Compulsory English Class 11 Complete Note/ Summary /Magic of Words/Important Questions and Answers
Prepared by-Lecturer Bikram Bhandari
UNIT 1: STORIES OF THE SUPERNATURAL
THE RECURRING DREAM
1 Narrate/Summarize/Retell the story of “The Recurring Dream”.
OR, Tell the story “The Recurring Dream” in your own words.
“The Recurring Dream” is a supernatural story from England about a normal-looking woman who has a strange, recurring dream. Kim is a beautiful and sociable girl of 25. She has a good job in a company. But she has a problem. A strange, mysterious and recurring dream troubles her. She dreams about a country road, a lane, and an old man in a house. The place and the person of her dream are completely strange to her. She has never been to that place and never met the man. Kim talks about the dream to her roommate, Janet. Janet suggests going out of the city to her parents’ farm for a few days. As they turn on a country road, Kim sees the same place of her dream. She decides to go and have a look. Janet tries to stop her saying that Kim could have been mistaken. But Kim claims this to be the same place and goes. When she reaches the house, she finds it is for sale. She knocks on the door. To her surprise, the same old man opens the door. Seeing her, he shuts the door. Kim wants to talk to him about the house. But he says she will not buy it because it is haunted. A ghost comes there almost every night. When she asks about the ghost, he says she is herself the ghost.
2 Describe the lane and the house.
In her strange, mysterious, recurring dream, Kim sees a country road, a lane and a house. In the dream, standing on a country road, Kim sees a lane which has a white fence and a hedge on its both sides. The lane leads to a little hill. On its top there is a small, white cottage with green shutters. Kim sees a little, old man sleeping in one room. She knows no place like that. She has never seen the lane and the house. But she sees the same lane with the same fence and hedge and the same house on the same hill.
3 Describe the man Kim sees in the house.
The man Kim sees in the house is an old stranger. He is a little man with white hair and beard. As Kim enters the house, the man is sleeping in one room. As she goes near him, he wakes up and looks at her. Kim wakes up when she is about to talk to him. Kim has never met this man in her life, but she has a recurring dream about this man and his house. Later in the story, this old man turns out to be a real person. Kim happens to see the house and meet him as she is leaving for a country.
4 Describe the mysterious dream Kimberly Clark has.
OR, What is Kim’s recurring dream about?
Kim has a strange, mysterious, recurring dream about a person and a place which are completely strange to her. In the dream, she sees herself standing on a country road. There is a lane which has a white fence and a hedge on its both sides. The lane leads to a little hill. On its top stands a small, white cottage with green shutters. Kim sees a little, old man sleeping in one room. His hair and beard are both white. He wakes up when Kim goes near him. He looks at her with surprise. As Kim is about to talk to him, the dream breaks, and she wakes up in her own room.
5 Where does Janet want to take Kim for a few days?
OR, Why does Janet want to take Kim to her parents’ farm in the village?
Janet wants to take Kim to her parents’ farm in the village where they could spend a few days in a peaceful environment. As a roommate and a good friend, she is worried about Kim and suggests an idea that could help her. In her view, going out of the city for a few days will change Kim’s mood, refresh her mind and help her forget the troubling dream. She knows that Kim is troubled by the dream. To help her forget about it at least for some days, Janet suggests going out of the city to the farm.
6 What does the little, old man do when he sees Kim at the door?
OR, Why does the little old man close the door when he sees Kim?
When the little, old man sees Kim at the door, his eyes open wide and he immediately shuts the door. Kim begs him to open the door and talk to her. Then he opens it a little. He is afraid of her and wants to avoid her. He asks her to go away from there. He knows she has not come to buy the house. He tells her that a ghost haunts his house almost every night. According to him, Kim herself is that ghost. He does not want her to trouble him any more. Therefore, he closes the door to save himself.
7 What do you think is the reason some people have recurring dreams?
Some people have recurring dreams probably because of deeply felt issues and unfulfilled desires. Firstly, when we have an excess of feelings like love, hatred, anger, jealousy, surprise, fear and greed, we dream about certain things, persons and events related to these feelings. Recurring dreams might also be caused by unfulfilled desires. We do not get everything in reality, so we get them in dreams. Our mind becomes completely free in dreams, and we can get even the impossible. On the other hand, religions interpret dreams as signs of future. People have a particular dream because something special might be going to happen. A supernatural interpretation of the reason for having a recurring dream is that some supernatural power attracts us to a place because of our connection to it in our previous life.
8 Why do you think Kim has this dream?
Kim might be having the strange, recurring dream because of her extreme curiosity about the man of her dream and her unfilled wish to talk to him in the dream. When Kim dreams about the old man and his house for the first time, she is surprised very much because they are unfamiliar to her. The dream is on her mind constantly. She is extremely curious and the dream recurs. Kim cannot talk to the man in her first dream. As she is about to talk to him in the dream, she wakes up. Dreaming about him again and again could be a way to fulfill her wish to talk to him. From religious interpretation of dream as a sign of future, Kim has this recurring dream about the house and the old man because she is going to see them. Still another reason could be that Kim has this dream about the house because of some close connection to it in her previous life.
9 In your opinion, why does Kim wake up each time she tries to speak to the man in her dream?
Kim wakes up from her dream while trying to speak to the man because her body is reacting. Dream is a state in which body and mind are almost separated. We are supposed to witness the flow of events. If we make some effort and our body is involved, the flow breaks and we wake up. In the dream, Kim enters the house, looks into the rooms, finds out the man sleeping and goes near him. Up to this point she is only watching. But when she tries to speak to the man, her body reacts and she wakes up.
10 Do dreams have any connection to real life? Discuss your views. Also relate to the story.
OR, Some people think all dreams have special meanings. What do you think?
Dreams have close connection to our real life, and they have special meanings. Dreams are the results of deeply felt issues and unfulfilled desires. Similar could be the cause of Kim’s strange, recurring dream.
Deeply felt issues could be one reason for dreams. Dreams mean that we feel deeply about certain issues. When we have an excess of feelings like love, hatred, anger, jealousy, fear and greed, we dream about certain things, persons and events related to these feelings. In the story, the dream about the old man and his house surprises Kim very much. She is extremely curious and the dream recurs.
Some psychologists claim that dreams are the means to fulfill impossible desires. We do not get everything in reality, so we get them in dreams. Our mind becomes completely free in dreams, and we can get even the impossible. In the story, Kim cannot talk to the man in her first dream. As she is about to talk to him, she wakes up. Having the same dream again and again is a way to fulfill her wish to talk to him.
Thus, dreams have close connection to real life. They are the result of a complex combination of our experiences, feelings and imaginations.
THE LOST DOLL
1 Narrate/Summarize/Retell the story of “The Lost Doll”.
OR, Tell the story “The Lost Doll” in your own words.
“The Lost Doll” is a supernatural story from Colombia about a little girl who dies but is reborn. Carmen, the only child of Roberto and Rosa Soto, had been sick from her birth. Her condition became worse with time, and she died at 4. The villagers attended the funeral. She was buried in the cemetery on the hill outside the village. After some days, Rosa gave away all of Carmen’s clothes and playthings because the doctor had said she could not have another child. But Roberto still had hope. He argued that god knew Rosa was busy with her sick child and did not send another child. After Carmen’s death her doll was lost surprisingly. No one in the village had any idea about what happened to the doll. One year later Rosa gave birth to another baby girl. They gave her the name Evangelina. She looked like Carmen in every way, but she was quite healthy and well. In casual talks, Rosa would say that God had sent their child back. Evangelina surprised Rosa one day by saying that she was sick a long time ago. Another time she said that she had a little doll. She also claimed to know where the doll was. Rosa took it as a joke, but Evangelina took her in the backyard. She pointed to the ground near a big tree and told her to dig there. When Rosa dug, they found the doll. Then Evangelina told that she remembered being sick and falling asleep. A nice man took her with him and helped her put the doll there.
2 Describe Carmen.
Carmen was a weak child and had a short life. She was the only child of her parents, Roberto and Rosa Soto. She was beautiful, bright, kind and loving. But she was sick from her birth. She could not be treated. Her condition became worse year by year. She became very weak and died at the age of 4. Because of her good nature, the villagers loved her and attended her funeral. As they passed by her body, they described her as a little doll. She was buried in the cemetery on the hill outside the village.
3 What evidence is there in the story to show that Carmen and Evngelina were alike?
OR, In what ways/How were Carmen and Evangelina alike? In what way were they different?
Carmen and Evangelina were alike in their physical features and other activities. When Evangelina was born, Rosa said she looked like Carmen. As the girl grew up, she looked more and more like her dead sister. Her actions and character were also similar to Carmen’s. Because of the similarities between the two, Rosa and the priest even thought that God took the sick Carmen, healed her and gave her back to her parents. According to Rosa, Evangelina was like Carmen in every way.
But there was one big difference between the two. Carmen was sick and weak from her birth whereas Evangelina was healthy and well. Carmen died at the age of 4, but Evangelina showed no sign of becoming ill, let alone die. Carmen had a doll as a plaything but Evangelina did not have any.
4 Where/How did they finally find the lost doll?
They finally found the lost doll under the ground in the backyard of their house. After Carmer died, the doll was also lost surprisingly. Roberto and Rosa searched the whole house. They also asked other people about it. But they did not find it. When the second child, Evangelina, was big enough to talk with adults, she said the doll was under the big tree in the backyard. When asked how she came to know about the doll, she claimed that she had put it there. Following her instructions, Rosa dug the ground and found the doll. According to Evangelina, a really nice man had helped her put the doll under the tree.
5 Why, do you suppose, did almost everyone in the village attend Carmen’s funeral?
Out of love for this child and sympathy for her parents, almost all the villagers attended Carmen’s funeral. People in village are more helpful than people in the city. When a person dies in the village, almost all people come to see the dead body and most of them attend the funeral. In Carmen’s case, she was the only child of her parents. To accompany the parents in their grief, all the villagers came. Moreover, Carmen was bright, kind and loving. Everyone in the village liked her. To express farewell to this sweet child, they attended her funeral.
6 What indications/evidences are there in the story that the Soto family was poor?
The inability to cure the only child, the wish to save a dead child’s things and belief in God indicate that the Soto family was poor. If they were rich, they could have taken their only child to best doctors and hospitals. But they could not. Roberto wants to save Carmen’s playthings in case they have another child. It seems as if he cannot afford toys again and again. The doctor has declared that his wife will not have another child, but Roberto still has hope. Poor people believe in God more than rich people. The Sotos live in a village and work in fields. Roberto’s hands are rough with hard work. It also indicates that the family is poor.
7 Why did Roberto want to save Carmen’s things?
Roberto wanted to save Carmen’s things so that those things could be given to another child if Rosa became mother again. Rosa had no hope because the doctor had told that she could not have another child. But Roberto said doctors are not god to know everything. Only God knows what will happen. Rosa pointed out that they did not have another child in four years. But Roberto believed that god did not send them another child because god knew she was caring for the sick child. Roberto seems to be more practical as he wants to save Carmen’s things.
8 Rosa said to her husband, “False hope is not good.” When does hope become false?
When Rosa said to her husband “False hope is not good”, she was referring to his hope about having another child. Hope becomes false when there is no possibility that it will come true. In their case, the doctor had said that she would not be able to give birth to another child. His statement was based on medical tests. After Carmen died, Rosa gave away her things. But Roberto wanted to save those things because he still had hope. Rosa told him not to keep false hope because he would only suffer if the hope did not come true.
9 Write a paragraph about the similarity between the lost doll and Carmen herself.
Both the doll and Carmen are little and beautiful, and both disappear. As the only child of her parents, Carmen is very dear to them. Similar is her relation with the doll, her only plaything. She never leaves it. The villagers attending her funeral say that she is just like a little doll. The most important similarity is that they disappear together. After Carmen dies, the doll is also lost. Carmen is buried in the cemetery outside the village, and the doll is buried under a tree in the backyard of the house. Carmen returns after death by taking rebirth as Evangelina. And it is Evangelina who finds the lost doll. It is found from under the ground as if being taken out of the grave.
10 Make a comparison between Roberto and Rosa Soto.
Robeto and Rosa can be compared on the basis of their gender roles, beliefs and their relation with their child. Being a male in a patriarchal society, Roberto takes the responsibility of the family. He works in the fields, so his hands are rough from hard work. Being a woman and a mother, Rosa’s job is to look after the child and do the housework. Being poor, both seem to believe in god. But Roberto is more hopeful about having a child after Carmen dies while Rosa takes the doctor’s words and does not believe it will happen. As a mother, Rosa is naturally more attached with the child. She cannot bear the grief of her child’s death and gives Carmen’s clothes and playthings away. Roberto seems to be more practical as he wants to keep those things in case they have another child.
11 Describe the grief of Roberto and his wife at the tragic death of their daughter Carmen.
There was no end to the grief of Roberto and his wife at the death of their only daughter, Carmen. The grief of parents at the death of their only child is unfathomable. It is too much to be described in words.
Parents grieve at the death of their child because of deep emotional attachment. Roberto and Rosa are no exception. Carmen was everything to them in the world. They are poor villagers, and poor people have nothing else except their children. Rosa is so tragic that she gives away Carmen’s clothes and playthings to the priest from another village. She wants to avoid the painful memory of Carmen’s untimely death. Roberto also remembers Carmen playing at the yard when he looks out of the window. When they realize Carmen’s doll is lost, they do everything to find it out.
It is natural that parents are heartbroken at a child’s death, no matter how many children there are. And if the child is single, as in the case of Roberto and Rosa, the grief is too much to bear. Moreover, if Carmen had not lived long after birth, the grief might have been less. They had helplessly watched her die, unable to save her. Because of her good nature, the villagers also loved her and were much grieved by her death. We can easily imagine how much grief Roberto and Rosa feel as parents.
THE HOUSE CALL
1 Narrate/Summarize/Retell the story of “The House Call”.
OR, Tell the story “The House Call” in your own words.
“The House Call” is a supernatural story from Germany about a doctor’s visit to a patient during which he comes to know that he was called by the ghost of a little girl. Dr. Emil Brown was a famous surgeon. The day after Christmas he had returned from the hospital and was having his dinner. He was almost asleep on the table when a little girl came asking for him. She wanted him to see her sick mother. Braun was ready to go. It was raining a little. The girl walked ahead instead of walking with him. She stopped only at times to make sure the doctor was following her. However hard he tried, 67-year-old Braun could not catch her. Finally, she led him to an old building and showed him in a dimly-lit room. As Braun approached the patient, he recognized her. It was Elda who had once worked as a staff in his hospital. After observation, he found out that she had pneumonia. He gave her some medicine and started talking to her. He praised her daughter for being courageous enough to go in the night. But Elda said her only child, Adelheide, died of a sickness three months ago. Hearing this, Braun looked surprised and looked around. The girl was not there. Elda pointed to a corner where she had put Adelheide’s shawl and shoes as reminders. Braun touched the shawl and the shoes. They were wet. Now he was sure that the girl was a ghost. Elda said he had mistaken someone else for her daughter. Then she fell asleep, and Braun quickly left the room and the house.
2 Describe the little girl who came asking for the doctor.
OR, Who came to the door asking for the doctor?
A little girl came to the door asking for the doctor. Her voice was weak but very clear. She was six or seven years old. She was wearing a cotton dress and an old shawl. Her shoes were also old and looked a little dirty. She said her mother was very sick and needed urgent help. She walked so fast that the doctor did not catch her. After showing Dr. Braun in her mother’s room, she disappeared. Actually, she was a ghost who had come to help her mother. From her mother, Elda, we come to know that her name was Adelheide. She had died three months ago just after she turned seven.
3 Why did the little girl come to the doctor’s home?
The little girl came to the doctor’s house to get him to see her sick mother. She was the ghost of Elda’s daughter. She knew that Dr. Braun was a dutiful, kind, sympathetic and honest doctor. He would be ready to go with her if she requested him and explained the situation. She knows he is the only person who would be ready to come with her at that time of night. She has been present in the room with her mother, Elda. She can hear Elda’s thoughts. When she knows Elda hoping and praying
4 What did the mother (Elda) keep to remind her of her daughter? Why?
To remind her of her dear daughter, Elda had kept the girl’s clothes. One is an almost worn shawl. Another is a pair of dirty-looking shoes. As Dr. Braun went there on the house call, he saw them in the corner of the room. The shawl was on a hook and the shoes were on the floor. Elda kept them in memory of her beautiful, lovely child. Whenever she looked at the shawl and the shoes, it would seem to her that her daughter was still there with her. Therefore, she kept the shawl and the shoes.
5 Do you think it’s a good idea to keep reminders of lost loved ones as Elda did? Explain.
It could be a good idea to keep reminders of lost loved ones as Elda did. Certain emotions and memories are connected with such reminders. Elda had an only child who died at 7. She felt lonely in her home. But whenever she looked at the shawl and the shoes of her dear daughter, it would seem to her that her daughter was still there with her. Some people may not like to keep such reminders because of fear or painful memories. But Elda’s decision to keep the reminders suggests that memories, whether sweet or painful, are better than no memories. They are companions in loneliness.
6 If the doctor was too tired to eat or write, why was he not too tired to go to see the sick woman?
Although the doctor was too tired to eat or write, he was ready to go to see the sick woman because a little girl came to get him. He saw it as his primary duty as a doctor to save a patient’s life. He did not care what time it was or how far he would have to go. He was a dutiful, kind, sympathetic and honest doctor. He could postpone eating and writing but he could not say no to a patient. Moreover, he was a religious minded person. He was doing whatever God put in front of him. The little girl’s sick mother was waiting for him. Therefore, he was ready to go.
7 Why do you think the little girl walked ahead of the doctor instead of walking with him?
There were two reasons for the girl walking ahead of the doctor instead of walking with him. First, she wanted to take him to her sick mother as soon as possible. She walked ahead so that he would walk faster to catch her. He might not hurry if she walked with him. Moreover, it was raining. The second reason was that she did not want the doctor to know that she was a ghost because he might be afraid to go with her. If she walked with him, it was possible that he could know about her.
8 Why did the doctor have a look of surprise on his face when Elda told him that her little daughter died in September?
The doctor had a look of surprise on his face when Elda told him that her little daughter died in September. It was December, so it had been three months since the girl died. But the girl who had gone to get him had said her mother was sick. If she was telling the truth, it meant she was the ghost of Elda’s dead daughter. Braun looked around the room. The little girl was not there. The shoes and the shawl Elda kept as reminders of her daughter were wet. Braun was surprised because he realized had come with a ghost.
9 Do you think Elda’s hoping and praying had anything to do with the doctor’s coming to see her?
Elda’s hoping and praying had a connection with the doctor’s coming to see her. These two things were connected by the little girl went to call the doctor. Being the ghost of Elda’s dead daughter, she knew her sick mother needed immediate help. With her special power as a ghost, the girl knew that Elda was hoping and praying for god to send a doctor. To fulfill her wish, the girl went to Dr. Braun because she knew that he was kind enough to come to see Elda even at that hour of the night.
10 Who is Dr. Emil Braun? How old is he when he visits Elda?
OR, Write a paragraph describing Dr. Braun.
Dr. Emil Braun is a famous 67-year-old German surgeon. He works in a hospital in Berlin and lives in a flat with his wife. Braun is a dutiful, kind, sympathetic and honest doctor. He is ready to go even on a cold, raining night. He is hard-working. Though tired after hours of doing and supervising operations, he is still making notes while eating dinner. Braun is also very experienced. He knows Elda is suffering from pneumonia as soon as he sees her. He has much patience. The girl walks too fast ahead of him and does not let him catch her. But he still goes after her.
It is said in the story that Braun started his practice 40 years earlier. He was 27 years old then. From this information, we can calculate that Dr. Braun is 67 years old when he visits Elda in 1903.
11 What are the two possible explanations of who the girl was who came to fetch the doctor?
There could be two explanations about the girl who came to fetch Dr. Braun. The first is a natural, believable explanation. This is based on Elda’s interpretation about who could have gone to fetch the doctor. The girl could be a neighbour who knew about Elda’s condition. To bring the doctor, she told a lie: her own mother was sick. Otherwise, he might not come as easily. She went ahead of him to avoid his possible questions. Finally, she disappeared when her mission was finished.
The second is supernatural explanation. It seems more possible as it is based on what Dr. Braun discovers when he goes with the girl. When he sees the patient, he recognizes her as his former staff Elda. After talking to her, he comes to know that Elda’s daughter has died three months before. But the little girl had introduced herself as the daughter of the sick woman. Elda shows him the same shoes and shawl like the ones the girl was wearing. When Braun sees that the shoes and shawl are wet, he is sure that the little girl must be the ghost of Elda’s dead child. She had come to save her mother’s life.
12 What did Dr. Braun discover when he went with the girl who came to his house?
Dr. Braun discovered that the girl was a ghost and that the sick woman was Elda, whom he knew. The girl took him to an old building and showed him a room. She said her mother was inside. When he saw the women, he recognized her as Elda, who had once worked in his hospital. She had gone to her village. But she came back after her only daughter died three months ago. Hearing this, Braun was surprised. The little girl had said her mother was sick. It meant that she might be the ghost of Elda’s daughter. When Braun felt the shoes and shawl Elda kept as the reminders of her girl, they were wet. This confirmed his doubt that she was the ghost and had come for her sick mother.
13 Compare and contrast between the stories “The Lost Doll” and “The House Call”.
Both stories “The Lost Doll” and “The House Call” have supernatural elements and both talk about the intimate relationship between children and parents. But the settings of the stories, the nature of major characters and the supernatural aspects are different.
Both stories talk about parent-children relationship. Roberto and Rosa have an only child, Carmen. Elda also has only one daughter. And both girls die of illness at a very early age. But “The Lost Doll” is a story from a Colombia, South American country. The characters live in a village and are farmers. There are both father and mother. But “The House Call” is a story from Germany, a European country. The characters live mainly in the city and they have jobs. Dr. Braun is a surgeon and Elda has worked as a hospital staff. Her we have only the mother, Elda.
Both stories are supernatural. They talk about something which is difficult to believe in this age of science. In both stories the dead child comes back. But the way they return is different. Carmen dies and is reborn a year later as Evangeline as the daughter of the same parents. It is proved when she shows them where she had put the doll which they thought had lost. On the other hand, the little girl in “The House Call” is not reborn. She appears as ghost three months after her death. It is proved when Dr. Braun sees the same clothes worn by her and feels they are wet.
FEAR
1 Narrate/Summarize/Retell the story of “Fear”.
OR, Tell the story “Fear” in your own words.
“Fear” is a story from Mexico about a man who almost gets mad with the fear of being robbed. Armando Gonzalez was a simple, hard-working man. He had a wife and six children, and his mother-in-law also stayed with them. He did not earn much by working at a shoe shop. His wife also worked. They had saved 50,000 rupees and were going to buy a house. Armando went to the bank to take out the money. But he feared that people would follow him if they know he was carrying a large amount. His nervousness increased every minute. He mistakenly put on his hat backwards. Many people looked at him. One heavy man looked at him twice. When the teller handed him the money, Armando hurried out of the bank. He was sweating all over and his heart was beating faster. Seeing a heavy man next to him at the bus stop, he suspected this man as a robber. He saw three boys talking with the heavy man in the bus. He took them as his helpers. He thought of a plan to escape. He stopped the bus and jumped out. But the three boys also got off. Armando found himself alone in that place. As the boys came toward him, he started running and shouting for help. Seeing this, the boys came after him. He ran faster and fell many times. Finally, he was unable to get up and run. He cried and begged the boys not to rob him because he had earned the money honestly. The boys asked if they could help him. He inquired about them. Actually, they were students who had come to the city for a football tournament. But they had got on a wrong bus. The heavy man told them which bus to take. After the misunderstanding was cleared, Armando came back to the street with the boys.
2 Sketch the character of Armando Gonzalez.
Armando Gonzalez is a poor, simple, honest and hard-working man with a big family. He seems to be a timid person who feels insecure thinking that others might hurt him. He works in a shoe shop and earns a little. It has taken him twenty years to save up to 50000. He seems to have never carried a large sum of money in his life. He becomes nervous and unnecessarily afraid that someone might rob him. He is a common man but the extreme fear of being robbed makes him an abnormal personality.
3 Why did Armando think that everyone in the bank was watching him? What was the truth?
OR, Why were the people looking at/watching Armando?
OR, Why did people have a second look at Gonzalez?
Because of his fear, Armando suspected that everyone in the bank was watching him. But they were looking at him because he had put on his hat backwards. He thought they were interested in the large sum of money he was taking out. He was nervous every minute when the bank teller counted the money. As a result, he mistakenly put on his hat backwards. This was the truth behind the people watching him. Some even had a second look at Gonzalez. They would not have watched him if he had not made this silly mistake.
4 What was Armando going to do with the money?
Armando was going to buy a house for his family with the money. He and his wife had saved up to 50,000 in twenty years. They were living in a small three-room rented house. He had six children and his mother-in-law also lived with them. Thus, the big family had lived uncomfortably for years. It had been their dream to have a house of their own. Now they had enough money, he was going to buy a house that would be bigger and more comfortable than their rented house.
5 What made Armando think that he was going to be robbed?
OR, Why is Armando afraid of the heavy man on the bus?
His own fear and other people’s activities made Armando think that he was going to be robbed. Armando was afraid of the heavy man on the bus because of his appearance and activities. When Armando was in the bank, people looked at him because he was wearing his hat on backwards. A heavy man looked at him twice. He thought the man knew how much money he had taken out and feared he would rob him. At the bus stop, seeing another heavy man standing next to him, he thought this was the same man in the bank and was following him. When the man put his hand in his pocket, Armando thought he was checking his gun. Finally, the heavy man got on the same bus after Armando. This made Armando more afraid of the heavy man. He thought he was going to be robbed.
6 If someone had told him that his hat was on backwards when he left the bank, do you think that Armando would have felt better?
Armando would not have felt better even if someone had told him that his hat was on backwards. He would suspect that person. He was suspicious of everyone. He was afraid of being robbed all the time. He felt nervous when the bank teller counted the notes. He became more afraid when he saw people watching him and a heavy man looking at him twice. He suspected the man standing next to him at the bus stop. Therefore, if he was told about his hat, he would take it as an excuse to come near him.
7 As Armando waited for the bus in the street, why wasn’t he happy about buying a new house?
Armando was not happy about buying a new house as he waited for a bus in the street. He was carrying the savings of his whole life. He feared that anyone could rob him and snatch his dream house. People had looked at him in the bank. Therefore, he was feeling uneasy. If he was robbed, it would take him the rest of his life to save the 50,000 rupees he was carrying. For the new house, he had taken out all the money. But he was not happy because of the fear of being robbed.
THE LOVING MOTHER
1 Narrate/Summarize/Retell the story of “The Loving Mother”.
OR, Tell the story “The Loving Mother” in your own words.
“The Loving Mother” is a supernatural story from Japan about a surprise night visit of a woman at a pharmacy. Soji Sakota, a pharmacist, owned a drugstore. His wife had died, and he lived alone in a room at the back of the store. One night he was working late to prepare his annual report when he heard a knock on the door. He ignored it twice. But it came louder, and he went to the door. He looked through the window and saw a young woman. She looked nervous. He did not open the door but told her to come in the morning. She asked him in a begging voice to help her. This led him to believe that it was an emergency. Therefore, he let her in. there was something abnormal about her. The most surprising of all was her request. She asked for a candy for her baby. She paid for it and left quickly. This strange visit occurred two more times. Therefore, Sakota asked a friend to hide in the room and take some photos of the woman. But when they developed the film, the photos showed everything in the room except the lady. They followed her the next night. But she noticed them. However, she did not seem to mind. Rather she led them to an old building and disappeared in a room. As they entered the room, they saw the lady fast asleep on the bed. Next to her was a baby eating the candy. Sakota went closer, observed her and found that found she was dead.
2 Do you think something like “The Loving Mother” could really happen?
We may not believe that something like “The Loving Mother” could really happen in this age. But it might be possible because many such stories have come from different parts of the world.
This is a story from Japan, which is now a highly advanced country. If such a story comes from such a country, there could be some truth in it. There are only two points in the story that suggest the woman could be a ghost. First, the woman is seen by Sakota and his friend but her picture is absent in the photo while other things are present. This could be possible because machines sometimes make unbelievable mistakes. Second, Sakota and his friend find the dead body of the same woman they follow. If we cut out this scene, the story is perfectly possible.
We have other supernatural stories like this from other modern countries. “The Recurring Dream” is from England. “The House Call” is from Germany. We have also heard many surprising stories in our country about the appearance of spirits after death. It could be possible that some very strong desire remains unfulfilled when a person dies. Until it is fulfilled, the dead person’s spirit may not be at rest. In this story, the mother loves her child so much that she haunts Sakota to lead him to the place where the baby is alone.
3 Show the points of similarity and difference between the two stories ‘The House Call’ and ‘The Loving Mother’.
Both stories “The House Call” and “The Loving Mother” have supernatural elements and both talk about the intimate relationship between children and parents. But the settings of the stories, the status of major characters and ghosts are different.
Both stories talk about parent-children relationship. The woman who visits Mr. Sakota’s pharmacy has a baby. Elda also has only one daughter. In both stories we have persons from the medical field and they live in cities. Both stories take place at night. Both Elda and the woman are single mothers. But “The Loving Mother” is a story from Japan, an Asian country. “The House Call” is a story from Germany, a European country. Dr. Braun is a surgeon but Sakota is a pharmacist. Braun lives with his wife. Sakota lives alone as his wife has already died. Also, Braun is older.
Both stories are supernatural. They talk about something which is difficult to believe in this age. In both stories the dead persons come back. But they and their appearance are quite different. A little girl is the ghost in “The House Call”. She appears only once and she has come for her mother. Braun knows something about her. But a woman is the ghost in “The Loving Mother”. She comes to Sakota’s pharmacy many times to buy a candy for her baby. Sakota does not find anything about her. There are only clothes of the girl but Sakota finds the woman’s dead body.
4 Describe the woman who visited Mr. Sakota’s pharmacy late at night.
The woman who visited Mr. Sakota’s pharmacy looked simple but abnormal and came with a strange request. She was quite thin, but her skin had an unnatural glow. Her hair was long and black, but it was not combed or arranged properly. She wore a simple dress, but it was almost worn. When she looked at Sakota, he was afraid because her eyes were strange. They seemed not looking at him but through him. In short, she looked as if she did not belong to this world. She said she had a baby and had come for a candy. This was a strange request at late night.
5 Do you think taking a picture of the woman was a good idea? Explain.
Taking a picture of the woman could be one way to find out something about her. She came at midnight and left in such a hurry that Mr. Sakota did not get a chance to talk to her to find something more about her. She was as strange as her request for a candy at midnight. She did not tell anything about herself or her child. Mr. Sakota also thought it would be rude to directly ask her for details. In that situation, taking a photo was a good idea because he could observe her physical features more closely and carefully. If he had the photo, he could also show it to others to find out if they know anything about her.
6 If you had been Mr. Sakota, would you have been afraid to let this woman in at midnight?
I would have been afraid like Mr. Sakota to let this woman in at midnight. Because men are attracted towards women, women can be used to rob them. And when a woman comes alone to a man at night time, her purpose could be to call him out so that he could be robbed. If I had been Mr. Sakota, I would have done exactly what he did. Before letting her in, I would have made sure that there was no danger. But I would have done something more. I would have asked for a detailed introduction and asked some questions to confirm if she was lying or telling the truth.
UNIT 2: MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN
MY HEART LEAPS OF WHEN I BEHOLD
William Wordsworth
1 Summarize the poem.
The poem expresses the poet’s feelings about nature. He recollects a childhood experience and praises the beauty of nature seen in the rainbow. As a child, he used to be very happy whenever he saw a rainbow in the sky. Now he is a grown-up man and still feels the same joy in the presence of the rainbow. He hopes this happiness will continue in his old age and to his death. The poet puzzles us with a paradoxical remark “The child is father of the man”. He means that childhood is past time out of which the present state of manhood is born. It depends on childhood experiences and influences what type of man a person becomes. Finally, the poet wishes his remaining days of life to be full of deep respect for nature. He places nature as an equal to God and religion. He feels that nature is the visible form of god. He seems to suggest that nature is nothing but the signature of god.
2 What is the main theme/central idea of the poem ?
OR, Interpret the poem in any way you like.
The main theme or central idea of the poem is man’s inseparable relationship with nature. Nature is represented by the rainbow in the poem. The rainbow still gives pleasure to the poet as it did when he was a child. This is only one example. There are other beautiful things in the natural world that please our senses. There are birds with multicoloured feathers, animals with attractive patterns of colour and flowers and fruits of a variety of colours, shapes and sizes. But nature not only pleases our senses. It is also the source of our livelihood and survival. That is why the poet respects nature.
The poet also talks about the importance of childhood impressions in the formation of personality. What we become depends on the type of environment in which we grow up. Present is born out of past. Similarly childhood experiences have long-lasting effect on a man’s life. That is why childhood is called the cornerstone of life.
3 In one sentence summarize the poem.
Beginning with a recollection of a happy childhood experience of watching a rainbow in the sky, the now grown-up poet still feels the same pleasure in the presence of the rainbow, hopes this will continue to his old age and reaches a conclusion that childhood experiences play a very important role in shaping a man’s personality, and he finally wishes the remaining days of his life to be full of as much love and respect for nature as he has for god and religion.
4 Why does the heart of the poet leap up when he sees a rainbow in the sky?
The poet’s heart leaps up when he sees a rainbow in the sky because he is a lover of nature. This love began in his childhood. Generally children are attracted to colours. The rainbow is particularly beautiful because of the several colours it contains. Things with multiple colours look more beautiful than things with a single colour. The poet seems to have grown up in a place where he often got the chance to see a rainbow. This habit from his childhood has led to his attachment with the rainbow.
5 What does the poet see between nature and man?
The poet sees a close, intimate relationship between nature and man. He talks about his happy childhood experience of seeing a rainbow. Whenever he saw the colourful rainbow as a child, he would be happy. There are other natural scenes which are as beautiful. In addition to pleasing our senses, nature plays a very important role in our life. We are ourselves a part of nature. We survive on different natural resources. But nature also needs humans to appreciate and use it properly. Thus, nature and man are interdependent as well.
6 “The child is father of the man”. Do you agree with the statement?
OR, What is the paradox in “The Child is Father of the Man”? Explain.
The statement “The child is father of the man” is a paradox. It sounds contradictory and impossible in its literal meaning. But it contains truth and wisdom if we analyze it. Generally father means the biological fact of being the cause of the birth of a child. But father also means one who gives birth to something, from whom something begins. The poet is talking about childhood and manhood. At present he is a man, so childhood means his past. The present is the outcome of the past. Therefore, the child is father of the man because man is born out of childhood experiences, impressions and learning.
7 What does the poet mean by natural piety?
By natural piety, the poet means the same level of love and respect for nature as he has for god and religion. Talking about the childhood experience of enjoying the beauty of the rainbow, the poet concludes that nature is the never-ending source of joy and happiness for humans. Practically speaking, our life is impossible without the natural resources available around us. Therefore, the poet suggests us to remember this fact everyday and feel grateful toward nature. He wishes his remaining days of life to be bound by natural piety, to be full of deep respect for nature.
SPEAKING OF CHILDREN…
Barbara Holland
1 Does this essay speak in favour or against having many children?
This essay speaks in favour of single child and against having many children. The writer talks about difficulties and problems of having many children. She contrasts the life style of parents of a single child with that of parents of plural children. Talking with personal experience, she clearly shows the miserable condition of parents who have more than one child.
The reason behind preferring single child is the many advantages. Because a single child is outnumbered, parents can brainwash the child and shape his/her personality. They can take him/her wherever they go. They can teach good manners and how to do many house works so that he/she can help them in need. Having one child is just like having an extra thing. With one child, the parents can have much private time. Naturally, the less children there are, the less expense there will be.
In contrast, having many children is problematic. Plural children bring a counter culture. They develop a very different way of life. Things are often misplaced and scattered. Children make a lot of mess. Parents cannot think of going out and cancel holidays because the father and mother cannot go alone. It means taking the whole family. If they ever go out, it is to places like Disneyland for children. They have to change the routine of their life for the children. They have to cook and eat early. They have to keep unnecessary relation with people whose children are their children’s classmates. Most of the income goes on feeding, clothing, educating and fulfilling other unnecessary demands of the children.
The parents of plural children find it hard to have a private time. In the context of Western countries, it is important for a couple to have private time for a happy and healthy married life. But parents of plural children frequently get interrupted. The writer has faced the same situation in her home. Whenever she and her husband are having a talk, her two children make many excuses to disturb them. They shout, make noise and come with nonsense questions. Because there is no time at home, she and her husband phone each other in their office time if they have something important to communicate.
2 Summarize the main idea of the essay in one paragraph.
The main idea of the essay is that it is better to have a single child. The essayist tries to convince us by talking about the advantages of a single child and difficulties of having more than one. (+advantages of single child + problems of plural children)
3 How does the author try to convince that it is better to have one child than several children?
By describing the advantages of having a single child and problems created by plural children, the author tries to convince us that it is better to have one child rather than have several children. She presents her own case as a proof of the problems caused by more than one child. (+ advantages of single child + problems of plural children)
4 Write a newspaper article on the advantages of having a single child.
It is often said that small family is a happy family. Such a family requires no more than two children at the most. Single child is better so that the parents can handle it easily. Having a single child has advantages like a peaceful home environment, order and cleanliness, less expenses on unnecessary things, a well-behaved child, easily manageable outings, and enough private time for the couple.
The advantages of having a single child will be clearer if we compare a single-child home environment with a plural-children home. Because a single child is outnumbered, parents can brainwash the child and shape his/her personality. They can take him/her wherever they go. They can teach good manners and how to do many house works so that he/she can help them in need. Having one child is just like having an extra thing. With one child, the parents can have much private time. Naturally, the less children there are, the less expense there will be.
5 Argue why child spacing may be important for a happy family.
For a happy family, the parents should not have more than child. If they need two, child spacing becomes important. If there is a gap of four to five years between the births of two children, parents can have the advantages of having a single child. Because a single child is outnumbered, parents can brainwash the child and shape his/her personality. They can take him/her wherever they go. They can teach good manners and how to do many house works so that he/she can help them in need. Having one child is just like having an extra thing. With one child, the parents can have much private time. Naturally, the less children there are, the less expense there will be.
By the time the second child is born, parents will have taught all the manners to the first child. Moreover, this child will be excited about the arrival of a sibling and will help them in bringing up the second child.
LOOK AT A TEACUP
Patricia Hampl
The writer tells the story of her mother’s life and links it with history. Her mother got married in 1939, the year when the Second World War started. She was marrying an American who was from Czechoslovakia like herself. As a memory of her country, she bought the teacup made in Czechoslovakia. She has spent years as a typical wife. She thinks marriage and the family are important for women. Now she has given her cups to the writer, who is her daughter. But she does not tell much about the past. Therefore, the writer studies the teacup. The production of such cups was discontinued after the war started. The women of the writer’s generation are angry at the destruction caused by the war. They reject old traditions like marrying and having family because they take it as a kind of slavery.
1 Discovering the meaning of the essay depends on discovering the thread of associations. Discuss.
To discover the meaning of the essay, we need to discover the thread of associations. The essay talks about many things: the life of the writer’s mother, views about marriage and family, women’s position in society, mother-daughter relationship, and the consequences of Second World War. All these aspects are linked together by means of the teacup.
By means of the teacup, the writer talks about mother-daughter relationship. Hampl and her mother are connected by the teacup because her mother has given her the cup.
The teacup is also associated with marriage and family. The mother bought the cup when she was going to marry. She is giving the cup to her daughter to suggest her to follow her example by getting married and having a family and children.
Through the teacup, the essay talks about two types of women. The first type follows traditions like the mother. The second type is modern like the daughter who challenges and questions tradition.
The cup also has a link with history and politics. As an art object, the teacup stands in contrast to wars, which destroy human lives, countries and cultures. The teacup remains but the country in which it was made is no more.
2 Describe the ‘Teacup’.
The teacup is thin and the level of tea in it can be measured from outside. It is pale green in colour. There are thin gold lines inside and outside the cup. The lines inside have become faint due to constant use. Czechoslovakia is written on the bottom of the cup because it was made there. The most important thing about the cup is that there are flowers inside the cup. They are different in colour, shape and position but they create a pattern. They look as if someone had scattered a bouquet over the cup, and they had fallen there. They don’t seem to be pasted but caught in their falling movement.
3 Explain the teacup’s association with marriage, mother-daughter relationship.
The writer associates the teacup with marriage and mother-daughter relationship. Her mother has given her the cup. In doing so, she is indirectly handing over traditional values like marrying, doing the duties of a wife, having a family and raising children. The daughter rejects these values although she accepts the cup. In spite of the differences, the relationship between them is very friendly. She gets her mother into all kinds of talks and they frankly discuss many things. The mother does not impose her values on the daughter. Instead she claims that she can understand the new generation’s views.
4 Write Hampl’s views on marriage.
OR, Explain the daughter’s attitude to marriage.
The daughter does not want to marry and have a family. Her mother tries to convince her about the importance of marriage and family for a woman. But work is more important for her. And there is a reason behind this. Work means equal right and opportunity that women did not have in the past. They were no more than unpaid domestic servants. But a modern woman is free and independent and does not need the husband’s name for social identity and security. She can be a mother without marriage. Thus, the daughter challenges the institution of marriage.
5 Describe what the essay/Patricia Hampl tells us about women and marriage.
The essay/Patricia Hampl tells us about two types of women and their views towards marriage. The mother is a typical woman in male-dominated society. She follows traditional values and considers marriage and family important for a woman. She can work and spend her whole life inside the four walls of her house caring for her family. On the other hand, the writer represents the voice of modern women who want equal rights, freedom and independent status. They question and reject traditional values like marrying. But they could have relationships as long as they like. The writer does not like marriage and decides to remain single.
6 What does this essay tell us about mother-daughter relationship?
The essay tells us about mother-daughter relationship through Hampl and her mother. They hold different attitudes towards life but they are like friends. Her mother holds traditional values and sees the importance of marriage and family for a woman. But Hampl is modern and against marrying and having a family. In spite of their differences, their relationship is very friendly. The daughter gets her mother in all kinds of talks. They frankly talk and discuss about many things. The mother understands her daughter and does not impose her values on the daughter. She knows time has changed.
7 What does this essay tell us about the importance of family?
The essay tells us about the importance of family through the views held by the mother and the daughter. Being a typical woman in male-dominated society, family is important for the mother. She finds happiness and satisfaction in caring for her children, husband and the whole family. An embrace from her husband is enough to make her happy for many days. But for the daughter, work is the most important thing in life, not the family. She wants freedom and independence. Marrying and having a family is like falling into a kind of domestic slavery because it limits women inside four walls.
8 How does Hampl see herself and her mother connected by the teacup?
Hampl and her mother are connected by the teacup, which her mother has given her. Hampl reads her mother’s history in the cup. It takes her to her mother’s past and to the country, Czechoslovakia, from where her mother came. The mother had bought it as a memory of her country and its art. By giving the cup, the mother is trying to hand over tradition and culture. Her aim is to indirectly suggest her daughter to follow her example – marry, have children and hand them her things in the same way. But Hampl studies the cup in detail and tries to read history in it.
9 Explain, “The cup is a detail, a small uncharred finger from the mid-century bonfire”.
The description of the cup as a small uncharred finger from the mid-century bonfire suggests the damage and destruction in the Second World War. The mid-century bonfire indicates the Second World War which lasted from 1939 to 1945. The cup the writer talks about has been given to her by her mother. It was made in Czechoslovakia, which was attacked during the war. It faced much destruction. That is why the writer says the art of making cups with a beautiful pattern of flowers was discontinued because the county was discontinued. However, some of those cups had been exported to America before the war. That was how the mother came to buy that cup in America. Thus, the finger (the cup) remained ‘uncharred’ although the body (the country) was burnt down. In the hand of the writer, the cup becomes a detail, telling her the story Czechoslovakia. The pattern of flowers inside the cup looks so real that it looks as if someone scattered a bouquet over it and the flowers fell in it. She links this falling of flowers with falling human bodies, falling bombs and falling countries.
10 What is the relationship among falling flowers and teacups, falling bodies and beds, and the falling of bombs unto women and falling countries?
The writer establishes an association among different types of falling. The relationship between falling flowers and teacups is an artistic one. The flowers inside the Czechoslovakian teacup look so real and beautiful as if someone had scattered a bouquet over the cup and the flowers stuck there. The relationship between falling bodies and beds refers to newly married couples having physical relation in beds. Many people had quickly married before going to the Second World War, fearing that they would be killed. Falling of bombs onto women and falling countries clearly mean the destruction and damage caused by the war. Not only individual people were killed but even whole countries were destroyed. The writer contrasts creative act with destructive act with the use of the same word ‘fall’.
11 What do you mean by “Many things fell that year”?
“Many things fell that year” means many things were destroyed in 1939, the year when the Second World War started. Here ‘fell’ means not just the falling movement; it also means some kind of damage and loss of value. The writer talks about many types of fall. Flowers seem to be falling inside the Czechoslovakian teacup because they look so real. Because of the firings and bombings, human bodies fell dead in the streets. Countries fell, which means they faced destruction. With the falling countries, their art and culture, like the making of teacups, also came to end. Faith in traditional values like marrying and having family also fell.
A WORN PATH
Eudora Welty
This is the story of an old Negro woman named Phoenix Jackson, who frequently takes a long difficult journey to the town to pick up a supply of medicine for her sick grandson.
1 Describe/sketch the character of Phoenix Jackson.
Phoenix Jackson is a poor old Negro woman who lives in a valley far away from the town. She has wrinkles in her face. Her head is covered with a red rag and she is wearing a long dress. She is weak and afraid of animals on the way. But she is also strong-willed and determined to reach her destination. She is very loving because she is taking the long trip to the town only to bring a soothing medicine for her grandson’s throat problem. She has a sense of morality. She admits to herself that she is stealing the coin which has fallen out of the hunter’s pocket.
2 Describe the journey Phoenix makes to the town of Natchez.
OR, Trace the various obstacles Old Phoenix comes up against between the Valley and the wagon track, and describe how she deals with each.
Phoenix Jackson makes a long difficult journey to the town of Natchez to pick up a supply of medicine for her grandson. Between the Valley and the wagon track, Old Phoenix comes up against several obstacles. She walks through the forest, crosses a log placed over a stream, creeps under a barbed-wire fence, and walks through a cornfield. Overcoming the obstacles, she reaches the town.
First of all, it is a cold December morning and she is alone. She has to walk through a forest and she might encounter wild animals. She walks up and down a hill, and at one point her dress is caught in a bush. With much care and patience, she frees herself.
After this, she crosses a single log placed over a stream. She calls this a trial because she could fall off. Afraid, she shuts her eyes, lifts her long skirt, levels her cane and crosses the log. She feels tired and rests for a while.
Then she has to go through a major obstacle: a barbed-wire fence. There she has to creep and crawl like a baby. She spreads her knees and stretches her hands to avoid getting hurt and caught. Then she passes through a maze-like field of corn taller than herself. There she mistakes a scarecrow for a ghost. It frightens her very much. But then she dares to reach out her hand. She finds a coat and nothing else and realizes her mistake. At last, she comes to a wagon track, which leads her to the road.
While walking along the road, a dog suddenly appears and comes to her. She tries to hit it with her cane but falls into a ditch. She lies there because she cannot come out by herself. After some time, a hunter comes along and helps her out. Finally, she reaches the town and finds the clinic where she gets the charity medicine for her boy.
3 “A Worn Path” is a story of unconscious heroism of Phoenix Jackson. Discuss.
OR, How does Phoenix Jackson show unconscious heroism to overcome the obstacles that come across during her journey?
“A Worn Path” is a story of unconscious heroism of an old black lady Phoenix Jackson. Heroism includes acts of adventure and risk taking and qualities like courage, bravery, strong will power and determination. We find these very qualities in Phoenix. Her heroism is proved by the long, difficult journey she takes. For a person of her age, the various obstacles she comes across and overcomes are no less than climbing Mt. Everest. (+ obstacles and crossing them)
4 Describe two obstacles Old Phoenix comes up against on her way to the hospital and how she deals with them.
The two main obstacles that Phoenix comes up against on her way to the hospital are a barbed-wire fence and a large dog. After crossing the forest, Old Phoenix finds a barbed-wire fence. There she has to creep and crawl like a baby. She spreads her knees and stretches her hands to avoid getting hurt and caught. While walking along the road, a dog suddenly appears and comes to her. She tries to hit it with her cane but falls into a ditch. She lies there because she cannot come out by herself. After some time, a hunter comes along and helps her out.
5 Why is Phoenix Jackson taking a long trip to town?
OR, What was the purpose of Phoenix Jackson’s trip to town?
Phoenix Jackson is taking a long trip to town to pick up a supply of medicine for her sick grandson. He had mistakenly swallowed something that damaged his throat. The damage to his throat never fully heals. It often swells shut, and he cannot swallow things. It becomes difficult even to breathe. Phoenix cannot see him in pain. They are the only two members left in their family. It is out of love for her grandson that she faces the trial of the journey to town every time it is necessary.
6 Why does Phoenix take the coin?
OR, [What is the meaning of the episode in which Phoenix steals the nickel?]
[The episode in which Phoenix steals the nickel is meaningful because we come to know that she has a sense of morality. And this knowledge does not offend our sense of honesty. We sympathize with her.] Phoenix picks the coin that falls from the pocket of the hunter so that she can get something to cheer up her sick grandson. The hunter has helped her out of the ditch into which she has fallen, but she takes his money. She herself is ashamed to do it. As a bird passes by, she thinks god is watching her while stealing. But she is not a thief. She has no evil intentions. She is not taking it for herself. After all, that coin does not make much difference for the hunter. Moreover, he says he would give her money if he had some. It means that coin was for her. If she did not pick it, someone else might.
7 Why does Phoenix keep talking to herself? What do her monologues add to the total portrait of her?
Phoenix keeps talking to herself to expresses how feels on the way. We come to know many things about her nature and character. She speaks to her surroundings to warn away animals. It is difficult for her to walk all the way because of old age. Another function of her monologue is to express the pain she feels in her old body. She sounds weak but determined. She is very loving because she is taking the journey for her grandson. She has a sense of morality when we hear her say she is stealing the coin which fell out of the hunter’s pocket. She uses non-standard language used by the Black community.
8 What significance can you attach to the fact that the journey takes place at Christmas time?
It is significant that the journey takes place in December at Christmas time. Christmas is celebrated in memory of Christ. It is considered his birthday. Christ is the symbol of love, kindness and sacrifice. Old Phoenix is making a long difficult journey full of obstacles. She makes this trip out of kindness and love for her only grandson, who is sick and dying. Another significance of Christmas is the gift aspect. Phoenix is carrying a great gift in the form of medicine. The medicine she brings may not save the boy but it will lessen his pain, offer him some relief and delay his death. Most importantly, it gives him hope: the greatest of gifts. Christ himself has given us the hope that we will be saved if we have faith.
THE THREE DAY BLOW
Earnest Hemingway
1 What do Bill and Nick talk about?
Nick and Bill talk about several topics of their common interest and some personal affairs. They talk about drink, baseball, books and writers, fishing, hunting, their fathers and Nick’s love affair. After they enter the cottage, they drink whisky and talk about its taste. Then they talk about a recent baseball game in which one team faced a shameful loss because the other team had best players. Then they talk about their favourite writers and the books they have read. One book they discuss is “Forest Lovers”. They wish they could take the writers to fishing with them. The next topic is their fathers. Nick says his father has never taken a drink. Bill reports his father’s suggestion about drinking. Then they discuss Nick’s ended love affair with Marge. After the talk about Marge, Nick feels better. Finally, the boys decide to go out and do some hunting. They hope to meet Bill’s father, who has gone into the forest.
2 The story can be presented in a sequence of seven scenes (excluding the opening exposition). Can you find them?
The story can be broken down into a sequence of scenes. Each scene is related to a particular topic Nick and Bill talk about. The opening exposition describes the weather condition and Nick’s walk through the orchard and up the hill to Bill’s cottage. They meet, exchange greetings, comment on the weather and go into the cottage. Excluding this exposition, the story can be divided into seven scenes.
The first scene begins with Bill’s proposal to have a drink. They drink whisky and talk about its taste. Bill suggests Nick to take off his shoes and warm his feet. He brings him a pair of socks. In the second scene, they talk about a recent baseball game in which one team faced a shameful loss because the other team had bought best players. In the next scene, they talk about their favourite writers and the books they have read. One book they discuss is “Forest Lovers”. Then they talk about their fathers. Nick’s father is a doctor and Bill’s father is a painter. Nick says his father has never taken a drink. Bill reports his father’s suggestion about drinking: to avoid becoming a drunkard, they should drink from opened bottles and should not open new bottles. In the next scene, they put a big log in the fire to keep it burning. Then they drink more alcohol and are almost drunk. The sixth scene is made up of the talk about Nick’s ended love affair with Marge. Nick becomes emotional at the mention of Marge. He had planned to find a job and earn enough to marry her. But he didn’t like her mother and stepfather and was confused about whether to continue the relationship. Bill is happy about Nick’s ended affair. After the talk Nick feels better as if a heavy load is released from his mind. In the final scene, they decide to go out. They take small guns for hunting. They hope to meet Bill’s father in the forest.
3 Discuss “The Three Day Blow” as a dramatic story.
“The Three Day Blow” is a dramatic story because it is more like a drama than a story. There is no actual story. Most of the story is told through the conversation between Nick and Bill. They drink alcohol and talk about personal and other affairs. There is more dialogue than physical movements. We hear the characters more than the narrator. The narrator’s role is limited. After the boys meet, the narrator’s role almost ends. Only at times when the conversation stops, the narrator describes the boys’ activities and movements in the cottage like bringing water and alcohol, making fire, etc.
Another dramatic element is minimal setting. The characters are not fully developed. There is no detailed background information about them. We come to know about them only through their conversation. The writer just reports their thoughts and activities and does not give extra comments. The only detailed description is about the weather condition and Nick’s walk up to Bill’s cottage.
Most importantly, the story can be broken down into a sequence of scenes as in a drama. Each scene is related to a different topic Nick and Bill talk about. (+ the ‘seven scenes’)
4 What is the relationship between the three-day blow and Nick’s mental condition?
There is an analogy between the three-day blow and Nick’s mental conflict. His mental condition is like the autumn storm outside. The storm outside is caused by natural cycle. The storm inside his mind is caused by the memory of his broken affair with Marge. Marge had come in his life like the three-day blow and gone away. He remembers how they had planned to get married, visit Italy and have fun. But everything between him and Marge was over like the three day blow that suddenly comes and blows the leaves off the trees. The stormy autumn weather captures Nick’s mental conflict.
5 What has the weather condition to do with the sequence of events?
All the talk between Nick and Bill is caused by the weather condition. It is a cold autumn day and a storm is coming. They sit inside, drink alcohol and talk about personal and other affairs. The most important of these affairs is Nick’s ended relationship with his beloved Marge. Actually, there is an analogy between the three-day blow and Nick’s mental condition. The stormy autumn weather seems suitable to represent the storm of emotions inside Nick’s heart.
6 Describe the setting in which the writer locates his characters.
The writer locates his characters on a cold stormy autumn day. This weather seems suitable to represent the storm of emotions inside Nick’s heart. The rain has just stopped. Nick walks through the orchard. The apples have been picked and the trees are almost bare. Nick is coming to the cottage of his friend Bill. This cottage is important. The story properly begins after the boys enter the cottage because they begin their conversation. Thus, we also enter their minds. After talking about several things, they come out. We also come out of their minds. The autumn wind is blowing and Bill says ‘she’ will blow for three days. This is a symbol that the memory of Marge will haunt Nick.
UNIT 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE POPLAR FIELD
William Cowper
1 Summarize the poem in one paragraph.
The poem describes the changes in his favourite poplar field. He describes the difference in the environment and natural beauty before and after the poplars are felled. As he returns to his dear poplar field after twelve years, the changed scene makes him sad. All the poplars are cut down, and he finds not a single shade to sit in. The musical environment has been ruined. He does not hear the music created by the movement of wind among the leaves. The black bird has fled away to find a safer shelter in a new place. He used to enjoy the melodious song of the blackbird. Now he can hear the song no more. The poplars used to grow along the Ouse River. They are no longer lined up along the river, and he cannot see their beautiful images in the river. They are lying on the ground. They have been made seats. These things remind the poet of the shortness of human life. He compares his life with the condition of those poplar trees. The trees were once strong and straight, but now they are lying on the ground. Similarly, the poet was also handsome and young, but now he has become old and will lie on the ground soon. It means he will die soon. Our life is short but our enjoyments seem to have a shorter life. In fact, we have destroyed our pleasures. He doubts that the poplar field will be full of other grown-up poplars before he dies.
2 Interpret the poem in your own words.
This poem talks about the beauty of nature and the need of nature conservation. The message is expressed through the poet’s feelings towards the poplar field. The poet celebrates the rural scenery but in a nostalgic tone. He fondly remembers the past happiness and pleasures that are no more. He is trying to explain the importance of trees in our life by linking the poplars with human happiness. Our pleasures are perishable and momentary. We are ourselves the cause because we cut down trees carelessly. The beautiful natural environment has been ruined, and there is also destruction of the habitat of birds and animals. Therefore, he appeals for conserving nature.
3 How does the poet plead for a defense of nature conservation through the poem?
OR, How does the poem defend the conservation of nature? Elaborate.
OR, Consider this poem as a defense of nature conservation.
The poet pleads for a defense of nature conservation by describing what things we lose when we cut down trees in large quantities. The first and obvious effect is the destruction of beautiful scenery and pleasing environment. The poet misses many things in the changed poplar field. All the poplars are cut down, and he finds not a single shade to sit in. The musical environment has been ruined. He does not hear the music created by the movement of wind among the leaves. He used to enjoy the melodious song of the blackbird. Now he can hear the song no more. The poplars used to grow along the Ouse River. They are no longer lined up along the river, and he cannot see their beautiful images in the river.
Secondly, we cannot easily restore things once we destroy them. The habitat of wildlife is destroyed. For example, the black bird has fled away to find a safer shelter in a new place. Many species are gradually pushed to extinction. Destruction takes no time but restoration takes a long time. The poet doubts that the poplar field will be full of other new poplars before he dies. Therefore, it is better not to destroy the environment.
4 What lessons do you learn from the poem? Explain.
An important lesson we learn from the poem is that we lose many things when we cut down trees in large quantities. The poet talks about many bad effects of this act. The beautiful natural environment is destroyed. The poet has lost many things in the absence of the poplar trees. He does not find a single shade to sit in. The musical environment has been ruined. He does not hear the music created by the movement of wind among the leaves. He used to enjoy the melodious song of the blackbird. Now he can hear the song no more. The poplars used to grow along the Ouse River. They are no longer lined up along the river, and he cannot see their beautiful images in the river.
The most important lesson is that we cannot easily restore things in nature once we destroy them. Destruction takes no time but restoration takes a long time. The poet doubts that the poplar field will be full of other new poplars before he dies. Therefore, it is better not to destroy the environment.
5 What changes did the poet see in the poplar field when he came back after 12 years?
OR, What does the poet miss when he visits the poplar field after the poplars were cleared/felled?
The poet saw many changes in the poplar field when he came back after 12 years. He misses many pleasing experiences that he used to have in the poplar field. The poplars are cut down, and he finds not a single shade to sit in. The musical environment has been ruined. He does not hear the music created by the movement of wind among the leaves. He used to enjoy the melodious song of the blackbird. Now he can hear the song no more. The poplars used to grow along the Ouse River. They are no longer lined up along the river, and he cannot see their beautiful images in the river. Now the poplars are cleared/felled, he cannot enjoy the scene as he used to.
6 Why do you think the poet has written this poem in the first person?
By writing the poem in the first person, the poet is directly expressing his feelings and opinions at the destruction of the poplar field. This personal approach gives strength to his appeal. We are usually moved and touched by personal stories. In a sad tone, he gives a detail of what things he misses in the changed poplar field: shade to sit in, movement of wind among the leaves, beautiful images in the river and melodious song of the blackbird. He indirectly means that we can feel the same because we miss the same things when trees in our surroundings are cut down.
7 Discuss how the poet links up the idea of the cut down poplars with the end of human life and pleasures.
OR, How is chopping down of trees compared to a man’s life in the poem?
The poet links up the idea of the cut down poplars with the end of human life and pleasures by showing what things we lose when we cut down trees in large quantities. This act of cutting down trees has a bad effect in our life. The poet misses many things in the changed poplar field. All the poplars are cut down, and he finds not a single shade to sit in. The musical environment has been ruined. He does not hear the music created by the movement of wind among the leaves. He used to enjoy the melodious song of the blackbird. Now he can hear the song no more. The poplars used to grow along the Ouse River. They are no longer lined up along the river, and he cannot see their beautiful images in the river.
The poet compares the felled poplars with a man’s life. These poplars remind him of the shortness of human life and pleasures. He compares his life with the condition of those poplar trees. The trees were once strong and straight, but now they are lying on the ground. Similarly, the poet was also handsome and young, but now he has become old and will lie on the ground soon. It means he will die soon. Our life is short but our enjoyments seem to have a shorter life. He doubts that the poplar field will be full again before he dies.
8 Write essay on “living in the country” or on “rural life”.
Country life means life in the village. The environment in village is usually peaceful. Because villages are near forests and natural environment, we can have happy and pleasant life like the one described in the poem “The Poplar Field”. Many things in the poplar field make the poet happy. The poplars provide cool shade to sit in. There is musical environment created by the movement of wind among the leaves. We can enjoy the melodious song of the birds. Unity, cooperation and mutual help can be found in villages.
There are some disadvantages of living in the country. There is lack of enough job opportunities. Many villages are remote and not easily accessible, like those in the hills. Villagers often suffer because of the lack of facilities of higher education, hospitals, transport, communication and advanced technology. The most obvious disadvantage is that people do not get necessary help in the emergency. These things make life hard.
THE NIGHTMARE LIFE WITHOUT FUEL
Isaac Asimov
The essay talks about the situation in the future. It was published as an article in 1977, but it described what would happen in 1997. This is a type of science fiction, and the topic is fuel shortage that the writer thinks is sure. Asimov focuses on the decreasing resources of fuel in the world. He presents a dystopic vision by showing the frightening, terrifying picture of life in the extreme lack of fuel.
1 Drawing ideas from the essay and using your own, discuss what will happen if the fuel resources of the world are finished.
OR, What specific problem does Asimov focus on in his essay?
OR, What kinds of serious problems could a fuel shortage cause?
OR, What will be the disadvantages of the fuel crisis?
The essay describes many serious problems a fuel shortage could cause. The writer offers examples of what will happen if we do not conserve the world’s natural resources. Our life depends on different fuel resources like wood, coal, petroleum products, etc. But with overuse, fuel resources are decreasing. Alternative resources like nuclear energy and solar power are impossible, dangerous or expensive to afford.
The first problem caused by fuel shortage is the discomfort in the absence of enough vehicles. Now we use all kinds of private and public vehicles to go to work, study or on journeys. In the absence of fuel, we will not be able to use those vehicles. We will have to walk. Only a few large vehicles like the railway or subway will be there. And those will be overcrowded. We will have to travel very uncomfortably.
There will be a lack of artificial technology we use to deal with changing climate/seasons. Now we use refrigerators, air conditioners, fans, heaters, etc. to make our life easier. When there is fuel shortage, open air will be the only air conditioning in summer. In rainy days, we will be lucky to have umbrellas, rain coats and boots. We will have to wear sweaters and warm clothes and huddle together in winter.
The condition of suburbs will be worse than the city. People living there depend completely on automobiles for food and other supplies. Without vehicles, they will have to use carts to obtain and distribute food. In rainy days and winter, getting supplies from the city will be more difficult. If roads are closed for many days during snowstorm, the situation will become worse.
There will be no personal luxury because priority should be given to the nation over individual. Until other sources are found, nation must survive. Therefore, the remaining amount of energy or fuel must be used in agriculture and production to fulfill the basic needs. Car factories will produce farm machinery.
Advanced countries like America could manage to survive. The rest of the world will suffer from starvation and death. Children will be the first and easy victim as mothers go dry with no nutritious food. Infant mortality rate will increase. People may manage to survive, but we need enough nutrition for a properly functioning brain. Thus, many people will be brain-damaged due to undernutrition.
Fuel shortage will make our world like it was in the pre-industrial age. It will lead to subsistence farming. We will have to depend on our own muscles and animals for work and carrying loads. We will have to work hard for survival, and life will be very difficult. There will be little or no leisure.
2 According to the author, what will be the advantage of the fuel crisis?
The writer satirically talks about some advantages of fuel crisis. One is clean environment and fresh air. With few vehicles and factories, there will be less smoke and sound and less pollution. Accidents will be no more. Everywhere people will be walking even at late nights. Streets will be full of people, and there will be mutual protection in the crowd. There will be fewer crimes. With no police van, criminals will not identify the police easily. The police will be back to their beats and catch the criminals. There will be peace in the world as the competition in weapon production and nuclear experiments will stop. Only the United States and the Soviet Union will have some planes, ships and tankers. But they will not dare to use such things.
3 Can you guess Asimov’s opinion on the military establishment?
OR, What does Asimov think of the armed forces in general?
Asimov holds a critical opinion on the military establishment. He thinks armed forces consume energy in large quantities. Therefore, he thinks one advantage of fuel crisis is that the armies will be gone. They are expensive to afford. It is all right that every nation has few soldiers and the police to maintain law and order and peace in society. But he thinks the armies, which countries keep to fight wars, are unnecessary. He assumes that when there will be no armies there will be no war.
4 In Asimov’s essay, what is happening in the rest of the world as America struggles without fuel?
In Asimov’s essay, the rest of the world is facing a life-threatening crisis as America struggles without fuel. Poor and technologically backward countries cannot provide enough for their people. People will be starving and dying. Infant mortality rate increase because newborns will have no milk to feed on when mothers themselves go dry in the lack of nutritious food. People might manage to survive and their bodies might function. But many will become permanently brain-damaged caused by undernutrition.
5 What does the author mean when he says, “the suburbs were born with the auto, lived with the auto, and are dying with the auto.”
The author says the suburbs were born with the auto, lived with the auto and are dying with the auto. He means automobiles were the cause of growing suburbs. Now they are causing the decline of those very suburbs. When people from villages and remote areas came to work in cities, they started living at the edge of cities. Thus, suburbs were born. Autos made it easy for them to go to work. Food, medicines, other commodities and basic supplies became easily available because of autos. But fuel shortage has led autos to disappear. And in the absence of autos, it is almost impossible to survive in the suburbs.
UNCHOPPING A TREE
W. S. Merwin
The essay describes the process of reversing the chopping of a tree. The writer tells us step-by-step how to make a felled tree whole again. He gives instructions for putting it upright and making it stand as it was before. But his instructions are impossible to follow, and it makes his style pseudo-directive. This indirectly suggests that we should not chop down trees if we cannot unchop them.
1 Is unchopping a tree possible?
Unchopping a tree is impossible although the writer gives us instructions about how to unchop a tree. This becomes clear when we try to follow his instructions. He tells us to begin by collecting and attaching small parts like leaves and twigs to their original places. We also need to repair the damages to major parts. If the fall was carefully and correctly planned, the damage to the tree could have been minimized.
The next step is to restore other parts of the tree like nests, webs and other such structures made by birds, spiders and others. We should repair and reassemble them. But this is beyond human skill. We also have to correct the surroundings. Neighbouring trees or bushes might have been damaged when we felled the tree. We must repair them and attach their broken parts. We should not attach parts to a wrong tree.
Joining the tree parts is very complicated. We need to use appropriate fixatives to different parts. All the splinters, chips, bark and sawdust of the tree should be attached to their proper places. In this way the tree may become whole again. But we cannot make it alive and functioning again. The sap will not begin to flow inside this reassembled tree.
The major stage in the unchopping process is erecting the tree. For this, we need tackle, which includes ropes, pulleys and other lifting machinery. We also need scaffold, the structure of poles and planks, to restore the tree parts in their respective positions. After all parts are arranged and joined together, the tree trunk is placed on the stump. While raising the tree, we have to handle the trunk, branches and leaves very carefully. The joined parts may break.
Finally, we remove the tackle and scaffolding piece by piece to let the tree stand on its own. The tree may not endure the wind or motions of the cloud. But we have to leave it there and go to other trees. We have to repeat the same unchopping process for all the trees we have chopped down. We must put everything back. But this is completely impossible.
2 What is Merwin implying by asking the reader to un-chop the tree? Discuss his plead against deforestation.
OR, What does the essay suggest about conservation and against deforestation?
This essay speaks for conservation and against deforestation. By asking the reader to unchop the cut down tree, Merwin is trying to say that we are destroying ourselves by destroying the natural world. Our life totally depends on nature. And this destruction cannot be reversed. There would be no harm in chopping down the trees if unchopping was possible. Because this is impossible, we should not cut down trees unnecessarily. By describing the impossible task of unchopping a tree, the essay gives us a message: if we cannot unchop a tree, we have no right to chop it down. It suggests us to preserve the environment by preserving trees. We might be able to join all the parts of a felled tree, make it whole again and put it upright with the use of artificial fixatives and machinery. But we cannot give its life back. Complete restoration of the felled tree is impossible. Therefore, we should not destroy the forest indiscriminately. If we really need to cut down a tree, more trees should be planted in its place.
3 Distinguish between the directive parts of the text and any other part. What is the function of the nondirective parts of the text?
The essay can be divided into directive and nondirective parts. The directive parts are made up of imperative sentences. Some of these sentences are either indirect or in the passive. They function as instructions for making a felled tree whole and upright again. For example, the writer says “start with the leaves, the small twigs, and the nests”. The nondirective parts are mainly informative and descriptive. They make it clear that the unchopping process is really impossible. They also show the writer’s attitude, tone and style. For example, he is ironic as he says “if the fall was carefully and correctly planned”.
KEEPING THINGS WHOLE
Mark Strand
1 Summarize the poem in a paragraph.
The poet is thinking deeply about nature, life and society. He considers himself the absent part of a field. He becomes its missing part. It is the case with him everywhere. Wherever he finds himself, he is what is missing from there. He is present and absent at the same time. As he walks, he feels he has parted the air. But then the air moves on to fill the spaces where his body has just been. Everyone has a different purpose in life for moving. The speaker claims his purpose is to keep things whole and complete.
2 Interpret the poem in any way you like.
OR, What is the theme/central idea of the poem?
We can interpret the poem as an appeal for nature conservation and social harmony. The poet says that he wants to keep things whole. He is for wholeness and against division/fragmentation, for conservation and against destruction. We generally view things in parts and fragments. It creates division in life and society as well as in nature. Every part has an equal value to make a whole. Being big or small does not matter. The natural world is made up of different living and non-living things. Our society is made up of different types of people. Whether it is society or nature, wholeness depends on the interdependence and coordination of the different parts. If balance is not maintained and any part is neglected, or destroyed, the whole will be incomplete. The poet asks us to fill the gaps in society as well as in nature to make it whole.
3 How does the poet view himself in the field, in the air and in the backdrop?
In the field, the poet views himself as its absent part. It has been fragmented and some parts are missing. But he will make the field whole. In the air, he seems to be the parting element, but for a short while. As he walks, he parts the air. But as he moves ahead, the air comes to fill the spaces where his body has just been. In the backdrop, he works to bridge all gaps. He claims that he moves to keep things whole. Wherever he is, he is what is missing. He provides the missing parts.
4 What does the last stanza suggest?
The last stanza suggests that we should move, like the poet, to keep things whole. For example, if we pollute air and water, we break their wholeness. To make them whole again, we should have clean air and water. And we should do everything to make them clean. The natural environment is fragmented because we have cut down trees in large quantities and killed many species. We can make it complete and whole again only if we plant more trees and conserve endangered species and let them flourish again. We should preserve the wholeness. This is suggested in the last stanza.
UNIT 4: HUMOUR AND SATIRE
CONCRETE CAT
Dorthi Charles
1 Describe/Justify “Concrete Cat” as a concrete poem.
OR, Interpret the poem “Concrete Cat”.
OR, Give/Write a summary of “Concrete Cat”.
“Concrete Cat” is an example of concrete poem. It tries to create a picture of a cat by using the words for the cat’s body parts in a special way. Concrete poem is made for the eye. Its main concern is with the physical appearance. It presents an object or event on the page. This type of poem is meant to be seen rather than read. It is for the eye, not for the ear. It is very economical in the use of words. We can find these qualities in “Concrete Cat”. The poet is trying to show catness in action by using words and letters in a special way. The cat’s body parts like ears, eyes, mouth, whiskers, paws, tail are written on the page in such a way that we almost see the cat. [+A, Y, U + tail + mouse] for 10 marks
2 What does the poet indicate by capitalizing the A in ear? the Y in eye? the U in mouth? By using spaces between the letters in ‘tail’?
By capitalizing A in ear, Y in eye and U in mouth, the poet creates a humorous and a concrete picture of an alert cat. He is showing catness in action. Capital A in ear indicates the cat’s pointed ears. Capital Y in eye indicates that the cat’s eyes are wide open and eyeballs have become big at the sight of a mouse. Capital U in mouth indicates the cat’s watering tongue ready to taste the mouse. And the use of spaces between the letters in the word ‘tail’ indicates the length of the tail, which the cat is twisting with pleasure.
3 Why is the word ‘mouse’ upside down?
The word ‘mouse’ is upside down to indicate that it is dead. It represents the shape or position of a dead mouse. It has already been killed by the cat. And it is placed behind the cat, which means that a mouse cannot stand upright in front of a cat. The cat seems to be playing with the dead mouse by turning it upside down. It has left the mouse there to see whether or not it is able to get up again and run away.
4 What possible pun might be seen in the cat’s middle stripe?
The pun in the cat’s middle stripe is created as the word ‘stripe’ suggests two different words: ‘stripe’ and ‘tripe’. Pun is a poetic device in which a word creates two meanings in a particular context. It is a play on words. The word ‘stripe’ also contains the word ‘tripe’, which means the stomach lining of an animal used as food. The word stripe is repeated without space. With the white background of the page, the five lines with ‘stripestripestripe’ create the real pattern of stripe on the cat’s body.
5 Would you call this work of art a poem?
This is a work of art like a painting because it has created a picture of a cat. But it is also a poem because the picture is created out of words. Words and letters have played the role of brush and paint. It is a special type of poem called concrete poem. It is made for the eye. It is concerned with the presentation of an object or event. Instead of describing the cat’s activities in poetic lines, the poet is trying to show catness in action by using words and letters in a special way. The cat’s body parts like ears, eyes, mouth, whiskers, paws, tail are written on the page in such a way that we almost see the cat and its activities.
6 Would you call “Concrete Cat” a perfect/proper poem?
“Concrete Cat” is a poem but not in the traditional sense of a perfect poem. Poems are concerned with ideas and emotions and written in lines. But “Concrete Cat” is a special type of poem called concrete poem which is made for the eye. Its main concern is with the presentation of an object or event. Instead of describing the cat’s activities in poetic lines, the poet is trying to show catness in action by using words and letters in a special way. The cat’s body parts like ears, eyes, mouth, whiskers, paws, tail are written on the page in such a way that we almost see the cat and its activities.
OOPS! HOW’S THAT AGAIN?
Roger Rosenblatt
In our daily life, we make many verbal errors. They cause laughter, embarrassment and even negative effect. Mostly such mistakes happen unconsciously. Sometimes we deliberately use them as jokes. The writer discusses various types of verbal mistakes with examples. He is also concerned with the causes of such errors and the reasons behind laughing at them.
1 Into what groups has Rosenblatt organized his numerous examples of verbal missteps?
OR, What are the different types of verbal errors?
Rosenblatt has organized his numerous examples of verbal missteps into four groups: slip of tongue, mistranslation, blooper and spoonerism.
Slip of tongue is the mistake of saying something else instead of what we intend. An example is the mistake made by a businessman as he wished Prince Charles a happy married life on the occasion of his engagement with Lady Diana. But he said Lady Jane, who was an ex-girlfriend of Charles. Similarly, Mr. Ford once mistakenly said that he often watched a particular program on radio.
Mistranslation is a silly mistake caused by the wrong translation of a word in another language. The advertising slogan “Come alive with Pepsi” was mistranslated in German as “Come alive out of Grave with Pepsi”. Similarly, a German president, while welcoming an Indian president, asked “Who are you?” instead of “How are you?” He made a mistake while translating the phrase.
Bloopers are silly and embarrassing errors often made on radio and television. Sometimes they are deliberate mistakes meant as jokes. Other times they are real mistakes. One radio anchor announced ‘General Fools’ as the sponsor of a programme instead of ‘General Foods’. Another announcer mistakenly said a program was sponsored by Phillips’ Milk, when Phillips was a petroleum company.
Spoonerism is a type of verbal error in which the letters of words in a sentence are misplaced. This type is named after Archibald Spooner, who initiated this trend. An example is the statement Spooner made while scolding a student. He told the boy to leave by ‘town drain’ because he ‘hissed’ his ‘mystery’ lectures and ‘tasted’ the whole ‘worm’. What he intended was that the boy should leave by ‘down train’ because he ‘missed’ his ‘history’ lectures and ‘wasted’ the whole ‘term’.
2 What explanation does Rosenblatt advance for the human tendency to make verbal errors?
OR, Why do we commit verbal errors?
OR, What causes verbal errors?
We often commit many verbal errors in our daily life either unconsciously or deliberately. Rosenblatt explains mainly the psychological cause of verbal errors. He also talks about linguistic cause of errors.
The psychological cause of verbal errors is that they occur because of the unconscious intention of the speaker. Our mind contains all types of desires. The social values and rules we have learned repress these desires. Sometimes such desires come out in the form of verbal errors. Once a man entered a restaurant with his girlfriend and ordered a room instead of a table.
The linguistic cause of verbal error is related with storage and production of words in the brain. Our brain stores words in a particular grammatical structure. Some incorrect words exist in the brain in an associative chain with the correct ones. Sometimes such incorrect words replace the correct ones and verbal errors occur. Ford once said that he often watched a particular program on radio.
3 Why do we laugh at verbal errors?
We laugh at verbal errors mainly because they create fun. When conventional discourse becomes predictable and boring, verbal errors work as jokes to delight us. An error like watching a programme on radio helps to break monotony. We also laugh when it is a truly odd error like the slogan ‘come out of grave with Pepsi’ which is a mistranslation of ‘come alive with Pepsi’. Most importantly, we laugh at verbal errors because life itself is full of slips and mistakes. We laugh to sympathize with the blunderer because we all make foolish mistakes at one time or another.
UNIT 5:
MALINI
Rabibdranath Tagore
1 Retell/Summarize/Write the story of “Malini”.
Tagore’s play “Malini” is the story of a Hindu princess who becomes the cause of a religious conflict. The play begins with a protest. Malini is the princess of the kingdom of Kashi. Taught by Buddhist monks, she is influenced by Buddhist ideas. The Hindu Brahmins fear that she might use her power and influence to introduce Buddhism in their land. They demand for her banishment. Malini does not like earthly riches herself. She is ready to live a simple life without royal comforts and luxuries. The King and the Queen are surprised at this change in Malini. Kemankar is the leader of the protestors. He tells them to be firm in their decision. His friend Supriya does not like the idea of banishing a girl just in the name of saving religion. The Brahmins become angry with him. Kemnkar asks Supriya to keep silent. Meanwhile, the army also decides to support them. But the Brahmins do not want to go to such an extreme as rebellion. They want to win with their faith alone, not with arms. They pray to the goddess to descend from heaven to guide them. At this time Malini comes down the palace. She declares her self-exile and is ready to go to live with common people. They are impressed with her speech, character and concern about the people. They take her back to the palace. Kemankar decides to bring armed forces from other kingdoms to make the revolt successful. He tells Supriya to stay there and keep him informed. But Supriya becomes impressed by Malini. He senses a divine spirit in her and loses his heart. To save Malini and bloodshed, he tells the King about Kemankar’s plans. Kemankar is arrested. He feels betrayed. As his last wish, he wants to see Supriya, his best friend. After some discussion, he kills Supriya. The King wants to execute him there. The play ends with Malini’s request to the King to forgive Kemankar.
2 Give/Draw a character sketch of Malini.
OR, Show how Malini is different from other characters.
Malini is the central character in the play. She is quite different from other characters because of her virtues. She is a princess and she is young and beautiful. But she is not proud of herself. She is polite instead. She represents the true spirit of religion as she shows qualities like love, mercy, sympathy and forgiveness. She is ideal and virtuous. Malini is not just influenced by Buddhist philosophy of non-violence, peace and compassion. She puts her theory into practice. Her heart is big enough to greet even the opponent. She is not afraid that Kemankar is coming with armies. She says there is room for them all in her heart as well as in her house. Even after Kemankar kills Supriya, she asks the King to forgive him.
Malini talks in such a way that she can impress and convince anyone. She persuades the King to let her go to live among the people. The Brahmins are also impressed by her sweet voice, speech, simplicity and her sympathy for the common people. Malini becomes like Buddha in her decision of self-exile. She is ready to leave the royal life of comfort and luxury to experience the life of hardships and poverty. She wants to live among the people to bridge the gap between the palace and the people. Seeing the change in her, the Queen says she is no more a common girl. She seems to have a divine force. Supriya and the King sense the same.
3 In the beginning of the play the King talks about “storm clouds gathering over the King’s house.” What does he refer to?
When the King talks about “storms gathering over the King’s house,” he is referring to the revolt of people against the palace. Actually, the Brahmins have gathered before the palace and are demanding for the banishment of Malini, the princess. They fear that she will introduce Buddhism. They are Hindus and feel Buddhism will displace their religion. The army is also on their side. Thus, a kind of rebellion is about to begin. The King is referring to this difficult situation as he talks about “storm clouds” over his house.
4 What were the Brahmins demanding for?
OR, Why were the Brahmins demanding for Malini’s banishment?
Seeing Malini as a threat to their religion, the Brahmins were demanding her banishment. They feared that she was going to introduce Buddhism in their land where they had followed Hinduism for centuries. Kashi was the religious center of Hinduism at the time of the play. The majority of the population was of Brahmins. They had privileged position in Hindu society. The challenge to Hinduism would mean disadvantage for them. Therefore, when Malini came out with a new concept influenced by Buddhism, they got united against her and shouted for her banishment.
5 If the demand persisted, would the King banish his daughter? Give reasons.
If the Brahmins’ demand for Malini’s banishment persisted, the King would have to grant their request. The King must make the decision against his will. His son also suggests that delay would be dangerous. Because the majority of population of the kingdom is of Brahmins, their protest might turn into rebellion. Moreover, Malini herself has asked for her own banishment from the palace. She is herself ready to leave the palace and go to the people. She has convinced the King to grant her this wish. Therefore, the King would be ready to banish his own daughter.
6 What was the revolt against? Against Malini? Against the King? Against Buddhism?
It seemed as if the revolt was against Malini and the King, but it was mainly against Buddhism. Kashi was the religious center of Hinduism and the majority of the population was of Brahmins. When Malini came out with a new concept influenced by Buddhism, the Brahmins got united against her. Because she was the princess, the King would try to protect her. Therefore, the revolt was also against the King. The Brahmins were Hindus. They feared that their religion would be displaced by Buddhism. Banishing Malini meant banishing Buddhism. Therefore, the revolt was actually against Buddhism.
7 Why does Malini ask for her own banishment from the palace?
Malini wants to lead a life like a commoner and asks her own banishment from the palace. Influenced by Buddhist philosophy of life, she doesn’t care about royal comforts and luxuries. Both the royal family and the Brahmins want comfortable life with privileged position in the society. But Malini wants to end inequality caused by class division. When the Brahmins ask for her banishment, she is ready to leave the palace and live among them. She intends to teach the Brahmins the real essence of life as taught by Buddha. She can do this by going out of the palace. Therefore, she asks for her own banishment.
8 The King repeatedly asks Supriya to ask for anything he wished. Why do you think he is so insistent?
The King is very grateful towards Supriya for saving Malini and the kingdom from Kemankar’s plot. Therefore, he repeatedly asks Supriya to ask for anything he wished. He feels Supriya is too humble and shy to ask for anything. But he wants to reward Supriya with whatever he would ask for. He even intends to give the hand of his daughter, Malini. He tells Malini that she owes her life to this noble youth. He sees Supriya as a perfect match for Malini. Therefore, he is insistent and tells Supriya again and again to be brave and ask for even the impossible.
9 Would you call Supriya a betrayer? Give reasons.
Supriya is not a betrayer because he prevents violence by telling the king about Kemankar’s plot. If he had not revealed Kemankar’s plans, it would have caused bloodshed and destruction. He has saved Malini, the King and the country from Kemankar’s wrong decision. But he is not a blind follower of dogmatic ideas. He saw that Malini was not a threat to Hindu religion but a well-wisher of humanity. Therefore, he had to betray Kemenkar to save Malini, who was trying to teach the true spirit of religion. It is not really betrayal.
Supriya seems to be a betrayer if we see from the side of Kemankar and their friendship. He had participated in the protest and rally against the palace. He has never left Kemankar. When Kemankar decides to leave Kashi and bring armies from other kingdoms, he wants to go with him. But on Kemankar’s request he had agreed to stay there and keep him informed about the situation. However, he breaks his promises and betrays his best friend.
Supriya’s decision to reveal Kemnkar’s dangerous plans saves a lot of trouble and violence. What he has done is for the good of people, country and humanity. But his intention is not to have Kemankar killed. He only wants to stop Kemankar from going in the wrong way. Therefore, his betrayal is not actually betrayal.
10 Draw a character sketch of Supriya.
Supriya is a Hindu Brahmin, but he is not dogmatic like other Brahmins. He is not a blind follower of what is written in books. He wants to see the true spirit of religion in a living form. He finds it in Malini. He does not see the need of arms to defend faith. For him religion means love, kindness, peace and tolerance, not violence. Therefore, he reveals Kemankar’s plot to the King to prevent bloodshed. He laughs at the idea of banishing a girl just in the name of saving religion. He gives more value to the essence of religion rather than its form. He is more flexible in his belief. He is not full of hatred against a different religion.
11 Draw a character sketch of Kemankar.
Kemankar is a Hindu fundamentalist who cannot stand a threat to his religion. He is a blind follower of religion and a narrow-minded person. He does not have enough tolerance. He would rather die to defend his faith and religion than accept another religion in the centuries-old land of Hindus. He gives more value to the form of religion than its essence. He has read holy books and is good at arguing. He unifies the Hindu Brahmins to lead a protest against Malini and Buddhism. He remains firm in his decision from the beginning to the end. Others are impressed by Malini and quit their protest. But Kemankar goes for violence. He brings armies from outside to save his so-called religious belief with arms.
12 Compare/contrast between Supriya and Kemankar.
OR, Show how Supriya is different from Kemankar.
Although Supriya and Kemankar are close friends and have always been together, they hold different views about religion, faith and Malini. [+ Supriya’s character + Kemankar’s character]
13 Why does Kemankar leave the kingdom?
Kemankar leaves the kingdom to bring armies from other kingdoms to make the revolt successful. He leads the protest against Malini and Buddhism. But when the Brahmins realize their mistake about Malini, they end the protest and become ready to learn from her. Kemankar cannot accept this failure. He makes a plot to defend his religion. All the Brahmins are impressed by Malini. He knows no one will go against her. Therefore, he feels the need to bring armies from the outside and leaves the kingdom on this mission.
14 The play ends with a suspense of whether or not the king forgives Kemamkar. Do you think he fulfills Malini’s request to forgive Kemankar?
The play ends with a suspense of whether or not the King fulfills Malini’s request to forgive Kemankar. But we can say that Malini will be able to convince him to spare Kemankar’s life, if not his crime.
The King will grant Malini’s every request, even to forgive Kemankar. The King is influenced by her views. He has sensed a divine force in her. He knows her decision will be correct. He was ready to let her go to live among the people as she wished. He is more impressed when he sees the change of attitude in the Brahmins toward Malini. If Malini is asking him to forgive Kemankar, she is asking him to give her a chance to try to change Kemankar’s attitude. She hopes to make Kemankar feel sorry about killing Supriya and repent for it. Eventually, she might even convert Kemankar with her compassion and humanism.
The King may be firm in his decision to execute Kemankar. He may fulfill his kingly duty by punishing a dangerous criminal. On Malini’s request, he had considered forgiving Kemankar. But Kemankar was ready to die to defend his faith and the King asked for his last wish. This means he will not forgive Kemnkar. Kemankar kills Supriya who had saved him and Malini. This makes him angry and he looks for his sword to execute the criminal. Forgiving Kemankar would mean putting Malini, himself and his kingdom at risk.
Although the King asks for his sword to execute Kemankar, I think Malini will be able to stop him. She will persuade him to forgive Kemankar and give her a chance to deal with him.
15 Discuss “Malini” as the story of love and hatred.
At one extreme of “Malini” is the central figure of the play, Malini, who represents the feeling of love towards the whole of humanity. At the other extreme is a Hindu fundamentalist like Kemankar, who hates a different religion because of his own religious dogma. This makes “Malini” the story of love and hatred.
“Malini” is the story of love and compassion because of the character of Malini. She shows qualities like love, mercy, sympathy and forgiveness. She represents the true spirit of religion. She applies Buddhist philosophy of non-violence, peace and compassion in her real life. Her heart is big enough to greet even the opponent. She says there is room for Kemankar and his army in her heart as well as in her house. Even after Kemankar kills Supriya, she asks the King to forgive him. Thus, Malini perfectly shows the virtue of love.
Kemankar is full of hatred towards Malini throughout the play. He cannot stand her because he fears she might introduce Buddhism and displace Hinduism. He is a narrow-minded Hindu fundamentalist who takes even wrong means to defend his so-called religious faith. Actually, he is dogmatic. This attitude can only produce hatred towards others. He is so full of hatred that he does not hesitate to kill his best friend Supriya, who had only stopped him from doing a great wrong.
Thus, the different attitudes and beliefs held by Malini and Kemankar makes they play a story of love and hatred. Malini is all-loving but he is full of hatred and does not even have religious tolerance.
16 “Malini” is a play full of compassion as well as scorn. Justify this statement.
“Malini” is full of feelings like love, compassion and forgiveness. But the writer also questions the religious dogma of contemporary Indian society, which gives a touch of scorn.
Malini is full of infinite compassion throughout the play. She shows qualities like like love, mercy, sympathy and forgiveness. She represents the true spirit of religion. She applies Buddhist philosophy of non-violence, peace and compassion in her real life. Her heart is big enough to greet even the opponent. She says there is room for Kemankar and his army in her heart as well as in her house. Even after Kemankar kills Supriya, she asks the King to forgive him. Thus, Malini perfectly shows the virtue of love. Thus, Malini is the perfect example of compassion.
The writer expresses scorn at religious dogmatism of blind followers of religions like Kemankar and the Brahmins. Supriya laughs at the idea of banishing a girl just in the name of saving religion. He questions the status of such a religion which needs arms to protect itself. The queen and Supriya both believe that truth cannot be learned just from books. It needs people like Malini. But Kemankar is full of hatred and makes plots. How can we call him religious? He tries to hurt her but she forgives him.
The different attitudes of Malini and Kemankar clearly show the writer’s scorn at narrow-mindedness of so-called religious people. Tagore criticizes the tendency to commit crimes in the name of religion.
UNIT 6: LIFE AND DEATH
THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN
Harold J. Morowitz
The essay explores the value of human body/being. The writer examines the statistical statement about the biochemical value of the human body as a few cents and gives the real value of the body. A caption on a birthday card says the price of human body is only 97 cents. He feels upset at such a low value of the human body. He wants to find out if it is true. He brings a catalogue from a biochemical company. It lists the prices of chemical ingredients in the body. He studies the prices of the chemicals and adds them up. After some calculations, he discovers that the human body is worth at least six million dollars.
1 Why did the writer say/claim he was a six million dollar man?
The writer said/claimed he was a six million dollar man after calculating the total price of chemical ingredients in the body. First, he studies the prices of chemical ingredients in the body. Then he calculates the average cost of a gram dry weight is 245.54 dollars. His weight is 168 pounds or 76,364 grams. With 68% water in the body, his dry weight is 32% of the total weight. He calculates it as 24,436 grams. He multiplies his dry weight and its average cost, and the result is 6 million. This confirms that the price of his body is at least six million. Thus, he could claim with certainty that his body was worth at least six million dollars.
2 Explain Morowitz’s joy in discovering that he is a six million dollar man.
Morowitz is happy to discover that he is a six million dollar man. He was upset when he read a caption on his birthday card that said the price of human body is only 97 cents. Surprised at such a low value of the human body, he studies the prices of chemical ingredients in the body. Then he calculates the average cost of a gram dry weight is 245 dollars. His weight is 168 pounds or 76,364 grams. With 68% water in the body, his dry weight is 32% of the total weight. He calculates it as 24,436 grams. He multiplies his dry weight and its average cost, and the result is 6 million. This confirms that the price of his body is at least six million. Thus, he claims with certainty that his body was worth at least six million dollars. He feels happy because it is a great promotion from 97 cents.
3 Is every human being a six million dollar man?
According to the writer of “The Six Million Dollar Man,” every human being is a six million dollar man. He proves this by calculating the price of his body. He studies the prices of chemical ingredients in the body. Then he calculates the average cost of a gram dry weight is 245 dollars. His weight is 168 pounds or 76,364 grams. With 68% water in the body, his dry weight is 32% of the total weight. He calculates it as 24,436 grams. He multiplies his dry weight and its average cost, and the result is 6 million. This confirms that the price of his body is at least six million. Thus, he could claim with certainty that his body was worth at least six million dollars. If every human being is the same weight as the writer, they are six million dollar men by the same calculation.
4 How does the writer try to justify that human beings are priceless?
OR, How does the writer come to the conclusion that each human being is priceless?
OR, Why does the author say that the body of each person is definitely priceless?
The writer concludes that each human body/being is priceless. Human qualities like the power of thought, reasoning and artistic creation and the presence of soul make human beings definitely priceless.
To justify his claim, the writer first proves that the human body is worth at least six million dollars. He does some mathematical calculations. First, he studies the prices of chemical ingredients in the body. Then he calculates the average cost of a gram dry weight is 245.54 dollars. His weight is 168 pounds or 76,364 grams. With 68% water in the body, his dry weight is 32% of the total weight. He calculates it as 24,436 grams. He multiplies his dry weight and its average cost, and the result is 6 million. This confirms that the price of his body is at least six million. Thus, he could claim with certainty that his body was worth at least six million dollars. But there is more to the human body.
He says we are priceless after calculating every possibility of being a proper human. Even on the material level, six million is only the price of the chemical ingredients. Combining them into cells, tissues and organs to form the whole functioning human body increases the price by a thousand times. We may be able to make a human body but we cannot put into it love, kindness, feelings and other human qualities. Most importantly, we cannot insert the soul in an artificial body. Only nature/god can do this wonder. Therefore, self-operating, conscious and conscientious human beings are priceless.
ON THE VANITY OF EARTHLY GREATNESS
Arthur Guiterman
1 Write a summary of the poem.
The poem talks about the vanity of earthly greatness. The mighty mastodons had strong and powerful tusks. They used the tusks to fight each other. Now the mastodons are extinct and their tusks have been made into billiard balls. Charlemagne was a famous Roman emperor who conquered most of Europe. He fought and won many battles with his sword. But his sword is now covered with rust. People were afraid even by the name of grizzly bear. Now mats have been made from the skin of such bears and this fear seems to be no more. Julius Caesar was a powerful statesman in Rome. Now there are only statues of Caesar. These examples of change from greatness to nothingness make the poet see the same possibility for himself.
2 How is human vanity laughed at in the poem?
OR, Give the central idea/theme of the poem.
Human vanity is laughed at in the poem through the poet’s ironical tone. He suggests that what we call great cannot remain great forever. Time turns this greatness into nothingness. The famous Roman emperor Charlemagne won many battles with his sword. But it is now covered with rust. Julius Caesar was a powerful Roman statesman. Now there are only his statues which can be bought cheap. In this way all earthly things are perishable, however great they may be. Therefore, it is useless to feel proud of momentary greatness.
3 What are the different examples used by the poet to show the vanity of earthly greatness?
To show the vanity of earthly greatness, the poet gives examples of two famous historical persons and two mighty animals. [+ Charlemagne + Julius Caesar + mastodons + grizzly bear]
4 What changes to people and objects are described in the poem?
The changes to people and objects described in the poem show how great things become nothing with time. [+ Charlemagne + Julius Caesar + mastodons + grizzly bear]
5 What is ironical about the poem?
The poem is ironical as it talks about earthly greatness and vanity in this greatness at the same time. This irony is shown through the examples of two famous historical persons and two mighty animals. [+Charlemagne + Julius Caesar + mastodons + grizzly bear]
IN BED
Joan Didion
1 Write about the suffering and bitter experience of Joan Didion as a migranous person.
OR, Describe the author’s experiences with migraines.
In her essay Didion talks about her bitter experience with migraine headaches. She describes the pain and frustration they cause. To give a truthful account of her struggle with migraines, she honestly shares her personal details. She frequently suffers from them, three to five times a month. She spends those days in bed. From her long experience, she knows when the attack is coming. She feels a kind of irritation and quick flow of blood in the vessels of her brain. To avoid the attack she takes medicine. Otherwise, she cannot work.
While she was young, she tried to get rid of migraine by denying it. People said it was imaginary, so she ignored the symptoms that signalled its attack. She would try to do her daily works, thinking that it was not as bad as brain tumor. But then she would suffer extreme pain in the head and tears would flow. She would even vomit. At the end of the day she would drag herself home and try to cool the pain with ice. She had to spend on or two days a week almost unconscious with pain.
Now she has accepted migraine as a part of her life. She has learned to live with it just as other people are living with other incurable diseases like diabetes. Her husband also has migraine. She had her first migraine attack at 8. It is a relief that no one dies of migraine. She has found some ways to deal with her migraine. Now she does not fight it but lies down, lets it happen and tries to concentrate on the pain. She even calls it a friend which comes uninvited. When it goes away, she feels happy to be alive.
2 What is migraine headache? Write the symptoms of migraine.
OR, What are the distinctive features/traits of migraine headache?
Migraine is an extremely bad headache which can attack a person of any age. It is a recurrent, throbbing, very painful headache. Generally it affects one side of the head. It makes one almost unconscious with pain.
There are certain symptoms of migraine. It has an aura period during which the symptoms appear before the actual attack. There is often a sudden irritation and a quick flow of blood in the blood vessels of the brain. Vision becomes unclear and one might feel temporarily blindness. One might have false sense perceptions and illusions. Gastrointestinal disturbances are possible. Stomach and digestive system could be affected. One might even lose the ability to focus their eyes and form correct sentences during the attack. The writer has chills, sweating, feeling of vomiting and weakness during the attack. But nobody dies of it.
3 Write the treatment of migraine.
There is no effective treatment of migraine. It has some connection with a hormone called serotonin in the brain. The amount of serotonin in blood goes down as a migraine attack starts. There are certain drugs that have some effect on serotonin. They can only prevent or delay the attack by narrowing the swelling blood vessels. But after the attack, no drug works. We can find some ways to deal with it as the writer has done. Instead of fighting it, it is better to lie down, let it happen and try to concentrate on the pain.
4 What poplar misconceptions about migraine headache does Didion want to correct?
Didion wants to correct some misconceptions about migraine headache through her writing. Non-migrainous people take it as a headache. Even doctors have a wrong concept of ‘migrainous personality’.
People who do not have migraines consider them imaginary. Didion says migraine is a real illness that makes one almost unconscious with pain. They are even unable to do their normal work. It is a hereditary complex of symptoms. Migrainous people are accused of pretending to be serious and refusing to cure themselves by using correct drugs. Those who do not have migraine suggest pain killers like aspirin. Didion says no drug works during the attack of migraine headache.
Doctors also have misconceptions. The do not believe that there are migrainous people. They call such people migranous personalities who are ambitious, inward, intolerant and perfectionists. Didion corrects this wrong view. She does not spend days in bed because of bad attitude, tempers and wrong thinking. She suffers from migraine headache because her parents have migraine and she has inherited it from them.
5 How does migraine differ from ordinary headache?
OR, Differentiate migraine from ordinary headache.
Migraine is very different from what we simply call headache. In migraine headache, there is an aura period of 15 to 20 minutes during which the symptoms appear. It is incurable like diabetes. We have to live with it. It is hereditary. We might get it from parents. Pain killers do not work after the attack. They can only prevent or delay an attack. It is caused by a chemical disturbance in a hormone called serotonin in brain.
On the other hand, common headache has no aura period, so there are no distinct symptoms to appear before the attack. It is not a serious disease and can be cured. It is not hereditary but common to all. Pain killers work both before and after the attack. It is not the result of a hormonal disturbance.
6 Why does the writer consider herself fortunate that her husband has migraine? What would happen if he did not have it?
The writer considers herself fortunate that her husband has migraine. only a man suffering from migraine can understand the problems of another migrainous person. Non-migranous people accuse migranous people of pretending to be serious and refusing to cure themselves by using correct drugs. Those who do not have migraine suggest pain killers like aspirin. If her husband did not have migraine, he would have the same attitude as other common people. It would create misunderstanding between them and could even spoil their marriage.
7 Is the writer still resisting with migraine?
Describe the situation in which she is attacked by migraine and not attacked by it.
The writer is not resisting with migraine any more. Now she has accepted migraine as a part of her life. She has learned to live with it just as other people are living with other incurable diseases like diabetes. She has found some ways to deal with her migraine. Now she does not fight it but lies down, lets it happen and tries to concentrate on the pain. She is attacked by migraine in minor situations like household confusions, lost laundry, cancelled appointments, unnecessary telephone rings. But migraine does not attack her when there is a real problem or a fearful situation. She would not get a headache if her house is on fire, if her husband leaves her, if there is firing.
THE GARDENER
Rudyard Kipling
1 Write the story of Helen Turrell/“The Gardener.”
This is the story of Helen Turrell and the hardships and sufferings she went through in her life. Helen went to France and brought a child with her. It was her own son, but she invented stories to keep her secret. She told the village that he was the son of her brother George. George served in Indian police force. He had relationship with a retired officer’s daughter. She gave birth to his son. George died and the mother would not like to keep the baby, so Helen brought him with her. Michael was told that Helen was not his mother but aunt. At his request, she allowed him to call her mummy only at bedtime. But Helen herself broke this secrecy to some friends. He felt hurt and said he would hurt her in return. After finishing school education, he joined a university for army training. He got enlisted and went to war. But he was killed. Helen was much grieved by his death. She decided to visit his grave. She met another woman who was going to visit the grave of a relative. But later she told that she was there to visit the grave of her secret lover. Helen finally reached the cemetery. She was confused as she saw thousands of graves. She could not find Michael’s grave. Finally, she asked the gardener. He was ready to help her. But he said that he would show her the grave of her son.
2 How does Kipling describe the contemporary society?
Kipling gives a realistic picture of the contemporary society. But he also describes the people in a humorous and satiric tone. It is a patriarchal society. Also it is a society where rumours spread quickly.
The society at the time of the story is described by relating it with Helen’s life. It is a patriarchal society where male and female do not have equal rights and positions. If a woman makes a mistake, her character is gone. That is why Helen has to tell lies to hide the truth that she has given birth to a child before marriage. She has to make Michael legitimate by giving him the name of a father. The society could stand George’s relationship with a woman but it would not accept Helen’s relationship. The writer might be criticizing such biased norms and values.
The contemporary society is a middle class society. People gossip about others. Private details quickly become public because news spreads quickly. Helen has invented a false story to answer people’s questions about Michael’s identity. And this story is known to all the villagers. She does not give anyone the chance to spread rumours about the child she has brought with her. The writer seems to laugh at people’s tendency to exaggerate facts.
3 Sketch the character of Helen.
Helen is a single, independent woman of 35 in a patriarchal society. She seems to be educated and clever but not bold enough to fight the society. She invents a believable story to hide the truth about her child.
To the village, Helen is a noble, sociable, honourable, truthful, sympathetic and responsible lady. We know about her character mainly through the eye of her village. And the village has judged her based on her own stories and activities. She has friends and a respectable position in the society. She is supposed to have fulfilled the duties of a true guardian toward Michael, her brother’s son. She brings him up and educates him properly. After he is killed in war, she does her last duty as she takes a long trip to visit his grave.
Helen is clever enough to preserve her honour before the village. She becomes pregnant before marriage but manages to hide this fact from the society. She goes to France alone and delivers the child. Then she brings him to her village. To answer the people’s questions about the child, she invents a story about his parents. She knows her society and people and does not give anyone the chance to spread rumours about her.
4 “Helen Turrell is ashamed that Michael is her son”. Do you agree?
Helen is ashamed that Michael is her son because she is an unmarried mother. The contemporary society would not approve this. The social norms and values would not accept her with an illegitimate child. And her life would be very difficult. She has to prove him legitimate for a respectful position in the society. Only then people would sympathize with her and help her in need. Michael was the result of her secret relationship, so she could not introduce him to the society as her son. If she did, she would be called characterless. Therefore, Helen was afraid and ashamed to declare Michael as her son.
5 What is the truth behind each of the lies Helen tells the village at the beginning of the story?
The truth behind all the lies Helen tells the village is that Michael is her own son. She lies about her trip to France. She had gone there for delivery, not for treatment. She tells Michael is her nephew, the son of her only brother, George Turrell. She has invented the story about George’s work as a policeman in India, about his relationship with the daughter of a retired officer, about his death, about Michel’s careless nurse and about how she took charge of the boy. She tells lies only to keep her secret.
6 Why did Helen tell lies to the village about her own son?
She told lies to the village about her own son, Michael, because he was her illegitimate child. She lied only to keep her secret. Being an unmarried mother, she was ashamed to introduce Michael as her own son. The society would not accept her with an illegitimate child. She would be called characterless, and no one would help her. She had to prove him legitimate for a respectful position in the society. Therefore, she lied about Michael’s real identity and introduced him as her nephew, the son of her brother, George Turrell.
7 What is the real relationship between Helen and Michael?
The villagers believe that Michael is Helen’s nephew as she has introduced him as the son of her brother, George. But the real relationship between Helen and Michael is that of mother and son. She has told a lie because he is her illegitimate son, the result of a secret relationship. Because she is his mother, she lets him call her mummy at bedtime but not before others. We come to know about the real relationship between Helen and Michael at the end of the story when the gardener says he will show her the grave of her son.
8 What was the effect of Michael’s death on Helen?
Helen was greatly affected by Michael’s death because he was her own son. She felt that her whole world had ended because Michael was everything to her. Any mother is grieved by her child’s death. When it is the only child, the grief is more. As a single mother, Helen had raised Michael going through many difficulties. Her suffering was more because the child Michael had told her that he would hurt her by dying young. What is more, she could not even receive his dead body. Now her only wish was to visit his grave. She took a long trip to the place where he was buried.
9 Give a clear picture of the gardener in one paragraph.
The gardener is a mysterious character who appears only at the end of the story. There is no clear-cut detail about him and his background. When Helen reaches the cemetery and is unable to find her son’s grave, the gardener helps her. He is kneeling behind a line of headstones, putting a new plant in the soft soil. We are more surprised as he directly asks her who she is looking for. He shows no formality to a stranger. As Helen says it is her nephew, he looks at her with infinite compassion. He says he will show her the grave of her son. When Helen leaves the cemetery, the gardener is still busy with his young plants.
10 What mystery do you find in the story?
The appearance of the gardener creates mystery in the story. He appears only at last, and there is no clear-cut detail about him and his background. When Helen comes to the cemetery to find Michael’s grave, he is putting new plants. He helps her to find the grave. We are more surprised as he directly asks her who she is looking for. He shows no formality to a stranger, and a lady. But he is described as looking at her with infinite compassion. Helen says it is her nephew, but he says he will show her the grave of her ‘son’. As Helen leaves, he is still busy with the plants. She takes him as the gardener, but he may not be.
11 How do we know who the gardener really is?
We know who the gardener really is by his behavior with Helen. He must be God himself. He looks at Helen with “infinite compassion”. Only God or godly people like Christ or Buddha can have infinite compassion. He knows Michael is her son. He knows everything: her secrets, hardships, sufferings and feelings. Michael was everything to her in the world but she could not even get his dead body. Therefore, God has appeared as the gardener to help her find the grave of her son.
Prepared by-Lecturer Bikram Bhandari
UNIT 1: STORIES OF THE SUPERNATURAL
THE RECURRING DREAM
1 Narrate/Summarize/Retell the story of “The Recurring Dream”.
OR, Tell the story “The Recurring Dream” in your own words.
“The Recurring Dream” is a supernatural story from England about a normal-looking woman who has a strange, recurring dream. Kim is a beautiful and sociable girl of 25. She has a good job in a company. But she has a problem. A strange, mysterious and recurring dream troubles her. She dreams about a country road, a lane, and an old man in a house. The place and the person of her dream are completely strange to her. She has never been to that place and never met the man. Kim talks about the dream to her roommate, Janet. Janet suggests going out of the city to her parents’ farm for a few days. As they turn on a country road, Kim sees the same place of her dream. She decides to go and have a look. Janet tries to stop her saying that Kim could have been mistaken. But Kim claims this to be the same place and goes. When she reaches the house, she finds it is for sale. She knocks on the door. To her surprise, the same old man opens the door. Seeing her, he shuts the door. Kim wants to talk to him about the house. But he says she will not buy it because it is haunted. A ghost comes there almost every night. When she asks about the ghost, he says she is herself the ghost.
2 Describe the lane and the house.
In her strange, mysterious, recurring dream, Kim sees a country road, a lane and a house. In the dream, standing on a country road, Kim sees a lane which has a white fence and a hedge on its both sides. The lane leads to a little hill. On its top there is a small, white cottage with green shutters. Kim sees a little, old man sleeping in one room. She knows no place like that. She has never seen the lane and the house. But she sees the same lane with the same fence and hedge and the same house on the same hill.
3 Describe the man Kim sees in the house.
The man Kim sees in the house is an old stranger. He is a little man with white hair and beard. As Kim enters the house, the man is sleeping in one room. As she goes near him, he wakes up and looks at her. Kim wakes up when she is about to talk to him. Kim has never met this man in her life, but she has a recurring dream about this man and his house. Later in the story, this old man turns out to be a real person. Kim happens to see the house and meet him as she is leaving for a country.
4 Describe the mysterious dream Kimberly Clark has.
OR, What is Kim’s recurring dream about?
Kim has a strange, mysterious, recurring dream about a person and a place which are completely strange to her. In the dream, she sees herself standing on a country road. There is a lane which has a white fence and a hedge on its both sides. The lane leads to a little hill. On its top stands a small, white cottage with green shutters. Kim sees a little, old man sleeping in one room. His hair and beard are both white. He wakes up when Kim goes near him. He looks at her with surprise. As Kim is about to talk to him, the dream breaks, and she wakes up in her own room.
5 Where does Janet want to take Kim for a few days?
OR, Why does Janet want to take Kim to her parents’ farm in the village?
Janet wants to take Kim to her parents’ farm in the village where they could spend a few days in a peaceful environment. As a roommate and a good friend, she is worried about Kim and suggests an idea that could help her. In her view, going out of the city for a few days will change Kim’s mood, refresh her mind and help her forget the troubling dream. She knows that Kim is troubled by the dream. To help her forget about it at least for some days, Janet suggests going out of the city to the farm.
6 What does the little, old man do when he sees Kim at the door?
OR, Why does the little old man close the door when he sees Kim?
When the little, old man sees Kim at the door, his eyes open wide and he immediately shuts the door. Kim begs him to open the door and talk to her. Then he opens it a little. He is afraid of her and wants to avoid her. He asks her to go away from there. He knows she has not come to buy the house. He tells her that a ghost haunts his house almost every night. According to him, Kim herself is that ghost. He does not want her to trouble him any more. Therefore, he closes the door to save himself.
7 What do you think is the reason some people have recurring dreams?
Some people have recurring dreams probably because of deeply felt issues and unfulfilled desires. Firstly, when we have an excess of feelings like love, hatred, anger, jealousy, surprise, fear and greed, we dream about certain things, persons and events related to these feelings. Recurring dreams might also be caused by unfulfilled desires. We do not get everything in reality, so we get them in dreams. Our mind becomes completely free in dreams, and we can get even the impossible. On the other hand, religions interpret dreams as signs of future. People have a particular dream because something special might be going to happen. A supernatural interpretation of the reason for having a recurring dream is that some supernatural power attracts us to a place because of our connection to it in our previous life.
8 Why do you think Kim has this dream?
Kim might be having the strange, recurring dream because of her extreme curiosity about the man of her dream and her unfilled wish to talk to him in the dream. When Kim dreams about the old man and his house for the first time, she is surprised very much because they are unfamiliar to her. The dream is on her mind constantly. She is extremely curious and the dream recurs. Kim cannot talk to the man in her first dream. As she is about to talk to him in the dream, she wakes up. Dreaming about him again and again could be a way to fulfill her wish to talk to him. From religious interpretation of dream as a sign of future, Kim has this recurring dream about the house and the old man because she is going to see them. Still another reason could be that Kim has this dream about the house because of some close connection to it in her previous life.
9 In your opinion, why does Kim wake up each time she tries to speak to the man in her dream?
Kim wakes up from her dream while trying to speak to the man because her body is reacting. Dream is a state in which body and mind are almost separated. We are supposed to witness the flow of events. If we make some effort and our body is involved, the flow breaks and we wake up. In the dream, Kim enters the house, looks into the rooms, finds out the man sleeping and goes near him. Up to this point she is only watching. But when she tries to speak to the man, her body reacts and she wakes up.
10 Do dreams have any connection to real life? Discuss your views. Also relate to the story.
OR, Some people think all dreams have special meanings. What do you think?
Dreams have close connection to our real life, and they have special meanings. Dreams are the results of deeply felt issues and unfulfilled desires. Similar could be the cause of Kim’s strange, recurring dream.
Deeply felt issues could be one reason for dreams. Dreams mean that we feel deeply about certain issues. When we have an excess of feelings like love, hatred, anger, jealousy, fear and greed, we dream about certain things, persons and events related to these feelings. In the story, the dream about the old man and his house surprises Kim very much. She is extremely curious and the dream recurs.
Some psychologists claim that dreams are the means to fulfill impossible desires. We do not get everything in reality, so we get them in dreams. Our mind becomes completely free in dreams, and we can get even the impossible. In the story, Kim cannot talk to the man in her first dream. As she is about to talk to him, she wakes up. Having the same dream again and again is a way to fulfill her wish to talk to him.
Thus, dreams have close connection to real life. They are the result of a complex combination of our experiences, feelings and imaginations.
THE LOST DOLL
1 Narrate/Summarize/Retell the story of “The Lost Doll”.
OR, Tell the story “The Lost Doll” in your own words.
“The Lost Doll” is a supernatural story from Colombia about a little girl who dies but is reborn. Carmen, the only child of Roberto and Rosa Soto, had been sick from her birth. Her condition became worse with time, and she died at 4. The villagers attended the funeral. She was buried in the cemetery on the hill outside the village. After some days, Rosa gave away all of Carmen’s clothes and playthings because the doctor had said she could not have another child. But Roberto still had hope. He argued that god knew Rosa was busy with her sick child and did not send another child. After Carmen’s death her doll was lost surprisingly. No one in the village had any idea about what happened to the doll. One year later Rosa gave birth to another baby girl. They gave her the name Evangelina. She looked like Carmen in every way, but she was quite healthy and well. In casual talks, Rosa would say that God had sent their child back. Evangelina surprised Rosa one day by saying that she was sick a long time ago. Another time she said that she had a little doll. She also claimed to know where the doll was. Rosa took it as a joke, but Evangelina took her in the backyard. She pointed to the ground near a big tree and told her to dig there. When Rosa dug, they found the doll. Then Evangelina told that she remembered being sick and falling asleep. A nice man took her with him and helped her put the doll there.
2 Describe Carmen.
Carmen was a weak child and had a short life. She was the only child of her parents, Roberto and Rosa Soto. She was beautiful, bright, kind and loving. But she was sick from her birth. She could not be treated. Her condition became worse year by year. She became very weak and died at the age of 4. Because of her good nature, the villagers loved her and attended her funeral. As they passed by her body, they described her as a little doll. She was buried in the cemetery on the hill outside the village.
3 What evidence is there in the story to show that Carmen and Evngelina were alike?
OR, In what ways/How were Carmen and Evangelina alike? In what way were they different?
Carmen and Evangelina were alike in their physical features and other activities. When Evangelina was born, Rosa said she looked like Carmen. As the girl grew up, she looked more and more like her dead sister. Her actions and character were also similar to Carmen’s. Because of the similarities between the two, Rosa and the priest even thought that God took the sick Carmen, healed her and gave her back to her parents. According to Rosa, Evangelina was like Carmen in every way.
But there was one big difference between the two. Carmen was sick and weak from her birth whereas Evangelina was healthy and well. Carmen died at the age of 4, but Evangelina showed no sign of becoming ill, let alone die. Carmen had a doll as a plaything but Evangelina did not have any.
4 Where/How did they finally find the lost doll?
They finally found the lost doll under the ground in the backyard of their house. After Carmer died, the doll was also lost surprisingly. Roberto and Rosa searched the whole house. They also asked other people about it. But they did not find it. When the second child, Evangelina, was big enough to talk with adults, she said the doll was under the big tree in the backyard. When asked how she came to know about the doll, she claimed that she had put it there. Following her instructions, Rosa dug the ground and found the doll. According to Evangelina, a really nice man had helped her put the doll under the tree.
5 Why, do you suppose, did almost everyone in the village attend Carmen’s funeral?
Out of love for this child and sympathy for her parents, almost all the villagers attended Carmen’s funeral. People in village are more helpful than people in the city. When a person dies in the village, almost all people come to see the dead body and most of them attend the funeral. In Carmen’s case, she was the only child of her parents. To accompany the parents in their grief, all the villagers came. Moreover, Carmen was bright, kind and loving. Everyone in the village liked her. To express farewell to this sweet child, they attended her funeral.
6 What indications/evidences are there in the story that the Soto family was poor?
The inability to cure the only child, the wish to save a dead child’s things and belief in God indicate that the Soto family was poor. If they were rich, they could have taken their only child to best doctors and hospitals. But they could not. Roberto wants to save Carmen’s playthings in case they have another child. It seems as if he cannot afford toys again and again. The doctor has declared that his wife will not have another child, but Roberto still has hope. Poor people believe in God more than rich people. The Sotos live in a village and work in fields. Roberto’s hands are rough with hard work. It also indicates that the family is poor.
7 Why did Roberto want to save Carmen’s things?
Roberto wanted to save Carmen’s things so that those things could be given to another child if Rosa became mother again. Rosa had no hope because the doctor had told that she could not have another child. But Roberto said doctors are not god to know everything. Only God knows what will happen. Rosa pointed out that they did not have another child in four years. But Roberto believed that god did not send them another child because god knew she was caring for the sick child. Roberto seems to be more practical as he wants to save Carmen’s things.
8 Rosa said to her husband, “False hope is not good.” When does hope become false?
When Rosa said to her husband “False hope is not good”, she was referring to his hope about having another child. Hope becomes false when there is no possibility that it will come true. In their case, the doctor had said that she would not be able to give birth to another child. His statement was based on medical tests. After Carmen died, Rosa gave away her things. But Roberto wanted to save those things because he still had hope. Rosa told him not to keep false hope because he would only suffer if the hope did not come true.
9 Write a paragraph about the similarity between the lost doll and Carmen herself.
Both the doll and Carmen are little and beautiful, and both disappear. As the only child of her parents, Carmen is very dear to them. Similar is her relation with the doll, her only plaything. She never leaves it. The villagers attending her funeral say that she is just like a little doll. The most important similarity is that they disappear together. After Carmen dies, the doll is also lost. Carmen is buried in the cemetery outside the village, and the doll is buried under a tree in the backyard of the house. Carmen returns after death by taking rebirth as Evangelina. And it is Evangelina who finds the lost doll. It is found from under the ground as if being taken out of the grave.
10 Make a comparison between Roberto and Rosa Soto.
Robeto and Rosa can be compared on the basis of their gender roles, beliefs and their relation with their child. Being a male in a patriarchal society, Roberto takes the responsibility of the family. He works in the fields, so his hands are rough from hard work. Being a woman and a mother, Rosa’s job is to look after the child and do the housework. Being poor, both seem to believe in god. But Roberto is more hopeful about having a child after Carmen dies while Rosa takes the doctor’s words and does not believe it will happen. As a mother, Rosa is naturally more attached with the child. She cannot bear the grief of her child’s death and gives Carmen’s clothes and playthings away. Roberto seems to be more practical as he wants to keep those things in case they have another child.
11 Describe the grief of Roberto and his wife at the tragic death of their daughter Carmen.
There was no end to the grief of Roberto and his wife at the death of their only daughter, Carmen. The grief of parents at the death of their only child is unfathomable. It is too much to be described in words.
Parents grieve at the death of their child because of deep emotional attachment. Roberto and Rosa are no exception. Carmen was everything to them in the world. They are poor villagers, and poor people have nothing else except their children. Rosa is so tragic that she gives away Carmen’s clothes and playthings to the priest from another village. She wants to avoid the painful memory of Carmen’s untimely death. Roberto also remembers Carmen playing at the yard when he looks out of the window. When they realize Carmen’s doll is lost, they do everything to find it out.
It is natural that parents are heartbroken at a child’s death, no matter how many children there are. And if the child is single, as in the case of Roberto and Rosa, the grief is too much to bear. Moreover, if Carmen had not lived long after birth, the grief might have been less. They had helplessly watched her die, unable to save her. Because of her good nature, the villagers also loved her and were much grieved by her death. We can easily imagine how much grief Roberto and Rosa feel as parents.
THE HOUSE CALL
1 Narrate/Summarize/Retell the story of “The House Call”.
OR, Tell the story “The House Call” in your own words.
“The House Call” is a supernatural story from Germany about a doctor’s visit to a patient during which he comes to know that he was called by the ghost of a little girl. Dr. Emil Brown was a famous surgeon. The day after Christmas he had returned from the hospital and was having his dinner. He was almost asleep on the table when a little girl came asking for him. She wanted him to see her sick mother. Braun was ready to go. It was raining a little. The girl walked ahead instead of walking with him. She stopped only at times to make sure the doctor was following her. However hard he tried, 67-year-old Braun could not catch her. Finally, she led him to an old building and showed him in a dimly-lit room. As Braun approached the patient, he recognized her. It was Elda who had once worked as a staff in his hospital. After observation, he found out that she had pneumonia. He gave her some medicine and started talking to her. He praised her daughter for being courageous enough to go in the night. But Elda said her only child, Adelheide, died of a sickness three months ago. Hearing this, Braun looked surprised and looked around. The girl was not there. Elda pointed to a corner where she had put Adelheide’s shawl and shoes as reminders. Braun touched the shawl and the shoes. They were wet. Now he was sure that the girl was a ghost. Elda said he had mistaken someone else for her daughter. Then she fell asleep, and Braun quickly left the room and the house.
2 Describe the little girl who came asking for the doctor.
OR, Who came to the door asking for the doctor?
A little girl came to the door asking for the doctor. Her voice was weak but very clear. She was six or seven years old. She was wearing a cotton dress and an old shawl. Her shoes were also old and looked a little dirty. She said her mother was very sick and needed urgent help. She walked so fast that the doctor did not catch her. After showing Dr. Braun in her mother’s room, she disappeared. Actually, she was a ghost who had come to help her mother. From her mother, Elda, we come to know that her name was Adelheide. She had died three months ago just after she turned seven.
3 Why did the little girl come to the doctor’s home?
The little girl came to the doctor’s house to get him to see her sick mother. She was the ghost of Elda’s daughter. She knew that Dr. Braun was a dutiful, kind, sympathetic and honest doctor. He would be ready to go with her if she requested him and explained the situation. She knows he is the only person who would be ready to come with her at that time of night. She has been present in the room with her mother, Elda. She can hear Elda’s thoughts. When she knows Elda hoping and praying
4 What did the mother (Elda) keep to remind her of her daughter? Why?
To remind her of her dear daughter, Elda had kept the girl’s clothes. One is an almost worn shawl. Another is a pair of dirty-looking shoes. As Dr. Braun went there on the house call, he saw them in the corner of the room. The shawl was on a hook and the shoes were on the floor. Elda kept them in memory of her beautiful, lovely child. Whenever she looked at the shawl and the shoes, it would seem to her that her daughter was still there with her. Therefore, she kept the shawl and the shoes.
5 Do you think it’s a good idea to keep reminders of lost loved ones as Elda did? Explain.
It could be a good idea to keep reminders of lost loved ones as Elda did. Certain emotions and memories are connected with such reminders. Elda had an only child who died at 7. She felt lonely in her home. But whenever she looked at the shawl and the shoes of her dear daughter, it would seem to her that her daughter was still there with her. Some people may not like to keep such reminders because of fear or painful memories. But Elda’s decision to keep the reminders suggests that memories, whether sweet or painful, are better than no memories. They are companions in loneliness.
6 If the doctor was too tired to eat or write, why was he not too tired to go to see the sick woman?
Although the doctor was too tired to eat or write, he was ready to go to see the sick woman because a little girl came to get him. He saw it as his primary duty as a doctor to save a patient’s life. He did not care what time it was or how far he would have to go. He was a dutiful, kind, sympathetic and honest doctor. He could postpone eating and writing but he could not say no to a patient. Moreover, he was a religious minded person. He was doing whatever God put in front of him. The little girl’s sick mother was waiting for him. Therefore, he was ready to go.
7 Why do you think the little girl walked ahead of the doctor instead of walking with him?
There were two reasons for the girl walking ahead of the doctor instead of walking with him. First, she wanted to take him to her sick mother as soon as possible. She walked ahead so that he would walk faster to catch her. He might not hurry if she walked with him. Moreover, it was raining. The second reason was that she did not want the doctor to know that she was a ghost because he might be afraid to go with her. If she walked with him, it was possible that he could know about her.
8 Why did the doctor have a look of surprise on his face when Elda told him that her little daughter died in September?
The doctor had a look of surprise on his face when Elda told him that her little daughter died in September. It was December, so it had been three months since the girl died. But the girl who had gone to get him had said her mother was sick. If she was telling the truth, it meant she was the ghost of Elda’s dead daughter. Braun looked around the room. The little girl was not there. The shoes and the shawl Elda kept as reminders of her daughter were wet. Braun was surprised because he realized had come with a ghost.
9 Do you think Elda’s hoping and praying had anything to do with the doctor’s coming to see her?
Elda’s hoping and praying had a connection with the doctor’s coming to see her. These two things were connected by the little girl went to call the doctor. Being the ghost of Elda’s dead daughter, she knew her sick mother needed immediate help. With her special power as a ghost, the girl knew that Elda was hoping and praying for god to send a doctor. To fulfill her wish, the girl went to Dr. Braun because she knew that he was kind enough to come to see Elda even at that hour of the night.
10 Who is Dr. Emil Braun? How old is he when he visits Elda?
OR, Write a paragraph describing Dr. Braun.
Dr. Emil Braun is a famous 67-year-old German surgeon. He works in a hospital in Berlin and lives in a flat with his wife. Braun is a dutiful, kind, sympathetic and honest doctor. He is ready to go even on a cold, raining night. He is hard-working. Though tired after hours of doing and supervising operations, he is still making notes while eating dinner. Braun is also very experienced. He knows Elda is suffering from pneumonia as soon as he sees her. He has much patience. The girl walks too fast ahead of him and does not let him catch her. But he still goes after her.
It is said in the story that Braun started his practice 40 years earlier. He was 27 years old then. From this information, we can calculate that Dr. Braun is 67 years old when he visits Elda in 1903.
11 What are the two possible explanations of who the girl was who came to fetch the doctor?
There could be two explanations about the girl who came to fetch Dr. Braun. The first is a natural, believable explanation. This is based on Elda’s interpretation about who could have gone to fetch the doctor. The girl could be a neighbour who knew about Elda’s condition. To bring the doctor, she told a lie: her own mother was sick. Otherwise, he might not come as easily. She went ahead of him to avoid his possible questions. Finally, she disappeared when her mission was finished.
The second is supernatural explanation. It seems more possible as it is based on what Dr. Braun discovers when he goes with the girl. When he sees the patient, he recognizes her as his former staff Elda. After talking to her, he comes to know that Elda’s daughter has died three months before. But the little girl had introduced herself as the daughter of the sick woman. Elda shows him the same shoes and shawl like the ones the girl was wearing. When Braun sees that the shoes and shawl are wet, he is sure that the little girl must be the ghost of Elda’s dead child. She had come to save her mother’s life.
12 What did Dr. Braun discover when he went with the girl who came to his house?
Dr. Braun discovered that the girl was a ghost and that the sick woman was Elda, whom he knew. The girl took him to an old building and showed him a room. She said her mother was inside. When he saw the women, he recognized her as Elda, who had once worked in his hospital. She had gone to her village. But she came back after her only daughter died three months ago. Hearing this, Braun was surprised. The little girl had said her mother was sick. It meant that she might be the ghost of Elda’s daughter. When Braun felt the shoes and shawl Elda kept as the reminders of her girl, they were wet. This confirmed his doubt that she was the ghost and had come for her sick mother.
13 Compare and contrast between the stories “The Lost Doll” and “The House Call”.
Both stories “The Lost Doll” and “The House Call” have supernatural elements and both talk about the intimate relationship between children and parents. But the settings of the stories, the nature of major characters and the supernatural aspects are different.
Both stories talk about parent-children relationship. Roberto and Rosa have an only child, Carmen. Elda also has only one daughter. And both girls die of illness at a very early age. But “The Lost Doll” is a story from a Colombia, South American country. The characters live in a village and are farmers. There are both father and mother. But “The House Call” is a story from Germany, a European country. The characters live mainly in the city and they have jobs. Dr. Braun is a surgeon and Elda has worked as a hospital staff. Her we have only the mother, Elda.
Both stories are supernatural. They talk about something which is difficult to believe in this age of science. In both stories the dead child comes back. But the way they return is different. Carmen dies and is reborn a year later as Evangeline as the daughter of the same parents. It is proved when she shows them where she had put the doll which they thought had lost. On the other hand, the little girl in “The House Call” is not reborn. She appears as ghost three months after her death. It is proved when Dr. Braun sees the same clothes worn by her and feels they are wet.
FEAR
1 Narrate/Summarize/Retell the story of “Fear”.
OR, Tell the story “Fear” in your own words.
“Fear” is a story from Mexico about a man who almost gets mad with the fear of being robbed. Armando Gonzalez was a simple, hard-working man. He had a wife and six children, and his mother-in-law also stayed with them. He did not earn much by working at a shoe shop. His wife also worked. They had saved 50,000 rupees and were going to buy a house. Armando went to the bank to take out the money. But he feared that people would follow him if they know he was carrying a large amount. His nervousness increased every minute. He mistakenly put on his hat backwards. Many people looked at him. One heavy man looked at him twice. When the teller handed him the money, Armando hurried out of the bank. He was sweating all over and his heart was beating faster. Seeing a heavy man next to him at the bus stop, he suspected this man as a robber. He saw three boys talking with the heavy man in the bus. He took them as his helpers. He thought of a plan to escape. He stopped the bus and jumped out. But the three boys also got off. Armando found himself alone in that place. As the boys came toward him, he started running and shouting for help. Seeing this, the boys came after him. He ran faster and fell many times. Finally, he was unable to get up and run. He cried and begged the boys not to rob him because he had earned the money honestly. The boys asked if they could help him. He inquired about them. Actually, they were students who had come to the city for a football tournament. But they had got on a wrong bus. The heavy man told them which bus to take. After the misunderstanding was cleared, Armando came back to the street with the boys.
2 Sketch the character of Armando Gonzalez.
Armando Gonzalez is a poor, simple, honest and hard-working man with a big family. He seems to be a timid person who feels insecure thinking that others might hurt him. He works in a shoe shop and earns a little. It has taken him twenty years to save up to 50000. He seems to have never carried a large sum of money in his life. He becomes nervous and unnecessarily afraid that someone might rob him. He is a common man but the extreme fear of being robbed makes him an abnormal personality.
3 Why did Armando think that everyone in the bank was watching him? What was the truth?
OR, Why were the people looking at/watching Armando?
OR, Why did people have a second look at Gonzalez?
Because of his fear, Armando suspected that everyone in the bank was watching him. But they were looking at him because he had put on his hat backwards. He thought they were interested in the large sum of money he was taking out. He was nervous every minute when the bank teller counted the money. As a result, he mistakenly put on his hat backwards. This was the truth behind the people watching him. Some even had a second look at Gonzalez. They would not have watched him if he had not made this silly mistake.
4 What was Armando going to do with the money?
Armando was going to buy a house for his family with the money. He and his wife had saved up to 50,000 in twenty years. They were living in a small three-room rented house. He had six children and his mother-in-law also lived with them. Thus, the big family had lived uncomfortably for years. It had been their dream to have a house of their own. Now they had enough money, he was going to buy a house that would be bigger and more comfortable than their rented house.
5 What made Armando think that he was going to be robbed?
OR, Why is Armando afraid of the heavy man on the bus?
His own fear and other people’s activities made Armando think that he was going to be robbed. Armando was afraid of the heavy man on the bus because of his appearance and activities. When Armando was in the bank, people looked at him because he was wearing his hat on backwards. A heavy man looked at him twice. He thought the man knew how much money he had taken out and feared he would rob him. At the bus stop, seeing another heavy man standing next to him, he thought this was the same man in the bank and was following him. When the man put his hand in his pocket, Armando thought he was checking his gun. Finally, the heavy man got on the same bus after Armando. This made Armando more afraid of the heavy man. He thought he was going to be robbed.
6 If someone had told him that his hat was on backwards when he left the bank, do you think that Armando would have felt better?
Armando would not have felt better even if someone had told him that his hat was on backwards. He would suspect that person. He was suspicious of everyone. He was afraid of being robbed all the time. He felt nervous when the bank teller counted the notes. He became more afraid when he saw people watching him and a heavy man looking at him twice. He suspected the man standing next to him at the bus stop. Therefore, if he was told about his hat, he would take it as an excuse to come near him.
7 As Armando waited for the bus in the street, why wasn’t he happy about buying a new house?
Armando was not happy about buying a new house as he waited for a bus in the street. He was carrying the savings of his whole life. He feared that anyone could rob him and snatch his dream house. People had looked at him in the bank. Therefore, he was feeling uneasy. If he was robbed, it would take him the rest of his life to save the 50,000 rupees he was carrying. For the new house, he had taken out all the money. But he was not happy because of the fear of being robbed.
THE LOVING MOTHER
1 Narrate/Summarize/Retell the story of “The Loving Mother”.
OR, Tell the story “The Loving Mother” in your own words.
“The Loving Mother” is a supernatural story from Japan about a surprise night visit of a woman at a pharmacy. Soji Sakota, a pharmacist, owned a drugstore. His wife had died, and he lived alone in a room at the back of the store. One night he was working late to prepare his annual report when he heard a knock on the door. He ignored it twice. But it came louder, and he went to the door. He looked through the window and saw a young woman. She looked nervous. He did not open the door but told her to come in the morning. She asked him in a begging voice to help her. This led him to believe that it was an emergency. Therefore, he let her in. there was something abnormal about her. The most surprising of all was her request. She asked for a candy for her baby. She paid for it and left quickly. This strange visit occurred two more times. Therefore, Sakota asked a friend to hide in the room and take some photos of the woman. But when they developed the film, the photos showed everything in the room except the lady. They followed her the next night. But she noticed them. However, she did not seem to mind. Rather she led them to an old building and disappeared in a room. As they entered the room, they saw the lady fast asleep on the bed. Next to her was a baby eating the candy. Sakota went closer, observed her and found that found she was dead.
2 Do you think something like “The Loving Mother” could really happen?
We may not believe that something like “The Loving Mother” could really happen in this age. But it might be possible because many such stories have come from different parts of the world.
This is a story from Japan, which is now a highly advanced country. If such a story comes from such a country, there could be some truth in it. There are only two points in the story that suggest the woman could be a ghost. First, the woman is seen by Sakota and his friend but her picture is absent in the photo while other things are present. This could be possible because machines sometimes make unbelievable mistakes. Second, Sakota and his friend find the dead body of the same woman they follow. If we cut out this scene, the story is perfectly possible.
We have other supernatural stories like this from other modern countries. “The Recurring Dream” is from England. “The House Call” is from Germany. We have also heard many surprising stories in our country about the appearance of spirits after death. It could be possible that some very strong desire remains unfulfilled when a person dies. Until it is fulfilled, the dead person’s spirit may not be at rest. In this story, the mother loves her child so much that she haunts Sakota to lead him to the place where the baby is alone.
3 Show the points of similarity and difference between the two stories ‘The House Call’ and ‘The Loving Mother’.
Both stories “The House Call” and “The Loving Mother” have supernatural elements and both talk about the intimate relationship between children and parents. But the settings of the stories, the status of major characters and ghosts are different.
Both stories talk about parent-children relationship. The woman who visits Mr. Sakota’s pharmacy has a baby. Elda also has only one daughter. In both stories we have persons from the medical field and they live in cities. Both stories take place at night. Both Elda and the woman are single mothers. But “The Loving Mother” is a story from Japan, an Asian country. “The House Call” is a story from Germany, a European country. Dr. Braun is a surgeon but Sakota is a pharmacist. Braun lives with his wife. Sakota lives alone as his wife has already died. Also, Braun is older.
Both stories are supernatural. They talk about something which is difficult to believe in this age. In both stories the dead persons come back. But they and their appearance are quite different. A little girl is the ghost in “The House Call”. She appears only once and she has come for her mother. Braun knows something about her. But a woman is the ghost in “The Loving Mother”. She comes to Sakota’s pharmacy many times to buy a candy for her baby. Sakota does not find anything about her. There are only clothes of the girl but Sakota finds the woman’s dead body.
4 Describe the woman who visited Mr. Sakota’s pharmacy late at night.
The woman who visited Mr. Sakota’s pharmacy looked simple but abnormal and came with a strange request. She was quite thin, but her skin had an unnatural glow. Her hair was long and black, but it was not combed or arranged properly. She wore a simple dress, but it was almost worn. When she looked at Sakota, he was afraid because her eyes were strange. They seemed not looking at him but through him. In short, she looked as if she did not belong to this world. She said she had a baby and had come for a candy. This was a strange request at late night.
5 Do you think taking a picture of the woman was a good idea? Explain.
Taking a picture of the woman could be one way to find out something about her. She came at midnight and left in such a hurry that Mr. Sakota did not get a chance to talk to her to find something more about her. She was as strange as her request for a candy at midnight. She did not tell anything about herself or her child. Mr. Sakota also thought it would be rude to directly ask her for details. In that situation, taking a photo was a good idea because he could observe her physical features more closely and carefully. If he had the photo, he could also show it to others to find out if they know anything about her.
6 If you had been Mr. Sakota, would you have been afraid to let this woman in at midnight?
I would have been afraid like Mr. Sakota to let this woman in at midnight. Because men are attracted towards women, women can be used to rob them. And when a woman comes alone to a man at night time, her purpose could be to call him out so that he could be robbed. If I had been Mr. Sakota, I would have done exactly what he did. Before letting her in, I would have made sure that there was no danger. But I would have done something more. I would have asked for a detailed introduction and asked some questions to confirm if she was lying or telling the truth.
UNIT 2: MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN
MY HEART LEAPS OF WHEN I BEHOLD
William Wordsworth
1 Summarize the poem.
The poem expresses the poet’s feelings about nature. He recollects a childhood experience and praises the beauty of nature seen in the rainbow. As a child, he used to be very happy whenever he saw a rainbow in the sky. Now he is a grown-up man and still feels the same joy in the presence of the rainbow. He hopes this happiness will continue in his old age and to his death. The poet puzzles us with a paradoxical remark “The child is father of the man”. He means that childhood is past time out of which the present state of manhood is born. It depends on childhood experiences and influences what type of man a person becomes. Finally, the poet wishes his remaining days of life to be full of deep respect for nature. He places nature as an equal to God and religion. He feels that nature is the visible form of god. He seems to suggest that nature is nothing but the signature of god.
2 What is the main theme/central idea of the poem ?
OR, Interpret the poem in any way you like.
The main theme or central idea of the poem is man’s inseparable relationship with nature. Nature is represented by the rainbow in the poem. The rainbow still gives pleasure to the poet as it did when he was a child. This is only one example. There are other beautiful things in the natural world that please our senses. There are birds with multicoloured feathers, animals with attractive patterns of colour and flowers and fruits of a variety of colours, shapes and sizes. But nature not only pleases our senses. It is also the source of our livelihood and survival. That is why the poet respects nature.
The poet also talks about the importance of childhood impressions in the formation of personality. What we become depends on the type of environment in which we grow up. Present is born out of past. Similarly childhood experiences have long-lasting effect on a man’s life. That is why childhood is called the cornerstone of life.
3 In one sentence summarize the poem.
Beginning with a recollection of a happy childhood experience of watching a rainbow in the sky, the now grown-up poet still feels the same pleasure in the presence of the rainbow, hopes this will continue to his old age and reaches a conclusion that childhood experiences play a very important role in shaping a man’s personality, and he finally wishes the remaining days of his life to be full of as much love and respect for nature as he has for god and religion.
4 Why does the heart of the poet leap up when he sees a rainbow in the sky?
The poet’s heart leaps up when he sees a rainbow in the sky because he is a lover of nature. This love began in his childhood. Generally children are attracted to colours. The rainbow is particularly beautiful because of the several colours it contains. Things with multiple colours look more beautiful than things with a single colour. The poet seems to have grown up in a place where he often got the chance to see a rainbow. This habit from his childhood has led to his attachment with the rainbow.
5 What does the poet see between nature and man?
The poet sees a close, intimate relationship between nature and man. He talks about his happy childhood experience of seeing a rainbow. Whenever he saw the colourful rainbow as a child, he would be happy. There are other natural scenes which are as beautiful. In addition to pleasing our senses, nature plays a very important role in our life. We are ourselves a part of nature. We survive on different natural resources. But nature also needs humans to appreciate and use it properly. Thus, nature and man are interdependent as well.
6 “The child is father of the man”. Do you agree with the statement?
OR, What is the paradox in “The Child is Father of the Man”? Explain.
The statement “The child is father of the man” is a paradox. It sounds contradictory and impossible in its literal meaning. But it contains truth and wisdom if we analyze it. Generally father means the biological fact of being the cause of the birth of a child. But father also means one who gives birth to something, from whom something begins. The poet is talking about childhood and manhood. At present he is a man, so childhood means his past. The present is the outcome of the past. Therefore, the child is father of the man because man is born out of childhood experiences, impressions and learning.
7 What does the poet mean by natural piety?
By natural piety, the poet means the same level of love and respect for nature as he has for god and religion. Talking about the childhood experience of enjoying the beauty of the rainbow, the poet concludes that nature is the never-ending source of joy and happiness for humans. Practically speaking, our life is impossible without the natural resources available around us. Therefore, the poet suggests us to remember this fact everyday and feel grateful toward nature. He wishes his remaining days of life to be bound by natural piety, to be full of deep respect for nature.
SPEAKING OF CHILDREN…
Barbara Holland
1 Does this essay speak in favour or against having many children?
This essay speaks in favour of single child and against having many children. The writer talks about difficulties and problems of having many children. She contrasts the life style of parents of a single child with that of parents of plural children. Talking with personal experience, she clearly shows the miserable condition of parents who have more than one child.
The reason behind preferring single child is the many advantages. Because a single child is outnumbered, parents can brainwash the child and shape his/her personality. They can take him/her wherever they go. They can teach good manners and how to do many house works so that he/she can help them in need. Having one child is just like having an extra thing. With one child, the parents can have much private time. Naturally, the less children there are, the less expense there will be.
In contrast, having many children is problematic. Plural children bring a counter culture. They develop a very different way of life. Things are often misplaced and scattered. Children make a lot of mess. Parents cannot think of going out and cancel holidays because the father and mother cannot go alone. It means taking the whole family. If they ever go out, it is to places like Disneyland for children. They have to change the routine of their life for the children. They have to cook and eat early. They have to keep unnecessary relation with people whose children are their children’s classmates. Most of the income goes on feeding, clothing, educating and fulfilling other unnecessary demands of the children.
The parents of plural children find it hard to have a private time. In the context of Western countries, it is important for a couple to have private time for a happy and healthy married life. But parents of plural children frequently get interrupted. The writer has faced the same situation in her home. Whenever she and her husband are having a talk, her two children make many excuses to disturb them. They shout, make noise and come with nonsense questions. Because there is no time at home, she and her husband phone each other in their office time if they have something important to communicate.
2 Summarize the main idea of the essay in one paragraph.
The main idea of the essay is that it is better to have a single child. The essayist tries to convince us by talking about the advantages of a single child and difficulties of having more than one. (+advantages of single child + problems of plural children)
3 How does the author try to convince that it is better to have one child than several children?
By describing the advantages of having a single child and problems created by plural children, the author tries to convince us that it is better to have one child rather than have several children. She presents her own case as a proof of the problems caused by more than one child. (+ advantages of single child + problems of plural children)
4 Write a newspaper article on the advantages of having a single child.
It is often said that small family is a happy family. Such a family requires no more than two children at the most. Single child is better so that the parents can handle it easily. Having a single child has advantages like a peaceful home environment, order and cleanliness, less expenses on unnecessary things, a well-behaved child, easily manageable outings, and enough private time for the couple.
The advantages of having a single child will be clearer if we compare a single-child home environment with a plural-children home. Because a single child is outnumbered, parents can brainwash the child and shape his/her personality. They can take him/her wherever they go. They can teach good manners and how to do many house works so that he/she can help them in need. Having one child is just like having an extra thing. With one child, the parents can have much private time. Naturally, the less children there are, the less expense there will be.
5 Argue why child spacing may be important for a happy family.
For a happy family, the parents should not have more than child. If they need two, child spacing becomes important. If there is a gap of four to five years between the births of two children, parents can have the advantages of having a single child. Because a single child is outnumbered, parents can brainwash the child and shape his/her personality. They can take him/her wherever they go. They can teach good manners and how to do many house works so that he/she can help them in need. Having one child is just like having an extra thing. With one child, the parents can have much private time. Naturally, the less children there are, the less expense there will be.
By the time the second child is born, parents will have taught all the manners to the first child. Moreover, this child will be excited about the arrival of a sibling and will help them in bringing up the second child.
LOOK AT A TEACUP
Patricia Hampl
The writer tells the story of her mother’s life and links it with history. Her mother got married in 1939, the year when the Second World War started. She was marrying an American who was from Czechoslovakia like herself. As a memory of her country, she bought the teacup made in Czechoslovakia. She has spent years as a typical wife. She thinks marriage and the family are important for women. Now she has given her cups to the writer, who is her daughter. But she does not tell much about the past. Therefore, the writer studies the teacup. The production of such cups was discontinued after the war started. The women of the writer’s generation are angry at the destruction caused by the war. They reject old traditions like marrying and having family because they take it as a kind of slavery.
1 Discovering the meaning of the essay depends on discovering the thread of associations. Discuss.
To discover the meaning of the essay, we need to discover the thread of associations. The essay talks about many things: the life of the writer’s mother, views about marriage and family, women’s position in society, mother-daughter relationship, and the consequences of Second World War. All these aspects are linked together by means of the teacup.
By means of the teacup, the writer talks about mother-daughter relationship. Hampl and her mother are connected by the teacup because her mother has given her the cup.
The teacup is also associated with marriage and family. The mother bought the cup when she was going to marry. She is giving the cup to her daughter to suggest her to follow her example by getting married and having a family and children.
Through the teacup, the essay talks about two types of women. The first type follows traditions like the mother. The second type is modern like the daughter who challenges and questions tradition.
The cup also has a link with history and politics. As an art object, the teacup stands in contrast to wars, which destroy human lives, countries and cultures. The teacup remains but the country in which it was made is no more.
2 Describe the ‘Teacup’.
The teacup is thin and the level of tea in it can be measured from outside. It is pale green in colour. There are thin gold lines inside and outside the cup. The lines inside have become faint due to constant use. Czechoslovakia is written on the bottom of the cup because it was made there. The most important thing about the cup is that there are flowers inside the cup. They are different in colour, shape and position but they create a pattern. They look as if someone had scattered a bouquet over the cup, and they had fallen there. They don’t seem to be pasted but caught in their falling movement.
3 Explain the teacup’s association with marriage, mother-daughter relationship.
The writer associates the teacup with marriage and mother-daughter relationship. Her mother has given her the cup. In doing so, she is indirectly handing over traditional values like marrying, doing the duties of a wife, having a family and raising children. The daughter rejects these values although she accepts the cup. In spite of the differences, the relationship between them is very friendly. She gets her mother into all kinds of talks and they frankly discuss many things. The mother does not impose her values on the daughter. Instead she claims that she can understand the new generation’s views.
4 Write Hampl’s views on marriage.
OR, Explain the daughter’s attitude to marriage.
The daughter does not want to marry and have a family. Her mother tries to convince her about the importance of marriage and family for a woman. But work is more important for her. And there is a reason behind this. Work means equal right and opportunity that women did not have in the past. They were no more than unpaid domestic servants. But a modern woman is free and independent and does not need the husband’s name for social identity and security. She can be a mother without marriage. Thus, the daughter challenges the institution of marriage.
5 Describe what the essay/Patricia Hampl tells us about women and marriage.
The essay/Patricia Hampl tells us about two types of women and their views towards marriage. The mother is a typical woman in male-dominated society. She follows traditional values and considers marriage and family important for a woman. She can work and spend her whole life inside the four walls of her house caring for her family. On the other hand, the writer represents the voice of modern women who want equal rights, freedom and independent status. They question and reject traditional values like marrying. But they could have relationships as long as they like. The writer does not like marriage and decides to remain single.
6 What does this essay tell us about mother-daughter relationship?
The essay tells us about mother-daughter relationship through Hampl and her mother. They hold different attitudes towards life but they are like friends. Her mother holds traditional values and sees the importance of marriage and family for a woman. But Hampl is modern and against marrying and having a family. In spite of their differences, their relationship is very friendly. The daughter gets her mother in all kinds of talks. They frankly talk and discuss about many things. The mother understands her daughter and does not impose her values on the daughter. She knows time has changed.
7 What does this essay tell us about the importance of family?
The essay tells us about the importance of family through the views held by the mother and the daughter. Being a typical woman in male-dominated society, family is important for the mother. She finds happiness and satisfaction in caring for her children, husband and the whole family. An embrace from her husband is enough to make her happy for many days. But for the daughter, work is the most important thing in life, not the family. She wants freedom and independence. Marrying and having a family is like falling into a kind of domestic slavery because it limits women inside four walls.
8 How does Hampl see herself and her mother connected by the teacup?
Hampl and her mother are connected by the teacup, which her mother has given her. Hampl reads her mother’s history in the cup. It takes her to her mother’s past and to the country, Czechoslovakia, from where her mother came. The mother had bought it as a memory of her country and its art. By giving the cup, the mother is trying to hand over tradition and culture. Her aim is to indirectly suggest her daughter to follow her example – marry, have children and hand them her things in the same way. But Hampl studies the cup in detail and tries to read history in it.
9 Explain, “The cup is a detail, a small uncharred finger from the mid-century bonfire”.
The description of the cup as a small uncharred finger from the mid-century bonfire suggests the damage and destruction in the Second World War. The mid-century bonfire indicates the Second World War which lasted from 1939 to 1945. The cup the writer talks about has been given to her by her mother. It was made in Czechoslovakia, which was attacked during the war. It faced much destruction. That is why the writer says the art of making cups with a beautiful pattern of flowers was discontinued because the county was discontinued. However, some of those cups had been exported to America before the war. That was how the mother came to buy that cup in America. Thus, the finger (the cup) remained ‘uncharred’ although the body (the country) was burnt down. In the hand of the writer, the cup becomes a detail, telling her the story Czechoslovakia. The pattern of flowers inside the cup looks so real that it looks as if someone scattered a bouquet over it and the flowers fell in it. She links this falling of flowers with falling human bodies, falling bombs and falling countries.
10 What is the relationship among falling flowers and teacups, falling bodies and beds, and the falling of bombs unto women and falling countries?
The writer establishes an association among different types of falling. The relationship between falling flowers and teacups is an artistic one. The flowers inside the Czechoslovakian teacup look so real and beautiful as if someone had scattered a bouquet over the cup and the flowers stuck there. The relationship between falling bodies and beds refers to newly married couples having physical relation in beds. Many people had quickly married before going to the Second World War, fearing that they would be killed. Falling of bombs onto women and falling countries clearly mean the destruction and damage caused by the war. Not only individual people were killed but even whole countries were destroyed. The writer contrasts creative act with destructive act with the use of the same word ‘fall’.
11 What do you mean by “Many things fell that year”?
“Many things fell that year” means many things were destroyed in 1939, the year when the Second World War started. Here ‘fell’ means not just the falling movement; it also means some kind of damage and loss of value. The writer talks about many types of fall. Flowers seem to be falling inside the Czechoslovakian teacup because they look so real. Because of the firings and bombings, human bodies fell dead in the streets. Countries fell, which means they faced destruction. With the falling countries, their art and culture, like the making of teacups, also came to end. Faith in traditional values like marrying and having family also fell.
A WORN PATH
Eudora Welty
This is the story of an old Negro woman named Phoenix Jackson, who frequently takes a long difficult journey to the town to pick up a supply of medicine for her sick grandson.
1 Describe/sketch the character of Phoenix Jackson.
Phoenix Jackson is a poor old Negro woman who lives in a valley far away from the town. She has wrinkles in her face. Her head is covered with a red rag and she is wearing a long dress. She is weak and afraid of animals on the way. But she is also strong-willed and determined to reach her destination. She is very loving because she is taking the long trip to the town only to bring a soothing medicine for her grandson’s throat problem. She has a sense of morality. She admits to herself that she is stealing the coin which has fallen out of the hunter’s pocket.
2 Describe the journey Phoenix makes to the town of Natchez.
OR, Trace the various obstacles Old Phoenix comes up against between the Valley and the wagon track, and describe how she deals with each.
Phoenix Jackson makes a long difficult journey to the town of Natchez to pick up a supply of medicine for her grandson. Between the Valley and the wagon track, Old Phoenix comes up against several obstacles. She walks through the forest, crosses a log placed over a stream, creeps under a barbed-wire fence, and walks through a cornfield. Overcoming the obstacles, she reaches the town.
First of all, it is a cold December morning and she is alone. She has to walk through a forest and she might encounter wild animals. She walks up and down a hill, and at one point her dress is caught in a bush. With much care and patience, she frees herself.
After this, she crosses a single log placed over a stream. She calls this a trial because she could fall off. Afraid, she shuts her eyes, lifts her long skirt, levels her cane and crosses the log. She feels tired and rests for a while.
Then she has to go through a major obstacle: a barbed-wire fence. There she has to creep and crawl like a baby. She spreads her knees and stretches her hands to avoid getting hurt and caught. Then she passes through a maze-like field of corn taller than herself. There she mistakes a scarecrow for a ghost. It frightens her very much. But then she dares to reach out her hand. She finds a coat and nothing else and realizes her mistake. At last, she comes to a wagon track, which leads her to the road.
While walking along the road, a dog suddenly appears and comes to her. She tries to hit it with her cane but falls into a ditch. She lies there because she cannot come out by herself. After some time, a hunter comes along and helps her out. Finally, she reaches the town and finds the clinic where she gets the charity medicine for her boy.
3 “A Worn Path” is a story of unconscious heroism of Phoenix Jackson. Discuss.
OR, How does Phoenix Jackson show unconscious heroism to overcome the obstacles that come across during her journey?
“A Worn Path” is a story of unconscious heroism of an old black lady Phoenix Jackson. Heroism includes acts of adventure and risk taking and qualities like courage, bravery, strong will power and determination. We find these very qualities in Phoenix. Her heroism is proved by the long, difficult journey she takes. For a person of her age, the various obstacles she comes across and overcomes are no less than climbing Mt. Everest. (+ obstacles and crossing them)
4 Describe two obstacles Old Phoenix comes up against on her way to the hospital and how she deals with them.
The two main obstacles that Phoenix comes up against on her way to the hospital are a barbed-wire fence and a large dog. After crossing the forest, Old Phoenix finds a barbed-wire fence. There she has to creep and crawl like a baby. She spreads her knees and stretches her hands to avoid getting hurt and caught. While walking along the road, a dog suddenly appears and comes to her. She tries to hit it with her cane but falls into a ditch. She lies there because she cannot come out by herself. After some time, a hunter comes along and helps her out.
5 Why is Phoenix Jackson taking a long trip to town?
OR, What was the purpose of Phoenix Jackson’s trip to town?
Phoenix Jackson is taking a long trip to town to pick up a supply of medicine for her sick grandson. He had mistakenly swallowed something that damaged his throat. The damage to his throat never fully heals. It often swells shut, and he cannot swallow things. It becomes difficult even to breathe. Phoenix cannot see him in pain. They are the only two members left in their family. It is out of love for her grandson that she faces the trial of the journey to town every time it is necessary.
6 Why does Phoenix take the coin?
OR, [What is the meaning of the episode in which Phoenix steals the nickel?]
[The episode in which Phoenix steals the nickel is meaningful because we come to know that she has a sense of morality. And this knowledge does not offend our sense of honesty. We sympathize with her.] Phoenix picks the coin that falls from the pocket of the hunter so that she can get something to cheer up her sick grandson. The hunter has helped her out of the ditch into which she has fallen, but she takes his money. She herself is ashamed to do it. As a bird passes by, she thinks god is watching her while stealing. But she is not a thief. She has no evil intentions. She is not taking it for herself. After all, that coin does not make much difference for the hunter. Moreover, he says he would give her money if he had some. It means that coin was for her. If she did not pick it, someone else might.
7 Why does Phoenix keep talking to herself? What do her monologues add to the total portrait of her?
Phoenix keeps talking to herself to expresses how feels on the way. We come to know many things about her nature and character. She speaks to her surroundings to warn away animals. It is difficult for her to walk all the way because of old age. Another function of her monologue is to express the pain she feels in her old body. She sounds weak but determined. She is very loving because she is taking the journey for her grandson. She has a sense of morality when we hear her say she is stealing the coin which fell out of the hunter’s pocket. She uses non-standard language used by the Black community.
8 What significance can you attach to the fact that the journey takes place at Christmas time?
It is significant that the journey takes place in December at Christmas time. Christmas is celebrated in memory of Christ. It is considered his birthday. Christ is the symbol of love, kindness and sacrifice. Old Phoenix is making a long difficult journey full of obstacles. She makes this trip out of kindness and love for her only grandson, who is sick and dying. Another significance of Christmas is the gift aspect. Phoenix is carrying a great gift in the form of medicine. The medicine she brings may not save the boy but it will lessen his pain, offer him some relief and delay his death. Most importantly, it gives him hope: the greatest of gifts. Christ himself has given us the hope that we will be saved if we have faith.
THE THREE DAY BLOW
Earnest Hemingway
1 What do Bill and Nick talk about?
Nick and Bill talk about several topics of their common interest and some personal affairs. They talk about drink, baseball, books and writers, fishing, hunting, their fathers and Nick’s love affair. After they enter the cottage, they drink whisky and talk about its taste. Then they talk about a recent baseball game in which one team faced a shameful loss because the other team had best players. Then they talk about their favourite writers and the books they have read. One book they discuss is “Forest Lovers”. They wish they could take the writers to fishing with them. The next topic is their fathers. Nick says his father has never taken a drink. Bill reports his father’s suggestion about drinking. Then they discuss Nick’s ended love affair with Marge. After the talk about Marge, Nick feels better. Finally, the boys decide to go out and do some hunting. They hope to meet Bill’s father, who has gone into the forest.
2 The story can be presented in a sequence of seven scenes (excluding the opening exposition). Can you find them?
The story can be broken down into a sequence of scenes. Each scene is related to a particular topic Nick and Bill talk about. The opening exposition describes the weather condition and Nick’s walk through the orchard and up the hill to Bill’s cottage. They meet, exchange greetings, comment on the weather and go into the cottage. Excluding this exposition, the story can be divided into seven scenes.
The first scene begins with Bill’s proposal to have a drink. They drink whisky and talk about its taste. Bill suggests Nick to take off his shoes and warm his feet. He brings him a pair of socks. In the second scene, they talk about a recent baseball game in which one team faced a shameful loss because the other team had bought best players. In the next scene, they talk about their favourite writers and the books they have read. One book they discuss is “Forest Lovers”. Then they talk about their fathers. Nick’s father is a doctor and Bill’s father is a painter. Nick says his father has never taken a drink. Bill reports his father’s suggestion about drinking: to avoid becoming a drunkard, they should drink from opened bottles and should not open new bottles. In the next scene, they put a big log in the fire to keep it burning. Then they drink more alcohol and are almost drunk. The sixth scene is made up of the talk about Nick’s ended love affair with Marge. Nick becomes emotional at the mention of Marge. He had planned to find a job and earn enough to marry her. But he didn’t like her mother and stepfather and was confused about whether to continue the relationship. Bill is happy about Nick’s ended affair. After the talk Nick feels better as if a heavy load is released from his mind. In the final scene, they decide to go out. They take small guns for hunting. They hope to meet Bill’s father in the forest.
3 Discuss “The Three Day Blow” as a dramatic story.
“The Three Day Blow” is a dramatic story because it is more like a drama than a story. There is no actual story. Most of the story is told through the conversation between Nick and Bill. They drink alcohol and talk about personal and other affairs. There is more dialogue than physical movements. We hear the characters more than the narrator. The narrator’s role is limited. After the boys meet, the narrator’s role almost ends. Only at times when the conversation stops, the narrator describes the boys’ activities and movements in the cottage like bringing water and alcohol, making fire, etc.
Another dramatic element is minimal setting. The characters are not fully developed. There is no detailed background information about them. We come to know about them only through their conversation. The writer just reports their thoughts and activities and does not give extra comments. The only detailed description is about the weather condition and Nick’s walk up to Bill’s cottage.
Most importantly, the story can be broken down into a sequence of scenes as in a drama. Each scene is related to a different topic Nick and Bill talk about. (+ the ‘seven scenes’)
4 What is the relationship between the three-day blow and Nick’s mental condition?
There is an analogy between the three-day blow and Nick’s mental conflict. His mental condition is like the autumn storm outside. The storm outside is caused by natural cycle. The storm inside his mind is caused by the memory of his broken affair with Marge. Marge had come in his life like the three-day blow and gone away. He remembers how they had planned to get married, visit Italy and have fun. But everything between him and Marge was over like the three day blow that suddenly comes and blows the leaves off the trees. The stormy autumn weather captures Nick’s mental conflict.
5 What has the weather condition to do with the sequence of events?
All the talk between Nick and Bill is caused by the weather condition. It is a cold autumn day and a storm is coming. They sit inside, drink alcohol and talk about personal and other affairs. The most important of these affairs is Nick’s ended relationship with his beloved Marge. Actually, there is an analogy between the three-day blow and Nick’s mental condition. The stormy autumn weather seems suitable to represent the storm of emotions inside Nick’s heart.
6 Describe the setting in which the writer locates his characters.
The writer locates his characters on a cold stormy autumn day. This weather seems suitable to represent the storm of emotions inside Nick’s heart. The rain has just stopped. Nick walks through the orchard. The apples have been picked and the trees are almost bare. Nick is coming to the cottage of his friend Bill. This cottage is important. The story properly begins after the boys enter the cottage because they begin their conversation. Thus, we also enter their minds. After talking about several things, they come out. We also come out of their minds. The autumn wind is blowing and Bill says ‘she’ will blow for three days. This is a symbol that the memory of Marge will haunt Nick.
UNIT 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE POPLAR FIELD
William Cowper
1 Summarize the poem in one paragraph.
The poem describes the changes in his favourite poplar field. He describes the difference in the environment and natural beauty before and after the poplars are felled. As he returns to his dear poplar field after twelve years, the changed scene makes him sad. All the poplars are cut down, and he finds not a single shade to sit in. The musical environment has been ruined. He does not hear the music created by the movement of wind among the leaves. The black bird has fled away to find a safer shelter in a new place. He used to enjoy the melodious song of the blackbird. Now he can hear the song no more. The poplars used to grow along the Ouse River. They are no longer lined up along the river, and he cannot see their beautiful images in the river. They are lying on the ground. They have been made seats. These things remind the poet of the shortness of human life. He compares his life with the condition of those poplar trees. The trees were once strong and straight, but now they are lying on the ground. Similarly, the poet was also handsome and young, but now he has become old and will lie on the ground soon. It means he will die soon. Our life is short but our enjoyments seem to have a shorter life. In fact, we have destroyed our pleasures. He doubts that the poplar field will be full of other grown-up poplars before he dies.
2 Interpret the poem in your own words.
This poem talks about the beauty of nature and the need of nature conservation. The message is expressed through the poet’s feelings towards the poplar field. The poet celebrates the rural scenery but in a nostalgic tone. He fondly remembers the past happiness and pleasures that are no more. He is trying to explain the importance of trees in our life by linking the poplars with human happiness. Our pleasures are perishable and momentary. We are ourselves the cause because we cut down trees carelessly. The beautiful natural environment has been ruined, and there is also destruction of the habitat of birds and animals. Therefore, he appeals for conserving nature.
3 How does the poet plead for a defense of nature conservation through the poem?
OR, How does the poem defend the conservation of nature? Elaborate.
OR, Consider this poem as a defense of nature conservation.
The poet pleads for a defense of nature conservation by describing what things we lose when we cut down trees in large quantities. The first and obvious effect is the destruction of beautiful scenery and pleasing environment. The poet misses many things in the changed poplar field. All the poplars are cut down, and he finds not a single shade to sit in. The musical environment has been ruined. He does not hear the music created by the movement of wind among the leaves. He used to enjoy the melodious song of the blackbird. Now he can hear the song no more. The poplars used to grow along the Ouse River. They are no longer lined up along the river, and he cannot see their beautiful images in the river.
Secondly, we cannot easily restore things once we destroy them. The habitat of wildlife is destroyed. For example, the black bird has fled away to find a safer shelter in a new place. Many species are gradually pushed to extinction. Destruction takes no time but restoration takes a long time. The poet doubts that the poplar field will be full of other new poplars before he dies. Therefore, it is better not to destroy the environment.
4 What lessons do you learn from the poem? Explain.
An important lesson we learn from the poem is that we lose many things when we cut down trees in large quantities. The poet talks about many bad effects of this act. The beautiful natural environment is destroyed. The poet has lost many things in the absence of the poplar trees. He does not find a single shade to sit in. The musical environment has been ruined. He does not hear the music created by the movement of wind among the leaves. He used to enjoy the melodious song of the blackbird. Now he can hear the song no more. The poplars used to grow along the Ouse River. They are no longer lined up along the river, and he cannot see their beautiful images in the river.
The most important lesson is that we cannot easily restore things in nature once we destroy them. Destruction takes no time but restoration takes a long time. The poet doubts that the poplar field will be full of other new poplars before he dies. Therefore, it is better not to destroy the environment.
5 What changes did the poet see in the poplar field when he came back after 12 years?
OR, What does the poet miss when he visits the poplar field after the poplars were cleared/felled?
The poet saw many changes in the poplar field when he came back after 12 years. He misses many pleasing experiences that he used to have in the poplar field. The poplars are cut down, and he finds not a single shade to sit in. The musical environment has been ruined. He does not hear the music created by the movement of wind among the leaves. He used to enjoy the melodious song of the blackbird. Now he can hear the song no more. The poplars used to grow along the Ouse River. They are no longer lined up along the river, and he cannot see their beautiful images in the river. Now the poplars are cleared/felled, he cannot enjoy the scene as he used to.
6 Why do you think the poet has written this poem in the first person?
By writing the poem in the first person, the poet is directly expressing his feelings and opinions at the destruction of the poplar field. This personal approach gives strength to his appeal. We are usually moved and touched by personal stories. In a sad tone, he gives a detail of what things he misses in the changed poplar field: shade to sit in, movement of wind among the leaves, beautiful images in the river and melodious song of the blackbird. He indirectly means that we can feel the same because we miss the same things when trees in our surroundings are cut down.
7 Discuss how the poet links up the idea of the cut down poplars with the end of human life and pleasures.
OR, How is chopping down of trees compared to a man’s life in the poem?
The poet links up the idea of the cut down poplars with the end of human life and pleasures by showing what things we lose when we cut down trees in large quantities. This act of cutting down trees has a bad effect in our life. The poet misses many things in the changed poplar field. All the poplars are cut down, and he finds not a single shade to sit in. The musical environment has been ruined. He does not hear the music created by the movement of wind among the leaves. He used to enjoy the melodious song of the blackbird. Now he can hear the song no more. The poplars used to grow along the Ouse River. They are no longer lined up along the river, and he cannot see their beautiful images in the river.
The poet compares the felled poplars with a man’s life. These poplars remind him of the shortness of human life and pleasures. He compares his life with the condition of those poplar trees. The trees were once strong and straight, but now they are lying on the ground. Similarly, the poet was also handsome and young, but now he has become old and will lie on the ground soon. It means he will die soon. Our life is short but our enjoyments seem to have a shorter life. He doubts that the poplar field will be full again before he dies.
8 Write essay on “living in the country” or on “rural life”.
Country life means life in the village. The environment in village is usually peaceful. Because villages are near forests and natural environment, we can have happy and pleasant life like the one described in the poem “The Poplar Field”. Many things in the poplar field make the poet happy. The poplars provide cool shade to sit in. There is musical environment created by the movement of wind among the leaves. We can enjoy the melodious song of the birds. Unity, cooperation and mutual help can be found in villages.
There are some disadvantages of living in the country. There is lack of enough job opportunities. Many villages are remote and not easily accessible, like those in the hills. Villagers often suffer because of the lack of facilities of higher education, hospitals, transport, communication and advanced technology. The most obvious disadvantage is that people do not get necessary help in the emergency. These things make life hard.
THE NIGHTMARE LIFE WITHOUT FUEL
Isaac Asimov
The essay talks about the situation in the future. It was published as an article in 1977, but it described what would happen in 1997. This is a type of science fiction, and the topic is fuel shortage that the writer thinks is sure. Asimov focuses on the decreasing resources of fuel in the world. He presents a dystopic vision by showing the frightening, terrifying picture of life in the extreme lack of fuel.
1 Drawing ideas from the essay and using your own, discuss what will happen if the fuel resources of the world are finished.
OR, What specific problem does Asimov focus on in his essay?
OR, What kinds of serious problems could a fuel shortage cause?
OR, What will be the disadvantages of the fuel crisis?
The essay describes many serious problems a fuel shortage could cause. The writer offers examples of what will happen if we do not conserve the world’s natural resources. Our life depends on different fuel resources like wood, coal, petroleum products, etc. But with overuse, fuel resources are decreasing. Alternative resources like nuclear energy and solar power are impossible, dangerous or expensive to afford.
The first problem caused by fuel shortage is the discomfort in the absence of enough vehicles. Now we use all kinds of private and public vehicles to go to work, study or on journeys. In the absence of fuel, we will not be able to use those vehicles. We will have to walk. Only a few large vehicles like the railway or subway will be there. And those will be overcrowded. We will have to travel very uncomfortably.
There will be a lack of artificial technology we use to deal with changing climate/seasons. Now we use refrigerators, air conditioners, fans, heaters, etc. to make our life easier. When there is fuel shortage, open air will be the only air conditioning in summer. In rainy days, we will be lucky to have umbrellas, rain coats and boots. We will have to wear sweaters and warm clothes and huddle together in winter.
The condition of suburbs will be worse than the city. People living there depend completely on automobiles for food and other supplies. Without vehicles, they will have to use carts to obtain and distribute food. In rainy days and winter, getting supplies from the city will be more difficult. If roads are closed for many days during snowstorm, the situation will become worse.
There will be no personal luxury because priority should be given to the nation over individual. Until other sources are found, nation must survive. Therefore, the remaining amount of energy or fuel must be used in agriculture and production to fulfill the basic needs. Car factories will produce farm machinery.
Advanced countries like America could manage to survive. The rest of the world will suffer from starvation and death. Children will be the first and easy victim as mothers go dry with no nutritious food. Infant mortality rate will increase. People may manage to survive, but we need enough nutrition for a properly functioning brain. Thus, many people will be brain-damaged due to undernutrition.
Fuel shortage will make our world like it was in the pre-industrial age. It will lead to subsistence farming. We will have to depend on our own muscles and animals for work and carrying loads. We will have to work hard for survival, and life will be very difficult. There will be little or no leisure.
2 According to the author, what will be the advantage of the fuel crisis?
The writer satirically talks about some advantages of fuel crisis. One is clean environment and fresh air. With few vehicles and factories, there will be less smoke and sound and less pollution. Accidents will be no more. Everywhere people will be walking even at late nights. Streets will be full of people, and there will be mutual protection in the crowd. There will be fewer crimes. With no police van, criminals will not identify the police easily. The police will be back to their beats and catch the criminals. There will be peace in the world as the competition in weapon production and nuclear experiments will stop. Only the United States and the Soviet Union will have some planes, ships and tankers. But they will not dare to use such things.
3 Can you guess Asimov’s opinion on the military establishment?
OR, What does Asimov think of the armed forces in general?
Asimov holds a critical opinion on the military establishment. He thinks armed forces consume energy in large quantities. Therefore, he thinks one advantage of fuel crisis is that the armies will be gone. They are expensive to afford. It is all right that every nation has few soldiers and the police to maintain law and order and peace in society. But he thinks the armies, which countries keep to fight wars, are unnecessary. He assumes that when there will be no armies there will be no war.
4 In Asimov’s essay, what is happening in the rest of the world as America struggles without fuel?
In Asimov’s essay, the rest of the world is facing a life-threatening crisis as America struggles without fuel. Poor and technologically backward countries cannot provide enough for their people. People will be starving and dying. Infant mortality rate increase because newborns will have no milk to feed on when mothers themselves go dry in the lack of nutritious food. People might manage to survive and their bodies might function. But many will become permanently brain-damaged caused by undernutrition.
5 What does the author mean when he says, “the suburbs were born with the auto, lived with the auto, and are dying with the auto.”
The author says the suburbs were born with the auto, lived with the auto and are dying with the auto. He means automobiles were the cause of growing suburbs. Now they are causing the decline of those very suburbs. When people from villages and remote areas came to work in cities, they started living at the edge of cities. Thus, suburbs were born. Autos made it easy for them to go to work. Food, medicines, other commodities and basic supplies became easily available because of autos. But fuel shortage has led autos to disappear. And in the absence of autos, it is almost impossible to survive in the suburbs.
UNCHOPPING A TREE
W. S. Merwin
The essay describes the process of reversing the chopping of a tree. The writer tells us step-by-step how to make a felled tree whole again. He gives instructions for putting it upright and making it stand as it was before. But his instructions are impossible to follow, and it makes his style pseudo-directive. This indirectly suggests that we should not chop down trees if we cannot unchop them.
1 Is unchopping a tree possible?
Unchopping a tree is impossible although the writer gives us instructions about how to unchop a tree. This becomes clear when we try to follow his instructions. He tells us to begin by collecting and attaching small parts like leaves and twigs to their original places. We also need to repair the damages to major parts. If the fall was carefully and correctly planned, the damage to the tree could have been minimized.
The next step is to restore other parts of the tree like nests, webs and other such structures made by birds, spiders and others. We should repair and reassemble them. But this is beyond human skill. We also have to correct the surroundings. Neighbouring trees or bushes might have been damaged when we felled the tree. We must repair them and attach their broken parts. We should not attach parts to a wrong tree.
Joining the tree parts is very complicated. We need to use appropriate fixatives to different parts. All the splinters, chips, bark and sawdust of the tree should be attached to their proper places. In this way the tree may become whole again. But we cannot make it alive and functioning again. The sap will not begin to flow inside this reassembled tree.
The major stage in the unchopping process is erecting the tree. For this, we need tackle, which includes ropes, pulleys and other lifting machinery. We also need scaffold, the structure of poles and planks, to restore the tree parts in their respective positions. After all parts are arranged and joined together, the tree trunk is placed on the stump. While raising the tree, we have to handle the trunk, branches and leaves very carefully. The joined parts may break.
Finally, we remove the tackle and scaffolding piece by piece to let the tree stand on its own. The tree may not endure the wind or motions of the cloud. But we have to leave it there and go to other trees. We have to repeat the same unchopping process for all the trees we have chopped down. We must put everything back. But this is completely impossible.
2 What is Merwin implying by asking the reader to un-chop the tree? Discuss his plead against deforestation.
OR, What does the essay suggest about conservation and against deforestation?
This essay speaks for conservation and against deforestation. By asking the reader to unchop the cut down tree, Merwin is trying to say that we are destroying ourselves by destroying the natural world. Our life totally depends on nature. And this destruction cannot be reversed. There would be no harm in chopping down the trees if unchopping was possible. Because this is impossible, we should not cut down trees unnecessarily. By describing the impossible task of unchopping a tree, the essay gives us a message: if we cannot unchop a tree, we have no right to chop it down. It suggests us to preserve the environment by preserving trees. We might be able to join all the parts of a felled tree, make it whole again and put it upright with the use of artificial fixatives and machinery. But we cannot give its life back. Complete restoration of the felled tree is impossible. Therefore, we should not destroy the forest indiscriminately. If we really need to cut down a tree, more trees should be planted in its place.
3 Distinguish between the directive parts of the text and any other part. What is the function of the nondirective parts of the text?
The essay can be divided into directive and nondirective parts. The directive parts are made up of imperative sentences. Some of these sentences are either indirect or in the passive. They function as instructions for making a felled tree whole and upright again. For example, the writer says “start with the leaves, the small twigs, and the nests”. The nondirective parts are mainly informative and descriptive. They make it clear that the unchopping process is really impossible. They also show the writer’s attitude, tone and style. For example, he is ironic as he says “if the fall was carefully and correctly planned”.
KEEPING THINGS WHOLE
Mark Strand
1 Summarize the poem in a paragraph.
The poet is thinking deeply about nature, life and society. He considers himself the absent part of a field. He becomes its missing part. It is the case with him everywhere. Wherever he finds himself, he is what is missing from there. He is present and absent at the same time. As he walks, he feels he has parted the air. But then the air moves on to fill the spaces where his body has just been. Everyone has a different purpose in life for moving. The speaker claims his purpose is to keep things whole and complete.
2 Interpret the poem in any way you like.
OR, What is the theme/central idea of the poem?
We can interpret the poem as an appeal for nature conservation and social harmony. The poet says that he wants to keep things whole. He is for wholeness and against division/fragmentation, for conservation and against destruction. We generally view things in parts and fragments. It creates division in life and society as well as in nature. Every part has an equal value to make a whole. Being big or small does not matter. The natural world is made up of different living and non-living things. Our society is made up of different types of people. Whether it is society or nature, wholeness depends on the interdependence and coordination of the different parts. If balance is not maintained and any part is neglected, or destroyed, the whole will be incomplete. The poet asks us to fill the gaps in society as well as in nature to make it whole.
3 How does the poet view himself in the field, in the air and in the backdrop?
In the field, the poet views himself as its absent part. It has been fragmented and some parts are missing. But he will make the field whole. In the air, he seems to be the parting element, but for a short while. As he walks, he parts the air. But as he moves ahead, the air comes to fill the spaces where his body has just been. In the backdrop, he works to bridge all gaps. He claims that he moves to keep things whole. Wherever he is, he is what is missing. He provides the missing parts.
4 What does the last stanza suggest?
The last stanza suggests that we should move, like the poet, to keep things whole. For example, if we pollute air and water, we break their wholeness. To make them whole again, we should have clean air and water. And we should do everything to make them clean. The natural environment is fragmented because we have cut down trees in large quantities and killed many species. We can make it complete and whole again only if we plant more trees and conserve endangered species and let them flourish again. We should preserve the wholeness. This is suggested in the last stanza.
UNIT 4: HUMOUR AND SATIRE
CONCRETE CAT
Dorthi Charles
1 Describe/Justify “Concrete Cat” as a concrete poem.
OR, Interpret the poem “Concrete Cat”.
OR, Give/Write a summary of “Concrete Cat”.
“Concrete Cat” is an example of concrete poem. It tries to create a picture of a cat by using the words for the cat’s body parts in a special way. Concrete poem is made for the eye. Its main concern is with the physical appearance. It presents an object or event on the page. This type of poem is meant to be seen rather than read. It is for the eye, not for the ear. It is very economical in the use of words. We can find these qualities in “Concrete Cat”. The poet is trying to show catness in action by using words and letters in a special way. The cat’s body parts like ears, eyes, mouth, whiskers, paws, tail are written on the page in such a way that we almost see the cat. [+A, Y, U + tail + mouse] for 10 marks
2 What does the poet indicate by capitalizing the A in ear? the Y in eye? the U in mouth? By using spaces between the letters in ‘tail’?
By capitalizing A in ear, Y in eye and U in mouth, the poet creates a humorous and a concrete picture of an alert cat. He is showing catness in action. Capital A in ear indicates the cat’s pointed ears. Capital Y in eye indicates that the cat’s eyes are wide open and eyeballs have become big at the sight of a mouse. Capital U in mouth indicates the cat’s watering tongue ready to taste the mouse. And the use of spaces between the letters in the word ‘tail’ indicates the length of the tail, which the cat is twisting with pleasure.
3 Why is the word ‘mouse’ upside down?
The word ‘mouse’ is upside down to indicate that it is dead. It represents the shape or position of a dead mouse. It has already been killed by the cat. And it is placed behind the cat, which means that a mouse cannot stand upright in front of a cat. The cat seems to be playing with the dead mouse by turning it upside down. It has left the mouse there to see whether or not it is able to get up again and run away.
4 What possible pun might be seen in the cat’s middle stripe?
The pun in the cat’s middle stripe is created as the word ‘stripe’ suggests two different words: ‘stripe’ and ‘tripe’. Pun is a poetic device in which a word creates two meanings in a particular context. It is a play on words. The word ‘stripe’ also contains the word ‘tripe’, which means the stomach lining of an animal used as food. The word stripe is repeated without space. With the white background of the page, the five lines with ‘stripestripestripe’ create the real pattern of stripe on the cat’s body.
5 Would you call this work of art a poem?
This is a work of art like a painting because it has created a picture of a cat. But it is also a poem because the picture is created out of words. Words and letters have played the role of brush and paint. It is a special type of poem called concrete poem. It is made for the eye. It is concerned with the presentation of an object or event. Instead of describing the cat’s activities in poetic lines, the poet is trying to show catness in action by using words and letters in a special way. The cat’s body parts like ears, eyes, mouth, whiskers, paws, tail are written on the page in such a way that we almost see the cat and its activities.
6 Would you call “Concrete Cat” a perfect/proper poem?
“Concrete Cat” is a poem but not in the traditional sense of a perfect poem. Poems are concerned with ideas and emotions and written in lines. But “Concrete Cat” is a special type of poem called concrete poem which is made for the eye. Its main concern is with the presentation of an object or event. Instead of describing the cat’s activities in poetic lines, the poet is trying to show catness in action by using words and letters in a special way. The cat’s body parts like ears, eyes, mouth, whiskers, paws, tail are written on the page in such a way that we almost see the cat and its activities.
OOPS! HOW’S THAT AGAIN?
Roger Rosenblatt
In our daily life, we make many verbal errors. They cause laughter, embarrassment and even negative effect. Mostly such mistakes happen unconsciously. Sometimes we deliberately use them as jokes. The writer discusses various types of verbal mistakes with examples. He is also concerned with the causes of such errors and the reasons behind laughing at them.
1 Into what groups has Rosenblatt organized his numerous examples of verbal missteps?
OR, What are the different types of verbal errors?
Rosenblatt has organized his numerous examples of verbal missteps into four groups: slip of tongue, mistranslation, blooper and spoonerism.
Slip of tongue is the mistake of saying something else instead of what we intend. An example is the mistake made by a businessman as he wished Prince Charles a happy married life on the occasion of his engagement with Lady Diana. But he said Lady Jane, who was an ex-girlfriend of Charles. Similarly, Mr. Ford once mistakenly said that he often watched a particular program on radio.
Mistranslation is a silly mistake caused by the wrong translation of a word in another language. The advertising slogan “Come alive with Pepsi” was mistranslated in German as “Come alive out of Grave with Pepsi”. Similarly, a German president, while welcoming an Indian president, asked “Who are you?” instead of “How are you?” He made a mistake while translating the phrase.
Bloopers are silly and embarrassing errors often made on radio and television. Sometimes they are deliberate mistakes meant as jokes. Other times they are real mistakes. One radio anchor announced ‘General Fools’ as the sponsor of a programme instead of ‘General Foods’. Another announcer mistakenly said a program was sponsored by Phillips’ Milk, when Phillips was a petroleum company.
Spoonerism is a type of verbal error in which the letters of words in a sentence are misplaced. This type is named after Archibald Spooner, who initiated this trend. An example is the statement Spooner made while scolding a student. He told the boy to leave by ‘town drain’ because he ‘hissed’ his ‘mystery’ lectures and ‘tasted’ the whole ‘worm’. What he intended was that the boy should leave by ‘down train’ because he ‘missed’ his ‘history’ lectures and ‘wasted’ the whole ‘term’.
2 What explanation does Rosenblatt advance for the human tendency to make verbal errors?
OR, Why do we commit verbal errors?
OR, What causes verbal errors?
We often commit many verbal errors in our daily life either unconsciously or deliberately. Rosenblatt explains mainly the psychological cause of verbal errors. He also talks about linguistic cause of errors.
The psychological cause of verbal errors is that they occur because of the unconscious intention of the speaker. Our mind contains all types of desires. The social values and rules we have learned repress these desires. Sometimes such desires come out in the form of verbal errors. Once a man entered a restaurant with his girlfriend and ordered a room instead of a table.
The linguistic cause of verbal error is related with storage and production of words in the brain. Our brain stores words in a particular grammatical structure. Some incorrect words exist in the brain in an associative chain with the correct ones. Sometimes such incorrect words replace the correct ones and verbal errors occur. Ford once said that he often watched a particular program on radio.
3 Why do we laugh at verbal errors?
We laugh at verbal errors mainly because they create fun. When conventional discourse becomes predictable and boring, verbal errors work as jokes to delight us. An error like watching a programme on radio helps to break monotony. We also laugh when it is a truly odd error like the slogan ‘come out of grave with Pepsi’ which is a mistranslation of ‘come alive with Pepsi’. Most importantly, we laugh at verbal errors because life itself is full of slips and mistakes. We laugh to sympathize with the blunderer because we all make foolish mistakes at one time or another.
UNIT 5:
MALINI
Rabibdranath Tagore
1 Retell/Summarize/Write the story of “Malini”.
Tagore’s play “Malini” is the story of a Hindu princess who becomes the cause of a religious conflict. The play begins with a protest. Malini is the princess of the kingdom of Kashi. Taught by Buddhist monks, she is influenced by Buddhist ideas. The Hindu Brahmins fear that she might use her power and influence to introduce Buddhism in their land. They demand for her banishment. Malini does not like earthly riches herself. She is ready to live a simple life without royal comforts and luxuries. The King and the Queen are surprised at this change in Malini. Kemankar is the leader of the protestors. He tells them to be firm in their decision. His friend Supriya does not like the idea of banishing a girl just in the name of saving religion. The Brahmins become angry with him. Kemnkar asks Supriya to keep silent. Meanwhile, the army also decides to support them. But the Brahmins do not want to go to such an extreme as rebellion. They want to win with their faith alone, not with arms. They pray to the goddess to descend from heaven to guide them. At this time Malini comes down the palace. She declares her self-exile and is ready to go to live with common people. They are impressed with her speech, character and concern about the people. They take her back to the palace. Kemankar decides to bring armed forces from other kingdoms to make the revolt successful. He tells Supriya to stay there and keep him informed. But Supriya becomes impressed by Malini. He senses a divine spirit in her and loses his heart. To save Malini and bloodshed, he tells the King about Kemankar’s plans. Kemankar is arrested. He feels betrayed. As his last wish, he wants to see Supriya, his best friend. After some discussion, he kills Supriya. The King wants to execute him there. The play ends with Malini’s request to the King to forgive Kemankar.
2 Give/Draw a character sketch of Malini.
OR, Show how Malini is different from other characters.
Malini is the central character in the play. She is quite different from other characters because of her virtues. She is a princess and she is young and beautiful. But she is not proud of herself. She is polite instead. She represents the true spirit of religion as she shows qualities like love, mercy, sympathy and forgiveness. She is ideal and virtuous. Malini is not just influenced by Buddhist philosophy of non-violence, peace and compassion. She puts her theory into practice. Her heart is big enough to greet even the opponent. She is not afraid that Kemankar is coming with armies. She says there is room for them all in her heart as well as in her house. Even after Kemankar kills Supriya, she asks the King to forgive him.
Malini talks in such a way that she can impress and convince anyone. She persuades the King to let her go to live among the people. The Brahmins are also impressed by her sweet voice, speech, simplicity and her sympathy for the common people. Malini becomes like Buddha in her decision of self-exile. She is ready to leave the royal life of comfort and luxury to experience the life of hardships and poverty. She wants to live among the people to bridge the gap between the palace and the people. Seeing the change in her, the Queen says she is no more a common girl. She seems to have a divine force. Supriya and the King sense the same.
3 In the beginning of the play the King talks about “storm clouds gathering over the King’s house.” What does he refer to?
When the King talks about “storms gathering over the King’s house,” he is referring to the revolt of people against the palace. Actually, the Brahmins have gathered before the palace and are demanding for the banishment of Malini, the princess. They fear that she will introduce Buddhism. They are Hindus and feel Buddhism will displace their religion. The army is also on their side. Thus, a kind of rebellion is about to begin. The King is referring to this difficult situation as he talks about “storm clouds” over his house.
4 What were the Brahmins demanding for?
OR, Why were the Brahmins demanding for Malini’s banishment?
Seeing Malini as a threat to their religion, the Brahmins were demanding her banishment. They feared that she was going to introduce Buddhism in their land where they had followed Hinduism for centuries. Kashi was the religious center of Hinduism at the time of the play. The majority of the population was of Brahmins. They had privileged position in Hindu society. The challenge to Hinduism would mean disadvantage for them. Therefore, when Malini came out with a new concept influenced by Buddhism, they got united against her and shouted for her banishment.
5 If the demand persisted, would the King banish his daughter? Give reasons.
If the Brahmins’ demand for Malini’s banishment persisted, the King would have to grant their request. The King must make the decision against his will. His son also suggests that delay would be dangerous. Because the majority of population of the kingdom is of Brahmins, their protest might turn into rebellion. Moreover, Malini herself has asked for her own banishment from the palace. She is herself ready to leave the palace and go to the people. She has convinced the King to grant her this wish. Therefore, the King would be ready to banish his own daughter.
6 What was the revolt against? Against Malini? Against the King? Against Buddhism?
It seemed as if the revolt was against Malini and the King, but it was mainly against Buddhism. Kashi was the religious center of Hinduism and the majority of the population was of Brahmins. When Malini came out with a new concept influenced by Buddhism, the Brahmins got united against her. Because she was the princess, the King would try to protect her. Therefore, the revolt was also against the King. The Brahmins were Hindus. They feared that their religion would be displaced by Buddhism. Banishing Malini meant banishing Buddhism. Therefore, the revolt was actually against Buddhism.
7 Why does Malini ask for her own banishment from the palace?
Malini wants to lead a life like a commoner and asks her own banishment from the palace. Influenced by Buddhist philosophy of life, she doesn’t care about royal comforts and luxuries. Both the royal family and the Brahmins want comfortable life with privileged position in the society. But Malini wants to end inequality caused by class division. When the Brahmins ask for her banishment, she is ready to leave the palace and live among them. She intends to teach the Brahmins the real essence of life as taught by Buddha. She can do this by going out of the palace. Therefore, she asks for her own banishment.
8 The King repeatedly asks Supriya to ask for anything he wished. Why do you think he is so insistent?
The King is very grateful towards Supriya for saving Malini and the kingdom from Kemankar’s plot. Therefore, he repeatedly asks Supriya to ask for anything he wished. He feels Supriya is too humble and shy to ask for anything. But he wants to reward Supriya with whatever he would ask for. He even intends to give the hand of his daughter, Malini. He tells Malini that she owes her life to this noble youth. He sees Supriya as a perfect match for Malini. Therefore, he is insistent and tells Supriya again and again to be brave and ask for even the impossible.
9 Would you call Supriya a betrayer? Give reasons.
Supriya is not a betrayer because he prevents violence by telling the king about Kemankar’s plot. If he had not revealed Kemankar’s plans, it would have caused bloodshed and destruction. He has saved Malini, the King and the country from Kemankar’s wrong decision. But he is not a blind follower of dogmatic ideas. He saw that Malini was not a threat to Hindu religion but a well-wisher of humanity. Therefore, he had to betray Kemenkar to save Malini, who was trying to teach the true spirit of religion. It is not really betrayal.
Supriya seems to be a betrayer if we see from the side of Kemankar and their friendship. He had participated in the protest and rally against the palace. He has never left Kemankar. When Kemankar decides to leave Kashi and bring armies from other kingdoms, he wants to go with him. But on Kemankar’s request he had agreed to stay there and keep him informed about the situation. However, he breaks his promises and betrays his best friend.
Supriya’s decision to reveal Kemnkar’s dangerous plans saves a lot of trouble and violence. What he has done is for the good of people, country and humanity. But his intention is not to have Kemankar killed. He only wants to stop Kemankar from going in the wrong way. Therefore, his betrayal is not actually betrayal.
10 Draw a character sketch of Supriya.
Supriya is a Hindu Brahmin, but he is not dogmatic like other Brahmins. He is not a blind follower of what is written in books. He wants to see the true spirit of religion in a living form. He finds it in Malini. He does not see the need of arms to defend faith. For him religion means love, kindness, peace and tolerance, not violence. Therefore, he reveals Kemankar’s plot to the King to prevent bloodshed. He laughs at the idea of banishing a girl just in the name of saving religion. He gives more value to the essence of religion rather than its form. He is more flexible in his belief. He is not full of hatred against a different religion.
11 Draw a character sketch of Kemankar.
Kemankar is a Hindu fundamentalist who cannot stand a threat to his religion. He is a blind follower of religion and a narrow-minded person. He does not have enough tolerance. He would rather die to defend his faith and religion than accept another religion in the centuries-old land of Hindus. He gives more value to the form of religion than its essence. He has read holy books and is good at arguing. He unifies the Hindu Brahmins to lead a protest against Malini and Buddhism. He remains firm in his decision from the beginning to the end. Others are impressed by Malini and quit their protest. But Kemankar goes for violence. He brings armies from outside to save his so-called religious belief with arms.
12 Compare/contrast between Supriya and Kemankar.
OR, Show how Supriya is different from Kemankar.
Although Supriya and Kemankar are close friends and have always been together, they hold different views about religion, faith and Malini. [+ Supriya’s character + Kemankar’s character]
13 Why does Kemankar leave the kingdom?
Kemankar leaves the kingdom to bring armies from other kingdoms to make the revolt successful. He leads the protest against Malini and Buddhism. But when the Brahmins realize their mistake about Malini, they end the protest and become ready to learn from her. Kemankar cannot accept this failure. He makes a plot to defend his religion. All the Brahmins are impressed by Malini. He knows no one will go against her. Therefore, he feels the need to bring armies from the outside and leaves the kingdom on this mission.
14 The play ends with a suspense of whether or not the king forgives Kemamkar. Do you think he fulfills Malini’s request to forgive Kemankar?
The play ends with a suspense of whether or not the King fulfills Malini’s request to forgive Kemankar. But we can say that Malini will be able to convince him to spare Kemankar’s life, if not his crime.
The King will grant Malini’s every request, even to forgive Kemankar. The King is influenced by her views. He has sensed a divine force in her. He knows her decision will be correct. He was ready to let her go to live among the people as she wished. He is more impressed when he sees the change of attitude in the Brahmins toward Malini. If Malini is asking him to forgive Kemankar, she is asking him to give her a chance to try to change Kemankar’s attitude. She hopes to make Kemankar feel sorry about killing Supriya and repent for it. Eventually, she might even convert Kemankar with her compassion and humanism.
The King may be firm in his decision to execute Kemankar. He may fulfill his kingly duty by punishing a dangerous criminal. On Malini’s request, he had considered forgiving Kemankar. But Kemankar was ready to die to defend his faith and the King asked for his last wish. This means he will not forgive Kemnkar. Kemankar kills Supriya who had saved him and Malini. This makes him angry and he looks for his sword to execute the criminal. Forgiving Kemankar would mean putting Malini, himself and his kingdom at risk.
Although the King asks for his sword to execute Kemankar, I think Malini will be able to stop him. She will persuade him to forgive Kemankar and give her a chance to deal with him.
15 Discuss “Malini” as the story of love and hatred.
At one extreme of “Malini” is the central figure of the play, Malini, who represents the feeling of love towards the whole of humanity. At the other extreme is a Hindu fundamentalist like Kemankar, who hates a different religion because of his own religious dogma. This makes “Malini” the story of love and hatred.
“Malini” is the story of love and compassion because of the character of Malini. She shows qualities like love, mercy, sympathy and forgiveness. She represents the true spirit of religion. She applies Buddhist philosophy of non-violence, peace and compassion in her real life. Her heart is big enough to greet even the opponent. She says there is room for Kemankar and his army in her heart as well as in her house. Even after Kemankar kills Supriya, she asks the King to forgive him. Thus, Malini perfectly shows the virtue of love.
Kemankar is full of hatred towards Malini throughout the play. He cannot stand her because he fears she might introduce Buddhism and displace Hinduism. He is a narrow-minded Hindu fundamentalist who takes even wrong means to defend his so-called religious faith. Actually, he is dogmatic. This attitude can only produce hatred towards others. He is so full of hatred that he does not hesitate to kill his best friend Supriya, who had only stopped him from doing a great wrong.
Thus, the different attitudes and beliefs held by Malini and Kemankar makes they play a story of love and hatred. Malini is all-loving but he is full of hatred and does not even have religious tolerance.
16 “Malini” is a play full of compassion as well as scorn. Justify this statement.
“Malini” is full of feelings like love, compassion and forgiveness. But the writer also questions the religious dogma of contemporary Indian society, which gives a touch of scorn.
Malini is full of infinite compassion throughout the play. She shows qualities like like love, mercy, sympathy and forgiveness. She represents the true spirit of religion. She applies Buddhist philosophy of non-violence, peace and compassion in her real life. Her heart is big enough to greet even the opponent. She says there is room for Kemankar and his army in her heart as well as in her house. Even after Kemankar kills Supriya, she asks the King to forgive him. Thus, Malini perfectly shows the virtue of love. Thus, Malini is the perfect example of compassion.
The writer expresses scorn at religious dogmatism of blind followers of religions like Kemankar and the Brahmins. Supriya laughs at the idea of banishing a girl just in the name of saving religion. He questions the status of such a religion which needs arms to protect itself. The queen and Supriya both believe that truth cannot be learned just from books. It needs people like Malini. But Kemankar is full of hatred and makes plots. How can we call him religious? He tries to hurt her but she forgives him.
The different attitudes of Malini and Kemankar clearly show the writer’s scorn at narrow-mindedness of so-called religious people. Tagore criticizes the tendency to commit crimes in the name of religion.
UNIT 6: LIFE AND DEATH
THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN
Harold J. Morowitz
The essay explores the value of human body/being. The writer examines the statistical statement about the biochemical value of the human body as a few cents and gives the real value of the body. A caption on a birthday card says the price of human body is only 97 cents. He feels upset at such a low value of the human body. He wants to find out if it is true. He brings a catalogue from a biochemical company. It lists the prices of chemical ingredients in the body. He studies the prices of the chemicals and adds them up. After some calculations, he discovers that the human body is worth at least six million dollars.
1 Why did the writer say/claim he was a six million dollar man?
The writer said/claimed he was a six million dollar man after calculating the total price of chemical ingredients in the body. First, he studies the prices of chemical ingredients in the body. Then he calculates the average cost of a gram dry weight is 245.54 dollars. His weight is 168 pounds or 76,364 grams. With 68% water in the body, his dry weight is 32% of the total weight. He calculates it as 24,436 grams. He multiplies his dry weight and its average cost, and the result is 6 million. This confirms that the price of his body is at least six million. Thus, he could claim with certainty that his body was worth at least six million dollars.
2 Explain Morowitz’s joy in discovering that he is a six million dollar man.
Morowitz is happy to discover that he is a six million dollar man. He was upset when he read a caption on his birthday card that said the price of human body is only 97 cents. Surprised at such a low value of the human body, he studies the prices of chemical ingredients in the body. Then he calculates the average cost of a gram dry weight is 245 dollars. His weight is 168 pounds or 76,364 grams. With 68% water in the body, his dry weight is 32% of the total weight. He calculates it as 24,436 grams. He multiplies his dry weight and its average cost, and the result is 6 million. This confirms that the price of his body is at least six million. Thus, he claims with certainty that his body was worth at least six million dollars. He feels happy because it is a great promotion from 97 cents.
3 Is every human being a six million dollar man?
According to the writer of “The Six Million Dollar Man,” every human being is a six million dollar man. He proves this by calculating the price of his body. He studies the prices of chemical ingredients in the body. Then he calculates the average cost of a gram dry weight is 245 dollars. His weight is 168 pounds or 76,364 grams. With 68% water in the body, his dry weight is 32% of the total weight. He calculates it as 24,436 grams. He multiplies his dry weight and its average cost, and the result is 6 million. This confirms that the price of his body is at least six million. Thus, he could claim with certainty that his body was worth at least six million dollars. If every human being is the same weight as the writer, they are six million dollar men by the same calculation.
4 How does the writer try to justify that human beings are priceless?
OR, How does the writer come to the conclusion that each human being is priceless?
OR, Why does the author say that the body of each person is definitely priceless?
The writer concludes that each human body/being is priceless. Human qualities like the power of thought, reasoning and artistic creation and the presence of soul make human beings definitely priceless.
To justify his claim, the writer first proves that the human body is worth at least six million dollars. He does some mathematical calculations. First, he studies the prices of chemical ingredients in the body. Then he calculates the average cost of a gram dry weight is 245.54 dollars. His weight is 168 pounds or 76,364 grams. With 68% water in the body, his dry weight is 32% of the total weight. He calculates it as 24,436 grams. He multiplies his dry weight and its average cost, and the result is 6 million. This confirms that the price of his body is at least six million. Thus, he could claim with certainty that his body was worth at least six million dollars. But there is more to the human body.
He says we are priceless after calculating every possibility of being a proper human. Even on the material level, six million is only the price of the chemical ingredients. Combining them into cells, tissues and organs to form the whole functioning human body increases the price by a thousand times. We may be able to make a human body but we cannot put into it love, kindness, feelings and other human qualities. Most importantly, we cannot insert the soul in an artificial body. Only nature/god can do this wonder. Therefore, self-operating, conscious and conscientious human beings are priceless.
ON THE VANITY OF EARTHLY GREATNESS
Arthur Guiterman
1 Write a summary of the poem.
The poem talks about the vanity of earthly greatness. The mighty mastodons had strong and powerful tusks. They used the tusks to fight each other. Now the mastodons are extinct and their tusks have been made into billiard balls. Charlemagne was a famous Roman emperor who conquered most of Europe. He fought and won many battles with his sword. But his sword is now covered with rust. People were afraid even by the name of grizzly bear. Now mats have been made from the skin of such bears and this fear seems to be no more. Julius Caesar was a powerful statesman in Rome. Now there are only statues of Caesar. These examples of change from greatness to nothingness make the poet see the same possibility for himself.
2 How is human vanity laughed at in the poem?
OR, Give the central idea/theme of the poem.
Human vanity is laughed at in the poem through the poet’s ironical tone. He suggests that what we call great cannot remain great forever. Time turns this greatness into nothingness. The famous Roman emperor Charlemagne won many battles with his sword. But it is now covered with rust. Julius Caesar was a powerful Roman statesman. Now there are only his statues which can be bought cheap. In this way all earthly things are perishable, however great they may be. Therefore, it is useless to feel proud of momentary greatness.
3 What are the different examples used by the poet to show the vanity of earthly greatness?
To show the vanity of earthly greatness, the poet gives examples of two famous historical persons and two mighty animals. [+ Charlemagne + Julius Caesar + mastodons + grizzly bear]
4 What changes to people and objects are described in the poem?
The changes to people and objects described in the poem show how great things become nothing with time. [+ Charlemagne + Julius Caesar + mastodons + grizzly bear]
5 What is ironical about the poem?
The poem is ironical as it talks about earthly greatness and vanity in this greatness at the same time. This irony is shown through the examples of two famous historical persons and two mighty animals. [+Charlemagne + Julius Caesar + mastodons + grizzly bear]
IN BED
Joan Didion
1 Write about the suffering and bitter experience of Joan Didion as a migranous person.
OR, Describe the author’s experiences with migraines.
In her essay Didion talks about her bitter experience with migraine headaches. She describes the pain and frustration they cause. To give a truthful account of her struggle with migraines, she honestly shares her personal details. She frequently suffers from them, three to five times a month. She spends those days in bed. From her long experience, she knows when the attack is coming. She feels a kind of irritation and quick flow of blood in the vessels of her brain. To avoid the attack she takes medicine. Otherwise, she cannot work.
While she was young, she tried to get rid of migraine by denying it. People said it was imaginary, so she ignored the symptoms that signalled its attack. She would try to do her daily works, thinking that it was not as bad as brain tumor. But then she would suffer extreme pain in the head and tears would flow. She would even vomit. At the end of the day she would drag herself home and try to cool the pain with ice. She had to spend on or two days a week almost unconscious with pain.
Now she has accepted migraine as a part of her life. She has learned to live with it just as other people are living with other incurable diseases like diabetes. Her husband also has migraine. She had her first migraine attack at 8. It is a relief that no one dies of migraine. She has found some ways to deal with her migraine. Now she does not fight it but lies down, lets it happen and tries to concentrate on the pain. She even calls it a friend which comes uninvited. When it goes away, she feels happy to be alive.
2 What is migraine headache? Write the symptoms of migraine.
OR, What are the distinctive features/traits of migraine headache?
Migraine is an extremely bad headache which can attack a person of any age. It is a recurrent, throbbing, very painful headache. Generally it affects one side of the head. It makes one almost unconscious with pain.
There are certain symptoms of migraine. It has an aura period during which the symptoms appear before the actual attack. There is often a sudden irritation and a quick flow of blood in the blood vessels of the brain. Vision becomes unclear and one might feel temporarily blindness. One might have false sense perceptions and illusions. Gastrointestinal disturbances are possible. Stomach and digestive system could be affected. One might even lose the ability to focus their eyes and form correct sentences during the attack. The writer has chills, sweating, feeling of vomiting and weakness during the attack. But nobody dies of it.
3 Write the treatment of migraine.
There is no effective treatment of migraine. It has some connection with a hormone called serotonin in the brain. The amount of serotonin in blood goes down as a migraine attack starts. There are certain drugs that have some effect on serotonin. They can only prevent or delay the attack by narrowing the swelling blood vessels. But after the attack, no drug works. We can find some ways to deal with it as the writer has done. Instead of fighting it, it is better to lie down, let it happen and try to concentrate on the pain.
4 What poplar misconceptions about migraine headache does Didion want to correct?
Didion wants to correct some misconceptions about migraine headache through her writing. Non-migrainous people take it as a headache. Even doctors have a wrong concept of ‘migrainous personality’.
People who do not have migraines consider them imaginary. Didion says migraine is a real illness that makes one almost unconscious with pain. They are even unable to do their normal work. It is a hereditary complex of symptoms. Migrainous people are accused of pretending to be serious and refusing to cure themselves by using correct drugs. Those who do not have migraine suggest pain killers like aspirin. Didion says no drug works during the attack of migraine headache.
Doctors also have misconceptions. The do not believe that there are migrainous people. They call such people migranous personalities who are ambitious, inward, intolerant and perfectionists. Didion corrects this wrong view. She does not spend days in bed because of bad attitude, tempers and wrong thinking. She suffers from migraine headache because her parents have migraine and she has inherited it from them.
5 How does migraine differ from ordinary headache?
OR, Differentiate migraine from ordinary headache.
Migraine is very different from what we simply call headache. In migraine headache, there is an aura period of 15 to 20 minutes during which the symptoms appear. It is incurable like diabetes. We have to live with it. It is hereditary. We might get it from parents. Pain killers do not work after the attack. They can only prevent or delay an attack. It is caused by a chemical disturbance in a hormone called serotonin in brain.
On the other hand, common headache has no aura period, so there are no distinct symptoms to appear before the attack. It is not a serious disease and can be cured. It is not hereditary but common to all. Pain killers work both before and after the attack. It is not the result of a hormonal disturbance.
6 Why does the writer consider herself fortunate that her husband has migraine? What would happen if he did not have it?
The writer considers herself fortunate that her husband has migraine. only a man suffering from migraine can understand the problems of another migrainous person. Non-migranous people accuse migranous people of pretending to be serious and refusing to cure themselves by using correct drugs. Those who do not have migraine suggest pain killers like aspirin. If her husband did not have migraine, he would have the same attitude as other common people. It would create misunderstanding between them and could even spoil their marriage.
7 Is the writer still resisting with migraine?
Describe the situation in which she is attacked by migraine and not attacked by it.
The writer is not resisting with migraine any more. Now she has accepted migraine as a part of her life. She has learned to live with it just as other people are living with other incurable diseases like diabetes. She has found some ways to deal with her migraine. Now she does not fight it but lies down, lets it happen and tries to concentrate on the pain. She is attacked by migraine in minor situations like household confusions, lost laundry, cancelled appointments, unnecessary telephone rings. But migraine does not attack her when there is a real problem or a fearful situation. She would not get a headache if her house is on fire, if her husband leaves her, if there is firing.
THE GARDENER
Rudyard Kipling
1 Write the story of Helen Turrell/“The Gardener.”
This is the story of Helen Turrell and the hardships and sufferings she went through in her life. Helen went to France and brought a child with her. It was her own son, but she invented stories to keep her secret. She told the village that he was the son of her brother George. George served in Indian police force. He had relationship with a retired officer’s daughter. She gave birth to his son. George died and the mother would not like to keep the baby, so Helen brought him with her. Michael was told that Helen was not his mother but aunt. At his request, she allowed him to call her mummy only at bedtime. But Helen herself broke this secrecy to some friends. He felt hurt and said he would hurt her in return. After finishing school education, he joined a university for army training. He got enlisted and went to war. But he was killed. Helen was much grieved by his death. She decided to visit his grave. She met another woman who was going to visit the grave of a relative. But later she told that she was there to visit the grave of her secret lover. Helen finally reached the cemetery. She was confused as she saw thousands of graves. She could not find Michael’s grave. Finally, she asked the gardener. He was ready to help her. But he said that he would show her the grave of her son.
2 How does Kipling describe the contemporary society?
Kipling gives a realistic picture of the contemporary society. But he also describes the people in a humorous and satiric tone. It is a patriarchal society. Also it is a society where rumours spread quickly.
The society at the time of the story is described by relating it with Helen’s life. It is a patriarchal society where male and female do not have equal rights and positions. If a woman makes a mistake, her character is gone. That is why Helen has to tell lies to hide the truth that she has given birth to a child before marriage. She has to make Michael legitimate by giving him the name of a father. The society could stand George’s relationship with a woman but it would not accept Helen’s relationship. The writer might be criticizing such biased norms and values.
The contemporary society is a middle class society. People gossip about others. Private details quickly become public because news spreads quickly. Helen has invented a false story to answer people’s questions about Michael’s identity. And this story is known to all the villagers. She does not give anyone the chance to spread rumours about the child she has brought with her. The writer seems to laugh at people’s tendency to exaggerate facts.
3 Sketch the character of Helen.
Helen is a single, independent woman of 35 in a patriarchal society. She seems to be educated and clever but not bold enough to fight the society. She invents a believable story to hide the truth about her child.
To the village, Helen is a noble, sociable, honourable, truthful, sympathetic and responsible lady. We know about her character mainly through the eye of her village. And the village has judged her based on her own stories and activities. She has friends and a respectable position in the society. She is supposed to have fulfilled the duties of a true guardian toward Michael, her brother’s son. She brings him up and educates him properly. After he is killed in war, she does her last duty as she takes a long trip to visit his grave.
Helen is clever enough to preserve her honour before the village. She becomes pregnant before marriage but manages to hide this fact from the society. She goes to France alone and delivers the child. Then she brings him to her village. To answer the people’s questions about the child, she invents a story about his parents. She knows her society and people and does not give anyone the chance to spread rumours about her.
4 “Helen Turrell is ashamed that Michael is her son”. Do you agree?
Helen is ashamed that Michael is her son because she is an unmarried mother. The contemporary society would not approve this. The social norms and values would not accept her with an illegitimate child. And her life would be very difficult. She has to prove him legitimate for a respectful position in the society. Only then people would sympathize with her and help her in need. Michael was the result of her secret relationship, so she could not introduce him to the society as her son. If she did, she would be called characterless. Therefore, Helen was afraid and ashamed to declare Michael as her son.
5 What is the truth behind each of the lies Helen tells the village at the beginning of the story?
The truth behind all the lies Helen tells the village is that Michael is her own son. She lies about her trip to France. She had gone there for delivery, not for treatment. She tells Michael is her nephew, the son of her only brother, George Turrell. She has invented the story about George’s work as a policeman in India, about his relationship with the daughter of a retired officer, about his death, about Michel’s careless nurse and about how she took charge of the boy. She tells lies only to keep her secret.
6 Why did Helen tell lies to the village about her own son?
She told lies to the village about her own son, Michael, because he was her illegitimate child. She lied only to keep her secret. Being an unmarried mother, she was ashamed to introduce Michael as her own son. The society would not accept her with an illegitimate child. She would be called characterless, and no one would help her. She had to prove him legitimate for a respectful position in the society. Therefore, she lied about Michael’s real identity and introduced him as her nephew, the son of her brother, George Turrell.
7 What is the real relationship between Helen and Michael?
The villagers believe that Michael is Helen’s nephew as she has introduced him as the son of her brother, George. But the real relationship between Helen and Michael is that of mother and son. She has told a lie because he is her illegitimate son, the result of a secret relationship. Because she is his mother, she lets him call her mummy at bedtime but not before others. We come to know about the real relationship between Helen and Michael at the end of the story when the gardener says he will show her the grave of her son.
8 What was the effect of Michael’s death on Helen?
Helen was greatly affected by Michael’s death because he was her own son. She felt that her whole world had ended because Michael was everything to her. Any mother is grieved by her child’s death. When it is the only child, the grief is more. As a single mother, Helen had raised Michael going through many difficulties. Her suffering was more because the child Michael had told her that he would hurt her by dying young. What is more, she could not even receive his dead body. Now her only wish was to visit his grave. She took a long trip to the place where he was buried.
9 Give a clear picture of the gardener in one paragraph.
The gardener is a mysterious character who appears only at the end of the story. There is no clear-cut detail about him and his background. When Helen reaches the cemetery and is unable to find her son’s grave, the gardener helps her. He is kneeling behind a line of headstones, putting a new plant in the soft soil. We are more surprised as he directly asks her who she is looking for. He shows no formality to a stranger. As Helen says it is her nephew, he looks at her with infinite compassion. He says he will show her the grave of her son. When Helen leaves the cemetery, the gardener is still busy with his young plants.
10 What mystery do you find in the story?
The appearance of the gardener creates mystery in the story. He appears only at last, and there is no clear-cut detail about him and his background. When Helen comes to the cemetery to find Michael’s grave, he is putting new plants. He helps her to find the grave. We are more surprised as he directly asks her who she is looking for. He shows no formality to a stranger, and a lady. But he is described as looking at her with infinite compassion. Helen says it is her nephew, but he says he will show her the grave of her ‘son’. As Helen leaves, he is still busy with the plants. She takes him as the gardener, but he may not be.
11 How do we know who the gardener really is?
We know who the gardener really is by his behavior with Helen. He must be God himself. He looks at Helen with “infinite compassion”. Only God or godly people like Christ or Buddha can have infinite compassion. He knows Michael is her son. He knows everything: her secrets, hardships, sufferings and feelings. Michael was everything to her in the world but she could not even get his dead body. Therefore, God has appeared as the gardener to help her find the grave of her son.
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