers of spring that flourish with earliest breeze so he asks Him to protect him from the burning heat of summer which can wither him grey. He wants awakening like the flowers that flourish in the first stroke of dawn.

    In the end of the poem, the poet says to his lord that in form he looks a human being but fact is that he doesn’t possess humanity. Therefore, he requests almighty to save him against the bitter tests of life so as his human form will not feel shame and guilt in their failure. The poet is not afraid about people who may desert him but he eagerly requests his lord not to abandon him.  

Meaning of expressions used in the poem

1. Dwell in ignorance:      living life without knowledge and understanding.

2.  Feel in want:        poet doesn’t want and need anything when God will be kind to him.

3. Infuse life into dead:  fill the people with enthusiasm whose souls are otherwise dead.

4. You brought me to bloom:     brought me to life and gave me the power to write.

5. Hatred to vanish:   remove hatred from people

Textual Questions.

1.      Which way does the poet implore his Lord to lead him to?

Answer: The poet implores his Lord to lead him to the path of truth.

2.      Name the blessings that the poet prays for?

Answer:  The poet prays for the nectar of knowledge, the cure from all ills and pain, protection from wants, freedom from laziness and infirmity and a heart filled with passion and hope.

3.      What is that the poet wants to sing?

Answer: The poet wants to sing songs that can infuse life into dead. He wants to chant such rhymes that can inspire people with love and vanish hatred from their hearts.

4.      “Subject me not to trails, shame not my human form.” Explain.

Answer:  The poet says that he looks a human being in his form but fact is that he is aloof from humanity. So in a modest way he requests his Lord not to put him to hardest trails of life which can cause his human form to feel shame in their failure as he is meek in his abilities.

       Literary Device Questions.

Q. Define Simile?

Answer:  Similie is a poetic device in which indirect comparison is made between two dissimilar objects. The comparison between two objects is done on the basis of any quality that is common in them, otherwise two objects are unlike. The simile is usually introduced by such words as like, as, so etc.  

Examples:

He is as brave as lion.

As tough as leather.

As clear as crystal

As good as gold

As black as crow

As proud as peacock

O my Love is like a red, red rose.

Q. Define Metaphor?

Answer:  A metaphor is a poetic device in which direct comparison is made between two unlike things. It doesn’t state that one is like another but directly proceeds as if the two things are one. Here words “like’ “as” are not used.

       Examples:

       He is lion.

       He is crow.

       The camel is the ship of the desert.

       Life is dream.

       Shahid was lion in the fight.

1. Identify the similes and metaphors used in the poem?

Answer: The poet has used the following similes in the poem:  

 a) Like dew, how long shall I wait for the first flash of the sun?

       b) Awaken me with (like) flowers in the first stroke of the dawn.

        The metaphors used in the poem are:

a)    Nectar of knowledge

b)    The way of truth

c)    Dwell in ignorance

As nectar is a sweet liquid produced by the flowers, in the same way acquiring knowledge, one feels pleasure and sweetness. That is why poet is making knowledge and nectar identical.

 

 Prepared by: Shahid Shafi Sheikh (English Language Trainer & Teacher).  For any query drop your comment on my Email: urwithshahid@gmail.com or my Facebok Account: shahid shafi or reply on my contact no: 9906506194.

“Miracles” Walt  Whitman

Summary: The poet Walt Whitman deviates with the common view of miracles and altogether presents a common view about them. He mentions miracles of everyday life which happen each moment and everywhere. He takes his miracles from the city life, the people and nature. The poet wants to convey a message through this poem that all the miracles that he mentions in the poem and that he doesn’t mention, do not occur at any rare time but happen everywhere which any common eye can observe.

          Walking in the streets, looking at the roofs pointing towards sky, walking without shoe in the water along beach, standing under trees in the forests, talking with the person whom he loves in the day and sitting at  table for the dinner with men are some of the common miracles that he takes from the city life.

         The honeybees busy around the hives, animals feeding in the fields, beautiful sight of sunset, bright stars shining quietly, glorious thin curve of fresh moon in spring are again some common miracles of nature to the poet.

        All the sights referred above and all the rest not mentioned in the poem are also miracles to him. Each miracle is different from other and having its own distinction. To the poet, every cubic inch of space is a miracle and is spread with the same across the surface and interior of the earth. The sea (continual miracle), the fishes that swim in the sea, the rocks, the movement of waves, the ships with men in them, are all to him no less than miracles. The poet ends the poem in saying that there could be no stranger miracles than these.

Meaning of Expressions used in the Poem:

1.     Makes much of:     talks and admires greatly about miracles

2.     Or dart my sight over:     whenever I look over

3.     Wade with naked feet:     to walk into the water without shoes.

4.     Exquisite delicate thin curve:  glorious curved moon of spring

5.      Whole referring yet each distinct:    all the things are closely related to each other          but each one is distinct from other.

6.    Interior swarms with the same:  miracles move inside the earth

7.   Sea is a continual miracle:     continuously flows with miracles

 

Textual Questions.

1. What does the Walt Whitman think about miracles?

Answer:  The poet doesn’t agree with the common view of miracles but presents altogether a different view. For him, every moment of life is passing with miracles, whether it is a city life or life of nature. He states that earth, nature and space are all full with the secrets of miracles.

2. When you read the poem, you notice that some ‘miracles’ are from nature; others are connected with people and city-life. Make lists of these. Notice how Whitman moves from one to another.

Answer:  The poet mentions miracles from the world of Nature, city life and the people around him. He sees miracles among his own people. He sees it a miracle when he talks with a person whom he loves most. When he dines with the people and rides a car opposite his strangers, these are miracles to him.

     In the city people, the poet sees miracles in the streets of Manhattan and over the roofs of houses towards the sky.

        As of nature, the poet finds lot of miracles from her. Trees in the woods, honeybees moving around the hive, animals feeding in the fields, sunset, thin curve of spring moon and bright stars are natural miracles to poet.

       He moves from one to another with an expression of joy and wonder. Though he equally finds joy in each one of them yet he finds each one distinct from other and having its own identity.

3. What do the lines about Manhattan and the subway car tell us about Whitman’s feelings for the people?

Answer: Whitman doesn’t feel any loath against city life and its people. He feels quite happy while walking in the streets of Manhattan or looking at the strangers opposite to him in the car. He loves and enjoys the dinner with them. As he loves nature he also likes the people and city life. Therefore we can say that he is close lover of the people and their life.

       Literary Device Questions.

Q. What do you mean by the poetic device ‘image’?

Answer:  It is a picture made out by skilful use of words. Image refers to the mental representation of an idea or conception expressed through certain words that have an “undercurrent meaning”. A poem may itself be an image composed from a multiplicity of images.

Examples:

  Walking along the streets of Manhattan,

   Walking on the beach with naked feet towards water.

  She dwelt among the untrodden ways, besides the springs of dove

Q. What do you understand by imagery?

Answer: Images taken collectively is called imagery. Imagery refers to the use of words especially in poetry, to describe ideas or situations. Imagery is of different kinds:

a)    Auditory( hearing)

b)     Visual( sight)

c)    Tactile( touch)

d)    Olfactory( smell)

e)    Gustatory ( taste)

f)     kinesthetic ( sensations of movements)

1. What images does the Walt Whitman think about the miracles?

Answer:  The poet has used the following images in the poem:

a)    wade with naked feet along the beach

b)    stand under trees in the woods

c)    sit at table at dinner with the rest

d)    look at strangers opposite me riding in the car

e)    animals feeding in the fields

f)     thin curve of the new moon in spring

2. Is there any rhyme scheme in the poem?

Answer: The poet has not used any rhyme scheme in the poem. The poem is written in a free verse.

“When you are old”   W.B. Yeats

Summary:  The poet has addressed the poem to his beloved, Maud Gonne.  The poet reminds her about the old age when she will be grey, near to death and dozing before the fire. He urges her to take down the book of poems which he has written to her, at that time and remind the beauty and grace of her youthful age. She will then realize that there were many people who loved her physical charm. But as time moved forward, she reached to her old age; there were none to love and praise her because they only loved her external beauty and young age. So, as her young and beautiful look faded away, their love also disappeared. As she will read the poems, she will then discover that there was one man who loved her truly from the depth of his heart. He not only loved her youthful grace but also the sorrowful and changing looks of her old age. He loved both her outer appearance and soul. He loved her spiritually. These poems will make her realize the true love of poet that she never responded when she was in the pride of her youthful age. The poet again wants her to conceive and regret about the true love when she will be sitting besides chimney with bended back , warming herself.  Remembering and regretting about her true love, she will murmur with sorrow that the it disappeared high over the mountains and hid itself among the stars.

Meaning of Expressions used in the poem:

1. full of sleep:                              approaching death

2. nodding by fire:                       feeling drowsy before fire

3. moments of glad grace:            youthful age

4. pilgrim soul:                              pure heart of poet’s beloved

5. sorrows of your changing face:   change of beautiful look into unpleasant one.

6. glowing bars:                           fireplace like chimney.

Textual Questions.

1. How is the journey from youth to old age described in the poem?

Answer:  The journey from youth to old age is depressing and regrettable. During young age, we are having lot of friends and lovers who like and admire our beauty. Life seems to be proud and pleasing. But as we step into old age, all our false admirers disappear as the beauty and grace of youth fade away. We have to live the journey of old age alone and nobody remains there to support us.

2. What does the phrase ‘full of sleep’ mean?

    Answer: Full of sleep means the age of approaching death.

3. How is the poet’s love different from that of others?

Answer: The poet’s love is different from others as he loves his beloved truly. Unlike others the poet loves her soul. He loves not only the moments of her glad grace but also loves the sorrows of her changing face.

3. What is Maud Gonne reminded of in the poem?

Answer: The poet reminds his beloved that when she is old, her hair will turn grey. She will be tired and full of sleep. She will remind about her lovers weather true or false who loved her only at the time of youth when she was full of beauty and grace. But the poet loved her truly and loved not only her physical beauty but her soul also. He loved her in her young age and also in her old age. The book of poems would make her realize the true of the poet which she never cared for when she was young.

4. ‘But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you’. Explain

Answer: The poet tells his beloved that in her old age she was loved by many lovers. But as she approached to her old age all her false lovers disappeared. But there was only the poet, who loved the beauty of her sprit, not merely the beauty of her body. He would love her even when her pilgrim soul has left for another world.

Literary Device Questions.

1. What images does the poet use in the poem?

Answer: The poet has used the following images in the poem:

a)    old, grey and full of sleep

b)    nodding by the fire

c)    moments of glad grace

d)    pilgrim soul in you

e)    sorrows of changing face

f)     bending beside the glowing bars

g)    crowd of stars

2. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

Answer: The poem has three quatrains and follows the regular rhyme pattern of abba. The first line rhymes with the fourth and second with the third line.

 

 Prepared by: Shahid Shafi Sheikh (English Language Trainer & Teacher).  For any query drop your comment on my Email: urwithshahid@gmail.com or my Facebok Account: shahid shafi or reply on my contact no: 9906506194.