C.S.H.

P
THE
SCHOOL
Key
notes
Class -12
ENGLISH
CORE
Flamingo}

Text

Book-

By- Ms. Manorama

Sirohi
Session 2015-16

SECTION: C : TEXTBOOK
FLAMINGO (POETRY)
Poem. 1
MY MOTHER AT SIXTY SIX
by -KAMALA DAS
Summary:
The poet is driving from her parents home to Cochin by car,
her mother by her sidesleeping open mouthed very
pale ,colorless and frail-like a dead body indicating that her
end was near.
The poet looks at her and feels intense pain and agony to
realize that soon mother from her.

Tries to divert her mind, looks outside at the young

trees and happy children bursting out of their
homes in a
playful mood (a contrasting image)

After the security check at the airport looked again at her

mothers facepale and cold.
Familiar ache-My childhood fear the poet has always
had a very intimate and close relationship
with her
mother and she has always felt the fear of being
separated from her mother hence it is familiar.
The poet reassures her mother that they will meet again
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:
Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow.
1. Driving from my parents home to Cochin last Friday
Morning, I saw my mother,
beside
me,
doze,

openmouthed, her face

ashen like that Of a corpse
and realized with pain That
looked as old as she was
But soon put that thought far away.

a) Where is the poet at present?

The poet is on her way from her ancestral home to Cochin
Airport ,travelling by a car with her aged mother dozing of
leaning against her body.
b) How does the poet describe her mother?

 The poet describes her mother as old, pale, cold and

senile. As she dozed of beside her, the mother looked
almost like a corpse, for her face was color less and
seemed to have lost thecolour and vitality of life.
c) Who does she refer to in the last line? What thoughts had
she driven away?
She here refers to the poet, Kamala Das. She wanted to
putthe haunting thought of parting with her mother away.
d). Explain the expression. Pain that looked as old as she
was
Her pain about losing her mother is as old as she was. The poetess
wants to express the idea that the pain / fear was haunting her
since her child hood.

2.

but soon
put that thought faraway, and
looked out at young trees
sprinting, the merry children
spilling
out of their homes
( a) What was the poet looking at? What did she notice?
The poet was looking at her mother. She noticed the
mothers ashen and almost lifeless face .
b)What thought did she try to drive away?
She tried to drive away the thought of her mothers
approaching death.
c)

Why did the poet start looking out? What does her
gesture suggest?
The poet started looking out of the window because she
wanted to drive away the pain and agony she experienced
on seeing her aged mother. She wanted to drive away her
helplessness in the wake of her mothers ageing and
approaching death.
d) What did the poet see from the window of the car?
The poet saw young trees running past her car and merry
children sprinting out of their homes to play.
e) What did the images of young trees and merry children

symbolize?
Trees and children symbolize the spring of life, its strength, vigour
and happiness which contrasts
helplessness that sets in with age.

a)

with

the

lifelessness

and

3. but after the airports

security check, standing
a few yards away,
I
looked again at her, wan,
pale as a late winters
moon
Who is I and why is she at the airport?
I is the poet Kamala Das here and the poet was at the
Cochin airport waiting to board the plane to Kolkota.
b) Who does her here to? How did she look like?
Her here refers to the poets aged mother. In her
declining stage of health , the mother looked pale, cold
like a corpse and like a colourless, dull later winter moon.
c) Why does the narrator look at her again?
The narrator looked at her mother once again for the last
time before she left to reassure herself about the well
being of her mother. She had tried to drive away the pain
she had felt on seeing her weak and aged mother. It was a
look of reassurance to meet her again , of anxiety and
fear that it would be her last meeting .
d) Explain: wan, pale as a late winters moon.
In this simile, the poet similarises the mothers pale and
withered face to the late winters moon. Winter
symbolizes death and the waning moon symbolizes
decay. Just like the winter loses its magnificence and
brightness in winter covered and dimmed in fog and
mist, the thick cover of the winter of old age has made
the mother weak, pale, withered, inactive and spiritless.
4. and felt that old
familiar
ache,
my
childhoods fear, but all I
said was, see you soon,
Amma, all I did was

smile and
smile.

smile

and

a) What familiar ache did the poet feel?

The familiar ache refers to the poets fear of losing her
mother and the realization that she has not cared and
cannot care for her ageing mother. It is an ache of
helplessness. It is also a fear of separation from the
mother or the mothers death.
b) What could have been the poets childhood fears?
I think the poets childhood fear was that she would lose
her mother or be separated from her and that death
would consume her mother.
c) Did the poet share her thoughts with her mother?
The poet did not share her fears and agony with her
mother. She only bid good bye to her with the hope of
seeing her soon.
d) Why do you think, the poet did not share her thoughts
with her mother?
I think the poet did not share her thoughts with her
mother because they were caused by her fear of the
unknown. Sharing them with the mother would have
worried the frail old woman to death.
e) Why did the poet only smile?
The poet only smiled to hide her guilt, anxiety and fear
of the unknown. Also, she wanted to bid a cheerful
farewell to her mother before boarding the flight, giving
a hollow promise wrapped in a meaningless smile..
QUESTION AND ANSWERS
1. What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
When the poet looks at her mothers face she found that it
had become pale and withered. She realized that her mother
was at the edge of her life and her end was near. The
thought that her mother would be soon separated form her
caused unbearable pain and ache in the poets heart.
2 . What does the poet do to shrug of the painful thought of
her mothers approaching end?
To get rid of the painful thought her mothers nearing

end ,the poet shifter her attention from her mothers

pale face to the sprinting trees and the happy children
spilling out of their house.
3. Why does the poet draw the image of sprinting trees and
merry children?
Sprinting trees and merry children bursting out from the
doors suggest fresh life and warm energy, vitality ,
youthfulness, spirit etc.. The poet draws this image to
strikes a scene of contrast with the pale, dull and
withered face of the mother at the declining stage of her
health.
4. Why have the trees been described as sprinting?
The poet was driving in a car along with her mother. Her
movement created the visionary, illusion of the trees
outside appeared to be sprinting past.
5. Why has the mother been compared to the late winters
moon?
The late winter moon lacks luster. The mothers face was
pale and withered. Moreover, the late winter moon
suggests the end of season and mother too is nearing
the end of her life, therefore the poet compares her with
the late winters moon.
6. What is the familiar ache?
The fear of losing her mother has tortured the poet from
her very childhood intimately bound up with her. Therefore
this ache is familiar to her.
7. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
The parting words of the poet reflect the poets pain ,
frustration, guilt and helplessness . But she wears a smile on
her face to mask her pain and to give hope, happiness and
reassurance to her mother.
2

POEM

AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM

IN A SLUM
-BY STEPHEN SPENDER
In this poem the poet focuses on the theme of social
injustice and inequalities.
He presents the pathetic and miserable picture of the

elementary classroom in a slum.

These children have pale and lifeless faces.
They are like rootless weeds which are uncared and
unwanted with their disorderly hair torn around their
faces.
They are depressed and oppressed with the burdens of life
and keep their heads down. They have stunted growth.
They inherit the diseases of their father.
Some of them do have dreams. A sweet young boy is
sitting at the back of the dim classroom. He is dreaming of
a squirrels game in the trees and probably other
interesting things.
The walls are dirty and creamy and on them are hung the
donations given by the rich and also Shakespeares portrait.
A civilized dome found in the cities and Tyrolese valleys
with beautiful flowers are also put up.
The map on the wall shows the children, the beautiful
world outside; but for these children of the slum it is
meaningless.
The children studying in these schools do not have the
means to go and explore the world. For them what they
see through their classroom windows, the narrow street
and the lead sky is the world.
Shakespeare is wicked for them as he has written only
about the rich, beautiful world tempting them to steal.
The map is of no interest to them because it does not
reflect the world they live in-cramped and dark lanes.
Their lives start in darkness and ends in utter darkness.
They are undernourished and their poverty has distorted
their vision as they spend their whole time in foggy slums.
The poet feels that the map which shows beautiful and
exotic places should be replaced with slums as it is not the
world they live in.
Unless the governor inspector and visitor play a vital role
in bringing about a change, their lives will remain in dark.
The slum children will be able to peep through the window
only when the gap between the two worlds is bridged.

 They should break the barriers till they come out of the dirty
surroundings and their world should be extended into the green
fields, golden sands and bright world.

They should have the freedom of expression and their

outlook be broadened.
For, only the educated and learned people can create
history whose language strength and power.
SOLVED QUESTIONS
1. Unless, governor, inspector, visitor,
This map becomes their window
and these windows That shut
upon their lives like catacombs.
(a) Why 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.
(b) What does this map refer to? How can it become their
window?
This map refers to the beautiful world of the rich. Their
window refers to holes and the stinking slums of the
unfortunate children of the slum. This can become their
window only when the diference between the two worlds is
abridged.
(c) 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, keeping them away from the vast world of
development and opportunities .
(d) What do you understand by catacombs?
Catacombs are long underground graves. Here they stand for
the dirty slums which block in which the slum children are
confined.
(e) Which literary device has been used here? Explain.
Simile has been used here to describe the oppressive efect

of the surroundings on their pathetic lives. The slum walled in

against the world of opportunities and development is
similarised to catacombs.
Answer the following in 30-40 words.
1. What is the theme of the poem?
This poem deals with the theme of social injustice and
class inequalities. The poet presents it by talking of the
two diferent and incompatible worlds- the world of the
rich and the civilized and the world of the poor and the
deprived. This gap can be bridged by the administrative
authorities and through education.
2. So blot their maps with slums as big as doom. What does
the poet want to convey?
The poet is angry at the social equalities in the world. There
are two worlds the dirty slums and the prosperous and the
beautiful world of the rich. The poet wants the map of the
world should also have blots of slums as big as the doom.
In reality he wants the gap to be reduced.
3. History is theirs whose language is the sun. Explain.
This statement means that those who have the courage
and conviction to break free from the constraints of life are
the ones who 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.
POEM -3
PABLO NERUDA

KEEPING QUIET - BY

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 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
andtranquility.
Now the poet will countup totwelve and they should keep
quiet and he will go.
SOLVED QUESTIONS
1. Read the stanza and answer thequestions that follows:
Fishermen in the cold sea
Would not harm whales
And the man gathering salt
Would look at his hurt hands.

a) What is fisherman symbolic of?

The fisherman symbolizes mans 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 .A sense of co-existence can go into the
minds of people.
c) What has happened to the man gathering salt? What must
he do?
The man gathering salt has injured his hands. He must
take care of his hurt hands and should realize that his
actions are self-destructive.
d) What would happen in this moment of silence?
He will become conscious of the harm causing to others
and to themselves and will work towards a better
tomorrow peace , co-existence, mutual understanding and
harmony.
e) What image does the poet create in the last line?
He creates the image of incessant sufering. In his efort to
add comforts to his life he has paid no heed to the pain
that caused him.
2.
Perhaps the earth can
teach us
As when everything
seems dead And
later prove to be
alive
Now Ill count upto twelve
And you keep quiet
and I will go.
a) Who can teach us
and what?
The earth can teach us. The Earth can teach us how new
life emerges from the ashes of the dead remains. Likewise
quiet introspection will enable us to live a life of peace and
harmony.
c) Why does the speaker count up to twelve?

 It is a part of initiation in meditation. All distractions and

digressions are washed away and man is in a moment of
bliss.
d) Explain-you keep quiet and I will go?
The poet wants us all to keep quiet and experience the
moment of realization and peace. He will go and pass on
the message to another group of people.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Pablo Neruda urge us to keep still?
Stillness is necessary for reflection and quiet introspection.
We can hear the voice of our conscience and thus
withdraw ourselves from undesirable actions and
contribute to create a society of peace and mutual
understanding.
2. Under the apparent stillness there is life. Justify.
The poet does not want to equate stillness with total
inactivity. Under the apparent stillness there is life. We can
learn it from the earth when everything seems dead, the
earth still remains alive. The life on earth goes on under
the apparent stillness.
3. Why do men become sad? How can this sadness be
overcome?
Men fail to understand themselves. They are always
threatening themselves with death. When they do not
understand themselves they become sad. A long silence
might interrupt this sadness and make them good.

POEM-4
BEAUTY

By-JOHN KEATS

A THING OF

GIST OF THE LESSON

The Poet, John Keats says that beautiful things will never
become nothing as they will
continue to hold us in
their spell and sooth our soul.
Every beautiful thing is like a band that ties us to this
earth as it makes us want to live and enjoy these things
of beauty.
And these things of beauty, according to the poet, are

the things that give hope to human beings and make

them want to live, in spite of all the sorrow, ill-health and
unpleasant experiences that we face on earth.
Some of the beautiful things on this earth that have such
an efect on us are the sun, the moon, trees, streams,
flowers, forests, beautiful monuments that we have
erected for the dead, all the lovely tales that we have
heard or read.
Finally he compares all these beautiful things to the
immortal drink given to us by gods or gifts of God. Thus
he states his firm belief in the Divine.

Solved Questions
1. 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 dafodils
a. What does in spite of all refer to?
The expression refers to all the pessimistic and negative
thoughts that obstruct our way to
happiness. In spite of the sense of hopelessness and
gloom that overshadow and darken our
way, we are
able to find our happiness in the beautiful objects on
nature.
b. What , according to the poet , drives away the sadness from
our life?
Beauty, in shape or form, helps in driving away the
sadness and despair from our spirit.
c. What does the reference simple sheep symbolize?
Lambs and sheep are envisioned as the embodiments of
innocent and serene beauty. Jesus Christ, as an apostle
of peace, was a shepherd and was seen surrounded by
his flock of sheep , his followers. The poet has made
specific reference to the sheep as symbols of divine
beauty.
Short Answer Questions:

(a) Whataccording to Keats are the things that cause sufering

and pain?
The poet says that a scarcity of good-natured people or
in other words the wicked people outnumber the good
people. And the source of all our sorrows is either illhealth or another human being.
(b) What makes human beings love life in spite of all the
sufering?
The poet says that the beautiful things on earth lifts the
pall of our spirits and make life worth living. Each
beautiful thing is like a link that forms a chain or wreath
that binds us to this earth.
(c) Why does the poet say mighty dead?
Monuments are erected in memory of people who were
mighty or great when they lived. Physically mighty as in
mighty warriors or mentally might as in great poets,
writers or philosophers. Their tombs provide inspiration
for the living through their beauty just as their works
continue to do.

POEM- 4
TIGERS

By ADRIENNE RICH

AUNT JENNIFERS

GITS OF THE POEM:

The poet is a feminist and she addresses the difficulties of a
married woman.
She spends good amount of time in embroidering panel of
tigers prancing across the screen.
The tigers are fearless creatures pacing elegantly and
majestically. They symbolize the spirit of freedom. Aunt
is a victim of male chauvinism (male domination).
Aunt Jennifer is so oppressed and terrified that she finds it
hard to pull the needle.
The weight of Uncles wedding band expresses how
victimized and oppressed she is. It implies that aunt
Jennifer has to work hard to meet his expectation.

 She spends her life in fear but she embroiders on the

panel the fearless tigers to express her secret longing for
a life of freedom and confidence.
Even her death does not end the problem and torture
which a married woman experiences..
SOLVED QUESTIONS
1.Aunt
Jennifers
tigers
prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a
world of green. They do not
fear the men beneath the
tree: They pace in sleek
chivalric certainty.
a) What does the expression Aunt Jennifers tigers imply?
Aunt Jennifer was embroidering a panel of prancing tigers.
The poet refers to the tigers as Aunt Jenniferstigers
because they are her creation, her work of art.
b) What doesprancing tigerssymbolize?
Prancing tigers are a symbol of the spirit of freedom
within Aunt Jennifer which remains subdued. They also
symbolize her fear of her male counterpart.
c) Whyare they referred to as denizens of a world of green?
The tigers are the dwellers of the green forest so they are
referred to as denizens.
d) What qualities of the tigers are highlighted here?
Fearlessness and ferocity of the tigers are highlighted
here. Aunt Jennifers nervousness and timidity are in
sharp contrast to wild ferocity of the tigers who are not
afraid of hunting men. Unlike Aunt Jennifer, the tigers
fear nothing.
e) Explain; They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
The movement of the tigers is sleek, stealthy, sure,
majestic and elegant. They are sure of their purpose.
Gallant and confident, they move ahead fearlessly and
undeterred
2.Aunt
Jennifers
fingers
fluttering through her wool

Find even the ivory needle

hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncles wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifers hand.
a) Why do Aunt Jennifers fingers flutter through her wool?
Aunt Jennifer lives in constant fear of her chauvinist
husband. She feels so nervous and terrified that her
hands shake and flutter when she sits down to knit.
b) Why does she find it hard to pull the ivory needle?
Confronting constant fear and bearing the constraints of
married life , she has become a nervous wreck. She finds it
difficult to pull the ivory needle through the tapestry more
because of mental suppression than because of physical
weakness.
c) Explain: massive weight of Uncles wedding band.
The expression is symbolic of male authority and power.
Matrimony binds the woman physically as well as
mentally, clipping her of her freedom of expression and
independence. Likewise Aunt Jennifer is trapped in gender
oppression and feels herself burdened by the authority of
her husband.
d) How is Aunt Jennifer afected by the weight of
matrimony?
Aunt Jennifer cannot do things freely, she tries to come up
to the expectation of her husband, she seems to have lost
her identity. The freedom that she dreams of through her
art is itself symbolic of her oppressed self.
3.When Aunt is dead, her
terrified hands will lie Still
ringed with ordeals she was
mastered by. The tigers in the
panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
a) What is Aunt Jennifers death symbolic of?
Aunt Jennifers death is symbolic of her
complete submission to her suppression. b)
Explain: terrified hands.

 Aunt Jennifer is terrified by her dominating husband

and hence her hands are shivering. c) What does
ringed with ordeals imply?
Aunt Jennifer has been so victimized in her life that even
after death she remains trapped in the struggles of the
spirit. Though we do not know what terrors Aunt Jennifer
had to live with relatives did, we find her a victim of
gender injustice and oppression.
d) Is the society in any way afected by Aunt Jennifers death?
Since the society is male dominated, it shows no
concern for Aunts sufering, even her death. The loss of
her freedom is her individual loss. The society is not
afected by it and the state of women still remains the
same.
e) Explain: the tigers in thepanel.will go on prancing, proud
and unafraid.
The expression is symbolic of the dispassionate and
unconcerned attitude of the male towards the desire for
freedom among women. Even after her death, the social
milieu remains unafected, arrogant and ferocious.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTION S
1. How do Aunt Jennifers tiger look like?
The tigers, made by Aunt Jennifer on the screen, are
jumping and playing about without any fear of the men
beneath the tree. They walk in elegance and style
displaying the spirit of courage, fearlessness, strength
and confidence.
2. What do the tigers made by the Aunt symbolize?
The tigers made by Aunt Jennifer symbolize the spirit of
courage, strength and fearlessness Aunt Jennifer, a victim
of male oppression, expresses her crushed feelings in the
form of art. So, the tigers are symbolic of the fear of male
domination with which Aunt Jennifer sufers.
3. Why do you think Aunt Jennifers hands are fluttering
through her wool? Why is she finding the needle so hard to
pull?
Aunt Jennifer is victimized by the overbearing and dominant
nature of her husband. Her life has become a torture due to

her suppression by her atrocious husband. The fear of her

authoritative husband has gone so deep into her being that
she seems to have lost all strength and energy. Thus her
hands shake and flutter so much that she is not even able to
pull the needle through the tapestry.
4. What do you understand by massive weight of uncles
wedding band?
Generally wedding band is a symbol of joy and happiness.
But in case of Aunt Jennifer, it has become a symbol of
torture and oppression. Her relationship with her
authoritative husband has become a painful burden to
carry. Her wedding band has brought her a world of pain,
misery and torture. She has lost her freedom and entered a
world of humiliation and oppression.
5. Explain her terrified hands will lie, still ringed with the
ordeals she was mastered by.
These lines convey Aunts complete submission to the
oppressive authority of her husband. The fear of her
husband has gone so deep into her being that even
death cannot liberate her from the chains of her mental
suppression. Memories of her husbands tortures and
atrocities which bent her into a humiliating slavery will
continue to haunt her even after her death.
6. Explain The tigers in the panel------------proud and unafraid.
Here the tigers symbolize the unquestioned authority of
man enjoyed by him over his woman counterpart. The lines
suggest the dispassionate and unconcerned attitude of the
male towards the desire for freedom among women. Here,
Aunt Jennifer tries to find an escape in her art but ends up
portraying an image of her own suppression. While woman
can never free herself from the oppressive authority of her
male counterpart, the male, on the other hand will go on
enjoying his authoritative arrogance and ferocity without
any fear of regrets.

Questions for Practice:

1.What ideology does the poem propound?
2.How is the poem a forceful
expression of the evil of patriarchy?
3The tigersare contrasting symbols. Do
you think so? How? 4.Wht ordeals do
you think Aunt Jennifer is surround by?
5.Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals tht are
so diferent from her own character? 6. What impression
do you form about the Uncle in the poem. Cite evidences.
70

FLAMINGO(PROSE)
THE LAST LESSONbyAlphonse Daudet

GIST OF THE LESSON

Franz is afraid of going to school as he has not learnt
participles.
He wants to enjoy beauty of nature. The bright sunshine,
the birds chirruping in the woods, Prussian soldiers
drilling but resisted.
Bulletin board: all bad news, lost battles, the drafts and
orders of the commanding officers: wondered what it
could be now
The changes he noticed in the school.
- Instead of noisy classrooms everything was as quiet as
Sunday morning
- The teacher does not scold him and told him very
kindly to go to his seat
- The teacher dressed in his Sunday best.
- Villagers occupying the last benches- To pay tribute to
M. Hamel for his 40 yrs of sincere service and also to
express their solidarity with France.

M. Hamel making the announcement that that would

be the last French lesson; realizes that, that was what
was put up on the bulletin board.
Franz realizes that he does not know his own mother
tongue
Regretted why he had not taken his lessons seriously.
Also realizes the reason why teacher was dressed in his
Sunday best and villagers sitting at the back.
M. Hamel realizes that all three, the children , the
parentsandhe himselfare to be blamed for losing respect
and regard for the mother tongue.
Always keep the mother tongue close to your heart as it
is the key to the prison of slavery.
Atmosphere in class: teacher teaching sincerely and

patiently, students and others studying with utmost

sincerity.
Franz wonders sarcastically if Prussians could force
pigeons to coo in German.
M. Hamel overcome with emotions could not speak and
wrote on the black board Long Live France.
SOLVED QUESTIONS:
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS:
1. What was the narrators greatest fear as he moved
towards the school?
Franz had started late for school and thus was afraid of
being scolded . His fear gripped him further for he was also
unprepared. He had not learnt his lesson regarding the
rules of participles and thus dreaded the teachers anger.
2. What was more tempting to Franz rather than going to
school?
The weather was pleasant, warm and bright. The chirruping
birds were inviting him, the soldiers drilling in the field were
also outdoors and Franz was not prepared with participles.
3. What was the news which was put up on the bulletin
board?
71

For the last two years all bad news the lost battles, the
orders of the commanding officer was displayed on the
notice board. That day, the news that only German would
be taught in school of Alsace and Lorraine was displayed on
the notice-board which made the crowd gather there to
read the news.
4. What was so unusual about the school on that day?
Usually there would be a great bustle of opening and
closing of the desk, lesson repeated loudly and the
teachers ruler rapping on the table but that day was very
calm and quiet like Sunday morning. The back benches
which were usually empty were occupied by the village
people and M. Hamel wore his special dress and was pacing
up and down with a ruler under his arm.
5. Why were the villagers seated on the back benches?
All the village elders were seated on the back benches as a
tribute to the teacher who had put in 40 years of sincere
service. It was also their way of expressing regret for not
learning their mother tongue when they had the chance.
They were also expressing their patriotism and solidarity
with France
6. Franz didnt learn French whom did M. Hamel blame?
M. Hamel didnt blame Franz for not learning but his
parents who were not anxious to have him learn. Instead
they wanted him to work on a farm or at the mill to earn
money.
Even M. Hamel was also to be blamed for sending him to
water the flowers instead of learning and when he wanted
to go fishing he declared holiday.
7. Whatdid M. Hamel say about French language?
He said that it is the most beautiful language in the worldthe clearest, the most logical. He requested them to guard
it so that they can be united and fight back for their
freedom.
8. What happened when the church clock struck 12?
The moment the church clock struck 12 the Prussian army
came to take over and M. Hamel stood up, wanted to tell

something but his voice was chocked. He gathered his

strength and wrote on the black board as large as he could
Vive La France and dismissed the school.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Justify the title of the
story The Last Lesson.
Value Points
People always feel there is plenty of time to learnso also
in Alsacenow no timeparents not keenpreferred
children , work in farms, millFranz looked opportunity to
escape schoolnever seriousreceive orders from Berlin
people realize importance of their languageattend the
last lesson by M. Hamel.
QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Whywas Franz unwilling to go to school?
2. Why didnt M. Hamel punish Franz,even though he was
late?
3. Mention the three changes that Franz noticed in the
school?
4. What announcement did M. Hamel make and what was its
impact?
5. What do you think was written on the bulletin board?
6. Whydid M. Hamel say about knowing ones language is a
key to prison?
72

7. Whom did Mr. Hamel blame for not learning the French?
8. What changes have taken place in the school in the last
forty years?
9. What did he mean by Viva La France?
10.
Do you thinkthat the story touches
upon the brutalities of war? Explain
11.How does Hamel arouse patriotism in
the people of Alsace?
12.
What does Franz when he asks: Will
they make them sing in German, even the
pigeons
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS 125 -150words.
1. Write a note on the character of M. Hamel as a teacher?
2. Do you think the story touches upon the brutalities of
war? Comment.
3. What thunderbolt did the narrator receive on reaching the
school? How was itafecthim?
4. At the end of the last lesson M. Hamel wrote, Viva La
France on the board in bold letters. Why do you think he
wrote that and how did he expect the people of Alsace
Lorraine to keep their identity intact?
5.What were Franz feelings about M Hamel and his French
lessons? How did they undergo a complete change?
Value Based Question: Answer the following in about 100
words. 5
M Hamel The Last Lesson says to the people of Alsace
about the necessity of their mother tongue- French: .
We must guard it among us and never forget it because
when a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to
their language it is as if they had the key to their prison.
Mother tongue is the language of ones thoughts and
ideas. Rejecting ones mother tongue is denying ones own
culture and identity. Do you think so? Write your reflections
on the above statement in the form of an article to be
published in your school magazine , encouraging your

friends to the need for learning and protecting their mother

tongue.
LOST
SPRING:STORIES
CHILDHOOD By Anees Jung
GIST OF THE LESSON

OF

STOLEN

The author examines and analyses the impoverished

conditions and traditions that condemn children to a life of
exploitation thesechildren are denied an education and
forced into hardships early in their lives.
The writer encounters Saheb - a rag picker whose parents
have left behind the life of poverty in Dhaka to earn a
living in Delhi.
His family like many other families of rag pickers lives in
Seemapuri. They do not have other identification other
than a ration card.
The children do not go to school and they are excited at
the prospect of finding a coin or even a ten rupee note
for rummaging in the garbage.
It is the only way of earning the life they live in
impoverished conditions but are resigned to their fate.
The writer is pained to see Saheb, a rag picker
whose name means the ruler of earth, lose the spark
of childhood and roams barefooted with his friends.
73

 From morning to noon the author encounters him in a tea

stall and is paid Rs. 800 He sadly realizes that he is no
longer his own master and this loss of identity weighs
heavily on his tender shoulders.
The author then tells about another victim, Mukesh who
wants to be a motor mechanic.
Hailing from Firozabad, the centre of Indias bangle
making and glass blowing industry, he has always
worked in the glass making industry.
His family like the others there do not know that it is
illegal for children to work in such close proximity to
furnaces, insuch high temperatures.
They are exposed to various health hazards like losing
their eyesight as they work in abysmal conditions, in
dark and dingy cells.
Mukeshs father is blind as were his father and
grandfather before him.
They lead a hand to mouth existence as they are caught in
the vicious web of the money lenders, middlemen, police
and the traditions
So burdened are the bangle makers of Firozabad that
they have lost their ability to dream unlike Mukesh who
dreams of driving a car.
SOLVED QUESTIONS
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. What does Saheb do for living?Why?
Saheb is a rag picker. His family has left the life of poverty
behind in Dhaka in to pursue their dream of finding a better
life. The children like him have no access to Education and
are forced into rag picking
2. Saheb is no longer his own master, says the writer.
What does she mean?
The writer means that having accepted the job with the
tea-stall, Saheb has lost the independence that he enjoyed

as a rag picker, even though he was poor. Although he will

now be able to supplement the family income, it will be at
the cost of his freedom, which is difficult, binding and
unfair for someone so young.
3. Why did people migrate from the
village in Dhaka to Delhi ? Better
education, job opportunities and
living conditions.
4. What trade does the family of Mukesh follow? Why does
the writer feel that it will be difficult for Mukesh to break
away from this tradition?
Engaged in bangle making-difficult to break away from
this trade. He belongs to the caste of bangle makers His
family is caught in the web of sohukars, the middlemen,
policemen, politicians and bureaucrats, from which there
is no escape.
5. What does garbage symbolize for the adults and children?
6. Adults means of earning a livelihood. Children wrapped
in wonder, magical
74

LONG ANSWER QUESTION

1. 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 enthusiasticprospect of finding
gold in garbagelikes going to school but no opportunity
freedom and joy of childhood to burdens of job at teastall.
Mukesh, born at Firozabad (bangle maker)works under
inhuman conditiondark room, hot furnacescaught in
web of povertyvicious circle of sahukars, policemen,
politicians, bureaucrats and moneylendersresigned to
fateunaware of child labour actstifled initiation and
hopelose eyesight before becoming adults.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE
a. What does the title of the story LostSpringimply?
b. Where has Saheb come from and why?
c. How is Sahebs name full of irony?
d.Promises made to poor children are never kept.
Explain with examples from the lesson.
e. Mention the hazards of working in the bangle industry.
f. Do you think Mukesh will realize his dream of becoming
a car mechanic?
g. His dreams loom like a mirage. Whose dreams are
being referred to and why are
they compared to a mirage?
h.Together they have imposed the baggage on the child
that he cannot put down. Who do they refer to? What
is the baggage and why can the child not get rid of it?i.
How is Mukeshs attitude to his situation diferent from
that of his family?
j. Why does the author describe children of slums as
partners in survival?
k. How has being born in the caste of bangle
makers become both a destiny and a curse?

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Like all children of his age, Saheb also had many hopes
and dreams. Do you think children like Saheb are able
tofulfilltheir dreams?
2. Politicians exploit all people and situations to their own
benefit. Comment, keeping in views the situation of
refugees in Seemapuri.
3.Saheb wants to blossom and bloombut is nipped in the
bud. Elaborate.
4.Saheb and Mukesh are brothers in penury and
sufering. Discuss.
5. Value Based Question: Answer the following in about
100 words. 5
Mukesh says I will be a motor mechanic. I will learn to drive a car.
Notonlysettingagoal,buthavingaclearideaaboutthemeansto
reach the goal and pursuing it with strong determination and
commitment are essential to achieve success. Based on this
realization,writeanemailtoyouryoungerbrother,aboardingschool
student,makinghimawareoftheneedforsettingrealisticgoaland
planningwaystoreachitwithstrongdeterminationandcommitment.
75

DEEP
WATERBY
WILLIAM DOUGLAS
THEME
In this essay William O. Douglas talks about his fear of
water and how he finally overcomes it by his courage,
determination, handwork,strong will power, perseverance
and the desire to learn. If these are practiced we can
definitely achieve success in all our endeavors.
GIST OF THE LESSONWilliam O. Douglas had a desire to learn swimming since
childhood.
At the age of three or four, he was knocked down and
buried by a wave at a beach in California.
He developed a great aversion to water.
At the age of ten or eleven he decided to learn to swim
with water wings at the Y.M.C.A pool since it was safe at
the shallow end.
A misadventure:- while sitting alone and waiting for
others to come at the Y.M.C.A pool, a big boy came and
threw Douglas into deep end of the pool.
Douglas swallowed water and went straight down to the
bottom of the pool.
While going down he planned to make a big jump
upwards but came up slowly.
Stark terror seized him.
Tried to shout but could not
As he went down the pool second time, he tried to jump
upwards but it was a waste of energy.
Terrorheld him deeper and deeper.
During the third trial he sucked water instead of air.
Light was going out and there was no more panic.
So he ceased all eforts and he became unconscious.
He crossed to oblivion.
When revived he found himself vomiting beside the pool.
He was in grip of fear of water and it deprived him of

the joys of canoeing, boating swimming and fishing.

Hired an instructor to learn swimming.
The instructor taught him swimming piece by piece.
He went to diferent lakes to swim and found tiny
vestiges of fear still gripped him.
He challenged the fear and swam.
Swimming up and down the Warm Lake he finally
overcame his fear of water.
He realized that in death there is peace and there is
terror only in fear of death.
Will to live is stronger than fear of death.

SOLVED QUESTIONS:
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Why was the YMCA pool considered safer when
compared to the Yakima River?
Yakima River was very deep, treacherous and there were
many cases of drowning but the YMCA pool only two or
three feet deep at the shallow end: and while it was nine
feet at the deep end. So YMCA pool was considered safer
when compared to the Yakima River.
2. When did his aversion to water begin?
76

His aversion to water began when he was 3 -4

years old when his father took beach. There
the waves knocked him down swept over him.

3. What was the misadventure that happened one day?

William Douglas had just learnt swimming. One day, an
eighteen year old big bruiser picked him up and tossed
him into the nine feet deep end of the YMCA pool. He hit
the water surface in a sitting position. He swallowed
water and went at once to the bottom. He nearly died in
this misadventure.
4. What strategy did heremember ashe went down the
water?
To hit the bottom and spring/jump upwards, bob to the
surface like a cork and come out. 5. What efect did
the drowning in the YMCA pool have on the Douglas?
-weak and trembling - haunting fear - deprived
of the joy of canoeing, boating and swimming.
6. What method did he adopt to overcome terror?
- Rigorous training (breathing moving of legs ,etc )
- went to lake Wentworth and swam for two miles.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. How did the misadventure in YMCA pool afect
Douglas? How did he overcome it? -was ten or
eleven decided-learn-swim -an older boy
pushed almost drowned
-haunting fear gripped him -could not enjoy any water
sports -finally decided to hire an instructor -seven months
instructor made a swimmer -released the instructor
-vestiges remained -swam in Lake Wentworth -challenged
the terror -swam across Warm lake -shouted with joyconquered the fear of water -there is terror only in the
fear of death and peace in death. - the will to live became
stronger.
QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Why did mother warn Douglas against River Yakima?

2. What impact did the incident at California beach have on
him?
3. What made him decide that the instructors role in
teaching him swimming was over?
4. Why did Douglas go to Lake Wentworth in New
Hampshire? How did he make his terror flee?
5. What larger meaning did the experience have on him?
6. How did he interpret Roosevelts saying?
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. What is the misadventure that William Douglas speaks
about? What were the series of emotions fears experienced
when he was thrown into the pool? What plans did he make
to come to the surface?
2. How did the instructor build a swimmer out of Douglas?
3. Why does Douglas as an adult recount a childhood
experience of terror and his conquering of it? What larger
meaning does he draw from his experience?
4. Do you think the title Deep Water is appropriate to the
story? Why/why not?
77

5. Value Based Question: Answer the following in about

100 words. 5
WilliamDouglas writesabout his frightening experience in
the YMCA pool: With that he picked me up and tossed
me into the deep end, I landed in a sitting position,
swallowed water. I was frightened.
Do you appreciate the behavior of the big, bully boy? Dont
you think that bullying and ragging of students by
students( as is seen in news several times ) are
barbarianism and have great damaging efect on the
victim as well as to the society? Write down your thoughts
about this in the form of a speech to be delivered in a
meeting of the senior students of your school.

INDIGObyLouis Fischer
GIST OF THE LESSON
Raj Kumar Shukla- A poor sharecropper from Champaran
wishing to meet Gandhiji.
Raj Kumar Shukla illiterate but resolute, hence followed
Gandhiji to Lucknow, Cawnpore, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Patna,
Muzzafarpur and then Camparan.
Servants at Rajendra Prasads residence thought Gandhiji
to be an untouchable.
Gandhiji considered as an untouchable because of simple
living style and wearing, due to the company of Raj Kumar
Shukla.
Decided to go to Muzzafarpur first to get detailed
information about Champaran sharecropper.
Sent telegram to J B Kriplani & stayed in Prof Malkanis
home a government servant.
Indians afraid of showing sympathy to the supporters of
home rule.
The news of Gandhijis 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, landlords
hired thugs.
Gandhiji reached Champaran visited the secretary of the
British landlord association to get the facts but denied as
he wasan outsider.
Gandhiji went to the British Official Commissioner who
asked him to leave Tirhut , 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
symbolised 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.
78

SOLVED QUESTIONS
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1.. What strategydid Gandhiji followin removing the
problems of sharecroppers?
Gandhiji discussed the problems with lawyers. He
disregarded British order of eviction. He insisted peasants
to remove their fear.
2. Why did Gandhiji feel that it was useless for the
peasants to go to law courts? The peasants are
crushed and fear stricken. The lawyers charged
high fee.

3. Why did the British landlords free the sharecropper

from growing Indigo? What did they want instead?
The Britishcame to know that synthetic indigo was
developed inGermany and the 15% of land was released
and in return, the peasants were asked to pay
compensation for release from the agreement.
4. Why did Gandhiji agree for the 25% refund by the British
landlords?
Gandhiji agreed for 25% refund because the amount was
not important but the landlords prestige was surrendered.
5.What was the important lesson taught by Gandhiji to his
disciples ?
Gandhiji taught rules of personal hygiene and cleanliness.
He also taught the -Champarans to win freedom
independently without any support of British.
LONG ANSWER QUESTION
1. Why did Gandiji consider freedom from fear more
important than legal justice for the poor peasants of
Champaran?
Value Points :British ruthless exploitationfarmers fight
through lawyersbattles were inconclusiveterror-stricken
Gandhijis declarationno need of law court overcome
terrorbe bold and courageous.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE
1. What made Gandhiji urge the departure of the British?

2. How was Gandhiji received in Mothihari?

3. What made Mahatma Gandhi declare the battle of
Champaran is won?
4. How didthe Champaran episode change the plight of the
peasants?
5. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25% refund to
the farmers?
6. How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to
the freedom movement?
7.What argument did Gandhiji give for not complying with
the official orders to quit
Champaran?
8. How were the Britishers shown that their dreaded and
unquestioned authority could be
challenged by the Indians?
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Why did Gandhijis casual visit to Champaran get
extended to over a year?
2. How did civil disobedience triumph?
3. What idea do you form about the Britishers from the
chapter Indigo?
4. How did the peasants learn courage?
5. Are Ganhijis socio, economic and political ideals
relevant today? Discuss with reference to the
Champaran episode.
79

6. Value Based Question: Answer the following in about

100 words. 5
Champaran episode was a turning point not only in
Gandhijis life, but also in the history of Indian freedom
struggle. Dont you agree that Gandhijis practically
proven ideals of truth, non violence, and empathy for the
deprived are still relevant? Write your ideas on
Relevance of Gandhian ideals today in the form of an
article.
The Rat Trapby Selma Lagerlof
GIST OF THE LESSON
The peddler was a vagabond who sold rattraps with a
little thievery on the side to make both ends meet. Had
no worldly possession to call his own, not even a name.
It amused him to think of the world as a rattrap and all
the material possessions as bait as the world, he felt
was never kind to him. Moreover, he prided himself in
the fact that he was out of it.
Takes shelter at a crofters cottage. The crofter
welcomed him, gave him diner, shared his pipe, played
mjolis with him also confided in him about his income
and showed him where he put it.
Next morning, the Peddler steals the money and takes
the back roads to keep away from people and gets lost
in the jungle at night. While he wanders in the forest
he realizes that he has also got caught in the rattrap
and that the money was the bait.
Finally reaches Ramsjo ironworks, where he takes
shelter for the night. The blacksmith and his assistant
ignore him but the master mistakes him to be an old

acquaintance and invites him home. Though the

Peddler does not correct the ironmaster, hoping to get
some money out of him, he declines his invitation.
The ironmaster then sends his daughter who persuades
him to go home with her. She notices his uncouth
appearance and thinks that either he has stolen
something or he has escaped from jail.
The Peddler is scrubbed, bathed, given a haircut, a shave
and a suit of old clothes of the ironmaster. In the morning
light, the iron master realizes he is mistaken and that he
is not the Captain. He wants to call the Sherif. The
peddler is agitated and breaks out that the world is
rattrap and he too is sure to be caught in it. The
ironmaster is amused but orders him out. The
compassionate Edla convinces her father that he should
spend the Christmas day with him.
The Peddler spends the whole of Christmas Eve eating
and sleeping. The next day at church, Edla and her father
come to know that the Peddler is a thief who stole thirty
kroners from the poor crofter.
80

 -Back home, they found a letter addressed to Edla, signed

as Captain Von

as a gift from the crofter. In

the rattrap were the three ten kroner notes of the crofter.

SOLVED SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Why did the Peddler choose to go through the forest?
2. 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.
3. Why did not the Peddler 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.
4. Why did it please the tramp to compare the world to a
rattrap?
The world was not very kind to the tramp and so it gave
him great pleasure to think of it as a rattrap.
5. Why did the tramp sign the letter as Captain Von Stahle?
The tramp, though illiterate and a thief, found himself
raised to a captain through Edlas kindness and
compassion. He got a chance to redeem himself and hence
he signs the letter as Captain Von Stahle.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Both the Crofter and Edla Willmanson were kind and
hospitable to the Tramp. But he repays crofters kindness by
stealing his money while Edla is able to transform him to a
better human being. Why?

Value Points:
Crofter very hospitable. Welcomes him with a smile - gives
him supper and shares his tobacco. Tells him about
income-shows him the money - very trusting and friendly.
Stealing a way of life for the tramp-no twinge of conscience
while stealing-But later he realizes that he who prided
himself in not being caught in the rattrap was caught in it
by stealing feels depressed.
Edlas kindness and hospitality awakens his conscienceRealises that there is a way out of the trap- Returns the
money through Edla- His redemption gift to Edla.
QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE:
1. The world was a rattrap and the peddler himself became a
victim of it. Elucidate.
2. The rattrap exemplifies the truth that essential goodness
of human can be awakened through understanding and
love. Discuss
3. The story focuses on human loneliness and the need to
bond with others. Explain.
81

4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with

peddler?
5.
Why did the rattrap seller develop negative view of the
world?
6.
Why did the peddler declinethe iron masters invitation?
7.
Edla is a better judge than her father. Do you think so?
Why/why not?
8.

Why did the peddler defend himself against not having

revealed his true identity?
LONG ANSWER QUESTION:PRACTICE
1. The essential virtue of human heart can be aroused
through compassion and empathy. How far has the
meaning of this statement been exemplified in the story
The Rattrap
2. Value Based Question: Answer the following in about 100 words.
5

It has been understood from the story The Rattrap that the
compassion, empathy and unconditional love and trust of
Edla Wilmanson only could win the heart of the rattrap
seller to reclaim him to be an honest and upright individual
at last. An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world
blind.It is through fellow-feeling , love , compassion and
trust in others that we can change the society . Write your
argument forthe statement to participate in a debate
competition.
POETS AND PANCAKES :ASOKAMITRAN.
GIST OF THE LESSON

The Gemini studio owned by S.S.Vasan was one of the

most influential film Producing Organizationsof India in the
early years of Indian film making industry.

The make-up department of studios looked like a hair

cutting salon.

Had lights at all angles, half dozen mirrors, incandescent

lights

The artists were subjected to misery while application of

make-up.
The make-up department, consisting of people from
diferent parts of the country, was a unique example of
National Integration.
A strict hierarchy was maintained in the make-up dept.
Narrator worked in a cubicle tearing newspapers, thought
he was free, people barged in always.
Kothamangalam Subbu, no.2 at Gemini studios, was
always cheerful, tailor made for films, endowed with
great creativity, charitable yet had enemies
Hewas loyal andfaithful, veryclose to boss.
He could ofer various alternatives for how a scene could
be invented. Subbu, in fact, gave direction to Gemini
studios during its golden years.
The story Department of the studios comprising of a
lawyer, officially known as legal adviser but was treated
the opposite. Once he brought a sad end to the career of
a brilliant and promising young actress.
Story dept wound up-lawyer lost job.
Afavoritehaunt for poets
Most people woreKhadi, worshipped Gandhi, knew
nothing about politics.
Against communism, believed thata communist was a
godless man
82

 A warm welcome was accorded to moral Re Armament

Army (MRA) by
They presented two plays
Jothan Valley and The forgotten Factor which had a
great influence on Tamil drama.
THE MRA was a strong countermovement against
communism.
The Gemini studios again got an opportunity to
welcome an English poet or an Editor. But the people of
Gemini Studio could not comprehend the purpose as
well as the language of thepoet or editor, so his visit
was a mystery.
Later on, he came to know that the visitor was the
editor of The Encounter and his name was Stephen
Spender.
The God That Failed was the collection of six essays
by six men of letters including Spender. These essays
described separately their journey into communism and
their disillusioned return.
Mystery was solved.
SOLVED QUESTIONS
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1.How does the writerdescribe the make-up room of the
Gemini studios?
The makeup room of the Gemini studio had
incandescent lights. It also had lights at all angles,
large mirrors. Those subjected to makeup had to face
bright light and a lot of heat there. It was on the
upper floor of the o a building that was believed to
have been Robert Clives stables.
2.How was the make-up room a fine example of national
integration?
The makeup room was headed by a Bengali, succeeded by
a Maharashtrian, assisted by a-Dharwar Kannadiga, an
Andhra, a Madrasi, Christian and an Anglo Burmese.
1. How did the legal advisor bring a sad end to the brief

and brilliant acting career of an extremely talented in

the studios?
The legal advisor (lawyer) quietly switched on the recording
equipment when once she blew over on the sets against
the producer. When the actress paused for breath, he
played back the recording. She was struck dumb on hearing
her own voice and never recovered from the shock. That
was the end of the brief and brilliant career of the actress.
2. What does The God That Failed refer to?
The God That Failed refers to a collection of essays by six
eminent literary personalities, about their journey into
communism and disillusionment. Stephen Spender was one
of the authors.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. The author has used gentle humor to point out human
foibles. Pick out instances of this to show how this serves to
make the piece interesting. -author uses gentle and subtle
humor bring
out human foibles-use ofto cover the pores -The actors
pancake ostensibly
look ugly. -Strict
hierarchy. -people at thebe poets yet no idea about
studio imagined to
contemporary -Poetslaughingly brings out their ignorance -wore khadi looked
gandhian no idea about politics -no idea of communismwelcomed MRA, Stephen Spendor -Description of office boyDescription of Subbuwonderful insight into character. -pokes fun at the -at the
ignorance of all the people
same
timeprojecting themas real people and eccentricitiesand
with human failings
foibles.
SHORT ANSWERQUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE
1. How was Gemini studios a symbol of national integration ?
83

2. Why did the author want to know more

about the periodical The Encounter? he
finally discover?
3. What was the strict hierarchy maintained in the makeup
department?.
4. Why was the narrator praying for crowd shooting all the
time?
5. What do you know about the literary taste of
the taste of Gemini as far English poetry is concerned?
6. Why did the author appear to do nothing in the studio?
7. What political affiliation did the member of the studio
have?
8.What was the attitude of the member of the
studio about communism and why? 9. What was
the incongruity of the English poet addressing at
Gemini studio? LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Attempt a character sketch on Kothamangalam Subbu.
2. The Office-boy in the make-up department of
Gemini Studios has the shades of a
typicaluniversal character lured by glitter and
glamour and doomed to frustration. Discuss.
3. The author is at great skill to use gentle humour
to bring out the follies and foibles of people.
How far is it evident in the story.
4.The staf at Gemini Studio enjoyedthevisit ofMRA
while the visit of the English poet remained an
unexplainedmystery. Discuss.
5. Value Based Question: Answer the following in about 100
words. 5
Themakeupboywas not at all satisfied with his job and
always complained that he was kept back in such a mean
job for long years , even though he had higher caliber, only
because of the
influential person Subbu. The office boy never liked or tried to like
his job. Being a resentful employee , he fails to understand the
glory and importance of every work, be it high or low. Unless we
love our work, we cannot be productive , but a mere waste. .
Learning lessons from the office boys behaviour, write a letter to

your engineering graduate sister working as a clerk telling her

about the Glory of Labour and the need to be satisfied and
committed to whatone gets to be progressivein life.

THE INTERVIEWby 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 thehighest 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.
o V.S. Naipaul feels that some people are wounded by
interviews and lose a part of them selves.
o Lewis Carroll never consented to be interviewed for
he believed it to be a just horror of the interviewer.
o Rudyard Kipling considered it immoral, a crime,
an assault that merits punishment. o H.G. Wells
referred interviewing to be an ordeal.
o
Saul Bellow describes it like thumbprints on his
windpipe.

84

 Despite

the

drawbacks

interview

serviceable medium

is

supremely

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.

Ecos essays were scholarly and narrative. He likes to

be identified more as a university professor who writes
novels.
Ecos 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 wouldnt have been so well
received had it been written ten years earlier or later.
SOLVED SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
a. Why do most celebrity writers despise
interviewed?
Most celebrity writers despise being interviewed as
they consider it as an undesirable intrusion into
their personal lives. Some viewed it an immoral
and ofensive activity. Some others feel it would

being

diminish them.
b.How is Umberto Ecos non-fictional writing style diferent
from academic writing style?
Umberto Ecos non-fictional writing style has a certain
playful, narrative and personal quality about it whereas
his academic writing isdepersonalizedand often dry and
boring.
LONG ANSWER QUESTION
a.
Interviews an unwarranted intrusion in the lives of
others. Elucidate with reference to
The Interview.
Value points:Interviews are common feature in Journalism Most
celebrities consider them as an unnecessary intrusion in
their lives a horror of the interview, an ordeal,
thumbprints on windpipe- interview is a supremely
serviceable medium of communication- the most vivid
impression of our contemporaries -the interviewer holds a
position of unprecedented power and influence.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE
1.Best interviews are considered as an art. Mention four
qualities of such an art.
2. Saul Bellow consented to be interviewed many a
times. Did he like being interviewed? Substantiate.
85

3.Why does Brian say that interviewer holds a strong

position of power and
4. Why was Name of
the Rose, a success?
5.What are the majortwo remarkable qualities of Umberto
Ecos scholarly writings?
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. The interview conducted by Mukund Padmanabhan
reveals what a good interview should be like. Do you
agree? Give reasons.
2. Value Based Question: Answer the following in about 100 words.
5

Rudyard Kipling says that interview is an ofence

against a person, an assault. It is cowardly and vile.

Everyone likes to have his/her own individual space and

freedom. It is seen quite often in your class that some of
your fellow students are made victims of verbal assault,
rumours and insults at the hands of your own friends.
Write a note of advice How to conduct Yourself to such
bullying friends of yours teaching them about the need to
respect others self-esteem, dignity, individuality and
freedom..
GOING PLACESby A.R.BARTON
GIST OF THE LESSON
The lesson explores the theme of adolescent fantasies
and hero worship.
Sophie and Jansie are both in the last year of high
school and both knew that they were destined to work
in the biscuit factory as they belong to a working class
family.
Yet, Sophie, always dreams of big and beautiful things,

glamour and glory.

Her ambitions are not rooted in reality i.e., have no
relation with the harsh realities of life.
In contrast is Jansie, Sophies friend, a realistic and
practical girl.
Sophie lives in male-dominated family where her
mother was only a shadow. The men were football fans
and the conversations around the dinner table were
about Danny Casey, their Hero.
Sophie wants some attention from her father and
brother and telling them that she met Casey, was her
way of drawing their attention towards her.
But she carries her fantasies too far when she starts to
live them.

SOLVED SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1.What does Sophie dream of doing after she passes
out of school? Why do you call it a dream, and not
a plan?
Sophie dreams of big and beautiful things, glamour and
glory. She is not practical in her thinking and has no
concrete plans to make her dreams real.
1. Do you thinkSophie and Jansieare pole apart in their
attitude to life?
86

Sophie was a dreamer un able to come in terms with the

fact that she is buscuit factory after her high school. But
the tragedy was that she carries her fantasies too far when
she started living in them, whereas her friend Jansie is
practical and down-to-earth. She tries her level best to
bring her friend down to the realities.
2. Sophie is a typical adolescent hero-worshipper who
carries her fantasizing too far .Do you agree?.
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 tell 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.
LONG ANSWER QUESTION
1. Sophie has no touch with reality; Janises feet are,
however, firmly planted on the ground. Discuss.
Value Points:
Both school going girls and intimate friends both belong
to lower middle class family but diferent from each
other. Diferent approach to life - one aromantic, habitual
dreamer and an escapist. Sophie dreams of things
beyond her reach Jansie has a practical approach to life
- discourages her friends wild dreams gossipy.
QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Sophies dreams and disappointments are all in her mind
.justify this statement.
2. Do you think thtSophie metDanny Casey?Give reasons.
3. What was Sophies fathers reaction when Geof told him
about Sophie meeting Casey?
4. When did Sophie actually see Danny Casey?
5. Why was Sophie jealous of Geofs silence?
6. 6. What is the adolescent issues discussed in the lesson

Going places?
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Why did Sophie like her brother Geof more than any
other person? What did he symbolize for her?
2. Give a brief character sketch of Sophies father. What kind
of a relationship did they share?
3. The story Going Places draws a beautiful contrast
between fact and fiction. Comment.
4. Do you think that Sophie is a representative of unguided
adolescent? Discuss.
5. Value Based Question: Answerthe following in about 100 words. 5

Sophie ,in the story, Going Places is a victim of

adolescent fantasizing and hero worship and does not
have any touch realistic and practical outlook. But her
friend Jansie is very opposite to her and tries hardto bring
her to the reality.
One of your friends studying in the city is also such a
victim of adolescent fantasizing and hero worship. Write
a letter to her making her realise the wrong path she is
treading and guiding her through the right way, being
true friend..
87