Preface

Purpose

The Ready Reckoner for Class XII has been prepared in conformity with the latest CBSE

syllabus and pattern. We believe, this text will make apparent the content and provide

the foundation for further learning.

As a crucial tool for students, the Reckoner provides an exhaustive coverage of each

section with solved examples giving ample opportunity to students to become

confident in writing the answers.

Approach

The reckoner covers all three sections: Reading, Writing and Literature. Each section

of this reckoner has been carefully designed to focus on the following:

Vocabulary enrichment

To facilitate accuracy and speed in answering the questions

To develop core skills – skimming, scanning and inferential reading

To enable deeper understanding of the text

Each Section consists of valuable Study Tips to prepare for the subject, Synopsis, Solved

Questions including Value based and Extrapolatory Questions and Questions for

Practice. The model test papers that have been included would provide the students

strategies to tackle examination questions. We hope this reckoner will prove to be a

support and guidance for students in preparation for the Board Examination.

Index

S. No. Content Page No.

1 SYLLABUS & MARKS DIVISION 2 - 5

3 SECTION A – READING UNSEEN PASSAGES AND NOTE MAKING 6 -22

4 SECTION B – ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS 23-57

5 SECTION C – LITERATURE TEXTBOOKS

FLAMINGO

VISTAS

58-129

6 Sample Papers 130- 135

3

ENGLISH CORE (CODE NO. 301) CLASS – XII 2020-21

(SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS PER THE GUIDELINES FROM CBSE) SECTION A

READING COMPREHENSION (20 Marks) The section A will have two passages. A. One unseen passage with a variety of Objective Type Questions, including Multiple Choice questions and Short Answer Questions to test comprehension, interpretation and inference. Vocabulary such as word formation and inference of meaning will also be tested. The total length of the passages will be between 800 - 900 words. Five Multiple Choice type question and Seven Objective Type Questions (total 12 Marks) shall be asked from this passage. The passage will include one of the following: a) Factual passages, e.g., instructions, descriptions, reports. b) Descriptive passages involving opinion, e.g., argumentative, persuasive or interpretative text. c) Literary passages, e.g., extract from fiction, drama, poetry, essay or biography. B.The second passage will be of 400-500 words. Note-making and Abstraction will be assessed. i. Note making (4 Marks) ii. Summary (4 Marks)

SECTION B WRITING SKILLS (30 Marks)

a. Advertisements and notices, designing or drafting posters, writing formal and informal invitations and replies. One question out of the two Short Answer Questions– (4 Marks) b. Letters based on verbal / visual input.- One question out of the two Long Answer Questions to be answered in 120-150 words: (6 Marks) Letter types include • Business or official letters (for making enquiries, registering complaints, asking for and giving information, placing orders and sending replies) • Letters to the editor (giving suggestions or opinion on issues of public interest) Application for a job c. Two compositions based on visual and/or verbal Input may be descriptive or argumentative in nature such as an article/a debate/ a speech or a report- Two Very Long Answer Questions containing internal choice, to be answered in 150-200 words. (10x2=20 Marks)

4

SECTION C Literature Textbooks (30 Marks)

I. Eight Objective Type Questions – 4 from one poetry and 4 from one prose extract to test comprehension and appreciation. (8x1=8 Marks) II. Five out of Seven Short Answer Questions based on prose / drama / poetry from both texts (5x2=10 Marks)

III. One out of two Long Answer Questions to be answered in 120-150 words to test global comprehension and extrapolation beyond the texts. (Flamingo) (6marks)

IV. One out of two Long Answer Questions to be answered in 120-150 words to test global comprehension along with analysis and extrapolation. (Vistas) (6marks)

Prescribed Books 1. Flamingo: English Reader published by National Council of Education Research and Training, New Delhi Flamingo: Prose 1. The Last Lesson 2. Lost Spring 3. Deep Water 4. The Rattrap 5. Indigo 6. Poets and

Pancakes 7. The Interview 8. Going Places

Poetry: 1. My Mother at Sixty Six 2. An Elementary School Classroom in the Slum 3. Keeping Quiet 4. A Thing

of Beauty 5. A Roadside Stand 6. Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

2. Vistas: Supplementary Reader published by National Council of Education Research and Training, New Delhi Vistas: 1. The Third Level 2. The Tiger King 3. Journey to the End of the Earth 4. The Enemy 5. Should Wizard

Hit Mommy 6. On the Face of It 7. Evans Tries On O-Level 8. Memories of Childhood 9. The Cutting of My

Long Hair 10.We too are Human Being

5

Question Paper Design 2020-21 English CORE XII (Code No. 301)

Marks-80+20=100

Typology Testing

Competencies

Objective

Type

Question

including

MCQs(1

mark

each

Short

Answer

Questio

ns (2

marks

each)

Short

Answer

Question

(4 marks

each

Long

Answer

Question

120-150

words (6

marks

each)

Very Long

Answer

Question

150-200

words

(HOTS)

(10 marks

each)

Total

marks

Comprehension Conceptual

understanding,

decoding,

Analyzing,

inferring,

interpreting,

appreciating,

literary,

conventions and

vocabulary,

summarizing and

using appropriate

format/s

MCQ = 5

Objective

Type

Questions

= 7

- 2 - - 20

Writing Skills Reasoning,

appropriacy of

style and tone,

using appropriate

format and

fluency, inference,

analysis, evaluation

and creativity

- - 1 1 2 20

Literature

Textbooks and

Supplementary

Reading Text

Recalling,

reasoning,

appreciating

literary convention,

inference, analysis,

creativity with

fluency

8

Objective

Type

Questions

(4 from1

prose and

4 from 1

poetry

extract)

5 - 2 - 30

TOTAL 1x20=20 2x5=10 4x3=12 6x3=18 10x2=20 80

6

Assessment of

Listening and

Speaking Skills

- - - - - 20

GRAND TOTAL - 100

SECTION A – READING COMPREHENSION (20 Marks)

Study tips Read as much as you can. Any piece of good literature should not escape your hands: Your

textbooks, the newspaper, or anything else you can lay your hands on.

Read on varied topics; from philosophy to science to fiction. This will help you with the unseen passages and also enhance your vocabulary.

Make a habit of talking in English and write down difficult words, understand their meanings and practice to include them in your speech.

Reading Comprehension – I

PASSAGE 1

1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. The titanic, in its watery grave, is a great museum of human history and is at risk of being lost forever because of curious voyagers and treasure hunters, fears Bob Ballard, who first discovered the remains of the iconic ship in 1985. Famous for discovering the great ship, Ballard is a former US Navy Officer and a professor of oceanography.

2. “Titanic is a museum of human history without door and guard. I am deeply concerned about not only the Titanic but all the ancient history that is now at risk. If we cannot save this iconic ship, then there is very little hope we can save ancient ships. The world should realize that you don’t have to go down and take everything and you do not have to do a treasure hunt. This is a common heritage of all of us and if we really want to take steps to preserve human history in the ocean, we need to start with Titanic”, Ballard said in a telephonic interview from London.

3. Ballard, as part of a tie-up, is presenting a documentary called “Save the Titanic” on the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the great ship – April 15, 1912. The ship and her fate continue to fascinate, largely because of the horror that took place that night, with 1,522 passengers and crew losing their lives.

4. Ballard says that despite being on the ocean floor for 100 years, the ship is full of human footprints. “You will find pairs of shoes everywhere. The sea and the life below has claimed everything but they do not know what to do with shoes so you will find a pair of mother’s shoes next to her little daughter and that’s their gravestone. At her wreckage, we almost felt that we were surrounded by the lifeboats of all the people who were in the water at that spot”.

5. Ballard says that the fate of Titanic continues to fascinate so many years after it sank because it is “irony personified in history”. “The story has all the ingredients to make it timelessly fascinating. You have this revolutionary ship that’s unsinkable, and carrying a cross section of people in society. And then, it goes and hits an iceberg and sinks on its maiden journey. It’s an irony personified in history.”

6. Talking about his discovery, which came after great research and 75 years later, Ballard, says it was a somber moment when they first spotted the boiler of the Titanic. “In the 90s, advanced technology gave us double diving capabilities in the Atlantic Ocean. I knew that the Titanic was

7

sitting at almost 12,000 feet. What led me to her discovery was a simple technique that I followed. We decided to look for the debris trail instead of the ship.”

7. Ballard says the ship, if preserved well and not subjected to constant submarine journeys, will last for a long time on the Atlantic floor. “The deep sea, because of its darkness, its cold temperatures and its great pressure, creates a high state of preservation. With a little caution, we can protect the Titanic for future generations to visit.”

8. Ballard has also connected to the people of Belfast, who refused to talk about the tragedy, “The ship’s construction took place at Belfast. After the tragedy, families of the workers refused to talk about it because of the shame and sadness in the loss of life involved”.

1.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions: (1X5=5 Marks) (a) The tragedy struck Titanic on _________________ i) its 100th anniversary ii) 15th April 1912 iii) an iconic voyage in 1985 iv) leaving the port of Belfast (b) The Titanic continues to attract attention because it is ________________

i) irony personified in history. ii) advanced technology gave double diving technologies. iii) a treasure hunt. iv) a common need.

(c) Ballard’s documentary on the Titanic is titled ________________

i) A Museum Of Human History. ii) The Titanic. iii) Save The Titanic. iv) 75 Years Later.

(d) The ship was discovered by

i) a voyager ii) documentary maker iii) a professor of oceanography iv) people of Belfast

(e) The ship sank in its --------------------journey

i) Last ii) first iii) penultimate iv) short

1.2 Answer the following question briefly: (1X5=5Marks) (a) What happened on April 15, 1927? (b) Who is Bob Ballard and what did he discover? (c) Why does Bob Ballard call it ‘a museum of human history’? (d) Why did the people of Belfast refuse to talk about Titanic?

8

(e) Explain “it is irony personified”.

1.3 Find the words from the passage which mean the same as: (1X2=2Marks) (a) first of its kind (para 5) (b) very solemn or serious (para 6)

PASSAGE 2

2. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: A Recovering Jerk

1. It is an accepted cliché in education that the number one goal of teachers should be to help students learn how to learn. I always saw the value in that, sure. But in my mind, a better number one goal was this: I wanted to help students learn how to judge themselves. Did they recognize their true abilities? Did they have a sense of their own flaws? Were they realistic about how others viewed them?

2. In the end, educators best serve students by helping them be more self-reflective. The only way any of us can improve- as Coach Graham taught me- is if we develop a real ability to assess ourselves. If we can’t accurately do that, how can we tell if we’re getting better or worse?

3. We professors play the roles of trainers, giving people access to the equipment (books, labs our expertise) and after that, it is our job to be demanding. We need to make sure that our students are exerting themselves. We need to praise them when they deserve it and to tell them honestly when they have it in them to work harder. Most importantly, we need to let them know how to judge for themselves how they’re coming along. A professor’s job is to teach students how to see their minds growing in the same way they can see their muscles grow when they look in a mirror.

4. I was constantly helping my students develop their own feedback loops. It was not easy. Getting people to welcome feedback was the hardest thing I ever had to do as an educator. (It hasn’t been easy in my personal life, either.) It saddens me that so many parents and educators have given up on this. When they talk of building self-esteem, they often resort to empty flattery rather than character-building honesty.

5. When I taught the “Building Virtual Worlds” class at Carnegie Mellon, we’d do peer feedback every two weeks. This was a completely collaborative class, with the students working in four-person teams on virtual-reality computer projects. They were dependent on each other, and their grades reflected it. We would take all of the peer feedback and put together a spreadsheet. At the end of the semester, after each student had worked on five projects, with three different teammates on each, everyone would have fifteen data points. That was a pragmatic, statistically valid way to look at themselves I would create multicoloured bar charts in which a student could see a ranking on simple measures such as : 1) Did his peers think he was working hard? Exactly how many hours did his peers think he

had devoted to a project? 2) How creative was his contribution? 3) Did his peers find it easy or hard to work with him?

9

Was he a team player?

6. As I always pointed out, especially for No. 3, what your peers think is, by definition, an accurate assessment of how easy you are to work with. The multicolored bar charts were very specific. All the students knew where they stood relative to their forty-nine peers. The bar charts were coupled with more free-form peer feedback, which was essentially specific suggestions for improvement, such as “Let other people finish their sentences when they’re talking.”

7. I remember a conversation I had with one student whom others found particularly obnoxious. He was smart, but his healthy sense of himself left him clueless about how he was coming off. “I’m so glad we had this chat,” I told him, “because I think it’s important that I give you some specific information. You are not just in the bottom 25 percent. Out of fifty students in the class, your peers ranked you dead last. You are number fifty. You have a serious issue. They say you’re not listening. You’re hard to get along with. It’s not going well.”

8. The student was shocked. (They’re always shocked.) He had had all of these rationalizations, and now here I was, giving him hard data. And then I told him the truth about myself.“I used to be just like you,” I said. “I was in denial. But I had a professor who showed he cared about me by smacking the truth into my head. And here’s what makes me special: I listened.” This student’s eyes widened. “I admit it,” I told him. “I’m a recovering jerk. And that gives me the moral authority to tell you that you can be a recovering jerk, too.” For the rest of the semester, this student kept himself in check. He improved. I’d done him a favour, just as Andy van Dam had done for me years before.

(From The Last Lecture) 1.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions: (5 Marks) (a)The multicoloured charts were specific because i) an honest feedback is essential for character building ii) the students knew where they stood relative to their peers. iii) they were pragmatic iv) The bar charts were coupled with more free-form peer feedback (b)The student kept himself in check as i) he had healthy sense of himself ii) others found him abnoxious iii) his peers gave him a bad rating iv) he was inspired by his professor (c) The passage is about the necessity of an effective i) lecture ii) communication iii) feedback iv) listening (d) According to the writer, the most essential exercise to build self esteem is: l) flattery ii) honesty iii) hard work iv)assessment

10

(e) Peer assessment can be done effectively in a i) big class ii) collaborative class iii) small class iv} virtual class room 1.2 Answer the following question briefly: (5 Marks) (a)What is the expected role of a teacher? (b) Which better goal does the writer talk about? (c) How does being more reflective help a student? (d) A professor plays a role of a trainer. Discuss. (e) Which feedback system was developed by the writer? 1.3 Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following: (2 Marks)

a. Stereo type (para 1) b. Practical point of view (para 5)

PASSAGE 3

3. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. India’s ancient herbal heritage consisting of Ayurveda and Unani that had of late shown

signs of a forceful comeback owing to the universal “back to nature trend”, has been facing

a tough time. Studies here and abroad have found that many herbal medicines are toxic and

some are even poisonous. Most Ayurvedic medicines contain lead, arsenic, antimony and

other similar elements.

2. But that cannot be taken to mean all such medicines are harmful. Often, according to

experts, their effectiveness depends on the makers of the medicine and whether the

ingredients used are as lay down in the ancient books. Nevertheless, cases of misleading

advertising and tall and hollow marketing claims show there is a need for more vigilance on

this front.

3. Most horrendous is the case of aphrodisiacs in Ayurveda like Shilajit that promise virility.

Shilajit and similar aphrodisiacs might be effective for a short duration but are quite risky in

the long run. Another example of such a ‘wonder drug’ is that of Dimagheen which is being

advertised as a Ram Baan (perfect) cure for all kinds of migraines and that it improves

memory. It’s in fact a delicious chutney (paste) that tastes nice but so far, the claims made

have not been scientifically tested. Yes, it can be a great placebo ! Examples like these

medicines are umpteen but there are some really good and tested that have proved their

credentials in term of long term benefit, like the Nazli of Hamdard that is a very effective

cure for chronic cold and sinusitis; but drugs so tested and useful are far and few , states

Hakeem Masood Baqai of Baqai Dawakhana , Ballimaran , Delhi.

4. Commercialisation of Ayurvedic medicines according to Hakkem M.S. Usami of Tibbia

college has actually harmed an otherwise pure and effective system. A large number of

11

medicinal plants used in the Indian systems of medicines, are facing extinction, thanks to

rampant negligence, blatant exploitation and wanton destruction. Another problem pointed

out by Hakeem Usmani is the mushrooming of umpteen herbal centres that have nothing to

do with the cause of the Indian system of medicines or the patients. They are in it purely for

the money, cashing on people’s faith in these medicines. Everyone knows that Ayurveda and

Unani are the oldest and most popular traditional medicines without any side effecs. But

the non- availability of certain herbs appears to jeopardise the existence of these medicines.

5. That shows how these so-called herbal companies are duping innocent customers. There

are in India over 7,600 species of medicinal plants according to a study of ‘Ayurvedica Unani

Tibbia College” at Delhi’s Karol Bagh. But of these only 1750 have been documented. Most

of these are found in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and that alone accounts for above

4000 species.

6. Interestingly Dr. M. M. Mehndiratta , a neurologist at Delhi’s G. B. Pant Hospital , points out

that about 200 species are used by the Allopathic system. Kerala’s Palakkad owing to its

affinity to the Western Ghats, is the richest producing herbs used in Unani Ayurvedic, Siddha

and other folk medicine system.

7. The other side of the picture is that even the allopathic doctors these days are

recommending herbal medicines. Doctors recommend Isabgol for smooth bowel

movement. It works better than many allopathic medicines.

8. Even if one takes some herbal medicine for a long time, there are going to be no side effects.

At the same time, however, their credentials have to be verified before they are consumed

. But the efficacy and authenticity of certain Unani combinations cannot be denied for they

have to undergo the test of time. A very good drug for opening the arteries of heart has

been Khameera Abresham Hakeem Arshad Wala that has been made after thorough

research of the herbal constituents.

9. Says Dr.Mehndiratta, “ The initiative to popularise Ayurvedic and Unani medicines os a

positive one but the entire concept fails after one finds the proliferation of untested drugs

that are harmful.” Mehndiratta quotes the example of an Ayurvedic drug Ginkocer that has

proved its worth with the patients who have suffered a stroke. Its success rate has been

almost cent per cent but the problem arose when certain local companies started copying

this drug.

10. According to Dr.Mehndiratta the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) has been

trying to combine the ancient medicine system with the modern ones and some efforts have

yielded results. Vijaysar, for instance , a drug meant to lower blood sugar levels has been

found , after extensive tests, to be extremely useful.

12

1.1-Answer the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option: (1x5-5Marks)

(a) According to para 1, what has been responsible for ‘a forceful comeback’ of the

Ayurvedic and Unani medicines?

i) Research that these medicines are free from all kinds of toxins.

ii) People’s renewed interest in all that is natural.

iii) Aggressive advertising and marketing by manufactures.

iv) Increased vigilance by health experts and government agencies.

(b) Apart from commercialization and mushrooming of herbal centres, what else,

according to Para 4 , threatens the very existence of ancient Indian systems of

medicines?

i) Medicines companies manufacturing these medicines.

ii) Efforts to combine modern and ancient systems of medicines.

iii) False propaganda by allopathic doctors.

iv) Certain herbs that are no longer easily available.

(c)The author quotes the example of Khameera Abresham Hakeem Arshad Wala in order

to

i) Prove how ancient Ayurvedic and Unani medicines are better than allopathic ones.

ii) Allege that Ayurvedic and Unani medicines are not tested before marketing.

iii) Claim that many Ayurvedic and Unani medicines are thoroughly researched and tested.

iv) Deny the efficacy of some Ayurvedic and Unani medicines in the market.

(d) What according to Dr.Mehendiratta has the ICMR been trying to do?

i) Test the effects of Vijaysagar on diabetic patients.

ii) Find effective Ayurvedic or Unani medicine for stroke.

iii) Stop local companies from copying popular drugs of other companies.

iv) Combine the old and modern systems of medicines.

(e) The drug ‘ Vijaysagar ‘ is used for

i) lowering blood sugar

ii) treating sinusitis and cold

iii) treating stroke affected patients

iv) curing all kinds of medicines.

1.2 Answer the following questions briefly: (1x5=5 Marks)

a) Why is more vigilance needed on ayurvedic products and medicines?

b) How has commercialization of Ayurvedic medicines harmed the pure and effective system

of Ayurveda?

13

c) What threats the very existence of certain Ayurvedic and Unani medicines?

d) Why do you think Kerala’s Palakkad is a herbal doctor’s paradise?

e)”The other side of the picture is………..”. What does the ‘other side’refer to here?

1.3- Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following: (1x2=2 Marks)

a) innumerable (para 3)

b) tricking(para 5)

PASSAGE 4

Q1. Read the passage and on the basis of your understanding of the passage answer the questions given below. (20 Marks)

1. India has never subscribed to the doctrine of militarism and war in her history. Here war was never

treated as an ideal. It was only tolerated as unavoidable and inevitable, and all attempts were made

to check it and bring it under control. Inspite of the frequency of wars in ancient India, in spite of

highly developed military organization, techniques of war and imperialism, and in spite of the open

justification of war as national policy, the heart of India loved pacifisms as an ideal capable of

realization. India‟s symbolic role was that of a peacemaker and it sincerely pinned its faith on the

principle of „Live and let live‟. At least philosophically, India‟s intelligence supported the cause of

peace not only in national affairs but in international affairs also. All the great seers of the yore

visualized the unity of life, permeating all beings, animate or inanimate, which ruled out killing and

suicidal wars.

2. This doctrine of philosophical pacifisms was practiced by ancient Aryans is, no doubt, a question of

controversial nature. Certainly, the great Indian teachers and savants stuck to this doctrine

tenaciously and in their personal life they translated it into practice and preached it to masses and

even to princes of military classes.

3. Another culture of those times, the existence of which has been proved by the excavations of Mohan- jo-Daro, also enunciated the doctrine of pacificism and friendship to all. Strangely enough, the Indus Valley civilization has revealed no fortification and very few weapons.

4. Ahimsa or the doctrine of non-violence in thought, speech and action assumed a gigantic

importance in the Buddhist and Jain period. By a constant practice of this virtue, man becomes

unassailable by even wild beasts, who forgot their ferocity the moment they entered the

circumference of his magnetic influence. The monks and nuns of these churches were apostles of

peace, who reached every nook and corner of the world and delivered the message of love to war-

weary humanity. The greatest votary was the royal monk Ashoka, who in reality was responsible

for transforming Ahimsa as an act of personal virtue, to Ahimsa as an act of national virtue.

14

5. Many a historian recounting the causes of the downfall of the Mauryas, hold the pacific policy

of Ashoka which had eschewed the aggressive militarism of his predecessors, responsible for an

early decay of the military strength of the state and its consequent disintegration, leading to the

rise of Sungas, Kanvas and Andhras. But, in reality the fault lies with the weak successors of Ashoka,

who could not wield the weapon of non-violence with a skill and efficiency which required the

strength of a spiritual giant like Ashoka. They failed due to their subjective weakness: Pacifism itself

was no cause of their failure.

6. Besides the foregoing philosophical and religious school of thought, even many political authorities

gave their unqualified support to the cause of pacifisms. They recognized the right of rivals to exist,

not mainly as enemies, but as collaborators in the building of a civilization operation. Thus, for

centuries, in the pre-Mauryan India, scores of small independent republics existed and flourished

without coming in clash with each other.

7. With regard to Kautilya, the much maligned militarist and the so called Machiavelli of India, He thinks that the object of diplomacy is to avoid war.

8. The Mahabharata observes in the connection, “A wise man should be content with what can be

obtained by the expedients of conciliation, gift and dissention.” It denounces the warring world of

men by comparing it to a dog-kennel. “First there comes the wagging of tails, then turning of one

round to other, then the show of teeth, then the roaring and then comes the commencement of

the fights. It is the same with men; there is no difference whatever.” Yajnavalkya adds: „War is the

last expedient to be used when all others have failed.” Likewise, Sri Krishna who‟s Bhagwad-

Gita has been styled by some as „a song of the battle‟, should not be considered out and out

militarist. When all the three expedients were exhausted, then alone the fourth was resorted to.

9. All possible avenues of peace such as negotiation, conciliation through conference, meditation and

soon, were explored before the war was resorted to. This proves that the heart of ancient India was

sound and it longed for peace, although war also was not treated as an anathema, which was to be

avoided as far as possible.(Words– 737) (Extract from ‘Culture India-Pacifism has been the Ideal’ by Sri Indra)

1.1Answer each of the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option: (1X5=5 Marks)

(a)The heart of India loved ____

i) a highly developed military organization

ii) techniques of wars and imperialism

iii) loans

iv) pacifism

(b)Principle of ‘Live and let live’ means

i)imperialism

15

ii)militarism

iii)frequency of wars among nations

iv)role of peace maker

(c )Aryans preached and practiced this to the masses

i)non-violence

ii)freedom of speech and action

iii)philosophical pacifisms

iv)practice of military organization

(d)Mahabharata compares the warring world with

i)wise men

ii)dog kennel

iii)song of the battle

iv)militarist

(e)Unearthing Mohan-jo–Daro reinforced the following of Pacifism

i)there was no fortification and very few weapons

ii)they delivered the message of love

iii)they were apostles of peace

iv)thinks that the object of diplomacy is to avoid war

1.2 Answer the following questions briefly: ( 1X5=5)

(a)How was war treated in India?

(b)Describe India‟s preparedness for war in spite of their belief in Pacifism.

(c)How did the Aryans practice the Doctrine of Pacifism?

(d)What is Ahimsa?

(e)What is the meaning of co-existence with rivals?

1.3 Pick out the words/phrases from the passage which are simi1.4- Find words from the passage

which mean the same as the following: (1x2=2 Marks)

(a) express in definite and clear terms (para 3 )

(b) defensive wall (para 3)

16

Reading Comprehension – II Note Making and Summarising

The purpose of note making is to identify, organise and review important points from a long text. It is easier to write down the points in short phrases as it helps you understand and your own content later.

Tips to prepare Notes Prepare notes using phrases .Do not write complete sentences. The topic sentence of each paragraph is the main point and the ideas affiliated to it are the

sub-points – one or more depending on the concepts in the paragraph. Sub points or sub sub points should be limited to four.. Proper indentation is essential. Provide an appropriate title for the notes and summary. Include 4 to 6 recognizable short forms of the longer words (abbreviations) in the notes.

Underline all short forms. Provide the key for the short forms at the end of the notes titled ‘Key to Abbreviations’. Abbreviation helps in writing the information briefly. The following are some of the ways

in which you can use abbreviations. Capitalized initial information:

eg. U.N. for United Nation, M.L.A., B.Sc., M.P., U.S.A. Taking the first few letters of the words:

eg. Sc.- Science, Pract. - Practical, Edu. - Education Taking the first and the last two letters of the word:

eg. rdng -reading, admn - administration, pds – periods, reg- regarding

- therefore eg. - for example Arithmetic symbols

eg. - + % +ve <> Tips to prepare Summary

Include all the important points in the notes meaningfully to prepare the summary in about 100 words.

Write the summary in complete sentences in a paragraph with a suitable title. No abbreviations to be used in the Summary.

17

Split up of Marks

Title Notes Abbreviations Summary 1 Mark 2 Marks 1 Mark 4 marks

Content: 2 Expression: 2

Format:

Title- 2 to 3 words

1. Main point .................

1.1 Sub point

1.1.1 Sub sub point

1.1.2 Sub sub point

1.2 Sub point

1.3 Sub point

2. Main point .................

Key to Abbreviations ( 4 to 6 words)

Summary: Word-limit – 100 words)

NOTE MAKING (SOLVED EXAMPLE)

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: 1. South India is known for its music and for its arts and rich literature. Chennai can be called the cultural capital and the soul of Mother India. The city is built low in pleasant contrast to the ghoulish tall structures of Mumbai and Kolkata. It has vast open spaces and ample greenery. The majestic spacious Mount Road looks like a river, wide and deep. A stroll on the Marina beach in the evening with the sea glistening in your face is refreshing. The breeze soothes the body, it refreshes the mind, sharpens the tongue and brightens the intellect. 2. One can never feel dull in Chennai. The intellectual and cultural life of the city is something of a marvel. Every street corner of Chennai has a literary forum, a debating society and music, dance and dramatic club. The intelligent arguments, the sparkling wit and dashing irony enliven both the political and the literary meetings. Chennai speakers are by and large sweet and urbane, though the cantankerous, fire-eating variety is quite often witnessed in political campaigning. The more urbane speakers weave their arguments slowly like the unfolding of a leisurely Karnataka raga.

18

3. Music concerts and dance performances draw packed houses. There is hardly any cultural family in Chennai that does not learn and patronize music and dance in its pristine purity. Rukmani Devi Arundale’s ‘Kalakshetra’ is a renowned international centre. It has turned out hundreds of celebrated maestros and dancers who have brought name and glory to our country. Carnatic music has a peculiar charm of its own. Thousands of people flock to the temple ‘maidans’ to get drunk with the mellifluous melodies of their favourite singers. They sit out all night in the gruelling heat, swaying to the rhythm of ‘nadaswaram’ and rollicking with the measured beats of ‘mridangam’. M.S Subbulakshmi is considered to be the nightingale of the South. 4. The Gods might descend from heaven to see a South Indian damsel dancing. There are several varieties of South Indian dance – Bharat Natyam, Mohini Attam, Odissi, Kathakali etc. Bharat Natyam is the most graceful and enchanting dance form whereas Kathakali is most masculine and virile. South Indian dances combine voluptuousness with purity. Here every muscle and fibre of the body vibrates into life, and as the tempo increases, a divine flame-like passion bodies forth as if making an assault on heaven. 5. South Indian dress, particularly of the males, is puritanically simple. There you cannot distinguish a judge from an ‘ardali’ by their dress. South Indian ladies too look charming and graceful in their colourful Kanjeevaram and Mysore silk saris. South Indian cuisine, especially ‘dosa’, ‘idli’ and ‘vada’ are so delicious that now we can enjoy them almost everywhere in India as well as in some foreign countries. The Madras ‘idli’, which was a favourite of Gandhiji is served with ‘sambhar’ and coconut ‘chutney’. (adapted)

2.1. On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations, wherever necessary. Give the passage a suitable title. 2.2 Write a summary of the passage based on your notes in about 100 words

NOTE MAKING

Chennai- The Soul of India/ Culture Capital- Chennai (1 Mark) 1. City’s structure (2 Marks) 1. 1 vast open spaces 1. 2 low structures 1. 3 Mount Road- majestic river like 2. Intellectual society 2.1 culture of debating 2.2 lit. Forums & meetings 2.3 polished urbane speakers

19

3. Cultural capital 3.1 Kalakshetra- famous int’l dance centre 3.2 popularity of music concerts 3.3 dance forms- Bharat Natyam, Kathakali etc. 4. Attire & cuisine 4.1 puritanically simple clothes 4.2 Kanjeevaram & Mysore silk saris 4.3 popularity of delicious Idli,Vada worldwide

Key to Abbreviations Lit. – literary & - and Int’l- international Etc.- et cetera

(1 Mark) Summary Chennai is the soul of India. The city has vast open spaces with majestic Mount Road running through the city like a river. The city boasts of an intellectual society with the culture of debating, literary forums and polished urbane speakers. World famous International centre Kalakshetra, music concerts and different dance forms make the city culuturally vibrant. Chennai people wear simple clothes Kanjivaram and Mysore silk saris and dishes such as idli, vada are well known all over the world. (4 Marks)

QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE PASSAGE 1

I. Read the following passage. (8 Marks) 1. An upsurge of new research suggests that animals have a much higher level of brainpower than

previously thought. If animals do have intelligence, how do scientists measure it? Before defining animals' intelligence, scientists defined what not intelligence is. Instinct is not intelligence. It is a skill programmed into an animal's brain by its genetic heritage. Rote conditioning is also not intelligence. Tricks can be learned by repetition, but no real thinking is involved. Cuing, in which animals learn to do or not to do certain things by following outside signals, does not demonstrate intelligence. Scientists believe that insight, the ability to use tools, and communication using human language are all effective measures of the mental ability of animals.

2. When judging animal intelligence, scientists look for insight, which they define as a flash of sudden understanding. When a young gorilla could not reach fruit from a tree, she noticed crates scattered about the lawn near the tree. She piled the crates into a pyramid, and then

20

climbed on them to reach her reward. The gorilla's insight allowed her to solve a new problem without trial and error.

3. The ability to use tools is also an important sign of intelligence. Crows use sticks to pry peanuts out of cracks. The crow exhibits intelligence by showing it has learned what a stick can do. Likewise, otters use rocks to crack open crab shells in order to get at the meat. In a series of complex moves, chimpanzees have been known to use sticks and stalks in order to get at a favourite snack—termites. To make and use a termite tool, a chimp first selects just the right stalk or twig. He trims and shapes the stick, then finds the entrance to a termite mound. While inserting the stick carefully into the entrance, the chimpanzee turns it skillfully to fit the inner tunnels. The chimp attracts the insects by shaking the twig. Then it pulls the tool out without scraping off any termites. Finally, he uses his lips to skim the termites into his mouth.

4. Many animals have learned to communicate using human language. Some primates have learned hundreds of words in sign language. One chimp can recognize and correctly use more than 250 abstract symbols on a keyboard. These symbols represent human words. An amazing parrot can distinguish five objects of two different types. He can understand the difference between the number, colour, and kind of object. The ability to classify is a basic thinking skill. He seems to use language to express his needs and emotions. When ill and taken to the animal hospital for his first overnight stay, this parrot turned to go. "Come here!" he cried to a scientist who works with him. "I love you. I'm sorry. Wanna go back?"

5. The research on animal intelligence raises important questions. If animals are smarter than once thought, would that change the way humans interact with them? Would humans stop hunting them for sport or survival? Would animals still be used for food, clothing, or medical experimentation? Finding the answer to these tough questions makes a difficult puzzle even for a large-brained, problem-solving species like our own.

(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it, using recognizable abbreviations (minimum 4), wherever necessary. Supply a suitable title to it. (4 Marks)

(b) Write a summary of the notes prepared in not more than 100 words. (4 Marks)

PASSAGE 2

II. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow: Starting from the steam engine to the supercomputer, why is it that most of the discoveries of the last two centuries have all been in the west? Is it because there were not many in the eastern hemisphere to think out or innovate? Or is it because though there was someone who did something back here, we were too late to realize it or acknowledge it? In fact, not all of the blame should go to us. There have been discoveries here too but maybe we overlooked them or were too late to acknowledge them. We still believe that there have been inventions in this part of the world but because of the delay in accepting such inventions the West copied them and thus been credited with their achievements.

India has been credited with being a storehouse of intellectual capital. Indians have a strong presence in NASA and even companies like the Microsoft and IBM. Yet India still lags behind in the field of innovation despite having a rich history. Indians invented the numerical ‘zero’

21

which is known to everyone. Even Albert Einstein also said that not worthwhile scientific discovery would have been possible without the Indians teaching the world to count.

Just knowledge is not enough. It has to be cultivated and put to use. Otherwise it is like having a Pentium III which is used just for typing. To put to use this knowledge adequately, proper opportunities also need to be provided. This is where the role of the government and the overall support for human infrastructure comes in. This implies providing adequate technology, setting up the right atmosphere right from the school level to identify and promote such talent. This is what our immediate challenge should be.

On the industry side they have a new assignment to embark on. For the first four decades India has been a seller’s market. For the producer, he just had to manufacture his goods and there was always a ready taker. For industry, innovation is not a way of business but a lifeline to exist in the business. With the innovation comes in the thrust on research and development. This is another of the neglected aspects in Indian industry. Strangely, the general concept among many is that R and D is basically for the pharmaceuticals and chemical industry. Thus leading from here we find that this is one zone where the share on the total expenditure is minuscule. This may be because of the dedicated investments and time frame required with no guarantee of results. Unfortunately, our short sightedness prevents us from judging the gains from such investments in the long run.

One thing in place is that India is an abundantly rich nation of natural resources. But the sad thing that follows is we depend so heavily on it. Imagine what it would have been had India used these resources, added technology and innovation and produced! The green revolution has been a perfect example of how natural resources combined with technology can convert a nation in a span of two decades to a food surplus economy.

In the end we arrive on the human contribution factor. All what has been discussed above would be or is a result of human zeal and contribution. This calls for a further debate on how we should ensure that not only India is an information rich country but also where knowledge is tested and put to work and further the goals are achieved through such creativity. Innovation is a never ending process that lubricates the wheels of growth of any nation developing or developed.

(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it, using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary – minimum 4) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it.

(b) Based on your reading of the above passage, write a summary of the passage in about

100 words.

PASSAGE 3 III. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:

In the 19th century, there was a hydraulic model of how to be a good person. There are all these torrents of passion flowing through you. Your job, as captain of your soul, is to erect dams to keep these passions in check. Your job is to just say no to sloth, lust, greed, drug use and the other sins.

22

Sermons could really help. They could help you identify sin. Preachers could exhort you to exercise the willpower you need to ward off temptation.

These days that model is out of fashion. You usually can’t change your behavior by simply resolving to do something. If that were true, New Year’s resolutions would actually work. Knowing what to do is not the same as being able to do it. If that were true, people would find it easier to lose weight. Your willpower is not like a dam that can block the torrent of self-indulgence. It’s more like a muscle, which tires easily. Moreover, you’re a social being. If everybody around you is overeating, you’ll probably do so, too.

The 19th-century character model was based on an expansive understanding of free will. Today, we know that free will is bounded. People can change their lives, but ordering change is not simple because many things, even within ourselves, are beyond our direct control.

Much of our behaviour, for example, is guided by unconscious habits. There’s been a lot of research over the past several years about how our habits shape us. Researchers at Duke University calculated that more than 40 percent of the actions we take are governed by habit, not actual decisions. These can range from what products you buy in the grocery store to when you want sex. Habits are ingrained so deep in the brain that a patient with brain damage sitting in his living room can’t tell you where the kitchen is, but if he is hungry, he can get a jar of peanut butter out of the pantry. Researchers have come to understand the structure of habits — cue, routine, reward.

You can change your own personal habits. If you leave running shorts on the floor at night, that’ll be a cue to go run in the morning. Don’t try to ignore your afternoon snack craving. Every time you feel the cue for a snack, insert another routine. Take a walk. This research implies a different character model. If the 19th-century model implied a moralistic captain steering the ship of the soul, the new character model implies a crafty Machiavellian, deftly manipulating the neural networks inside.

To be an effective person, you are supposed to coolly appraise your own unconscious habits, and the habits of those under your care. You are supposed to devise oblique strategies to alter the triggers and routines. Every relationship becomes slightly manipulative, including your relationship with yourself. You’re marketing to yourself, trying to arouse certain responses by implanting certain cues.

This is sort of disturbing. The important habitual neural networks are not formed by mere routine, nor can they be reversed by clever triggers. They are burned in by emotion and fortified by strong yearnings, like the yearnings for admiration and righteousness.

If you think you can change your life in a prudential way, the way an advertiser can get you to buy an air freshener, you’re probably wrong. As the Victorians understood (and the folks at Alcoholics Anonymous understand), if you want to change your life, don’t just look for a clever trigger. Commit to some larger global belief. (Adapted- NYTNS)

3.1. On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, make notes using headings and sub-headings. Use recognisable abbreviations wherever necessary. Write a suitable title.

23

3.2. Write a summary of the passage in about 100 words.

PASSAGE 4

Q 2. Read the passage and answer the questions given below: (8 Marks)

1. There is a clear dichotomy between Jayashankar Prasad’s daily life and the one that found

expression in his literature. In his literary formulations, Prasad advocated an escape- from- personality ideal and categorically stated: “An artist’s art, and not his person, is the touchstone to assess his work . . . it is only after losing his personality that he emerges in his art as an artist”.

2. In Prasad’s works – his poems, short stories, novels, dramas etc. – what emerges is life as shaped

in the writer’s inner self by his emotions, fancies, dreams, reveries . . . His writings are a record not

of outer reality, but of the artist’s inner world. As such, of a proper appreciation and understanding

of his works more emphasis needs to be placed on the working of his mind, than the events of his

day- to-day life. 3. Prasad was born in a renowned family of Varansi. His grand-father Shiv RatanSahu, a dealer in high

quality perfumed tobacco (snuff). Besides being an astute businessman, he was endowed with a marked cultural taste. His home was the meeting place of the local poets, singers, artists, scholars and men of religion. Prasad’s father Devi Prasad Sahu carried forward this high tradition of family. Prasad, therefore, had a chance to study the various phases of human nature in the light of the business traditions, artistic taste and religious background of his family.

4. When the business had somewhat recovered, Prasad planned the publication of a literary journal. Prasad started the “Indu”. The inaugural number appeared in July 1909. By this time Prasad’s notions of literature had crystalized into a credo. In the first issue of Indu, he proclaimed, Literature has no fixed aim; it is not slave to rules; it is free and all-embracing genius, gives birth to genuine literature which is subservient to none. Whatever in the world is true and beautiful is its subject matter. By the dealing with the True and Beautiful it establishes the one and affects the full flowering of the others. Its force can be measured by the degree of pleasure it gives to the reader’s mind as also by criticism which is free of all prejudice”. The words sound like the manifesto of romanticism in literature.

5. Even while recognizing the social relevance of literature, Prasad insisted, “The poet is a creator he is not conditioned by his milieu; rather it is he who moulds it and gives it a new shape; he conjures up a new world of beauty where the reader for the time being, becomes oblivious of the outer world and passes his time in an eternal spring garden where golden lotuses blossom and the air is thick and pollen”. Thus, the chief aim of literature according to Prasad is to give joy to the reader and to create a state of bliss in him. Later under the impact of Shaivadvaitism, this faith of Prasad got further strengthened.

.

(Extract from ‘Jayashankar Prasad- His mind and Art’ by Dr. Nagendra)

4.1. On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, make notes using headings and sub-headings. Use recognisable abbreviations wherever necessary. Write a suitable title.

4. 2 Write a summary of the passage in about 100 words

24

SECTION B – ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS (30 Marks)

Short Writing Skills

1. NOTICE

A notice is a formal means of communication. The purpose of a notice is to announce or display information to a specific group of people. Notices are generally meant to be pinned up on specific display boards whether in schools or in public places. Notices issued by the government appear in newspapers.

Points to remember 1. Write in a box

2. Use formal language

3. Use third person pronoun

4. Format includes Name of the Institution, the word NOTICE (in capital letters),Date and

Subject

5. Remember to include

a) What is being organized / held and why

b) Who is organizing

c) When (Date, time) and Where (venue)

d) Last date of submission and to whom / whom to contact

6. Name and designation of the person putting up the notice should be written at the bottom

left hand corner

Format Example

RED CROSS BLOOD BANK SOCIETY

NOTICE

8 June 2019

DONATE BLOOD AND SAVE LIVES!

A State Level function to observe voluntary Blood

Donation Day is being organized on 14 June 2019 at

Red Cross Blood Bank Society Office, M.G. Road,

Bangalore.

It will start at 8 a.m. and will continue till 5 p.m. All

are requested to volunteer and donate blood to

contribute for the noble cause and save the lives of the

needy people.

For further details, contact the undersigned.

Manish

(MANISH NAIR)

President, Red Cross Blood Bank Society

NAME OF THE

INSTITUTION/ORGANISATION

NOTICE

Date

SUBJECT

(Content

What

Why

When

Where

Whom to contact

Sign/-

Name

(Designation)

25

Questions for Practice

1. Water supply will be suspended for eight hours (10 am to 6 pm) on 6th of March for cleaning

of the water tank. Write a notice in about 50 words advising the residents to store water for a

day. You are Karan Kumar/Karuna Bajaj, Secretary, Janata Group Housing Society, Palam Vihar,

Kurnool. (CBSE 2016)

2. Your school is organizing a fete to collect funds for charity. Only school students are eligible to

put up stalls. As Head Boy/Head Girl, Meera International School, draft a notice in not more

than 50 words to be put up announcing sale of stalls and other necessary details.

3. As the secretary of your RWA write a notice requesting the residents to donate the unwanted

plants to the society instead of leaving them behind to wither.

4. As the Principal of Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Kanpur, draft a Notice in about 50 words informing

students of the change in school timings with effect from the 1st of December, 2014. Give valid

reasons for the change.

5. Due to a sudden landslide and unfavorable weather, St. Francis School. Vasco has to be closed

for a week. As principal of that school, draft a notice in not more than 50 words to be displayed

at the school notice board.

6. You are Srinivas / Srinidhi of D.P. Public School, Nagpur . As student Editor of your school

magazine, draft a notice in not more than 50 words for your school notice board inviting articles

/ sketches from students of all classes.

7. While walking in a park in your neighbourhood you found a small plastic bag containing some

documents and some cash. Write a notice in about 50 words to be put on the park notice board

asking the owner to identify and collect it from you. You are Amar/Amrita 9399123456.

(CBSE 2017)

8. You are the Secretary of your school Literary Association. Write a notice in not more than 50

words for your school notice board, giving details of the proposed inauguration of the Literary

Society of your school. You are XYZ of Jain Vidyashram, Cuddalore.

9. As sports Secretary of G.D.. Public School, Pune draft a notice in not more than 50 words for

your school notice board informing the students about the sale of old sports goods of your

school. You are Rohini / Rohit.

2. ADVERTISEMENTS

Advertising is a type of communication whereby people promote or persuade customers to utilize their services. There are two types of advertisements a) Classified advertisements b) Display advertisements. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS - Classified into different type of categories depending on their functions.

26

Classified advertisements are used to promote or use services. They are generally text-based ads where newspaper agencies generally charge on the number of words used. So, there is no place for precise English sentences here and the only concern is to get things noticed with as minimum words as possible. Important Points to be followed:

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS

Clearly state the category at the top - e.g. For Sale, To Let etc.

Give all necessary details in phrases using commas.

Give contact address, name, and telephone number.

Put the matter in a box.

Kinds of Classified Advertisements

1. Situation Vacant/Wanted 2. Lost and found/ Missing 3. Sale and purchase 4. Accommodation

wanted 5. Educational 6. Placement services 7. Matrimonial 8.To-Let 9. Packers and Movers

10. Pets and Livestock 11.Travels and Tours

1. Situation Vacant/Wanted

SITUATION VACANT

Required a smart, young office assistant for a leading export house, qualification – graduate, age-25-30

years, computer proficient, with experience of 3 to 4 years, salary negotiable. Apply with complete bio-

data by 20th July 2019 to Secretary, Orient Export House, Tri Nagar, Delhi. Ph: 011-21111111.

SITUATION WANTED

Well-experienced, retired lecturer in English seeks part-time job to teach Writing Skills and Public

Speaking in schools, own transport, proven results, hardworking, sincere, excellent records, salary

negotiable. Contact: Arun Kumar Ph: 9999999999.

27

2. Missing / Lost and Found

MISSING PERSON

A 10 years old girl missing since 4th July, 20XX from Ashok Nagar area,

height-120 cm, complexion-wheatish, a scar on her forehead, wearing frock and white

sandals, reward for anyone giving information . Please contact :Ravinder Bajpai, C112, Ashok

Nagar, Sultanpur. Ph. No. 09876454521

LOST AND FOUND Lost a brown coloured VIP briefcase on 18 August at New Delhi railway station, contains important insurance and educational documents, suitable reward for the finder, contact Ravinder Bajpai, C112, Ashok Nagar, Sultanpur. Ph. No. 09876454521

3. Sale/Purchase

FOR SALE Available in Mukherjee Nagar, DDA flat, SFS, GF, two bedrooms, D/D with full interiors, car parking available, East/park facing, reasonable price. Contact Kumar, A2, Mukherjee Nagar, New Delhi. Phone: 9999999999

FOR SALE For immediate sale a brand new Samsung AC , refrigerator, five-seater fabric sofa set, all items

in excellent working condition, reasonable price, owner going abroad. Gaurav Gupta, Mobile

No. 9876545421.

4. Accommodation wanted

5. Educational

Educational CFC announces the commencement of its computer course of 3 months for the beginners and learners, basic course and C++ and Java Eligibility- higher secondary, excellent faculty, free demo class , assured internship in a good company .Send in your application by 28th February20XX or contact Secretary - 011-22662632.

ACCOMMODATION WANTED

REQUIRED a newly built independent house in a posh area - East Delhi. 3 bed rooms, attached baths,

drawing and dining along with modular kitchen, well-ventilated, fully furnished, 24 hrs. electricity,

drinking water and parking. East and Park facing, nearby school, bank and shopping complex. Rent

offered Rs.50,000 per month. Contact: Mr. R.V. Singh, 9999999999 (M)

28

6. Matrimonial

7. TO LET

TO LET AVAILABLE on rent, DDA flat, two bedrooms, attached baths, balcony, fully furnished, well-ventilated, power backup, garage, centrally located, school, market and hospital close by. Expected rent Rs. 40,000/month. Company lease preferred. Contact Kumar, A2, Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi. Phone: 9999999999

Practice Assignments:

1. You have lost a bag containing few certificates. Draft a classified advertisement in not more

than 50 words to be published in the newspaper about the same giving necessary details.

2. Arjun Singh found a briefcase containing some important papers while travelling in a DTC bus

from Safdarjung Hospital to Gurgaon. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words to

be published in the classified columns of The Times of India.

3. Samta Public School in New Delhi requires cricket and hockey coaches. Draft a suitable

advertisement in not more than 50 words to be published in The Times of India, New Delhi,

stating your requirements regarding age, qualification, experience, etc.. You are the Principal

of the school.

4. You are Rajesh Sharma, an accountant with thirty years of experience, retired from ICICI

bank, Nagpur. You are looking for a job where you have the option of working from home.

Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words to be published in The Deccan Herald.

5. You want to rent out a portion of a shopping complex that you own. Draft an advertisement

for the same to be published in the classified columns. (50 words)

BRIDE WANTED

WANTED a suitable match for 26 years, 5'8" tall, handsome, fair complexioned Sikh boy, MBA,

MNC Executive, settled in Noida frombeautiful, slim, fair, well-qualified, cultured girl belonging

to a good family, caste no bar. Contact at Post Box No. 678, Times of India, New Delhi-110001.

GROOM WANTED

ALLIANCE invited from a tall handsome, educated, well settled business/ professional Delhite

boy of Jain family for a smart, beautiful, fair, slim, 23/5'3"/ 50 kg. convent educated M.B.A. girl

working in M.N.C. Contact Mr. S.K. Jain, at 90123 ...... (M) / P.O. Box No, The Times if India,

Delhi.

29

6. You are Dr. MadhuSapra, M.B.B.S., M.D. You are looking for an independent house in

Ghaziabad on a reasonable rent for your residence-cum-clinic. Draft a suitable advertisement

in not more than 50 words to be published in Hindustan Times, New Delhi. Your telephone

no. is 12341234.

7. You plan to sell your flat. Draft a suitable advertisement in not more than 50 words to be

inserted in the classified columns of a local daily giving all necessary details of the flat. You

are Neeraj / Neeraja, 28, Gopal Nagar, Delhi.

8. Anand/ Anna Garg’s pup is missing for the last two days. Draft a suitable advertisement on

his/ her behalf in not more than 50 words to be published in the classified columns of a local

daily.

9. Mr. Sudesh Sharma wants to look for a suitable groom for his daughter. Draft a suitable

advertisement on his behalf in not more than 50 words to be inserted in the classified

columns of a local daily, giving all necessary details.

10. You have recently started a Yoga centre at Rajaji Nagar, Bangalore. Draft a suitable

advertisement about the same in not more than 50 words to be inserted in the classified

columns of a local daily.

11. Your travel agency is offering an attractive package tour to South East Asia. Draft a suitable

advertisement about the same in not more than 50 words to be inserted in the classified

columns of a local daily, giving all necessary details.

b) Non Classified/ Commercial /Display Advertisement Remember to include the following points:

Tagline/ jingle

Contact agency

Contact address/ phone no.

Features Visual Offers

Discounts Added

Attractions

30

SAMPLE

ENVIRONMENT NEWS (A WEEKLY MAGAZINE BY ‘THE TIMES’ GROUP)

Special Features Articles by conservationists Stunning pictures of wild life Test your awareness – A quiz , Environment measures to save the earth A magazine for all age groups

Now available at a SPECIAL PRICE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION - Rs 1500- 20% Discount - Offer price – Rs 1200

American Tourist Gym Bag – Free BOOK YOUR ORDER NOW!!!

Log on to www. Environment news.com

Practice Assignments:

1. As the advertising head of Pure Aqua India Ltd., draft an advertisement launching a new

water purifier highlighting its unique features in not more than 50 words.

2. Star Academy, a foreign language institute has been set up in your locality. The institute is a

collaboration with Inlingua International and boasts of state of the art lab facilities and

expert faculty. Draft a non-classified advertisement mentioning details about the various

courses and languages being offered. The Institute also assures placement to diploma

holders.

31

3. You are setting up a playschool for toddlers in the age group of 1½ years to 3 years. Draft

an advertisement for the school.

4. M/s. Metro Shirts have introduced their new summer range of men’s shirts and T-Shirts.

Prepare an attractive advertisement for the range.

5. M/s. Pen India has brought out a new gel pen in many colours. Prepare an eye catching

advertisement for the pen, giving all relevant details.

6. Draft an advertisement announcing the launch of a special health drink by Health Care

Private Ltd., highlighting its nutritive value.

7. You are working for an advertising agency.Draft an attractive advertisement for the

company called Modern Machines which is launching a new range of washing machines.

3. INVITATION& REPLIES FORMAL INVITATION Points to remember

1. Draw a box.

2. Use a layered format.

3. Use third person.

4. Provide all details.

5. RSVP is mandatory.

6. Topics may include:

a. School functions- Sports day, Founder’s day, Annual day

b. Seminar/ Workshop

c. Inauguration of a showroom

7. Party/ Celebration- Finishing a course, Marriage, Birthday

32

INVITATION – FORMAL – CARD FORMA

FORMAL REPLY – ACCEPTANCE

FORMAL REPLY – REGRET

Mrs. and Mr. Kapoor thank Mr. and Mrs. Verma for their kind invitation for their daughter Lata’s wedding ceremony on 22 July, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. at the ‘Maurya Sheraton’. With deep regret they express their inability to attend the celebrations due to prior commitments. They extend their blessings and best wishes to the family on this happy occasion.

INFORMAL INVITATION

Points to remember

Written in 1st person

Sender’s address

No Receiver’s address

The Principal, Staff and Students of

XYZ School,

Gurugram

cordially invite you to the

Annual Day Celebrations

‘Earth is ours’, a play

on Saturday, the 22 July, 2019

at 6:00 p.m.

at The Air Force Auditorium

Ms. Lilette Dubey

Renowned Theatre Personality

has kindly consented to be the

Chief Guest

RSVP

The Principal

011 – 22222222

Mrs. and Mr. Verma

request the pleasure of your company

on the auspicious occasion of the

Wedding Ceremony

Of their beloved daughter

Lata

with

Ravi

(S/o Mrs. & Mr. A.K. Sharma)

On Saturday, the 22nd of July, 2019

at 8:00 p.m.

at the ‘Maurya Sheraton’

RSVP

011-22222222

Mrs. and Mr. Kapoor thank Mr. and Mrs. Verma for their kind invitation and good news. They look

forward to an enjoyable evening on 22 July, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. at the ‘Maurya Sheraton’.

33

Date

Salutation (Dear + Name)

Subscription (Yours lovingly)

The invitation does not ask for a reply.

Vocabulary & Expression – less formal.

INFORMAL REPLY - ACCEPTANCE

12, Vasant Kunj

New Delhi

19May, 2019

Dear Anmol

I am thrilled to inform you that I have performed brilliantly in class 12 examinations. To celebrate

the achievement, I am hosting a party for close friends at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, 22 May 2019 at

my residence.

We deserve a break after all the hard work. Hope to see you in the party.

Your friend

Deepak

D- 10, Defence Colony

New Delhi.

20 May 2019

Dear Deepak

I thank you for inviting me to your party on Saturday, 22 May 2019at 6:00 p.m. I will be delighted

to attend it.

I am looking forward to meeting all of you.

Yours lovingly

Anmol

34

INFORMAL REPLY – REGRET

Formal Letter Format (Invitation to Chief Guest) Modern School Vasant Vihar New Delhi October 20, xxxx Mr. Abhinav Bindra 2 , Golf Links New Delhi Dear Sir Subject :Invite for the Annual Sports Day We am pleased to inform you that the Annual Sports Day of our school will be organised on November 08, xxxx. The opening of the event is scheduled for 10.00 a.m. Inter-house competitions in various sports have been organized. We request you to be the Guest of Honour on the occasion. Your presence will greatly inspire the children of our school. We hope to receive a positive response from you.Kindly confirm your availability at the earliest. Yours sincerely XXXXX (Principal)

D-10, Defence Colony

New Delhi.

20 May 2019

Dear Deepak

I thank you for inviting me to your party on Saturday, 22 May 2019 at 6:00 p.m. I regret to state

that I won’t be able to attend your party as I am going out of station.

I look forward to meeting you some other time.

Yours Sincerely

Anmol

35

Practice Assignments:

1. Mrs. and Mr. Kapoor wish to invite friends and family for the wedding of their son. Draft an

invitation for the same.

2.Draft an invitation inviting Mr. Ruskin Bond, the renowned poet and author to read some of his

poems and give advice to the budding writers in your school at the Literary Week celebrations. You

are Arvind/ Aashima Mehta, literary secretary of your school.

3.You are Sajjan Raj. S/o Dharam Raj of Greater Kailash, New Delhi. Your father wants you to draft

a formal invitation to be sent on the occasion of your sister, Anita Raj’s wedding. Prepare the

invitation (2005)

4.You are Mohan / Molly. You have been invited by the Lions Club to act as one of the judges for a

Fancy Dress competition for children. But due to a previous engagement you cannot accept the

invitation. Write a formal reply to the President of the Club regretting your inability to accept the

invitation. (2004)

5.Suman / Suresh has cleared the PMT examination. The family is elated at the achievement and

they decide to have a get-together for all their friends. Draft a formal invitation for the get-together

(CBSE Sample Paper)

6.As Secretary of the Literary Club of St. Anne’s School, Ahmedabad, draft a formal invitation in not

more than 50 words for the inauguration of the club in your school.

7.Your friend Rajat, 15 Mall Road, Dehradun has invited you to attend the wedding ceremony of his

sister, Preeti, Acknowledge in not more than 50 words accepting the invitation. You are Karim.

8.You have been invited by your friend Diptesh at his 16th birthday party. Write an informal letter

expressing your ability to join him.

4. POSTER DESIGNING Points to remember Purpose : to create social awareness, .

Make a box.

Give a catchy title / heading. (based on the question asked)

Write a slogan or a short verse.

Write advantages / disadvantages, positive / negative effects.

The language that you use should inspire the reader.

36

Make sketches or matchstick figures.

Avoid using long sentences.

Word limit 50 words

Use both visual and verbal input to convey your message.

Write the NAME OF THE ISSUING AUTHORITY at the bottom.

Questions for Practice

1. You are Surya, a member of the social service organization, Seva Mandir, Ahmedabad. You are

organizing a charity event to help flood afflicted families physically and economically. Draft a

poster for the same.

2. Your school is organizing a Public Awareness Exhibition. In connection with it, prepare a poster

to bring home the importance of conservation of electricity. Your school is A.K. Public School,

Green Park, Delhi.

3. Write a poster on ‘SAVE THE EARTH’ on behalf of the PollutionBoard, Rajasthan State.

4. You are the Secretary, Red Cross, New Delhi, Get a suitable poster designed prompting the

citizens to volunteer themselves for ‘BLOOD DONATION’ at various camps organized by the

Red Cross in the city.

5. Design a poster for the Anti – Smokes Day creating awareness among thegeneral masses

about the harmful effects of smoking.

6. You are Rajeev Nanda, Secretary Welfare Association, Faridabad City. Design a suitable poster

highlighting the ‘EVILS OF DOWRY’.

37

7. You are Akshay Jain of Jain Mahasabha, Karnal. Prepare a poster on CRUELTY TO ANIMALS to

create love and sympathy for animals amongst the general masses.

8. To create awareness among the people regarding the importance of rainwater harvesting,

prepare a poster about it to be displayed at an exhibition (Word limit 50 words).

B 2. Letter writing: (06 Marks)

Business letter/ Official letter/ Letter to the Editor

Format

Sender’s address

Date

Recipient’s address (including their name and title if you know it).

Subject of the letter

Dear Mr [surname], for a man, or Dear Ms [surname] for a woman. If you don’t know the name of

the recipient, use Dear Sir or Madam or Dear Sir/Madam.

Content

First paragraph

The first paragraph should be short and state the purpose of the letter- to make an enquiry,

complain, request something, etc.It is important to refer to an article, earlier correspondence,

details of invoice no., or any other details with specific date etc.

Here are some options for starting your letter:

I would like to enquire about (or whether) …

I am writing regarding …

I am writing in response to …

I am writing to inform you that/of …

I am writing to complain about …

Further to my letter of 15th May…

Second Paragraph

The paragraph or paragraphs in the middle of the letter should contain the relevant information

behind the purpose of writing the letter. Keep the information to the essentials and concentrate on

organizing it in a clear and logical manner rather than expanding too much.

38

Last Paragraph

The last paragraph of a formal letter should state what action you expect the recipient to take- to

refund, send you information, etc.

Here are some expressions you can use to end a business letter.

Please let me know if …

I look forward to receiving your reply.

Thank you in advance for your help.

I would be grateful if you could inform me …

A formal ending (if you know the recipient), use Yours truly. A formal ending (if you don’t know the

recipient): Yours sincerely.

Signature

Name

Designation

Enclosed: a copy of invoice

A cheque, etc.

Sample letter to the editor of a newspaper about noise pollution in your city 110, DLF City Phase 1 Gurgaon ,Haryana 18 March xxxx The Editor The Times of India New Delhi-110 001. Dear Sir Subject: Increasing noise pollution in the city With reference to the article published in your newspaper on 28 February 20xx regarding the health problems due to noise pollution, I would like to express my concern over the ever increasing noise pollution in our cities and towns.

39

Increasing number of vehicles on the roads, growth of factories, construction work, loudspeakers used on various occasions, rock and pop music, etc. are various factors responsible for causing noise pollution. Noise control laws are openly violated. Frequent loud noise affects the efficiency of people. Persistent noise pollution causes a loss of sense of hearing. If the noise pollution is not checked, it may harm people adversely. The authorities should wake up to the danger of noise pollution. They should strictly enforce the noise control laws. The noise producing factories located in the residential areas should be shifted to far-off places without any delay. The use of loudspeaker should be stopped after specific time. Above all, public needs to be aware and cooperative against the danger of noise pollution. I earnestly hope that the concerned authorities will take immediate and urgent necessary action against those responsible for noise pollution. Yours sincerely Sign. Name

Letter for Placing an Order

Angel Books

14th Main Road

Nungambakkam

Chennai – 34

March 23, xxxx

The Sales Manager

Galgotia Book Store

Cannaught Place

New Delhi

Dear Sir

Subject: Order for books

With reference to the catalogue of new books on your website, we would like to place an order

for the books mentioned below.:

1. Indian History by Peter Jackson (Jack son and Co.)- 10 copies- code no, 103

2. Festivals by Margaret Smith (DC Publishers)- 10 copies- code no,203

3. Caring for Earth by Janet Patterson (Nature Ltd.)- 5 copies- code no,403

40

Kindly send these items before the 10th of April. We wish to include them in our display at the Book

Festival scheduled to begin from the 15th of next month. We are enclosing a cheque for Rs. 5000

as advance payment. The balance amount will be paid after receiving the order.We also hope to get

the discount applicable for educational institutions.

Yours sincerely

Sign.

(KETAN DARSHAN)

Director

Enclosed: A cheque for Rs 5000

Letter of Cancellation of order

Angel Books

14th Main Road

Nungambakkam

Chennai – 34

April 23, xxxx

The Sales Manager

Galgotia Book Store

Cannaught Place

New Delhi

Dear Sir

Subject: Cancellation of Order

Please refer to the order no. 01/468 for the new books placed with you on 23rd March xxxx. The

order was to be executed by 10 April xxxx.

We regret to inform you that the order placed earlier stands cancelled. We needed the books for

an event on 15 April xxxx.But till date we have received neither the consignment nor any

clarification from your side even after several reminders.

The delay has caused us a great deal of inconvenience. The unprofessional handling of the order by

you has also forced us to take the action which was completely unnecessary. Kindly return the

amount of Rs. 5000 as advance payment sent to you earlier.

Yours sincerely

Sign.

(KETAN DARSHAN)

Director

41

Letter of Enquiry

1802, Hope apartments

Sector 15

Gurgaon

April 30, xxxx

The Manager

Western Hotel

Goa

Dear Sir

Subject: Information regarding the hotel stay

With reference to your advertisement in The Hindustan Times on 15th April,xxxx, I am writing this

letter to make arrangements for the stay at your hotel and to get more information on the places

of interest.

I will be arriving with my parents and wife to celebrate my parents’ Wedding Anniversary on

Saturday, the 4th of July , and will be leaving on the 9th of July afternoon. I wish to book double

rooms with seaside view for my parents. I would also appreciate if you could provide me with the

information about adventure activities .

You can send me the detailed information through email to abc@gmail.com not later than the 2nd

of July with the total cost of stay during the weekend.

Yours sincerely

Sign.

name

Reply to the Inquiry

Western Hotel

Goa

May 5, xxxx

Mr XYX

1802, Hope apartments

Sector 15

Gurgaon

Dear Sir

Subject: Information regarding the hotel stay

42

We received your letter dated April30, xxxx seeking information about the tariff, facilities and stay

in our hotel between 4th and 9th of July xxxx. We thank you for showing interest in our hotel.

We will be able to provide the rooms with seaside view as per your requisition. The room tariff is

Rs 5000 per day which also includes complimentary breakfast. We have tied up with Blue Waters

Adventures for family fun activities which can be booked after your arrival. Day tour packages are

available for sightseeing.

We hope to hear from you soon. Kindly write to us if you have any other query.

Yours truly

Sign

Name

Manager

Letter of Complaint about a Product

H,No. 245

XYZ Apartments

Gurgaon

May 02, xxxx

The Sales Manager

Bloom Electronics

Lajpat Nagar

New Delhi

Dear Sir

Subject: Complaint about defective working of washing machine

I purchased a, top-loading, washing machine of LG, with a capacity of 6 litres from your shop on

January 01, xxxx vide invoice no. 46 dated..… However, for the past four months, it has not been

functioning properly.

The water from the spin basket does not drain properly. As a result , the machine stops abruptly

without finishing the complete washing cycle. The washing machine is a domestic necessity and

causes trouble for us.

I request you to send across your technician to look into the matter. The machine is still under

warranty period. Hence, I expect you to either get it repaired or replaced at the earliest. I also

wish to know about the annual maintenance contract to prevent any further problems.

43

Yours truly

Sign.

name

Enclosed: A copy of the invoice

Letter of complaint to Civic Authorities

House No. 4A/88

Karol Bagh

New Delhi-110005

18 July xxxx

The Municipal Commissioner

Municipal Corporation of Delhi

New Delhi

Dear Sir

Subject: Request for removal of debris and garbage

I am a resident of Karol Bagh. This is to request for the removal of debris and garbage from my

locality from a vacant plot.

House No. 3A/88 at Karol Bagh, New Delhi was demolished by its new owner and has been lying

unattended for last two years. The owner of the plot/house has made fencing around it. The

problem is that the people of surrounding areas and passersby take advantage of the vacant plot

by throwing garbage/debris in the enclosed area of the plot as well as around it.

This dumping ground not only provides ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes thus affecting

the health of people living in the surrounding houses but also spoils the aesthetics of the area.

Despite several complaints and reminders by the residents, the apathy shown by the authorities is

shocking. So far no action has been taken by the concerned department.

Kindly look into the matter and ensure proper maintenance of the area.

Yours sincerely

Sign.

Anupam Seth

44

Job Application

These are formal letters written generally in response to the job vacancies published in the

newspapers or posted on the net.

These letters are generally accompanied by a bio-data.

The bio-data includes the name, date of birth, current address, contact number, marital

status, educational qualification, experience, if any, salary expected and reference.

Q. Read the given advertisement and then write a suitable application in response to it. Sign

yourself as Medha / Mohit.

Tulip Sr. Secondary School We are an upcoming CBSE Sr. Sec. School located at Meerut. We require dynamic, innovative

and creative faculty to teach. Urgently needed PGT English with a degree in Education.Expereince must, Salary negotiable

B/23, Rajendra Nagar

Ghaziabad

22 June 20XX

The Principal

Tulip Sr. Sec. School

Meerut

Sir

Subject : Application for the post of an English Teacher

This is with reference to the advertisement in ‘The Times of India’ dated 15th June, 20XX, for the

vacancy of an English teacher in your school. I wish to apply for the same. I have the required

qualification and experience for the post. Please find enclosed my detailed bio-data for your kind

consideration and perusal.

If selected, I assure you that I will work to the best of my abilities. Hoping for a favorable response

from your side.

Yours faithfully

Mohit Suri

Encl. Biodata

45

BIO DATA

Name : MohitSuri

Sex : Male

Father’s Name : Mr. JayantSuri

Marital Status : Unmarried

Current Address : B/23, Rajendra Nagar, Ghaziabad

Contact No. : 01202345987, 09870001213

Educational Qualification : BA from CCS University, Meerut (72% marks)

MA(English) from Punjab University, Chandigarh (60% marks)

B.Ed. from Govt. College of Education, Chandigarh (65%

marks)

Work Experience : 5 Years

i) Currently working in DAV Public School, Meerut since 20xx.

ii) Worked in Govt. Model Senior Sec. School Sec.-35, Chandigarh, for two years (against

leave vacancy)

Hobbies : Reading, travelling

Salary Drawn : Rs. 25000/- per month

Expected Salary : U.P. Govt.Grade with minimum one additional

increment

References : Mr. Y.H.Sharma, Principal, DAV College,

Meerut

Contact no.

Dr. L.M.Mahajan, Sector-16, Chandigarh

Contact no.

Dated :xxxxxx

46

Marks for letter writing are awarded on the following lines : Format : 2 marks

Content : 2 marks

Expression : 2 marks

&Accuracy

QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE

1.You are surprised and concerned by personal attacks , complaints of bogus voting,

outrageousness of the politicians in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Write a letter to the editor

expressing your views on the need to have a healthy and fair elections.

2.Write a letter to the Manager, Bata Shoe Company, Faridabad complaining about the quality of

shoes bought by you from their local showroom. Mention the cash memo and design number.

3. M.K. University offers Diploma course in Management through correspondence. You are Sanjay,

resident of 110, R.K. Puram, Delhi. Write to the Director, Correspondence Courses for the brochure

and prospectus. Also enquire if the UGC has recognized this course.

4.You are Seetha/ Surya living in Bangalore. Your friends and you are planning a week long holiday.

You come across the following advertisement. Select a destination of your choice. Write a letter

making necessary enquiries from the tour operator before you make your final decision.

This winter fill your holiday with endless fun and thrill We offer exciting domestic and International holiday packages for individuals as well as groups. i- Magical Singapore 5 nights / 6 days: Rs. 25000. 10 nights / 11 days: Rs. 54,000/- 14,999/- ii- Bangkok, Pattaya + Kullu + Genting Singapore 11 days: Rs. 32,999/- 7 nights / 8 days: Rs. 67,000/- iii- Best of Nepal 6- Exotic Goa 5 nights in a 5 Star Hotel : Rs. 7,999/- `3 nights / 4 days: Rs. 3,333/- For.more details write to us or visit our website: www.sewanathholidays.com or write to us at: Sewa Nath Worldwide Holidays, 12.A, Kailash Building, Govardhan Road, City Centre, Malegeon 27 Cuffe Parade Bangalore.

5. You are Mohnish Kapoor, parent of a student studying in class tenth. Write a letter to the

Principal, Excellent Academy, Model Town, Hisar, requesting him to set up a Career Counselling

Centre in the school to help and guide the students in the choice of stream at +2 level and suitable

career choice at college level. You reside at 21 B, Raj Nagar, Hisar, Haryana.

47

6. The increasing cases of Chikangunya and dengue in the capital have worried citizens as well as

the authorities. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily expressing your concern at the

situation suggesting some measures to tackle the same. You are Amitabh Jain/Amita Jain residing

at 121-C, Mayur Apartments, Patparganj.

7. You are Nitin/Natasha a student of Class XII at K.P.N. Public School Faridabad. A student is

required to cope with lot of pressure in today’s competitive environment. Write a letter to the

editor of a national daily highlighting the increasing stress faced by students and suggest ways to

combat the same.

8. You are Naresh/Neetu. Recently, you came across a newspaper report on the burning of a young

woman as her parents could not meet the dowry demands. You feel that even after 60 years of

independence we have not really progressed as a nation. Write a letter to the editor of a local

newspaper expressing your views and also giving suggestions to improve the status of women in

Indian Society.

9. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily highlighting the role that colonies can play to slow

down the effects of environmental degradation. Mention measures such as switching off lights on

specific days, use of eco-friendly products, rain harvesting, ban on plastics, segregation of garbage,

using appliances that work on solar energy, car pools, etc. You are Shalini/ Sameer Ghai of 46, Nehru

Vihar, Jabalpur.

10.You are Gaurav/ Garima Sen. Apply for the job advertised below with a detailed bio data. Your

address is 45B, Phase III M.I.G. Flats, MayurVihar, Delhi-91.

11. Times Now news channel requires two reporters to cover the political and social issues in

northern India. You want to apply for the same. Write an application for the post. You are

Abhay/Abha Sharma.

12.You are Neena/Neeraj, Secretary of the Home Science Club of Pinnacle Senior School. You had

placed an order for a consignment of articles of crockery. On receipt you find that some of them

have been damaged and broken in transit. Write a letter to the Sales Manager ‘Kitchen Plus

Solutions’ complaining about receipt of damaged goods. Request them to replace the damaged

goods.

13.You are Akshay / Aditi, Sales Manager of Bharat Sports Limited, Delhi. You have received a letter

from the Sports Teacher of Wisdom Public School, Delhi, who placed an order on behalf of the

school two months ago, expressing concern over the undue delay in the supply from your end.

A well-known international company requires two receptionists. The applicant should be a graduate with

2-3 years of experience at a similar position. Apply immediately to XYZ consultants, Box-87634, The

Times of India, New Delhi-110002.

48

Write a suitable reply explaining the cause of undue delay and promising the delivery of the sports

goods at the earliest.

14.A new Computer lab has been constructed for the primary students in your school. Write a letter

to Messers Universal Computers placing an order of computers, printers, UPS etc. for the same. You

are the Administrative officer, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Nehru Nagar, Karnal.

ARTICLE, SPEECH, DEBATE WITH VALUE POINTS

(10 Marks, 150-200 Words)

Points to remember

Read the questions carefully to understand the focus and concentrate on it to avoid

misinterpretation in answering the questions.

Before writing a long writing task, it is important to list all the ideas.

You can randomly write down all the ideas, though you will need to organize those ideas in

a meaningful manner later while writing.

Group all related ideas together and then arrange them in 3 to 4 paragraphs in a logical

sequence.

Articles, speeches and debates can be broadly categorized under the following headings.

i) ISSUE BASED TOPICS

Any question related to an issue, for example- crime against elderly, rash driving,

indiscipline among the youth, increasing pollution, etc can be divided in four paragraphs as

1. Introduction 2. Causes 3.Effects 4. Solutions or suggestions.

We can have speeches, articles or a letter to the editor based on issues.

ii) EXPOSITORY OR DESCRIPTIVE TOPICS

In this kind of writing you need to expand and explain something. For example-

importance of cleanliness, health is wealth. We can have speeches, articles on such topics.

Such topics can be broadly divided in paragraphs as 1. Introduction 2. Merits / Demerits (as

per the topic) 3. Effects 4. Conclusion/ suggestions/solutions.

iii) ARGUMENTATIVE TOPICS - (DEBATE)

In this kind of writing, you need to write your arguments justly and impartially .

You need to take a stance either for or against and then proceed.

Debates are covered in this kind of write up. You need to convince the readers about your

stance with strong arguments.

49

Questions for Practice

Q.1. You are Rajan/Rajni. Write an article for your school magazine on the topic- How to

organize your studies.(EXPOSITORY OR DESCRIPTIVE TOPIC)

Value Points

Para 1- The importance of organizing your studies to get results.

Para 2- Conditions conducive to good study schedule

a. Enough time

b. Spacing out the time-table

c. Quiet place

d. Proper equipment

(i) Enough study material- textbooks, etc.

(ii) Reference Work

Para 3- Techniques

a. Memorising

b. Making notes

c. Writing assignments

d. Practicing test papers

e. Referring to class notes

f. Discussions with other students

Para 4- Conclusion- Benefits of organizing

Note: The value points given above are for a topic in which you need to explain (expository write-

up). Hence, the division of paragraphs can be done according to your convenience. Grouping of

related ideas as suggested above will help in writing your article in an organized manner.

Q.2. Rash Driving is a menace on Indian Roads . Every year accidents cause a number of deaths

on Indian roads . Write an article on the issue and also offer suggestions. (This is a serious issue

and requires solutions)

INTRODUCTION

‘A family of five killed on Noida Expressway’ ‘A SPEEDING CAR RUNS OVER A CYCLIST’. These are

some familiar headlines of newspapers. We live in a country in which about 380 road deaths are

reported every day. A plane crash with 380 people on board would make people sit up and take

notice but road deaths are ignored. Rash driving is perhaps one of the main reasons behind

increasing number of accidents with each passing year.

50

CAUSES

Driving a breath holding experience

Two primary issues- licensing and enforcement, both responsible for who gets to drive and

how?

Corruption , no proper check on the authorities issuing licenses, no standard curriculum or

training methods, lack of awareness about safety norms

Too many vehicles

Poorly designed roads

Adrenalin fuelled driving style

Widespread use of mobile phones while driving

EFFECTS

Deaths, injuries which may leave a person paralysed or dependent on others

Families of victims suffer as sometimes sole bread winners are killed

Shameful statistics for a developing nation

Raises apprehension over our capabilities to improve infrastructure

Highlights corruption and disregard for rules

SOLUTIONS

Proper implementation of road safety norms

Segregation of lanes for the cyclists and pedestrians

Biometric based system that is linked to a database to ensure honest licensing

Technology driven training and intervention

Structured curriculum and training modules

Good designing of roads

More severe punishment for rash driving

Q.3. ‘Holy rivers’ has rather become a myth today. According to a report of the National

Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) all the fourteen big rivers of India are badly

polluted. They cover 85 per cent of the surface flow of water in the country. Write an article on

the pollution of rivers in about 200 words.

51

Value points

Para 1- Introduction- 'Holy rivers' has rather become a myth today. According to a report of the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) all the fourteen big rivers of India are badly polluted. They cover 85 per cent of the surface flow of water in the country.

Rivers – lifeline of cities, clean rivers – a good source for drinking water and many other purposes

Para 2- Causes of pollution

Urbanization: - Rapid urbanization has caused environmental problems such as water supply, wastewater generation and its collection, treatment and disposal.Human and animal excreta flow to all the rivers in India. . Untreated sewage flows into the Jamuna in Delhi through 17 open drains.A large number of cities/towns either do not have any sewerage system or the sewerage system is overloaded or defunct.

Industries: -The main pollutant of river water is industrial waste. flow of toxic effluents

including chemicals, metallurgic deposits

Agricultural runoff and improper agricultural practices: -Traces of fertilizers and pesticides

are washed into the nearest water-bodies at the onset of the monsoons or whenever

there are heavy showers.

Withdrawal of Water: -Indian rivers, particularly the Himalayan Rivers, have plenty of

water in their upper course. They are, however, starved of water when they enter the

plain area. Irrigation canals whisk away clean water soon after the rivers reach the plains,

denying water to flow in the river downstream.

Religious and Social Practices: Carcasses of cattle and other animals are disposed in the

rivers. Dead bodies are cremated on the river banks. Partially burnt bodies are also flung

into the river. All this is done as a matter of religious faith and in keeping with ancient

rituals.

Para 3- Effects

uncollected and untreated sewerage water reaches the streams thereby polluting their

water.

Fertilizers and pesticides used in these tracts of land are bound to be washed into rivers

during the monsoons.

toxics, acids and a number of chemicals that affect the health of the river and consequently of all those who depend on it for drinking and bathing water.

high incidence of skin diseases. Plankton on which fish live has been dying in large numbers in the river.

Even the fish have been greatly contaminated causing bone diseases and arthritis among those who eat fish from these rivers.

52

Para 4- Suggestions

Minimum flows in the recipient river will be required to maintain the desired water quality

All industries in the cities on the banks of rivers should, under strict vigilance, treat their effluents before the water flows to the river.

Municipalities and Corporations should have treating centers for their drain water. These will provide energy besides supplying pure water to the rivers.

No government efforts can make the rivers unpolluted if the common man has no consciousness how to keep the rivers too unpolluted as he keeps his house neat and clean.

Awareness campaign, Non-Government Organizations (NGO) can play an important role in educating the people both in cities and the rural areas.

SPEECH WRITING

TIPS TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE SPEECH

Read the question carefully.

Focus on the issue that needs to be addressed.

Interpret any data given.

Use a conversational style of writing.

Use polite, grammatically accurate language.

Avoid repetition of any facts or figures.

Add variety to your vocabulary and expression.

FORMAT

Heading (in BLOCK LETTERS)

PARA 1: Introduction

- You should start by greeting the Chief Guest, fellow speakers and the audience.

- Specify the occasion of the speech.

- Announce the topic of your speech.

- Start with a striking quotation, pre-speech note to interest your audience.

- You could also refer to some recent issue that affects the audience, an anecdote or a story

or historical reference could give you a good beginning.

PARA 2: Exposition of the Topic

- Build up a sequence of ideas.

- To support your ideas, look for more relevant examples, evidences or data.

- Draw up arguments for and against the topic, advantages / disadvantages.

PARA 3: Suggestions / Solutions

- Present your evidence in an interesting way.

- Paint verbal pictures, personalize it or dramatize it.

- Ways and means leading to improvement

53

- Involvement of public, government, media, social organizations etc.

PARA 4: Summing up / Conclusion

- Summarise the most important points in your speech but DO NOT REPEAT THEM.

- Depending on the purpose of your speech, conclude with a call for an action, an

appeal, a warning, a request or an expression of thanks.

A VOTE OF THANKS TO THE AUDIENCE MUST BE DELIVERED AT THE END.

SOLVED EXAMPLE

Q Social Media is defined as forms of electronic communication through which users create online

communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content. Write a speech

for the morning assembly of your school on the topic ‘Impact of Social Media on the Youth of

Today’ in 150-200 words.

SPEECH

Good Morning

Respected Principal madam, teachers and my dear friends

Social Media has become an important medium to communicate , share information, ideas,

personal messages, and other content.The influence of social media on adolescents and teenagers

is of particular importance, because they are the most active users of social media..

Social networking undoubtedly plays a vital role in broadening social connections and learning

technical skills. This medium can be used as a powerful tool to raise social issues and generate

support for campaigns.

However , with benefits , its risks cannot be overlooked. The lack or difficulty in self-regulation and

susceptibility to peer pressure makes adolescents vulnerable to such evils as Facebook depression

and cyberbullying, which are realistic threats. Other problems such as social network-induced

obesity, Internet addiction and sleep deprivation are issues that continue to be under intense

scrutiny for the contradictory results that have been obtained in various studies.

To derive benefit out of social media, it is essential that parents are aware of and monitor privacy

settings and online profiles of their wards. Open discussions about social network protocols and

etiquettes would go a long way in establishing global digital citizenship and healthy behaviour.

Thank you!

54

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q.1. Diwali is the festival of lights and celebrations. But the festival creates health problems for

kids, and people with respiratory problems. You need to deliver a speech in the morning assembly

on suggesting ways to celebrate an environment friendly Diwali.

Value Points

Para 1- Diwali is the festival of lights and celebrations. But the festival creates health problems for kids,

and people with respiratory problems.( You can now build on the introduction by adding the

importance of festivals)

Importance of festivals- time to bond, meet friends, spread goodwill, time for caring and sharing

Para 2- Adverse implications at the time of Diwali- spike in pollution, toxins and poisonous gases, noise

pollution, burn injuries and accidents, traffic jams, child labour involvement in factories which

manufacture fire crackers, cruelty towards animals, increase in unhealthy practices like food

adulteration and show of wealth, energy consumption due to lighting.

Para 3- Suggestions of ways to celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali.- Distribution of home-made snacks and

savories, decoration with flowers, instead of splurging money on crackers and playing cards, the money

can be donated to charities and orphanages, spare a thought for pets and street dogs.

Para 4 – Conclude by highlighting the need to maintain the true spirit of festivity.

Q.2. Write a speech on the topic ’Role of Parents in Children’s Education ‘.

Value Points

I DO NOT WANT STRESS FOR MY CHILDREN, HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT are some common

expressions

As the session progresses, stress increases

Mad rush for coaching ,notes, and stress of exams

Needs of children overlooked, parents fail to consider their children as growing individuals

Parents to understand, more support, set priorities right,

More to be done by policy makers

55

DEBATE WRITING

Value Points

To convey information orally to a large gathering of people, forcefully and convincingly and to

convert the listener’s to the speaker’s point of view.

Points to remember while beginning and ending a debate

- You should start by greeting the Chief Guest, fellow speakers and the audience.

- Introduce yourself .

- Announce the topic of your debate and state clearly whether you are in favour or

against the motion

- Do not forget to write ‘thank you’ in the end.

Some Useful Expressions to be used while writing a DEBATE

I would like to raise a question….

In my opinion…

I feel very strongly that…

I would like to draw attention to…

I submit that…

My worthy opponent has submitted that…

I strongly oppose / support the statement…

I totally disagree with the view…

I firmly reject / support…

I wholeheartedly support / oppose the view…

My worthy opponent has just pointed out… But I feel that…

Let me give you an example…

SOLVED EXAMPLE DEBATE

Q You are going to represent your school at an inter- school debate competition on the topic

‘Conducting Frequent Examinations is the Best Way to Assess Students' Knowledge’. Write your

debate expressing your views for or against the motion in 150-200 words. You can refer to the

following viewpoints of students.

1. Tests simply require students to cram when studying, and after the test is taken, the

information studied is almost immediately forgotten, so the purpose of the test in the first place

is gone.

56

2. Academic competence and intelligence are not easy to measure and no method will fully

capture the scope of a student's ability, but the fact remains that we need at least some formal

system, otherwise the academic system will not work.

DEBATE

AGAINST THE MOTION

Good morning to everyone present here. Respected judges and my dear friends ,

Today I, ABC, stand before you to express my views against the motion ‘Conducting Frequent

Examinations is the Best Way to Assess Students' Knowledge’. Examination is conducted to test

knowledge of students but the word is sufficient to send shivers down the spine of most students..

Frequent examinations encourage students to cram for the short term goal of passing the test. They do not

try to assimilate whatever they learn and merely focus on securing marks . There is little emphasis on

application of the knowledge that the students are exposed to. For most students exams cause stress . The

fear of failure, at times , leads to students resorting to unfair means and practices. Failure in the exams can

result in depression and anxiety.

I would like to ask my opponents who consider conducting frequent examinations as the best way of

assessment, can a three hour test assess a student’s true understanding of the subject? In fact frequent

tests and retests become so monotonous that students stop caring about their grades. It has been

observed that this kind of evaluation system also leads to absenteeism, thus creating more learning

gaps in the process.

I firmly believe that examination should be a form of assessment to assess every student’s learning

curve to provide guidance , evolve strategies to help in acquiring knowledge. If frequent

examinations nullify the basic objective of assessment, we need to rethink and change.

Thank you and have a nice day!

FOR THE MOTION

Good morning to everyone present here. Respected judges and my dear friends ,

Today I, ABC, stand before you to express my views for the motion ‘Conducting Frequent Examinations is

the Best Way to Assess Students' Knowledge’. Evaluation/ Examination is the process of determining the

extent to which the objectives of education are achieved. Needless to say that a formal system of assessment

helps in setting personal goals of learning for students.

Regular and frequent examinations help to test objectively the preparedness of students . They nurture the

ability to work systematically. Examinations prevent the students from becoming complacent. Formal testing

at the end of a few lessons help in understanding one’s drawbacks and learning gaps and provides an

opportunity to form strategies to improve. In fact examination helps students in learning according to a

schedule.

57

My worthy opponent spoke about anxiety and pressure of expectations on students. I would like to state

that a little anxiety and pressure is required to bring the best out of a person. Moreover, one has to learn

to cope with anxiety and stress in life.

I would like to conclude by saying that academic competence and intelligence are not easy to

measure and no method will fully capture the scope of a student's ability, but the fact remains

that we need at least some formal system, otherwise the academic system will not work.

Thank you and have a nice day!

Practice Questions

1. Choose any one of the following debatable topics given below. Express your views in favour or

against in about 150 -200 words. Your article should be properly organized with three to four

relevant points and appropriate supporting points.

a) Academic excellence alone paves the way to success in life.

b) In India, parents do not allow their children to grow up.

c) Indian youth are more responsible today.

d) Women empowerment is a myth in India.

2. You are Ram/Rama, Head Boy/Girl of ABC School. Write a speech, in 150-200 words, that you would deliver in the prayer assembly on the need for students to inculcate in themselves virtues like truthfulness, punctuality etc. so that they may not only succeed in their own life but also prove role models for others.

3. You are Raj/Rani, the Head Body/Head Girls of ABC Public School, Patna. You have to deliver a

speech in your school assembly on the ‘World Peace Day’ on the topic, ‘Let’s Practice Non-Violence’. Write the speech in 150-200 words pointing out the recent acts of terrorism that claimed innocent lives, and highlighting the value of non-violence which is the need of the hour.

4. Write your views on the following issues in the form of a speech to the delivered in the morning

assembly of your school ;

a) Female Feticide

b) Tree Plantation

c) Importance of Games and Sports in Life

d) Treatment of Older Generation

e) Rain Water Harvesting

f) Literacy to All

g) Right to Information

h) Scams and Scandals are Hampering our Progress

i) T.V. Watching by Children

j) Avoiding Wastage of Food in Marriages

58

5. Regular practice of yoga can help in maintaining good health and even in the prevention of so

many ailments. Write a speech in 150-200 words to be delivered in the morning assembly on

the usefulness of yoga.

6. India is a country with diverse cultures, traditions, religious and political beliefs. To keep such a

country together, to bind the people and take the nation ahead on the path of progress,

democracy is the most suitable form of government, write an article in 150-200 words. You are

Revti/Ravi.

7. “What people read is what people believe”. You are concerned about the ongoing controversy

regarding media’s role in sensationalizing news, moulding public opinion and moral policing.

Write an article emphasizing the responsibility of media. You are Nayna Batra/Naresh Sharma

(word limit : 150-200).

8. The number of women in police force seems insufficient specially when we see the increasing

involvement of women in terrorist activities. Write an article in 150-200 words for ‘Hindustan

Times’, on need of having more women in the police force.

9. Every activity that man indulges in creates waste of some kind. Some of the waste can be

recycled or reused. In fact the need of the hour is to conserve the earth’s resources in all possible

ways. Write an article on the topic, “Conservation, Need of the Hour” in 150-200 words. You are

Kamal/Kamla, a keen environmentalist.

10. Today the 24 hour television news channels give us instant news from every nook and corner

of the world. But the fact remains that the importance of the newspaper remains intact. Write

an article in 150-200 words expressing your view on ‘The Relevance of Newspapers’. You are

Sunil/Sunita.

11. Your family has recently shifted from Kota in Rajasthan to Ernakulam in Kerela, where your

house is situated in the midst of beautiful flowering plants and fruit-yielding trees. Every minute

and every second, you are experiencing the joy of being in the lap of nature. Write an article in

150-200 words on the diversity of nature that you have experienced. You are Lata / Lalit of Class

XII.

12. Spurt of violence previously unknown in Indian Schools makes it incumbent on the educationists

to introduce value education effectively in schools. Write an article in 150-200 words expressing

your views on the need of value education. You are Anu/Arun.

13. Dance, as shown in some reality shows on TV, seems to be a mix of gymnastics and P.T.

exercises. Actually it is neither. India has a rich tradition of classical of folk dances. Write an

article in 150-200 words on the need to have a reality show exclusively based on Indian classical

dances. You are Anu/Arun.

14. Write an article on the evils of dowry system for Indian Express, Delhi. Your article should not

exceed 200 words.

15. With the onset of the monsoons, the mosquitoes have also arrived. Radha Saxena decides to

write an article for her school magazine about the mosquito menace and the popular ways in

which people protect themselves against it. Write the article in not more than 200 words.

59

Reference: KV Study Material, Newspapers, Websites

QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE

1. Every year in the Central Park of the city a flower show is held in the month of February. Your

school has received a circular from the District Collector inviting your students to visit it. Write

a notice in about 50 words informing the students about the show and advising them to go and

enjoy it. You are Navtej / Navita, Head Boy / Head Girl Sunrise Public School, Surat.

2. Sarvodya Education Society, a charitable organization is coming to your school to distribute

books among the needy students. As Head Boy/Head Girl, Sunrise Public School, Surat, write a

notice in about 50 words asking such students to drop the lists of books they need in the box

kept outside the Principal’s office. You are Navtej / Navita.

3. Your school is organizing a Public Awareness Exhibition. In connection with it, prepare a poster

to bring home the importance of conservation of electricity. Your school is A.K. Public School,

Green Park, Delhi.

4. Namita/ Namit has come out successful in the XII class examination. She/he has decided to have

a party for her/his friends. Draft an invitation in about 50 words giving details of venue, time

and date.

5. You have received an invitation to participate in a seminar on ‘Fundamental Rights of Children’.

Draft your reply confirming your acceptance. You are Shagun/Shalini, Principal of St. Mary’s

School, Kanpur. (Word Limit: 50 words)

6. You possess an acre of land in the heart of the city. You want to dispose of this property since

you have decided to buy a flat. Write an advertisement to be published in a national daily, giving

all the necessary details. You are Krishan of Moti Nagar, Delhi.

7. You are Sumesh of No. 24 Ashok Nagar Road, Kolkata. You desire to sell your car. Draft an

advertisement for the newspaper.

8. When cricket teams go abroad the members are allowed to take their wives, even friends along

with them, Does this fact distract them or help them to focus on their game in a better way? If

it is good, why don’t we allow our athletes to enjoy the same privilege? Write a letter to the

editor of a national daily in 120-150 words giving your views on the issue. You are Navtej/

Navita, M-114, Mount Kailash, Kanpur.

9. You are interested in doing a short-term course in computer graphics during your holidays.

Write a letter to the Director, Easy Computers, enquiring about their short term courses and

asking for all the necessary details. You are Naresh/Nandini.

10. Read the newspaper clipping and apply for the post considering yourself to be Ragini/Raju.

60

D.A.V. PUBLIC SCHOOL, CHENNAI

Requires a competent PGT in History, M.A from a recognized University. Minimum 5 years’ experience of teaching + 2 classes, fluency in spoken English is a pre-requisite. Pay scale as per Govt. Grade. Apply within seven days with complete bio-data to Richard Mathew Principal

11. You are the Librarian of L.W.A. Senior Secondary School, Pune. You want to purchase a

dictionary, a book on computers, a book for preparing for competitive examinations and a book

for I.I.T Entrance Examination for the use of students and staff of your school. Write a letter

placing an order with M/s Higginbothams, Mumbai, giving the details regarding the mode of

dispatch and mode of payment.

12. You are incharge of Junior Science Laboratory of ASN Public School, Shalimar Garden. Place an

order to SUV laboratory works’ Karol Bagh for various apparatus/equipment used in your

laboratory.

13. Write an article in 150-200 words on how we can make India a carefree and enjoyable place for

women when they can go wherever they like without any fear of being stared at, molested or

discriminated against. You are Navtej / Navita.

14. Recent rains and consequent water-logging have increased the risk of malaria and dengue.

Write a speech in 150-200 words to be delivered in the morning assembly advising the students

on prevention of and protection against these ailments and the steps that the school has taken

to prevent mosquito breeding in and around the school. Imagine you are the Principal of the

school.A number of your classmates (especially those from science and commerce streams)

bunk their classes in order to attend coaching centres. Write a debate in 150-200 words on

‘Tuition at coaching centres is not essential’.

School teachers better equipped –Infrastructure much better at schools – Philanthropic approach

– Coaching centres – money minting machines – no infrastructure – competition oriented

education – schools should reorient their teaching process

61

SECTION C – TEXT BOOKS

(30 Marks)

Text Books : (i) Flamingo (ii) Vistas

STUDY TIPS FOR LITERATURE SECTION

Go through entire stories, essays, and poems well. Don't just read them like you would a

story, but delve deeper into the meanings.

Analyze the characters and form opinions about them.

While answering questions, a judicious mix of quoting from the book and using your own

expressions, is a must.

Choose a topic and discuss it in English.

Watch English movies, news and read English newspapers.

It is also important to write in English regularly to develop a knack for difficult and unusual

words and improving your vocabulary.

FLAMINGO:

Prose 1 - THE LAST LESSON – Alphonse Daudet

About the Author and Background

Alphonse Daudet is a renowned French novelist and great short story writer .The Last Lesson is set

in the days of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) in which Prussians (Germany, Poland and Austria)

were triumphant and two French districts - Alsace and Lorraine - were captured by Prussians.The

new government imposed rules and bans on the French people. The last of the bans was on the

learning and teaching of French.

Theme

The lesson brings out the pain that is inflicted on the people of a territory by its conquerors by

taking away the right to study or speak their own language.

Justification of Title

The people of Alsace always thought they had plenty of time to learn the lessons; therefore, they did not give much importance to school. They preferred their children to work on the farms and mills instead of sending them to school. Even Franz, the narrator, always looked for opportunities to skip the school and collect birds’ eggs. However, the unexpected happens and an order is received from Berlin regarding compulsory teaching of German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. It is then that they realise that they would be deprived of what they had been evading all this while.

The last French lesson taught by M. Hamel symbolizes the loss of language and the loss of freedom for France. It becomes an emotional lesson rendered by M. Hamel to the villagers, signifying the

62

changing order of life and its impact on the sensibilities and emotions of people. The marching soldiers under the windows represent the dawn of Prussia in France, defeat of the French people and the resultant threat to their language and culture.

The story is aptly titled as it evokes the consciousness in the reader not to put off things and do what one can do that day. M. Hamel’s bold ‘Long live France’ on the blackboard becomes a substantial evidence of his sadness, patriotism and finality that is reflected in his motionless posture, his fixed gaze on things in the classroom and his eventual words- ‘School is dismissed – You may go’.

About the Lesson

Ban and its impact The news of the ban was displayed on the bulletin board in front of the town hall. People crowded there to read the bulletin. They were shocked and sad. They had to accept the ban under great resentment. They saw how much they had loved their mother tongue. They saw how important their language was. They didn’t want to lose their language. They discussed their fate, shared their bitterness and felt helpless.

Franz, the lead character It was at this time Franz was rushing to his school. He was a student of the elementary school in Alsace run by Mr. M. Hamel, the teacher who taught them French. He was, as usual, late. A blacksmith, Mr. Watcher, saw him dashing by. Watcher expressed his anger and helplessness at the ban on French by asking Franz not to go in such a hurry as there was no more French to be learnt. But Franz hurried on, because he didn’t understand what Mr. Watcher meant.

Franz reaching school Once outside the school, Franz wondered at the silence around the school. It was never silent like this! Was it Sunday? He wondered. He waited for the noises from the school to get in without being noticed but there was not a sound. Finally he had to enter the classroom in front of all. To his amazement, he was not punished for his late coming. M. Hamel, the cranky teacher, asked him to get in and regretted having begun the class without Franz.

The unusual classroom Among others Franz noticed that the classroom was full and there were some old villagers sitting on the back benches. M. Hamel announced that it was their last French lesson as the Prussians had banned French in schools and introduced German instead. It was a shocking news for Franz. Only then he understood why the people had been staring at the bulletin board. He too felt his love for French returning. He hated the Prussians for every reason. He began to love his teacher, classroom, books and lessons. He felt sorry for not learning his lessons, for postponing his study and for not realizing the greatness of his language.

M. Hamel’s speech Franz heard his teacher praising French, blaming French parents for not sending their children to school and children for not attending school. He also blamed himself for not being a committed teacher. M. Hamel said that language is very important for a nation because the unity of a nation mostly depended on its language and no aggression can make such a united nation its slave. There was complete silence in the class. They were all sad. Franz heard pigeons cooing on the roof of the classroom and wondered if the Prussians would impose a ban on their cooing-language the next day. He heard the old Hauser, reading lessons with the children. He too was crying.

63

The class is dismissed! It was noon. The Prussian soldiers went marching by the school. Their sounds frightened everyone. If they noticed that a class was still progressing, they could have arrested M. Hamel. But M. Hamel showed amazing patriotism. He wanted to say, “Long live France” but he could not. He was overwhelmed with emotions. He went to the black board and wrote as big as he could: Viva la France! Long live, France!

Extracts for Comprehension

1. “For moment I thought of running away and spending the time out of doors. It was so warm so

bright! The birds were chirping at the edge of the Woods; and in the open field back of the sawmill the

Prussian soldiers were drilling.”

a. Whom does I refer to?

b. What he running away from?

c. Why is he doing so?

d. Why are the Prussian soldiers there?

2. “But now it was also still! I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen: but,

of course, that day everything has to be as quiet as Sunday morning. Through the window I saw my

classmates, already in their places, and M Hamel walking up and down with his terrible ruler under his

arm.”

a. Why was it so still?

b. What commotion is being referred to?

c. Why did ‘I’ hope for the commotion?

d. Why was M Hamel walking up and down?

3. I jumped over the bench and sat down at my desk. not till then, when I had got a little over my Fright,

did I see that our teacher had on his beautiful green coat his friend shirt and The Little Black Silk cap all

embroidered that he never wore except on inspections and price days besides the whole School seem

solemn and strange but the thing that surprised me the most was to see e on the back benches that were

always empty the village people sitting quietly like ourselves

a. Who is the teacher and what does he teach them?

b. Why is he dressed in formals?

c. Why did the whole School seem strange and solemn?

d. Why were the village people sitting in the class?

4. “We have a great deal to reproach ourselves with”

a. Who said the above mentioned line?

b. Who does we refer to?

c. Is there irony in the speakers statement if yes then how?’

d. Who does the speaker blame for neglecting the studies?

64

5. Once some Beatles flew in, but nobody paid any attention to them, not even the littlest ones. On the

roof the pigeons cooed very low and I thought to myself, “Will they make them sing in German, even the

pigeons.”

a. why didn't anyone pay attention to the Beatles?

b. Where are they sitting?

c. Whom does I refer to?

d. Explain the last line.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Why was Franz late for school that day? Franz was not interested in learning French language. That day he had to learn the rules of Participles and he was least prepared for that .He was therefore afraid of his teacher, M. Hamel. Moreover, he was allured by the attractions on the way to school.

2. Describe the atmosphere of the school on usual days. On usual days the school no longer looked like a school. The noises inside the school could be heard out in the street. Children were in a playful mood, opening and closing their desks and shouting their lessons in chorus. The teacher had to use his ruler to silence the class.

3. How does M. Hamel blame the parents of his students? The parents of his students were, in M. Hamel's opinion, greedy for money. They considered learning less important than making a living. They used to send their children to work in the farms and mills to earn extra amount of money.

4. Why did M. Hamel say that people should safeguard their language among themselves? In M Hamel's opinion language has great importance for every nation. If a nation is well literate, there will be a great unity and understanding among the citizens. If a nation safeguards its language, it is not likely that another nation can conquer it.

5. Why did Franz wonder if the Prussians would make even the pigeons coo in German? Having felt helpless about the ban on French under the Prussian rule, France saw that imposing one's language upon the defeated nation is as inhuman as enslaving its people and it can be considered as senseless as snatching the pigeon's right to coo in any way it likes to.

Questions for Practice 1. Give two instances to show that the French loved their language.

2. What tempted Franz to stay away from school?

3. Why do you think M. Hamel decided to be dressed in his best finery?

4. Why did the children want to laugh and cry on hearing old Hauser?

5. What was the bulletin board famous for?

6. Describe the usual scene and how was it different that day.

7. Describe the appearance of the master M. Hamel that day.

8. What surprised Franz on entering the classroom?

9. What was the news that came as a thunderclap to Franz?

10. How does M. Hamel evoke feelings of patriotism in the class towards the end of the lesson?

65

Long Answer Type Question

1. Draw a Pen portrait of M. Hamel on the basis of your study of the story, ‘The Last Lesson’. Value points Dedicated, disciplinarian, hard task master—kept his terrible ruler under his arm—transformed

after Berlin’s order, shocked – more soft and gentle towards his students—not scolded any

student—emotional and completely disturbed – villagers assembled to pay tribute to his sincere

service of forty years in the same school – loved France deeply – considered French as the most

beautiful language of the world – safeguard it and never forget it.

Questions for Practice

1. ‘The Last Lesson’ by Alphonse Daudet throws light on the feeling of patriotism among

countrymen as well as their love towards their language and the role this language plays

in their lives. Comment.

2. Little Franz is shocked to know that French would no longer be taught in his school.

What, according to you, is the importance of language for the people of a country? Do

you think that we are forgetting to take pride in our National language or our mother

tongue?

3. Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and school changed gradually by the end of the text,

though he had a great disliking for both the beginning of the story. It is said that first

impression is the last impression. Is it true in context of “The Last Lesson”? Definitely

not.

4. Write a small paragraph of about 100 words penning down your views on, ‘A person can

be best judged in his first appearance only’.

5. ‘When a people are enslaved, as long as they held fast to their language it is as if they

had the key to their prison.’This statement is given before the students by their teacher

M. Hamel in his last lesson. After reading the lesson, what do you think about the ‘Role

and Importance of Language in the lives of countrymen’? Write your views in the form

of an article in about 100 words to be published in your school magazine.

Prose 2 – LOST SPRING : STORIES OF STOLEN CHILDHOOD

– Anees Jung

About the Author and Background

Anees Jung, a prolific Indian writer, received her education in India and U.S.A. Her parents also were

distinguished writers. She began her career as a writer in India. She has been an editor and

columnist for major newspapers in India and abroad. This chapter is an excerpt from her book titled

‘Lost Spring, Stories of Stolen Childhood’. She analyses the grinding poverty and traditions which

condemn these children to a life of exploitation.

66

Theme

The lesson brings out the plight of street children forced into labour early in life and denied the

opportunity of receiving education. The callousness of the society and the political class to the

sufferings of poor is highlighted.

Justification of Title

As a title “lost spring” has a tinge of irony. Spring symbolizes renewal and growth. The childhood

of human life is often likened to spring, as it marks the beginning of human life and has a

tremendous scope for growth. But, ironically, millions of children like Saheb and Mukesh

experience no spring in their lives, for their childhood is consumed in making a living. Education,

play and pleasure are not for them to enjoy. They must work to support themselves and their

families. Lost Spring is a metaphorical reference to the loss of joy in the lives of street children.

Thus the title brings out the depravity of child labour in a very telling way.

About The Lesson

Anees Jung analyses and examines the miserable, sub- human conditions and traditions which

condemn these slum children to a life of exploitation and suppression. They are devoid of

education and basic amenities of life.

Saheb –e- Alam, a rag picker and around 10,000 barefoot rag pickers live in Seemapuri, a

wilderness –a place on the periphery of Delhi. They are poverty-stricken and live a life of

scarcities and hunger. Survival in Seemapuri means ragpicking.

Slum dwellers only have ration cards ration cards. Their children do not go to school and the

children are excited at the prospect of finding a coin and sometimes ten rupee note from

heaps of garbage.

Saheb –e-Alam means the ‘Lord of the Universe’ but he lives in impoverished conditions and

struggles for survival.

Saheb starts working in a tea stall and is paid Rs. 800 and meals but he seems dissatisfied with

this new job as he has lost his carefree look and liberty. He feels that the steel canister is heavier

than the ragpicking bag he used to carry.

The author narrates a pathetic story of Mukesh, a victim of injustice and exploitation in

Firozabad, U.P. He wants to become a motor mechanic.

Around 20000 children work illegally in the glass furnaces at high temperature and in the

suffocated factories .They lose the brightness of their eyes in dingy cells and face health hazards.

Bangle makers face acute poverty and hardships. Mukesh’s father had failed to renovate the

house.

Savita, a young girl does not know the sanctity of bangles. They are caught in the vicious web

of the money lenders, middle men, police and the traditions.

Mukesh is a young, sensible and practical boy who genuinely wants to remove the povertyof

his family. No bangle maker dreams, but Mukesh dreams of driving a car.

67

Neither is Saheb privileged nor Mukesh fortunate! They will be, only when they break away from

the stigma of religion and caste. A change in the attitude of the poor people towards their work

and the choice they are supposed to make is required.

Extracts for Comprehension

1. “I have nothing else to do,” he mutters, looking away. “Go to school,” I say glibly, realising

immediately how hollow the advice must sound.

a. Who does I refer in the first line?

b. Why does he look away?

c. Why does the speaker think his advice sounds hollow?

d. which word in the extract means superficial?

2. Food is more important for survival than an identity. If at the end of the day we can feed our families

and go to bed without an aching stomach, we would rather, live here, than in the fields that give us no

grain,” say a group of women in tattered sarees.

a. Why does the writer say that food was more important than identity?

b. Why do the squatters prefer to live in in inhumane conditions?

c. What does it reveal about the state of affairs of Indian politics?

d. Which fields are being referred to here?

3. It seems that for children garbage has a meaning different from what it means to their parents. for the

children it is wrapped in wonder, for the elders it is a means of survival .

a. How does garbage have a different meaning for children?

b. Do you think the scrounging in garbage is like winning a lottery for children?

c. How is it a means of survival for the parents?

d. Which is the verb form of survival?

4. Together they have imposed the baggage on the child that he cannot put down. Before he is aware he

accept it as naturally as his father. To do anything else would mean dare.

a. Who has imposed the baggage on the child?

b. Which baggage is being referred here?

c. Why does he accept it as naturally as his father?

d. Why does the writer say: ‘doing anything else would mean dare’?

68

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is Saheb coming from? Why did he have to leave his country? Saheb is a rag picker who lives in Seemapuri on the Delhi-UP border. He came to Seemapuri from Bangladesh with thousands of others forced by natural calamities there.

2. Why is Saheb not his own master? Saheb was his own master when he was a rag picker. He was not accountable to anyone.Later Saheb started working for a tea shop, having to carry milk from a milk booth. Even though he is paid Rs.800 and all his meals, Saheb has lost his freedom to roam with his friends and to be his own master.

3. How is Mukesh's attitude different from that of Saheb, both two sides of the same coin? Mukesh and Saheb belong to slums and are forced to work. Saheb enjoys the freedom and lacks much determination in life. He is less expressive. Changes happened in his life unexpectedly. Mukesh is determined and well planned. He is practical too. Unlike the rest of his people, Mukesh is ready to rebel with the social set up and is optimistic about his bright future.

4. How does the author narrate the child labour prevailing in Firozabad? Around 20,000 children work in glass furnaces with high temperatures, in dingy cells without air and light. Here they slog their daylight hours, often losing the brightness of their eyes. Their eyes are more adjusted to the dark than to the light outside. Due to this they often end up losing their eyesight before they become adults.

5. Explain: Daring is not part of his growing up. Mukesh’s society does not dare to question the social evils that they suffer under the middlemen, politicians and policemen. Most people here believe that it’s God given legacy to carry on this unprofitable profession of bangle making while some people blame their destiny for their wretchedness. So no one is allowed to think differently and the question of how to overcome the curse of the middlemen usually doesn’t arise among them because if any one dared to rise against them, they are suppressed.

Questions for Practice 1. What reason did Saheb give for not going to school?

2. Bring out the contrast drawn between his life in reality and the meaning of his name?

3. Why does the hole in the shoe not bother Saheb?

4. Bring out the horrible condition within the glass blowing industry?

5. Why are the bangle sellers in Firozabad reluctant to form into cooperatives?

6. What reason does a person give for walking barefoot? What is the author’s personal opinion regarding this reasoning?

7. How does rag picking differ for an adult and for a child? 8. Was Saheb happy with the new found job? If not, why? 9. Describe the living condition in Firozabad? 10. Why is daring a difficult task? Why is the narrator happy while talking to Mukesh?

69

Long Answer Type Questions

1. ‘Lost Spring’ is a telling comment on the political system of our country that condemns

thousands of people to a life of abject poverty. Comment.

Value Points

Saheb, ragpickers and slum dwellers in Seemapuri lead a life of sorrows and exploitation – Saheb

likes going to school but no opportunity – lives in structures of mud with roofs of tin and

tarpaulin – no identity except ration cards to buy grain –survival in Seemapuri means ragpicking.

Bangle makers work in inhuman conditions – dark rooms, hot temperature in glass furnaces –

caught in vicious circle of moneylenders, policemen, sahukars and politicians – unaware of

child labour act – abolition of child labour under article 24 – lose eyesight before becoming

adults.

2. ‘Together they have imposed the baggage on the child…’ Elucidate.

3. Do you think the child labour law should be enforced more strictly? Envisage the life Saheb and Mukesh would enjoy if they were freed?

4. Saheb has lost all the joy and freedom by working in the tea stall where he is no longer his own master. Do you think his decision was wise or could he have made a better choice? Or was it still better to leave him at rag picking where he was his own master?

5. Describe the circumstances which keep the workers in the bangle industry in poverty. 6. Everyone wishes to live a lavish life in a big city. Big cities provide big dreams in one’s eyes.

These attract everyone especially from villages or small towns. After reading the text LOST SPRING you must be able to point out the possible reasons behind migration from a place to other. Write a paragraph in about 100 words for a social magazine highlighting the issue ‘The reasons for the migration of people from villages to cities.’

70

Source: Internet

71

Source: Internet

72

Prose 3 – DEEP WATER – William O. Douglas

About the Author and Background

‘Deep water’ is an excerpt taken from the book ‘Of Men and Mountains’, an informal autobiography written by William Douglas who is a U.S. Supreme Court associate justice. This chapter reveals how as a young boy William Douglas nearly drowned in a swimming pool. Our childhood experiences play a vital role in formation of our personality and how these experiences remain with us throughout our life having a positive or negative impact on us. Theme

It is not death but fear of death that creates terror and anxiety in our mind so the fear needs to be shaken off. Justification of Title

This memoir is appropriately entitled “Deep Water” as in it the author recounts his fear of swimming

following an incident in which he had been swept away by a wave. Another incident which further

aggravated his fear was when a bully pushed him into the deep side of a swimming pool and he

nearly drowned. But slowly and steadily he overcomes his fear through determination and strong

will. He even took the services of an instructor. He also swam in different rivers, lakes and seas to

overcome his fear. The title also signifies that the author’s fear was deep rooted. In short, the title

is appropriate.

About The Lesson

A childhood longing - Douglas plans to learn swimming - Y.M.C.A. Pool chosen as safe as Yakima river had claimed many lives

Preparation to start swimming - gets a pair of water wings - ashamed of exposing skinny legs - decides to learn by imitating others

Fear of water - the result of childhood fear - father took it lightly but Douglas became terrified - Y.M.C.A. pool revived unpleasant memories - again struck with fear

Misadventure in pool - one day sitting alone at the pool waiting for others – an eighteen year old boy arrives - calls him skinny and hurls him into deep side of water

Douglas’ plan to come out of water - goes to the bottom of pool - is frightened but alert

Plans to push himself upward on touching the bottom - next to lie flat and reach at the edge of the pool

Nine feet appear like ninety feet - lungs ready to burst

Douglas hits the bottom with whole strength - reaches to surface but again starts going down

Tries to clutch a rope, to find stairs - nothing works, water runs through fingers

Feels suffocated - water swallowed - legs stiff like lifeless objects Effort in vain – a futile struggle - dizziness with aching lungs and throbbing head - acute

physical discomfort - unable even to scream

73

Still does not give up - comes out of water-but starts going down for the third time

Douglas now gives up all efforts – total relaxation - passes into oblivion Consciousness regained - finds himself out of the pool vomiting

The older boy makes excuse

Hours later - weak and trembling - reaches home.

Develops phobia of water - avoids going close to water bodies. Longing of swimming revived again

Fear of childhood followed him

Fear deprived him of swimming, fishing, canoeing boating

Determined to finally defeat fear

Engaged an instructor - a rope attached to belt put around him - rope went through pulley

Practiced for weeks together Overcome fear

Learnt exhaling, inhaling while swimming

Initially legs were stiff- but gradually relaxed

Finally given clean chit by instructor

Again tried swimming alone in pool

All fear shed off Winner Douglas got a new experience.

Went to warm lake - dived and swam across the lake

Fear of water overcome

Realizes - death is full of peace - fear of death terrorizes

Extracts for Comprehension

1. From the beginning however I had an aversion to the water, when I was in it. this started when I was

three or four years old and father took me to the beach in California. He and I stood together in a surf.

a. Whom does I refer to?

b. When did this aversion for water start?

c. What happened at the beach in California?

d. Which word in the extract means foam formed by waves?

2. “Trying to scare me a, eh? Well here is to you! Look!” and off I would go for another length of the

pool.

a. Who is the speaker of these words? b. Whom is he talking to? c. Who is he trying to scare and why? d. What does going for another length of the pool reflect about the speaker?

74

3. The experience has a deep meaning for me, as only those who have known the stark terror and

conquered it can appreciate. In death there is peace. There is terror only in the fear of death.

a. Which experience is Douglas talking about?

b. What can those who have experienced stark terror appreciate?

c. Why does Douglas say that there is terror only in the fear of death?

d. What is the verb form of terror?

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the author's early childhood fear of the water? How did it affect him in the rest of his life? The author and his father once went to the beach in California when the former was three or four years old. While playing in the surf of the sea, the author was knocked down by the water and was buried under it. His breath was gone and a deep fear developed in his mind.

2. What was the misadventure that happened while William Douglas was making his attempt to learn swimming in the YMCA pool? Douglas was attempting to learn swimming in the YMCA pool. He was sitting on the side of the pool waiting for other boys to come. Unexpectedly a big boy arrived there, and, seeing Douglas sitting timidly, grabbed him and threw him into the deepest part of the pool and left him to drown.

3. What were Douglas’s plans when he went down the water the first time? Douglas was frightened at being hauled into the deep water but was strategic even at such a crucial stage. While sinking, he planned to make a leap once his feet touched the tiled bottom of the water and consequently reach the surface and swim to the side and escape.

4. Love for water could never die in Douglas. How did this statement come true for Douglas in the years that followed? Water was very cruel with Douglas since his childhood. Even though he had been frightened twice, Douglas’ love for water was everlasting. After having undergone a fatal experience at the YMCA pool Douglas didn’t give up his desire to learn swimming. He waited for his time and overcame the fear of water and made himself a good swimmer.

5. What did Roosevelt mean when he said, 'All we have to fear is fear itself?' How did Douglas realize this in his own life? President Roosevelt believed that it is fear all we have to fear. People are afraid of fear. Even when the mind wills to do certain acts, fear stops us from doing that. In the case of Douglas, too, he never feared water. On the contrary he had great attachment to water. What he feared was the fear for water.

Questions for Practice 1. “Thus, piece by piece, he built a swimmer.” How does this statement describe the trainer’s

amazing skills in training a person like Douglas? 2. “The instructor was finished but I was not finished.” Explain the significance of this line in

connection with the great determination that Douglas possessed. 3. What is the misadventure that William Douglas speaks about?

75

4. What was the writer’s first reaction on being flung into the pool? 5. Why did William Douglas hate the idea of getting into water? 6. How did William Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror? 7. What strategy did he remember as he went down in the water? 8. What effect did the drowning in the YMCA pool have on Douglas?

Long Answer Type Questions 1. 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? (Value Points) Douglas had two childhood experiences of terror - at the California beach - was terror stricken - At the other occasion - 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 - followed and haunted him - his joys of fishing, canoeing, boating and swimming had been ruined - engaged an instructor who trained him in swimming and Douglas was able to conquer his fear.

2. This experience had a deeper meaning for Douglas - experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror that the fear of it can produce - He knew: In death, there is peace, there is terror only in the fear of death. How did Douglas make sure that he had conquered the old terror?

3. The childhood fear and the way he overcomes it brings about a deeper meaning to the

readers. Bring out how the negative traits can be changed into positive traits with

reference to the techniques used by Douglas.

4. There is terror only in the fear of death, as Roosevelt knew when he said, ‘All we have to fear is fear itself.’ Coming face to face with a fear, instead of suppressing it helps one to do away with it completely, just like Douglas did in the story ‘Deep Water’. What qualities should one possess to live a rich and fulfilling life by overcoming fear, which is only present in your mind?

5. (Value Points: Determination, Will power, Perseverance, Persistence, Courage, Steadiness, Tenacity)

6. ‘All we have to fear is fear itself’. The story ‘Deep Water’ is about Douglas’ fear of water and how he finally overcomes it. After reading the text, you strongly feel that there is nothing to be afraid of. One can adapt virtues like courage, strong determination, hard toil, strong will power and the desire to learn, to reach the highest peak in life. Write a speech in about 100 words to be delivered in the morning assembly of your school on the topic ‘Fear Does not let One Conquer’.

7. Doing well in any activity, for example a sport, music, dance or painting, riding a motorcycle or a car, involves a great deal of struggle. Most of us are very nervous to begin with until gradually we overcome our fears and perform well.

8. Write a paragraph of about 100 words recounting such an experience. Try to recollect details of what caused the fear, your feelings, the encouragement you got from others or the criticism.

9. You could begin with the last sentence of the essay DEEP WATER – “ At last I felt released, free to walk the trails and climb the peaks and to brush aside fear.”

76

Source: Internet

77

Prose 4 – THE RATTRAP – Selma Lagerlöf

About the Author and Background

Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf was a Swedish author. In 1909 she became the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, “in appreciation of the lofty idealism, vivid imagination and spiritual perception that characterize her writings”. She later also became the first female member of the Swedish Academy. The story ‘The Rattrap’ reflects that the human beings are inherently good by nature but they are prone to fall into the trap of material benefits. At the same time, it is the human tendency to redeem oneself from dishonest ways. The story exhibits the episode of the life of a rattrap seller who has fallen into the trap of materialism and later on he realizes his mistake and tries to give up the temptation. Theme Men are inherently good by nature. The society and environment make them bad. Human goodness and kindness can bring about the change in their attitude. Justification of Title “The Rattrap” is a very well – chosen title. It being the story of a rattrap paddler, obviously the title

“The Rattrap” is an appropriate one. The author has used the metaphor of a Rattrap to highlight

the human predicament. Just as a rat is fooled by bait and gets trapped, most human beings are

also prone to falling into trap of material benefits. The story revolves round the incident of a man

getting trapped due to his avarice. Hence the title is an apt one.

About The Lesson

‘The Rattrap’ is a story that underlines the belief that essential goodness in human beings can

be aroused through sympathy, understanding and love.

Once a man went around selling small rattraps but he took to begging and thievery to keep his

body and soul together.

One day he was struck with the idea – the whole world is a big rattrap and it offers riches as

bait.

People let themselves be tempted to touch the bait, then it closes in on them bringing an end

to everything.

One dark evening the rattrap peddler sought shelter in an old crofter’s roadside cottage.The

old man gave him food, tobacco and shelter. They enjoyed the card game too.Next morning

the peddler stole away the old man’s thirty kroners.

The rattrap peddler escaped into a big confusing forest and got lost.

78

While resting on the ground he recollected his idea that the world is a rattrap and thought his

end was near.

Hearing a thumping sound he reached Ramsjo ironworks for a night shelter.

The owner came on his nightly rounds and noticed the ragged wretch near the furnace. He

took him as an old acquaintance ‘Nils Olof’.

He invited him to stay with them for Christmas but the stranger declined the offer.

His daughter Edla Willmansson persuaded him to come to their home. She requested him to

stay for Christmas Eve.

On his way to the Manor House the peddler thought that he had thrown himself into the lion’s

den.

The next day in broad day light the iron master realized the stranger was not captain and

threatened to call the sheriff.

Edla pleaded for him and asked him to stay back.

Christmas Eve at Ramsjo was special and the stranger slept and slept.

She made him understand that if he wanted rest and peace he would be welcome next

Christmas also. This had a miraculous effect on him.

Next morning they went for early church service leaving behind the guest who was asleep.

They learnt at church that a rattrap peddler had robbed an old crofter.

Edla becomes very upset.

They reach home immediately and learn that the peddler had already left but had not taken

anything at all with him. Instead, he had left a small packet for the young girl as a Christmas

present.

She opens the packet and finds a rattrap, three wrinkled ten-Kronor notes and also a letter

with a request to return the Kroners to the crofter.

Extracts for Comprehension 1. “Yes that was a fine fellow, you let into the house.” said the father, “ I only wonder how many silver

spoons are left in the cupboard by this time”.

a. Who is the speaker and who is he talking to? b. Why does he rebuke her? c. Why does the speaker mention about the silver spoons? d. Point out the irony in the statement.

2. “Honoured and noble miss,

Since you have been so nice to me all day long, as if I was a captain, I want to be nice to you in return, as

if I was a real captain--- for I do not want you to be embarrassed at this Christmas season by a thief; but

you can give back the money to the old man on the roadside, who has the money pouch hanging on the

window frame as a bait for poor wanderers.”

a. Why does the speaker say as if I was a captain?

b. Why does the person not want the girl to be embarrassed?

79

c. Why does he refer to the money pouch as a bait?

d. How do you think returning the money will help him?

Short Answer Questions

1. Why was the peddler happy to think of the world as a rattrap? The peddler was a struggling man and was therefore glad to see others getting into troubles. Moreover most people he met were heartless and showed him no generosity. He wanted them to get into troubles in life so that they could understand the sufferings of the poor and he could be happy to see them in troubles.

2. Why was the peddler welcomed by the crofter? How did this amaze the peddler? The Crofter was old, lonely and was in need of someone to talk to. This amazed the peddler because it was not quite usual that anyone welcomed him so warmly and fed him so lovingly and behaved with him so friendly.

3. Why did the peddler return to the Crofter’s house after half an hour? Even though the peddler had been generously treated by the crofter, the former was tempted to steal his thirty kronors and therefore he returned to the Crofter's house when he was away.

4. Having taken the Crofter’s money as bait, the peddler got trapped into a rattrap. What is the irony in this? The peddler believed his own philosophy that the whole world is a rattrap and the attractions here are baits attracting people into its deadly doors. But by taking the crofter's money, the peddler had forgotten his philosophy and took the bait and allowed himself to be caught.

5. Do you think the peddler had really changed? Yes, the peddler changed his old way of life after staying with Edla and her father on a Christmas. He did not take anything from Edla’s house even though he was able to. Besides, he returned the thirty kronors that he had stolen from the old crofter. Moreover, he calls himself ‘captain’ in the letter for Edla. From all these, we can conclude that the peddler had changed.

Questions for Practice 1. How did people usually treat the peddler and what made the crofter different? 2. What made the peddler respond to the name Nils Olof? 3. Why does Edla stop the peddler from going away though she knew that he was not the captain? 4. What was the peddler’s gift to Edla? 5. Breach of trust is the worst crime one can commit. How is it true in the case of peddler? 6. How does the writer bring out the allegory in the lesson when the peddler is trapped in the

forest? 7. What made the ironmaster send his daughter to persuade the peddler? 8. Edla was very observant, quick and sharp in nature. Justify. 9. What trait of the daughter is brought out when her father talks about her being worse than a

parson? 10. Why does the rattrap seller sign in as the captain?

80

Long Answer Type Questions

1. How were the two hosts – the crofter and the ironmaster different from one another? 2. Edla proved to be much more persuasive than her father while dealing with the peddler.

Comment. 3. In what way does humour help us to sympathise with the peddler? 4. Is the reader relieved by the way the story ended. Justify your answer. 5. Selfless love, empathy, sympathy and compassion provide a healing touch to the

distracted souls. This is evident from the story ‘The Rattrap’. Comment on the role of human values in bringing about a change in one’s behaviour.

6. After reading the text ‘The Rattrap’, you feel that moral virtues can change a person’s life. These play a vital role in the moral and spiritual development of a human-being. Write a paragraph on ‘Need for inculcating moral values’ in about 100 words.

7. “The Rattrap” is a story that focuses on human loneliness and the need to be kind to others. It shows how an act of kindness can change a person’s view of the world. In keeping with this mood of the story, write an article on ‘On being kind’.

Source: Internet

81

Prose 5 – INDIGO – Louis Fischer

About the Author and Background Louis Fischer was born in Philadelphia on 29 February 1896. He was a Jewish-American journalist. After studying at the Philadelphia School of Pedagogy from 1914 to 1916, he became a school teacher. Among his works were a contribution to the ex-Communist treatise The God that Failed, The Life of Lenin, which won the 1965 National Book Award in History and Biography, as well as a biography of Mahatma Gandhi entitled The Life of Mahatma Gandhi. This book was used as the basis for the Academy Award-winning film Gandhi.

Justification of the Title

The title ‘Indigo’ focuses our attention on the central issue of the chapter –exploitation of indigo sharecroppers by cruel British planters. Britishers compelled them through a long term agreement to plant indigo on 15 percent of their land and surrender the entire harvest as rent. After the development of synthetic indigo by Germany , the British planters extracted money from the peasants as compensation from being released from the 15 percent agreement. The peasants who wanted their money back filed civil suits. Raj Kumar Shukla persuaded Gandhi to take up the case of the Indigo sharecroppers. So indigo sharecropping exemplifies the injustice of the Britishers and Indians’ submission to British authority. The exploitation of indigo sharecroppers led Gandhi to arrive in Champaran to alleviate their distress. Peasants not only got back the compensation but also became courageous and confident. They learnt the lesson of self- reliance. The Champaran movement that centred on indigo sharecropping led to social and cultural upliftment of the peasants. Their education , health and hygiene received due attention. Thus the title ‘Indigo’ is highly suggestive and appropriate.

About The Lesson

Share cropping system in Champaran - Champaran is part of the state of Bihar. It was famous for its indigo plantations owned by the British landlords and worked by the Indian peasants. The British forced the peasants to cultivate indigo in the 15% of their land and submit the entire harvest to the landlords as their rent. Good idea, was it not? Poor Indians, they had to obey the British because they were afraid of the British. They hated this agreement and wanted to be free.

Synthetic indigo - It was during this time that Germany developed synthetic indigo and the British knew that the peasants would be free from the agreement and that they would get no more income from them.

Landlords’ trickery - So the smart landlords freed them from the agreement by making them pay a heavy amount for that. Most of the peasants were happy and paid and got their freedom from the landlords. But soon the news of the German indigo reached them and they realized that they were cheated.

Indian lawyers fool the peasants - The peasants went to the Indian lawyers and paid them heavily to get back their money. The lawyers knew that the peasants would never get their money back from a court controlled by the British, yet they pretended to be helping them. Soon

82

the peasants realized that they needed a stronger and reliable help and they turned to Indian National Congress. Accordingly, a peasant, Raj Kumar Shukla reached Lucknow where the Congress Committee was being held and happened to meet a young Congress member called Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Mr. Gandhiji heard Shukla’s story, was impressed but regretted his inability to help the peasants of Champaran. He tried to escape Shukla but Shukla was not ready to abandon his pursuit. Finally Gandhiji had to comply. He reached Champaran and learned the situation. He was moved by the way the poor Indian peasants had been exploited and fooled by the British landlords and the Indian lawyers.

Extracts for Comprehension

1. The battle of Champaran was won.

a. Who said the above mentioned line?

b. In what context was the line spoken?

c. Why did the speaker say that the battle is won?

2. The settlement was adopted unanimously by the commission. Gandhi explained that the amount of

the refund was less important than the fact that the landlords had been obliged to surrender a part of

the money and with it part of their prestige. Therefore, as far as the peasants were concerned, the

planters had behaved as Lords above the law. Now, the peasant saw that he had rights and defenders.

He learnt courage.

a. Which settlement is being referred?

b. Why had Gandhiji agreed to the settlement?

c. What was the lesson for the present in the Champaran incident?

d. Which word in the extract means the same as to agree by common consent?

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Who was Raj Kumar Shukla? Why did he want Gandhiji in Champaran?

Raj Kumar Shukla was a peasant from Champaran. He was a sharecropper under the British landlords there. The landlords exploited the peasants by forcing them to pay compensation to terminate the old agreement which required the peasants to grow Indigo in the 15% of their land and submit the entire harvest to the landlords as their rent. The rift had widened and there was a deadlock.Shukla heard from someone that Gandhiji could solve their problems and therefore wanted Gandhiji in Champaran.

2. Why did Gandhiji want to make a fresh enquiry into the sharecroppers' problem? Raj Kumar Shukla had given Gandhiji an exact account of the nature of problems in Champaran. But Gandhiji, being a seeker of truth, wanted to gather all the facts regarding the sharecroppers’ problems beyond what Shukla had imparted to him.

3. What was the cause of the Champaran sharecroppers' resentment? The sharecropping system began a long time before Gandhiji was called for help. The peasants were already struggling under this. What aggravated the resentment was a new agreement that the British landlords had made the peasants to sign to pay a big amount to get free from

83

the old agreement. The landlords did this not to alleviate the peasant's struggles but because they learnt that Germany had developed synthetic indigo due to which the demand for natural indigo would decline.

4. Why was Gandhiji stopped on his way to the village where a peasant was maltreated? While in Champaran, Gandhiji heard that a poor peasant of another village had been beaten by the landlords’ men. Gandhiji and many of his followers went to see the situation. But Gandhiji was stopped by the police fearing that his presence along with many furious people and the sight of the maltreated peasant would cause a mutiny in Champaran.

5. 'Civil disobedience had triumphed, the first time in modern India.' Comment. Gandhiji began his Civil Disobedience Movement in Champaran by refusing to leave the place as ordered by the police authorities. His arrest and trial followed. But finally the judiciary had to release Gandhiji and drop his case due to pressure from the peasants and thus his Civil Disobedient Movement became successful in Champaran.

Questions for Practice 1. Why was Gandhiji’s stay with professor Malkani an astonishing experience? 2. What amount of repayment did the big planters think Gandhi would demand? What did

Gandhi ask? What amount was finally settled? 3. When did Gandhiji announce that ‘the battle of Champaran was won’? What made him say so? 4. Why did Gandhiji feel that taking the Champaran case to the court was useless? 5. What was the positive quality about Raj Kumar Shukla? How did he benefit from this quality? 6. What proves that Gandhiji was an unknown figure in Patna? 7. What was the first instance of achieving freedom from fear by the peasant community? 8. What made the lawyers shamefaced before Gandhiji? 9. Narrate how the civil disobedience became a triumph for the first time? 10. What qualities was he able to imbibe in the Indians by the Champaran episode? 11. Why did he feel that help from the foreigner Mr. Andrews was unnecessary? 12. Why does he entrust teachers rather than politicians to make changes in the society?

Long Answer Type Questions

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

life?

(Value Points)

Champaran peasants suffered exploitation, injustice and atrocities at the hands of the

British landowners.

Gandhiji tried to alleviate the pain and sufferings of the distressed peasants.

Thousands of farmers demonstrated to show solidarity with Gandhiji.

Champaran movement - a national movement in the course of freedom struggle.

Eradicated fear from the minds of the ordinary people.

Forced Britishers to refund a part of money they had taken illegally.

Taught peasants a lesson in self-reliance

84

2. Raj Kumar Shukla played as significant a role as Gandhiji did in the success of the Champaran episode. Do you agree? Give reasons in support of your answer.

3. To think differently is a challenging job but ultimate victory comes to those who are not the usual run of the mill. In what way is this true of Gandhiji in the lesson indigo?

4. Freedom from fear is more important than legal justice for the poor “how does Gandhi ji bring home this point in this lesson? State whether Indians have attained freedom from fear even in this post-independence era. Justify your answer.."

85

Source: Internet

86

Prose 6 POETS AND PANCAKES - Asokamitran

About the Author and Background

Asokamitran (22 September 1931 – 23 March 2017) was the pen name of Jagadisa Thyagarajan, an Indian writer regarded one of the most influential figures in post-independent Tamil literature. He began his prolific literary career with the prize winning play "Anbin Parisu" and went on to author more than two hundred short stories, and a dozen novellas and novels.

Sahitya Akademi award-winning Tamil writer Asokamitran worked for the Gemini Studios from 1952 to 1966. A full twenty years after he ‘renounced’ films, poet-editor Pritish Nandy persuaded Asokamitran to record his reminiscences and the result was a series of articles making up My Years with Boss. The book covers only five of his fourteen years with the Studios but captures that phase of Indian movie business when the key factors of the box office were imperceptibly shifting from the studios to the stars.

My Years with Boss is one of the most unusual books to be written about the entertainment world and clearly indicates the enormous impact of the movies on virtually every aspect of life in India.

Theme-Poets and Pancakes is an account of the events and personalities of Gemini Studios in the early days of Indian cinema. The Gemini studio owned by S.S Vasan was one of the most influential films Producing Organizations of India in early years of Indian film making industry. For nearly thirty years from 1940, the Gemini Studios of Madras (Chennai) was the most influential film-producing organization of India and its founder, the brilliant multi-faceted entrepreneur S.S. Vasan lent substance and quality to the rather fragile and unpredictable movie business.

About the Chapter

Gemini Studios

Gemini Studios was one of India’s pioneer movie factories. Situated in the present day Chennai, owned by S.S Vasan the studio had over 600 people working in it..The studio made movies for Tamil Nadu and other southern Indian states. Pancake was the makeup material used by the studio..

Asokamitran

The duty of Asokamitran 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 by hand. Although he performed an insignificant function ,he was the most well informed of all the members of the Gemini family..

87

Office Boy

Office Boy was a grown up man in the Makeup Department of the studio. He was in charge of the crowd makeup. He applied pancake on their faces with the help of a dipped paint brush. Though his job was quite an easy one, the office boy considered him to be a greatly skilled artist.

Subbu

Kothamangalam Subbu was another clerk. He was not more educated or talented than the Office Boy, yet he reached the top of the studio.. He was a man of amazing genius. He was able to direct the directors. He suggested dozens of ways to shoot a certain scene when the director failed to find one. He acted better than the heroes. He wrote incredible poems. Though he was able to write more complicated ones that could raise him to the status of a great poet, Subbu preferred writing them in simple Tamil to enlighten the majority of Tamil people. Besides, he supported his far and near relatives. But he had only enemies everywhere because he was very much close to the boss, Vasan.

Legal Advisor

The legal advisor worked in the Story Department. He was a lawyer and provided legal advice to the writers yet he was known as the illegal advisor. The following incident is one reason that gave him that name. Once a shooting was under progress. The heroine, a highly emotional girl, got angry with the director and producer. While the whole set stood stunned at this, the legal advisor recorded her voice without her permission and made her listen to the playback, thus resulting the end of a rising actress.

Poets and writers

Gemini Studios had some great poets like Harindranath Chatopadhyaya , Subramanyam and few others. Most of the insignificant poets considered so great of themselves. They had no great talent, no great creativity, no political views yet they assumed the airs of the greatest poets, wasting Vasan’s money and time. They believed Gandhiji to be the last word of politics and had developed an aversion to Communism.

Communism and anti-communism

Communism was a new political order that was spreading throughout the world, especially in Asian countries. Communism preached equality of people and abolition of poverty and class divisions while it discouraged private ownership. But Communism won a negative impression due the Capitalist countries such as America.

MRA

MRA or Moral Rearmament Army was an international team of actors and actresses that spread anti-communist feelings throughout the world. The MRA came to Chennai and saw how influential

88

was Gemini Studios in the south of India. The team got permission from Vasan to stage their plays. Vasan was only happy to give them permission because he hoped that his staff would get inspiration from the international team. But little did Vasan know of their intentions. MRA staged their plays with hidden anticommunist messages and went away and it was yet after some time that Vasan realized that he had been fooled.

Stephen Spender

Why should Vasan be fooled if an organization spread anti-communist messages in Chennai? It appears that Vasan himself was against Communism! Or, he too had an experience of a disillusioned abandoning of Communism. The author has not given us a hint about this and therefore we have to different opinions:

Spender’s Speech

Anyway, Stephen Spender, who was once a prominent communist editor and poet from England, came to the studio and gave his speech. His lecture was about Communism on one side and about his struggles to establish as a poet on the other. Whatever he spoke was great, exciting and inspiring, but what use, his accent was such that none of the Gemini staff could clearly understood what Spender had spoken. They fell into shame for not being able to understand the poet and wished not to meet him again.

Asokamitran’s meeting with Spender

The lesson ends with two incidents in which Asokamitran, our author, met Spender; not face to face, but in two different ways.

Extracts for Comprehension

1. He was tailor-made for films. Here was a man who could be inspired when commanded. “the rat fights

with the tigress under the water and kills her, but take pity on the on the cubs and tends them lovingly---

I do not know how to do the scene,” the producer would say and Subbu would come up with four ways of

rat pouring affection on its victim’s off springs.

a. Whom does he refer to?

b. Why was he tailor made for films?

c. What does the writer mean by a man who could be inspired when commanded?

d. Which word means the same as cares?

2. The Encounter lying out in various degrees of freshness, almost untouched by readers. When I get the

editor’s name, I heard a bell ringing in my shrunken heart. It was the poet who had visited the Gemini

Studio. I felt like I had found a long lost brother and I sand as I sealed envelope and wrote out the

address.

a. What is the encounter and why were its copies lying almost untouched?

b. Why does the writer refer to his heart as shrunken?

89

c. Who was the editor of the encounter?

d. Why does he say that he felt like he had found his long lost brother?

Sample Answers

Q 1.Bring out gentle humour that the make-up room presents. A. The make-up room was in a building that was once believed to be Robert Clive’s stable. It had the look of a haircutting saloon with incandescent light around half a dozen mirrors. The gang of nationally integrated make up men could turn any decent looking person into a hideous, crimson hued monster with pancakes and locally made lotion and potion.

Q2.How did Subbu give direction and definition to Gemini Studio? A. Subbu was a many sided genius. He was a poet, an actor, a director and a novelist. He composed many story poems in folk refrain, wrote a novel, recreated the mood and manner of the Devadasis of the early 20th century and played the subsidiary role better than supposed main players.

Q3.Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as ‘an unexplained mystery’? A. The Englishman’s visit to the studio remained a mystery because they could neither know the purpose of his visit nor understand what he spoke due to his accent. The poet too after his speech looked baffled due to sheer incongruity of his talk

Q4.What views does the author have about the prose writers? A. The author’s conviction is that the prose writing cannot be the true pursuit of a genius. It is meant for the patient, persistent, persevering drudge with a shrunken heart. A prose piece is always rejected. But the prose writer never bothers about rejection. He sends a fresh copy to another publisher with postage for return of the manuscript.

Q5.What does ‘The God That Failed’ refer to?

A. ‘The God That Failed’ is a book of six essays by six eminent essayists that describe their journey to

communism and their disillusioned return. One of the essays was by Stephen Spender, the poet who had

come to Gemini Studios.

Practice Questions

1. Describe the make-up room of the Gemini studios, as given in the “poets and pancakes”?

2. How was the make-up room a fine example of national integration?

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

4. How did the legal advisor bring a sad end to the brief and brilliant acting career of a countryside

girl in the studios?

90

Long Answer Questions

Sample answer

Q In what ways did Gemini Studios prove to be a warm host to Frank Buchman’s Moral Re-

Armament Army? Who played into the hands of the MRA and why?

A Frank Buchman’s Moral Re-Armament Army visited Madras sometime in 1952. It consisted of

two hundred people of all hues and sizes of at least twenty nationalists. Gemini Studios hosted

them. MRA presented two plays in a most professional manner. These plays, titled ‘Jotham Valley’

and ‘The Forgotten Factor’, ran several shows in Madras. The message of the plays was often

simple but the sets and costumes were excellent. Madras and the Tamil drama community were

greatly impressed. 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. This huge positive response to their plays was like a welcome compliment to the MRA.

Some years later, the author learnt that MRA was a kind of counter-movement to international

Communism. The people at the Gemini Studios had natural aversion to Communism and

Communists. Therefore, the big bosses of Madras like Mr. Vasan simply played to their hands.

Practice Questions

Q.1 Write a note on the rambling style of narration in ‘Poets and Pancakes’.

Q.2 Discuss the instances of satire and humour in the chapter’ Poets and Pancakes’.

Q3 The author has used gentle humour to point out human foibles. Pick out instances to show

how this serves to make the chapter interesting?

Prose 7- THE INTERVIEW By Christopher Silvester

About the Author

Christopher Silvester was born in 1959 and educated at Lancing College, Sussex, and Peterhouse,

Cambridge, where he read history. From 1983 to 1994 he worked for Private Eye, initially writing

the 'New Boys' column, a series of caustic profiles of newly elected MPs, and later specialising in

political, legal and media affairs. He has written for several newspapers and magazines, including

the Evening Standard, the Guardian, theObserver, the Independent on Sunday, Esquire,

GQ and Vanity Fair. He is also the editor of the Penguin Book of Interviews: An Anthology from 1859

to the Present Day and the author of The Pimlico Companion to Parliament.

91

Theme

‘The Interview’ written by Christopher Sylvester briefs the new invention – interview in the field of journalism. Interview that was invented over 130 years have become a commonplace journalism. Today, every literate or illiterate will have to experience interview at some point of the daily life.

Points to Remember

PART I

Interview has become a commonplace of journalism. Opinions on the functions, methods and merits of Interview vary considerably.

Some claim it to be the highest form, a source of truth and in its practice an art. Some despise the interview as an unwarranted intrusion into lives, which diminishes their

personality. S. Naipaul feels that ‘some people are wounded by interviews and lose a part of

themselves.’ Lewis Carroll never consented to be interviewed for he believed it to be ‘a just horror of

the interviewer’. Rudyard Kipling considered it ‘immoral, a crime, an assault that merits punishment’. G. Wells referred interviewing to be an ‘ordeal’. Saul Bellow describes it ‘like thumbprints on his windpipe’. Despite the drawbacks interview is a supremely serviceable medium of communication.

Interviews are the most vivid impression of our contemporaries and the interviewer holds a position of unprecedented power and influence.

PART II

An extract from an interview of Umberto Eco interviewed by Mukund Padmanabhan. Umberto Eco was a professor with a formidable reputation as a scholar for his ideas on

Semiotics, literary interpretation and medieval aesthetics before he turned into writing literary fiction. He attained intellectual superstardom with his publication “The Name of the Rose”.

In the interview Eco shares his idea of empty spaces in our lives just as they exist in an atom, which he calls Interstices. He says that he makes use of these empty spaces to work.

Eco’s essays were scholarly and narrative. He likes to be identified more as a university professor who writes novels.

Eco’s ‘The Name of the Rose”, a serious novel, which delves into metaphysics, theology and medieval history, enjoyed a mass audience. It dealt with medieval past. He feels that the novel wouldn’t have been so well received had it been written ten years earlier or later

Extracts for Comprehension

1. Some might make quite extravagant claims for it as being, in a highest form, a source of truth, and, in

its practice an art. Others, usually celebrities who see some themselves as its victims, might despise the

interview as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives, or feel that it somehow diminishes them, just as in

92

some primitive cultures, it is believed that if one takes a photographic portrait of somebody then one is

stealing that person’s soul.

a. What does it refer to?

b. Why do celebrities see themselves as victims when interviewed?

c. Why is it believe in primitive cultures that taking a photograph is like stealing someone soul?

d. What is the noun form of extravagant?

2. Similarly we have a lot of empty spaces in our lives. I call them interstices. Say you are coming over to

my place. You are in an elevator and while you are coming up I am waiting for you. This is an interstice,

an empty space. I work in empty spaces. While waiting for your elevator to come up from the first to the

third floor, I have already written an article.

a. Who is the speaker and who is he talking to?

b. What are interstices?

c. What does he mean by saying we have a lot of empty spaces?

d. Why did he give the example of an elevator?

SAMPLE ANSWERS

Q.1 Interviews are necessary. Justify the statement.

A. Despite the drawbacks of interviews they are supremely serviceable medium of communication. They

are an art and a source of truth. We know about our contemporary celebrities and others through their

interviews.

Q2.Do you think Eco’s non-fictional writing style is a departure from regular style? Give reasons.

A. Eco’s non-fictional writing is not depersonalized and boring like his scholarly works. There is a playful

and personal touch in it, which is a departure from his regular style.

Q 3.What did Eco learn at the age of 22 that he pursued in his novels?

A. Eco learnt at the age of 22 that scholarly books should be written by telling the story of research. He

learnt that there should be a narrative technique employed in scholarly writing that he later employed

when he wrote novels at the age of 50.

Q.4.What makes ‘The Name of the Rose’ a serious novel?

A. ‘The Name of the Rose’ is a serious novel as it delves into metaphysics, theology and medieval history

inspite of being a detective story at one level.

93

Q 5 After reading the interview, taken by Mukund Padmanabhan, what idea do you form of

Umberto Eco and his works?

A. As we read ‘the Interview’ taken by Mukund Padmanabham, Umberto Eco comes across as a

celebrity writer. He is innovative in his writings and has a unique style of his own. Besides, he is

modest, candid and open. At the same time, he is firm in his convictions.

Umberto Eco is a professor who writes novels on Sundays. He, however, considers himself more as

an academic scholar than a novelist. He identifies himself completely with the academic

community. Most people, however, talk of him as a novelist due to the huge success of his novel

‘The Name of the Rose’.

People often wonder how Umberto Eco manages to do all the things he does. He says modestly that

he only gives the impression of doing many things. Actually, he thinks he is always doing the same

thing. He basically has some philosophical interests and he pursues them through his academic

work, his novels and even his books on children. He reveals that he works in empty spaces (he calls

them ‘interstices’). He utilizes them to his full advantage and thereby he manages to do more work.

Umberto always had unique way of writing his academic essays. His prosaic essays always have a

narrative quality about them. It is this ability which urged him towards writing novels at the age of

50, more or less. Even as a novelist, he proved to be a great success. His novel ‘The Name of the

Rose sold between 10 and 15 million copies.

Questions for Practice

1. What are some positive and negative aspects of Interview?

2. Why do most celebrities despise being interviewed?

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

4. How does Eco find time to write so much?

5. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel “The Name of the rose”?

6. What does Eco think of the readers of his novel ‘The Name of the Rose’?

Prose 8 – GOING PLACES – A. R. Barton About the Author and Background

A. R. Barton is a modern writer, who lives in Zurich and writes in English. He has authored many stories like “Going Places” which are mainly concerned with the problems and the stage of adolescence. The story is about unrealistic dreams and how we love to indulge in them knowing all the while that they have little possibility of coming true.

94

Theme

Adolescent fantasizing and hero-worship. Justification of the Title

The whole story is about unrealistic dreams and how we love to indulge in them knowing all the

while that they have little possibility of coming true. But some, like Sophie, gets too involved in

them and actually act on them. This is when disappointment makes its entrance into life. The

story seems to hint at you that it is okay to dream, but dream with limits. This is actual reality and

do not believe too much in movies and novels where the characters miraculously overcome their

challenges. This is a pessimistic way of looking at things, but sadly it is the true reality. Unless you

are impossibly ambitious, hardworking, and have loads of patience and perseverance, such

dreams are best to be kept under lock and key unless you like the taste of bitter disappointment.

About The Lesson

Sophie's Daydreams

Own a boutique

Be a manager

Become an actress or a fashion designer and own a boutique on the side. All this Sophie plans to do but without any money, qualification or experience. She belongs to a

lower middle-class family and is expected to take up work in a biscuit factory after completing high

school.

Jansie, Sophie's friend, more realistic.

Suggests Sophie that big dreams get fulfilled only with money and experience. Sophie's father

Works real hard to make both ends meet. He expects that some more money will pour in once Sophie completes high school and starts working in a biscuit factory.

Sophie's mother

Was always hard at work because of the financial constraints. She lived in a small room with her family; a place which was used even for cooking purpose as well as laundry Continuous household chores had left the lady with a bent back.

Geoff, Sophie's brother

An apprentice mechanic, Geoff had a life of his own in which he did not allow any of his family member. However, Sophie suspected that he had befriended some special people and he wished that he would let her share his secrets and allow her to meet his group of friends. He was an introvert and his silence made Sophie feel jealous. She had a fascination for his life because it was unknown to her. She wished he would take her along on his new bike for rides and then she would also be a part of his mystery world.

Sophie fantasizes about Danny Casey

Casey was an Irish prodigy, a Soccer player. Although Sophie was in the habit of concocting stories, no one ever believed her, least of all her family. Her father used to treat her tales as 'wild stories'. Even when she came up with another one that of meeting Danny Casey, he refused to believe it. However, Sophie was not bothered as to what he thought or believed.

95

Her father had warned that one day she was going to get herself into trouble. Actually she did when her friend, Jansie got to know of her latest fantasy. Although Jansie said that she could be trusted, Sophie knew too well that her friend was capable of spreading stories.

Story's ending

Sophie continued with her fantasizing and actually did go to meet Danny Casey at a place that had an air of romanticism and mysticism in it. She imagined things that would have taken place had it all been a reality. At the same time her perception was moving towards reality because of which she became sad realising that things she wished to happen in her life would actually never happen.

Extract for Comprehension

1. Jansie knowing, both were earmarked for the biscuit factory, became melancholy. She wished Sophie

wouldn't say these things.

a. Why did Jansie become melancholy?

b. What were Jansie and Sophie earmarked for?

c. What does the extract tell us about Jansie?

d. What does it reveal about Sophie?

And she was impatient she was conscious of a vast world out there waiting for her and she knew instantly

that she would feel at home there as in the city which has always been her home expectantly awaited her

arrival she saw herself writing there behind ji of fever is new Shiny black leather and Shiva yellow dress

with the kind of Cape that flew out behind her there was a sound of applause as the world Rose to read

them a who is she and whom does them refer to be why she conscious of the vast world waiting for her

she do you think there was an Applause on arrival why not bi what does the extract reveal about her

character

Short Answer Questions

1. Do you think Sophie appears to be impractical? Explain with an example.

Sophie was a dreamer at its chronic stage and was therefore impractical in her behaviour. She

used to jump from one plan to another, all beyond her reach. Once she told her friend, Jansie

that she would start a boutique. When Jansie commented that it would not be possible for her,

Sophie changed her plan and quickly went on planning to be an actress, a manager or a fashion

designer, all beyond her reach.

2. Geoff was an entirely different character from Sophie. Explain.

Geoff was Sophie’s elder brother. He was a very practical young man. He dreamed to become a

motor mechanic and worked hard for it and became one. He took life with all its struggles and

conquered it as much as he could. But Sophie lived in her dreams and found enjoyment and

realization in dreams. She was never ready to struggle.

3. 'Sophie wished she could be admitted more deeply into her brother’s affections.' What does

she mean by her brother’s affections?

96

Sophie’s world was one of fantasy. Her brother Geoff was a very practical young man with an

urge to work hard. Unlike Sophie, he was very silent. Sophie believed that Geoff had a world of

great friends and lovers, unknown to her. After thinking so over and over, Sophie began to

believe that Geoff’s world was real and wanted to be considered very important among

Geoff’s friends.

4. How was Danny Casey going to be a lot of distractions for youngsters?

Danny Casey was a rising football prodigy from Ireland. He had already become a sensation in

England where he played for the United Manchester. People believed that Danny would

become a distraction for the youngsters of the time if his popularity went on rising.

5. Why did Sophie go to the park to meet Danny Casey even though it was a lie?

A repeated lie sometimes appears to be a truth, especially to the one who told it. After telling

everyone about her meeting Danny Casey, Sophie too had a faint feeling that she had really

met him. When that feeling grew up to a concrete belief, Sophie forgot that it was a lie and

therefore she went to the park to meet Danny Casey.

Questions for Practice 1. What secret did Sophie share with her brother?

2. Who was Danny Casey?

3. Sophie and Jansie are friends, yet very different. How?

4. Describe the meeting between Sophie’s and Casey in the arcade.

5. Sophie flits from one dream to another. What trait of hers is brought out by this action?

6. What made her dissatisfied with her life?

7. The unknown things are always a fascination for human beings. How is it true in the case

of Sophie?

8. When Geoff queried whether she told their father about meeting Danny Casey why was

she chastened?

9. Does father believe his daughter`s encounter with Danny Casey if not why?

10. What made her heave a sigh of relief when she knew that Geoff had not divulged all what

she said?

11. How has Geoff helped in developing her fantasy about Danny Casey?

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Fantasy is a pleasant relief at times but at times it can take a serious turn which may prove

to be detrimental to mental growth. . Elucidate with reference to the text focusing on the

negative impact of fantasizing?

2. Sophie aspires for a romantic touch in her relationship with Danny Casey. What is the root

cause of her imagination running wild?

3. What in your opinion is the reason behind her weaving a fantasy, is it a crush for an ace

footballer or is it the love for glamour of a celebrity, if not at least the glamour of a person

associate d with a celebrity. Elucidate

97

4. Like all other teenagers, Sophie lived in world of fantasy and worshipped her soul’s hero

Danny Casey. She goes to the extent of imagining a date with him and feels disappointed –

when this realization dawns upon her that it was a waking dream. Write an article on “Self-

deception leads to depression”.

5. “Now I have become sad, she thought. And it is a hard burden to carry this sadness. Sitting

here and waiting” Sophie’s wild fantasies have led her to a very disappointing situation.

She is herself responsible for her frustration. You feel that one has to live in the realistic

world. Write an article on adolescent fantasies leading to disappointment.

6. A. R. Barton says- “Sophie dreams and disappointments are all in her mind”. Is it true in

context of every youngster? What do you think about it? Write your answer within 100

words.

98

Source: Internet

99

Poetry Section

The objective of this section is to test the learner’s ability to understand and interpret the

prescribed text through very short to short answer questions. Hence both content and

expression are equally important.

Poem 1 - MY MOTHER AT SIXTY SIX - Kamala Das

ABOUT THE POET

Kamala Das was born in Malabar, Kerala. Her works are known for their originality, versatility and

the indigenous flavour of the soil. Kamala Das has published many novels and short stories in English

and Malayalam. Some of her works in English include the novel ‘Alphabet of Lust’, a collection of

short stories ‘Padmavati’, the Harlot and Other Stories, in addition to five books of poetry .She is a

sensitive writer who captures the complex subtleties of human relationships in lyrical idiom.

Theme- In this poem, Kamala Das explores the theme of ageing, death and isolation through a

narration involving her mother. The poem captures the relationship of a mother and a daughter

and the daughter’s fear of separation and pain.

Tone - It highlights the anxiety and sadness felt by the poet

Synopsis

While driving from her parent’s home to Cochin airport, the poet notices her mother

sitting beside her dozing, her face pale like a dead body.

She realises in a poignant moment that her mother now looked as old as she was. She

suddenly realized that age was catching up with her.

Her "ashen face" reminded the poet of a corpse both metaphorically and literally.

The thought kindles fear in the poet's heart. Kamala Das brushes off these morbid

thoughts and turns her view towards images filled with greenery and energy.

The images of the children and the sprinting trees show youthful vigour of life which

contrasts with the lifeless, pale and ageing form of her mother.

The realization that her mother is inching closer to death worries her. Her childhood fear

and insecurity of separation from her mother resurfaces.

She experiences the familiar ache of vulnerability of a child at the thought of losing her

mother.

The anxiety is apparent as she continues to liken her mother to a late winter's moon, dull,

hazy and without any brightness.

After the security check, she turned back and said ‘see you soon’ and smiled .

Her smile was an attempt to hide her anxiety from her mother. Her smile was probably a

nervous reassurance for herself that she would see her again.

100

Poetic Devices

Simile

her face ashen like that of a corpse

As a late winter’s moon

Personification - Trees sprinting

Metaphor – merry children spilling out of their homes

Alliteration– smile and smile and smile…

Symbols and Imagery – Young trees sprinting, merry children spilling, winter’s moon

Points to remember

Universality of the theme- a daughter’s concern for her mother

Images of old age

Images of youth

Contrasting images

Reference to Context (one mark each)

I. But after the airport’s security check,

Standing a few yards away I looked again at her,

Wan, pale, as a late winter’s moon

1. How did the mother look like at the airport?

The mother stood a few yards away from the poet who was about to disappear beyond the

check-in and then to a distant land for a long stay there. She appeared to be lifeless and

colourless, like a late winter's moon that was dim and supposed to be hidden by the fog.

2. How do 'wan' and 'pale' describe the mother?

The mother was aged and weak beyond her age. She appeared wan and pale. Wan and pale

suggest weakness and lifelessness.

3. What is a late winter's moon?

In the late winter the sky is filled with fog and mist. The moon in that season cannot shine

brightly. It appears to be dim and most of the time rests behind these clouds. No one can

predict how long the moon could stay and what time the clouds would hide it.

4. Why does the poet compare her mother to a late winter's moon?

The mother was quite aged. She was cheerless and gloomy. Like the late winter's moon that

could any moment be overshadowed by the fog, the mother remained a victim to imminent

death.

101

Practice Exercise

II. I saw my mother, beside me

Doze, open mouthed, her face

Ashen like that of a corpse

And realized with pain

That she was as old as she

Looked but soon

Put that thought away ….

a) What worried the poet when she looked at her mother?

b) Why was there pain in her realization?

c) Identify the figure of speech used in these lines.

Short Answer Questions ( 30- 40 words)

1. Why are the young trees described as ‘sprinting’?

The poetess is travelling in a speedy car and the roadside trees seem speeding past and the

poetess, along with the image, compares the ‘young trees’ to the young children who are

‘spilling out’ – that too is a movement word.

2. What do the parting words of the poetess and her smile signify?

The poet’s parting words her smile are a façade to hide her feelings of insecurity. The pale

and senile appearance of her mother beings into focus her childhood fear of losing her

mother. She can definitely experience the pangs of separation, yet she bids her farewell in a

pleasant manner. She reassures her mother that all will be well and they would meet again.

Questions for Practice (30-40 words each)

1. How does the poet strike a contrast between what travelled with her and what moved

outside?

2. How does the poet dispel the thought of losing her mother?

3. What did the poet realize with pain and what triggered that pain?

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

5. What childhood fear does Kamala Das speak of?

6. How does the poet describe the old age of her mother?

7. Justify the significance of the title ‘ My Mother at Sixty Six’.

8. In your opinion, Why did the poet not share her thoughts with her mother?

102

Poem 2–AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSTOOM IN A SLUM – Stephan Spender

About the poet

Stephen Spender was born on February 28, 1909, in London. The son of a journalist, he grew up

steeped in the art of writing.” An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum” was first published in

1964 in Stephen Spender’s Selected Poems.

Theme

The theme of poverty is principal to the poem “An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum.” Spender

creates an image of children in poverty through his descriptions of dire situations and malnourished

students, revealing a sad, hidden segment of society that was prevalent throughout the world. For

Spender, education stands above everything else as the most empowering and the most important

influence on the future of humanity.

Tone- Persuasive. The poet is dejected in the first three stanzas and then persuades the authorities

to do something about these children.

About the Poem

Stanza 1

The opening stanza of "An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum" provides a clear, dreary

depiction of the students in the slum classroom.

The first child is a "tall girl with [a] weighed-down head." This girl is physically and

emotionally exhausted. Her classmates are in no better condition.

"The paper- seeming boy, with rat's eyes”, his eyes are defensive and scared, like a rat. He

is hungry for food and love. His prospect for survival, let alone success, is bleak. The stunted,

unlucky heir of twisted bones," is the victim of a genetic disorder. Spender writes that the

boy has inherited his "father's gnarled disease"; he has been left disfigured, trapped in a

physically challenged body.

Spender then describes the boy "at the back of the dim class," stating, "His eyes live in a

dream”. He would rather be outside playing squirrel’s game instead of sitting inside the

uninspiring class room.

Stanza 2

In the second stanza, Spender describes the classroom and its contents. The classroom is

full of "donations."

The children are from the lowest class of the society. The classroom is constructed through

donations given by others in the name of charity.

The open handed map , the pictures of cloudless morning sky , the structures of civilized

progressive society and the belled , flowery Tyrolese Valley, the books, and ‘Shakespeare's

103

head’, given as the ‘donations’ may give a glimpse of some world to the students, but not

of their world.

The students do not perceive their world as the one depicted in the classroom's "donations."

It is not the "belled, flowery, Tyrolese valley" but instead a foggy, narrow street sealed in

with a polluted sky, which is far away from rivers, capes and words displayed on the map

hanging in the classroom.

Their future is bleak, unknown, and dreary. The children in "An Elementary School

Classroom in a Slum" are trapped by their social and economic status.

Stanza 3

In the third stanza, Spender responds cynically to the reality of the students' future.

He calls Shakespeare "wicked" and the map a "bad example." He writes that the stories from

the books of "ships and sun and love" are tempting them [the students] to steal into the

world beyond their reach.

In this stanza, he continues to describe the children "on their slag heap."

He returns to their thin, malnourished bodies, stating that they "wear skins peeped through

by bones." They also wear "spectacles of steel / with mended glass, like bottle bits on

stones." Their world is shattered like bottle bits on stones. Spender is making a resounding

humanist statement about the treatment of children in this poem.

It appears that he is more disillusioned by humanity's disregard for the children than by the

social and economic framework that has doomed these children to the slums. In his anger

he wants the classroom map to be filled with the pictures of the slums as big as doom where

children are destined to spend their time.

Stanza 4

In the final stanza, Spender replaces cynicism with hope, a plea for a new awakening for the

children.

He is petitioning "governor, inspector, visitor" to transform the temptations of the

donations into a reality.

He begs for a change that will "break O break open" the "windows / that shut upon their

lives like catacombs" and free the children from the constraints of their position in society.

Spender asks that the children be shown—directly, not through "donations"—"green fields"

and "gold sands." Spender writes, "Break O break open till they break the town," offering

hope that education will break open the minds of the children.

Once their minds are free, empowered with learning, Spender believes that they will have

the power to change the social order.

Spender believes that if these children are truly allowed free exploration—naked tongues

running freely through books and environment —then their education and their "language"

will become the "sun" burning away the "fog" that has sealed their fates.

104

An industrialist in a certain poor part of a poor country established a primary school for the

poor children there. His only aim was to make money by attracting the visitors for their

donations.

The children inside the classroom were poor, malnourished and ill.

They held their head down under the burden of life. Their dreams didn't find their realization

inside the class room.

The interior of the school had nothing interesting for the children who were forced to attend

the boring classes.

The stories of Shakespeare taught in the class inspired the children to steal.

They hated the map inside the classroom because it allotted rich land for the rich and the

slums for them.

They hated the pictures of the tall buildings in the classroom because their own huts were

nowhere in front of them.

They hated everything inside the class room and preferred the dusty, clouded, dark and

polluted world outside the classroom.

The poet, once and for ever a communist, ends the poem with an appeal to the world: "Break

this school, break its windows and take these children to the beautiful world of freedom and

knowledge before they grow up to destroy the town."

Poetic Devices

Metaphor - Gusty waves, rat’s eyes, dim class, sour cream walls, painted with a fog, cramped holes,

fog to endless night, white and green leaves, language is the Sun.

Simile –

a) like rootless weeds

b) like bottle bits on stones

c) like catacombs

d) slum as big as doom

Imagery –

weighed down: burdened with the weight of poverty and hopelessness

Alliteration- spectacles of steel, break O break,

Repetition- far far

Reference to Context ( One Mark each)

I. Unless governor, inspector, visitor

This map becomes their window and these windows

That shut upon their lives like catacombs,

1. How does the school look different when there are visitors?

105

When there are visitors, the doors and windows of the classroom will remain open. There will

be light and better air passage in the classroom.

2. How is the map their window when there are no visitors?What do they see through this

‘window’?

When there are no visitors, the windows and doors will remain shut and the children will not be

able to see the dark sky through the windows. At this time the children have nowhere else to

look at than the map. They see their own slum marked in the map.

3. What are catacombs? Is the comparison of the classroom to catacombs apt? How?

Catacombs are underground burial places. They are dark and confined with hundreds of dead

bodies resting eternally. The classroom deserves to be called a catacomb because it is also dark

with children of half dead bodies and half alive minds.

Practice Exercise

Far far from gusty waves these children’s faces,

Like rootless weeds, the hair torn round their pallor;

The tall girl with her weighed-down head.

a) Who are these children?

b) What does the poet mean by ‘gusty waves’?

c) What has possibly weighed-down the tall girl’s head?

d) Identify the figure of speech used in these lines.

Examples

Short Answer Questions ( 30 -40 words each) - 2 Marks

1. Why are the boy's eyes compared to that of a rat’s?

A rat's eyes are always restless. They are always in search of something and look for dangers.

The boy here is also searching for something other than the attractions inside the classroom.

2. How does the term, stunted, describe the unlucky boy's appearance?

The boy’s growth was slowed by his poor conditions. Poverty and malnutrition have tortured

his body and spirit. He looks like a living skeleton.

3. Why is the classroom dim?

The classroom is left unlit by the owner of the school. The owner is not at all concerned about

the lightning of the classroom. Moreover, sunlight is a far-fetched dream for the slum dwellers

because most of the time the sky remains covered with smoke and dust.

4. What effect does 'fog to endless nights' add to the wretchedness of the slum dwellers?

The slum children do not have any hope for their future. For them their future is like a fog-

painting, transient and uncertain.

106

Questions for Practice

1. What picture of the children do you get from the poem?

2. What does 'spectacles of steel' tell us about the lives of the slum children?

3. Why is Shakespeare called ‘wicked’ and map a ‘bad example’?

4. Inspite of despair and disease pervading the lives of slum children, they are not devoid of hope.

Give an example of their hope or dream.

5. Who awards the world its world and how? What does this world contain?

6. The poet says, ‘ And yet , for these children, these windows not this map, their world’. Which

world these children belong to? Which world is inaccessible to them?

7. ‘ So blot their maps with slums as big as doom’ What does the poet want to convey through

this?

8. What kind of freedom does Stephen Spender suggest for children of Elementary School and

Why?

9. Who ,according to the poet, can change the lot of these slum children and how?

10. How far do you agree with the statement’ History is theirs whose language is Sun’?

11. What is the language of the sun? How can people speak this language?

Poem 3 – KEEPING QUIET – Pablo Neruda

About The Poet

Pablo Neruda’s original name was Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. He spent his early childhood in

Temuco, Chile. Until his death, Neruda remained active in the political and literary arena of his

country. He adopted the pen name legally in 1946. Pablo Neruda is one of the greatest Spanish

American poets who had a vision for a united world. This poem is taken from his collection

EXTRAVAGARIO (1958). Neruda was passionate about Nature and its lessons.

Theme

The poem highlights the need for quiet introspection and creating feelings of mutual

understanding, love and respect among human beings.

Tone- Persuasive and appealing

About the Poem

Count as long as twelve, stop talking to others by words or by signals of hands, start talking to

one's mind, search in the depth of the mind the causes of sadness, realize that the solution for

your sadness is not committing suicide, there is a better way: accept that your ego is the cause of

your sadness. Kill the ego, die with your ego and wait for a new birth. Definitely you will live a new

life without ego. Come back fresh to a world devoid of wars of any kind, selfishness of any sort

and sadness of any depth.

Preparation

Do not use languages

107

Do not use arms

Fishermen stop hunting whales

Salt gatherer looks at his hurt hands

Stop wars

Walk with enemies as friends

Keep selfishness away

Do nothing for some time

Results

Gives us time to understand our real problems

Gives us time to remove the selfishness in us

Exotic happiness and peace

Can get rid of ego and selfishness

Can establish brotherhood

Can get a "strange happiness"

What happens if we do not keep quiet?

We tend to threaten ourselves with death

Wars and destruction will never end.

Sadness of “never understanding ourselves” will persist.

Examples from the earth

Everything seems dead for some time but later they all come back to life.

The earth “dies” for a while for getting a new life full of energy.

Points to remember:

It signifies the passage of time, the markings on the face of clock. The number 12 signifies the

measure of time- 12hours in a day/12 months in a year.

The poet promotes life and is totally against death.

The use of conversational style is effective in spreading the message.

Title of the poem is significant as it brings out the poet’s philosophy – an exotic moment of

silence results in understanding ourselves and promotes universal brotherhood. He wants us

to develop respect for life.

Poetic Devices

The poet has used symbols and comparisons to explain how we can end conflicts, wars and

corrosive activities that are leading to the death of our civilization. He advocates keeping quiet and

still for a while to introspect and understand ourselves and our relationship with our brothers and

nature to build a peaceful and harmonious world order.

1. ‘Count to twelve’ – symbolizes a measure of time. The clock has twelve markings on it, the

year has twelve months and the day has twelve hours.

2. Let’s – repetition to create a bond with the reader and stress his point.

108

3. ‘Fishermen in the cold sea…hurt hands’ – symbolic image showing how man is ruthlessly

destroying nature and harming other species in cold blood for his selfish need and greed. The

‘hurt hands’ – the sore hands of the salt gatherer would make him realize how he is harming

himself by his mindless corrosive activities.

4. ‘…put on clean clothes’ – Metaphor – The poet says that quiet introspection will make us

comprehend the destructive nature of wars. Man would shed his blood-soiled clothes and don

on clean clothes i.e. he would cleanse his soul, heart and mind, purging it of all anger and

hatred.

5. Brothers – symbol of mankind

6. In the shade – metaphor- just as shade protects us from the harsh sun, we will protect and

shelter each other as brothers, thus live in peace and harmony.

7. no truck – euphemism (word or expression used in place of one that may be found offensive

or suggest something unpleasant)

8. Earth can teach us as when everything… - Simile – Just as earth in its sleeping mode appears

to be dead on surface but is actually dormant and carefully preserving the seeds of life,

human beings too need to keep still and quiet to rejuvenate and awaken the life forces

within and be productive.

9. Metaphor-put on clean clothes

10. Alliteration- sudden strangeness, hurt hands, clean clothes,

Reference to Context Example ( one mark each)

I. Those who prepare green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire,

Victory with no survivors, would put on clean clothes

And walk about with their brothers in the shade, doing nothing.

1. What are green wars?

We use our deadly weapons to kill the mother earth. We have poisonous gases and

explosives to kill the earth.

2. Why is victory without survivors?

Anyone can fight, kill and destroy. Anyone can defeat and be victorious. But no one can

enjoy the victory of his wars.

3. What does the poet want in the place of wars?

It is not war we want. We want peace. It is time to hate wars and destruction. It is time to

walk peacefully with everyone whom we call enemies.

Practice exercise

II. What I want should not be confused

With total inactivity

Life is what it is about

I want no truck with death.

109

a) What is the desire of the poet?

b) What does ‘total inactivity’ imply?

c) Why does the poet say that he does not want his wish to be confused with total inactivity?

d) Explain ‘ I want no truck with death’

Short Answer Questions

1. How does the time of silent introspection become an exotic moment for us?

The result of a silent introspection of this kind guarantees a perfect peace of mind. When this

peace is achieved through silence, the happiness it provides is equal to no other happiness. It is

exotic. This self-imposed silence will turn out to be unexplainably pleasant. You will experience

the happiness you have been after all these years.

2. What sort of 'togetherness' can we experience while keeping quiet?

By keeping quiet we are able to understand our true self and its limitations. We realize how

selfish we are and wipe out our ego through meditation. By eliminating a vast world of ego we

give room for our brothers and feel a new togetherness.

3. What does "truck with death" mean? Why does the poet not want a truck with death?

Truck with death means an agreement with death. The poet believes that man has a tendency

to get the help of death when he is surrounded by sadness and dullness. The poet doesn't want

any agreement with death because he believes that introspection is the right way to get rid of

our sadness, not death.

Questions for Practice

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

2. Which symbol from nature does the poet invoke that there can be life under apparent stillness?

3. What is the ‘exotic moment’? Why?

4. Explain, ‘life is what it is about.’

5. What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to ?

6. Explain : Green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire.

7. What is man single minded about?

8. How has man threatened himself with death?

9. What does the poet want to convey through the images of the ‘fishermen’ and men gathering

salt?

10. Justify the title ‘ Keeping Quiet’.

110

Poem 4 – A THING OF BEAUTY – John Keats

About the Poet

Endymion, Keats’s first long poem dedicates four thousand lines in celebration of the love of the

moon goddess, Cynthia for the young shepherd Endymion.

It is written in rhyming couplets in Iambic Pentameter

Theme

The theme of the poem is love, beauty and youth. The poem reflects the poet’s attitude towards

beauty. He has made us of the myth to explore his own way to realise the truth that is beauty.

Tone- appreciative

Synopsis

The poet John Keats says that a thing of beauty continues to inspire us. Throughout our life, it never

ceases to exist in our heart. With the passage of time, the effect of the thing becomes more

profound. The beautiful thing is like a ray of hope amidst the world's miseries. It refreshes our souls,

rejuvenates us, and soothes our frayed nerves. It is like a retreat from the ugliness in the world.

Every day, such beautiful things (in nature) bind us to the earth.

In spite of all the gloom, selfishness, sadness, dejection, and all things we suffer in this world, the

beautiful thing is like a ray of hope amidst it all. Like the sun, the moon shining through this dark

curtain, trees, sheep, or flowers for that matter... also the green streams, waterfalls, fountains,

musk rose blooms, etc. All tales of heroism which inspire us, give us the courage to fight against all

odds... they are an endless source of inspiration

Poetic Devices

Metaphor: bower quiet; sweet dreams; wreathing a flowery band; pall; endless fountain of

immortal drink

Alliteration: noble natures; cooling covert; band to bind

Imagery: flowery bands, shady boon, daffodils in green world, clear rills, cooling covert, grandeur

of dooms, endless fountain of eternal drink

Symbol: simple sheep – refers to mankind as Christ is the shepherd

Transferred epithet: gloomy days; unhealthy and o’er darkened ways

111

Reference to Context

I. A thing of beauty is a joy forever

Its loveliness increases, it will never

Pass into nothingness; but will keep

A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

a) How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

A thing of beauty provides everlasting joy. Its beauty never decreases but continues to increase

with the passage of time. It never fades away.

b) What do you understand by a ‘bower’?

‘Bower’ is the shelter under the shade of trees. It provides protection from the harsh rays of the

sun.

c) Explain ‘Sleep full of sweet dreams’

It is a metaphor for bliss and comfort. A beautiful thing provides us the same comfort as a sleep full

of sweet dreams provides.

d) What does peaceful breathing imply?

It implies peace, serenity and contentment that one feels beholding a beautiful thing.

Practice Exercise . ( one mark each)

II. And such too is the grandeur of the dooms

We have imagined for the mighty dead;

All lovely tales that we have heard or read;

An endless fountain of immortal drink,

Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.

a) What is the ‘grandeur of the dooms’ of the great people? How does the poet compare this

'grandeur' with that of the beautiful things?

b) Who are the mighty dead? Why are they called so? How are they beautiful?

c) Which 'tales' does the poet here refer to? Why are they lovely?

d) How are the ‘lovely tales’ ‘fountain of immortal drink’?

Short Answer Questions (30- 40 words each) - 2 marks

1. How does a thing of beauty provide us shelter and comfort?

John Keats is a great Romantic poet. He creates images that soothe our senses. Nature bestows

us with things of rare beauty. It keeps the shade of trees ready for us to be comfortable and

peaceful in it. Beautiful things also provide peace and security so that we can enjoy sound sleep.

We are able to enjoy sweet dreams, good health because of them.

2. What spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it removed?

112

Man makes his life miserable and full of suffering because of his own actions. The pall of

despondence is the sadness that is a result of one's own actions. A thing of beauty works

wonders for man and removes the cover of gloom from his dampened spirits.

3. What is the message of the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’?

Keats, an ardent lover of nature, in his poem refers to the powers of nature. He urges mankind

to realize these powers and make the life enjoyable and worth living. He tells us how a thing of

beauty provides perennial joy to us.

4. How do the ‘daffodils’ and ‘clear rills’ enrich our environment?

Daffodils are lovely white flowers that bloom in green surroundings. The ‘clear rills’ or clear

streams of water create cooling comfort or passage for themselves as they pass through the

thick bushes and ward away the heat of the sun.

Questions for Practice

1. What does a thing of beauty do for us?

2. What are the things that cause miseries, sorrows and sufferings to man?

3. What spreads the pall of despondence over our spirits? How is that removed?

4. What makes human beings love life inspite of all the troubles they face?

5. What does the line ‘Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth’ suggest?

6. Why is grandeur associated with the ‘mighty dead’?

7. Name the beauties of nature that are a constant source of joy and happiness to man.

8. What is the source of the ‘endless fountain’ and what is its effect?

9. What is described as immortal drink?

10. What is the message of the poem?

Poem 5 ROADSIDE STAND BY Robert Frost

About the Poet

Robert Frost (March 26, 1874 – January 29, 1963) was an American poet. His work was initially

published in England before it was published in America. Known for his realistic depictions of rural

life and his command of American colloquial speech, Frost frequently wrote about settings from

rural life in New England in the early twentieth century, using them to examine complex social and

philosophical themes.

Theme

In the poem ‘A Roadside Stand’, Frost presents the lives of poor deprived people with pitiless clarity

and with the deepest sympathy and humanity. The poem also brings in to focus the unfortunate

fact that progress and development is unequal between the cities and the villages leading to

feelings of distress and unhappiness among the dwellers of the latter.

113

Tone - Persuasive

Synopsis

In the poem, the poet describes the feelings of the owners of a roadside shed who seem to wait for

those whizzing past, their house in their shiny cars, to stop and buy something from the shack-some

fruit, some humble vegetables, or even stop and rest in the beautiful mountainscape. They long for

the feel of hard currency that is a symbol of poverty alleviation in their lives of deprivation. It

appears to be a vain hope, however, that those who do glance their way are either reproachful of

the blot on the landscape, their shed, that seems to mar the beauty of the landscape, or stop to ask

for directions. Some use the space to turn their cars around unmindful of the damage to their turf.

The poet is outraged at the callous attitude of the government, the civic authorities and the social

service agencies who appear to help them but actually end up harming them, The news says that

these poor people are to be relocated to the vicinity of the towns near the theatre and the shops,

There they will be well looked after and will have nothing worrisome to think about, The poet,

however regards this as a great disservice to the people who will be thus robbed of their voices and

their freedom and ability to find solutions to their problems. Lulled in to oblivion by this false and

perhaps short-lived sense of security, the villagers will forever lose their abilities to make calculated

decisions for themselves and become pawns in the hands of their so called benefactors who are

waiting to take over their land. This will finally culminate in a futile sense of dissatisfaction for the

villagers. The poet is filled with sadness to see the almost childish longing that seems to emanate

from the roadside shed, for a life that is described in the movies, a life so far removed from their

life in the village. The unthinking occupants of a car who stop at the shed to buy a gallon of gas,

speaks of the disconnect that exists in the perceptions of town people with regard to the villagers.

They are unable to comprehend that the lives of the villagers are far removed from theirs, so replete

with the comforts that the material world offers. The poet is saddened at the thought that the rural

poor have not been able to experience the satisfaction that comes from a feeling of wellbeing and

contentment. He feels that it would be easy to still these complaining voices once and for all by

changing the lives of the villagers but he questions the wisdom of this rash act.

Poetic devices

Metaphor- flower of cities, swarm over their lives, sadness that lurks

Alliteration- pathetically pled, greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts, gallon of gas

Personification- sadness that lurks

Oxymoron- trusting sorrow, greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts

Transferred epithet- selfish cars

114

Solved Extracts for comprehension

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:-

1- The little old house was out with a little new shed,

In front at the edge of the road, where the traffic sped,

A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,

It would not be fair to say for a dale of bread,

But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports

The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.

Q.1 Why was a new shed put up by the occupants of the little old house?

Ans- The occupants of the little old house had put up the new shed to extend their area eo grab the

attention of the passers-by.

Q.2 Why does the poet refer to the roadside stand as ‘Pathetic’ ?

Ans- The poet refers to the roadside stand as ‘pathetic’ because it is not comfortable and attractive.

Q.3 What is the purpose of the shed?

Ans- The purpose of the shed is to offer some eatables to the passengers speeding by and earn

some money.

EXTRACTS FOR PRACTICE

Read the following lines and answer with reference to the context:

The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint

So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid:

Here far from the city we make our roadside stand

And ask for some city money to feel in hand

To try if it will not make our being expand,

And give us the life of the moving pictures’ promise

That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.

Q 1What do the owners of the shack wish for?

Q.2 How will it help them?

Q.3 What is the party in power keeping from these rural poor?

Q.4 What do you think the life of the movie pictures implies?

Read the following lines and answer with reference to the context:

No, in country money, the country scale of gain,

The requisite lift of spirit has never been found,

115

Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,

I can’t help owning the great relief it would be

To put these people at one stroke out of their pain,

And then next day as I come back in to the same.

I wonder how I should like you to come to me

And offer to put me gently out of my pain,

Q.1 What does the poet mean by the line, ‘the requisite lift of spirit has never been found’ ?

Q.2 What does the poet wish he could do for these people ?

Q.3What makes him change his mind ?

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1 What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand ?

Ans- The villagers who had put up the roadside stand expected that the city people would stop

there to buy something or the other but they considered the owners of the stand as beggars.

Q.2 What is the childish longing that poet refers to ? Why is it vain?

Ans- Waiting for the prospective customers is the childish longing. It is vain because they never turn

up.

QUESTIONS

Short Questions

1. Describe the attitude of the city dwellers who pass by the’ roadside stands.’

2. What did the city dwellers complain about these stands?

3. Why did people put up “roadside stands”?

4. Why did most people stop at these stands?

5. How do these vendors when they know why the passersby have stopped?

6. Do you think these people feel exploited ?Say how and why?

7. What role did the Government play in their lives?

8. Why does the poet call their longing as ‘Childish’ and why?

9. What did the people at ‘Roadside stands’ sell?

10. How does the poet describe the city people?

Poem 6 – AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS – Adrienne Rich

About the Poet

Adrienne Rich (1929-2012), a contemporary feminist poet, through her poetic works, tried to

awaken the consciousness of modern woman. She was concerned about the growing number of

116

women being marginalized, impoverished, scapegoated and beleaguered. Her work reflects strong

opposition to racism am militarism.

The poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Aunt’ addresses the issues of gender conflict, oppression of women, male

dominance and restraint of custom and law on women in subtle tone.

Theme

ordeals of marriage in a patriarchal society

art as a means of expression and escape

About the Poem

Aunt Jennifer, though she is "mastered by" an abusive husband, finds an artistic outlet in her

needlework. The embroidered tigers stride proudly and without fear across the screen she

designed. Through Aunt Jennifer's art, Adrienne Rich suggests that women who are not able to live

freely do triumph in some way because their imaginations cannot be captured or controlled. Aunt

Jennifer is able to imagine and create a world where men are nothing to fear.

The poet depicts the pain of a woman who is living with a brutal husband who dominates her in all

respects. She does not have her own freedom. She is more like a slave to him. She makes tigers by

embroidering them on cloth. Her tigers appear to have life. They are bright, lively and are ready to

prance. Their character is totally opposite to hers. They appear wild and free. They look like the

denizens of the green forest. They are supposed to be fearless and jump around with confidence.

But Aunt Jennifer is nervous. Her hands tremble as she tries to search for something in the wool.

Her hands are so shaky that it is difficult for her to pull the ivory needle. It is due to her wedding.

Her marriage has proved to be detrimental for her. It’s a doubt, that even after death will she be

free? Still her tigers would continue to prance across the screen unafraid as usual, and this artistic

vision outlives her small, "terrified" hands.

Tone- descriptive

Values Highlighted in the poem: Respect for women, equality, equity, gender sensitivity,

empathy, feminism, value for art.

Poetic Devices

Alliteration-Finger’s fluttering; prancing proud; weight of wedding band

imagery- Bright topaz denizens; world of green

Irony: It is ironical that Aunt Jennifer’s creations- the tigers will continue to pace and prance

freely, while Aunt herself will remain terrified even after death, ringed by the ordeals she was

controlled by in her married life.

117

Symbols:

Wedding band- symbol of oppression in an unhappy marriage. 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 stand in contrast to 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. They pace and prance freely,

proudly; fearless, confident and majestic; fearless of men

Yellow (bright topaz) connotes the sun and fierce energy; green reminds one of spring and

vitality.

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.

Metaphor: Ringed with ordeals: even death would not free her as the wedding band, a symbol

of oppression, would yet be on her finger.

Transferred Epithet : Terrified fingers

Hyperbole: massive weight

Reference to Context ( one mark each)

I. Aunt Jennifer's finger fluttering through her wool

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.

The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band

Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand.

1. Why are the fingers fluttering?

The fingers are fluttering because Aunt Jennifer is underweight to fear from the dominance of

her husband as well as the family life.

2. What does ‘the massive weight of uncle’s wedding band’ depict?

It depicts Aunt’s suffering. The wedding band refers to the engagement ring and also the metal

band that keeps her chained.

3. Why did she create animals which were so different from her own character?

She bore all the suffering very meekly. So, she created tigers that represent her silent revolt

against uncle’s marriage bands and her suffering.

118

Practice Exercise

II. When Aunt is dead ,her terrified hands will lie

Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by

The tigers in the panel that she made

Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid

1. How are the tigers different from her?

2. What are the ordeals that Aunt Jennifer faced in her life?

3. What does ‘ringed with ordeals’ imply?

4. Is the society in any way affected by Aunt Jennifer’s death?

Practice Questions

Short Answer Questions (30-40 words) - 2 marks

1.What do you learn about Aunt Jennifer’s tigers on reading the poem?

2.Why does Aunt Jennifer create animals that are so different from her own character?

3. Why do you think aunt Jennifer’s fingers are fluttering?

4.What is suggested by the phrase, ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’?

5.What does Aunt Jennifer’s death signify?

6.How will aunt Jennifer’s hands look when she is dead? What does this signify?

7.What will happen to her tigers when she dies?

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

9. Why do you think is the poem written in third person?

10. What is the main theme of the poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers?

119

VISTAS:

L1 The Third Level By Jack Finney

About the Author

Jack Finney (October 2, 1911 - November 16, 1995) was an American author. His best-known works

are science fiction and thrillers. Finney’s novel The Body Snatchers (1955) was the basis for the 1956

movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It tells the story of aliens who invade Earth by emerging from

pods and taking over the bodies of humans. Finney’s greatest success came with his science fiction

novel Time and Again (1970).

Theme

The Third level touches upon the theme of time and space travel. The story also explores the theme

of escapism. The idea that people often day dream to escape from the harsh realities of their

existence.

Points to Remember

1. Charley is convinced that there are three, not just two levels at Grand Central Station.

2. Charley’s psychiatrist friend Sam and his friends, think his delusion is a “waking-dream wish

fulfilment,” and like his stamp collection, a temporary refuge from a world full of insecurity, fear,

war, and worry.

3. Charley does not agree with this explanation because his stamp collection was originally started

by his grandfather who lived a secured and peaceful life.

4. Charley explains that one evening while hurrying home, he decides to take the subway from

Grand Central Station, and gets lost.

5. He eventually finds himself on a strange third level with smaller room, wooden information

booth, spittoons on the floor, gaslights, oddly dressed people, and a locomotive from 1894 and

The World newspaper.

6. Understanding he'd somehow gone back in time, Charley tries to buy tickets to Galesburg, Illinois,

“a wonderful town … with big old frame houses, huge lawns and tremendous trees whose

branches meet overhead and roof the streets.” Because the clerk won't accept his 1950-style

money, Charley leaves the station.

7. During his lunch break the next day, Charley withdraws nearly all their savings and buys old-style

currency. But he can never again find the entrance to the third level at Grand Central Station.

8. Charley finds evidence the third level actually exists when he discovers a letter to him, dated July

18, 1894, addressed to his grandfather at Galesburg but it had a note inside from his psychiatrist

friend Sam.

120

9. It seems Charley's psychiatrist was not as incredulous of the third level as he appeared. The letter

inside had a note describing the tension free life of Galesburg and also requesting Charley and

Louisa to keep looking for it.

Sample Answers

Q.1. Discuss the irony at the end of the lesson.

A.1. Charley found the third level and wanted to go to Galesburg of the year 1894. He had to

return and could never find the third level again. It is ironical that his friend Sam, who had not

believed Charley, found the place and asked Charley to keep looking for it.

Q.2. Describe Charley’s character with special reference to his escapist tendency.

A.2. Charley is an ordinary thirty one-year-old man. He often discovers new exit points in the

Grand Central station of a fast expanding New York city. The Third Level is a medium of escape for

Charley from the present harsh realities of post war modern life which is full of insecurity, fear,

war, worry and tension. It is a safe route for Charley to go to Galesburg of 1894 with the world

wars years away. So he tries to purchase two tickets for Galesburg, Illinois from the Third Level at

Grand Central. His psychiatrist friend, Sam calls it a waking-dream-wish-fulfilment. In reality

Charley fails to cope with his stressful life and finds solace in the thought of mere existence of

Galesburg of 1894 which can never be found again .Thus it can be said that the Third-Level is a

medium of escape for Charley.

Q.3. Do you observe an intersection of time & space in the story?

Value points--The third level – a convincing description – of interaction between time & space

– can be divided into modern world & the world of 1894 – the world of Grand Central station &

the world of Galesburg. through New York Central, the narrator talks about – Present world of

21century – and of Galesburg of 1890’sintersection a number of times-Charley’s discovery of third

level, his return to modern times, Sam’s disappearance, his letter from 1894 reaching Charley in

modern times. thus lesson a good intersection of time & space – achieved through the narrator at

psychological level.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the third level refer to? 2. The narrator thinks that the Grand Central is growing like a tree. What makes him think so?

Why has it been ‘an exit’? 3. What did the narrator’s psychiatrist friend say about his claim of being at the third level of

Grand Central Station?

4. What did the narrator’s friends say about his hobby of stamp collection?

121

5. Why did Charley not agree with his friends’ comments?

6.. What did the narrator see at the third level?

7. Describe Galesburg Illinois in 1894. Why did the narrator want two tickets to Galesburg,

Illinois?

8. Why could Charley not buy tickets to Galesburg for himself and his wife?

9. Why was the narrator’s wife Louisa worried?

10. What is a first day cover? Explain.

11. What strange thing was found among the oldest first day covers? How did it come there?

12 .What was written in Sam’s letter to Charley?

13 Why couldn’t Sam go back to his old business?

14. Did third level exist? Validate your answer with suitable reasons.

15.. What do you think does ‘The Third Level’ stand for?

16.. What is referred to as ‘the obvious step’?

Long Answer Questions

1. Describe Charley’s character with special reference to his escapist tendency.

2. Describe Charley’s impression of the world he encounters on the third level at the Grand

Central Station. Why couldn’t he buy tickets to Galesburg?

3. Do you observe an intersection of time & space in the story?

4. Discuss the third level as a scientific fantasy.

L -2 – THE TIGER KING – Kalki

About the Author

Kalki was the pen name of the R. Krishnamurthy (1899 – 1954), and Indian freedom fighter,

novelist, short-story writer, journalist, travel writer, satirist, poet, critic, and connoisseur of the

arts.

‘The Tiger King’ is an enjoyable story and prime example of Kalki’s biting pen. It is a poignant

satire on the self-importance that the people in power assume.

122

Introduction

Kalki takes his readers to the days of autocratic and eccentric kings. These kings lived under the thumb rule of Britishers, hence they fear them. In order to make the story mysterious Kalki has added supernatural element in the story. The haughty king disapproved the prophecy made by the astrologer about his death, but his death from the wooden tiger (100th tiger) approved it. The story ‘The Tiger King’ is a satire on the conceit of those in power. Most of the time the rulers are not interested in serving the people or work for the welfare of the public; instead they spend their time in foolish pursuits.

About the Lesson

When the prince of Pratibandhapuram was just ten days old the astrologers predicted that the prince would be killed by a tiger because he was born at the hour of the bull star. When the prince grew up and became the new king he went on hunting tigers to kill the hundredth tiger that was believed to be the king’s killer. When the tiger population got extinct in the forests of his kingdom after he had killed seventy tigers, he simply married a girl whose father's forest had the required number of tigers. Overcoming all the hurdles that came in the king’s hunting mission, ninety nine tigers were killed. The hundredth tiger was not found anywhere. The king became furious and mad. He dismissed many of his ministers and his people began to hate him. To put an end to all this, the Devan, the prime minister of the king, brought a very old tiger to the forest where the king was hunting and placed the tiger in front of the tiger. The king shot the tiger and went to the palace believing that he had killed the hundredth tiger, his enemy (But the tiger was not in fact killed; it had fainted at the sound of the firing; the bullet missed the target). The king bought a wooden tiger for his son’s birthday which was made by an unskilled craftsman. They were playing with the toy tiger when a wooden sliver pierced the king’s finger. Though the king ignored the wound, soon it became critical and some very famous surgeons were called to the palace. The surgeons operated the king and declared that the operation was successful but the king had died. Thus the prediction of the astrologers came to pass and it was the hundredth tiger that avenged the death of all the tigers that the kind had killed in order that he might live and also disprove the prophecy of the astrologers.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did the chief astrologer react to the tiger king’s question about the manner of his

death? How did the tiger king take it?

When the baby was barely ten days old, he opened its lips in speech. The chief astrologer was

wonderstruck. He thought it to be incredible that the baby raised an intelligent question – to

know about the manner of his death. The astrologer told that the prince that he was born in the

hour of the bull. The bull and tiger are enemies. Therefore, death to him shall come from the

Tiger. The tiger king growled, “Let tigers beware!”

2. Why was it celebration time for all the tigers inhabiting Pratibandapuram?

There was a celebration time for all the tigers inhabiting Pratibandapuram because the state

banned tiger hunting by anyone except the Maharaja and a proclamation was issued to the

effect that if any one dared to fling a stone at a tiger, all his wealth and property would be

confiscated.

123

3. What did the Maharaja do when he stood in danger of losing his kingdom in refusing the

British officer’s permission for tiger hunting?

The Maharaja obtained some fifty expensive diamond rings of different designs from a British

Jeweller Company in Calcutta and sent them to the British officer’s good lady expecting her to

choose one or two rings and send the rest back. But she kept all the rings and thanked the

Maharaja for the gift. This cost the Maharaja three lakh rupees; but his kingdom was saved.

4. What plan did the Maharaja think of to fulfill his vow to kill hundred tigers after the tiger

population became extinct in his state?

When the tiger population became extinct in his state the Maharaja planned to marry a girl of

a royal family of a native state with a large tiger population so that he would kill the remaining

thirty tigers in the state of his father-in-law when he visited that.

Questions for Practice a) What were the two hurdles that the maharaja had to face during his tiger hunt? b) What was the compromise the British officer was ready to make with the king? Why did the

king refuse this? c) Why did the Tiger King exempt the hillside villagers from their taxes for three years? d) How did the wooden tiger lead to the death of the Maharaja?

Long Answer Type Questions

1. “The operation is successful. The maharaja is dead.” comment on the irony of the situation.

Value Points

The three famous surgeons were called from Madras to treat the Maharaja.

The whole incident is a satire on the life of rich and powerful people.

Everything in their life should be grand be it a disease, purchases or treatment.

So when the Maharaja got hurt by a wooden splinter, specialists from Madras were called

The surgeons discussed and debated for some time and decided to operate

At the end of the operation they said the operation was successful but the Maharaja was dead.

As if the procedure was important to them but life had no meaning for them.

The job of doctors is to save people and not highlight the technicalities of the treatment.

But here it was just that, poor Maharaja was relegated to a non-entity whose life was not of much consequence to them.

2. To kill the hundredth tiger, the Maharaja endangered his position. How did he save his

throne?

3. It is understood from the lesson that the king was surrounded by people who obeyed him out

of fear and there was a lack of good counselling from his ministers to run his kingdom for the

good of the people. How important is it to have a good council of ministers for the good

governance of the country?

124

L3 JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH-Tishani Doshi

About the Author

Poet, writer, and dancer Tishani Doshi was born in Madras, India, to Welsh and Gujarati parents.

She earned did her MA from the Writing Seminars from the Johns Hopkins University. After

working in the fashion magazine industry in London, Doshi returned to India. An unexpected

meeting with one of Indian dance’s leading choreographers, Chandralekha, led Doshi to a career

in dance. She currently performs internationally with the Chandralekha group. She is a freelance

journalist, and her work has appeared in newspapers and journals such as

the Guardian, the National, and the Hindu.

About the Lesson

1.The lesson is an adventurous experience of the author gained during her journey to the end of the earth- Antarctica under ‘Students on Ice’ programme headed by a Canadian, Geoff Green.

2.Antarctica- an expansive white landscape with uninterrupted blue horizon is the source of profound wonder. Its immensity and isolation have a deep impact upon the visitors.

3. It is like walking into a giant ping-pong ball devoid of any human markers - no trees, billboards or buildings.

4.Antarctica, because of its simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity provides rare opportunity to study how the little changes in the environment can cause big repercussions .

5.The main aim of the ‘Students on Ice’ programme is to provide the new generation with inspiring educational chances to help them foster a new understanding and respect for the planet- Earth.

6. Antarctica is the best place to understand the past, to experience the present and to predict the future. Six hundred and fifty million years ago, a giant amalgamated southern super continent Gondwana existed, roughly around the present- day Antarctica. Things were quite different then, the climate was much warmer. That big landmass in the long duration was forced to separate into continents, sub continents and countries, shaping the globe.

7. Antarctica is devoid of human signs. The visual scale ranges from microscope to the mighty; midges and mites to blue whales and icebergs as big as Belgium.

8.The rapid increase of human population has left us battling with other species for limited resources. Unmitigated burning of fossil fuels has now created a blanket of carbon dioxide around the world. The average global temperature is slowly but surely increasing. Climatic changes are threatening the west Antarctic sheet and Gulf Stream Ocean current.

9.Antarctica holds in its ice cores half- million- year old carbon records trapped in its layers of ice. If we want to study and examine the Earth’s past, present and future, Antarctica is the place to visit.

125

10.Antarctica exhibits and reflects how little changes in the environment can lead to big threats. It is wisely said that if we take care of small things the big things will take care of themselves. The author clearly explains this notion with an example of microscopic phytoplankton, small grasses of the sea that nourish and sustain the entire southern ocean’s food chain. If those small grasses are destroyed, the whole marine system would be in danger- the marine animals; the birds of the region and the global carbon cycle would face certain imbalance. Scientists warn that further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of phytoplankton.

11.The author concludes by writing about her experience of walking on the frozen surface of ocean with 180 metres of living and breathing salt water as one of many epiphanies

Sample Answers

Q.1.Why did Geoff Green decide to include high school students in his programme?

A.1.Geoff Green felt that celebrities or rich curiosity seekers who visited Antarctica could give

back to the society in a limited way. Impacting young minds with such an enlightening experience

will have far reaching effects. It will help the students absorb, learn and act for a better future.

Q.2. Why is the Antarctica the place to go in order to understand the earth’s past, present and

future?

A.2.The Antarctica holds a half a million years old carbon track record in its layers of ice.It gives us

an understanding of evolution and extinction, ozone and carbon. A visit to Antarctica where once

Six hundred and fifty million years ago Gondwana existed, helps us understand the world’s

geographical history. Because of its simple eco system and lack of bio diversity Antarctica offers us

an ideal opportunity to see the visible changes caused by human activities. The studies show how

little changes in the environment have big repercussions as in the example of microscopic

phytoplankton. Scientists warn that further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of

Phytoplankton, in turn affecting the eco system of Antarctica. It is also a pointer to the future

demonstrating the effect of global warming on our ecology.

Short Answer Questions

1. How is Antarctica a crucial element in the debate on climate change?

2. How does the author create a sense of distance between the rest of the world and Antarctica?

3. Why does the author say one loses all earthly sense of perspective and time?

4. Who started the Students on Ice programme and why?

5. How have humans managed to create a ruckus on this earth?

6. “And for humans, the prognosis is not good". Explain the situation and observation.

7. Why does the author say "that a lot can happen in million years, but what a

difference a day makes".

8. How is Antarctica untouched as compared to the rest of the world?

126

Long Answer Questions

1. How was the journey to the Antarctica an incredible experience for the narrator?

2.“Take care of small things and the big things will take care of themselves”. What is relevance of

this statement in the context of the Antarctic Environment

L -4 – THE ENEMY – Pearl S. Buck

About the Author

Pearl S. Buck is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature. She strongly

believed in the brotherhood and equality of all people. ‘The Enemy’ written in 1942 confirms the

belief.

The story raises the high-level moral questions about ethics in the time of war. When is a patient

a patient and when is he an enemy to be treated as a threat? How are ethical principles prioritized

when they are in conflict?

Theme

The story de-glorifies war and sets fellow feelings as against national loyalty. It proves that

humanity is above patriotism and therefore indirectly condemns war. It also illustrates the conflict

of a person who has to make difficult choices.

About the Lesson

During the World War an American prisoner of war is washed ashore in a dying state and is found at the doorstep of a Japanese doctor.

The whole fiction very poignantly deals with the doctor’s moral perplexity as regards making a choice between saving the dying man as a doctor and handing him over to the Army as a patriot.

The story involves a doctor’s moral and ethical duties at professional level and patriotic devotion at national level. Moreover he can’t forget his familial duties as well.

Dr. Sadao Hoki is not only a good surgeon but also an accomplished scientist. He is perfecting a discovery that will render wounds entirely clean.

Sadao is kept in Japan instead of sending him abroad along with the troops because the General might need an operation for a condition for which he was being treated medically at the moment.

Apart from enjoying the status of being the best Japanese surgeon, Sadao is also an extraordinarily good individual .His efforts to respond to the moral duties as a human being as well as the ethical call of his profession give him nearly a godly stature.

Sadao’s father inculcated in him great values of patriotic devotion and national loyalty when the latter was very young. Sadao has grown up with such great values that it is now quite impossible for him not to respond to the call of his loyalty to the nation. Sadao, as a dutiful son waits for his father’s approval to marry Hana, whom he met in America while pursuing his studies.

Interestingly enough, Hana, Sadao’s wife, supports Sadao through and through. She solemnly considers it her sacred duty to help and support her beloved husband who has been going through an inexplicable mental trauma.

127

The servants resent their decision to help the American soldier and abandon the house. On the other hand this is not unknown to Sadao that his wife has been going through a lot of trouble for his sake. This pains him so much that he decides to get rid of the white man as early as possible.

He reports the enemy soldier to the general who offers to send his assassins to kill him. Even while saying so, the general has his own health on his mind. He cannot afford to lose the doctor if he is caught helping the enemy soldier.

Despite all moral dilemma, he listens to his heart every time and takes the right decision and his wife Hana very gently follows him.

At last the general forgets to keep his promise, which gives Sadao an opportunity to reconsider his decision. He gives the soldier a boat, food, bottled water and quilts and asks him to wait for a Korean fishing boat to escape.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why didn’t Dr. Sadao put the wounded man back in the sea even though he was his enemy? Dr. Sadao could not put the wounded man back in the sea even though he was an enemy because Sadao was a doctor and the foremost duty of a doctor is to save life. He knew the man would die if he was not tended medically. This would be against medical ethics. So, he rescued him to give medical treatment.

2. How did the servants express their displeasure? The servants did not like the idea of helping an enemy. Yumi refused to wash the white man. They stopped working; but became watchful as long as the white man was harboured there.

3. How did Hana show her human side to the wounded man after the operation? Hana nursed the man herself. When he was getting ready to face some fearful eventuality she told him not to be afraid of anything. Then she knelt and fed him gently from the porcelain spoon. She also told him that he would be soon strong.

4. What did Dr. Sadao do to send off the POW? As soon as it was dark Dr. Sadao dragged the stout boat down to the shore. He put food, bottled water and two quilts. He medically examined the man. Then gave him his own little flashlight to signal for food, gave him Japanese clothes, covered his blond head and let him go.

Questions for Practice 1. Sadao had made his father happy. What had he done to do so?

2. Why had Sadao not accompanied the troops abroad?

3. How did the servants react when they learnt of the wounded man?

4. How did the General offer to help Sadao get rid of the American?

Long Answer Type Questions 1. Discuss the General’s role in the story.

Sadao was kept back in Japan because the General would be needing a surgery. General Takima beat his wife but no one spoke about it after he fought a victorious battle in Manchuria. Hana

128

thought that he would be cruel to his enemy. When Sadao told him about the American soldier, he felt assured of Sadao’s skills as a surgeon. To save the doctor he offered to send his private assassins to get rid of the American. In his pain, he forgot all about his promise. Infact, his self-obsessed behaviour is in sharp contrast to Sadao’s selfless service to the soldier at the risk of his own life. His knowledge of the wounded soldier makes him a party to the same guilt as Sadao. The General’s suggestion makes Sadao realize his own feelings and helps him plan the soldier’s escape.

2. How did Hana take to the leaving of the household workers?

3. Humanity transcends over Patriotism. Discuss with reference to ‘The Enemy’

L – 5 - SHOULD WIZARD HIT MOMMY? - John Hoyer Updike

About the Author

John Hoyer Updike is an American novelist, poet, short-story writer, and literary critic. He is the

author of fifty-odd books, including twenty novels and numerous collections of short stories,

poems, and criticism. His fiction has won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the American

Book Award, the National Book Critic Circle Award, the Rosenthal Award and the Howells Medal.

Theme

The story deals with child innocence and adult complexes. The story is a narrative within a narrative

and involves issues such as parental authority and parental prejudices foisted on children.

A subtheme of the story is that mothers are always right which directly relates to Jack’s own

experiences with his mother.

About the Lesson

Storytelling

In the evening and for Saturday nap father narrates stories to daughter Jo.

Story telling started when Jo was two years old, now she has turned four.

Each story was a variation of same basic tale.

Roger creature goes to the wise owl with his problem.

The owl advises him to go to the wizard.

The wizard solves the problems with magic and asks for fee.

Roger has insufficient money, but the wizard shows where and how money can be found.

Roger returns home from Boston and the family has their dinner. New story of Roger Skunk

Roger Skunk wants to play with wood mates.

His obnoxious smell is hated by other creatures.

Roger Skunk feels hurt and humiliated.

Skunk meets the wise owl then the wizard (Tiny old man with long white beard and a

129

pointed blue hat)

Wizard advises him not to get too close.

Skunk wants to smell like roses.

Wizard reads some spell and Skunk smells like roses. The wizard fee

Wizard demands seven pennies as fee, while Skunk has only four.

Roger Skunk follows the instruction of wizard to gets three more pennies.

Skunk pays the fee and happily runs out in the wood. Skunk and wood land creatures

Wood land creatures feel happy in the company of skunk.

Skunk's mother dislikes the rose smell and scolds him.

Skunk's mother visits the wizard and hits him on the head.

On mother's order wizard gets the foul smell again.

Mother and Roger skunk come back home and have a nice meal with his father.

Mother hugs and kisses Roger. New life of Roger Skunk

Skunk now plays with woodland animals.

They got used to his foul smell. Jo's problem

Jo does not like the defeat of the wizard.

Wants the story to be changed : wizard to hit Mommy

Father advises that Mothers are always loving and right Father's predicament

Clare, his wife busy painting furniture

Clare complains of delay in his coming soon

Finds himself and his wife trapped in a cage

Feels he is caught in an ugly middle position

Short Answer Questions

1. What was usually the basic storyline of the tale that Jack told Jo almost daily? The stories that Jack used to tell Jo were a slight variation of the basic tale about a small creature usually named Roger. Roger would go to the wise owl, whenever in trouble. The wise owl would ask him to go to the wizard who would finally solve Roger’s problem.

2. How did Roger Skunk’s mommy react when he went home smelling ‘roses’? When Roger Skunk, smelling ‘roses’, reached home his mommy asked him what that awful smell was. Roger Skunk replied that the wizard had made him smell like that. She got angry and with Roger went to the wizard and hit his head with an umbrella.

3. How did Jo react to Jack’s storyline? Jo did not agree with Jack’s version of the story in which Roger Skunk’s mommy hit that wizard right over his head for changing Roger Skunk’s smell. Instead she wanted the wizard to hit the Skunk’s mommy and not change that little Skunk’s smell back.

130

4. What does Jack actually want Jo to know and understand in the story? Jack actually wants Jo to know and understand that parents always love their children as they are. Smelling good or bad is immaterial against the natural biological bond. But this thing is Jo’s beyond understanding. Father has felt empty after two years of storytelling to Jo.

Questions for Practice 1. Why did Jack’s head feel empty of stories?

2. What animal did Jo want Jack to talk about? Why?

3. Where did the Wizard live? Describe his appearance.

3. Was Roger Skunk’s mommy happy with the change in her child? Why?

Long Answer Type Questions

1. What is the clash in the story?

Jack ended his story with Roger skunk’s mother hitting the wizard for giving a new smell to her

son. In fact Jo had loved the previous ending of the story where Roger became a happy creature

with the smell of roses that the wizard gave him. She was displeased by this new ending and

wanted her father to make the wizard hit Roger’s mommy. But Jack was not ready to make any

change as he thought Jo should accept him without questioning. As Jack had created Roger after

himself and Roger’s mother after his own mother, he wanted the story to remain a reminder to

his daughter to understand the importance of yielding to her parents.

2. Why did Jack bring in an addition to the story that had in fact ended?

L – 6 –ON THE FACE OF IT - Susan Hill

About the Author

Susan Hill is a British author of fiction and non-fiction works. Her novels include The Woman in

Black, The Mist in theMirror and I’m the king of the castle for which she received the Somerset

Maugham Award in 1971.

Theme

One should never lose hope but be optimistic and face the reality of life bravely. The disable people

need support and acceptance and not our pity.

About the Lesson

The play is about the friendship between an old man Mr. Lamb and a young boy, Derry, who is

withdrawn and defiant.

Derry is very disturbed because of his scarred face and feels that people do not want to associate

with him.

One day he drifts into a garden which looks very inviting but panics when he meets Mr. Lamb.

131

Mr. Lamb tries to make him feel at ease and advises him to accept life as it comes.

His philosophy is to celebrate life in all its forms. To him, difference is a part of life - a flower and

a weed are the same, both signs of life, of growth

Having an artificial leg (tin leg), he had to cope with the cruelty of others but has taken it in his

stride. He has a positive and optimistic attitude to life.

He tells Derry to live life to the full and to avoid bitterness which can be more corrosive than

the acid that destroyed his face.

He advises Derry to accept life without any pre-conceived notions. The power of choosing what

one wants lies in one’s hands.

Derry is extremely sensitive about his scarred face and has a fixed opinion that he is repulsive

and ugly.

He locks himself in a world of his own and avoids contact with others.

But in-spite of his skeptical attitude, he is moved by the old man’s spirit. This is evident from

the fact that he defies his mother and returns to the garden, though sadly a little too late.

Derry’s face is scarred while Mr. Lamb’s leg is an artificial one, a ‘tin leg’ as he calls it. Both

have to cope with the cruelty of others. While Derry withdraws into his shell, Mr. Lamb takes it

into his stride.

One gets glimpses of the loneliness the old man faces in spite of his outward boldness in the

scene when he talks about the bees.

From Derry’s point of view also it is sad that when he finally makes an effort to come out of his

shell, he is confronted by the loss (death) of the only person who had befriended him (Mr.

Lamb).

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is Derry? What self-opinion does he hold?

Derry is a small boy of 14 – one side of his face totally burnt – acid ate his face-up – a victim of

inferiority complex.

2. How does Mr. Lamb try to remove the baseless fears of Derry?

Mr. Lamb influences Derry – his optimistic philosophy – advises him not to pay attention to

other’s comments – try to be internally pure and strong – eliminate the negativity of life.

3. Why did Derry’s mother stop him from going to Mr. Lamb?

Derry’s mother does not hold good opinion about Mr. Lamb – has heard many things about

the old man – too protective of her own son, therefore stops Derry to visit Mr. Lamb.

4. ‘I am not afraid, people are afraid of me’, why does Derry say so?

Derry lives in a cocoon due to his complexes –his burnt face – isolates himself – doesn’t mix up

– considers his burnt face ‘an unpleasant sight’.

Questions for Practice 1. Why does Derry go back to Mr. Lamb in the end? 2. Mr. Lamb says to Derry: ‘It’s all relative, beauty and the beast’, what essentially does he mean

by that? 3. What makes Derry think that the old man is always alone and miserable? What does he tell the

old man?

132

4. What is the bond that unites old Mr. Lamb and Derry?

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Both Mr. Lamb and Derry represent two serious aspects of life, though their origin can be called the same. Explain the statement. Both Mr. Lamb and Derry are physically challenged but view their lives differently. Derry has a scarred face. He develops an inferiority complex that people hate him or pity him for his ugly face. He intentionally distances himself from people and likes to live in solitude. On the other hand Mr. Lamb is an optimist. He has a tin leg. Though children make fun of him but he takes it in his stride. He does not let his disability affect his life. He believes in enjoying life in its glory. He enjoys sitting in the sun, accepts life without any bitter feeling, He keeps his house open for everyone.

2. Acid...ate my face up. It ate me up.” Describe the miseries suffered by Derry after the

unfortunate incident he refers to.

L – 7 – EVAN TRIES AN O-LEVEL – Colin Dexter

About the Author

Norman Colin Dexter (born in 1930) is an English crime writer, known for his Inspector Morse

novels. He has won many awards for his novels including the CWA Gold Dagger Award for his

outstanding contribution to crime literature.

Introduction

The story is an escape mystery, a thriller that takes the readers to a crescendo to unearth the

escapist's route out of a well-guarded prison where all efforts have been made to thwart attempts

of Evans, the jail bird, from breaking away from the high security person. What comes as a great

surprise in the plot of the story is Evans' escape no doubt but also the element of mystery that

becomes intense as the escape is right under the nose of prison officials.

About the Lesson

Evans desired to have some sort of academic qualification while he was serving imprisonment. For

this he wanted to give the O-level (ordinary certificate in secondary examination) in German. So, a

German teacher came to teach him for ten months. Then he gave the examination there in his cell.

A parson called McLeery was called to invigilate for the exam. The Governor himself came to

supervise security arrangements as the prisoner was very cunning and had escaped three times

earlier also. The parson left with all the papers after the exam got over.

However, later it was discovered that Evans had escaped in the guise of the parson. Evans had badly

wounded the parson behind the prison cell. The parson said that he knew where Evan was. So he

was sent in a police van to catch Evans. But since the parson was bleeding badly, he was dropped

at the hospital. Later, it was found that no wounded parson had visited the hospital. So now it was

133

obvious that the parson was a fake. But now they knew that Evans did not escape in the guise of

Parson but he had stayed in the prison and fooled the entire prison staff. The blood that flowed

from his head was that of a pig which was brought in by McLeery. Similarly McLeery was no Parson.

The real McLeery had been tied up in a room by some of Evans’s friends.

Later the governor caught him in a hotel room, handcuffed him and sent him in a prison van with

prison officers. Once again Evans got the better of the governor as the prison van as well as the

officers were false and was a part of the master plan drafted by Evans’s friends.

Now he was free once again and so he was rightly called ‘Evans the Break’.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who was James Roderick Evans? Why was he put in the Oxford Prison? Evans was a smart young man who had a number of amazing skills to fool anyone and escape any prison. He had a group of friends who used to make money by imitating other people. Because of his smartness in breaking prisons, Evans was sent to the Oxford prison that was thought to be the most secure prison in England.

2. Why did the Governor apply for an examination for Evans? Evans was a prisoner in the Oxford Prison. He had convinced the authorities that he was genuinely interested in learning German and was tutored for a while. When the tutor announced that Evans was prepared for an O’ Level exam, the Governor of the prison applied to the Examination Board for his exam.

3. Who was McLeery? What is his role in the story? Rev. McLeery was a parson at St. Mary Mags, a monastery. He was supposed to invigilate Evans’s examination at the Oxford Prison. He was about to leave his residence for the prison when two of Evans’s friends entered his room and tied and gagged him until Evans had escaped from the prison.

4. What was the intention behind the call from the Examinations Board? It was one of Evans’s friends who made the call from the Examination Board. This call was primarily meant for confirming the beginning time of the exam in order to calculate the end of the exam. The equally important reason behind this call was to misguide the Governor into Hotel Golden Lion to arrest Evans from there and thereby to make the escape altogether safer.

Questions for Practice 1. Who is Carter? Where does the Governor want him to go and why? 2. How did the Governor manage to reach Evans in the hotel? 3. How did the question paper and the correction slip help Evans? 4. Why did Evans not take off his hat when Jackson ordered him to do so?

Long Answer Type Questions

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

Value Points

All security arrangements were personally monitored by the Governor.

The Recreation Block was heavily guarded.

134

Senior prison officer, Mr. Jackson, thoroughly checked Evans’s cell and removed all

incriminating material which may hamper the smooth conduct of the exam ( nail cutter/ nail

file/ scissors)

The cell was bugged and the Governor could hear all conversations.

McLerry, the invigilator, was also frisked.

Stephen was posted to keep a constant vigil on the activities inside the cell.

2. “Appearances can be deceptive”. How does this prove to be true in Evan’s case?

L – 8 – MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD

The Cutting of my Long Hair – Zitkala Sa

We too are Human Beings – Bama

About the Authors

Zitkala-Sa is the pen name of Gertude Simmons Bonnins who was an educated Native American

woman. She struggled and triumphed in a time when severe prejudice prevailed towards Native

American culture and women. She was prominent in the Pan-Indian movement of the 1920s and

1930s. She devoted her life to lobbying for the rights of Native Americans.

Bama is the pen name of a Tamil Dalit woman from a Roman Catholic family. She has published

three main works : an autobiography, Karukku; a novel, Sangati; and a short story collection,

Kisumbukkaaran.

Introduction

‘Memories of Childhood’ presents two autobiographical accounts from the lives of two women,

both from marginalized communities. Both look back on their childhood and reveal to us their

conflict with the mainstream culture. The first account by Zitkala-Sa presents her as a victim of the

prejudice prevailing in the then American society towards Native American culture and women. On

the other hand, Bama paints her people as the victims of the caste system. But both the accounts

are not simple narratives of oppression. Rather they reveal how oppression was resisted by both

the narrators in their own ways.

The Cutting of my Long Hair – Zitkala Sa

About the Lesson

Zitkala Sa’s first day at school was unpleasant. It was cold in the land of apples. She found it shameful to be deprived of her blanket and the harsh noises were jarring.

At the breakfast table, she did not understand the rules and made several mistakes.

135

Eating by formula – at the first bell everyone had to pull a chair. Zitkala sat down and realized that others were still standing. At the second bell everyone had to sit down. Zitkala stood up when the second bell rang. She felt humiliated. Another bell rang and she was too scared to do anything. She burst out crying.

She was scared of the pale face woman. She was told about the cutting of her hair by her friend Judewin.

In her culture, unskilled warriors who were captured had shingled hair and short hair was worn by mourners.

She tried to hide but was dragged, tied to a chair and her long hair was cut off.

This cruelty crushed her spirit. She remembered her mother and the comfort of her home.

We too are Human Beings - Bama About the Lesson

Bama was an innocent child living in a village. She used to walk back home from school and covered ten minutes of walk in half an hour to one hour as she watched all the fun games such as street play, puppet show, snake charmer, performing monkey.

Her innocence was lost when she experienced untouchability very early in life.

One day she saw an elder of her community carrying food packet holding it by its strings. She was amused but her brother told her that they belonged to a low caste. So people from upper caste believed that the food packet would be polluted if it was touched by them.

Her brother was once asked about the street he lived in to determine the caste he belonged to.

He told her to work hard to win honour and dignity. She studied hard and stood first in her class.

Short Answer Questions

1. What were the indignities that the new girls were subjected to at Carlisle Indian School?

The girls were scrutinized thoroughly and supervised by a grey-haired woman. They were

made to wear tight fitting immodest clothes and stiff shoes. During breakfast a systematic and

regimental discipline was observed. The girls with long hair had to get them shingled and they

had to submit to the authorities who were strong, unfeeling and cruel.

2. On learning that her long hair would be cut the author decide to struggle first. What does

this tell us about the author?

The author knows that she could never prevail against the authorities, yet she struggles against

the injustice. Her mother had told her that only cowards had their hair shingled and she firmly

believed that she was not one. To prove her point as well as raise her voice against the

indignity, she struggles.

3. Why did Bama take half an hour to an hour to cover the distance to her home that would

normally take only ten minutes?

Bama would dawdle alone, watching all the entertaining novelties and oddities in the streets.

She would gaze at the shops and the bazaar enjoying the street scenes and so she would take

at least an hour to reach home.

136

4. What was the incident that made Bama laugh as well as feel so provoked and angry?

Bama saw an elderly man of her street carrying a packet of ‘Vadais’ by the strings and walking

gingerly, holding the parcel away from his body. Bama found his manner of carrying the parcel

very funny. But her brother explained to her that the higher caste people believed that if the

lower caste people touched the parcel it would be polluted. That’s why the elderly man was

carrying it in that manner. This provoked and angered Bama.

Questions for Practice 1. ‘Eating by formula was the hardest trial on the first day’, says Zitkila- Sa. What does she mean

by ‘eating by formula’?

2. Why does the author feel ‘Spirit tore itself in struggling for its lost freedom, all was useless’?

3. When and how did Bama come to know of the discrimination faced by the marginalized

people?

4. What was the advice given by Bama’s brother to her?

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Had Bama not been guided by her elder brother regarding untouchability she would have

grown up into a complex-torn woman. Do you agree? Justify.

Value Points:

Annan - an understanding and considerate elder brother – guides her properly – explains

the social stigma of untouchability – elder carrying Vadai is not comical but pathetic – victim

of social prejudice

Bama angry and provoked – frustration might have led to open and futile revolt

Timely advice of Annan guides her in right direction

He believes that people of their community should study and outshine others to earn

respect of society.

Bama follows his timely advice and grows up to be a balanced and well respected individual

of the society.

2. Power leads to dominance and reaches oppression and ends up in rebellion and failure. How

is this statement true in the case of the rebellion raised by Zitkala Sa and Bama?

137

SAMPLE PAPERS

CLASS- XII SUBJECT- ENGLISH CORE

TIME-3 Hrs. MM-80

No. of Printed Sheets- 5 and Number of Questions – 10

General Instructions: 1. This paper is divided into three sections: A, B and C. 2. All the sections are compulsory. 3. Read the instructions very carefully given with each section and question and follow them. 4. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

SECTION A: Reading (20 Marks)

Q1.Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (12 marks) 1. In today’s fiercely competitive business environment, companies need to communicate information pertaining to a whole range of issues in a lucid and precise manner to their customers. 2. This is particularly so in the case of companies which do business in areas such as manufacturing, IT, engineering products and services –companies whose products and services may not be understood by a customer not familiar with its technical aspects. 3. These communication materials are prepared in a company these days by technical writers – people who can effectively communicate to an intended audience. 4. The skills of a technical writer are being increasingly sought for preparing marketing documents such as brochures, case studies, web site content. Though technical writer in a company do a good portion of such work, the trend now is to outsource technical writing to free lancers. 5. Technical writing and writing text books are poles apart. The former is aimed at those who do not have an in depth knowledge about a product and hence should be direct and lucid. 6. The basic requirement for being a technical writer is near –total mastery over English language. A technical writer should be natural in creative writing and needs to be an expert in using Business English. 7. This simply means that those with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature along with a diploma in Journalism and having a PG Diploma in Computer Applications are ideal candidates for being employed as technical writers. 8. According to Joe Winston, Chief Executive Officer of I manager, speaking ability is not imperative for technical writer. Many have inhibitions in speaking English but their writing skills would be very sharp. 9. Technical writing would be a good option for such people. If candidate is to be assigned the task of preparing high –end technical manuals, he is required to have higher qualifications such as an M.Phil. in English Lit. and a degree such as M.C.A. 10. Companies look for such qualifications because technical writers first need to understand the technical information themselves, before trying to communicate it in de- jargonized language to the potential customers.

138

11. However, it is also true that many companies provide rigorous on –the- job training to fresh technical writers before allowing them to graduate to high –end products. 12. Though the demand for good technical writers has risen sharply over the years, the emphasis is never on numbers but on skills. 13. Merely having the right mix of writing and comprehension skills is not sufficient. A technical writer should keep his writing blades constantly sharpened. It means untold hours of reading up the latest in the technological trends and ceaseless honing of one’s Business English and writings. 14.A career in technical writing is seen as a good choice for women mainly because it is widely held that women are more adept at creative writing than men and the job odes do not entail graveyard shifts or ‘arduous travelling’. 15. A beginner can expect to be paid anywhere between Rs.8000 to Rs.15000 a month. Technical writers usually join as executive technical writers and then go on to become senior technical writers ,team leaders and some even manage to make it to management job within a decade .As in most private sectors jobs, merit is the main criterion for rise in job and not necessarily the number of years one has put in. 2. Read the passage carefully and choose the most appropriate option: (1X5=5) 1. The technical writing in Today’s world is required for preparing: i) Marketing documents ii)Web site content iii) Media kits iv) i and ii 2. A technical writer should – i) have total mastery over English language ii) be natural creative writing iii) be an expert in using Business English iv) all of the above 3. According to Joe Winston, a technical writer should be- i) have talent to write in a simple and effective manner ii) be an eloquent speaker. iii) have writing skills but speaking ones are not necessary iv) have speaking skills though writing ones are not mandatory 4. In most private sectors jobs, the main criterion for rise in job is: i) the number of years one has put in. ii) merit. iii) sycophancy. iv) none of the above. 5. A career in technical writing is seen as a good choice for women mainly because: i) it is widely held that women are more adept at creative writing than men ii) the job odes do not entail graveyard shifts iii) it does not involve ‘arduous travelling”. iv) all of the above

139

II .Answer any five of the following questions briefly: (1X5=5) 1. In today’s fiercely competitive business environment what do the companies need to do? 2. What should be academic qualification of a technical writer? 3. What is the need of such qualification? 4. Why do companies need technical writers? 5. What can a beginner in the profession expect to be paid? 6. What is the growing trend in the field of technical writing? III. Find words in the above passage which mean the same as: (2X1=2) i) Continuous / without stopping (para 13) ii) Difficult (para 14) Q2.Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (8 marks) 1. There is a clear dichotomy between Jayashankar Prasad’s daily life and the one that found expression in his literature. In his literary formulations, Prasad advocated an escape-from-personality ideal and categorically stated: “An artist’s art, and not his person, is the touchstone to assess his work . . . it is only after losing his personality that he emerges in his art as an artist”. 2.In Prasad’s works –his poems, short stories, novels, dramas etc. –what emerges is life as shaped in the writer’s inner self by his emotions, fancies, dreams, reveries . . . His writings are a record not of outer reality, but of the artist’s inner world. As such, of a proper appreciation and understanding of his works more emphasis needs to be placed on the working of his mind, than the events of his day-to-day life. 3. Prasad was born in a renowned family of Varansi. His grand-father Shiv Ratan Sahu, a dealer in high quality perfumed tobacco (snuff). Besides being an astute businessman, he was endowed with a marked cultural taste. His home was the meeting place of the local poets, singers, artists, scholars and men of religion. Prasad’s father Devi Prasad Sahu carried forward this high tradition of family. Prasad, therefore, had a chance to study the various phases of human nature in the light of the business traditions, artistic taste and religious background of his family. 4. When the business had somewhat recovered, Prasad planned the publication of a literary journal. Prasad started the “Indu”. The inaugural number appeared in July 1909. By this time Prasad‟s notions of literature had crystalized into a credo. In the first issue of Indu, he proclaimed, „Literature has no fixed aim; it is not slave to rules; it is free and all-embracing genius, gives birth to genuine literature which is subservient to none. Whatever in the world is true and beautiful is its subject matter. By the dealing with the True and Beautiful it establishes the one and affects the full flowering of the others. Its force can be measured by the degree of pleasure it gives to the reader’s mind as also by criticism which is free of all prejudice”. The words sound like the manifesto of romanticism in literature.5.Even while recognizing the social relevance of literature, Prasad insisted, “The poet is a creator . . . he is not conditioned by his milieu; rather it is he who moulds it and gives it a new shape; he conjures up a new world of beauty where the reader for the time being, becomes oblivious of the outer world and passes his time in an eternal spring garden where golden lotuses blossom and the air is thick and pollen”. Thus, the chief aim of literature according to Prasad is to give joy to the

140

reader and to create a state of bliss in him. Later under the impact of Shaivadvaitism, this faith of Prasad got further strengthened. (Word length-490)(Extract from ‘Jayashankar Prasad-His mind and Art’ by Dr. Nagendra)

2.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, make notes on it using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary-minimum four) and a format you consider

suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it. (4 Marks) 2.2 Write a summary of the passage in about 100 words. (4 Marks)

SECTION B: Writing (30 Marks)

Q3 You are Simar/Smriti of Lotus International School, Jodhpur. Your school is organizing a workshop on “Prevention of Drug Abuse” in the coming week. Prepare a poster with complete information for the students of class X-XII. (4 Marks)

OR You are Simar/Smriti of Lotus International School, Jodhpur. Your school has decided to contribute in controlling traffic near your school and requires the names of volunteers from IX to XII. Write a notice to be displayed on the notice board. (4 Marks) Q4. Public demonstration causes a lot of disturbance in daily routine of common man. You almost missed your important entrance examination as people blocked the highway. As Tarun/Taruna, a student aspiring to be a doctor, write a letter to the Editor of The Times of India highlighting the need to discourage such demonstrations and disturbance by public on highways which cause a great loss of time and opportunity for many.(100-125 words) (6 marks)

Or Your school has decided to add a few books to the library. The school wants to encourage reading habit amongst students. As the Librarian of the Venkateshwar International school place an order with Pearl Publishers for books for all age levels. Give all necessary details. (6 marks) Q5 Taking selfies has become a rage and is a global phenomenon. It has cost us several lives and also immortalised several moments. Write an article for a National Daily on the trend of taking selfies and its impact on people. You are Aditi/ Aditya.(150-200 words) (10 marks)

OR A birth of a girl child is not welcome in the many conservative communities in India. Can a country which does not give equal rights to all its citizens’ even dream of becoming great? Write a speech in 150-200 words expressing your views to be delivered in the morning assembly in your school. (10 marks) Q6 A massive fire due to short circuit gutted 50 odd shops in the congested area of Sadar Bazar in Delhi leading to loss of life and property. As a reporter with The Tribune write the report for the newspaper. (10 marks)

OR

141

You are Vineet, a student of class XII, KV NO1 Faridabad. You are going to participate in a debate competition and express your views for the motion. The topic for the debate is ‘Should genetic engineering be allowed in animals?’ (10 marks)

SECTION C: Literature (30 Marks)

7. Read the extract given below and briefly answer the questions that follow each: (8marks)

When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by

The tigers in the panel that she made Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.

i. What is Aunt Jennifer’s death symbolic of? (1)

ii. Explain ‘terrified hands’ (1) iii. What does ringed with ordeals ‘imply’ (1) iv. Name the poet and the poem of the above extract. (1)

b. I laughed and said, "Well, Mr. Terror, what do you think you can do to me?" It fled and I swam on. 1. Who is 'I' here? Who is being addressed to as Mr. Terror? (1) 2. Why has Mr. Terror been addressed so? (1) 3 Why did the narrator laugh? (1) 4. Why did Mr. Terror leave? (1)

Q8. Answer any five of the following questions in 30 -40 words each: (5X2=10 marks)

i. What do the parting words of Kamala Das signify?

ii. How did Jo want the story to end and why?

iii. Why has Rajkumar Shukla been described as illiterate but resolute?

iv. .How did 'The World' help Charley to confirm his doubts regarding the existence of a third

level?

v. Why does M. Hamel feel the need to safeguard their language?

vi. When Gandhi got the whole hearted support of the lawyers, he said “The battle of Champaran is won”. What was the essence behind his statement?

Q 9. Answer any one of the following questions in 120-125 words: (6 marks)

i. Saheb and Mukesh are brothers in penury and suffering. Discuss.

ii. Author has used gentle and subtle humour to point out human foibles and idiosyncrasies in

the lesson ' Poets and Pancakes'. Elucidate.

142

Q10. Answer any one of the following questions in about 120-150 words: (6 marks) i. How did the mistakes committed by the prison authorities help Evans in escaping from the

prison?

ii. There is a saying, ‘Kindness pays, rudeness never’. In the story, 'The Rattrap' Elda’s attitude towards men and matter is different from her father's attitude. How are the values of concern and compassion brought out in the story, 'The Rattrap'?

143

144

145

146

147

148

149

150

151

152

153

154

155

156

157