NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 6 On The Face Of It English

December 9, 2014, 10:05 pm

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 6 On The Face Of It Vistas English

By Susan Hill

Page No: 56

Read and Find Out

1. Who is Mr. Lamb? How does Derry get into his garden?

Answer

Mr Lamb is an old man with a tin leg. His real leg was blown off years ago during the war. He lives all alone in his house. There is a garden near the house. It has ripe crab apples looking orange and golden in colour. Mr Lamb is sitting in his garden when Derry climbs over the garden wall to get into his garden. Though the gate is open, the boy does not use it.

Page No: 62

1. Do you think all this will change Derry’s attitude towards Mr. Lamb?

Answer

Derry’s burnt face made him the center of ridicule. Although people sympathized with him, it was never a heartfelt one. This resulted in his pessimistic approach towards life. He thought that everyone detested and despised him. On the contrary, Mr. Lamb did not show any pity towards him. He considered Derry to be his equal and welcomed him in his garden. He helped the boy to love and live life happily without any contempt for his own self. Derry had initially considered the old man to be like others, but he gradually started respecting and liking him for what he said.

Page No: 69

Reading with Insight

1. What is it that draws Derry towards Mr. Lamb in spite of himself?

Answer

Derry finds Mr. Lamb different from others. Mr. Lamb shows no shock or fear on seeing Derry’s burned face. Rather he talks to him in a loving manner. He welcomes him to his garden. He offers to pluck apples and make jelly for him. He calls him his friend. He says that things look outwardly different, but inwardly they are all the same. He gives the example of flowers, trees, herbs and weeds. They look different, but they are all growing living things. Similarly, people can have different looks, but inwardly they are all the same. Derry says that he hates some people. At this, Mr. Lamb says that it can do him more harm than any bottle of acid. Acid burns only the face, but hatred burns one away inside. He tells Derry never to think of his burned face. He has two arms, two legs, eyes ears, tongue and a brain. And if he has a firm mind, he can do better than others. It is by such words of encouragement that Mr. Lamb draws Derry to himself.

2. In which section of the play does Mr. Lamb display signs of loneliness and disappointment? What are the ways in which Mr. Lamb tries to overcome these feelings?

Answer

Although the loneliness of Derry dominates the play, there are evident traces of Mr. Lamb’s loneliness throughout the first scene of the play. The old man says that having heard the bees for a “long time” he knows that they “sing”, not buzz. It not only depicts how his perception was different from others but also illustrates that he was lonely and that he did not have any one to be with.
Another evidence of his loneliness is the fact that whole day he sat in the sun and read books. This proves that books were his only true friends. He says that his “empty house” is full of books, underlining the way in which the void of his empty life was filled in by books.
By the end of this scene, it becomes even clearer that he is lonely and sad when he mutters to himself that no one comes back to him after the first meeting. Likewise, he did not expect Derry to return. He was so sure that Derry would never return that he climbed the ladder to collect all the apples himself, although Derry had offered to help him after informing his mother. Ironically, the old man would have died unnoticed if Derry had not returned to fill the emptiness of his own life.

3. The actual pain or inconvenience caused by a physical impairment is often much less than the sense of alienation felt by the person with disabilities. What is the kind of behaviour that the person expects from others?

Answer

A person with any physical impairment can live life with respect and honour, if he is not ridiculed and punished with heartless pity. He expects empathy rather than sympathy. If everyone looks down at him with a pessimistic approach, he may never be able to come out of his sorrow, and consequently, recline to his own secluded world. He is already in tremendous mental and emotional pressure. So, he expects others to be understanding rather than remind him of his disability.
In the play, Derry and Mr. Lamb, both are caught in a similar situation. Mr. Lamb, as an adult, is able to cope with such problems, but Derry, being a child, is not able to untangle this web alone. He develops a strong liking for this old man because he spoke the words a person, with such problem, would want to hear.

4. Will Derry get back to his old seclusion or will Mr. Lamb’s brief association effect a change in the kind of life he will lead in the future?

Answer

The brief association of Derry with Mr. Lamb boosted his self-confidence and helped him to respect his own self. The manner in which the old man made Derry realize the importance of his being self-dependent, of respecting himself and of holding on to hope helped Derry undergo a remarkable change. The new found self-esteem makes him tell his mother that his looks are not important.
It is not likely that the death of Mr. Lamb would take him back to his secluded life. This big change is definitely here to stay and would not be undone due to setbacks.


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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 7 Evans Tries an O-Level English

December 9, 2014, 10:55 pm

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 7 Evan Tries an O-Level Vistas English

By Colin Dexter

Page No: 70

Read and Find Out

1. What kind of a person was Evans?

Answer

Evans was a young, clever prisoner. He had escaped thrice from the prison for which he was known ‘Evans the Break’. He was not a violent sort of a person. He was quite a pleasant person and was a star at the Christmas concert.

2. What were the precautions taken for the smooth conduct of the examination?

Answer

For smooth conduct of the examination, various precautionary measures were taken. All sharp instruments like razor nail scissors were removed. The Governor, senior prison officer Jackson and officer Stephen were put on duty. A special invigilator was arranged. A microphone was fitted in the prison cell where the examination was to be conducted.

Page No: 77

1. Will the exam now go as scheduled?

Answer

Everything had been in order for the exam to start on its scheduled time, but the Governor, still apprehensive, ordered a last minute change in plan. As another precautionary measure, he ordered frisking the invigilator as well, before allowing him to carry out his assigned job. This wasted some time and the exam started at 9:25am, ten minutes later than the scheduled time.

Page No: 81

1. Did the Governor and his staff finally heave a sigh of relief?

Answer

Evans was a shrewd man who allowed only a momentary sigh of relief to the Governor and his staff. The exam was supposed to have ended peacefully, but when Stephens rechecked Evans’s cell, he was stunned to see a profusely bleeding McLeery still in the cell. He concluded that the man he had escorted to the gate was actually Evans.
Measures were taken to recapture Evans with the help of the bleeding McLeery, who was later sent off to a hospital for treatment. However, soon it was exposed that this ‘bleeding McLeery’ was the real Evans. Finally, when the Governor traced Evans and ordered him to be taken back to the prison with a prison officer in the official van, another conspiracy unfolded. Evans fled again, as the prison officer and the van were part of his back-up plan. His flawless plans left everyone perplexed and troubled.

Page No: 84

1. Will the injured McLeery be able to help the prison officers track Evans?

Answer

Injured McLeery, showcasing his knowledge of German, reveals the supposed plan of Evans through the superimposed question paper. He proposes to guide the officials to the whereabouts of Evans. However, this is later revealed to be a part of the Evans plan to flee to safety, as it was Evans himself who was disguised as the injured McLeery. It can be, thus, noticed that the disguised McLeery’s help to the officials was fake as it was just a part of Evans’s escape plan.

Page No: 85

1. Will the clues left behind on the question paper, put Evans back in prison again?

Answer

Evans escaped from the prison with the help of a clever, infallible plan. Certain clues were left behind by the shrewd fugitive which was a “careless” act according to the Governor. There was a superimposed question paper with directions to the supposed plan. However, it was soon seen that all of it was fake and part of the plan to misguide the officials.
But the little German the Governor knew and the 'correction slip' did help them to track him down.

Page No: 86

1. Where did Evans go?

Answer

After deceiving the police intelligently, Evans went to the hotel Golden Lion located in Chipping Norton.

Page No: 92

Reading with Insight

1. Reflecting on the story, what did you feel about Evans’ having the last laugh?

Answer

Evans smartly devised and executed the plan of his escape. He managed to fool everyone till the end of the story. He left fake clues to misguide the officials chasing him. Even as the Governor heaved a sigh of relief after nabbing him in the Golden Lion hotel, Evans was secretly cooking and executing another path of escape. The prison officer and the van used by the Governor for transferring Evans back to the prison were forged. The Governor was happy that ultimately he was able to track him down using his intelligence and knowledge of German. However, Evans had planned a step ahead. With his successful escape, Evans definitely had a well earned last laugh.

2. When Stephens comes back to the cell he jumps to a conclusion and the whole machinery blindly goes by his assumption without even checking the identity of the injured ‘McLeery’. Does this show how hasty conjectures can prevent one from seeing the obvious? How is the criminal able to predict such negligence?

Answer

Evans was a smart and perceptive criminal. He hadassessed the weaknesses of the jail officers successfully. Stephen was new recruit to the prison set up. When he saw the injured Mcleery in the cell he was so overwhelmed that he did not even check who he really was and neither did anyone else. It did not occur to anyone to question how there could there be two persons – one in the cell and the other who had been escorted out by Stephens. It was for this very reason that friends of Evans, who, posing as the Governor on the phone, have directed Stephens that he himself should escort the parson out, when the exam is finished. The Governor and his officers, in effect actually lead Evans out of the prison. The question paper is left behind to mislead the Governor. This shows that Evans the criminal had enough time to study the behavior patterns of the jail officers and plan their strategy well.

3. What could the Governor have done to securely bring back Evans to the prison when he caught him at the Golden Lion? Does that final act of foolishness really prove that “he was just another good-for-a-giggle, gullible governor, that was all”?

Answer

The Governor took all the precautions to make sure that Evans should not have any chance to escape from the prison. He even tracked and arrested him at the Golden Lion after his sensational escape from the prison. But his overconfidence once again proved that he was no match for the clever and crafty Evans.
The Governor after finding the clues from the question paper tracked Evans at the Golden Lion. When Evans entered the room he was shocked to see the Governor. Evans offered no resistance and was arrested. The gullible Governor gloated over his success and said goodbye to him. Evans was handcuffed and made to sit in the police van. The Governor did not take care to check the identity of the driver, the van and the officer. A little more vigilance could have averted the escape of the criminal. If theGovernor had accompanied Evans to the prison cell with full police arrangements the criminal would not have escaped.This act of negligence proved that he was “just another good-for-a-giggle gullible governor that was all”.

4. While we condemn the crime, we are sympathetic to the criminal. Is this the reason why prison staff often develops a soft corner for those in custody?

Answer

‘Crime’ and ‘criminals’ are usually considered synonymous. However, our perception changes when we see a criminal suffering or serving his punishment. This is what happens with the prison staff. Noticing a criminal suffer in the prison, they unwittingly develop a soft corner for him in their hearts. They look at him as a human being and not as a mere criminal. They start noticing and appreciating their mental capabilities rather than just remembering their crime.
In the story, Jackson lets Evans keep his hat after knowing that he considered it to be his lucky charm. Evans knew of the emotional side of Jackson and so hit it directly through his talk about “lucky charm”, and managed to fool the stern and practical officer. Even the Governor could not help noticing his intelligence when he caught him in the hotel. Thus, he was not cruel or stern with Evans, and regrettably, took him leniently.

5. Do you agree that between crime and punishment it is mainly a battle of wits?

Answer

In every battle the stronger side wins; and this strength could be physical or mental. However, after reading the story we can conclude that between crime and punishment, it is mainly a battle of wits. The side which outsmarts the other wins. It is not always that a criminal gets punished. In the given story, although well trained, the police officials were easily fooled by the clever Evans, who managed to escape from right under their nose.


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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 8 Memories of Childhood English

December 9, 2014, 11:07 pm

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 8 Memories of Childhood Vistas English

By Zitkala-Sa and Bama

Page No: 100

Reading with Insight

1. The two accounts that you read above are based in two distant cultures. What is the commonality of theme found in both of them?

Answer

The autobiographical accounts included in the “Memories of Childhood” are by two women from socially marginalized sections in two distant cultures of the world. One highlights the evil practice of racial prejudice while the other talks about the hierarchical Indian caste system and untouchability. The first part traces how the author, a Native American, was victimized at the hands of the European staff of her boarding school. The second account gives a picture of the hardships and humiliations faced by the Indian ‘Dalits’ from the eyes of a third standard student.
Although they are set in different cultures, both the stories share a similar theme. They show the sufferings and oppression faced by their respective communities. The practice of social stratification is rebuked by both the authors. Zitkala-Sa’s hair was “shingled” at the behest of Europeans who considered themselves superior to the Native American. On the other hand, Bama witnessed untouchability being practiced openly where people from ‘lower castes’ were considered impious and were not even allowed to touch the people from the upper castes. From a very young age, both Zitkala-Sa and Bama start protesting and resisting in their own ways.

2. It may take a long time for oppression to be resisted, but the seeds of rebellion are sowed early in life. Do you agree that injustice in any form cannot escape being noticed even by children?

Answer

The world has been gripped in the web of stratification, oppression and discrimination at many levels. While the adults have grown used to this, the innocence of childhood does not understand hatred and prejudice. However, their keen observant eye is capable enough to notice any form of injustice and discrimination. When subjected to such evil practices, their sensitive minds and hearts are deeply affected. Perplexed, they often resist in their own simple ways.
In the lesson, the two girls describe their encounters with inequality. Zitkala-Sa, in the very first line reports that her first day in school was “bitter-cold”. For her, it not only describes the weather, but also represents the atmosphere of the boarding school. The overly disciplined students of the school and the European staff were unfriendly or “cold” towards her, and the vain struggle against her hair being shingled was a “bitter” experience for her. On the other hand, Bama walked on her brother's footsteps to protest against the practice of untouchability through education. She studied wholeheartedly to reach a position where people would forget her “caste” and feel proud to befriend her.

3. Bama’s experience is that of a victim of the caste system. What kind of discrimination does Zitkala-Sa’s experience depict? What are their responses to their respective situations?

Answer

While Bama was subjected to caste discrimination and untouchability, Zitkala-Sa was a victim of racial prejudice. Zitkala-Sa was packed off to a European missionary school where, being a local tribal, she was looked down upon. Her precious, long and heavy hair, which was her pride, was shingled. She tried to resist with all her might but, ultimately, she was forced to give up her struggle. On the contrary, Bama, who witnessed the malpractice of untouchability, decided to blur the difference of castes with the light of education. Under the guidance and supervision of her elder brother, she judiciously utilized her anger and sense of rebellion to study hard and outwit any form of prejudice. She understood that a social change would be possible only if these so-called lower castes make an effort to study and, thus, make progress.
It can easily be noticed that though both the protagonists tried to protest against the injustice they faced, the paths they chose are remarkably different. Through this journey of rebellion, Zitkala-Sa is forced to give in; on the contrary, Bama successfully implemented her brother’s advice to finally top in her class. While Zitkala-Sa continued to rebel by criticizing the evils of racial prejudice through her works, Bama opted for a more subtle way to carry forth her silent yet effective remonstration.


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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 1 The Last Lesson English

December 10, 2014, 1:24 am

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 1 The Last Lesson Flamingo English 

By Alphonse Daudet

Page No: 2

1. Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meanings from the context.

in great dread of: fearful in anticipation of something
counted on: to rely or trust on somebody/something
thumbed at the edges: worn or soiled edges caused by frequent handling
in unison:something happening or being done at the same time
a great bustle: an excited (and often noisy) activity or a rapid, active commotion
reproach ourselves with: to express disapproval, criticism, or disappointment

Page No: 7

Think As you Read

1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?

Answer

Franz was expected to be prepared with participles. Mr. Hamel had told the class that he would be taking a test on the topic that day.

 

2. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?

Answer

Usually when the school began there would be a lot of commotion. But that day everything was quiet and it appeared to be like a Sunday, but the students were at their places and Mr. Hamel was walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm.

3. What had been put up on the bulletin-board?

Answer

The bulletin-board notified the general public about an order from Berlin. It stated that only German was to be taught to students in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

Page No: 8

1. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?

Answer

The order from Berlin brought all the routine hustle-bustle of the school life to a stand-still. The teacher, M. Hamel, became more sympathetic to his students and taught his lessons with more patience. The students became more attentive in their classes. The villagers, who were sitting at the usually empty back benches and had come to show their respect and gratitude to M. Hamel, regretted not going to school more than they did. The order also brought about a great change in the feelings of the people towards their country and their native language. There was a general sadness about not being able to utilise the opportunities of learning French when it was easily accessible.

2. How did Franz's feelings about M. Hamel and school change?

Answer

Franz was shocked when M. Hamel told the students about the order from Berlin and that it was their last French lesson. He forgot about his teacher’s ruler and crankiness. He developed a fondness for M. Hamel at the troubling idea of being separated from him forever. He understood the pain and agony his teacher was undergoing. And, he became more sympathetic towards his teacher.
His school too, now, carried a different meaning. His books and lessons seemed old friends whom he couldn’t give up. He realised with pain how much French meant to him and regretted not being attentive in his classes earlier. Suddenly, he felt that the ‘difficult concepts’ had never actually been difficult.

Page No: 9

1. The people in this story suddenly realize how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?

Answer

M. Hamel told the students and villagers that henceforth only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Those who called themselves Frenchmen would neither be able to speak nor write it. He praised French as the most beautiful, the clearest and most logical language in the world. He said that for the enslaved people, their language was the key to their prison. Then the people realised how precious their language was to them. This shows people's love for their own culture, traditions and country. Pride in one's language reflects pride in motherland.

2. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons ?” What could this means?

Answer

Alphonse Daudet’s ‘The Last Lesson’ very prominently raises the question of linguistic and cultural hegemony of the colonial and imperial powers and their lust for controlling the world and influencing their cultures and identities. Prussians acquired the districts of Alsace and Lorraine in Franco-Prussian War , but they were not satisfied with mere political domination ,they desired to enforce their own language on the people of the defeated nation. They released the order that from now German would be taught in schools rather than French. Franz wondered whether they would make even pigeons sing in German. It means that they had grown up using French as their language and now snatching away their language from them would be unfair and unkind. The language was as natural to them as cooing is to the pigeon. So, compulsion to speak another language is like dominating the force of nature and enslaving it. As it is next to impossible to alter the way pigeons sing, in the same way it is difficult for people to accept a language which is forcibly imposed on them. Adopting a new language causes pain and discomfort.

Or

This sentence could possibly mean that however hard the authorities try to embed German language in the culture of Alsace and Lorraine, the natural status of French, for them, will remain unchanged. French flows in the air and the entire place is imbued with its effect. Even though they train students in German, the basic mode of communication would remain unchanged like the cooing of the pigeons.

Talking about the Text

1. “When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison.”
Can you think of examples in history where a conquered people had their language taken away from them or had a language imposed on them?

Answer

Some examples of the native language taken away from its people and/or imposition of the language of the conqueror are:
(a) Portuguese becoming the lingua franca of Angola.
(b) English imposed on the various Celtic peoples.
(c) Spanish imposed on the Basques and the Catalans.
(d) Turkish imposed on the Kurds.

2. What happens to a linguistic minority in a state? How do you think they can keep their language alive? For example:
Punjabis in Bangalore
Tamilians in Mumbai
Kannadigas in Delhi
Gujaratis in Kolkata

Answer

A linguistic minority in a state does not have as much liberty to exercise linguistic skills as the natives of the state. They initially try to learn the jargons in order to cope with the day-to-day life activities and finally begin to understand the native language with regular interaction. At the workplace and educational organisations, English or the link language helps a lot to cope up with the work and learning process. But, when it comes to understanding the basic norms of the society, in order to socialize, one does face a sort of linguistic barrier during communication.
To keep their language alive, the linguistic minorities can form small communities where they can celebrate their festivals as per their traditions. Moreover, they can continue to speak their native language at their homes in order to make their children learn the language. People must, even, try to visit their native places at regular intervals in order to stay close to their roots.

3. Is it possible to carry pride in one’s language too far?
Do you know what ‘linguistic chauvinism’ means?

Answer

Yes, it is possible to carry pride in one's language too far if one is fond of one’s own language at the cost of others. Indifference towards other languages is not healthy for any democracy like India.
When the sense of belonging to one's own language crosses the thin line between ‘pride’ and ‘proud’, it becomes linguistic chauvinism. If people feel good about their languages and traditions, they must have tolerance for other languages too. Everybody has the right to follow the religion as well as speak the language as per his/her desire. In fact, it is disparaging to distort the names of communities, for example, Bongs for Bengalis, Gujju for Gujratis, etc.

Working with Words

1.English is a language that contains words from many other languages. This inclusiveness is one of the reasons it is now a world language, for example:
petite – French
kindergarten – German
capital – Latin
democracy – Greek
bazaar – Hindi
Find out the origin of the following words.
Tycoon, tulip, logo, bandicoot, barbecue, veranda, robot, zero, ski, trek

Answer

tycoon – Japanese
tulip – French
logo – Greek
bandicoot – Telugu
barbecue – Spanish
veranda – Hindi
robot – Czech
zero – Italian
ski – Norwegian
trek – Dutch

Page No: 10

2. Notice the underlined words in these sentences and tick the option that best explains their meanings.
(a) “What a thunderclap these words were to me!”
The words were ___________________
(i) loud and clear.
(ii) startling and unexpected.
(iii) pleasant and welcome.

(b) “When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison.”
It is as if they have the key to the prison as long as they _______________
(i) do not lose their language.
(ii) are attached to their language.
(iii) quickly learn the conqueror’s language.
(c) Don’t go so fast, you will get to your school in plenty of time.
You will get to your school _______________
(i) very late.
(ii) too early.
(iii) early enough.
(d) I never saw him look so tall.

M. Hamel _____________________
(a) had grown physically taller.
(b) seemed very confident.
(c) stood on the chair.

Answer

(a) (ii) startling and unexpected.
(b) (ii) are attached to their language.
(c) (iii) early enough.
(d) (b) seemed very confident.

Noticing Form

1. Read this sentence.

M. Hamel had said that he would question us on participles.
In the sentence above, the verb form “had said” in the first part is used to indicate an “earlier past.” The whole story is narrated in the past. M. Hamel’s “saying” happened earlier than the events in this story. This form of the verb is called the past perfect.
Pick out five sentences from the story with this form of verb and say why this form has been used.

Answer

In the following sentences, two activities of past, occurring at two different points of time in the past, are indicated. The one that happens earlier takes the “had” + past form of verb (V3), while the one that follows it takes the simple past form of verb (V2).

Sentences in past perfect form	Reason/ Explanation
I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen; but, of course, that day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning.	The protagonist decided to depend on the commotion to sneak into the classroom before he encountered the quietness at the school.
Not till then, when I had got a little over my fright, did I see that our teacher had on his beautiful green coat … prize days.	Getting over the fright happened before he noticed his teacher’s green coat.
…Hauser had brought an old primer, thumbed at the edge, and he held it open on his knees with his great spectacles lying across the pages.	Of the two actions, Hauser’s bringing of the old primer happened before he held it open on his knees.
It was because they were sorry, too, that they had not gone to school more.	The feeling of regret comes after they realise they did not go to school more than what they did.
My books, that had seemed such a nuisance … were old friends now that I couldn’t give up.	The books were a nuisance earlier. It is only later that the protagonist talked about them in a different light.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 2 Lost Spring English

December 10, 2014, 5:09 am

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 2 Lost Spring Flamingo English

By Anees Jung

Page No: 13

1. Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.

looking for: try to locate or discover
slog their daylight hours: struggle persistently during the daytime
roof over his head: a place to live
perpetual state of poverty: endless impoverishment
dark hutments: encampment of huts devoid of any light
imposed the baggage on the child: force the profession on the child

Page No: 17

Think As you Read

1. What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?

Answer

Saheb is looking for gold in the garbage dumps. He is in the neighbourhood of the author.Saheb has come from Bangladesh. He came with his mother in 1971. His house was set amidst the green fields of Dhaka. Storms swept away their fields and homes. So they left it.

2. What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?

Answer

The author comes across many shoeless rag-picker children in her neighbourhood. According to her, one explanation of this habit of remaining barefoot is that it is a tradition among the poor children of this country. However, the author quickly mentions that calling it a tradition could be just a means of justification of the utter destitution.

3. Is Saheb happy working at the tea-stall? Explain.

Answer

No, Saheb is not happy working at the tea-stall. He is paid 800 rupees and all his meals but he has lost his freedom. His face has lost the carefree look. The steel canister seems heavier than his plastic bag. He is no longer his own master. He is as a servant at the tea-stall.

Page No: 20

1. What makes the city of Firozabad famous?

Answer

Firozabad is famous for its glass bangles. The place is the centre of India’s glass-blowing industry.

2. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.

Answer

The bangle makers face many problems in the glass industry. They have to work in the dingy cells without air and light , in the high temperature of the furnace .The dust from polishing the bangles is injurious to eyes. They often lose their eyesight before they become adults. Their eyes are more adjusted to the dark than to the light outside.

3. How is Mukesh’s attitude to his situation different from that of his family?

Answer

Mukesh belongs to a poor family of bangle-makers. But his attitude is very different from his family. He wants to break the family tradition of bangle making. He is daring and determined. He has hopes and dreams. He wants to be a motor mechanic.

Understanding the Text

1. What could be some of the reasons for the migration of people from villages to cities?

Answer

There are many factors that cause migration of people from villages to cities. Some villagers voluntarily move to the cities in search for jobs and better civic and health facilities, etc. Others are forced to migrate when natural disasters like flood, storm, drought, famine, etc. destroy their houses and properties. History has records of large scale migrations caused by wars. Also, many villagers who are better off than others manage to send their children to study in the cities.
In the lesson ‘Lost Spring’, Saheb and his family migrates to Seemapuri from Dhaka after their houses were destroyed in the storms.

2. Would you agree that promises made to poor children are rarely kept? Why do you think this happens in the incidents narrated in the text?

Answer

Yes, the promises made to poor children are rarely kept. Often, they are not taken seriously or have been made on the pretext of retaining a child’s fancy for something. This keeps the child hoping for a better possibility till he/she realises the truth. It is difficult for people to shatter the children’s dreams; while it is also painful to see these children thrive of false hopes given to them.
Once, while interacting with Saheb, the narrator ends up encouraging him to study and jokingly talks about opening a school herself. At that time she fails to realise that unknowingly she has sown a seed of hope in Saheb’s heart. She becomes conscious of her mistake when, after a few days, Saheb approaches her, enquiring about her school. Her hollow promise leaves her embarrassed.

3. What forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty?

Answer

The unfavourable social and legal systems, the deceptive middlemen, and their own sad destinies keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in perpetual poverty.

Talking about the Text

1. How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realise his dream?

Answer

Mukesh was different from the others of his community. By daring to dream, he has already taken the first step towards a big change. He wants to become a motor mechanic and drive a car. He can realise this dream with determination and hard work. There might be many obstacles on his way but a strong willpower will help him move towards the way to success. The fact that he is willing to walk a long distance in order to learn the vocation, underlines his firm resolve. The only thing left for him to do is to make that first journey to that garage and request the owner to take him in and guide and direct him on his journey as a mechanic.

2. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.

Answer

The impoverished workers in the glass bangles industry toil in potentially hazardous working conditions while welding. The furnaces they work in have extremely high temperature and lack proper ventilation. Persistently working in low light conditions, without any protective eye gear, leaves them blind. Even burns and cuts are quite common. The workers are quite prone to ailments such as lung cancer.

3. Why should child labour be eliminated and how?

Answer

Child labour should be eliminated because it takes away from the child his childhood and the prospect of elementary education. Moreover, since the child labourers are cheap, and consequently engaged in hazardous and dangerous employment, they are often vulnerable to mental and physical illness. In order to curb this problem, it is important to make education easily accessible. Apart from that, the parents must be made aware of the consequences of working in harmful environments. It is also important to make the public aware of the fact that child labour is a criminal offence and is punishable under law. The government must ensure stricter child labour laws and that the offenders are punished.

Page No: 21

Thinking about Language

1. Carefully read the following phrases and sentences taken from the text. Can you identify the literary device in each example?

1. Saheb-e-Alam which means the lord of the universe is directly in contrast to what Saheb is in reality.
2. Drowned in an air of desolation.
3. Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it, metaphorically.
4. For the children it is wrapped in wonder; for the elders it is a means of survival.
5. As her hands move mechanically like the tongs of a machine, I wonder if she knows the sanctity of the bangles she helps make.
6. She still has bangles on her wrist, but not light in her eyes.
7. Few airplanes fly over Firozabad.
8. Web of poverty.
9. Scrounging for gold.
10. And survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through the years, it has acquired the proportions of a fine art.
11. The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag he would carry so lightly over his shoulders.

Answer

1. Irony
2. Metaphor
3. Antithesis
4. Antithesis

5. Simile
6. Pun
7. Pun
8. Metaphor
9. Metaphor
10. Hyberbole
11. Paradox


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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 3 Deep Water English

December 10, 2014, 3:33 pm

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 3 Deep Water Flamingo English 

By William Douglas

Page No: 23

1. Notice these words and expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.

treacherous: unpredictable danger; not dependable or trustworthy
subdued my prid: to lower or restrain the intensity of self-respect and confidence
flailed at the surface: to strike or lash out vigorously at the surface of the water in trying to come out
fishing for landlocked salmon: to go fishing for a specific variety of salmon available in certain lakes
misadventure: an incident that turns out to be a disaster
bob to the surface like a cork: to float or show the characteristics of buoyancy as a cork in water
curtain of life fell: to indicate that life has ended or a near-death experience
back and forth across the pool: to swim across the swimming pool from one side to the other

Page No: 27

Think As you Read

1. What is the “misadventure” that William Douglas speaks about?

Answer

William O.Douglas had just learnt swimming. One day, an eighteen year old big bruiser picked him up and tossed him into the nine feet deep end of the Y.M.C.A. pool. He hit the water surface in a sitting position. He swallowed water and went at once to the bottom. He nearly died in this misadventure.

2. What were the series of emotions and fears that Douglas experienced when he was thrown into the pool? What plans did he make to come to the surface?

Answer

Douglas was frightened when he was thrown into the pool. However, he was not frightened out of his wits. While sinking down he made a plan. He would make a big jump when his feet hit the bottom. He would come to the surface like a cork, lie flat on it, and paddle to the edge of the pool.

3. How did this experience affect him?

Answer
The near death experience of drowning had a very strong impact on his psychology. He was deeply perturbed and shaken by the whole experience. A haunting fear of water took control of his physical strength and emotional balance for many years. As he couldn’t bear being surrounded by water, he was deprived of enjoying any water-related activity.

Page No: 29

1. Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?

Answer

Douglas regretted being deprived of enjoying water activities like canoeing, boating, swimming, fishing, etc. The wish to enjoy them and the craving to regain his lost confidence, while being in water, made him try every possible way to get rid of his fear. He was finally able to overcome this mental handicap by getting himself a swimming instructor and further ensuring that no residual fear was left.

2. How did the instructor “build a swimmer” out of Douglas?

Answer

The instructor built a swimmer out of Douglas piece by piece. For three months he held him high on a rope attached to his belt. He went back and forth across the pool. Panic seized the author every time. The instructor taught Douglas to put his face under water and exhale and to raise his nose and inhale. Then Douglas had to kick with his legs for many weeks till these relaxed. After seven months the instructor told him to swim the length of the pool.

3. How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?

Answer

The instructor built a swimmer out of Douglas piece by piece. For three months he held him high on a rope attached to his belt. He went back and forth across the pool. Panic seized the author every time. The instructor taught Douglas to put his face under water and exhale and to raise his nose and inhale. Then Douglas had to kick with his legs for many weeks till these relaxed. After seven months the instructor told him to swim the length of the pool.
Understanding the Text

1. How does Douglas make clear to the reader the sense of panic that gripped him as he almost drowned? Describe the details that have made the description vivid.

Answer

Once Douglas was sitting alone at the Y.M.C.A pool waiting for others to come. Then there came a big bruiser of a boy. He tossed him up and threw him into the deep end of the pool. Douglas went deep and swallowed water. He was at the sitting position at the bottom. He was frightened but was not out of his wits. On the way down, he had a strategy in his mind. When his feet touched the bottom, he would make a great spring upward. Then he would paddle to the edge of the pool, but he came up slowly. He opened his eyes and saw dirty water. He was deeply frightened. His legs seemed paralysed. A great force was pulling him down. A stark power overpowered him. He shrieked in the water but only the water heard him. After feeling the tiles under his feet, he jumped withal his might but it made no difference. His lungs ached and heart throbbed. Stark terror took him in its grip. His legs and arms could not move. He again tried for the third time. He searched for air but swallowed water. He felt drowsy and ceased all efforts. He was crossed to oblivion. The curtain of his life fell and he lay unconscious.

2. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?

Answer

After his misadventure in the pool at the Y.M.C.A, Douglas was amidst the fear of the water. He realised that his fishing trips, canoeing, swimming and boating were over. He tried his best to overcome it but the haunting of the water followed him everywhere. Finally he decided to engage an instructor to learn to swim and overcome his fear. He went to the pool and practiced five days a week, an hour each day. The instructor put a belt around him and a rope was attached to the belt. The rope went through a pulley that ran an overhead cable. Douglas held one end of the rope and went back and forth across the pool. On each trip some of the terror would seize him up. After three months, the tension began to decrease.
Piece by piece he shed the panic. He taught him to put his face under water and exhale. He also learnt how to raise his nose and inhale.
This exercise was repeated hundreds of times. Now he was able to shed part of the fear that seized him under water. He went to lake Wentworth Triggs island and Slamp act island. He swam two miles across the lake. Now he was determined and he swam on. He shouted with joy and he had conquered his fear of water.

3. Why does Douglas as an adult recount a childhood experience of terror and his conquering of it? What larger meaning does he draw from his experience?

Answer

Douglas had two childhood experiences of terror. One at the California beach when the waves knocked him down and swept over him. He was terror stricken. At the other occasion he was thrown into the deep end of the Y.M.C.A pool by a big bruiser of a boy. A stark terror overpowered and gripped him. It followed and haunted him wherever he went. He realised that his joys of fishing, canoeing, boating and swimming had ruined. Keeping in view its severe consequences, he engaged an instructor who trained him in swimming and Douglas was able to conquer his fear.
This experience had a deeper meaning for Douglas. Because he had experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror that the fear of it can produce, he learnt the will to live in great intensity. This experience can only be realised by those who had faced to conquer it. This exactly happened with Douglas. He knew: In death, there is peace., there is terror only in the fear of death.’’ Thus one can estimate what matters is the will to live. As Roosevelt said ‘‘All we have to fear is fear itself.’’ So will to live is great and it can take man to touch the highest peaks of life.

Page No: 30

Talking about the text

1. “All we have to fear is fear itself”. Have you ever had a fear that you have now overcome? Share your experience with your partner.

Answer

Roosevelt has appropriately said ‘‘All we have to fear is fear itself.’’ These words have a deeper meaning for all of us. It implies that we fear from fear. Those who have undergone this experience of fear, they can only appreciate its worth. William O. Douglas has faced it twice in life. He had a terrible fear of water. He could not go for swimming, canoeing, boating and rafting etc. He realised that it would ruin his career since it was following and haunting him wherever he went. Fear is our hard core enemy. We must get rid of it at the earliest like Douglas. I too had a terrible experience in my life.
A small tributary flows near our village. During the summer vacation, we used to go there for swimming and bathing. Very often, we were made cautious by the villagers not to bathe in it since there is a deeper hole inside the stream. Being children, we never bothered . One day we took out our clothes and plunged into it. By chance, the water was overflowing the bank and the current was fast. While diving, two among us got stuck into the hole. We cried and cried out. We were going deeper and deeper. We thought that it was the end of our life. One of the boys came outside and saw the villagers. He cried and cried. They came and brought us out of the water. But this enabled us to challenge the fears of life and we can take adventurous life.

Talking about Language

1. If someone else had narrated Douglas’ experience, how would it have differed from this account? Write out a sample paragraph or paragraphs from this text from the point of view of a third person or observer to find out which style of narration would you consider to be more effective? Why?

Answer

If a third person had narrated Douglas’ experience, the impact of the story would have lost the reader’s deep connection with the main protagonist and his fear of water. The narrator then would be passively telling the story from the perspective of an observer. The incident of drowning in water could never have successfully communicated the feeling of the “stark terror” that Douglas underwent.
In third person narrative, the 8th and 9th paragraph of the story would be as follows:
“He flailed at the surface of the water, swallowed and choked. He tried to bring his legs up but they hung as dead weights, paralyzed and rigid. A great force was pulling him under. He screamed, but only the water heard him. He had started on the long journey back to the bottom of the pool.”
“He struck at the water as he went down; expending his strength as one in a nightmare, fights an irresistible force. He had lost all his breath. His lungs ached. His head throbbed. He was getting dizzy. But he remembered the strategy – he would spring from the bottom of the pool and come like a cork to the surface. He would lie flat on the water, strike out with his arms, and thrash with his legs. Then he would get to the edge of the pool and be safe.”
So, it is only the first person narrative that keeps the reader gripped to the story. It makes the experience more relevant and tangible for the reader. It engages him by making him go through the experience along with the protagonist. The desperation and helplessness of being in water, which has almost become fatal, the mental and physical agony of trying to survive the crisis, the long struggle of overcoming the fear bit-by-bit and the jubilation of conquering it at the end; all make the reader feel part of the experience. The first person narrative makes the story a fast-paced and urgent reading for the readers. All this would have been lost had it been a third person narrative or from the point of view of an observer.


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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 4 The Rattrap English

December 10, 2014, 7:17 pm

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 4 The Rattrap Flamingo English

By Selma Lagerlof

Page No: 32

1. Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meanings from the context.

keep body and soul together: to manage to keep alive; to survive
hunger gleamed in his eyes: feeling so hungry that the expression shows on one’s face
plods along the road: moving along the road slowly but deliberately, to walk with a heavy feet
unwonted joy: unusual pleasure or happiness
impenetrable prison: impassable confinement
nodded a haughty consent: indifferent agreement
eased his way: moved himself slowly and carefully
fallen into a line of thought: agreement of thoughts
things have gone downhill: to decline or grow worse and worse

Page No: 34

Think As you Read

1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?

Answer

One day the peddler was thinking of his rattraps. Suddenly he was struck by an idea that the whole world with its lands and seas, its cities and villages was nothing but a big rattrap. It offered riches and joys, shelter and food as baits in the same manner as the rattrap offered cheese and pork. As soon as someone touches the bait, he finds himself in the trap.

2. Why was he amused by this idea?

Answer

The peddler believed that the world with all its riches and joys, food and shelter appears as a rattrap to tempt people. The world had never been kind to him. It gave him unwonted joy to think ill of it. So he was amused to think about the people who were already caught in the trap and others circling around the bait.

3. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?

Answer

No, the peddler did not expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter. This was because usually he was greeted by ‘sour’ and unfriendly faces whenever he knocked on doors and requested for shelter.

4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?

Answer

The crofter was an old man without wife and children. He was living a monotonous and dull life in solitude. He welcomed his guest very warmly. He offered him food and shelter. Naturally, he was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. So he was talkative and friendly with the peddler.

5. Why did he show the thirty kroner to the peddler?

Answer

The crofter was very proud of his cow that gave him enough milk to support him. He told peddler that he had got thirty kronor last month as payment by supplying the milk to creamery. The peddler seemed doubtful about it. So, in order to assure his guest he showed thirty kronor to the peddler.

6. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?

Answer

No, the peddler did not respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter. In fact, he betrayed his trust by robbing the thirty kronors from him.
However, later in the story, his conscience was awakened by his stay with the Willmanssons and he decided to return the money.

Page No: 37

1. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?

Answer

After stealing the crofter’s money, the peddler believed that it was not safe to walk on the public highway. So he went into the woods. But it was a big and confusing forest. He walked and walked but could not get out of it. The forest having its trunks, branches and thickets appeared to him a big rattrap. Then he realized that he had fallen into the rattrap.

2. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?

Answer

In the uncertain reflection from furnace, the ironmaster mistook the peddler as his old regimental comrade, Captain Von Stahle. His condition was very miserable. So being an old acquaintance he wanted to help him. He also wanted his company on Christmas Eve. So the ironmaster spoke kindly to the peddler and invited him home.

3. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?

Answer

The peddler knew that the ironmaster had mistaken him as his old regiment comrade. The invitation by the ironmaster did not please the peddler since the he had the stolen money in his pocket. He thought that it would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion’s den. He was feeling guilty and frightened. So he declined the invitation.

Page No: 41

1. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?

Answer

Edla Willmansson had better power of persuasion. She looked at the peddler quite compassionately. She knew he was afraid. So she assured him that no harm would come to him and he would be allowed to leave just as freely as he came. Her friendly manner made the peddler feel confidence in her and accepted the invitation.

2. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?

Answer

When Edla went to the iron mill to fetch the peddler, she noticed that he was frightened. She had doubts that the peddler had stolen something or had escaped prison. His appearance and behaviour also left her in doubts whether he was actually an educated man, as claimed by her father.

3. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?

Answer

The ironmaster realised his mistake the next day when the peddler turned up at breakfast. The valet had bathed the peddler, cut his hair, shaved him and given him clothes. The ironmaster realised that he had been deceived in recognising the person because of the reflection of the furnace, the previous night.

4. What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought he was?

Answer

The ironmaster came to know the reality about the peddler the next morning. The peddler in his defence explained that he never pretended to be what he was not. He showed himself as a poor trader. He only desired to sleep in the forge for the night. He had declined the ironmaster’s invitation again and again.

5. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?

Answer

The peddler’s true identity came to light the next morning. But Edla served the peddler not as her father’s old comrade. Even after knowing the reality about the peddler she wanted him to stay with them on Christmas Eve and enjoy a day of peace. In her view it was not proper to chase away a person whom they had invited on Christmas.

Page No: 42

1. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?

Answer

When Edla opened the package of gift left by the peddler she felt very happy. She found a small rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes and a letter addressed to her. He had left the 30 kronors for its rightful owner. He was not a thief but his circumstances made him so. She was happy to note that after all he had changed.

2. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?

Answer

The peddler was a vagabond. When he was invited by the ironmaster, he behaved like a real captain. In this role, he raised himself above the petty temptation. Kindness and hospitality shown by Edla had transformed him completely. He wanted to behave nicely with them.So he signed himself as Captain Von Sthale.

Page No: 43

Understanding the Text

1. How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?

Answer

The different ways in which the peddler repaid the three people corresponds to the way he interpreted the kindness of the three people. The peddler realised that for the crofter it was his craving for company that led him to offer his hospitality. The ironmaster’s hospitality apparently is limited to his acquaintances. It was only the daughter who genuinely offered warmth and goodness to the peddler. He was touched by Edla’s kindness and it made him want to act differently. He repaid her good treatment with a gesture of true gratitude.

2. What are the instances in the story that show that the character of the ironmaster is different from that of his daughter in many ways?

Answer

The ironmaster misunderstood the peddler for an old acquaintance,whereas his daughter could make out that the man was afraid, which was suggestive of himhaving stolen something. Though the father and the daughter express compassion for the vagabond both do so for different reasons .The ironmaster was sure to help the vagabond get over his tramp manners because he had mistaken the latter for his old comrade. The daughter however wishes to feed him and welcome him inspite of knowing that he was not Captain Von Stahle. The father acts impulsively and casually and invites him without confirming the stranger’s identity. On realizing his mistake he recklessly wants to hand him over to the sheriff. Only when he is threatened to be ensnared by the rattrap of this world that he thinks otherwise. Edla on the other hand shows a strong sense of observation. She rightly judges him to be a tramp without any education. She persuades her father to let him stay because they had promised him Christmas cheer. When the blacksmith’s daughter infects the protagonist with her true altruism the peddler’s inner soul experiences a rapid transformation form an ugly duckling to a dazzling swan.

3. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.

Answer

The first instance is that of the crofter’s hospitality to the peddler. The rattrap peddler, used to being shooed away, was surprised at the friendly behaviour of the crofter. The peddlar was also surprised at the sudden invitation given by the ironmaster, who was himself shocked to realise his mistake in recognising the peddler, the next day. Another unexpected reaction, for both the peddler and the ironmaster, is Edla’s intervention to seek peddler’s presence for Christmas. However, the most unexpected reaction is from the peddler when he leaves the package and the letter for Edla, showing gratitude to the girl’s hospitality and respect for him.

4. What made the peddler finally change his ways?

Answer

Edla Willmansson treated the tramp in a friendly manner. She was nice and kind to her.
She interceded on his behalf when her father was about to turn him out. She still entertained the peddler even after knowing the truth about him. She offered him the snit as Christmas present and invited him to spend the next Christmas with them. Her love and understanding aroused the essential goodness of the peddler and he changed his ways.

5. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?

Answer

The metaphor of the rattrap signifies that the world exists only to trap people by setting baits for them. Whenever someone is tempted by the luxuries, he ends up being caught in a dangerous trap. The author, thus, makes a much deeper comment on the woeful plight of those in pursuit of the worldly pleasures, which often lead them to unfortunate situations. The story helps in realising the importance of general goodness and kindness. The peddler is saved from the snare of the huge rattrap called world only when he appreciates the kindness to him by Edla.

6. The peddler comes out as a person with a subtle sense of humour. How does this serve in lightening the seriousness of the theme of the story and also endear him to us?

Answer

The peddler doesn’t come across as a humorous person, although one can locate a subtle sense of humour in the way he thinks about the world as being a giant rattrap. He is singularly pleased by this thought of his because it provides him with the opportunity of thinking ‘ill’ of the world that is not kind to him. It is clearly visible that whenever he gets caught unaware, in the web of deceit spun by his scheming mind, he hides behind the thought that the world is a rattrap and he merely a prey. Thus, he lightens the mood and theme of the story and makes us endear him.
Talking about the Text

Discuss the following in groups of four. Each group can deal with one topic. Present the views of your group to the whole class.

1. The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story. Why is this so? Is the sympathy justified?

Answer

From the beginning, the rattrap seller is shown as a victim of his situation and not a downright evil character. The peddler had to resort to beggary and stealing because his business is not profitable enough to make both ends meet. His condition of penury does not allow him to be fully righteous. Moreover, we find that he lacks friends and guide to steer him in the right path. The sympathy is justified because in the end we find out that the peddler is capable of appreciating genuine goodness and hospitality. When he is treated with respect and kindness, he reciprocates the same in the best way he can.

2. The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others.

Answer

The Rattrap deals with the issues of human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Not only the peddler but also other characters like the crofter, the ironmaster and Edla emphasise this fact.
The peddler’s conscience had left him because he had been lonely in his predicament, for a long time. But Edla’s kindness and hospitality changed him. The crofter, on the other hand, is a lonely fellow whose craving for company leads him to give shelter to a vagabond, and he ends up getting robbed. Even, the ironmaster and his daughter suffer from loneliness. They crave company on Christmas Eve and are excited when they get the opportunity to serve a guest.

4. The story is both entertaining and philosophical.

Answer

The story is told in the form of a fairy tale with a happy ending. The narrative is interesting with many surprises and attention-grabbing dialogues. The twists and the unexpected reactions of the characters often astonish the reader making the story entertaining.
However, the author has carefully managed to weave philosophical elements into the storyline. The rattrap peddler’s comparison of the whole world with a giant rattrap makes this an interesting commentary on how such people end up getting trapped in the giant chasm. The story also makes an observation on the inherent goodness of people. It also showcases how goodness and kindness shown by some people can change others’ perspective.

Working with Words

1. The man selling rattraps is referred to by many terms such as “peddler, stranger” etc. Pick out all such references to him. What does each of these labels indicate of the context or the attitude of the people around him?

Answer
  

	Labels	Contexts
1	Peddler	As he peddles or sells the rattraps
2	Vagabond	Used to describe his nomadic lifestyle
3	Stranger	Used to refer to the peddler when he was at the crofter’s place, possibly to emphasise the fact that the crofter was compassionate to an unknown man
4	Guest	He is treated with compassion, especially at the ironmaster’s house where he was invited to spend the Christmas
5	Intruder	When the peddler trespasses and enters the iron mill
6	Tramp	When the peddler asks for lodgings at the iron mill; also when the ironmaster, mistaking him for his old regimental comrade plans of helping him drop his tramp ways and begin a new vocation
7	Ragamuffin	When the ironmaster first notices him wrapped in rags and in the state to utter destitution
8	Old regimental comrade	The ironmaster mistakes him for his old friend when he first meets the peddler at his iron mill
9	Poor hungry wretch	Used only once when the author mentions the fact that Edla was excited about the prospect of getting a chance to help an unfortunate fellow on Christmas
10	Rat	The peddler calls himself a rat and thanks Edla for helping him escape the rattrap with her kindness and compassion

2. You came across the words, plod, trudge, stagger in the story. These words indicate movement accompanied by weariness. Find five other such words with a similar meaning.

Answer

Other words are lurch, stumble, slog, hike, clump, traipse and stomp.
Page No: 44

Noticing Form

1. He made them himself at odd moments.
2. He raised himself.
3. He had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught.
4. … a day may come when you yourself may want to get a big piece of pork.

Notice the way in which these reflexive pronouns have been used (pronoun + self)

In 1 and 4 the reflexive pronouns “himself” and “yourself” are used to convey emphasis.
In 2 and 3 the reflexive pronoun is used in place of personal pronoun to signal that it refers to the same subject in the sentence.
Pick out other examples of the use of reflexive pronouns from the story and notice how they are used.

Answer

Examples	Usage
“…would be like throwing himselfvoluntarily into the lion’s den”	used in place of personal pronoun to signal that it refers to the same subject in the sentence
“...except my oldest daughter andmyself”	used in place of personal pronoun to signal that it refers to the same subject in the sentence
“...he laughed to himself.”	used in place of personal pronoun to signal that it refers to the same subject in the sentence
“...better powers of persuasion than he himself”	used to convey emphasis
“stretched himself out on the floor”	used in place of personal pronoun to signal that it refers to the same subject in the sentence
“He could not bring himself to oppose her.”	used to convey emphasis

Thinking about the Language

1. Notice the words in bold in the following sentence.
“The fire boy shovelled charcoal into the maw of the furnace with a great deal of clatter”. This is a phrase that is used in the specific context of an iron plant.
Pick out other such phrases and words from the story that are peculiar to the terminology of ironworks.

Answer

Other such phrases could be as follows:
1. ‘a hard regular thumping’
2. ‘hammer strokes’
3. ‘a large plant with smelter, rolling mill and forge’
4. ‘pig iron’
5. ‘coal dust’
6. ‘put on the anvil’
2. Mjolis is a card game of Sweden.
Name a few indoor games played in your region. ‘Chopar’ could be an example.

Answer

Some indoor games are chess, ludo, table tennis, playing cards, billiards, etc.

3. A crofter is a person who rents or owns a small farm especially in Scotland. Think of other uncommon terms for ‘a small farmer’ including those in your language.

Answer

Some other terms are peasant, plower, cultivator, krishak, kisan etc


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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 5 Indigo English

December 10, 2014, 11:49 pm

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 5 Indigo Flamingo English

By Louis Fischer

Page No: 46

1. Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meanings from the context.

urge the departure: insist on the going away of the British from India
conflict of duties: clash of obligation or responsibility
harbor a man like me: give shelter to an advocate of home-rule
seek a prop: try to find support or assistance

Page No: 47

Think As you Read

1. Strike out what is not true in the following.

a. Rajkumar Shukla was
(i) a sharecropper.
(ii) a politician.
(iii) a delegate.
(iv) a landlord.

Answer

(i) a sharecropper.
(ii) a politician.
(iii) a delegate.
(iv) a landlord.

b. Rajkumar Shukla was
(i) poor.
(ii) physically strong.
(iii) illiterate.

Answer

(i) poor.
(ii) physically strong.
(iii) illiterate.

2. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?

Answer

Rajkumar Shukla is described as being ‘resolute’ because even after being told about the prior engagements of Gandhi at Cawnpore and other parts across the county, he does not quit. He continues to accompany Gandhi everywhere. Furthermore, he persistently asks Gandhi to fix a date for his visit to his native district of Champaran. His resolution and determination finally impresses Gandhi and the latter complies with his request.

3. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?

Answer
Gandhi was a simple and humble man dressed in a plain ‘dhoti’ (loincloth). To the servants, he must have looked like just another poor farmer in this country. Moreover, he was accompanied by Rajkumar Shukla whom they knew to be a poor indigo sharecropper. Thus, when the servants saw them both together, they mistook Gandhi to be another peasant.

Page No: 49

1. List the places that Gandhi visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.

Answer

Gandhi first met Shukla at Lucknow. Then he was in Cawnpore and other parts of India. He returned to his ashram near Ahmedabad. Later he visited Calcutta, Patna and Muzaffarpur before arriving at Champaran.

2. What did the peasants pay the British landlords as rent? What did the British now want instead and why? What would be the impact of synthetic indigo on the prices of natural indigo?

Answer

The peasants used to pay indigo as rent to the British landlords. Germany had now developed synthetic indigo. So the British landlords wanted money as compensation for being released from natural arrangement. The prices of natural Indigo would go down due to the synthetic indigo.

Page No: 51

1. The events in this part of the text illustrate Gandhi’s method of working. Can you identify some instances of this method and link them to his ideas of satyagraha and non-violence?

Answer

There are many instances in the narrative that can be linked to Gandhi’s idea of non-cooperation andsatyagraha. One such instance is Gandhi’s refusal to obey the court order asking him to leave Champaran immediately. Besides that, Gandhi’s protest against the delay of the court proceedings is also an instance of his belief in civil disobedience.
Furthermore, Gandhi does not falter to plead guilty in front of the court. He accepts his guilt but presents a rational case as to what made him disobey the law. For him, truth is above everything and, thus, he decides to follow the voice of conscience and obey the “higher law of our being”.

Page No: 53

1. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers?

Answer

For Gandhi the amount of the refund was less important than the fact that the landlords had been forced to return part of the money and with it, part of their prestige. So he agreed to the settlement of 25 percent refund to the farmers.

2. How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?

Answer

The episode of Champaran brought more than one change in the plight of the peasants of that district. These peasants gained confidence which was evident in their spontaneous demonstration on the morning of Gandhi’s trial. After the successful refund of the compensation, the peasants, for the first time, realised their own rights and were liberated from the fear that had plagued them.
This episode brought an end to the fifteen percent arrangement of sharecropping. However, the most radical change that the episode brought about was in their social and cultural standard. Gandhi opened schools in six villages. His wife took pains to make the peasants aware of the importance of general sanitation and personal hygiene. He even appointed a doctor.

Page No: 54

Understanding the Text

1. Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning-point in his life?

Answer

The Champaran episode began as an attempt to ease the sufferings of large number of poor peasants. He got the whole hearted support of thousands of people. Gandhiji admitted that he had done a very ordinary thing. He declared that the British could not order him about in his own country. Hence he considered the Champaran episode as a turning point in his life.

2. How was Gandhi able to influence lawyers? Give instances.

Answer

Gandhi was able to influence the lawyers through his conviction, earnestness and pertinent questioning. Gandhi reproached the lawyers of Muzzafarpur for charging a large sum of money as fee from the peasants. Later, the lawyers from Bihar opined that they would return to their own places in the event of his imprisonment. But, Gandhi made them realise that it would be impudent for them, being lawyers from a neighbouring place, to return when a stranger was ready to get himself imprisoned for the peasants. So, they agreed to follow him to jail. Gandhi also convinced the lawyers not to seek support from an Englishman and be self-reliant.

3. What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of ‘home rule’?

Answer

The average Indians in smaller localities were afraid to show sympathy for the advocates of home-rule. Gandhi stayed at Muzaffarpur for two days in the home of professor Malkani, a teacher in a government school. It was an extraordinary thing in those days for a government professor to give shelter to one who opposed the government.

4. How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?

Answer

Professor J.B. Kriplani received Gandhi at Muzaffarpur railway station at midnight. He had a large body of students with him. Sharecroppers from Champaran came on foot and by conveyance to see Gandhi. Muzaffarpur lawyers too called on him. A vast multitude greeted Gandhi when he reached Motihari railway station. Thousands of people demonstrated around the court room. This shows that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement.

Page No: 55

Talking about the Text

Discuss the following.

1. “Freedom from fear is more important than legal justice for the poor.”
Do you think that the poor of India are free from fear after Independence?

2. The qualities of a good leader.

Answer

1. In the story, Gandhi makes it possible for the sharecroppers of Champaran to shed their fear of the British landlords. According to Gandhi, freedom from fear is the first step towards self-reliance. However, it is unfortunate that the poor of the country are not free from fear, even decades after the independence. Their actions, work, etc. are still under pressure; they are under the mercy of the bureaucratic system. Furthermore, the poor live in a continual fear of the police, who instead of taking care, often end up maltreating them. The already poor farmers are becoming poorer, because of globalisation and the craze for the foreign products. This leaves them in the fear of further destitution.

2. A leader is someone who leads the minds of others and convinces them into following his set of ideas and beliefs. As such, there are some qualities inherent in the persona of the leader that sets him apart from the rest. One of these qualities includes dedication to one’s work. His enthusiasm is evident in his work and life, and this inspires others to follow him. A good leader is courageous in the face of adversity and is never a quitter. He motivates and encourages others, bringing out the best in them. He appreciates the efforts of others and is not biased or impartial.

Thinking about Language

1. Notice the sentences in the text which are in ‘direct speech’.
Why does the author use quotations in his narration?

Answer

Below are some sentences in the text which are in ‘direct speech’:

“I will tell you how it happened that I decided to urge the departure of the British. It was in 1917.”

‘I am Rajkumar Shukla. I am from Champaran, and I want you to come to my district’!’’

“Speak to Gandhi.”

“Fix a date,”

‘‘I have to be in Calcutta on such-and-such a date. Come and meet me and take me from there.”

‘‘It was an extraordinary thing ... for a government professor to harbour a man like me”.

‘‘The commissioner ... to bully me and advised me forthwith to leave Tirhut.’’

“conflict of duties”

“humanitarian and national service”

“not for want of respect for lawful authority, but in obedience to the higher law of our being, the voice of conscience”

“But how much must we pay?”

‘‘Look, there is no box or cupboard here for clothes. The sari I am wearing is the only one I have.”

‘‘What I did,” he explained, “was a very ordinary thing. I declared that the British could not order me about in my own country.”

‘‘He had read our minds correctly,’’ Rajendra Prasad comments, “and we had no reply… Gandhi in this way taught us a lesson in self-reliance’’.

The author uses quotations to indicate the actual words of a speaker. Usually a quotation is used when a particular passage or sentence is well-written or memorable or is especially relevant in the context under discussion. In ‘Indigo,’ the author uses quotations when he mentions important commentary or observation, or any pertinent utterance by Gandhi, or for that matter, by any other character.

2. Notice the use or non-use of the comma in the following sentences.
When I first visited Gandhi in 1942 at his ashram in Sevagram, he told me what happened in Champaran.
He had not proceeded far when the police superintendent’s messenger overtook him.
When the court reconvened, the judge said he would not deliver the judgment for several days.

Answer

In this sentence, the comma is used after a long introductory phrase.
Essential clauses do not require commas. In this sentence, the clause ‘when the police superintendent’s messenger overtook him’ is an essential clause because it provides essential information. Hence, a comma is not required in this sentence.
In this sentence again we have an introductory clause which provides extra information. The second half of the sentence can stand alone and, therefore, is separated from the introductory clause with a comma.

Working with Words

► List the words used in the text that are related to legal procedures.
For example: deposition

► List other words that you know that fall into this category.

Answer

Deposition	Notice	Summon	Lawyer
Court	Cases	Fee	Agreement
Compensation	Order	Courthouse	Judge
Prosecutor	Statement	Guilty	Trial
Penalty	Law	Magistrate	Sentence
Bail	Judgement	Inquiry	Evidence
Documents	Imprison	Appeal	Rights
Investigation	Reconvene	Appear	Pleading

Witness	Accused	Proceedings	Adjourn
Verdict	Decree	Accusation	Defense
Impeachment	Charge	Affidavit	Indictment
Opposition	Prosecution	Offence	Crime

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 6 Poets and Pancakes English

December 11, 2014, 12:33 am

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 6 Poets and Pancakes Flamingo English

By Asokamitran

Page No: 57

1. Notice these words and expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.

blew over: give a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation
was struck dumb: render speechless, as by surprise or shock
catapulted into: to shoot forth or launch
a coat of mail: an armoured coat made of chain mail, interlinked rings, or overlapping metal plates
played into their hands: to act or behave so as to give an advantage to (an opponent).
the favourite haunt: a frequently visited place
heard a bell ringing: stirring an often indistinct memory

Page No: 59

Think As you Read

1. What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up’?

Answer

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

2. What is the example of national integration that the author refers to?

Answer

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

3. What work did the ‘office boy’ do in the Gemini Studios? Why did he join the studios? Why was he disappointed?

Answer

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

4. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios?

Answer

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

Page No: 61

1. Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on?

Answer

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

2. Who was Subbu’s principal?

Answer

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

3. Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities.

Answer

Four Special abilities of Subbu:
i) Subbu had the ability to look cheerful at all times.
(ii) His sense of loyalty made him turn his entire creativity to his principal's advantage: Film-making was quite easy with Subbu around
(iii) He was literary inclined too-a poet and novelist. He was an amazing actor.
(iv) He had a charitable and loving nature.

4. Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others?

Answer

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

5. What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios?

Answer

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

Page No: 64

1. Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations?

Answer

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

2. Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the Studios?

Answer

The Moral Rearmament Army was a kind of counter movement to international communism.
The Big Bosses of Madras like Mr. Vasan simply played into their hands. So the Moral Rearmament Army was welcomed at the Gemini Studios.

3. Name one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA.

Answer

The plays staged by the MRA greatly influenced Madras and Tamil drama community. For some years almost all Tamil plays had a scene of sunrise and sunset in the manner of ‘Jotham Valley’ with a bare stage, a white background curtain and a tune played on the flute.

4. Who was the Boss of Gemini Studios?

Answer

Mr. S.S Vasan was the Boss of Gemini Studios.

5. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios?

Answer

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

6. Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as unexplained mystery?

Answer

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

Page No: 65

1. Who was the English visitor to the studios?

Answer

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

2. How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was?

Answer

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

3. What does ‘The God that Failed’ refer to?

Answer

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

Page No: 66

Understanding the Text

1. The author has used gentle humour to point out human foibles. Pick out instances of this to show how this serves to make the piece interesting.

Answer

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

2. Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios?

Answer

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

3. How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studios?

Answer

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

4. What do you understand about the author’s literary inclinations from the account?

Answer

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

Talking about the Text

Discuss in small groups taking off from points in the text.

1.Film-production today has come a long way from the early days of the Gemini Studios.
2. Poetry and films.
3. Humour and criticism.

Answer

1. Film production is more technical nowadays. While earlier only five per cent of the shooting was done outdoors, nowadays outdoor shooting is no more limited to such a negligible percentage. The cameras and other equipments are more advanced allowing for more varied and accurate presentation.
The quality of make-up has improved many folds from the days of the Gemini Studios where only pancake was used. The people involved in various departments are experts in their specialised work, be it the director, producer, scriptwriter, lyricist or the actors. The overall quality of the films is more striking and lively.

2. In India poetry and films are intricately linked. The people at Gemini Studios, all claimed to have the talents of a poet. The main reason behind it was their monotonous and leisurely life at the studios. However, these people were not knowledgeable or educated enough to be poets. Unlike poetry, films can be enjoyed by people with little resources who cannot afford to cultivate taste for poetry and literature.

3. The story is interspersed with instances dipped in subtle humour. The humorous instances, however, make interesting and relevant comments on the behaviour of general people. A humorous story has more readers, a humorous film more viewers. This is because they provide entertainment and a respite from the tedious existence. Criticism by means of humour is more effective, hence writers and film-makers often use humorous elements in their works and make sarcastic comments and criticism.


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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 7 The Interview English

December 11, 2014, 4:09 am

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 7 The Interview Flamingo English

By Christopher Silvester

Page No: 69

Think As you Read

1. What are some of the positive views on interviews?

Answer

Interview, in the 130 years of its existence, has become an inherent part of journalism. It is a useful means of communication that is, at times, considered to be an art, serving as a source of truth. Denis Brian has stated that in today’s world we get to know “our contemporaries” through their interviews.

2. Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed?

Answer

Celebrity writers believe that interviews unduly interfere in their private lives. They regard themselves as victims of interviews. They claim that the interview in some way ‘diminishes’ them, just like some ancient cultures believed that a portrait of a person takes away his soul. Certain celebrities like V.S Naipaul have claimed that interviews leave them wounded, while others like Rudyard Kipling have referred to it as a crime and an immoral act.

3. What is the belief in some primitive cultures about being photographed?

Answer

Some primitive cultures believed that photographing a person is no less than stealing his/her soul out of the body and rendering him incomplete and slighted.

4. What do you understand by the expression “thumbprints on his windpipe”?

Answer

The expression means having been strangulated. The interview is an assault on a person as it makes him/her so tense that he/she feels as good as being choked.

5. Who, in today’s world, is our chief source of information about personalities?

Answer

In modern times, the chief source of information on personalities is the interviewer who, through his power and influence, gathers information and provides us with the best possible information on the interviewees. He extracts everything significant through his questions for us.

Page No: 73

Understanding the Text

1. Do you think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed? Give reasons for your opinion.

Answer

Yes, Umberto Eco, in all possibilities, likes being interviewed. He felt just at ease with the interviewer and answered all the questions fully and patiently without showing any hurry. He stated his achievement in a very modest manner and explained his philosophical views and interest clearly. He let the interviewer enter the secret about his craft with a loud laugh. Also, he elaborated his approach which was unique. He was mannerly, warm and properly responsive as well.

2. How does Eco find the time to write so much?

Answer

There are two factors that explain how Eco was able to write so much. In his own words, the life of every person has exply spaces- periods with no important jobs. He says that he did most of his writing during these free intervals. Second, he explains that people wondered that he (Eco) had written so much on various subjects. But the fact is that he was writing on the same lines and same interests-peace, non-violence, etc. All his works were linked with the thread of common interests. It saves his time and he could write a lot in a short period of time. That was the secret behind Eco’s prolific pen.

3. What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?

Answer

Umberto Eco's academic writing style is quite distinctive. It has a certain playful and personal quality about it. It is a marked departure from a regular academic style, which is usually depersonalised and often dry and boring.

4. Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?

Answer

Umberto Eco considered himself an academic scholar first and a novelist later. He makes his preference clear by saying, "I consider myself a university professor who writes novels on Sundays". On week days he attends academic conferences and does other scholarly, non-fictional work.

5. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel, The Name of the Rose?

Answer

'The Name of the Rose' is different sort of noveL It is quite serious noveL It is a detective story at one leveL But it also probes into metaphysics theology and medieval history. The reasons for the success of the book, however, remain a mystery.

Talking about the Text

Discuss in pairs or small groups.

2. The medium you like best for an interview, print, radio, or television.

Answer

The medium I like best for an interview is the television. It has both audio and visual effect. It presents the interviewer and interviewee before the audience in their true colours. Usually celebrities accuse the reporters of misquoting them or misreporting them in the print media or the radio. This is not possible when they are face-to-face on the television. Their lip movement and body movement while replying to probing questions are there for all to see. The recording of various expressions coming on the face of the interviewee and his/her gestures and words are the additional advantages that television holds over the print media or the radio. The print media has dull, dry words alongside a picture whereas the radio tries to create the atmosphere by skilful variation of the sound. Both expect a lot of attention from the reader/audience.

3. Every famous person has a right to his or her privacy. Interviewers sometimes embarrass celebrities with very personal questions.

Answer

Interviewers want to present exculsive and intimate details about the famous person they are interviewing. Some interviewrs focus on the public life and achievements of the individual only. They try to be objective in their approach as well as assesment. However, there are others who want to make their interviews more spicy and usually cross the thin limit of privacy of the individual. In their zeal to present good copy they embrass the famous person with the personal questions. Sometimes impact of such questions on famous person reveals his/her aversion as well as irritation at the silliness of the person. If they shout, they are accused of being rude and proud and if they keep mum thy are labelled as arrogant. In my opinion privacy of an individual must be respected.


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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 8 Going Places English

December 11, 2014, 6:33 am

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 8 Going Places Flamingo English

By A.R. Barton

Page No: 77

1. Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meanings from the context.

incongruity: quality of being unsuitable
prodigy: a young person endowed with exceptional qualities
chuffed: very pleased
solitary elm: a secluded tall tree
arcade: a passage or a walkway with shops and stalls on either side
amber glow: orange-yellow light of the lamp
wharf: a place beside the water bodies for loading or unloading of the ships
pangs of doubt: a sudden realization of uncertainty about something

Page No: 79

Think As you Read

1. Where was it most likely that the two girls would find work after school?

Answer

The two girls, Sophie and Jansie, were already destined for a job in the biscuit factory and it was likely that they would work there after school.

2. What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie discourage her to have such dreams?

Answer

Sophie dreamt of opening a boutique or becoming an actress or a fashion designer. She thought that she would be offered the position of a manager and that she would work there till the time she saves enough money for her boutique.
Keeping in mind their lower middle class family background, Jansie discourages Sophie to have such dreams. Jansie is more realistic and practical in life, and hence, knows that big ambitions cost heavy investments, something their working-class status could not afford.

3. Why did Sophie wriggle when Geoff told her father that she had met Danny Casey?

Answer

Sophie knew her father well. He would be angry if he knew of her meeting with the young Irish footballer, Danny Casey. She didn't tell him. When Geoff told his father about it, he became angry. He turned his head to look at her with disdain. Sophie wriggled where she was sitting at the table.

4. Did Geoff believe what Sophie says about her meeting with Danny Casey?

Answer

No, Geoff doesn't believe what Sophie says about her meeting with Danny Casey. First, he looks round in disbelief and says, "It can't be true". Again he says, "I don't believe it." Sophie then narrates how Danny Casey came and stood beside her. Geoff asks her, "What does he look like?'' So, he doesn't seem to be convinced that Sophie met Danny Casey.

5. Does her father believe her story?

Answer

Sophie's father does not believe her story and he warns her that her "wild stories" might land her into trouble.

6. How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in her fantasy of future?

Answer

Sophie was jealous of the fact that her brother had access to the world outside. She fantasises about going to these places with him some day in the future wearing a yellow dress. She fantasises that the world would rise to greet them.

7. Which country did Danny Casey play for?

Answer

Danny Casey played football for Ireland.

Page No: 85

1. Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?

Answer

Sophie didn't want Jansie to know about her encounter with Danny because she feared that Jansie would spread her story to the whole neighbourhood.

2. Did Sophie really meet Danny Casey?

Answer

Sophie did not meet Danny Casey in reality. She made up the story of her encounter with Danny Casey only to seek the attention her brother, Geoff.

3. Which was the only occasion when she got to see Danny Casey in person?

Answer

The only occasion when Sophie got to see Danny Casey in person was when the family went to watch United on Saturday. Sophie, her father and little Derek went down near the goal. Geoff went with his mates higher up. United won two-nil. Her idol Casey drove in the second goal. She saw the Irish genius going round two big defenders on the edge of penalty area. He beat the hesitant goal keeper from a dozen yards. Sophie glowed with pride.

Understanding the Text

1. Sophie and Jansie were class-mates and friends. What were the differences between them that show up in the story?

Answer

Sophie and Jansie were different from each other. Sophie was a dreamer who enjoyed creating her own fantasy world using her imagination. She showed an urge to transcend her working-class status and attain sophistication by pursuing the ambition of a fashion designer or an actress. Jansie, on the other hand, was more practical and realistic than Sophie. She tried to pull Sophie back to reality, but all in vain. Jansie's sensibility and maturity are evident in her attempt to remind her friend that they were earmarked for the biscuit factory, and expensive dreams were inappropriate to their financial status.

2. How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s father?

Answer

Sophie’s father has a plumpy face looking grimy and sweaty. He doesn't seem to be a soft or sophisticated man. Sophie fears his agressive manliness. He is a realist and does not believe in his daughter's wild stories. He loves watching football. He hopes young Casey will be as good as Tom Finney. He wishes that the young footballer keeps away from all distractions. He shouts instructions to Casey at the playground. When the Irish genius , beats the hesitant goal keeper, Sophie's father screams with joy and pride. He goes to a pub to celebrate the victory.

3. Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person? From her perspective, what did he symbolise?

Answer

Sophie liked her brother, Geoff, more than anybody else because he was not in the habit of talking much and remained lost in his own thoughts. She envied his silence and thought that he had access to an unknown world. She wanted to be a part of that world where she fancied herself wearing glamorous clothes and being welcomed by everyone. For Sophie, Geoff symbolised liberty from the monotonous and colourless life they had been living.

4. What socio-economic background did Sophie belong to? What are the indicators of her family’s financial status?

Answer

Sophie belongs to a lower middle class socio-economic background. She lives in a small house with her parents and two brothers, Derek and Geoff. When she returns home after school, she feels choked with the steam of the stove and is disgusted with the dirty dishes piled in a corner. Her mother's back has become stooped and bent by handling all the household chores and responsibilities on her own. Her father is a hard labourer and her elder brother, Geoff, works as an apprentice mechanic in a garage situated far away from his house. Her family wants Sophie to join work immediately after her school. These are some of the indicators of Sophie's family's financial status.

Talking about the Text

Discuss in pairs.

1. Sophie’s dreams and disappointments are all in her mind.

Answer

Sophie was a dreamer who often made up stories for herself and for others. One possibility might be that she wanted to escape the squalor of daily life with the help of her fantasies. Her encounter with Danny Casey was a made-up story for the sake of catching her brother's attention. Eventually, she gets so much engrossed in it that she starts to live the fantasy. When Danny Casey does not arrive for the second 'date', she experiences disappointment. However painful and disappointing her fantasy might be, she was not willing to accept reality. Her dreams and disappointments are figments of her
imagination.

2. It is natural for teenagers to have unrealistic dreams. What would you say are the benefits and disadvantages of such fantasising?

Answer

Teenage is the phase of life which constitutes of major changes in the life of an individual. During this phase, a person learns many things, sets his career goals, and deals with peer pressure and the pressure of adults' expectations. Hence, it is natural for teenagers to fantasise and to have unrealistic dreams.

Advantages: Fantasising, based on realistic goals or the world around, provides a means to reach higher ambitions and dreams. Aspiring for higher career goals and working hard may ensure successful career prospects. Thus, it instills confidence and a spirit to achieve one's desire. In difficult situations of life, it helps instill positivity and optimism. It is a talent in those known as creative.

Disadvantages: Fantasising builds a gap between fantasy and reality. The realisation of the disparity between one's goals and capabilities may be painful. Non achievement may also lead to disappointment, depression or suicidal tendencies. Moreover, it is a sheer wastage of time for many.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 1 My Mother at Sixty-six English

December 11, 2014, 6:51 am

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 1 My Mother at Sixty-six Flamingo Poetry English 

By Kamala Das

Page No: 90

Before You Read

Ageing is a natural process; have you ever thought what our elderly parents expect from us?

Answer

Aged people usually undergo pangs of loneliness and need companionship. The pessimistic approach they develop towards life can be shunned only if we provide them with abundant love, care, importance and empathy. They expect their children to sit calmly and talk to them about the happenings of their lives and to take their suggestions for making significant decisions. Their lost vitality can thus be easily rejuvenated. This happiness will encourage them to live life enthusiastically.

Page No: 91

Think it Out

1. What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?

Answer

The emotional pain and ache that the poet feels is due to the realization that her mother has gone old and has become frail and pale like a corpse. She is dependent on her children. The ache also refers to the old familiar ache of the childhood that revisits the poet due to the mother’s old age and her approaching end.

2. Why are the young trees described as 'sprinting'?

Answer

The young trees are personified in the poem. They seem to be running in the opposite direction when seen through the window of the moving car. The movement is juxtaposed with the expression on the mother’s face i.e. ashen like a corpse. The movement of the children and the trees is in stark contrast with the stillness associated with the mother.

3. Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children 'spilling out of their homes'?

Answer

The poet highlights the helplessness and frailty of old age with the help of contrasts. The mother dozes off mouth open, whereas the children spilling out of their homes signify movement and energy, enthusiasm and vivacity, which the old people are bereft off.

4. Why has the mother been compared to the 'late winter's moon'?

Answer

The mother has been compared to the late winter’s moon which is dull and shrouded. It symbolizes the ebbing of life. The moon brings to the poets mind night or the approaching end of life. The mother like the late winter’s moon is dull, dim and dismal.

5. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?

Answer

The parting words ‘see you soon Amma’ are used by the poet to reassure the mother and to infuse optimism in the poet herself. The poet accepts the reality yet keeps up the façade of smiling in order to put up a brave front. It requires a lot of effort and hence the poet has used the poetic device of repetition.


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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 2 An Elemntary School Classroom in a Slum English

December 11, 2014, 7:43 am

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 2 An Elemntary School Classroom in a Slum Flamingo Poetry English

By Stephen Spender

Page No: 92

Before you Read

1. Have you ever visited or seen an elementary school in a slum? What does it look like?

Answer

Yes, I have visited an elementary school in a slum. The school was in a pitiful state. Its dingy and neglected classrooms were devoid of even basic amenities like fan and lights. Every single window was broken and bore marks of rust. How the students in the classroom dealt with the outside noise or the winters was anybody’s guess. The ceilings too were full of cobwebs. The furniture was broken and almost unusable. The walls of the classrooms were as shabby, malnourished and disinterested as the students sitting in their enclosures. Even the teachers seemed to have lost their concern both for the students and their education. Moreover, I was shocked to know that the usage of toilets was restricted to the school staff.

Page No: 93

Think it Out

1. Tick the item which best answers the following.
(a) The tall girl with her head weighed down means the girl ______________________.
(i) is ill and exhausted
(ii) has her head bent with shame
(iii) has untidy hair

(b) The paper-seeming boy with rat's eyes means the boy is ______________________.
(i) sly and secretive
(ii) thin, hungry and weak
(iii) unpleasant looking

(c) The stunted, unlucky heir of twisted bones means the boy ______________________.
(i) has an inherited disability
(ii) was short and bony

(d) His eyes live in a dream. A squirrel's game, in the tree room other than this. This means the boy is ______________________.
(i) full of hope in the future
(ii) mentally ill
(iii) distracted from the lesson

(e) The children's faces are compared to 'rootless weeds'. This means they ______________________.
(i) are insecure
(ii) are ill-fed
(iii) are wasters

Answer

(a) (ii) is ill and exhausted
(b) (ii) thin, hungry and weak
(c) (i)has an inherited disability
(d) (iii) distracted from the lesson
(e) (iii)are wasters

Page No: 94

2. What do you think is the colour of 'sour cream'? Why do you think the poet has used this expression to describe the classroom walls?

Answer

Sour cream indicates the colour cream or dirty white. The poet has used this expression to describe the poor dull and ill-equipped environment of the classroom. The walls were painted long ago by donations and since then no attention has been given to them. We see the neglect these children face. It adds to the dull ambiance.

3. The walls of the classroom are decorated with the pictures of 'Shakespeare', 'buildings with domes', 'world maps' and beautiful valleys. How do these contrast with the world of these children?

Answer

All these totally contrast with the world of the children in the slum. They get half education, the value of education for the children is minimal and to have these pictures which are symbols of high quality education is incongruous here. The buildings with domes are examples of a civilised world, the world unknown to them. The world map is irrelevant to them because the slums, their world cannot be located by them. Finally, the beautiful valley with rivers and capes is meaningless to them. They just have the polluted sky to watch from the broken window panes. These children are deprived of natural beauty.

4. What does the poet want for the children of the slums? How can their lives be made to change?

Answer

He wants the children of the slums to venture into the outside world, beyond the boundaries of their slums, and experience a better present and future life.
The elementary school in the slum does not serve any purpose with its poor infrastructure and disinterested students. The poet feels that the governor, inspector and visitors should take initiative to bring about a real change in their situation. To ensure a better way of living for them, they need to be given proper education and freedom from their present confines. They need opportunity, encouragement and optimism to be able to live life with purpose and zest.


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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 3 Keeping Quiet English

December 11, 2014, 8:42 am

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 3 Keeping Quiet Flamingo Poetry English

By Pablo Naruda

Page No: 95

Before you Read

What does the title of the poem suggests to you? What do you think the poem is about?

Answer

The title of the poem suggests the importance of silence.
The poem is about the importance of self-examination and introspection. It is also an appeal for universal harmony.

Page No: 96

Think it Out

1. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?

Answer

Counting up to twelve takes very short time. Keeping still for this brief interval of time gives us a momentary pause to introspect and review the course of action. It is generally observed that most of the ills and troubles of the world are caused by our rush or hurry. Violence is caused by anger. Keeping quiet and still will give us necessary respite and ensure peace.

2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?

Answer

No, he doesn't advocate either total inactivity or death. He makes it quite clear that 'stillness' should not be confused with 'total inactivity' or equated to it. Total inactivity brings death. But Neruda has 'no truck with death'. His stillness means halting of harmful and hostile human activities.

3. What is the 'sadness' that the poet refers to in the poem?

Answer

The poet refers to the 'sadness' of failing to understand oneself in the monotonous every day existence. He also finds it sad that the humanity is moving towards its own ruin owing to its unanalyzed actions. He regrets the rush of outdoing others that has made us forget the values of humanity.

4. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?

Answer

The poet uses the symbol of the earth to illustrate the point that there can be life under apparent stillness.


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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 4 A Thing of Beauty English

December 11, 2014, 9:06 am

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 4 A Thing of Beauty Flamingo Poetry English

By John Keats

Page No: 98

Before you Read

1. What pleasure does a beautiful thing give us? Are beautiful things worth treasuring?

Answer

The world is filled with negative elements which make our life dull, sad, depressing and bereft of hope. In such moments, a beautiful thing gives us everlasting joy and helps us forget our sorrows.
Yes, a beautiful thing is worth treasuring because even its memory soothes our nerves and inspires us to overcome the challenges of life.

Page No: 99

Think it Out

1. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.

Answer

The things of beauty are the sun, the moon, old and new trees, daffodils, clear rills, musk roses that bloom among the thick forest ferns.

2. List the things that cause suffering and pain.

Answer

The things that cause suffering are dark phases of our life, adverse circumstances, gloomy days, death of noble people and bad health.

3. What does the line, 'Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth' suggest to you?

Answer

This line suggests that things of beauty bind us to the earth with a beautiful connection. According to the poet, even if the world is not worth living because of the innumerable reasons that ultimately result in gloom and depression, the zeal to live a happy and content life can be derived from the sight of the beautiful bounties of nature around us.

4. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?

Answer

Human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings because of the existence of several natural and beautiful things around them. These things of beauty never fade. They give joy and optimism to human mind, and thus, help in overcoming or bearing the troubles and sufferings.

5. Why is 'grandeur' associated with the 'mighty dead'?

Answer

The 'grandeur' of the 'mighty dead' lies in their noble deeds. They have left behind the beautiful legacy of their brave acts. Their selfless sacrifice for their nation and deeds for the welfare of mankind still continue to inspire us.

6. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting impression on us?

Answer

The poet believes that when we encounter a beautiful thing, even for a small moment, the pleasure remains with us forever. It leaves a lasting impression that inspires us to live life with hope and optimism.

7. What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?

Answer

The poet uses the image of 'an endless fountain of immortal drink' to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth. The earth, like a fountain, pours unto us numerous beautiful sights like the sun, the moon, flowers, rivers and greenery.


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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 5 A Roadside Stand English

December 11, 2014, 9:35 am

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 5 A Roadside Stand Flamingo Poetry English

By Robert Frost

Page No: 100

Before you Read

Have you ever stopped at a roadside stand? What have you observed there?

Answer

The poet believes that when we encounter a beautiful thing, even for a small moment, the pleasure remains with us forever. It leaves a lasting impression that inspires us to live life with hope and optimism.

Page No: 102

Think about it

1. The city folk who drove through the countryside hardly paid any heed to the roadside stand or to the people who ran it. If at all they did, it was to complain. Which lines bring this out? What was their complaint about?

Answer

“The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts
At having the landscape marred with the artless paint
Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong”
According to the city folk, these stalls with inartistic signboards blemish the scenic beauty of the landscape.

2. What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?

Answer

The rural folks pleaded pathetically for some customers to stop by and buy some of their
goods. City folks used to pass by on this road and hence the rural folk set up the roadside
stand to attract their attention and sell their goods.

3. The government and other social service agencies appear to help the poor rural people, but actually do them no good. Pick out the words and phrases that the poet uses to show their double standards.

Answer

The poet criticizes the double standards of the government and other social service agencies who promise to improve the standard of living of the poor farmers and show them the rosy side of life. Yet, when the time comes to deliver their promise, they either forget them or fulfill them keeping in view their own benefits.  The poet calls them “greedy good-doers” and “beneficent beasts of prey”, who “swarm over their lives”. The poet says that these greedy people make calculated and well thought-out shrewd moves, to which the innocent, unaware farmers fall prey. These humble and simple farmers are robbed of their peace of mind by these clever people. The poet says,

 “…..enforcing benefits
That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits,
And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day,
Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.”

4. What is the ‘childish longing’ that the poet refers to? Why is it ‘vain’?

Answer

The poet thinks that the persons who are running the roadside stand, suffer from a childish longing. They are always expecting customers and waiting for their prospective customers. They keep their windows open to attract them. They become sad when no one turns up. They are always waiting to hear the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car. But all their efforts go in vain.

5. Which lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the thought of the plight of the rural poor?

Answer

Filled with empathy, the poet is unable to bear the plight of the unassuming and innocent rural people. The lines below show his insufferable pain:

“Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear
The thought of so much childish longing in vain,
The sadness that lurks near the open window there,
That waits all day in almost open prayer”


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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 6 Aunt's Jeniffer Tigers English

December 11, 2014, 9:27 pm

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12th: Ch 6 Aunt's Jeniffer Tigers Flamingo Poetry English 

By Adrienne Rich

Page No: 103

Before you Read

What does the title of the poem suggest to you? Are you reminded of other poems on tigers?

Answer

The title, "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers", suggests that the poem is about Aunt Jennifer's knitted tigers that, with their chivalric, ferocious, bright and carefree attitude, become an alternate world of her creation. The tigers are the only means of free expression in her life, which is otherwise burdened by fear and struggles of the married life.
There are many other poems written about tigers, some of which are given below.
"The Tiger" by William Blake
"Tiger" by Alec Derwent Hope
"Tiger Drinking at Forest Pool" by Ruth Padel

Page No: 104

Think it Out

1. How do 'denizens' and 'chivalric' add to our understanding of the tiger's attitudes?

Answer

Like all beasts of prey, the tigers are the denizens of forest. They live far away from human settlements. They are called 'chivalric.' This indicates the majestic and honourable position that they occupy in the world of animals. So the use of the words 'denizens' and 'chivalric' adds to our understanding of the tigers' attitudes.

2. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer's hands are 'fluttering through her wool' in the second stanza? Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull?

Answer

Aunt Jennifer's hands are 'fluttering through her wool' because she is an old lady on whom age has taken its toll. The fluttering of Aunt Jennifer's fingers also signifies her oppressed mental condition which makes it difficult for her to even pull an ivory needle while embroidering.

3. What is suggested by the image 'massive weight of Uncle's wedding band'?

Answer

The 'wedding band' that the poet talks about was the wedding ring worn by Aunt Jennifer. The image 'massive weight of Uncle's wedding band' suggests that she was overburdened with duties and responsibilities, post her marriage.

4. Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with in the third stanza?

Answer

Even after death, Aunt would carry her fear of her domineering husband as she would yet bear the burden of the wedding band on her finger. The ordeals faced by her in an oppressive marriage would continue to terrify her.

5. What are the 'ordeals' Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by? Why is it significant that the poet uses the word 'ringed'? What are the meanings of the word 'ringed' in the poem?

Answer

Aunt Jennifer has been living her life in accordance with the rules laid down by her husband. Her life lacks expression and is overburdened by the demands and duties of her married life. Although old and weak, she still has to face oppression by her husband. These are the ordeals that the poet talks about.
The use of word 'ringed', in the poem, is significant and appropriate because it correctly represents the vicious circle from which Aunt Jennifer is unable to free herself. The word 'ringed' not only indicates that she is wearing her wedding ring but also that she is bound by the responsibilities, fear and oppression of her marriage for entire life and, probably, after it too.

6. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character? 
What might the poet be suggesting, through this difference?

Answer

The timid and fearful Aunt Jennifer creates an alternative world of free and fearless tigers to express her longing for freedom, a medium of escape from her grim marriage.

The ironical contrast underscores a warning by the poet against acceptance of subjugation by women as it crushes their dreams, individuality and a full life.

7. Interpret the symbols found in this poem.

Answer

Wedding band: symbol of oppression in an unhappy marriage. Marriage is socially and legally binding, making women silently accept their subjugation and male domination, especially in a patriarchal society. Its weight refers to the burden of gender expectations. Ringed means encircled or trapped, losing individuality and freedom.
Aunt Jennifer: a typical victim of male oppression in an unhappy marriage, who suffers loss of individuality, dignity and personal freedom silently. She becomes dependent, fearful and frail.
Tigers: symbolize untamed free spirit. Here they are antithesis of their creator’s personality. The use of colours implies that Aunt Jennifer's tigers and their land are more vital and enjoy a sense of freedom far greater than her. Yellow (bright topaz) connotes the sun and fierce energy, while green reminds one of spring and vitality.
They pace and prance freely, proudly, fearless, confident and majestic in their bearing.
Embroidery: symbol of creative expression. The artwork expresses the Aunt’s suppressed desires and becomes her escape from the oppressive reality of her life.
Aunt (last stanza): as opposed to Aunt Jennifer. It shows that she has lost her identity completely, thus lost even her name.

8. Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer? What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer?

Answer

Yes, the character of Aunt Jennifer wins our sympathy as a reader. Her ordeals and sufferings move the reader. Even the speaker in the poem shows sympathy and pity towards her. The speaker says that even after Aunt Jennifer's death, she will be terrified of her husband and the ordeals of her marriage.


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NCERT Solutions for Class 9th: पाठ 1 - इस जल प्रलय में हिंदी

December 11, 2014, 10:54 pm

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NCERT Solutions for Class 9th: पाठ 1 - इस जल प्रलय में कृतिका भाग -1  हिंदी

फणीश्वर नाथ रेणु 

पृष्ठ संख्या : 12 

1. बाढ़ की खबर सुनकर लोग किस तरह की तैयारी करने लगे ?

उत्तर 

बाढ़ की खबर से सारे शहर में आतंक मचा हुआ था। लोग अपने सामान को नीचली मंजिल से ऊपरी मंजिल में ले जा रहे थे। सारे दुकानदार अपना सामान रिक्शा, टमटम, ट्रक और टेम्पो पर लादकर उसे सुरक्षित स्थानों पर ले जा रहे थें। खरीद-बिक्री बंद हो चुकी थी। लोग घरों में खाने का सामान, दियासलाई, मोमबत्ती, दवाईयाँ, किरोसीन आदि का प्रबन्ध करने में लगे हुए थे।

2. बाढ़ की सही जानकारी लेने और बाढ़ का रूप देखने के लिए लेखक क्यों उत्सुक था ?

उत्तर

लेखक ने पहले बाढ़ के बारे में सुना जरूर था पर कभी देखा नही था। उसने अपनी कई रचनाओ में बाढ़ की विनाशलीला का उल्लेख किया था। वह स्वयं अपनी आँखों से बाढ़ के पानी को शहर में घुसते और  उसकी विनाशलीला के बारे में जानने को उत्सुक था।

3. सबकी जुबान पर एक ही जिज्ञासा - "पानी कहाँ तक आ गया है?" इस कथन से जनसमूह की कौन-सी भवनाएं व्यक्त  होती हैं?

उत्तर

इस कथन से जनसमूह में जिज्ञासा के भाव उठते हुए जान पड़ते हैं। लोग बाढ़ की स्थिति के बारे में जानकारी प्राप्त करने के लिए पैदल उस जगह जा रहे थे। सब के मन में व आँखों में एक ही प्रश्न जिज्ञासा का रुप ले चुका था - पानी कहाँ तक पहुँच गया होगा? उनके मन में यही प्रश्न उठ रहे थे कि पानी कौन -कौन से हिस्से को निगल गया होगा? उन्हें अभी बाढ़ के पानी का भय नहीं सता रहा था। वे बस बाढ के पानी की गति के विषय में जिज्ञासु थे।

4. 'मृत्यु का तरल दूत' किसे कहा गया है और क्यों?

उत्तर

बाढ़ के लगातार बढ़ते जल को 'मृत्यु का तरल दूत' कहा गया है। बाढ़ के इस आगे बढ़ते हुए जल ने न जाने कितने प्राणियों को उजाड़ दिया था, बहा दिया था और बेघर करके मौत की नींद सुला दिया था। इस तरल जल के कारण लोगों को मरना पड़ा, इसलिए इसे मृत्यु का तरल दूत कहना बिल्कुल सही है।

5. आपदाओं से निपटने के लिए अपनी तरफ से कुछ सुझाव दीजिए।

उत्तर

प्राकृतिक आपदाओं से निपटने का सबसे बेहतर तरीका सतर्क रहना है। हमें मौसम की जानकारी  रखनी चहिए एवं अपने आपको सुरक्षा तंत्र से जुड़ा रखना चाहिए। आपदा से निपटने के लिए तात्कालिक व दीर्घकालिक उपाय करने चाहिए। खाद्य-सामग्री (राहत सामग्री) का पर्याप्त मात्रा में भंडारण करना आवश्यक है। बचाव कार्यों के लिए स्वयंसेवी संस्थाओं व सरकार को पहले से ही तैयारी आरंभ कर देनी चाहिए। पर्याप्त दवाईयाँ व चिकित्सा के लिए डॉक्टरों को भी नियुक्त करना चाहिए।

6. ईह! जब दानापुर डूब रहा था तो पटनियाँ बाबू लोग उलटकर देखने भी नहीं गए...अब बूझो!' - इस कथन द्वारा लोगों की किस मानसिकता पर चोट की गई है?

उत्तर

लोग संकट की घड़ी में एक-दूसरे की सहायता करने के वजाय अपने निजी स्वार्थों की सिद्धि को अधिक महत्व देते हैं। अपने सुख-सुविधायों को छोड़कर किसी संकटग्रस्त व्यक्ति या व्यक्तियों का हाल-चाल जानने का भी कष्ट नहीं करते। उक्त कथन द्वारा लोगों की इसी मानसिकता पर चोट की गई है। यह कथन निश्चित रूप से कठोर और द्वेषपूर्ण है।

7. खरीद-बिक्री बंद हो चुकने पर भी पान की बिक्री अचानक क्यों बढ़ गई थी?

उत्तर

खरीद-बिक्री बंद हो चुकने पर भी पान की बिक्री अचानक बढ़ गई थी क्योंकि लोग बाढ़ को देखने के लिए बहुत बड़ी संख्या में इकट्ठे हो गए थे। वे बाढ़ से भयभीत नहीं थे, बल्कि हंसी-खुशी और कौतुहल से युक्त थे। ऐसे समय में पान उनके लिए समय गुजारने का सबसे अच्छा साधन था।

8. जब लेखक को यह अहसास हुआ की उसके इलाके में भी पानी घुसने की संभावना है तो उसने क्या-क्या प्रबंध किए?

उत्तर

जब लेखक को अहसास हुआ की उसके इलाके में भी पानी घुसने की संभावना है तो उन्होंने आवश्यक ईंधन, आलू, मोमबत्ती, दियासलाई, पीने का पानी, कम्पोज की गोलियाँ इकट्ठी कर लीं ताकि बाढ़ से घिर जाने पर कुछ दिनों तक गुजारा चल सकें। उन्होंने बाढ़ आने छत पर चले जाने का भी प्रबंध सुनिश्चित कर लिया।

9. बाढ़ पीड़ित क्षेत्र में कौन-कौन सी बीमारियों के फैलने की आशंका रहती है?

उत्तर

बाढ़ के बाद हैजा, मलेरिया, टाइफाइड आदि बीमारियों के फैलने की संभावना रहती है क्योंकि बाढ़ के उतरे पानी में मच्छर अत्यधिक मात्रा में पनपते हैं जिसके कारण मलेरिया जैसी बीमारी हो जाती है। पानी की कमी से लोगो को गंदा पानी पीना पड़ता है जो हैजा और टाइफाइड जैसी बीमारियों को न्यौता देता है।

10. नौजवान के पानी में उतरते ही कुत्ता भी पानी में कुंद गया। दोनों ने किन भावनाओं के वशीभूत होकर ऐसा किया?

उत्तर

नौजवान और कुत्ता परस्पर गहरे आत्मीय थे। दोनों एक-दूसरे के सच्चे साथी थे। उनमें मानव और पशु का भेदभाव भी नहीं था। वे एक-दूसरे के बिना नहीं रह सकते थे। यहाँ तक कि नौजवान को कुत्ते के बिना मृत्यु भी स्वीकार नहीं थी। इस व्यवहार से उनकी गहरी मैत्री का परिचय मिलता है।

11. 'अच्छा है, कुछ भी नहीं। कलम थी, वह भी चोरी चली गई। अच्छा है, कुछ भी नहीं—मेरे पास।' - मूवी कैमरा, टेप रिकॉर्डर आदि की तीव्र उत्कंठा होते हुए भी लेखक ने अंत में उपर्युक्त कथन क्यों कहा?

उत्तर

यहाँ लेखक के बाढ़ से उत्पन्न दु:ख को व्यक्त किया गया है। वह इस घटना को पहले कैमरे में कैद करना चाहता था परन्तु उसके पास कैमरा उपलब्ध नहीं था। फिर उसके मन में विचार आया कि वह कलम के द्वारा पन्नों में इस त्रासदी को लिखे जिसे उसने पहले स्वयं भोगा था पर उसकी कलम भी उसके पास नहीं थी। वो भी चोरी हो गई थी। इतनी तीव्र उत्कंठा होते हुए भी लेखक ने सोचा की अच्छा है, कुछ भी नहीं क्योंकि बाढ़ के इस सजीव भयानक रुप को अगर वो अपने कैमरे व कलम से पन्नों पर उतार भी लेता तो उसे दु:ख ही तो प्राप्त होता। उसे बार-बार देखकर, पढकर उसे कुछ प्राप्त नहीं होता तो फिर उनकी तस्वीर लेकर वह क्या करता।


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NCERT Solutions for Class 9th: पाठ 2 - मेरे संग की औरतें हिंदी

December 11, 2014, 11:41 pm

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NCERT Solutions for Class 9th: पाठ 2 - मेरे संग की औरतें कृतिका भाग- 1  हिंदी 

मृदुला गर्ग 

पृष्ठ संख्या : 26 

1. लेखिका ने अपनी नानी को कभी देखा भी नहीं फिर भी उनके व्यक्तित्व से वे क्यों प्रभावित थीं ?

उत्तर 

लेखिका ने अपनी नानी को कभी देखा भी नहीं था, किंतु उनके बारे में सुना अवश्य था।  उसने सुना था कि उसकी नानी ने अपनी जीवन के अंतिम दिनों में प्रसिद्व क्रांतिकारी प्यारेलाल शर्मा से भेंट की थी| उस भेंट में उन्हों ने यह इच्छा प्रकट की थी कि वे अपनी बेटी की शादी किसी क्रांतिकारी से करवाना चाहती है, अंग्रेजों के किसी भक्त से नहीं। उनकी इस इच्छा में देश की स्वतंत्रता की पवित्र भावना थी।  यह भावना बहुत सच्ची थी| इसमें साहस था।  जीवन-भर परदे में रहकर भी उन्होंने किसी पर-पुरुष से मिलने की हिम्मत की| इससे उनके साहसी व्यक्तित्व और मन में सुलगती स्वतंत्रता की भावना का पता चला।  लेखिका इन्हीं गुणों के कारण अपनी नानी की व्यक्तित्व से प्रभावित थी तथा उनकी सम्मान करती थी।

2. लेखिका ने नानी की आज़ादी के आंदोलन में किस प्रकार की भागीदारी रही ?

उत्तर 

वह प्रत्यक्ष रुप में भले ही आज़ादी की लड़ाई में भाग नहीं ले पाई हों परन्तु अप्रत्यक्ष रुप में सदैव इस लड़ाई में सम्मिलित रहीं और इसका मुख्य उदारहण यही था कि उन्होनें अपनी पुत्री की शादी की ज़िम्मेदारी अपने पति के स्वतंत्रता सेनानी मित्र को दी थी। वह अपना दामाद एक आज़ादी का सिपाही चाहती थीं न कि अंग्रेज़ों की चाटुकारी करने वाले को। उन्हें अंग्रेजों और अंग्रेज़ियत से चिढ़ थी। उनके मन में आज़ादी के लिए एक जुनून था।

3. लेखिका की माँ परंपरा का निर्वाह न करते हुए भी सबके दिलों पर राज करती थी। इस कथन के आलोक में-- (क) लेखिका के माँ के व्यक्तित्व की विशेषताएँ लिखिए।
(ख) लेखिका की दादी के घर के महौल का शब्द-चित्र अंकित कीजिए।

उत्तर 

(क) लेखिका की माँ बहुत ही नाजुक, सुंदर और स्वतंत्र विचारों की महिला थीं। उनमें ईमानदारी,निष्पक्षता और सचाई भरी हुई थी।वे अन्य माताओं की तरह कभी भी अपनी बेटी को अच्छे-बुरे की न सीख दी और न खाना पकाकर खिलाया । उनका अधिकांश समय अध्ययन अथवा संगीत को समर्पित था। वे कभी झूठ नहीं बोलती थीं और न कभी इधर की बात उधर करती थीं । शायद यही कारण था कि हर काम में उनकी राय ली जाती थी और सब कोई उसे सहर्ष स्वीकारता भी था।

(ख) लेखिका की दादी के घर में कुछ लोग जहाँ अंग्रेज़ियत के दीवाने थे,वहीं कुछ लोग भारतीय नेताओं के मुरीद भी थे घर में बहुमति होने के बाद भी एकता का बोलबाला था। घर में किसी प्रकार की संकीर्णता नहीं थी। सभी लोग अपनी -अपनी स्वतंत्रता एवं निजता बनाए रख सकते थे। घर के बच्चों के पालन-पोषण में घर के सभी लोग जिम्मेदार थे। कोई भी सदस्य अपने विचार किसी पर थोप नहीं सकता था। इस प्रकार हम कह सकते हैं कि घर का माहौल अमन-चैन से भरपूर और सुखद था।

4. आप अपनी कल्पना से लिखिए कि परदादी ने पतोहू के लिए पहले बच्चे के रूप में लड़की पैदा होने की मन्नत क्यों माँगी ?

उत्तर

दादीजी एक सामान्य महिला थीं। उनके मन में लड़का - लड़की का भेद नहीं था। पीढ़ियों से परिवार में किसी कन्या का जन्म नहीं हुआ था। प्राय: सभी लोग लड़के की कामना करते थे । दादीजी को ये भेदभाव शायद चुभता होगा। परिवार में किसी कन्या का न होना , उनके मन को बेचैन करता होगा । शायद इन्हीं कारणों की वजह से परदादी ने पतोहू के लिए पहले बच्चे के रूप में लड़की पैदा होने की मन्नत क्यों माँगी।

5. डराने-धमकाने, उपदेश देने या दबाव डालने की जगह सहजता से किसी को भी सही राह पर लाया जा सकता है - पाठ के आधार पर तर्क-सहित उत्तर दीजिये।

उत्तर

इस पाठ से स्पष्ट है कि मनुष्य के पास सबसे प्रभावी अस्त्र है - अपना दृढ़ विशवास और सहज व्यवहार।  यदि कोई सगा-संबंधी गलत राह पर हो तो उसे डराने-धमकाने, उपदेश देने या दबाव डालने की जगह सहजता से व्यवहार करना चाहिए।  लेखिका की नानी ने भी यही किया।  उन्हों ने अपने पति की अंग्रेज़-भक्ति का न तो मुखर विरोध किया, न समर्थन किया।  वे जीवन भर अपने आदर्शों पर टिकी रहीं| परिणामस्वरूप अवसर आने पर वह मनवांछित कार्य कर सकीं।
लेखिका के माता ने चोर के साथ जो व्यवहार किया, वह तो सहजता का अनोखा उदाहरण है।  उसने न तो चोर को पकड़ा, न पिटवाया, बल्कि उससे सेवा ली और अपना पुत्र बना लिया।  उसके पकड़े जाने पर उसने उसे उपदेश भी नहीं दिया| उसने इतना ही कहा - अब तुम्हारी मर्जी - चाहे चोरी करो या खेती| उसकी इस सहज भावना से चोर का ह्रदय परिवर्तित हो गया| उसने सदा के लिए चोरी छोड़ दी और खेती को अपना लिया।

6. ‘शिक्षा बच्चों का जन्मसिद्ध अधिकार है’-इस दिशा में लेखिका के प्रयासों का उल्लेख कीजिए।

उत्तर 

शिक्षा बच्चों का जन्मसिद्ध अधिकार है। लेखिका को यह बात तब पूरी तरह समझ में आ गई , जब उनके दो बच्चे स्कूल में जाने लायक हो गए । लेखिका कर्नाटक के एक छोटे कस्बे में रहती थी। उन्होंने वहाँ के कैथोलिक चर्च के विशप से एक स्कूल खोलने का आग्रह किया। परंतु उन्होंने क्रिश्चियन बच्चों की संख्या कम होने की बात कहकर स्कूल खोलने से मना कर दिया। लेखिका ने कहा कि गैर- क्रिश्चियन बच्चों को भी शिक्षा प्राप्त करने का अधिकार है, परंतु विशप तैयार नहीं हुए । ऐसे में लेखिका ने आगे बढ़ते हुए अपने दम पर एक ऐसा स्कूल खोलने का मन बना लिया जिसमें अंग्रेज़ी,कन्नड़ और हिन्दी तीन भाषाएँ पढ़ाई जाएँगी। लोगों ने भी लेखिका का साथ दिया और वे बच्चों को शिक्षा का अधिकार दिलाने में सफल रहीं।

7. पाठ के आधार पर लिखिए कि जीवन में कैसे इंसानों को अधिक श्रद्धा भाव से देखा जाता है?

उत्तर

प्रस्तुत पाठ के आधार पर यह कहा जा सकता है कि जो लोग कभी झूठ नहीं बोलते और सच का साथ देते हैं । जो किसी की बात को इधर-उधर नहीं करते अर्थात् चुगलखोरी से दूर रहते हैं। जिनके इरादे मजबूत होते हैं,जो हीन भावना से ग्रसित नहीं होते तथा जिनका व्यक्तित्व सरल, सहज एवं पारदर्शी होता है, उन्हें पूरा समाज श्रद्धा भाव से देखता है।

8. ‘सच, अकेलेपन का मज़ा ही कुछ और है’-इस कथन के आधार पर लेखिका की बहन एवं लेखिका के व्यक्तित्व के बारे में अपने विचार व्यक्त कीजिए।

उत्तर

लेखिका व उनकी बहन एकांत प्रिय स्वभाव की थीं। लेखिका व उनकी बहन के व्यक्तित्व का सबसे खूबसूरत पहलू था - वे दोनों ही जिद्दी स्वभाव की थीं परन्तु इस जिद्द से वे हमेशा सही कार्य को ही अंजाम दिया करती थे। लेखिका कि जिद्द ने ही कर्नाटक में स्कूल खोलने के लिए प्रेरित किया था। वे दोनों स्वतंत्र विचारों वाले व्यक्तित्व की स्वामिनी थीं और इसी कारण जीवन में अपने उद्देश्यों को पाने में सदा आगे रहीं।


पाठ में वापिस जाएं 

NCERT Solutions for Class 9th: पाठ 3 - रीढ़ की हड्डी हिंदी

December 12, 2014, 12:22 am

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NCERT Solutions for Class 9th: पाठ 3 - रीढ़ की हड्डी कृतिका भाग- 1 हिंदी 

जगदीश चन्द्र माथुर

पृष्ठ संख्या: 41 

1. रामस्वरूप और रामगोपाल प्रसाद बात-बात पर "एक हमारा जमाना था .... " कह्कर अपने समय की तुलना वर्तमान समय से करते हैं । इस प्रकार की तुलना कहाँ तक तर्क संगत है ?

उत्तर

इस तरह की तुलना करना बिल्कुल तर्कसंगत नहीं होता क्योंकि समय के साथ समाज में, जलवायु में, खान-पान में सब में परिवर्तन होता रहता है। हर समय परिस्थितियां एक सी नही होतीं। हर ज़माने की अपनी स्तिथियाँ होती हैं जमाना बदलता है तो कुछ कमियों के साथ सुधार भी आते हैं।

2. रामस्वरूप का अपनी बेटी को उच्च शिक्षा दिलवाना और विवाह के लिए छिपाना, यह विरोधाभास उनकी किस विवशता को उजागर करता है?

उत्तर

आधुनिक समाज में सभ्य नागरिक होने के बावजूद उन्हें अपनी बेटी के भविष्य की खातिर रूढिवादी लोगों के दवाब में झुकाना पड़ रहा था। उपर्युक्त बात उनकी इसी विवशता को उजागर करता है।

3. अपनी बेटी का रिश्ता तय करने के लिए रामस्वरूप उमा से जिस प्रकार के व्यवहार की अपेक्षा कर रहे हैं, उचित क्यों नहीं है ?

उत्तर

अपनी बेटी का रिश्ता तय करने के लिए रामस्वरूप उमा से जिस प्रकार के व्यवहार की अपेक्षा कर रहे हैं, सरासर गलत है। एक तो वे अपनी पढ़ी-लिखी लड़की को कम पढ़ा- लिखा साबित कर रहे हैं और उसे सुन्दरता को और बढाने के लिए नकली प्रसाधन सामग्री का उपयोग करने के लिए कहते हैं जो अनुचित है। साथ ही वे यह भी चाहते हैं कि उमा वैसा ही आचरण करे जैसा लड़के वाले चाहते हैं। परन्तु वे यह क्यों भूल रहे हैं कि जिस प्रकार लड़के की अपेक्षाएँ होती ठीक उसी प्रकार लड़की की पसंद-नापसंद का भी ख्याल रखना चाहिए। क्योंकि आज समाज में लड़का तथा लड़की को समान दर्जा प्राप्त है।

4. गोपाल प्रसाद विवाह को 'बिजनेस' मानते हैं और रामस्वरूप अपनी बेटी की उच्च शिक्षा छिपाते हैं क्या आप मानते हैं कि दोनों ही समान रूप से अपराधी हैं ? अपने विचार लिखिए।

उत्तर

मेरे विचार से दोनों ही समान रूप से अपराधी हैं - गोपाल प्रसाद विवाह जैसे पवित्र बंधन में भी बिजनेस खोज रहे हैं, वे इस तरह के आचरण से इस सम्बन्ध की मधुरता, तथा सम्बन्धों की गरिमा को भी कम कर रहे हैं।
रामस्वरूप जहाँ आधुनिक सोच वाले व्यक्ति होने के बावजूद कायरता का परिचय दे रहे हैं ।वे चाहते तो अपनी बेटी के साथ मजबूती से खड़े होते और एक स्वाभिमानी वर की तलाश करते न की मज़बूरी में आकर परिस्तिथि से समझौता करते ।

5. "....आपके लाड़ले बेटे के की रीढ़ की हड्डी भी है या नहीं ...." उमा इस कथन के माध्यम से शंकर की किन कमियों की ओर संकेत करना चाहती है?

उत्तर

उमा गोपाल प्रसाद जी के विचारों से पहले से ही खिन्न थी। परन्तु उनके द्वारा अनगिनत सवालों ने उसे क्रोधित कर दिया था। आखिर उसे अपनी चुप्पी को तोड़कर गोपाल प्रसाद को उनके पुत्र के विषय में अवगत करना पड़ा।

(1) शंकर एक चरित्रहीन व्यक्ति था। जो हमेशा लड़कियों का पीछा करते हुए होस्टल तक पहुँच जाता था। इस कारण उसे शर्मिंदा भी होना पड़ा था।
(2) दूसरी तरफ़ उसकी पीठ की तरफ़ इशारा कर वह गोपाल जी को उनके लड़के के स्वास्थ्य की ओर संकेत करती है। जिसके कारण वह बीमार रहता है तथा सीधी तरह बैठ नहीं पाता।
(3) शंकर अपने पिता पर पूरी तरह आश्रित है। उसकी रीढ़ की हड्डी नहीं है अर्थात् उसकी अपनी कोई मर्ज़ी नहीं है।

6. शंकर जैसे लड़के या उमा जैसी लड़की - समाज को कैसे व्यक्तित्व की जरूरत है ? तर्क सहित उत्तर दीजिए।

उत्तर

समाज में आज उमा जैसे व्यक्तित्व, स्पष्टवादिनी तथा उच्च चरित्र वाली लड़की की ही आवश्यकता है । ऐसी लड़कियाँ ही गोपाल प्रसाद जैसे दोहरी मानसिकता रखने वाले, लालची और ढोंगी लोगों को सबक सिखा सकती है। ऐसी लड़कियों से ही समाज और देश प्रगति कर पाएगा जो आत्मविश्वास से भरी तथा निडर हो।
इसके विपरीत शंकर जैसे लड़के समाज के लिए निरुपयोगी है। शंकर जैसे व्यक्ति समाज को कोई दिशा नहीं प्रदान कर सकते हैं ।

7. 'रीढ़ की हड्डी' शीर्षक की सार्थकता स्पष्ट कीजिए।

उत्तर

यह शीर्षक एकांकी की भावना को व्यक्त करने के लिए बिल्कुल सही है। इस शीर्षक में समाज की सड़ी-गली मानसिकता को व्यक्त किया गया है तथा उसपर प्रहार किया है। क्योंकि रीढ़ शरीर का मुख्य हिस्सा होता है, वही उसको सीधा रखने में मदद करता है। उसमें लचीलापन होता है, जो शरीर को मुड़ने, बैठने, झुकने कूदने में मदद करता है। इस लचीलेपन के कारण ही शरीर हर कार्य करने में सक्षम है। व्यायाम के माध्यम से रीढ़ की हड्डी के लचीलेपन को बनाए रखते हैं। उसी तरह समय के अनुसार पुरानी रीतियों और परंपराओं का बदलना आवश्यक है। यह समय की माँग होती है। जब यह रीतियाँ या परंपराएँ मनुष्य के हित के स्थान पर उसका अहित करने लगे, तो वे विकार बन जाती हैं। यह एंकाकी समाज में व्याप्त इन विकारों पर कटाक्ष करता है। हमारा समाज इन मानसिकताओं का गुलाम बनकर बिना रीढ़ वाला शरीर हो जाता है। दूसरी तरफ़ यहाँ शंकर जैसे लड़कों से भी यही तात्पर्य है बिना रीढ़ का। इस प्रकार के लड़कों का अपना कोई व्यक्तित्व नहीं होता और न ही इनका कोई चरित्र होता है। ये सारी उम्र दूसरों के इशारों पर ही चलते हैं। ये लोग समाज के ऊपर सिवाए बोझ के कुछ नहीं होते। इसलिए उमा ने इसे बिना रीढ़ की हड्डी वाला कहा है।

8. कथा वस्तु के आधार पर आप किसे एकांकी का मुख्य पात्र मानते हैं और क्यों ?

उत्तर

कथा वस्तु के आधार में उमा मुख्य पात्र है क्योंकि पूरी एकांकी  इसके ही इर्द-गिर्द घूमती है।  भले ही पाठ में उसकी उपस्थिति थोड़े समय के लिए ही है परन्तु उसके विचारों से प्रभावित हुए बिना हम नहीं रह पाते हैं । वह हमें बहुत कुछ सोचने के लिए मजबूर करती है । उसकी उपस्थिति नारी-समाज को एक नई सोच और दिशा प्रदान करती है। समाज की मानसिकता पर व्यंग्य करने का जो प्रयास लेखक ने किया उसका माध्यम उमा ही है।

9. एकांकी के आधार पर रामस्वरूप और गोपाल प्रसाद की चारित्रिक विशेषताएँ बताइए।

उत्तर

रामस्वरूप जी और गोपाल प्रसाद जी की चारित्रिक विशेषताएँ इस प्रकार हैं:
रामस्वरूप - आधुनिक और प्रगतिशील विचारधाराओं से संपन्न परन्तु एक मजबूर पिता हैं। वे एक तरफ़ तो स्त्री-शिक्षा के समर्थक है परन्तु बेटी के विवाह के समय यही शिक्षा वे छिपाने का प्रयास करते हैं जिससे उनकी विवशता तथा कायरता झलकती है।
रामगोपाल - रामगोपाल निहायती चालक, बड़बोले - लालची और पढ़े-लिखे होने के बावजूद स्त्री-पुरुष की समानता में अविश्वास रखनेवाले व्यक्ति के रूप में उभरते हैं। इसी कारणवश वे अपने मेडिकल में पढ़ने वाले बेटे का विवाह कम पढ़ी-लिखी लड़की से करवाना चाहते हैं। वे विवाह जैसे पवित्र रिश्ते को भी बिजनेस मानते हैं इससे उनका लालची स्वभाव पता चलता है।

10. इस एकांकी का क्या उद्देश्य है ? लिखिए।

उत्तर

इस एकांकी का उद्देश्य समाज में औरतों की दशा को सुधारना व उनको उनके अधिकारों के प्रति जागरूक कराना है। यह एकांकी उन लोगों की तरफ़ अँगुली उठाती है जो समाज में स्त्रियों को जानवरों या सामान से ज़्यादा कुछ नहीं समझते। जिनके लिए वह घर में सजाने से ज़्यादा कुछ नहीं है यह औरत को उसके व्यक्तित्व की रक्षा करने का संदेश देती है और कई सीमा तक इस उद्देश्य में सफल भी होती है।

11. समाज में महिलाओं को उचित गरिमा दिलाने हेतु आप कौन-कौन से प्रयास कर सकते हैं ?

उत्तर

समाज में महिलाओं को उचित गरिमा दिलाने हेतु हम निम्नलिखित प्रयास कर सकते हैं -
1  उनकी शिक्षा के हेतु कार्य कर सकते हैं ताकि समाज में वह सर उठा कर अपना जीवन व्यतीत कर सकें।
2  अपने समय की महान एवं विदुषी स्त्रियों का उदाहरण समाज में प्रस्तुत करना चाहिए।

3  महिलाओं को उचित सम्मान देना चाहिए।
4  महिलाओं को अपनी इच्छा अनुसार हर क्षेत्र में आगे बढ़ने का प्रोत्साहन देना चाहिए।

5  समाज में महिला को समान भागीदारी दिलवाने के लिए प्रयत्न कर सकते हैं।
6  लड़कियों का विवाह बिना दहेज लिए व दिए हो इस विषय पर कार्य कर सकते हैं।


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