Devoted Sons

8/20/2019 Devoted Sons

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Devoted sons

Bit/Bits

• Rakesh scored the highest rank in the country for his Medical Examination.

• Instead of getting lost in the most envied success, Rakesh bent down and touched his father’s feet.

This cooled the father for it was another reason for the vegetable vender to be roud of being

Rakesh’s father.

• !or an uneducated family like Rakesh’s, this success brought cheers. "etting Rakesh educated

was #arma$i’s greatest dream.

• %eighbors came to congratulate the winner, his father #arma$i and his mother.

• &resents flowed into #arma$i’s house as garlands, halwa, arty clothes and fountain ens to last

years, even a watch or two.

• To his neighbors #erma$i told about his son’s touching his feet even after becoming a doctor with

a first rank.

• 'ome of the good neighbors areciated this son and this father while others, envious as

neighbors are, felt that #arma$i was giving himself airs.

• 'oon Rakesh cleared his M( course with flying colors.

• )aving won a scholarshi, Rakesh went to the *'+. #arma$i didn’t know the difference between*'+ and +merica-

• Rakesh worked in some most restigious hositals in the *'+ and won encomiums from his

+merican colleagues which were relayed to his admiring and glowing family.

• !inally Rakesh returned to his native village. )is brothers and sisters came to embrace him but

the great son of all times you will see why- bent down and touched his father’s feet.

• Rakesh married a girl that his mother wanted him to marry and set u his own clinic. 'he was a

girl of double standards. ill she suit Rakesh/ 0et’s see.

• !or some years Rakesh worked in the city hosital, 1uickly rising to the to of the administrative

organi2ation, and was made a director before he left to set u his own clinic.

• Rakesh bought a new car and unfailingly drove his arents in it to his clinic. #arma$i and his wife

were the haiest in the world.

• !or a while, Rakesh’s fame seemed to grow $ust a little dimmer but soon he became the richest

doctor in town.



• #arma$i grows very old and number of ailments leave him bed ridden. )e retires from his $ob in

the kerosene shoe where he had worked for forty years.

• Rakesh’s mother asses away. 'he was 1uite fortunate that her famous doctor3son rubbed her

feet during her last days-

• #arma$i was 1uite helless and his old age was going to be more miserable.

• #arma$i fell ill so fre1uently and with such mysterious diseases that even his son could not cure

him.

• Even when his other sons and daughters ignored his strange illnesses, Rakesh the earl of his

father- was always with him.

• Rakesh took great care for his father, brought him morning tea, read him newsaer and reminded

him to take medicines.

• +fter a while Rakesh began to imose certain restriction uon his father. %o sweets, not too muchfood, no fried food, etc.

• hen the old man resented or tried to bribe Rakesh’s son and wife for his delicacies, Rakesh

scolded his father.

• Rakesh had by this time develoed a doctor3atient relation with his father. That’s how it haen

with those who always stand first in exams4 they fail in life5-

• Rakesh was only concerned with his father’s health but the old man thought his son was being

miserly.

• 6ne day varma$i met his neighbor old 7hatia, next door. )e told old 7hatia how his son and

daughter3in3law refused him food.

• #arma$i reali2ed that, even with a doctor at home he was not half as hay as old 7hatia. )e

began to think that his son had crossed all limits.

• (etermined, #arma$i announces that he didn’t need his son’s medicines. +ll that he wished was

death.

Short Answers

8. What touched Varmaji more than his son’s scoring the first rank?hen Rakesh saw his name on the to of the rank list, the first thing he did was to touch his

father’s feet as resectfully as he always did.

9. Was Rakesh being hypocritic about his touching his father’s feet?

hether Rakesh was aware of it or not, he was a hyocrite. )e knew how to lease his father and

mother and robably everyone in the world around him for his own benefit. More than fame and

money, he held his ideal son status suer high. )is back bones were always ready to bend to

lease his arents and get their blessings. If he were a really devoted son, the first rank holder had



to know that an ageing father’s first need is freedom to breathe, eat and drink. *nfortunately,

Rakesh didn’t know that.

:. n what sense was Rakesh a de!oted son in his own perspecti!e?

Rakesh, the son of a vegetable seller, triumhs in medical school and afterwards. )e is a devoted

son, bowing to his father, marrying the girl his arents choose, and becoming the director of his

own clinic nearby. )is father grows old, becomes a widower and begins to develo hysicalcomlaints and unleasant habits, such as sitting forcibly. 'till, his son tends him, and even

decides to take over the man’s diet. )e bans most foods his father likes because they are

unhealthy4 he fills him with medications that the old man does not want4 he refuses to let hisfather die, even though this is finally the only thing the old man wants.

;. Bring out the sarcastic e"ements in the story#

+s any doctor would have suggested, Rakesh too clung on to a safe diet and lifestyle for his

father. )e banned most foods his father liked because they were unhealthy. )e strung him u with

medications that the old man did not want4 he refused to let his father die, even though this

was finally the only thing the old man wanted. +t last, the old man refusesd to take any more

medicine. )e lay down and demanded that his son let him go to "od.

<. $iscuss the change of fami"y re"ations in the "ong run#

!amily relationshis change as time asses when the roles and resonsibilities for an individual

are reversed. The story =+ (evoted 'on> by +nita (esai demonstrates a relationshi between

father and son change from one of utmost admiration, devotion and resect to one of resentment

and hostility. The son in the story, Rakesh, makes his arents extremely roud by becoming a brilliant doctor, venturing from his run down colony in India to the *nited 'tates, and receiving

distinguished accolades while working in the most restigious of hositals. Returning home to

live with his arents however, to marry the girl they selected for him and to take care of them,

made them more roud than any other feat. %ot letting his success affect the morals his arents

instilled in him, Rakesh was a great son and always ut his arents first. ith his success came

fortune and fame and as an intensely devoted son he became the most devoted doctor. The change

of authority figure from arent to child can have a negative effect on their relationshi. Thefamily dynamic changed by Rakesh being not only his arents? son but doctor as well.

Judgement of paris

Bit/Bits

• Robichon and @uin1uart were two comedy actors in &aris and 'u2anne was a beautiful actress in

their troue.

• The two actors loved 'u2anne and 'u2anne loves the two of them alike.

• hen she was ressed from both the sides, 'u2anne had to agree to marry one and consider the

other as friend. I wonder, who made it a law that one should marry only one5-

• 'u2anne leaves the decision to the &aris audience. homever the audience chose as the best

actor, she will marry him5



• %ow the big 1uestion arises A how will &aris choose the best actor/ )ow/ )ow/

• hile the two actors were seriously thinking and discussing about this, they had a visitor. Bac1ues

Roux.

• Bac1ues Roux was once an executioner A an official who executed convicted criminals under the

guillotine.

• %ow that Bac1ues Roux had retired from service and is sreading the awareness that caital

unishment was a crime against humanity.

• )e wanted his message to be sread through dramatic monologues.

• 7ecause Bac1ues had stage3fright, he seeks Robichon’s hel and the latter agrees.

• Robichon enacted Bac1ues’ role in front of the &aris audience and everyone was sell bound.

'u2anne was almost Robichon’s.

• +t this, @uin1uart counteracts. )e disguises as Mar1uis de Thevenin, a $udge, and invites

Robichon to dine with him.

• (uring the meeting the Mar1uis @uin1uart- informs Robichon that he Robichon- was going to

die of the oisoned wine he had taken as a unishment for wrongly sentencing his son.

• Robichon believes this and is outwitted.

• &aris chooses @uin1uart as the better actor and the $udgment goes in favor of @uin1uart.

Summary

hat haens if two e1ually talented actors in &aris or anywhere else- want to marry the same woman/

This was a haunting 1uestion that Robichon and @uin1uart had to answer because the two actors wanted

to marry the beautiful 'u2anne. hen the duo failed to resolve the issue, 'u2anne said, =0et &aris

decide.>

=7ut how will &aris decide/> they asked. =7y your erformance5,> she relied. That was again another

roblem. They were like +amir Chan and 'ha Rukh Chan or like Mohanlal and Mammootty or ill'mith and 'ylvester 'tallone5 %o, I am wrong A they were comedians. They were like, like, yeas, Dharley

Dhalin and Bohny 0ever I am not good at comarison5-

By the way, students of Functional English, I do not have your text. If you send me the scanned/photographed copies of chapters, I can publish those chapters too.

'o, Robichon and @uin1uart had to find a more convincing way to stand above the other. hile they were

thinking of this, they had a visitor A a retired executioner, and his name was Bac1ues Roux. ou know that

an executioner’s $ob is to kill the criminals whom the court sentences to death. In &aris execution is

carried out by a guillotine, a terrible machine whose susended blade falls on the culrit’s neck. Bac1ues

Roux was disillusioned so he wanted to sread awareness in !rance about the cruelty of caital

unishment. 7eing no good seaker he had stage fright-, Bac1ues Roux re1uested Robichon and



@uin1uart to do that for him. ithout much thinking, Robichon acceted the offer and in a coule of

days he gave a terrible shock to the &arisian audience as Bac1ues Roux but what @uin1uart did was more

than a shock. ou will find that in the analysis section.

“las!" persisted the newcomer, “with me time presses. I, too, am considering my latest part#and it will

be the only spea$ing part I have ever played, though I have been %appearing& for twenty years."

8. What does %ac&ues Rou' mean by his "atest parts?

Bac1ues Roux was an ex3executioner who had resigned from his rofession to sread the message

that caital unishment was evil by telling the audience of the horrors of the ost he had resigned.

7y his latest art, Bac1ues Rous meant this.

9. What does %ac&ues Rou' refer to the (on"y speaking part’ that he had e!er p"ayed?

Bac1ues Roux was an ex3executioner. hile he was an executioner, he never had a seaking art

to do. +ll he had to do was to see the guillotine blade killed the convict in the best way, without a

word. +s he resigned from his rofession for the horror of it, he was now aiming the stage to tell

the world of the horror of caital unishment, the only seaking art in his life.

:. Why did Robichon take an acute interest in %ac&ues Rou'’s case?

6n listening to Bac1ues Roux’s story and his intentions in life, Robichon thought of erforming

his story as to rove his acting skills for marrying 7ruette.

8. Why do you think that Robichon and )uin&uart were the best of actors?Robichon and

@uin1uart were the most loved comedians of &aris. Their very resence on the stage made the

audience fall with laughter. hen the fat Robichon merely oened his mouth, eole started

laughing and when the skinny @uin1uart remained silent, the audience could not sto laughing.

9. Why did Robichon and )uin&uart p"ague *iss Brouette? +ow did she so"!e this crisis?7oth Robichon and @uin1uart loved Miss 'u2anne 7rouette as she loved them, flirted with them

and had assion for them. 7ut when she was asked to choose one of them as her husband, she

could not take a decision. 'he solved this crisis by asking them to rove their skills on the stage

and be $udged by the &aris audience.

:. What were the practica" difficu"ties for ,aris being the judge?

There were two ractical difficulties for &aris being the $udge. If the usual &aris audience was to

be the $udge, the two actors should stage their erformance on the same stage, same theater but

the authorities would not allow them to lay serious roles as they had always been identified with

comic roles. 7esides, both Robichon and @uin1uart were e1ually loved and admired by the

&arisians.

;. What brought the friendship of )uin&uart and Robichon to a ha"t because they were both

men of the wor"d?

7ecause @uin1uart and Robichon were men of the world with emotions, they had both fallen in

love with the fair Mademoiselle 7rouette, their comanion on the stage and for the very same

reason, none of them could sacrifice his love for his friend.

<. Why was it necessary that the two actors remained funny ti"" either they reached their

death-bed or they demonstrated the supremacy of one of them?



The two actors, @uin1uart and Robichon, were determined to woo their comanion actress

7rouette by establishing their acting caliber above the other for the $udgment of their &aris

audience.

F. .ur on"y hope "ies in !ersati"ity 0 the con&ueror must distinguish in a so"emn part#1 What

did Robichon mean by this? Why were Robichon and )uin&uart p"eased to accept this?

Robichon and @uin1uart were the best of comedians and no one had a doubt on this, therefore roving their skills in handling serious roles as well was imortant. Robichon agreed to this idea

because he knew that the audience would never accet his rival @uin1uart as a serious actor

because his very resence made the audience laugh. @uin1uart was glad to accet this idea because he believed that a man like Robichon with his very heavy body would not get the

symathy of the audience.

G. Why did )uin&uart readi"y agree with Robichon to p"ay tragedy?

@uin1uart readily agreed to lay a tragedy role because he believed that he could better than

Robichon because the latter haened to be a fat man for whom laying a serious role was

difficult and unlikely.

H. Why did Robichon think that doing a serious ro"e was not going to be easy for the two

actors?

Robichon was of the oinion that the management of the theatre for which they had been hired

and emloyed would not allow them do an off3track role, a change from comedy to tragedy.

7esides, the two had been successful in comedy and the audience would not accet them doing

solemn roles.

. .2here are Robichon and )uin&uart3 how amusing they a"ways are41 What is ironica" about

this pub"ic opinion?

!or &aris eole both Robichon and @uin1uart were their dear comedians and therefore they

could never think that they too had ains and sufferings. hile they were amused to see them, the

comedians were going through one of their hardest trials as to how to win their lady by defeating

each other which was almost imossible.

8J. Why did Robichon suggest performing off stage? Why was doing an off-the-usua" stage

performance not a good idea?

Robichon, seeing that the two are e1ually good at acting and were loved by their usual audience

for whom they layed, because their audience would not choose a better actor, thought it wise to

erforming rivately off3stage. Though this aeared to be a good idea, @uin1uart found it not

serving the desired urose because their erformance was to be $udged by &aris.

88. Who was %ac&ues Rou'? What did he want to te"" the wor"d? Why did he seek Robichon’s

he"p?

Bac1ues Roux was once a ublic executioner whose rofession was to behead criminals under theguillotine. )aving abandoned his rofession because he believed caital unishment was evil, he

wished to send the rest of his life sreading this message on stage. Though he was determined to

do so and having got an audience at +eville3sous37ois, he found it hard to erform for an

audience due to stage3fright. )e aroached Robichon and @uin1uart seeking advices to solve his

fear on the stage.

89. .Across the sun"it terrace seemed to ha!e fa""en the b"ack shadow of gui""otine#1 +ow does

this statement e'p"ain the mood?



Bac1ues Roux was once an executioner though he abandoned the rofession. )e was a guillotine

oerator, a man who cared for the recision of the guillotine and accuracy of the blade3fall, so his

resence reminded of the shadow of the guillotine.

8:. Why did Robichon speak dramatica""y about %ac&ues Rou'’s story?

)aving decided to do the very dramatic role for Bac1ues Roux, Robichon thought of convincing

Roux of his acting skills. 7y dramatically seaking like this, he laced himself at a osition ofasking Roux to let him erform for him.

8;. What was (&ueer’ about %ac&ues Rou' suffering from stage fright?

Bac1ues Roux was once a ublic executioner. )is rofession was to kill convicted criminals under

guillotine without the seck of feelings. Even though he later awakened to a conscience stricken

man, it was 1ueer to think that he had stage fear.

8<. Why did Robichon ask *r# %ac&ues Rou' if he was known to his audience?

Robichon was determined to enact the role that Bac1ues Roux was to lay at +eville3sous37ois

so he wanted to know if the audience could recogni2e him when Robichon imersonated Bac1ues

Roux.

8F. Why did %ac&ues Rou' agree to "et Robichon p"ay his part at Appe!i""e-sous-Bois?

Bac1ues Roux was a changed man though he was once an executioner. )e wanted to sread the

message that caital unishment was itself a crime against humanity. )e agree to let Robichon

lay the role for him because in that way his message could reach the audience in the best way

and he could earn five hundred francs for not doing his role on the stage.

8G. Why did Su5anne make more of )uin&uart after she heard about Robichon’s prospect of

winning her?

Though it is not very clear if 'u2anne re$oiced at the rosect of Robichon’s winning her, she was

found moving and talking with @uin1uart more than usual which suggests her exression of love

for @uin1uart. It was likely that she was aware of the fact that she had very little time left to

send with him before getting married to the worthier Robichon.

8H. +ow did Su5anne and )uin&uart respond to Robichon’s performance?

'itting with the audience, watching Robichon’s erformance, 'u2anne felt relieved that Robichon

hadn’t been able to strike the right note and that he hadn’t been able to imress the audience

while @uin1uart remarked that Robichon was amusing the audience for the contrasting effect.

8. What makes you think that Robichon’s performance as %ac&ues Rou' was a great success

that sea"ed his !ictory o!er )uin&uart?

Robichon’s laying the role of Bac1ues Roux, from a leasant note to a gruesome, hideous

erformance held the audience’ breath even after he ended and the curtain fell. Enumerating the

horrors of the condemned criminals along with his shouting that he was a murderer and sob thataccomanied his cry left a in3dro silence in the hall. The fact that the audience didn’t cla at the

end of his erformance, that he withdrew amid tense silence and the rush of the ress

reresentatives laced the crown on Robichon’s success.

9J. Why did )uin&uart generous"y congratu"ate his ri!a" e!en after the "atter had defeated him

in the test?

Robichon’s erformance was remarkable and deserved the raises even of his enemies but it was

not for this reason that @uin1uart congratulated Robichon. 7eing very smart, @uin1uart had



devised a lan to counter Robichon and he was confident that his lan would work as he

envisaged.

98. Why was Robichon ama5ed on reaching the *ar&uis’ house?

Robichon had exected the residence of a tyical Mar1uis but it was more or less like a lodging.

)e was admitted by a easant and was led into an ordinary room.

99. Why did )uin&uart put on a "ot of make-up whi"e impersonating the imaginary *ar&uis

2he!enin?

@uin1uart was very much known to his comanion Robichon so aearing in front of him as an

old man was definitely risky. To make sure he would not be recogni2ed, @uin1uart ut on a load

of make3u so that Robichon will feel symathy for the old man rather than susicion.

9:. What do you figure out about the e'act reason why the *ar&uis had been "ate?

The character of Mar1uis Thevenin, the most significant role layed by @uin1uart to defeat his

comanion Robichon to win 'u2anne, demanded considerable effort. @uin1uart had to manage all

that make3u during his $ourney to the lodging where his character had to meet Robichon who too

would travel to this destination at the same time. To ease his efforts, to make time for his make3

u, @uin1uart had to give the excuse that he had been to his doctor.

9;. +ow did )uin&uart p"ay his ro"e of *ar&uis 2he!enin?

@uin1uart made a crafty lot to give the biggest shock to his comanion and rival, Robichon.(ressed as an old Mar1uis, infirm and broken hearted, he invited @uin1uart who made himself

known as Bac1ues Roux, an ex3executioner who resigned his ost because of his late reali2ation

that caital unishment was a crime. )aving served his guest a cu of wine, @uin1uart A the

Mar1uis A informed the Kex3executioner’ that the wine was oisoned to kill him to avenge his

son’s execution by his hands. )owever, @uin1uart brought an end to his scary drama by revealing

his identity.

Wa"k by moon"ight

Bit/Bits

• The oet believes that the ast is full of hay moments so one should travel back to his

ast.

• These hay times are gentle. They shine but never burn.

• The oet then resents an exerience that he had the revious night. This exerience has

had a wonderful imact on his life.

• 0ast night, the oet went to meet one of his friends.

• 6n returning, three friends $oined him. Two were of his age and the third was younger but

more loved.



• The beauty of the night transforms their thinking and revives their hearts, which had

become numb and feelingless.

• The oet is deely touched by small movements of nature and uses them metahorically

to bring out the $oy and enlightenment that he receives.

• The moon looked owerful and ma$estic in the sky, and lovingly looked down uon the

earth.

• The clouds gave way for the ma$estic moon.

• The leaves swayed slightly due to the bree2e but (ero2io feels that they are actually

dancing and =re$oicing> for the =influence of the moon>.

• The moon in turn seems to throw light on the leaves and thus clothe them in silver robes.

• !or the one hour, when the moon is on its 2enith, the leaves look =mystic> and magical.

• The winds too seem to be singing and =hymning> in raise of the strength of the moon.

• The winds take on the role of minstrels, whose songs rovoke (ero2io’s soul.

• )e feels that there is something magical in the night that =binds> them together in its

sell and enchants them with its beauty. They are moved to such a great extent that theynot only saw but also =felt the moonlight> around them.

• *nder this wonderful influence, the oet turns hilosohical and becomes sensitive to theob$ects of nature. )e first seaks of the =mysterious> relationshi between man and

nature, which though =vague>, =bind us to our earth.>

• The natural world fills our hearts with their divine $oy.

• (ero2io then talks of the =lovely> old memories which hel us in getting a better insight

of ourselves.

• (ue to this awareness, we are able to connect with our siritual selves. +nd when this

haens, man stands =roud>4 this is the uni1ueness of man L to be touched and be

enriched by nature.

• To understand the universe, we must first understand ourselves.

• In times we are living, our senses have become numb. e have lost the oortunity to be

stirred by beauty, but (ero2io feels immense $oy and leasure as his senses are awakenedat once.



• +ll his memories clear u and he is enthused by the beauty of %ature. +ll %ature is "od’s

creation and )e saw sadness in man. It is only when man is able to release his soul will

he survive and as (ero2io glimses the celestial hand of %ature, he too becomes divine.

• %ow enlightened, (ero2io reali2es that our bodies are mortal. )e finds out that, =This

earthliness goes by, +nd we behold the siritualness 6f all that cannot die.>

• The earth and all its beauty is given to us as a gift. hen we understand this, we

understand our sirituality and we are better human beings.

• This self3reali2ation is sudden and rare.

o It is then that we recogni2e the voices that this =night3wind sings>.

o The rustling of the trees, the winds, leaveseverythingLit is then that we

understand that the =mystic melody> of %ature carries a message.

o These voices make the forest look like a musical instrument.

o e too begin seaking the =silken language of the stars>.

o 6nly then do we reali2e that it is symathy that =ales the young moon’s cheek>.

• 6ur inner eye oens u and we can see the real ossibilities that are within us.

• These glorious things may aear to others on the =sleeer’s couch> but we no more see

them as dreams. They are not unreachable rainbows.

• It is said that such =bliss> is received only in =other worlds> death- but (ero2io thanks

"od and %ature for receiving this illumination in this life itself.

• )is heart fills with hainess and is =bettered> when he feels that he is a art of %ature

and %ature is a art of him. They are =gently bound>.

• )owever lifeless and searated the flowers the stars and the sky seem, which ordinary

minds may not understand, they too have their ob$ectives.

• %ature has the urose to =stir our symathy> and move our hearts. (ero2io concludes by

saying that he cannot even stam the grass as he walks. =The grass has then a voice A I

hear it beat.

6ast night 0 it was a "o!e"y night3

And was !ery b"est 0

Sha"" it not be for *emory

A happy spot to rest?



Vocabu"ary

• 7lest A 7lessed

• Memory A (ivine memory

• )ay sot A )ay lace

• Rest A Take rest

Answers

8. What is the happy spot for memory to rest?

&ast is the hay sot where memory takes rest.

9. What do you understand by the (resting’ of happy memories?

)ay memories are not dead. They are resting in the ast days and ast years, alwayswaiting to return to the resent.

:. What made the poet fee" b"essed "ast night?

The oet felt blessed to have exerienced a walk in the moonlight with his friends.

7es8 there are in the backward past

Soft hours to which we turn 0

+ours which3 at distance3 mi"d"y shine3

Shine on3 but ne!er burn#

Vocabu"ary

• 7ackward ast A Turning to the ast4 moving backward

• 'oft hours A )ay times

• e turn A e go back

• Mildly A "ently

•7ut never burn A %ever extreme

Answers

8. What is backward past?

7ackward ast refers to our searching for the hay days and hay exeriences bywalking back into the old days.



9. What does the poet mean by soft hours?

'oft hours are those moments in our life that were too light and gentle when we felt our

heart floating in the air, life most meaningful and hay, without any worries.

:. What are the &ua"ities of the happy hours?

The hay hours are in the ast. They can be reached only by walking back. we may notreach them because they kee a distance from us. +lthough they shine, they do not burn.

And some of these but yesternight

Across my path were thrown3

Which made my heart so !ery "ight3

think it cou"d ha!e f"own#

Vocabu"ary

• esternight A 0ast night

• 'ome of these A 'ome of the hay hours

• I think it could have flown A My heart grew so light that I felt my heart could have flown.

Answers

8. What were thrown across the poet’s path?

'oft, hay hours with their memories were thrown across the oet’s ath.

9. +ow did the poet fee" when his path was fu"" of happy hours?

hen hay hours were thrown across his ath, the oet’s heart grew extremely light thathe felt that it could have flown u into the sky.

had been out to see a friend

With whom others saw9

6ike minds to "ike minds e!er tend 0

An uni!ersa" "aw#

Vocabu"ary

• 6thers A 6ther friends

• Tend A )ave a tendency

Answers

8. What is uni!ersa" "aw mentioned in the abo!e "ines?

The universal law here is that eole with similar tastes and temerament go together.



And when we were returning home3

(:ome who wi"" wa"k with me3

A "itt"e way’3 said3 and "o4

straight was joined by three9

2hree whom "o!ed 0 two had high thoughtsAnd were3 in age3 my peers8

And one was young3 but oh4 endeared

As much as youth endears#

Vocabu"ary

• 0o5 A 0ook5 'ee5

• 'traight A 'traight forward

• )igh thoughts A )igh level of thinking

• &eers A 6f the same age

• Endeared A 0oved4 beloved

Answers

8. Why did friends fo""ow the poet3 whi"e wa"king back?

+ll the friends were loving and like minded so they accomanied the oet when he asked

them if they liked to accomany him.

9. What do you know about the poet’s friends?

The three friends were like3minded. Two of them were the oet’s age and the oet hadhigh regard for these two. They had high thoughts. The third one was younger than the

oet and robably more dear to him.

2he moon stood si"ent in the sky3

And "ooked upon our earth9

2he c"ouds di!ided3 passing by3

n homage to her worth#

Vocabu"ary

• Dlouds divided A Dlouds gave way

• In homage A ith resect to

• )er worth A Moon’s worth4



Answers

8. What does the poet attribute the parting of the c"ouds to?

The oet believes that the clouds were aying homage to the ma$estic moon that glidedsilently in the sky, looking at the earth.

2here was a dance among the "ea!es

Rejoicing at her power3

Who robes for them of si"!er wea!es

Within one mystic hour#

Vocabu"ary

• Re$oicing A En$oying

• )er A Moon’s

• Robes A Dlothes4 ut cloths to

• !or them A !or the leaves

• 'ilver A Moonlight is silver

• eave A Make cloths

• Mystic A Ethereal4 'iritual

Answers

8. What were the "ea!es rejoicing?

The leaves were re$oicing the ower of the moonlight. The moonlight was weaving silverclothes for the leaves by shedding its silver light uon them.

9. Why is the hour ca""ed (mystic?’

The hour is mystic because the moon’s resence is divine. This is not a very accurate

answer nor is the word mystic very much suitable here-

2here was a song among the winds3+ymning her inf"uence 0

2hat "ow-breathed minstre"sy which binds

2he sou" to thought intense#

Vocabu"ary

• 'ong among the winds A 'ound of the wind



• )ymning A 'inging

• 0ow3breathed A 7ree2ing

• Minstrelsy A 'inging

• Thought intense A IntenseNhigh thought

Answers

8. What was the song among the winds?

The song among the winds refers to the musical essence of the wind. + wind can be heardas a chaotic sound or as a music.

9. What is the ("ow-breathed minstre"sy’ here?

The low3breathed minstrelsy is the music of the wind under the influence of the

moonlight. It is low breathed and musical. 'uch an exerience can be felt only when onewalks silently in the moonlit night.

:. +ow is our thought affected in the moon"it night?

The nocturnal wind and moonlight bind the human soul with intense thought. *nder the

influence of the meeting of moonlight and wind, great thoughts are evoked and soul feelselated and fills with thoughts.

And there was something in the night

2hat with its magic wound us8

;or we 0 oh4 we not on"y saw3

But fe"t the moon"ight around us#

Answers

8. %o imortant 1uestions.

+ow !ague are a"" the mysteries

Which bind us to our earth8

+ow far they send into the heart

2heir tones of ho"y mirth8

Vocabu"ary

• #ague A Mysterious4 uncertain

• 7inds us to the earth A +ttaches us to this earthly life

• Mirth A )ainess accomanied by laughter



Answers

8. What bind us to the earth?

*niversal mysteries bind us to the earth.

9. <'p"ain3 .mysteries bind us to the earth#1In fact we have learnt too little about this earth and universe. +lthough we boast of our

technological advancements and cosmological findings, we have not yet decoded the

mysteries of the earth. we don’t even know what is the real beauty of life on earth. e $ust wonder at the mysteries and kee on wondering but we hardly understand their inner

meanings.

:. +ow do the mysteries try to manifest themse"!es?

+s we try to find out the meaning of the mysteries, these mysteries too are trying tocommunicate with us. They are insiring hilosohers and oets and writers with hints

and references. The holy mirth here is the laughter that fills the thinker when a reali2ation

downs on him. hen an +le fell on Issac %ewton’s head, he reali2ed one the endlessmysteries. )e invented gravitation ower and that made him re$oice. This is what the oet

means by the Kholy laughter of the mysteries.’-

+ow "o!e"y are the phantoms dim

Which b"ess that better sight3

2hat man enjoys when proud he stands

n his own spirit’s "ight8

When3 "ike a thing that is not ours#

Vocabu"ary

• &hantoms A "hosts but here the vague figures in the moon light

• (im A (imNvague

• 7etter sight A Moonlit sights

Answers

8. @ues

2his earth"iness goes by3And we beho"d the spiritua"ness

f a"" that cannot die#

Vocabu"ary

• Earthliness A Materialistic4 oosite of siritual



• "oes by A #anishes

• 7ehold A 'ee

• +ll that cannot die A Immortals

Answers

8. @ues

(2is then we understand the !oice

Which in the night-wind sings3

And fee" the mystic me"ody

,"ayed on the forest’s strings#

Vocabu"ary

• Mystic melody A 'iritual songs

• !orest’s strings A Trees

Answers

8. @ues

2he si"ken "anguage of the stars

Becomes the tongue we speak3

And then we read the sympathy

2hat pa"es the young moon’s cheek#

Vocabu"ary

• 'ilken language A "low of the stars

• Tongue we seak A our language

• That ales A That make the moon aear ale

• oung moon A !ull moon

Answers

8. @ues



2he inward eye is open then

2o g"ories3 which in dreams

Visit the s"eeper’s couch3 in robes

Wo!en of the rainbow’s beams#

Vocabu"ary

8. Inward eye A The siritual vision

9. The glories A The treasure of the eternal life

:. 'leeer’s couch A The bed on which one slees and dreams

;. Robes A Dlothes

<. Rainbow’s beams A Dolorful light

Answers

8.

b"ess my nature that am

A""ied to a"" the b"iss3

Which other wor"ds we’re to"d afford3

But which find in this#

Vocabu"ary

8. +llied A 7ound

9. 7liss A )ainess

:. 6ther worlds we are told afford A e are told that we can exerience certain bliss onlyafter death.

;. In this A In this world

Answers

8. Why does the poet b"ess the nature?

The oet is able to en$oy the bliss of the other worlds in his own world. It has been saidand believed that eternal hainess is attained only after death but the oet is already able

to en$oy that mystic beauty in the moonlit night.

*y heart is bettered when fee"

2hat e!en this human heart



2o a"" around is gent"y bound3

And forms of a"" a part8

2hat3 co"d and "ife"ess as they seem3

2he f"owers3 the stars3 the sky

+a!e more than common minds may deem

2o stir our sympathy#

Vocabu"ary

8. @ues

Answers

8. @ues

h4 in such moments can crush

2he grass beneath my feet?Ah no8 the grass has then a !oice3

ts heart 0 hear it beat#

Vocabu"ary

8. @ues

Answers

8. hy is the oet stoed from crushing the grass/

Novel

• It was still hit Monday.

• &eole in Iing discussed the invisible man from two oosing sides A 7elievers and

'cetics.

• hile believers held that the invisible man was real the scetics laughed at this.

• 7unting wife of the vicar whom the invisible man robbed5- and other ladies were

rearing tea on )aysman’s meadow.

• Dhildren ran races and layed games they had no 'unday3school on behalf of hit

Monday-



• There was a little shade of fear and uneasiness regarding the incidents at Doach and

)orses yet everyone tried to ignore it.

• hile all were under a suressed, tentative $olly mood, a stranger came straight to

Doach and )orses. It was Mr. Marvel, indeed5

• + few men of Iing haened to notice that this man was talking to himself.

• Marvel went straight into the arlour that "riffin had reviously occuied but )all

informed him that it was a rivate room.

• %ow, Mr. Marvel went into the bar and had a drink and returned to the arlour door. )e

found another way that led to the arlour.

• )uxter observed the oddity of Mr. Marvel’s behaviour so he ket his eyes uon him.

• hen )uxter came to the arlour from the road, Mr. Marvel was already in action.

Darrying a bundle from the arlour, he was coming out of the arlour.

• )uxter followed Mr. Marvel, shouting at him to sto.

• !ollowing Mr. Marvel, Mr. )uxter got far off the inn where he was stoed and hurled

into the air by an invisible force.

• This chater describes the way "riffin got in his room.

• )e sees Mr. 7unting and (r. Duss messing with his books and things.

• )e watched them and listened to them for a while and made them know that he was in.

• 'cared, the two men are further informed that he was going to take their clothes off as a

unishment for tamering with his things and for taking his clothes away.

• 6utside, Mr. )all and Teddy stood guard.

• +fter a while "riffin gave his books to Marvel.

• "riffin was in the arlour with Mr. 7unting the vicar and Mr. Duss.

• 6utside, Mr. )uxter was watching Mr. Marvel’s susicious movements.

• )all and Mr. Teddy )enfrey were a do2en yards away, discussing matters.



• +t this oint they heard a violent thud against the door of the arlour, a shar cry, and

thenLsilence.

• )all and Mr. Teddy aroached the door and smelled some unleasant chemical odours

from the arlour. They could also hear a muffled conversation from inside.

• )all raed the door and asked if the two men were alright.

• %o rely was given. 6n the contrary, whisers from the arlour ceased.

• +fter a while they heard a cry like, =%o5 %o, you don’t5> It was followed by a sudden

motion and the oversetting of a chair, a brief struggle.

• )all reeated, =+re you alright, Duss, 7unting/>

•

This time there was a rely. It was the vicar. )aving said everything was alright, the vicar re1uested Mr. )all not to interrut.

• %othing was alright inside. "riffin was forcing Mr. 7unting to shed his clothes.

• aiting outside, Mr. )all and Teddy heard Mr. Duss say, =(isgraceful.> &robably "riffin

had stried both the men of their clothes55

• +t this oint Mrs. )all aeared and Mr. )all signalled her to silently come and listen to

what was going on.

• +s usual, the lady scolded her husband for not doing any work.

• hile they were listening, they saw )uxter rushing out of his sho and then running after

Mr. Marvel, calling =thief5>

• +t the same time, there were sounds from the arlour A windows being closed. It was

done by the two gentlemen inside, robably naked5

• &eole resent inside the bar rushed out. They saw something very remarkable about Mr.

)uxter. ou remember Mr. )uxter running after Mr. Marvel and then subse1uentlyattacked by the invisible "riffin/-

• &eole ran for Mr. )uxter’s rescue and Mr. Marvel vanished by the corner of the church

wall.

• !irst they thought that Mr. Marvel was invisible man himself who suddenly became

visible.



• 'everal men set off at once along the lane in ursuit of Mr. Marvel.

• %ow, "riffin had to save Mr. Marvel from the mob so he got ready to sto anyone who

came very close to Mr. Marvel.

• +t first it was Mr. )all. )e gave a loud shout of astonishment and went flying headlongsideways, clutching one of the labourers and bringing him to the ground.

• + labourer who came round in a circle thought that )all had tumbled over of his own

accord so he turned to resume the ursuit for Mr. Marvel. "riffin tried him by the ankle

$ust as )uxter had been.

• "riffin then kicked another labourer sideways by a blow that might have felled an ox.

• "riffin then had to deal with so many other men who tried to sto his messenger A Mr.

Marvel.

• The first to aear was the rorietor of the cocoanut shy, a burly man in a blue $ersey.

)e was hit so hard that the man fell headlong.

• hile this was going on outside, Mr. Duss came out and shouted, =)old him5 (on’t let

him dro that arcel.>

• Duss informed them that his trousers along with all Mr. 7unting’s clothes, were taken by

the invisible man.

• hen Mr. Duss rushed to $oin the other eole to get Mr. Marvel, he was knocked down by the invisible man. hen Mr. Duss fell, the invisible man crushed his fingers byrunning over them.

• 7esides, the invisible man served Mr. Duss with a little more torture A a erfect blow on

the back of his ears5

• Duss now ran into the arlour where Mr. %aked 7unting was hiding- and informed him

that the invisible man was coming back.

• 7unting was now attemting to clothe himself in the hearth3rug and a est 'urrey

"a2ette. Mr. Duss said that the invisible man was fighting like a mad man.

• )earing the invisible man so near, Mr. 7unting made one of the two decisionsO stay or

escae. )e decided to escae through the window, wearing the hearth rug. ou should

have seen this little man’s flight5



• e know it was to kee obstacles out of Mr. Marvel’s way that "riffin dealt with a

number of men in Iing. Else, it was for fun. as it because he was strangely angry with

everyone/ +ll the three reasons are likely.

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Devoted Sons