Ballad of the landlord : Langston Hughes

Summary:
The poem "Ballad of the Landlord" is a beautiful composed by Langston Hughes. The poem powerfully
raises a strong voice against colour discrimination in America. The poet has shown real social conflict
between the white and the black.
There is a leak on the roof of the house. The landlord has already been told about it. The steps have
been broken down. But when the landlord comes up, he does not fall down. To repair the house the
landlord asks for ten dollars. But before the landlord repairs the house, he will have got more than that.
When the landlord get expulsion orders from the court to expel the tenant and throw his furniture in the
street? But he talks about high moral standards. If the tenant land his fist on him, he will not be able to
say a word. Then the landlord will told the police and get the man arrested, saying that the man is
challenging the law and police station and kept into a small room in the jail. The next day there will be
the headlines in papers: Man threatens landlord; Tenant had no money; Negro is sentenced ninety
days' imprisonment.
Application of Four Levels
1. Literal Comprehension:
This poem is a ballad which shows the racial discrimination in America between the whites and the
blacks. The writer is a negro tenant living in the house of cruel white landlord. The house is in the poor
condition but the landlord asks for expensive rent. The tenant complains about the leaking roof and
broken steps. He wonders way the landlord does not fall while coming up. The landlord ignores the
complaint. He forces the tenant to pay the rent plus ten bucks (dollar) that he owes. The tenant refuses
to pay the money until the house is repaired. Then the landlord threatens the tenant by saying that he
will get eviction orders, he will throw the furniture in the street, kick him out, cut off heat and so on. The
tenant claims that is no justice and he can't do all that. The landlord gets more angry. he calls the police
to arrest negro tenant. H even threatens threatens to blame him as a treasoner. The negro tenant is very
much afraid. He imagines that the police comes whistling, with patrol bell and arrest him. He thinks he
will be taken into the iron cell and he will be rotten there. In the papers there will be big news with black
head lines, "Man threatens Landlord, Tenant held no bail, judge gives negro ninety days in country jail".
2. Interpretation:
In this poem "Ballad of the Landlord" the black American poet Langston Hughes has presented the
realistic picture of the racial discrimination between the blacks and the whites in the U.S.A. The powerful
poem can be taken as an indictment (anger) of colour discrimination in America. The title of the poem is
very ironical. It tells the story of the foolishness and insensitivity of the landlord. The landlord of the
poem is a representative of white race and tenant represents the black community. Thus, the poem can
be taken as a protest of blacks against the whites. The protest and the irony are mainly directed to mock
at the racial and communal equality in America. The poem advocates that racial discrimination and
other inequalities between whites and blacks should be removed. The poem shows that even the
magazines and laws are not in favour of blacks as the tenant imagines that he will be arrested by police
and kept in the jail as the punishment for his threatening to the landlord.
In this way, poem appeals for the rights and freedom of black people. Inhuman behaviour to tenant
shows that people regard other people as no people. Thus, to bring equality among all the people that
is rich or poor, black or white, capable or incapable, haves or have not etc. is the central theme of the
poem.
3. Critical Thinking:
Though the poem presents the domination, suppression, and exploitation of black people by whites yet
some ideas presented in the poem are less convincing. Are we ready to accept so easily the existence
of such social injustice in a highly democratic country? Are the police and court so biased? Do the press
support the landlord instead of the tenant?
4. Assimilation:
In my neighbourhood, most Brahmins are conservative. They create a lot of difficulties. I took a room on
rent after a good labour. There was good facility of water. Neighbours often came to fill their pots. One
morning I awake early. I was brushing my teeth. A lady came, and set the pipe in her pot. By chance,
the pipe was touched by me. she shouted at me as if I were an animal. I had very bitter experience of
the event. The caste feeling has socially dominated the people of my country.
Chandalika | kullabs.com
Learning Simplified 6-8 minutes
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Chandalika : Rabindranath Tagore
Summary:
Scene I:
Mother seeks Prakriti. Prakriti is by the well in the blistering sun. Mother wonders at the reply of her
daughter that she is doing penance for someone who has set echoing words in her heart. Not of tha
same caste, but of the same kind (human beings). The man has said to her "Give me water". Her caste
'Chandal' has not changed the merit of water for him. She has her new birth after tyhe arrival of a
Buddhist monk. He drank water from her hand, and gave a new birth. Mother warns her that she will
have to pay a price for this madness. Prakriti insists thathe came to her well instead of many others
along the way. He has recognized her better than mother. Prakriti wants him. He will raise the truth, he
will take flower from the dust, and take it to his bosom. Mother still gives warning. She says that the filth
into which an evil fate has cast Prakriti is a wall of mud that no spade in the world can break through.
Prakriti sings yearning the touch of his feet. Mother realizes the meaning of her worship. She recollects
the event in which the king's son had forgotten everything in her beauty. Prakriti replies that he wanted
to hunt her as a beast to bind in chains of gold. But the monk was different for whom she is ready to
sacrifice herself and lay like a basket of flowers at his feet. mother believes that it's the writ of destiny
that she is born slave. Prakriti counteracts by saying it is not good to delude herself wit the selfhumiliation
- it is false, and a sin.
Mother accepts her defeat, and is ready to call him by all means. But Prakriti will send her call into his
soul, for him to hear. She persuades her mother to cast her spells to drag him to her. Prakriti respects
him who respects her. A religion that insults is a false religion. His name is Ananda, the disciple of the
Lord Buddha. Mother is afraid of the very name, and warns again. Meanwhile, they hear men in yellow
robes chanting. Ananda is ahead of them all. Prakriti becomes very excited and hysteric to call him back.
Mother prepares everything for the chant. She thinks that the fire will hurt him unbearably. Prakriti
claims that nothing will hurt him because he is not a common man.
Scene II (fifteen days have passed):
While looking in the mirror, she feels that her heart will break. She cannot bear the horrible agony.
Mother is about to undo the spell. Yet Prakriti, finding that the end of the path is so near, does not let her
do so. She thinks that she will blot out all his suffering, emptying her whole world at his feet. She sings
that she will bathe his hurt. It is Ashad, and their four months' fast is hand. He is in Vaishali, and is
being driven back by mother's powerful spells. In the mirror, first day, she saw a mist covering the whole
sky, then fire. The second day, she saw a deep black cloud with lightning. All his limbs fenced with flame.
Later, light was gone. His eyes were fixed motionless upon the distance, eyes grew red. Finally, his
anger turned upon himself. Prakriti believes that he can attain Mukti when she attains her own. Last time,
when she saw, he had passed secretly through the lion-gate of Vaishali. He walked across rivers and
on difficult mountain, and along the dark forest paths at dead of night. All the conflict with his own soul
was at the end. The previous night he came at Patal village on the river Upali. He gave a sudden start
and stood still there, for it was a place where the Lord Buddha preached to king Suprabhas. Because of
the fear that the dream-spell might break, she flung away the mirror. Since then, she has not seen it
again.
Being ready as insecured by her mother Prakriti dances and sings. She does not look in the mirror again.
If he reveals himself, she will see him before her. Mother compels her to look, and when she looks in
the mirror, she flings it away asking her mother to stop. She does not find any light, radiance or shining
purity or the heavenly glow. Bearing his self's defeat as a heavy burden he comes with drooping head.
It is an insult to the heroic. She speaks to forgive her, and wishes victory to him. Mother ends her life at
his feet. Ananda prays to Lord Buddha for mercy.
Application of Four Levels:
1. Literal Comprehension:
Prakriti, a girl of the untouchable caste falls in love wit the Buddha's ascetic disciple Ananda who came
to her well to ask some water from her hand. His honour of her as a human being makes her feel that is
her new birth. She says that she is unable to live without him and persuades her mother to cast a magic
spell on him. Seeing her daughter's suffering, her mother becomes ready to bind him with her spell
although she knows that what she is doing is wrong. She has to work very hard for a long time risking
her life. Finally, her spell wins and Ananda is seen at her house overcome by shame. Ananda prays to
Buddha, who breaks the magic spell and saves them from committing sin.
2. Interpretation:
The play is not about the lust of a young woman but it also projects the idea of human dignity and
fraternity. The woman's humanity goes beyond caste and is awakened when the monk enters as the
hero whose "light and radiance, shining purity, and heavenly glow aroused her womanhood and she
begs the monk's forgiveness. She is redeemed by her understanding and remorse as Ananda chants his
homage to Buddha. Tagore has projected the idea of human dignity through the feeling of Prakriti how
she was suppressed by the social chain and injustice before, and how she has realized that she is
human. A person who respects other human beings is truly a human.
3. Critical Thinking:
If we the modern readers read the play not as a legend but as a story of the real event, we find many
things unacceptable in it. Ananda's treatment with Prakriti is praiseworthy. Prakriti's longing for him is
quite natural. But is it possible to do magic spells on a person? Can the scene of the distance seen on
the magic mirror? Does a person die if she has to undo the magic spell?
4. Assimilation:
By reading this play I myself have felt a changed person. Although I belong to the low caste I have
learned to respect myself because self-humiliation is worse than a self-murder. I want to be recognized
myself as a human being not as a person who is insulted all the time for no fault of his. In the river of
Ananda's holy teaching I would like to cast my caste.

Eight O' Clock | kullabs.com

Learning Simplified 4-5 minutes
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Eight O' Clock : A.E. Housman
Summary:
The poem "Eight O' Clock" is alliterative and rhythmic which has dramatic plot was composed by A.E
Housman. The poem deals with the continous powerful time and inevitable death.
The protagonist (main character) stood and heard the bell of the church tower. In the morning the bell
was heard all over the town and it reminded the people of their task and pushed them out. After every
fifteen minutes the clock hit bell- one, two, three, four. An unpleasant event was about to happen. The
hour was quite near against his desire. He stood and counted the quarter strike. It was four. Therefore,
he cursed his luck because he could do nothing to protect himself from the unhappy thing. Then, the
clock collected all its strength and struck eight.
Application of Four Levels
1. Literal Comprehension:
The speaker of the poem stood by the church tower and heard the ticking sound of the clock. In every
quarter, the ticking sound spread over the morning town and woke up the people. Not only the speaker
but all the people are routined by time. The speaker counted his time and cursed his luck. The clock of
the tower collected its strength and gave final struck to the speaker.
2. Interpretation:
In this poem, the protagonist shows the helplessness of all creatures in front of powerful death and time.
Time is eternal and death is inevitable. But our life is momentary and mortal. No one can live forever.
Everyone of us should die sooner or later. In every moment, our life is becoming shorter and weaker.
The time is always striking us. When it gives the final struck, we have to leave this world. The
protagonist may also be trying to tell us that we should be punctual and utilize our time properly. May be
the poet of this poem is in a great critical and serious situation because he could not utilize his time
properly. So, we all should be able to perform our duty and responsibility within our time limitation. The
poet may also be trying to convey the message that poor, needy, helpless and old people are always
ignored by the busy modern people. Everybody are busy in their own selfish private life and works.
Lastly,the poet may be suggesting to live our this short life meaningfully being conscious of the limitation
of time and without being worried of death.
3. Critical thinking:
Like a musical composition, this poem has used a beautiful repetition of the same consonant sound at
the beginning of the words. For example we find the repetition of 'st' sound in the first line and 'str' in the
last line. The final word 'struck' is a serious pun, that is, an amusing use of word with two meanings.
The first meaning of the word 'struck' is to inform the time by the hitting of the bell and its second
meaning is to hit the protagonist forcefully. However some ideas presented in the poem are convincing.
How can be the protagonist deal with the dark side of life only? If the protagonist knows the time is
limited and death is inevitable,why should he curse his luck? Why didn't the protagonist make any effort
or attempt to solve his problem or change his bad time rather than just counting his time aid waiting for
his death? Why didn't the writer made us clear about the identity of the main character?
4. Assimilation:
The poem has made me aware of the value of limited time. For mortal human beings, time is brief. Time
and tides wait for no one.Time is ever moving and it is chewing in every moment with its powerful teeth.
Thus, i have determined to utilize every moment to make short life meaningful.

Metaphors | kullabs.com
Learning Simplified 5-6 minutes
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Metaphors : Sylvia Plath
Summary:
The poem "Metaphor", is a nine-syllable nine lines poem, beautifully composed by Slyvia Plath. It
describes the nine months of gestation of the speaker.
The speaker is a pregnant. She feels herself a walking riddle because she does not know what person
(a boy or a girl) she is carrying. She is waiting for a solution. Because of the baby inside, she looks like
an elephant or a big house. Her body is large and rounded, so when she walks slowly. She looks like a
melon as well as her legs look like two tendrils. She addresses the unborn baby. She calls it a red fruit
growing round and full like plum or an apple. It seems as precious as ivory. It is fine-timbered in sinew
and bone like a well-built horse. It is getting and developing larger like a loaf. The baby is like a fat
purse. The speaker feels her helplessness as she is only a means or a stage. She is like a pregnant cow.
During her pregnancy she has fulfilled her desire to eat sour things by eating a bag of green apples.
The passenger (the baby) has got into the train but she does not know when it will get off. So she is
surprised.
Application of Four Levels
1. Literal Comprehension:
The pregnant speaker feels herself like an unsolved question because she does not know the sex of the
unborn baby. Her body is big and rounded like an elephant , a big house or a melon. The growing baby
inside is valuable like ivory and well built. It is like a newly minted coin inside her. She feels that she is
helpless like a pregnant cow because she is only a means. She has eaten a green apples to satisfy her
desire to eat something sour. The baby is inside but she does not know when it comes out.
2. Interpretation:
The nine-syllable nine lines what we find in this poem are remarkably symbolic meaning of nine-months
pregnancy. Each line is of nine syllables: I’mriddleinninesyllables, and the whole poem has nine lines.
But these are indication of nine months of gestation. All metaphors, what we find in this poem such as
elephant-body, ponderous house-slow and awkward weighty body etc. relate to herself or to her
pregnancy. It is certainly very humorous and self-mocking poem with disturbed state of mind for what she
is going to bear after nine months or her nine-syllable nine lines poem.
Sylvia Plath, the great exponent of the poetry of neurosis, has presented this poem with deep
psychological treatment. As per poetry is generally notable for its controlled and intense treatment of
extremely painful states of mind, this present poem "Metaphors" is equally important for metaphorical
theme of the poet's pregnancy. She has thought of the resemblances that lie between both these poem
and baby. Physically and mentally both are in her, and she has been herself a walking riddle, passing a
question that awaits solution, what person is she carrying? In other words, she thinks of the poem, what
poem is she going to produce? She has shown inter-connection between the fixed cycle of pregnancy
and the poetic form the nine-syllable nine lines.
3. Critical Thinking:
Though this poem successfully describes the condition of a pregnant woman, yet some ideas presented
in the poem are less convincing. Irrespective of the time when this poem was composed, nowadays the
modern technology has enabled us to disclose gender of the baby inside the womb. In addition, she
has overlooked the exceptional cases of pregnancy like giving birth to baby in more or less than nine
months. The speaker is not clear about the number of children she had given birth to. Is this her first
time pregnancy or she is already used to it? Is she a single mother?
Comparing the unborn baby with loaf and dough (money) is inhuman. The latter of these two
comparisons reveal the intention of the speaker behind giving birth to the baby, that is, he or she will
support her financially in the future. Besides, if she is unhappy with being pregnant, it's her own error.
She should have thought of it in advance or before sex. It will have been better if she has used
contraceptive while having intercourse with to-be-daddy of to-be-born baby. Still after the conception, she
can get abortion, provided that is legal to have one. So, technically this poem seems to be anachronous.
Plath seems to concentrate on the symptoms and things that happened to her during the pregnancy
rather than the fact that she is bringing another life into the world.
4. Assimilation:
By reading this poem I knew a great deal about the pregnant woman. Her desire to eat something sour
is common all over the world. When I read this poem I can see a pregnant woman in my mind. I also
knew how helpless she feels because she cannot do anything with his inevitable thing. She feels herself
like a means, who is used to satisfy somebody else's desire.

My Papa's Waltz | kullabs.com

Learning Simplified 4-5 minutes
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My Papa's Waltz : Theodore Roethke
Summary:
"My Papa's Waltz" is a beautiful poem composed by Theodore Roethke. In this poem he presents his
memories of his father. When the narrator was young, he would dance around with his father. He would
put his feet on top of his father's breath. It had an unpleasant feeling of loss of balance. But he would
continue with great determination in spite of hardships. Such dancing to a waltz was not easy. They
would play noisily and roughly with a lot of jumping and running. Then the pans would fall down from
the kitchen shelf and the mother would be annoyed. During dancing the father would hold the boy's wrist
with his hand which was damaged on one finger joint. When the father skipped his step, the buckle of
his belt would hurt the boy's right ear. He would beat time on the boy's head with his dirty and hard palm
and took him to bed, but the boy still held on to his father's shirt.
Application of Four Levels:
1. Literal Comprehension:
The poet's father came home having whiskey. The smell on his breath could make a small boy dizzy, but
the poet hung on him like death to be waltzing. They played together until the pans from the kitchen
shelf slid down. It was enough to make his mother angry. Father's hand that held his wrist was battered
on one knuckle. His right ear also rubbed on buckle. Father beat him on his head with his hard hand and
took him to bed dancing. The poet kept on clinging to his shirt.
2. Interpretation:
In this poem the poet presents his memories of his father. He also presents his father as a source of
love and affection. His father is probably no longer in his world. Thus, nostalgia is the central theme of
the poem. In the poem the poet presents the importance of fatherly love in the life of human beings. No
pain, no gain, no diamond and jewels can worth more than the love and affection which we receive from
our father. In the poem the poet also tolerated bitter smell of whiskey, dirty hands of his father because
he loved his father and he had friendly behaviour with the father. Not only that, when the poet played
with his father,the poet got physical pain from his father. But also the poet remember his past days with
his father and those days very lovely and valuable. The poem also presents the childhood life as a joyful
life among all the stages of life. The memories of child life are very joyful, lovely and valuable for
everyone of us. Thus, the poet often like to remember his past days with his father. Time passes but it
evokes experience that remains continued in mind and heart. Perhaps he died not like his mother very
much but he adored his father.
3. Critical Thinking:
Roetheke's "My Papa's Waltz" is a memoir poem. The four quatrains of the poem are well-constructed
and the poem is beautiful and rhythmic. However, some ideas presented in the poem are less
convincing. Does a small boy cling, to his drunkard father without being afraid? When the father hurts
and beats the boy, why doesn't he cry? Does the mother really bear everything? Do the mothers really
remain silent when one's child get beaten and injured by father or somebody else? Does the father play
in the kitchen with his child like a child? Does the father not clean his palm even if he is a drinker?
4. Assimilation:
I have some sweet and unforgetful moments of joy in my life that I passed with my mother. Mother
helped me to pay fees in school by saving from daily expenditure. Father never desired to provide me
any education more than the basic one. She loved and inspired me to be a highly educated person. Her
words still reverberate in my mind, and that has been source of my guidance.

Sorry, Wrong Number | kullabs.com

Learning Simplified 6-8 minutes
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Sorry, Wrong Number : Lucille Fletcher
Summary:
"Sorry, Wrong Number" is a beautiful play written by Lucille Fletcher. Mrs. Stevenson is dialing Murray
Hill 3-0093, but there is always a busy signal. Being tired, she dials the operator, and he sets the line.
Her husband is in office working late that night. She is all alone in the house. She is very nervous. The
receiver is picked up at the other end. By chance, she hears two men talking in the line. First man gives
instruction to George. George knows the address. The first man explains that the private patrolman goes
around to the bar on second Avenue for a beer. He says to be sure that all the lights downstairs are out.
There should be only one light visible from the street. At eleven-fifteen a subway train crosses the
bridge. It makes noise, in case her window is open and she should scream.
That is enough for Mrs. Stevenson to understand that they are dealing a business of murder. The first
man delivers the message of their client that it should look like a simple robbery. Querulous, selfcentered
neurotic, stick, bed-tied (for 12 years) Mrs. Stevenson is very nervous at the news of
forthcoming murder of some poor innocent woman. She tries to dial the same number again but there is
busy signal. She asks the chief operator to trace the call. All that is in vain. She informs policeman
sergeant Duffy about the case. Duffy is also unable to help because of lack of any clue. Second Avenue
is a large long street. There are many bridges in New York. It might have been a long distance call
overheard by her. These are so many difficulties that no one can help. Meanwhile, there comes some
ringing sound in her phone, but no one speaks when she picks it up. She is irritated. After some time,
the third man delivers her telegram saying that Mr. Stevenson is leaving for Boston at 11 p.m. that night.
She is extremely upset. she dials an information of a hospital with a request to send a nurse for
companionship to calm her nerves. But that is not available. During her talk with the Fourth man in
information, someone picks up the extension line downstairs. In her excitement, she dials the operator,
and he sets line with the policeman sergeant Duffy. Phone rings. She screams, but it sinks in the sound
of a subway train. Duffy picks up receiver. George says in phone "Sorry, Wrong Number". Receiver is
hung up.
Application of Four Levels
1. Literal Comprehension:
Mrs. Stevenson had been invalid for twelve years. Mr. Stevenson has always been on her bed side and
served her. But that was her maid's night off and her husband had been working late in his office. She
had been trying to contact him herself for the last forty-five minutes. But she grew impatient and asked
the operator to try it for her. The telephone rang three times and the receiver was picked up at the other
end. Mrs. Stevenson heard two males speaking without responding her. The first man told the second
man George to kill woman with a knife and to take away the jewellery so that it would like simple robbery.
The woman lived on Second Avenue near a bridge. Mrs. Stevenson was nervous and she dialled the
operator again to find the call which she heard by chance over the telephone. She asked him to find out
the wrong number which he could not find. She was extremely nervous and sought the help of the chief
operator. He replied that it was possible to find out only the live call, not the disconnected one. She then
telephoned the police. She felt that it was her civic duty to save the innocent woman. But the police took
no interest in her. Sergeant Duffy said that her clue was not enough to find out the murderer. He added
that if she felt that her life was in danger they could do something for her. She replied that she was safe.
She was growing restless. Just then she got the telegram message through the phone that Mr.
Stevenson had to go to Boston on an urgent job and that he would be back the following afternoon. She
was more afraid. She felt that she would be killed. She phoned a hospital to send a trained nurse to be
with her because her condition was extremely bad. The hospital promised to send one. But she grew
more terrified and phoned the police. Just then a subway train crossed the bridge. George came in and
killed her. The phone rang. Sergeant Duffy was speaking. George replied him that he was sorry because
it was the wrong number.
2. Interpretation:
This play might be a commentary on life in faceless, fragmented, modern American cities. When people
are busy they have no time to take care of other people. Even their invalid relatives become a burden to
them. They become brutal and get them killed. Murder there is so common that we can get professional
killers easily. When his wife is found useless and a burden, Mr. Stevenson does not hesitate to hire a
murderer. People are inhuman and mechanical in big cities. It has also presented the life of the busy
people in the city. When the overwork makes the policeman tired, he is not interested in his duty. The
hospital has no trained nurses send to the sick person. Life is so busy that one does not have
enough time to take interest in other people's affairs.
3. Critical Thinking:
This play shows that if the script is well-written a single actress can hold the spellbound attention of the
audience. It is a thriller. Its exciting and gripping plot calls the undivided attention of the readers. When
we read it we don't agree with some of the things in the play. We want to ask a few questions: Is this a
realistic play? Is it possible for a caller to overhear a conversation between two others parties? Is it
possible for Mrs. Stevenson never fully to grasp that she is the intended victim? But on the whole it is a
very artistic play.
4. Assimilation:
By reading this play I came to know why murder is so common in big cities. To get rid of the unwanted
things one gets another killed. it also gave me a glimpse of busy life in big cities. Even the policeman is
so busy that he is not so much interested in the report of the would-be murder. The hospital has no
trained nurses to send. the husband has to leave his invalid wife because of his work. Only the jobless
person is free and he is suffering from nervousness.

Sorry, Wrong Number | kullabs.com

Learning Simplified 6-8 minutes
____________________________________________________________
Sorry, Wrong Number : Lucille Fletcher
Summary:
"Sorry, Wrong Number" is a beautiful play written by Lucille Fletcher. Mrs. Stevenson is dialing Murray
Hill 3-0093, but there is always a busy signal. Being tired, she dials the operator, and he sets the line.
Her husband is in office working late that night. She is all alone in the house. She is very nervous. The
receiver is picked up at the other end. By chance, she hears two men talking in the line. First man gives
instruction to George. George knows the address. The first man explains that the private patrolman goes
around to the bar on second Avenue for a beer. He says to be sure that all the lights downstairs are out.
There should be only one light visible from the street. At eleven-fifteen a subway train crosses the
bridge. It makes noise, in case her window is open and she should scream.
That is enough for Mrs. Stevenson to understand that they are dealing a business of murder. The first
man delivers the message of their client that it should look like a simple robbery. Querulous, selfcentered
neurotic, stick, bed-tied (for 12 years) Mrs. Stevenson is very nervous at the news of
forthcoming murder of some poor innocent woman. She tries to dial the same number again but there is
busy signal. She asks the chief operator to trace the call. All that is in vain. She informs policeman
sergeant Duffy about the case. Duffy is also unable to help because of lack of any clue. Second Avenue
is a large long street. There are many bridges in New York. It might have been a long distance call
overheard by her. These are so many difficulties that no one can help. Meanwhile, there comes some
ringing sound in her phone, but no one speaks when she picks it up. She is irritated. After some time,
the third man delivers her telegram saying that Mr. Stevenson is leaving for Boston at 11 p.m. that night.
She is extremely upset. she dials an information of a hospital with a request to send a nurse for
companionship to calm her nerves. But that is not available. During her talk with the Fourth man in
information, someone picks up the extension line downstairs. In her excitement, she dials the operator,
and he sets line with the policeman sergeant Duffy. Phone rings. She screams, but it sinks in the sound
of a subway train. Duffy picks up receiver. George says in phone "Sorry, Wrong Number". Receiver is
hung up.
Application of Four Levels
1. Literal Comprehension:
Mrs. Stevenson had been invalid for twelve years. Mr. Stevenson has always been on her bed side and
served her. But that was her maid's night off and her husband had been working late in his office. She
had been trying to contact him herself for the last forty-five minutes. But she grew impatient and asked
the operator to try it for her. The telephone rang three times and the receiver was picked up at the other
end. Mrs. Stevenson heard two males speaking without responding her. The first man told the second
man George to kill woman with a knife and to take away the jewellery so that it would like simple robbery.
The woman lived on Second Avenue near a bridge. Mrs. Stevenson was nervous and she dialled the
operator again to find the call which she heard by chance over the telephone. She asked him to find out
the wrong number which he could not find. She was extremely nervous and sought the help of the chief
operator. He replied that it was possible to find out only the live call, not the disconnected one. She then
telephoned the police. She felt that it was her civic duty to save the innocent woman. But the police took
no interest in her. Sergeant Duffy said that her clue was not enough to find out the murderer. He added
that if she felt that her life was in danger they could do something for her. She replied that she was safe.
She was growing restless. Just then she got the telegram message through the phone that Mr.
Stevenson had to go to Boston on an urgent job and that he would be back the following afternoon. She
was more afraid. She felt that she would be killed. She phoned a hospital to send a trained nurse to be
with her because her condition was extremely bad. The hospital promised to send one. But she grew
more terrified and phoned the police. Just then a subway train crossed the bridge. George came in and
killed her. The phone rang. Sergeant Duffy was speaking. George replied him that he was sorry because
it was the wrong number.
2. Interpretation:
This play might be a commentary on life in faceless, fragmented, modern American cities. When people
are busy they have no time to take care of other people. Even their invalid relatives become a burden to
them. They become brutal and get them killed. Murder there is so common that we can get professional
killers easily. When his wife is found useless and a burden, Mr. Stevenson does not hesitate to hire a
murderer. People are inhuman and mechanical in big cities. It has also presented the life of the busy
people in the city. When the overwork makes the policeman tired, he is not interested in his duty. The
hospital has no trained nurses send to the sick person. Life is so busy that one does not have
enough time to take interest in other people's affairs.
3. Critical Thinking:
This play shows that if the script is well-written a single actress can hold the spellbound attention of the
audience. It is a thriller. Its exciting and gripping plot calls the undivided attention of the readers. When
we read it we don't agree with some of the things in the play. We want to ask a few questions: Is this a
realistic play? Is it possible for a caller to overhear a conversation between two others parties? Is it
possible for Mrs. Stevenson never fully to grasp that she is the intended victim? But on the whole it is a
very artistic play.
4. Assimilation:
By reading this play I came to know why murder is so common in big cities. To get rid of the unwanted
things one gets another killed. it also gave me a glimpse of busy life in big cities. Even the policeman is
so busy that he is not so much interested in the report of the would-be murder. The hospital has no
trained nurses to send. the husband has to leave his invalid wife because of his work. Only the jobless
person is free and he is suffering from nervousness.

The Buddha | kullabs.com

Learning Simplified 6-8 minutes
____________________________________________________________
The Buddha : Elizabeth Coatsworth
Summary:
"The Buddha" is a beautiful story written by Elizabeth Coatsworth. Once, an artist decided to paint the
picture of the Buddha,s life and death. He wanted to make it very lively, beautiful and long distance
because he was going to hang it on in the village temple. He hoped that even his great grand children
might see it. So, he thought deeply and imagined himself to be prince Siddhartha. He imagined his room
as the big beautiful chamber of prince Siddhartha. He also imagined the garden and compound of him
as of the Siddhartha's. His room was cleaned and made spotless.
The first day, he sat on a clean mat and before him was a beautiful image of the Buddha. Good fortune,
the cat sat beside him. He tried to concentrate. Then, he felt very happy and excited. He imagined of
Siddhartha's skill of using bow and arrow riding horse winning Yasodhara among the applause (big clap).
He also imagined his midday meal as the rarest food of the prince. When good fortune entered, he
imagined a beautiful dancing girl come to entertain the prince, walking in golden sandals. He imagined
all these things on first day.
On the second day also the room was made so clean as first day. The artist sat before the image of the
Buddha. He imagined of Siddhartha's renunciation. He imagined of seeing an old man, a sick man, a
dead man and he also imagined Siddhartha's leaving his wife and son. He imagined of going to the
jungle walking without shoes, bagging for his food and seeking his wisdom. At last, he imagined of
sitting under a big tree and starting meditation. He also imagined of Buddha's getting enlightment. He
took his housekeeper and the cat as his first disciples. When the cat refused to hear his divine words, he
cursed the cat that the door of heaven is not open for him.
The third day, the earliest decided to the Buddha's real dead. For this, he slept for twenty-four hours as if
he were dead. When he woke up, he called hurriedly for bushes, ink, spring water and a roll of silk. Then
he began to paint the picture of the dead Buddha. Although he had to think for three days, he painted
the picture in less than three hours.
Application of Four Levels
1. Literal Comprehension:
The artist had to paint a picture of the death of Buddha to be hung in the village temple. To do this he
had to understand the Buddha. On the first day he imagined himself to be young prince, Siddhartha,
living in the palace. He went and won the princess Yashodhara in a competition. He had no bad feeling
against his rivals. The artist felt that a line of servants were serving his food when his housekeeper
came with his midday meal. He imagined his cat, good fortune, to be a dancing girl. On the second day,
he became Siddhartha, who renounced everything seeing an old man, a sick and a dead man. Feeling
powerless, he wanted to know the cause of the suffering. At night he left his wife and son and went
secretly out of his father's kingdom. The prince's pain made the artist tired the next morning. On the third
day, he imagined to be Siddhartha sitting under a bo tree. Being unmoved by temptation, he got a great
wisdom. He loved every living thing including the rocks as his own wife or son. He wandered here and
there making disciples and carrying happiness. Now he was eighty and was about to die. The artist
looked for the cat and remembered that the cat was not allowed to go to heaven because it had paid no
homage to the Buddha. He felt sad for the cat. Knowing all this about the Buddha, he slept for twentyfour
hours. After this, in less than three hours, he painted the picture of the Buddha dying peacefully on
the couch.
2. Interpretation:
Through this story, the writer may be trying to tell us that before doing anything, we must strive to
understand the subject fully, otherwise, we may not be successful. Pre-plan, mental preparation and
devotion leads towards success. Thus, to achieve success in any field or work deep concentration,
observation and hard labour is required. Through this story, the writer may also be trying to convey the
message about the life and death of human beings. Death is inevitable and it doesn't discriminate rich
and poor. No living creatures know when, where and how death comes to them. When death strikes us
we all look helpless. But no lively creatures likes to die, they all struggle hard to live. No one likes to
sacrifice anything that gives him a lot of pleasure. Thus, as this story is about Buddha, the writer also
wants to spread the message of Buddha about life, death, peace and satisfaction. One should be
contented with whatever he has. Peace requires self-satisfaction. In the absence of self-satisfaction, all
people suffers and they are never happy. Love the world instead of 'self'. This can help to overcome even
the 'terror' of death. Death is a suffering to those who are in grip of worldly pleasures, and it is peace to
those who have given up such pleasures.
3. Critical Thinking:
Though the story is informative and it teaches us a lot of teachings of Buddha about life and death of
people, yet the some ideas presented in the story are less convincing. Is it possible for a man to sleep
for twenty four hours pretending as if he were dead? We the modern readers doubt if there are gods,
devils or the heaven. The Buddha had a love for every living thing, why was the cat refused to go into
the heaven? Was he so selfish that he needed homage from others? Is love concerned with a give-
andtake
business?
4. Assimilation:
Elizabeth Coatsworth's story "The Buddha" gave me new method and inspiration. The story taught me to
understand something fully and realistically before we point or create or write about any subject matter.
One day, I had to write an essay on "Beggars" for an international essay competition. I am rich and well
educated person. I spent my childhood among various facilities and comforts. I felt the lack of nothing,
while studying in campus level, all my demands were fulfilled by my parents. I got no chance to
understand poverty, suffering, pain and difficulties. I decided to realize the miserable life of beggars.
Thus, I left Kathmandu and went to Bhairahawa. I disguised myself to look like a sage and begged for
two days. I wandered door to door. Some people called me lazy man, some scolded with bad words and
some let their dogs to chase me. Finally, I understand well what begging is like? I wrote realistic essay
which won the award.

The Hitch-Hiker | kullabs.com

Learning Simplified 7-9 minutes
____________________________________________________________
The Hitch-Hiker : Roald Dahl
Summary:
"The Hitch-Hiker" is a beautiful story written by Roald Dahl. The writer had a new expensive car. It had
a top speed of 129 m.p.h. He was driving up to London by himself. Ahead of him he saw a man
thumbing a lift. He stopped for the hitch-hiker. He hated those who did not stop for the hitch-hikers.
When the man got into the car, the writer asked him what part of London he was going to. The man
replied that he was going to Epsom for the races. The writer was surprised to know that the man never
bet on horses and that he did not help to work the betting machines, either. The writer said that being a
writer he was taking interest in his affairs. The man said that writing a book was a skilled trade, that he
was in skilled trade, too, and that he despised those who spent all their lives doing worthless routine
jobs with no skill in them at all. He added that the secret of life was to become very very good at
something that was very very hard to do.
The writer's new car made the man guess that he was successful writer. Then he challenged that she
could not go at speed of 129 m.p.h. as claimed by the car-maker. After this the writer put his foot down
on the accelerator. After sometime she was running at the speed of 120 m.p.h. then they suddenly
heard the siren of the police and a policeman stopped the car and asked if he was taking someone to
hospital or if his house was on fire. When the writer said that no such thing had happened, the
policeman asked for his driving license and noted down the writer's name and address in his book of
tickets. After filling in the details he tore out the true copy of the ticket and gave it to the writer. Producing
a notebook from his pocket, he also wrote down the passenger's name and address. The policeman was
a suspicious of him. He warned that both of them would have to be brought to court. He got on his
motorbike and roared off.
The writer wanted to go to his socilitor in London to talk about this case. He asked the man why he had
told a lie about his job and why he had told the policeman that he was an unemployed hod carrier. He
had already said that he was in a skilled trade. Then the writer noticed the man rolling a cigarette very
fast. His fingers were quicker and cleverer than those of the best piano player in the world. To the man
playing the piano was very easy. He said that not one person in ten million could do what he did.
Suddenly the man showed the writer's belt which he had unbuckled very cleverly. He showed the the
writer's shoelace which he had taken out. He produced one thing after another which belonged to the
writer and which he had taken without his notice. This surprised the writer. When the writer told him that
he was a pick-pocket, he did not like the word. He said that he was a fingersmith, one who was expert
with his fingers. He added that after the race he would take the winner's money. He claimed that only
pickpockets were caught, not fingersmiths, adding that if the writer had had false teeth he would have
taken them out of his mouth without being caught by him. He produced the policeman's books and said
that the policeman could do nothing against them because his memory was very weak. The writer
praised him very much and he was very pleased.
Application of Four Levels
1. Literal Comprehension:
As the writer was driving up to London in hi new car, a hitch-hiker asked for a lift. When he got into the
car he said that he was in a skilled trade. Because of the new car, he guessed that he must have been a
successful writer. He encouraged the writer to drive the car at the speed of 129 m.p.h. as claimed by
the car maker. When the car was running at 120 m.p.h. a policeman stopped the car and wrote down
the writer's name and address and other details in a book of tickets. He also wrote down the passenger's
name and address and warned that they would have to go to court. After the policeman had roared off,
the hitch-hiker rolled a cigarette very fast. This made the writer curious. He proved that he was a skilled
workman by showing the writer's belt, shoelace and many other things. He did not like to be called a
pickpocket, but a fingersmith. He puzzled the writer by showing policeman's note-book and ticket-book.
They were safe.
2. Interpretation:
The story may be trying to tell us that practical knowledge is the best knowledge. Knowledge which is
gained through real experience of life are supposed to be far better than bookish knowledge. The writer
also focuses on the truth of life, that is the secret of life is to become very very good at something that's
very very hard to do. Any knowledge gets its maturity when it passes through real situations of life. In the
story, though hitch-hiker was illiterate by nature he was good man. He is absolutely fair in dealing. He
picks the pocket of winners in races and of the rich and he also returns the things of the narrator. This
also shows that even uneducated people can distinguish between good and bad and take corrective
action when the situation demands. The story may be also trying to convey the message that we should
be bold, courageous and confident while dealing with the situation which is not in favour of ours. The
story also presents the proudness and carelessness of educated person. The way the writer spoke with
the policeman and his dealing in critical situation presents irrationality of educated people. On the other
hand it presents bravery of experienced and people in a critical situation in the form of hitch-hiker.
3. Critical Thinking:
The story is really interesting and informative, but some ideas presented in the story are less convincing.
The story is about a peculiar, strange fingersmith. In reality do we find such peculiar fingersmith? How is
it possible for any pick-pocketer to steal note-books from the front pocket of policeman? Do educated
people like narrator talk in such a irrational way with policeman? How can educated people like narrator
praise and motivate the criminal act of hitch-hiker instead of helping the policeman to catch him? Do
educated and professional people like narrator over speed his car just to win the challenge of hitch-hiker
without caring its consequences and ignoring traffic rules? I also don't believe in what the hitch-hiker did.
Is it possible to take off one's belt without being noticed by the wearer? Taking money out of one's
pocket in the crowded place is one thing but taking off the things one is wearing is entirely a different
matter.
4. Assimilation:
I will try to follow what the hitch-hiker said. I will try to learn something very difficult to do. Only then I
think I can live comfortably. But I will not do what he has done. In my opinion he is not entirely bad. He
takes only the winner's money. He does not cheat the loser or the poor person. But my conscience does
not allow me to rob anyone. The narrator really believes that the hitch-hiker is a fantastic fellow, because
he had not only taken his belongings but saved both of them from trouble by taking the policeman's
notebook
and ticket-book.

The Loneliness of the Long Distance

Runner
Learning Simplified 4-5 minutes
____________________________________________________________
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner is a short cynical modern poem composed by Alden
Nowlan. This poem is directly an experience a poet had while writing it.
The poet was composing a love poem. His wife gets into his room and disturbs him. The writer has to
stop writing to glance at her. He may have been writing about his love and affection towards his wife,
but when she herself appears before him, the poet doesn't like her appearance. It is self-contradictory in
the life of an imaginative and creative artist. His wife interrupts his meditative mood. As a result of her
lively and active appearance, he has to stop his writing. The sequence of imagination and emotion gets
lost at once. The loss of imagination and emotion causes the loss of the poem itself. The result is that
he begin to curse her.
Application of Four Levels
1. Literal Comprehension:
The poet was sitting in his room. He was writing a poem. He was deeply lost in his writing. He was
writing a poem about his love for his wife. At that time his wife entered suddenly into the room. Her arrival
disturbed his writing. He forgets what he was writing. So, he was angry with her. But he wasn't able to
express his anger openly. He silently cursed her.
2. Interpretation:
In this single-sentenced poem, the poet may be trying to tell us that creativity needs silence and
peaceful environment. Any creativity requires deep concentration and thinking. So, a creative person
must not be interrupted during his imagination.Any new idea, new thought or any type of innovation can
be generated only with the peaceful mind. The poem suggests us that we should not interrupt or disturb
the creative person and we should also try to maintain the silence and peaceful environment for their
deep concentration. The poem also tells us that he/she must be left in peaceful surrounding so that he
can run long distance in his loneliness, that is, he/she can make images in his/her imagination.
The poem also reveals the male love for women. As the poet was in his loneliness, and deep thinking he
imagined about his wife and was writing a poem for his wife. This shows the passion, affection, love,
emotions and deep feeling of man towards women. On the other side, the poet might also be trying to
tell us that all human beings are selfish. They love other people for their own sake, not for the sake of
loved ones. The poet loved his poems, not his wife. That is why he was angry with her. He lost his poem,
she was abused silently. The poet wanted to make himself immortal by writing a beautiful poem about
his wife. When she disturbed him in doing so, he was angry.
3. Critical Thinking:
Though the poem is informative and tells us that creativity requires peaceful environment, some ideas
presented in the poem are less convincing. The poem is about real experience of poet, but how can real
experience be forgotten within a moment? How can poet curse his wife about whom he was describing
his love? Are the words sufficient to describe the way we love our beloved ones? The poet wants to be
immortal. He wants to preserve his name for a long time. Instead of loving his wife, he loves her in
poems only. So he writes love poems about her. In the race of his life, the poet feels that he is lonely.
His wife does not support him. Does her bursting into the writing suggest that she does not like his
writing?
4. Assimilation:
When I read this poem I came to know why my wife does not like my reading all the time. When I read a
love poem or a love story, identified myself and my wife with the main characters. Then I would enjoy
loving her. But she did not understand this love of mine for her. Now I know what she needs is real love,
not my imaginary love.

The Lottery | kullabs.com

Learning Simplified 5-7 minutes
____________________________________________________________
The Lottery : Shirley Jackson
Summary:
"The Lottery" is a beautiful story written by Shirley Jackson. The lottery was going to be conducted in
the square of the village. All people were gathering there. Elderly people were talking about their farms
and farm-works. Children were talking and playing.Bobby Martin filled her pockets with stones. And
other children also followed her. They made a great pile of stones in one corner.
Mr. Summers arrived with a blank wooden box to start the lottery. Behind him was Mr. Graves with a
stool. The box was kept on the stool. Mr. Summers stirred up slips of paper of the box. Many parts of the
ritual had been forgotten. Recital, salute, addressing to people all had been forgotten. He used slips of
paper instead chips of wood. Old Man Warner was a devout to the ritual. He called all of them crazy who
wanted to give it up. He was blind supporter of the superstition that "Lottery in June, corn be heavy
soon." Mr. and Mrs. Adams were in favour of removal of the ritual. Mrs. Hutchinson was also against the
ritual. After call, heads of all families went to draw slips of papers. Mr. Hutchinson was unfortunately
lucky to find a paper with a black spot on it. Thereafter, the Hutchinsons both had to draw slips, but Mrs.
Hutchinson forced that her children also should be allowed in participation. Her whole family, five
members, went ahead and drew the lottery. The youngest one was saved, as they unfolded the slip and
it had no black spot. Other two children opened, but they were also escaped. According to the law of
probability, one of the parents was to be sacrificed, and it was Mrs. Hutchinson who was cruelly killed.
People threw stones on her. She died with a terrifying sound.
Application of Four Levels
1. Literal Comprehension:
On the morning of June 27 of a recent year, the 300 villagers of an American village prepare for the
yearly lottery in a mood of excitement. The tradition of the lottery is so old that some of its ritual has
been left behind and some has been reshaped. Its basic purpose is entirely unremembered, but
residents are present to take part in it. The civic-minded Mr. Summers has been sworn in and then he
hands a piece of paper to the head of each family. When it is discovered the Hutchingson family has
drawn the marked slip, each member of the family - Tessie, the children, and Bill is given another slip.
Silence prevails as suspense hovers over the proceedings. After helplessly protesting the injustice of
the first drawing, Tessie finds that she holds the marked slip. Set in a clear space, hopelessly afraid, she
feels the first pebbles hitting her as people, holding stones, push forward , "and then they were upon
her." The winner is stoned to death by her fellow townsmen.
2. Interpretation:
The fundamental theory of the story by the writer is that " ignorance, hypocrisy and prejudice are a
curse to human beings." People never can eliminate their primitive instincts at all. Barbarism, wildness,
cruelty, inhumanity, irrationality are always with a human inwardly. Outwardly he likes to speak in
rhetorical tone, that they have much more development in their living, but inwardly they have been still
savage. There is unbelievable difference in their speaking and doing. A society has many superstitions
which, despite the lack of reasons and truth, they have not been able to rescue themselves. They have
fear, but they hide. They suffer themselves, and they make others suffer, too.
The story might be trying to tell us that decent human beings in a civilized Western community are
capable of something as monstrous as this lottery. Outwardly man live in an age of post-office, bank or
tractor, but this innermost nature is the same as in primitive age. That is why Nancy and Billy laugh
when they escape the death, even though they know that their escape means the sure death of either
their father or mother. Somebody is made a scapegoat, and killed for no reason at all.
3. Critical Thinking:
After reading the story many questions came into my mind: Why is the winner of the lottery stoned to
death? Why did Tessie want to include Don and Eva in the Hutchingsons? Why do people say that the
event is unfair when the result is against them? Why do people ask others to accept the defeat whereas
the same persons can't accept it when it is their turn? Why do people not like to change the most
harmful side of the ritual whereas they like to change other ritual? Is man basically a savage?
4. Assimilation:
When I read this story, I understood myself and the society better. I realized that man is selfish by nature
If I were asked to choose between the life of mine and that of mine and that of my parent. I would
certainly choose mine. I identified my mother with Tessie. She keeps on working for the family, but other
members of the family want to her to work more. She is blamed and made responsible for no fault of hers
Our society has been changing continuously. We have given up those things which we think are
inconvenient for us. But we don't think about others. We force others to observe the tradition blindly. We
are all hypocrites.