G K SHETTY VIVEKANANDA VIDYALAYA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL, AMBATTUR, CH-53

CLASS:XII QUESTION BANK

Poets and Pancakes
1. What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up’?
2. What is the example of national integration that the author refers to?
3. What work did the ‘office boy’ do in the Gemini Studios? Why did he join the studios? Why was he
disappointed?
4. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios?
5. Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on?
6. Who was Subbu’s principal?
7. Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities.
8. Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others?
9. What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios?
10. Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations?
11. Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the Studios?
12.Name one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA.
13. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios?
14. Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as unexplained mystery?
15. Who was the English visitor to the studios?
16.How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was?
17.What does ‘The God that Failed’ refer to?
18.The author has used gentle humour to point out human foibles. Pick out instances of this to show how this
serves to make the piece interesting.
19.Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios?
20.How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini
Studios?
21.What do you understand about the author’s literary inclinations from the account?
22. What was filmmaking like in the olden days at Gemini Studions? Explain.
23. What can be inferred from the author’s comment that leisure ws a pre-requisite for poetry?
Going Places
1. Where was it most likely that two girls would find work after school?
2. What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie discourage her for having such
dreams?
3. Why did Sophie wriggle when Geoff told her father that she had met Daney Casey?
4. Does Geoff believe what Sophie say about her meeting with Daney Casey?
5. Does her father believe her story?
6. How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in her fantasy of her future?
7. Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?
8. Did Sophie really meet Danny Casey?
9. Which was the only occasion when she got to see Danny Casey in person?
10. The story is written in a manner that makes it difficult to point out clearly if Sophie met Danny Casey or
not. Suggest possible reasons for such writing.
11. Why is Sophie attracted to Danny Casey?
12. “Sophie felt a tightening in her throat. She went to look for her brother Geoff.” In the light of this quote,
discuss the relationship Sophie shared with Geoff.
 Long Answer Questions

1. Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends. What were the differences between them that
show up in the story?
2. What Socio economic background did Sophie belong to? What are the indicators of her family’s
financial status?
AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS
1. How can you say that marriage was a compromise for Aunt Jennifer? Support your response with two
justifications.
2. Explain the irony at the end of the poem, ’Aunt Jennifers’ Tigers.
3. Explain the significance of the ‘denizens pacing in sleek certainty’ in the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers.
4. How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers different from her?
5. 'It is only when we are fearless that we begin to create.’
Does this statement hold true in the case of the poem, Aunt Jennifer's Tigers? Support your stance with
evidence from the text.
6. How does the poet use the image of ‘fingers fluttering through the wool’ to highlight Aunt Jennifer’s
victimization?
7. Read the given quote. Every poem breaks a silence that had to be overcome. – Adrienne Rich .In your
opinion, what silence does the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ break?
8. Adrienne Rich chose to express her silent revolt through her poem, Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers, just as Aunt
Jennifer did with her embroidery. Explain.
9. Would you say that the poem ends on a note of hope? Justify your opinion.
10. How might the message of the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ be different if the following last four lines
were omitted?
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
11.‘Their mother sighed.
Sophie watched her back stooped over the sink and wondered at the incongruity of the delicate bow which
fastened her apron strings.’

The prose selection, Going Places includes this telling comment about Sophie’s mother.
In Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers, we are told that –
‘The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s Hand.’
Imagine a conversation between Sophie’s mother and Aunt Jennifer. Create this exchange with reference to
the two extracts given above.
You may begin the conversation like this …
Sophie’s mother: Your embroidery is so beautiful. Do you love tigers?

12.Read the given extract from an article published in The Independent:

“Turn your pain into art”: it’s a phrase most of us have heard before… The theory that achieving something great
requires suffering dates back to ancient times… Pain, however, is less an artistic necessity and more a result of
“contagion” – a term used for the spreading of a harmful idea or practice…In the context of the struggling artist,
it allows mental illness to fester; to be glamourized and admired; even encouraged in the name of art.
i. Do you think Aunt Jennifer “turned her pain into art”? What kind of “contagion” might her pain be a result of?
ii. Evaluate Aunt Jennifer and her artistry in light of the above extract.
13. Imagine that Aunt Jennifer read the poem that Adrienne Rich wrote about
Every poem breaks a silence that had to be overcome. - Adrienne Rich.
After much contemplation, she decided to write a letter to her husband expressing her feelings and thoughts.
Write the letter as Aunt Jennifer.

14. Observe the following lines from two different poems.

(Aunt Jennifer's Tigers)
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
(The Roadside Stand)
I can’t help owning the great relief it would be
To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.
There are many commonalities between the two poems. Imagine that you are interviewing Adrienne Rich and
Robert Frost together. Ask them any two questions that would highlight two points of similarity between their
poems, and create their responses to each.
You may begin this way:
Interviewer:
Rich:
Frost:
15. The different portrayals of women in the texts 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers', 'Going Places', 'Lost Spring', and 'My
Mother at Sixty-six', offer insights into the experiences of women in society.
You have been asked to address your peers and share-
→ the ways these portrayals highlight the diversity of the female experience.
→ the importance of understanding each individual woman's challenges and experiences.
Compose this draft, with reference to any three of these prescribed texts listed above.
You may begin this way:
Good morning, everyone.
As I analyzed the allotted texts...
You may end this way.
To conclude, I’d like to say that ...
16. What knitting was to Aunt Jennifer; poetry was for Adrienne Rich? Do you agree? Comment with reference to
the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers?
17.What is suggested by the phrase ‘Massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band?

THE INTERVIEW
1. How would you evaluate Mukund Padmanabhan as a in interviewer? Mention atleast two qualities he
displays in his interview, supported by textual evidence.
2. What makes an interview 'a source of truth'? State any one feature.
3. Why do you think Christopher Silvester describes the viewpoints of other writers and authors when
discussing the concept of an interview? Support your opinion with reference to any one writer cited.
4. Christopher Silvester shares the authors’ reservations about interviewing. Bearing that in mind, would
you interview a writer of your choice? If so, what would you pay particular attention to in interviewing the said
writer?
5. Umberto Eco, with reference to "The Name of the Rose" says, “I think if I had written The Name of the
Rose ten years earlier or ten years later, it wouldn’t have been the same.” What could he have meant?
6. Imagine that you are Christopher Silvester. You have been invited to a seminar series titled – ‘Ethics and
Techniques of Interviewing’.
The organizers would like you to speak about the challenges of conducting interviews, and skills interviewers
must have in order to conduct good and ethical interviews.Based on your reading of The Interview, Part I and II,
draft your speech. Include relevant details from the text in support of your answer.
7. Mukund Padmanabhan was gifted the ‘Penguin Book of Interviews - An Anthology from 1859 to the Present
Day’ edited by Christopher Silvester, after interviewing Eco.
He shared his thoughts on his personal blog exploring his own concerns about interviewing a distinguished writer
like Eco, followed by an evaluation of the interview in light of his reading.As Mukund Padmanabhan, write the
blog post.
8.Part I of ‘The Interview’ is an excerpt from the Penguin Book of Interviews. Do you think that the extract fails to
present a balanced perspective about interviews?
Substantiate your answer with relevant textual details.
If this were the entire introduction, what would your expectation from the book be?
9.Umberto Eco does many things, but says, ‘I am always doing the same thing but that is more difficult to
explain.’ What does he mean to say?
10. Compare and Contrast V.S.Naipaul’s attitude to Rudyard Kipling’s on the subject of interviews.
11. What form of literature satisfied Umberto Eco’s taste for narration?
12. .Why did Umberto Eco prefer himself to be called an academician than a novelist?
13.Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed? (2003 Delhi)

14.What was unique and distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style? (2004 Delhi)
15.State the reason for the huge success of the novel, “The Name of the Rose”.
16. “The Name of the Rose” deals with medieval history. Was it responsible for the novel’s success?
17. What made the American publisher think that the novel ‘The Name of the Rose’ won’t sell in America? What
actually happened? What was the secret of its success?
18.What drawbacks of interviews have been pointed out by Lewis Carrol?
19.Why do most celebrity writers hate to be interviewed?
20. What do you think about Umberto Eco? Does he like being interviewed? Give reasons in support of your
answer from the text ‘The Interview’.?

MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD
1.Why was Zitkala-Sa terrified when Judewin told her that her hair would be cut short?
2. What did Zitkala-Sa feel when her long hair was cut?
3. I felt like sinking to the floor,” says Zitakala-Sa. When did she feel so and why?
4. How long would it take Bama to walk home from her school and why?
5. When did Bama first come to know of the social discrimination faced by the people of her community?
6. What advice did Annan offer Bama?
7. Zitkala-Sa mentions the indignities she had to suffer as a child. How do such indignities break the morale of a
child?
8. Where there is oppression, there will be resistance.” Comment on this statement with reference to the story.
9. Bama’s innocence was lost when she came face to face with the ugly truth of racial discrimination. Do you
think children who have a difficult childhood become even more resolute than children who have a
comfortable one?
Long Answer
1.Untouchability is not only a crime; it is inhuman too. Why and how did Bama decide to fight against it?
2. Imagine your school has organised a panel discussion on ‘Oppression and Its Evils.’ You are one of the
speakers. As part of your address, you are required to reflect on the lessons and ideas from the story, ‘Memories
of Childhood’. Draft the address. You may begin like this: Good morning ladies and gentlemen! It is a pleasure to
be given an opportunity to speak today. I would like to begin by quoting James Baldwin, ‘Not everything that is
faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.’ Tolerating oppression in any form is…
Q3. The two accounts that you read above are based in two distant cultures. What is the commonality of them
found in both of them?
Q4. Bama's experience is that of a victim of the caste system. What kind of discrimination does Zitkala-Sa's
experience depict? What are their responses to their respective situations?

G K SHETTY VIVEKANANDA VIDYALAYA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL, AMBATTUR, CH-53

 CLASS:XII QUESTION BANK
POETS AND PANCAKES

Answers

1.Answer The heat produced by the lights in the make-up room brought about a lot of discomfort to the actors in
the make-up room. Hence the writer refers to this pain and trouble as ‘fiery misery’.

2.Answer The make-up division of the Gemini Studios was an example of national integration. According to the
author, this is so because people from different regions and religious groups worked together in the same
department. The department was headed by a Bengali who was succeeded by a Maharashtrian. The other helpers
included a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and the local Tamils.

3.Answer The office boy applies make-up on the players who played the crowd. On the days of crowd shooting, he
would mix his paint in a big vessel and apply it quickly and noisily on the faces of the players. He had joined the
studios with the hope of becoming a star actor or a screen writer, director or lyrics writer. He was disappointed
because he failed and remained only a ‘boy’.

4.Answer The author's duty was to cut out newspaper clippings on a wide variety of subjects and store them in files.
Many of these had to be written out in hand. The onlookers noticed him merely tearing up newspapers. Hence to
them he seemed to be doing next to nothing.

5.Answer The office boy was frustrated because despite getting a good opening, he remained only an office boy. He
had had a good formal education and would write poetry also. But his great literary talent was being allowed to go
waste. He showed his anger on Kothamangalam Subbu, the No. 2 at Gemini Studios.

6.Answer Mr. S.S Vasan, the founder of the Gemini Studios, was Subbu’s principal.

7.Answer Four Special abilities of Subbu:

i) Subbu had the ability to look cheerful at all times.
(ii) His sense of loyalty made him turn his entire creativity to his principal's advantage: Film-making was quite easy
with Subbu around

(iii) He was literary inclined too-a poet and novelist. He was an amazing actor.
(iv) He had a charitable and loving nature.

8.Answer The lawyer was in the Story Department. He was officially known as the legal adviser. However, his
actions did nobody any good. He had unwittingly brought to an end the career of a promising young actress. Hence
he was referred to as the opposite by others.

9.Answer The lawyer’s dress that he wore made him stand out from the others. He wore a pant, a tie and
sometimes a coat also. Others put on a khadi dhoti with a slightly oversized and clumsily tailored white khadi shirt,
which looked like everyone’s uniform.

10.Answer Most of the people at Gemini Studios were followers of Gandhiji and wore khadi. Beyond khadi and
wearing of khadi they did not have any particular political affiliations. However, they were all against communism.

11.Answer The Moral Rearmament Army was a kind of counter movement to international communism.
The Big Bosses of Madras like Mr. Vasan simply played into their hands. So the Moral Rearmament Army was
welcomed at the Gemini Studios.
12.Answer The plays staged by the MRA greatly influenced Madras and Tamil drama community. For some years
almost all Tamil plays had a scene of sunrise and sunset in the manner of ‘Jotham Valley’ with a bare stage, a white
background curtain and a tune played on the flute.

13.Answer Most of the 600 odd people at Gemini Studios were Tamil speakers. The Englishman was addressing
them in his own language-English. He had a peculiar accent. Hence, there was a lack of communication between the
Englishman and the people at who could not follow what he was saying.

14.Answer The Englishman’s visit to the Gemini Studios is referred to as an unexplained mystery because no one
could decipher his identity, whether he was a poet or an editor. Besides, when he spoke no one at the studio
understood what he intended to say as his accent was beyond their comprehension.

15.Answer The English visitor to the Gemini Studios was Stephen Spender. He was the editor of The Encounter, a
British Periodical, and a famous English poet, essayist and novelist of the twentieth century.

16.Answer Before investing money in participating in a short story contest organised by an English periodical The
Encounter, the author did a research on the magazine. He went to the British Council Library where, while going
through an issue of that periodical, he discovered that its editor was Stephen Spender, the poet that had once
visited the studio.

17.Answer 'The God That Failed' was a compilation of six essays written by six eminent writers, namely, Andre Gide,
Richard Wright, Ignazio Silone, Arthur Koestler, Louis Fischer and Stephen Spender. In each of the essays, the
respective writers described “their journeys into Communism and their disillusioned return”.

18.Answer The instances of humour, used by the author, mark the eccentricities and idiosyncrasies without making
any direct and rude comment on anybody. For instance, the author portrays the make-up artists and the usage of
the pancakes in an interesting way. Even the caricature of Subbu is hilarious. The way he tries to help his principal
by offering quick solutions to his problems is quite amusing. The episode of the legal adviser that inadvertently
causes the end of an actress’s career is yet another example. The frustration of the office boy, the superficial
praising of Gandhi, hatred of Communism and the ‘mystery’ surrounding Stephen Spender are some of the
instances where the author has incorporated gentle humour.

19.Answer Kothamangalam Subbu succeeded in securing the place closest to The Boss by means of flattery. He was
not brilliant but a rather cheerful person and exceedingly loyal to The Boss. He offered solutions whenever The Boss
was in a fix. Thus, the other employees considered him No.2 in Gemini Studios.

20.Answer The English poet was addressing the Tamil audience at Gemini Studios in English with a typical provincial
accent. He was talking about the thrills and travails of an English poet to a dazed and silent audience. This was the
incongruity because his audience could not understand him at all.

21.Answer The writer was a prose-writer. He wanted to send a short story for the short story contest organised by a
British periodical by the name 'The Encounter'.

22. Filmmaking was a tough business. Actors were uncomfortable pancake make-up which mae them sweat under
the lights. The films were mostly shot indodr with nly 5% outdoor shoots. People had to be both sycophant and
creative to move up the success laddr like Subbu. Jobs were unstable, they could be lost anytime like the lawyer did.

23. The author remarked so because an outward lethargy is characteristic of a poet as he/she writes poetry at
leisure. It can be inferred that barring the lawyer, everyone else was a poet at Gemini Studios.

Going places
1. Sophie and Jansie belonged to lower middle class families. Though Sophie dreamt of big and beautiful
things, Jansie was more practical and realistic. It was most likely that the two girls would find work in a
biscuit factory.

2.Sophie had dreamt of having a boutique in the city. She dreamt of becoming a manager, fashion designer or
an actress. Jansie discouraged her from having such dreams as Sophie’s dreams were wild and impossible.
She had neither the skills nor the means to achieve them.

3.Sophie had told Geoff not to tell about the meeting with Daney Casey to her father. She believed that her
father would not believe her. He would rather scold her for telling such wild stories.

4.Geoff find it hard to believe when Sophie tells him about the meeting with Daney Casey. But he does not
appear to disbelieve her either. If he did not believe her , he would not have told about it to his father and
Jansie’s brother, Frank.

5.Her father does not believe her story at all. He knows her habit of indulging in fantasy. He thinks of it to be
another of her wild stories.

6.She does not know where her brother Geoff goes. But unknown world and people and world fascinate her.
She wishes to be closer to Geoff. She hopes that someday he would take her there. She imagines herself in
a yellow dress riding behind Geoff, and the world rising to greet them with an applause.

7.Sophie thought that Jansie would not be able to keep a secret. She would tell the whole neighbourhood.
People would come to Sophie and ask her what was it all about. Her father would be angry with her and
there would be a row in their family. She was also worried about her mother’s reaction to it all.

8.No, Sophie had not met Danny Casey. It was only her fantasy. She imagined having met him as that was
what he desired. She never meets him in reality.

9.The only occasion when she could have seen Danny Casey in person was on Saturday when the whole family
went to watch the United Team play. She saw him in person in the stadium.
10. The story is written in a way that makes it difficult to determine whether or not Sophie met Danny Casey
because the author wants to create a sense of ambiguity and suspense. The reader is left to wonder
whether Sophie is telling the truth or whether she is simply fantasizing. This ambiguity allows the reader to
interpret the story in different ways and to reflect on their own dreams and aspirations.

11. Sophie is drawn to Danny Casey for various reasons. Firstly, Casey is a renowned, youthful, and appealing
Irish football player, adding to his charm. His involvement with the Irish team aligns with Sophie's family's
fondness for watching football matches, making him a figure of admiration in their household. Moreover,
Casey becomes a hero figure for Sophie, eliciting a sense of hero worship within her. His status as a
favorite player of her brother Geoff further intensifies Sophie's interest in him. Being associated with
Casey would undoubtedly impress Geoff, creating an additional motive for Sophie's attraction toward the
football star.

12. Ans. The quote illustrates Sophie's emotional vulnerability and her reliance on her brother Geoff for
support or comfort. It hints at a close bond between them, where Sophie seeks solace or understanding
 from Geoff when feeling upset or troubled. Their relationship appears significant, implying a sense of trust
and reliance on Geoff during moments of emotional distress for Sophie.Both Sophie and Jansie were
classmates and friends belonging to middle class families. However, Sophie was much more ambitious than
Jansie. Sophie tells Jansie that she wants to own a boutique. Jansie who is more practical, advices Sophie
that a lot of money is needed for a boutique. Jansie, who is more practical, advices Sophie that a lot of
money is needed for a boutique. Sophie says that she would earn the money. Then Jansie tells her that it
takes a long time to save that much money. So Sophie replies that initially, that she would be a manager till
she gets enough money. Jansie tries to explain to Sophie that they would not make Sophie a manager right
away. Sophie still believes that she would have the most wonderful shop in the city. So Sophie, besides
being a dreamer, had a wavering mind as well.

2.From the story ‘Going Places’, we realise that Sophie belonged to a poor socio-economic background. But
she aspired to have a boutique, though she had no means or money to fulfil her dreams. After school, she
was likely to work in a biscuit factory.
When she said that if ever she has money she will buy a boutique, her father says that if she ever has money
she would better buy them a decent house to live in. this shows that their house was in poor condition.
The small room of their house was steamy from the stove and dirty dishes were piled up in the corner. Her
brother Geoff was an apprentice mechanic who travelled to his work each day to fae side of the city. Her
father had a bicycle as Sophie saw it propped against the wall of the pub. So Sophie belonged to a poor
family. Their social life seemed to be confined to watching the matches played by the United team.
AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS

ANSWERS
1.Ans. Because she couldn’t live the way she wanted to or do what she wanted to.
She was burdened by the responsibilities and oppressed by her husband.
2.Ans. It is ironical that Aunt Jennifer’s creations, the tigers, will continue to pace and prance freely, while Aunt
herself will remain frightened even after death. Even her death would not liberate Aunt Jennifer from the
oppression that she faced. Her fingers would remain ‘ringed’ with the uncle’s wedding band. But the tigers that
she made would always remain fearless and bold.
3.Ans. The poet tells us that tigers are denizens of the green, It means they live in the forest, away from human
settlements. The oiet aksi nebtuibs tgat tugers niv

4. Ans. Aunt is weak, meek, submissive, and scared of expressing her feelings openly. The aunt is bonded in
matrimony and faces several restrictions.
 The Tigers are strong, fearless, and confident. They are bold creatures and are scared of no one. On the other
hand, the tigers move about freely.

5.Ans. No, this statement does not hold true with respect to the poem.
Even though Aunt Jennifer was fearful of her husband, which is indicated by her 'fluttering hands' / was
burdened by her marriage to him, which is indicated by the weight of her wedding band, she channeled that
fear/burden into creating her art. Her fear did not stop her from creating her art.
6.Ans.She is burdened by the weight of her marriage/ gender codes she has to follow as a woman, and even
holding wool firmly is a task.Highlights the oppressed state of women.
7.Ans. The poem "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" by Adrienne Rich breaks the silence about the oppression of women in
a patriarchal society. Through the character of Aunt Jennifer, Rich shows the impact that this oppression can
have on women's lives. The poem is a reminder that we must all work to create a more equitable world for
women.
8.Ans. Similarly, Aunt Jennifer, a victim of an unhappy marriage, under a domineering husband, chooses
embroidery to vent her angst.
 Both use their creative outlet as a form of protest against societal expectations.
9.Ans. The third stanza of "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that even in the face of
oppression, women can find ways to express their strength and resilience.
The poem's final line, "The tigers in the panel that she made/Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid," is both
hopeful and tragic. It suggests that even though Aunt Jennifer herself was unable to achieve freedom and
empowerment, her tigers will continue to live on and inspire others.
10.Ans.If the last four lines were omitted, the poem would have a more somber tone.Without the image of the
tigers continuing to prance, the poem would end on a note of despair, with Aunt Jennifer's hands still ringed
with the ordeals she was mastered by.The message of the poem would refer to the oppression and suffering of
women, without any hope for liberation.
[By ending the poem on these lines, the author achieves a sense of hope and transcendence. The image of the
tigers continuing to prance, proud and unafraid, suggests that there is a way to transcend the oppression and
suffering of women, even if it is only through art. The poet suggests that art can provide a kind of liberation,
even in the face of social and cultural constraints.]
11.Ans.Sophie's Mother: Your embroidery is so beautiful. Do you love tigers?
Aunt Jennifer: Thank you, dear. Yes, I do love tigers. They symbolize something I wish I could be - free and
fearless, unlike me.
Sophie's Mother: I understand that feeling. My life revolves around the needs of my family. I spend my days
tending to the household, just like that delicate bow on my apron, a superficial adornment to my servile role.
Aunt Jennifer: It's the same for me. The weight of my husband's wedding band is a constant reminder of the
heavy burden I carry, and the control he exerts over me. My embroidery is my escape, a means to express my
hidden desires and feelings.
Sophie's Mother: I know what you mean. I stay at home while the rest of the family enjoys life outside. We both
have domineering husbands, and our voices go unheard in family matters.
Aunt Jennifer: Yes, it's as if we're trapped in this never-ending cycle, with no likelihood of change in our status.
In this conversation, Aunt Jennifer and Sophie's mother bond over their shared experiences of feeling burdened
and constrained by their roles in their respective households, where their desires and voices are suppressed.
Aunt Jennifer uses her art as a form of silent rebellion, while Sophie's mother finds solace in understanding
Aunt Jennifer's struggles. Both women find common ground in the need for change, even though it seems
unlikely in their current circumstances.
12.Ans. i. Yes, I think Aunt Jennifer "turned her pain into art." The tigers in her tapestry represent the freedom
and strength that she longs for but cannot achieve in her own life. Through her art, she is able to express her
inner strength and longing for freedom.The "contagion" that Aunt Jennifer's pain is a result of is the oppression
of women in a patriarchal society. Aunt Jennifer is trapped in a marriage that is dominated by her husband. She
is unable to express her true self or achieve her full potential.However, Aunt Jennifer is not simply a victim of
her circumstances. She is also a survivor. Through her art, she is able to create a world where women are strong
and powerful. The tigers in her tapestry represent the potential that she embodies, even though she is unable
to fully realize it in her own life.
In light of the extract from The Independent, I believe that Aunt Jennifer's artistry is a powerful example of how
art can be used to transform pain and suffering. Aunt Jennifer's tigers are a symbol of hope and resilience for
women who are struggling to achieve their full potential in a patriarchal world.Aunt Jennifer's artistry is also a
reminder that pain and suffering are not necessary for the creation of great art. Aunt Jennifer's tigers are
beautiful and powerful works of art, even though they were created by a woman who was in pain.

13.Ans. Dearest Husband,

I recently read a poem by Adrienne Rich called "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers." It is a poem about a woman who is
trapped in a loveless marriage and unable to achieve her full potential. The woman in the poem creates tigers
in her tapestry, which represent the freedom and strength that she longs for.I read this poem and I saw myself
in Aunt Jennifer. I am also trapped in a marriage that is dominated by you. I am unable to express my true self
or achieve my full potential.I know that you love me, but you do not understand me. You do not see the
strength and creativity that lie within me. You only see me as your wife, your property.
I am writing this letter to you in the hope that you will finally see me for who I am. I am a woman with a voice,
dreams, and aspirations. I am not just your wife.I know that you may not understand this, but I need to be free.
I need to be able to express myself fully and achieve my full potential.I am not asking you to leave me. I am
asking you to change. I am asking you to see me for who I am and to love me unconditionally.If you cannot do
that, then I will have to find a way to free myself. I will find a way to create my own tigers.
Love always,
Aunt Jennifer

14.Ans. Interviewer: Thank you for joining us, Adrienne Rich and Robert Frost. My first question to both of you is
--- What are the central themes of your poems?
Rich: My poem highlights the oppression that women face at the hands of men, particularly as wives to their
husbands. Women's freedom and rights are a social issue.
Frost: Yes, my poem is also centered on a social issue. It talks about the oppression of the country folk. They
remain poor because of the privileged city folk's ignorance.
Interviewer: Thank you for sharing. My next question is --- What solution do you both propose in your poems?
Rich: Well, I don't have a solution. I think women will die being oppressed. Men have been, and always will be, in
power.
Frost: I agree. In my poem too, I state that the country folk would be at peace if they died. The city folk will
always have the upper hand. I, like Adrienne, don't have any hope for change.
15.Ans. Good morning, everyone.
As I analyzed the allotted texts, I noticed that though each portrayal of women was unique, they all offered
varied insights into the experiences of women in society.
To begin with, Aunt Jennifer was portrayed as a victim of patriarchy, living in a world where women were
expected to conform to societal norms and expectations and was unable to attain the freedom and strength
she desired, due to the limitations imposed upon her by society.
In contrast, Sophie was portrayed as ambitious and determined to break free from societal norms. She refused to
be limited by her gender and sought to challenge the restrictions placed upon her. Sophie's mother, on the
other hand, from a generation prior, had chosen to conform and sacrifice her individuality to societal
expectations.Similarly in "Lost Spring," the grandmother and daughter-in-law, in Firozabad, were portrayed as
resilient in the face of poverty and the societal constraints of their caste. However, unlike Sophie’s and Aunt
Jennifer’s need to find an outlet, they found ways to make the best of their situation, despite the limitations
placed upon them.
When we analyze the portrayal of the aged mother, in "My Mother at Sixty-six,", she is presented as vulnerable
and in need of protection. Sadly, it does make one wonder about the unaddressed vulnerability of Sophie’s
mother and the grandmother in “Lost Spring”. A point worth considering is that Kamala Das’ mother’s
acceptance of her circumstances comes across as a voluntary decision, whereas that of the women in “Lost
Spring” is akin to resignation.These portrayals of women offer valuable insights into the experiences of women
in our society -from victimization to resilience in the face of poverty - and offer us important lessons about
strength, vulnerability, and the need for empathy and respect.
To conclude, I’d like to say that as readers, we can learn from their experiences and strive towards a more
equitable and just society. These characters, stress that it is important to recognize the complexities of each
woman’s experiences and refrain from passing sweeping judgments as women are not a uniform group, but
rather unique individuals.
16. Women have always been silenced in a male-dominated society. The same has been addressed in the poem
‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ by Adrienne Rich. Both the women, Aunt Jennifer and Adrienne Rich expresses their
innate desires through their artistic skills, knitting and poetry respectively.

17. Aunt Jennifer’s terrified hands are weighed down by Uncle’s wedding band because it symbolises her
traumatic marriage in which she had no freedom and only responsibilities. The difficulties and obstacles that
marked her life are suggested by the phrase.
 THE INTERVIEW

1. An interview is a valuable and authentic tool for collectinginformation. Mukund was a n excellent
interviewer. He asked questions which every reader wants to know from a novelist. He also maintained a
good order inhis questions by first asking generic questions, then getting deep into the matter slowly and
steadily. He also made sure the interviewee didn’t get annoyed or offended by any of his questions and
never touched any personal matter of the interviewee, Umberto Eco. Hence, the response of the
interviewee is clearly linked to the questions put forth.
2. A feature of an interview is that we get information about the person from the person themself.
An interview is usually done on the spot, which does not give us practiced responses.
The interviewer asks the interviewee specific questions which the interviewee may not have disclosed
otherwise.
3. Christopher Silvester describes the viewpoints of other writers and authors to illustrate the diverse and
sometimes conflicting perspectives on interviews. For instance, by referencing writers like V. S. Naipaul,
Lewis Carroll, Rudyard Kipling, H. G. Wells, and Saul Bellow, he highlights the range of opinions on
interviews, from being seen as a source of truth and art to being condemned as intrusive and damaging.
This adds depth and context to the discussion of interviews in his prose
4. Yes, I would interview a writer of my choice. In doing so, I would pay particular attention to their creative
process, sources of inspiration, and the themes and messages they aim to convey through their work,
aiming to understand the deeper aspects of their writing beyond the surface narrative.
5. Umberto Eco suggests that the success of his book, "The Name of the Rose," was largely due to timing.
He believes that if he had written the book ten years earlier or ten years later, it wouldn't have had the
same impact.This could be interpreted as Eco recognizing the importance of cultural context and how the
reception of a work of art is influenced by the historical, social, and political climate of its time.

 Eco might be suggesting that the themes and ideas he explored in his novel resonated particularly
strongly with readers in the cultural moment in which it was published and that this moment was
fleeting.
Therefore, if he had written the book earlier or later, it might not have been as relevant or timely, and might not
have captured the same level of attention and interest.

6. Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed organizers, and fellow participants,

Today, I stand before you to discuss the captivating world of interviews, drawing inspiration from my reading of
"The Interview." Interviews, as we've seen, have evolved into a commonplace in journalism and communication.
They serve as a powerful medium for extracting information, and they often offer us unique insights into the
minds and lives of individuals.

However, as "The Interview" has highlighted, interviews come with their own set of challenges. Interviewers
must navigate the fine line between probing for information and respecting an individual's privacy. Our
discussion of various authors' reservations regarding interviews, including Lewis Carroll's "just horror" or Rudyard
Kipling's belief that interviews are "immoral," underscores the ethical dilemmas interviewers can face.

To conduct good and ethical interviews, we need to hone our skills in crafting questions that are insightful yet
respectful, listening actively to our subjects, and maintaining a genuine curiosity about their experiences. We
must strike a balance between seeking information and respecting boundaries, understanding that interviews
are a delicate art where ethics and techniques must coexist harmoniously.
Thank you.

7.An Encounter with Eco: Navigating the Art of Interviewing

In the world of interviews, opportunities like the one I had with Umberto Eco are truly exceptional. A writer of his
caliber, renowned for his scholarly work and acclaimed novels, presents a unique set of challenges and
opportunities.

Before the interview, I couldn't help but share my concerns on my personal blog. Interviewing a distinguished
writer like Eco was a thrilling yet daunting prospect. Would I be able to do justice to his intellect and creativity?
Could I craft questions that would delve into his philosophical interests and his journey from academia to fiction?

But I took courage in my preparation, drawing inspiration from Christopher Silvester's "The Interview." I realized
that the heart of a good interview lies in thoughtful questions and active listening. It's about engaging in a
genuine dialogue with the subject, respecting their narrative, and letting the conversation unfold organically.

Now, looking back, I evaluate our conversation in light of my reading. I'm proud that I managed to create a space
where Eco could share his stories, his interests, and his thoughts. It was a momentous experience, and I hope
that my interview added a new dimension to the rich anthology of interviews that Silvester presented in "The
Penguin Book of Interviews."

The journey of an interviewer is filled with uncertainties, but it is the quest for knowledge and understanding
that drives us forward. And in interviewing Eco, I discovered the power of dialogue and the magic of storytelling.

8. Part I of 'The Interview' from the Penguin Book of Interviews does seem to present a somewhat unbalanced
perspective about interviews. While it discusses various authors' reservations and concerns about interviews, it
doesn't provide an equal amount of space to voices that may highlight the positive aspects and merits of this
journalistic form.

For instance, it cites V.S. Naipaul's feelings of being wounded by interviews, Rudyard Kipling's strong
condemnation, and Saul Bellow's comparison of interviews to thumbprints on his windpipe. The focus is primarily
on the negative or skeptical views.

If this were the entire introduction to the book, my expectation would be that it is more likely to delve into the
challenges and controversies surrounding interviews, rather than celebrating their value and significance. I might
anticipate a critical exploration of interviews, which could be valuable for understanding the complexities and
ethical considerations but might not provide a comprehensive overview of the broader world of interviews,
which includes their role in storytelling, journalism, and communication.

9. Ans. Umberto Eco says that he has philosophical interests which reflect in all his writings, fiction and
nonfiction. In this way, he does the same thing, though he seems to pursue various activities: writing notes for
newspapers, teaching novels, writing essays, children’s books etc.

10. V.S.Naipaul believed that people are wounded by interviews and lose a part of themselves.Whereas Rudyard
Kipling held a condemnatory attitude towards interviews. He refused to be interviewed because he believed that
interviews were immoral and a crime and so one ought to be punished for it.
11.Umberto Eco started writing novels at the age of fifty. When he was already an established academic.
Eventhough his academic work had a narrative element, he said that it was his novels
12. Despite achieving fame as a novelist, Eco preferred to associate himself with the academic community
because his non-fictional work occupied him for the first fifty years of his life. He wrote his first novel at the age
of around fifty. He identified himself more with the academic community and resorts to writing fiction only when
he’was not pursuing some scholarly work.
13.Celebrities like V.S. Naipaul, Rudyard Kipling, Lewis Carroll and H.G. Wells have expressed their strong despise
for interviews. They consider interviews immoral -‘an assault’ because they feel interviews leave a rather
disparaging effect on their personalities and are an encroachment on their privacy.
14.Umberto Eco’s academic writing style is personal, informal and playful. He fills his research stories with all the
trials and errors so that even his research work has the uniqueness . of creative writing and reading. It is not only
informative but also interesting.Buy bestselling books online
15.There is no one reason for the huge success of the novel “The Name of the Rose’. Umberto Eco himself calls
its success a mystery. It is possible that this detective story that delved into metaphysics, theology and medieval
history, interested the readers because the time in which it was written was most appropriate, neither a decade
earlier nor a decade later.
16. “The success of the novel ‘The Name of the Rose’ did not depend on merely one factor. Many other novels
dealt with medieval history but did not achieve much success. Its success is more attributed to the timing of its
publication, its narrative style and detective yarn and also the fact that it delves into metaphysics and theology
along with medieval history.
17. The American publisher believed that people like trash whereas ‘The Name of the Rose’ delved into
metaphysics, theology and medieval history and people do not like these difficult reading experiences. Through
his novel, which sold between 10 to 15 million copies, Umberto Eco reached only a small percentage of readers.
But, according to him, it is those kind of readers who do not want easy experiences, or at least, do not always
want this. Umberto Eco cannot categorically state the reason for the huge success of the novel, ‘The Name of the
Rose’. He himself refers to its success as a mystery. He feels this detective story that delved into metaphysics,
theology and medieval history interested the readers as it was written at the most appropriate time. Had it been
written a decade earlier or later, it would not have been so successful. The way the book stormed the literary
world, once it was out, surprised everyone. Even though it contained somewhat heavy reading, the book
attracted a mass audience and Eco became famous as a novelist, rather than an academic scholar the world over.
18.Lewis Carrol considers interviews as an ‘unwarranted intrusion’ that is immoral and an offence against his
person. He shunned interviews for fear of being projected as larger than life. His vehement refusal for interviews
enabled him to keep his fans as well as interviews at an arm’s length.
19.Most of the celebrity writers shun interviews as they feel that interviews leave a disparaging effect on their
personalities. They consider them as an encroachment on their privacy. Writers like V.S. Naipaul feel they are
being wounded by interviews and thus losing a part of themselves.
20.Unlike various other celebrities who express a strong dislike for interviews and consider it an encroachment
upon their privacy, Umberto Eco seems to kind of enjoy giving interviews considering the spirited manner in
which he answers the questions put forth to him by the interviewer, Mukund Padmanabhan. Eco readily and
truthfully answers all the questions in the most humble and sincere manner, delving into details, thus revealing
the fact that he actually does not mind sharing his experiences with others. At no point does he display any kind
of haste to wind up the interview. In fact, he explicitly answers all the questions that Padmanabhan asks him
giving the interviewer a feeling of warmth and being welcome.
 MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD
ANSWERS
1. Zitkala-Sa hid herself because she had got to know that the authorities wanted to cut her long hair. In her
community hair of mourners, prisoners of war and cowards were cut and therefore she made a vain attempt to
prevent her hair from being shingled by hiding herself.
2. Zitkala-Sa felt rather anguished and indignant when her long hair was cut. She lost her spirit and felt as
helpless as a puppet. She got the feeling of being an animal driven by a herder and desperately looked for some
comfort. With her hair being shingled like a coward’s, she moaned in anguish. She also felt she had lost her
distinct cultural recognition and identity.
3. Zitkala-Sa felt like sinking to the floor when the blanket she had donned over her immodest- looking dress was
stripped from her shoulders. She felt uncomfortable in her tight-fitting clothes and because she was ill at ease.
4. It took Bama half an hour to one hour to walk home from her school, although it was possible to cover the
distance in ten minutes. This was because on the way many attractions slowed her down. These included fun,
games, entertaining novelties and oddities in the streets, the shops and the bazaar.
5. Bama was in the third standard and she used to walk from her school to her home. One day she saw an elderly
man carrying a small packet that contained some eatables. He held the packet by its strings without touching it
and extended it to the landlord who opened it and began to eat. She thought it was something funny but Annan,
her elder brother, told her that the man was not being funny and he was in fact from a low caste because of
which he couldn’t touch the food packet.
6. Annan loves his sister Bama dearly and acts as her true guide and philosopher. He told her that being Dalits
they would never be given any dignity or respect. He advised her to study and make progress to throw away
these indignities. He advises to his sister about the indigenous method of outdoing the upper class by winning
laurels in their examinations and thus earning their admiration.
7. The author was subjected to extreme indignities. People had stared at her . She had been tossed about in the
air like a puppet. Her long hair was shingled like that of a coward. In anguish she moaned for her mother. She felt
like one of many animals driven by a herder.
Tossed around like a wooden puppet: This phrase suggests that she was treated with disrespect and handled
roughly, as if her feelings and dignity didn't matter.
Humiliated like a coward: Zitkala-Sa was subjected to humiliation, which can be deeply damaging to one's self-
esteem, and this treatment likely made her feel powerless and degraded.
Treated like an animal with no one to comfort her: Being treated as less than human and having no emotional
support or comfort exacerbated her sense of isolation and despair.
8. Ans. The statement refers to the fact that whenever there is oppression, there is widespread protest to get out
of it. So, oppression cannot persist for a long time. There will be protests which will trigger change and bring
down oppression.
9. Ans. Yes, children who have a difficult childhood grow up to become resilient adults than children who are
protected from all troubles. Bama’s experience of caste discrimination as a child would have played a role in
making her a strong and resilient author she is today.
Long Answer
1. Ans. Bama was confronted with untouchability as a third-grade student. On the way back from school, she
used to watch the mesmerising sights of an Indian street bazaar with its food stalls and entertainers. One day,
she noticed an elder from her street carrying a packet of fried vadai for the landlord in a careful way so as not to
pollute it for the upper caste landlord. She initially found it funny, later she was told the entire story by her older
brother Annan. That is when she realised the unfairness and inhumanness of the practice. This enraged her. Her
brother told her to study well and educate herself so that people would come to her on their own. She followed
his advice and stood first in her class which drew people to her and they became her friends. She fought against
the evil of untouchability by sensitizing people with her writing and also helping people come out of it by other
means.
2. Ans. Good morning each and everyone present over here! It is a pleasure to speak in front of you. I would like
to begin by quoting James Baldwin, ‘Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed
until it is faced.’ Tolerating oppression in any form is how oppression lives on. If we look at the story of Native
American writer Zitkala-Sa, we can see how Judewin tells her to submit to the force and strength of the
oppressor because they are strong. But Zitkala-Sa refuses. Both have to eventually submit to the white people
but Zitkala-Sa registered her protest. Judewin on the other hand tolerates oppression and allows the oppressors
to think that their actions are irreproachable. Another marginalised writer, Bama is shocked when she could
notice as a child the issue of untouchability. One day when she sees the elder from her community carry a packet
respectfully for an upper caste landlord, she is taken aback. She consults her brother and on being advised by
him, she resoves to stay committed in her studies. As a writer she is eventually able to bring to the light the social
evils of untouchability prevailing in our society and recommends education being the remedy to come out of all
such social prejudice.
3. Ans. The two accounts given by two different women coming from different cultures have great commonality
between them. This commonality is the wide gap between the mainstream culture and the secondary culture,
that is attributed to low caste or marginalised communities. The upper caste or communities treat the
marginalised communities as second-rate ones and never allow them to integrate with theirs. This is clear in the
behaviour that is meted out to Zitkala-Sa when she is subjected to humiliation. She adores her hair to the level of
worshipping them. She also attributes certain feelings to her hair if they are chopped off. These feelings ensure
her self-respect and self-preservation as a human being. But her hair is mercilessly cut and she feels the loss of
her 'spirit'-her own individuality.Bama also learns about the oppression and discrimination of her own caste by
the upper caste people in the elder man's 'servitude. She is infuriated, angry and provoked at this inhuman
behaviour. She asks herself why should they be subjected to such discriminatory behaviour that amounts to their
non-existence? She wants that they should treat them like human beings and not underdogs.
4. Ans. Zitkala-Sa's experience depicts severe prejudice that prevailed in America in the 1876s toward Native
American culture and women. Zitkala-Sa belonged to a marginalised community of American Indians. This was
treated as a low community as Dalits are treated in our country. Zitkala-Sa's mother had taught her that only
unskilled warriors who were captured had their hair shingled by the enemy. Among her own people hair was
worn by mourners, and shingled hair by cowards. So her hair being chopped off amounted to the loss of her own
identity as a human being. Then the keen stare of the paleface woman and the man's mutterings dispirited her
completely. Zitkala decided to rebel. More than hiding was not possible as she couldn't fight all alone against the
all powerful authorities. It shows the loss of her 'spirit', the very basis of a respectable living. She felt she was
only one of many little animals driven by a herder. Bama's response to her situation is more than that of Zitkala-
Sa's. She felt 'provoked and angry' to go and touch the packet straightaway. She was angry against the upper
caste.