Category: 2nd PUC

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Karnataka 2nd PUC English Textbook Answers Springs Chapter 6 When You Are Old

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When You Are Old Questions and Answers, Notes, Summary

When You are Old Comprehension I

When You Are Old Notes KSEEB Solution Question 1.
The speaker is addressing
a. a young woman he has loved
b. an old woman that he has met now
c. the woman that he has admired in his life.
Answer:
(a) a young woman he has loved.

When You Are Old Questions And Answers KSEEB Solution Question 2.
Inline two, the word ‘book’ refers to
a. memories
b. book of poems
c. an album
d. diary.
Answer:
(a) memories.

When You Are Old Poem Questions And Answers KSEEB Solution Question 3.
The words ‘glad grace’ suggest
a. her physical beauty
b. her inner beauty
c. her goodness.
Answer:
(a) her physical beauty.

When You Are Old Summary 2nd Puc KSEEB Solution Question 4.
‘Pilgrim soul’ means the soul
a. which is immortal
b. that has gone on a pilgrimage
c. which is questing for true love.
Answer:
(c) which is questing for true love.

When You Are Old Summary KSEEB Solution Question 5.
What does the phrase ‘your changing face’ suggest?
Answer:
It suggests that her youth and beauty will fade away. When she grows old her face will get shrunk and will look different.

When You Are Old Class 8 Question Answer KSEEB Solution Question 6.
‘Love fled’ connotes
a. the death of the man who loved her
b. the fleeing of her lover to the mountains
c. the loss endured by her.
Answer:
(b) the fleeing of her lover to the mountains.

When You Are Old Comprehension II

When You Are Old 2nd Puc Notes KSEEB Solution Question 1.
How is the ‘one-man’ different from the many others who loved the lady?
OR
How does the speaker distinguish/contrast his love from/with that of the others?
Answer:
The narrator/speaker asks his lady love to presume that she has grown old and grey and is sitting by the fire nodding. Then he asks her to read from her book of memories and reminisce her past when she was in her prime youth. While she is thus engaged in recalling her past, the poet reminds her that though she undoubtedly had a great many suitors who admired her beauty and elegance and professed ‘love’ which may be true or false, he alone loved her unconditionally.

He says that he loved her inner beauty and even the fading away of her youth and beauty. The phrase ‘how many’ in the first line (second stanza) stands in contrast to ‘But one man’, in the third line (second stanza). While many suitors loved her beauty and elegance, he alone loved her pilgrim soul as well as the sorrows of her changing face.

Question 2.
How does the poem bring out the transient nature of beauty as against the permanence of love?
Answer:
Yes. The poem, while making an attempt to persuade the young lady not to ignore him or his love, also incidentally highlights the transient nature of beauty as against the permanence of love. In fact, the speaker’s argument is that, whereas all her suitors are merely attracted by her youthful beauty and elegance, he is attracted by her pilgrim soul. Furthermore, he claims that the love exhibited by her many suitors may not last long and might change as she grows old.

On the contrary, his love will remain constant and unconditional. He would love her ‘pilgrim soul’ as well as the changes in her face which appear as one grows old. Thus, the poet, using the phrase ‘your moments of glad grace’ in the first line of the second stanza in contrast with the phrase ‘sorrows of your changing face’ in the fourth line suggests that ‘beauty’ is transient in nature whereas ‘love’ is permanent.

When You Are Old Comprehension III

Question 1.
Comment on the usage of the time frame by the poet in ‘When You Are Old’.
OR
‘The speaker addresses a young lady in her old age’. Comment on the time sequence used by the poet.
OR
The speaker in ‘When You Are Old’ is not addressing an old lady. Explain.
Answer:
‘When You Are Old’ is a short love poem in which the poet uses a time frame in which the speaker addresses his lady love in the present, takes her to an unreal condition in the future, and asks her to recall her past memories. He does so, in order to persuade her or warn her not to ignore him and make a wrong decision.

The poet’s point of view is the most compelling point of the poem. The narrator is calling upon a woman that is not yet through with youth to, once past her prime, recall the days he was in her life and very much in love with her. Obviously, he wants her to remember him for his unique and unconditional love for her, and how she is choosing to ignore it in the present. By writing this poem in this fashion, the woman, when the poet hopes that she grows old, will remember the days when she was young with happiness but will grow regretful that she did not take advantage of his love.

Alternatively, the woman, in the present will see what an opportunity she is missing by ignoring his love for her and leaving him to fade into the past. The speaker fears that his lady love will not act upon his love for her and that she will only remember him in the book of memories. He hopes that if, once old, she puts down the book of memories, she will grow chilly and sorrowful that she did not foresee how steadfast his love was but how foolish she was for taking no notice of it. He is already fearful that she will grow old without him, and this can be seen as he requests that she remember him a ‘little sadly’ and as a missed chance to have a happy future.

It is the time frame that the poet has used in this poem that facilitates the poet to write this sad and reminiscent poem which is not designed primarily to make an old woman regretful, but to keep a young woman from ignoring the narrator and making the wrong decision.

Question 2.
‘When You Are Old’ is a poem of contrasts. What purpose do they serve?
Answer:
‘When You Are Old’ was written to show the true and unforgettable love from the writer. The theme is a painful one of unrequited love, which the poet manipulates in an interesting manner. Instead of focusing upon the present or the past, Yeats looks to the future, a future in which the two people in the poem are destined to be forever apart. The poet visualizes an unreal condition that the woman he loved became old and felt regret for refusing his true love.

To depict such a theme, the poet deploys elegant and quiet words and builds pictures of contrasts:
In the first stanza, there is a contrast between her elegant youth and her depressing old age. In the second stanza, there is a contrast between her many suitors who professed superficial love and the speaker or the lover who promises true love for her. In the third stanza, there is a contrast between the fleeting or transient love represented by her many suitors and the personified love of the poet.

There is a contrast between ‘the sorrows of your changing face’ in the second stanza and ‘murmur a little sadly’ of the third stanza. ‘The sorrows’ indicate passion or strong emotion is seen in young people and ‘little sadly’ reflects the listlessness of old people. There is a contrast between the ‘beauty and elegance’ sans her soul sought after by the suitors and the ‘pilgrim soul’ in the same lady cherished by the speaker. The many suitors who wanted to court her were attracted by her superficial beauty whereas this lover/speaker was attracted by her pilgrim soul, which symbolizes her inner self. These contrasts serve to build a strong argument to persuade the young lady not to ignore him now and regret later.

When You Are Old Additional Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following questions in a word, a phrase, or a sentence each:

Question 1.
To whom is the poem ‘When You Are Old’ addressed?
Answer:
To a young lady with whom the speaker is deeply in love.

Question 2.
What does the speaker want his beloved to do sitting by the fire?
OR
What does the speaker want his beloved to do when she is old?
Answer:
The speaker wants his beloved to sit by the fire and reminisce her memories of the past

Question 3.
Where, according to the speaker, had love hidden his face?
Answer:
According to the speaker, ‘love’ had hidden his face amid a crowd of stars.

Question 4.
Who, according to the speaker, will be‘nodding by the fire’?
Answer:
The speaker depicts his lady love as an old woman sitting beside the fire, nodding her head.

Question 5.
What does the speaker suggest his beloved to dream of?
Answer:
When she is old and grey, the speaker wants his beloved to dream of the soft look her eyes once had and the deep shadows they now have.

Question 6.
What does ‘the sorrows of your changing face’ refer to?
Answer:
The sorrows of your changing face’ refer to the changes seen in her face as she grows older. Her face will have shrunk and wrinkles will have appeared on her forehead and face depicting the difficulties and sorrows faced by her over the years.

Question 7.
According to the speaker, in what way is his love for the lady different from that of others?
Answer:
While many suitors loved her beauty and elegance, he alone loved her pilgrim soul as well as the sorrows of her changing face.

Question 8.
Mention any one aspect that the speaker loved in his beloved.
Answer:
The speaker loved her ‘inner beauty’ and her ‘pilgrim soul’.

Question 9.
According to the speaker, what will the woman regret in her old age?
Answer:
The woman will regret that she had rejected the speaker’s, true love.

Question 10.
What is meant by’pilgrim soul’?
Answer:
The phrase ‘pilgrim soul’ means the soul which is in quest of ‘true love’.

Question 11.
What look did the woman’s eyes have once in ’When You Are Old’?
Answer:
Soft look.

Question 12.
The speaker in ‘When You Are Old’ addresses
(a) a young lady
(b) an old lady
(c) a little girl.
Answer:
(a) a young lady.

Question 13.
When, according to the speaker in ‘When You Are Old’, will the lady be ‘grey and full of sleep’?
Answer:
According to the speaker in ‘When You are Old’, the lady will be grey and full of sleep when she sits nodding by the fire.

Question 14.
According to the speaker in ‘When You Are Old’, what did many admire the lady for?
Answer:
According to the speaker in ‘When You are Old’, many suitors were mesmerized by her beauty and elegance.

Question 15.
In the poem “When You Are Old’ many loved the lady’s
(a) huge wealth
(b) physical beauty
(c) pilgrim soul.
Answer:
(b) physical beauty.

Question 16.
Who, according to the speaker in ‘When You Are Old’, loved the beloved’s pilgrim soul?
Answer:
According to the speaker in ‘When You are Old’, it was he (the speaker) who loved her pilgrim soul.

Question 17.
Whose pilgrim soul did the speaker in ‘When You Are Old’ love?
Answer:
The speaker in ‘When You are Old’, loved the pilgrim soul of a young lady whom he is addressing in the poem and whose beauty and elegance mesmerized many suitors.

Question 18.
What did the speaker in “When You Are Old’ love besides the pilgrim soul?
Answer:
The speaker in ‘When You are Old’, loved the pilgrim soul, as well as the changes that appeared in her face as she grew older.

Question 19.
Who, according to the speaker in ‘When You Are Old’, fled and hid his face?
Answer:
According to the speaker in ‘When You are Old’, ‘Love’ (personified ‘love’] fled and hid his face.

Question 20.
Where, according to the speaker in ‘When You Are Old’, did love pace upon?
Answer:
According to the speaker in ‘When You are Old’, ‘Love’ paced upon the mountains for a while and then disappeared.

Question 21.
What, according to the speaker in ‘When You Are Old’, did love hide amid a crowd of stars?
Answer:
According to the speaker in ‘When You are Old’, ‘Love’ (personified love) hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

Question 22.
The speaker loved the _____ of his beloved’s changing face in ‘When You Are Old’.
(a) grace
(b) sorrows
(c) soft look.
Answer:
(b) sorrows.

Question 23.
In ‘When You Are Old’, the speaker suggests to his beloved to slowly read his book when she is
(a) glad
(b) old
(c) proud.
Answer:
(b) old.

II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80-100 words each:

Question 1.
Why does the poet ask his beloved to reflect upon the bygone days and the present moment?
OR
What does the speaker in When You Are Old’suggest to his beloved to reflect upon?
Answer:
The poet asks his beloved to reflect upon the bygone days and the present moment because he seems to be apprehensive that she will continue to ignore him, her beauty will vanish soon and she will be alone in her old age. That is why he is asking her to presume that she has grown old and grey and try to foresee her predicament in the future. He does so because he intends to persuade her to pay attention to his ‘value’ as a lover before it is too late.

Question 2.
Examine the theme of opposing stability of true love and the fickleness of false love in the light of the poem.
OR
How does the speaker express his longing for his beloved?
OR
Whose love in ‘When You Are Old’ is true and intense? Explain.
OR
How does the speaker in ‘When You Are Old’ bring out his love for his beloved against the changing circumstances and ravages of time?
Answer:
‘When You Are Old’ presents the moral dilemma faced by a sincere lover. The speaker/narrator is the sincere lover and his lady love is the one who is going to make a decision. The lady has attracted many suitors including the speaker. The speaker believes that the other suitors only love her physical charms, and not all of them are sincere in their love towards her. He means to say that they are fickle-minded and once she loses her charms they will desert her. On the other hand, he believes that he loves her truly and according to him true love is the love of the inner self and has a spiritual aspect in it. But, the lady has not responded to his love.

He feels frustrated and as a last attempt, he tries to tell her the reality. He wants her to realize that physical beauty is transient and love of the fickle-minded will also be transient. He wants to assure her that only his love will be stable and if she ignores him and makes a wrong decision she will regret it later. Thus the speaker tries to persuade his lover to make the right decision and receive his love, which is true and intense.

Question 3.
How does the poet express his feelings for his love in the poem?
OR
How is love that is not reciprocated by the speaker’s beloved expressed in the poem?
Answer:
The poet asks his love, who is still young, to imagine a time when she is past her prime youth. She would then be an old woman with grey hair and sleepy eyes. When she is in such a state, he wants her to read a book of memories from her youth. As the woman sits beside the fire, nodding her head and leaves through her memories, she would recollect the ‘soft looks’ she once had and the sorrows she had suffered until then. When she recalls her faded beauty she would also recall how she was admired by many suitors who were infatuated with her physical charms. At the same time, she would also recall how there was one man who loved her unique soul which was in search of true love. She would also realize that her true love has lingered on for a while, disappeared from the earth and hid amidst a crowd of stars in heaven.

Question 4.
The poem ’When You are Old’highlights the feelings of a true lover. Explain.
OR
How is the speaker’s passionate love for his beloved brought out in the poem?
Answer:
‘When You are Old’ highlights the writer’s true and unforgettable love for a lady. It presents the concern of sincere love for the future predicament of his lady love. Instead of focusing upon the present or the past, the poet looks to the future, a future in which the two people in the poem are destined to be forever apart. The poet imagines that the woman he loved has become old and regrets her refusing his true love.

The poem begins with the presumption that an old and grey lady is sitting beside the fire nodding her head. When she recalls her memories, she remembers the soft look that her eyes had once, and the number of suitors who tried to court her, being charmed by her elegance and beauty. While admitting that many suitors were attracted by her youthful beauty, the speaker tries to tell her that he was the only lover who loved the pilgrim soul in her.

He wants her to know that unlike others he was attracted by the beauty of her inner self and his love would remain constant even in her old age. He assures her that he loves even the sorrows of her changing face. He wants her to understand that over a period of time her beauty will have faded away and she will have grown old, with her face having shrunk and her skin has been wrinkled, indicating that she has passed through many difficulties and sorrows.

The speaker concludes visualizing that she is now bending down beside the dying fire, and she tells herself in a whisper, in a regretful tone that her true love has fled and is hiding his face amidst a crowd of stars. Thus, the whole poem is the delineation of the intense feelings of a true lover.

III. Answer the following questions in about 200 words each:

Question 1.
The poem ‘When You Are Old’ conveys the message that true love is indestructible and constant. Elucidate.
OR
The poem ‘When You Are Old’ brings out the feelings of eternal love. Explain.
OR
‘True love is related to the soul but not to the physical beauty’. How is this idea brought out in the poem ‘When You Are Old’?
OR
Whose love in ‘When You Are Old’ is immortal? How does the poem present this?
Answer:
‘When You Are Old’ depicts the frustration and anxiety of a sincere lover. At the same time, it also presents the concern of sincere love for the future predicament of his lady love.

The lover’s frustration and anxiety for her future find expression only because his love is genuine and constant. Though she has not responded to his ‘love’, the lover does not want to give up his attempts to persuade her. He tries to place before her a realistic, projected picture of her future only because he knows that she will be old, infirm, and companionless as years roll by. Furthermore, the poet seems to understand that she is not a flirt and a worldly lady who loves to indulge in the pleasures of life but one who has also been looking for someone who really loves her inner self more than her physical charms. Only someone who has a similar state of mind, and beliefs, and who is also yearning for a spiritual union with his lady love alone can write so.

From this, one can infer that true love is indestructible and constant. Had the speaker been interested in her physical charms only he would not have bothered to foresee his own future as well as the predicament of his lady love some twenty years hence. Thus it can be argued that the poem ‘When You Are Old’ conveys the message that true love is indestructible and constant and is not influenced by the vicissitudes of fortune.

Question 2.
“But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you”. How does the speaker justify this?
OR
How does the poem distinguish the speaker’s love from that of others?
Answer:
‘When You are Old’ is a love poem in which the poet addresses his lady love in the present, takes her to an unreal condition in the future, and asks her to recall her past memories. He does so, in order to persuade her or warn her not to ignore him and make a wrong decision. This timeframe is the most compelling point of the poem because he wants her to remember him for his unique and unconditional love for her.

The poet compares himself as a suitor with other suitors. He says, ‘but one man loved the pilgrim soul in you’. He tries to distinguish himself from all the other suitors who tried to woo her. He argues that all the other suitors were only attracted by her physical and external beauty and naturally they would be put off by her looks of old age and might stop showing any interest in her. On the other hand, unlike other suitors, he loved her not for her physical beauty but for her ‘pilgrim soul’.

The word ‘pilgrim soul’ has a reference to the biblical belief that every soul is a pilgrim on the way to salvation and redemption. The speaker, by referring to this aspect of the beloved rather than to her beauty and fame, seeks oneness with the inner spiritual self and not the external self.

Question 3.
‘When You Are Old’ makes the ‘beloved’ look back on her youth. Discuss.
Answer:
‘When You Are Old’ is a short love poem in which the poet uses a time frame in which the speaker addresses his lady love in the present, takes her to an unreal condition in the future, and asks her to recall her past memories. He does so in order to persuade her or warn her not to ignore him and make a wrong decision.

The poet’s point of view is the most compelling point of the poem. The narrator is calling upon a woman who is not yet through with youth to, once past her prime, recall the days he was in her life and very much in love with her. Obviously, he wants her to remember him for his unique and unconditional love for her, and how she is choosing to ignore it in the present. By writing this poem in this fashion, the woman, when the poet hopes that she grows old, will remember the days when she was young with happiness but will grow regretful that she did not take advantage of his love.

Alternatively, the woman, in the present will see what an opportunity she is missing by ignoring his love for her and leaving him to fade into the past. The speaker fears that his lady love will not act upon his love for her and that she will only remember him in the book of memories. He hopes that if, once old, she puts down the book of memories, she will grow chilly and sorrowful that she did not foresee how steadfast his love was but how foolish she was for taking no notice of it. He is already fearful that she will grow old without him, and this can be seen as he requests that she remember him a ‘little sadly’ and as a missed chance to have a happy future.

It is the time frame that the poet has used in this poem that facilitates the poet to write this sad and reminiscent poem which is not designed primarily to make an old woman regretful, but to keep a young woman from ignoring the narrator and making the wrong decision.

When You Are Old by W.B. Yeats About the Poet:

William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939) is an Irish poet and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. His early poetry is part of the Celtic twilight or the Irish Literary Revival and it uses the history, myths, and heroic figures of Ireland. Yeats wrote plays, was one of the founders of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, and was witness to the revolutionary politics of Ireland. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1923. Later, under the influence of Ezra Pound, he began to write modernist poetry. He is one of the great love poets of the world.

In this love poem, the speaker (who is the lover) imagines his beloved in the future when she is old and reading the book of poems he is now writing. Reading the book she will remember the past, her youthful beauty, and the many who admired her. While the others loved her physical beauty and grace, only he loved her soul and her soul’s search for something meaningful. However, she will also feel sad that that love also vanished.
Note how love is personified in the last lines.

Background:

Most critics opine that this poem is a real description of the poet’s love. In 1889 Yeats met his great love Maud Gonne, an actress, and Irish revolutionary. However, she married Major John Macbride in 1903, and this episode inspired Yeats to write down this heart-stirring poem. Many critics believe that the poem presents the resentment he feels towards her for not reciprocating his love. The ambiguity of the last stanza of the poem illustrates that the poem is not only about the regret the woman feels when she becomes aware of what she has lost, it also strengthens the argument that this work is actually about the resentment he wants the woman to perceive.

When You Are Old Summary in English

‘When You Are Old’ was written to express the writer’s true and unforgettable love. The theme is a painful one of unrequited love, which the poet manipulates in an interesting manner. Instead of focusing upon the present or the past, the poet looks to the future, a future in which the two people in the poem are destined to be forever apart. The poet imagines an unreal condition that the woman he loved became old and felt regret for refusing his true love.

That is why the poem begins with the presumption that an old and grey lady was sitting beside the fire nodding her head. She is imagined to be reminiscing her memories when she recalls the soft look that her eyes had once, and how many suitors tried to court her, being charmed by her elegance and beauty.

While admitting that many suitors were attracted by her youthful beauty, the speaker tries to tell her that he was the only lover who loved the pilgrim soul in her. He wants her to know that he was attracted by the beauty of her inner self and his love would remain constant even after she grows old. He assures her that he loves even the sorrows of her changing face. He means to say that over a period of time her beauty will have faded away and she will have grown old with her face having shrunk and skin having been wrinkled indicating that she has passed through many difficulties and sorrows.

He concludes visualizing that she is now bending down beside the dying fire, and tells herself in a whisper in a regretful tone that her true love has fled and is hiding his face amid a crowd of stars.

Analysis of the Poem:

‘When You Are Old’ is a short, exquisite, love lyric of twelve lines. It is a sad and introspective poem and is written in a melancholic tone.

The poem is in the form of a direct address by a lover to his lady love. In the poem, there are three stanzas of four lines each with a constant rhyme. The rhyme scheme hints that the speaker/ lover tries to tell her that his love will remain constant even when she grows old.

The most important aspect of this poem is the point of view taken by the narrator. The narrator is asking a woman, who is still young, to imagine a time when she is past her prime youth.

When you are old and gray and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

The poet tries to put her mind in the future when she is an ‘old and gray’ woman, ‘full of sleep’, to ‘slowly read’ a book of memories from her youth. As the woman is ‘nodding by the fire’ she leafs through the book (her memories) and recollects her days of’soft looks’ and ‘sorrows’ as she changed.

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you.
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

She remembers her faded beauty that was admired by many but then recalls the only man, the narrator, who loved her for her unique soul. He loved her even as she grew less beautiful and as her personality changed in the fullness of time. The alliteration ‘glad grace’ expresses that when she is young, beautiful and in her best moments of life many will be interested in her, but their love for her will be just false or superficial love. However, the narrator (speaker) will love her anyway no matter what happens to her beauty.

The line “and loved the sorrows of your changing face” suggests that when she gets old her face gets shrunk. So her face looks different but he will just love her with the same love he always had. There is also a contrast between ‘glad grace’ and ‘sorrows of your changing face’, which suggests that while the others love her in her happy times, he will love her every time, including the worst ones.

The phrase ‘pilgrim soul’ in the line, “but one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,” refers to the long walk that her soul has had, searching for real happiness, but really being alone. So, many lovers can love her for how she looks but only he can love her for who she really is. ‘Pilgrim Soul’ has reference to the Biblical belief that every soul is a pilgrim, on the way to salvation and redemption. The speaker, by referring to this aspect of the beloved rather than to her beauty and fame, evokes oneness with the inner and not the external self.

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

In this stanza, the speaker exhorts the loved one to remember him in later years as she sits beside the fire and bends over the embers of the fire. The onomatopoeic ‘murmur’ suggests a whisper that shows that she has no passion or zest left. This adds to the imagery of age and weariness. ‘A little sadly’ suggests that in later years, as she remembers the speaker, she should feel regretful. The poet uses the word ‘love’ in all the lines in the second stanza and in the third stanza, second line, he capitalizes the word ‘Love’, giving it much intensity. He personifies ‘Love’ in the second line. In the lines,

And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars

‘pacing’ suggests that she was given a chance as ‘Love’ waited for her; it also suggests the gradual diminishing of the love which may then loiter over mountains for a while and then disappear. Being on the ‘mountains overhead’ suggests that ‘Love’ waited on a higher plain than that which she inhabited. Capitalized ‘L’ for love suggests that it is not just a person that she has lost but the ultimate, true, and everlasting possibility of love. The phrase ‘how love fled’ refers to the possibility that the speaker’s love would just fly far away because she is not receptive to his love.

When You Are Old Summary in Kannada

Glossary:

• The pilgrim soul: questing soul
• The glowing bars: the bars of the fire place full of glowing coal (‘Bars’ refers to the bars of the iron grate in the fire-place)
• Nod: move one’s head up and down repeatedly
• Murmur: a softly spoken or almost inaudible utterance
• full of sleep: drowsy due to old age
• moments of glad grace: the days of youth when she was graceful
• nodding: feeling sleepy; a sign of sleepiness
• pilgrim soul: a Biblical belief that every soul is a pilgrim, on the way to salvation and redemption.

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Karnataka 2nd PUC English Textbook Answers Springs Chapter 7 The Gardener

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The Gardener Questions and Answers, Notes, Summary

The Gardener Comprehension I

The Gardener Notes KSEEB Solution Question 1.
What qualities of the old man impressed the narrator?
Answer:
The old man impressed the narrator by his eyes suffused with strange memories and native intelligence. He had strong muscular arms, grey hairs and a beak-like nose. He had a newspaper tucked under his arm and a spade in his hands. The narrator felt the old man was a labourer, overseer and philosopher all rolled into one – a multi-dimensional personality.

The Gardener Summary KSEEB Solution Question 2.
Is it a significant factor that the old man came to the garden after walking hundreds of miles?
Answer:
Yes. The narrator learns from the old man that he had come to that garden after he had walked hundreds of miles. This fact becomes significant because, when he left his place, his intention was to die but once he came there the coconut grove and the place probably convinced him that he could live there comfortably. Moreover, before reaching this place he may have received the news of Basavaiah’s death and must have realized that life or death had no meaning for him. This transformation in his mindset may have prompted him to settle there.

The Gardener 2nd Puc Notes KSEEB Solution Question 3.
The owner of the garden became lethargic because
a. the income of the garden improved dramatically.
b. he had become dependent upon the gardener.
c. there was nothing much left for the owner to do.
Answer:
(c) there was nothing much left for the owner to do.

The Gardener Summary 2nd Puc KSEEB Solution Question 4.
Why did the owner’s wife start worrying about the strange ways of her husband?
Answer:
The owner of the coconut plantation was quite normal. He was working hard to bring about improvement in his earnings. Probably he had little expertise in managing agricultural workers. Therefore, he was looking for someone who would help him. That is why, the moment he spoke to the old man (Tamanna) he felt that he had got the kind of man he wanted. His expectations proved right and the old man helped him in every way and solved all his problems, which eventually resulted in increase in his income.

Once his worries disappeared and he had hardly any work to engage himself in, his personal attention went towards acquiring property and social prestige. It is quite natural that with social prestige also follow certain vices among which adultery was one. Adultery affects any woman. All along, her husband had been faithful to her and once his wife came to know that he was spending his money and time with other women, she got seriously worried. She found it hard to decide whether the arrival of the old man had done good or bad to her husband.

The Gardener Question Answer KSEEB Solution Question 5.
When did the old man decide to narrate his story?
Answer:
The old man, who had settled there in the coconut plantation for good, had watched the activities of the owner. Initially, the owner used to show interest in improving his plantation. Once the old man had solved all the problems, the owner had plenty of leisure and he became lazy. Secondly, he had more money which led him to expand his plantation. Then he had turned his gaze towards acquiring property and social prestige. Then he cultivated certain vices among which adultery was one.

One day, he saw the owner’s wife in the plantation. He saw her looking worried. He guessed that her husband’s activities had given her the worries. Therefore, when he saw her in the plantation he thought he should narrate his own story and try to caution her about her husband. He had understood the way we face ups and downs in our life. By doing so, he probably believed that she might be able to convince her husband about his mistakes and set his life right.

The Gardener Kseeb Solutions KSEEB Solution Question 6.
Tammanna considers his rival, Sangoji/Basavaiah, an important possession because
a. competition helps in the development of an individual.
b. Sangoji/Basavaiah leads a more colourful life.
c. rivalry offers new possibilities of life for him.
Answer:
(c) rivalry offers new possibilities of life for him.

2nd Puc English The Gardener Notes KSEEB Solution Question 7.
“No, his name was not Sangoji, but Basavaiah,” said the old man because
a. he had really forgotten the name.
b. he wanted to keep the identity of his rival a secret
c. he was fictionalizing his past.
Answer:
(c) he was fictionalizing his past.

Question 8.
What unique strategy did Tammanna conceive to annihilate Basavaiah?
Answer:
When Tammanna came to know that Basavaiah had forcibly acquired two hundred acres of his land, he could not tolerate this invasion. Though his supporters explained to him all the means available to him, he was not satisfied with them because he knew that sooner or later Basavaiah would again try to outdo him by hook or by crook. Tammanna did not want Basavaiah to trouble him again. So, he hit on a unique plan. He took recourse to singing ballads and telling the people through them about the cruelty and the meanness of Basavaiah. This way he thought he could annihilate him completely.

Question 9.
Why does Basavaiah start inviting scholars and musicians to his place?
OR
How did Basavaiah try to overcome his humiliation?
Answer:
Once Tammanna started making mention of Basavaiah’s cruelty and meanness in his songs, Tammanna became very popular among scholars of folklore and critics. Basavaiah watched all this in humiliation. Basavaiah tried to redress his humiliation by acquiring material wealth. He bedecked himself with gold, diamonds and other precious stones, and started living in a palatial mansion. But the visitors to his house told him that his house looked dull and empty because Tammanna’s books were not there. Basavaiah thought of investing his home with meaning by inviting scholars, poets and musicians to his place.

Question 10.
What was Basavaiah’s ray of hope in his attempts to outwit Tammanna?
Answer:
When Basavaiah failed in all his attempts to outwit Tammanna, he came to know that Tammanna had fallen ill. This news cheered up Basavaiah’s spirits. This gave him a ray of hope that by keeping himself healthy he could outwit Tammanna who was ill. Tammanna’s disease became Basavaiah’s health.

Question 11.
Tammanna decides to give up everything and leave the place because of
a. he sees no purpose in living there.
b. he wants to create an impression that he is dead.
c. he wants to put an end to the rivalry.
Answer:
(b) he wants to create an impression that he is dead.

Question 12.
Tammanna forgets his songs and ballads because
a. he finds them futile.
b. he doesn’t need them anymore.
c. he avenges himself.
Answer:
(b) he doesn’t need them anymore.

The Gardener Comprehension II

Question 1.
How did the owner’s lifestyle change after the arrival of the old man?
OR
“The old man’s stay on the farm led to many changes in the owner’s lifestyle.” Illustrate with details from the short story to support this statement.
Answer:
The owner had been working hard to improve his plantation, but there were many problems which he had not been able to solve. However, when the old man met him, he came to know that the old man was well-versed in agriculture and had native intelligence. Therefore he appointed him immediately. His expectations proved right. The old man proved his worth in solving all the problems. Consequently, the income from the garden improved dramatically. This caused a perceptible change in the lifestyle of the owner. He expanded his plantation.

However, he became lethargic and shied away from hard work. His wealth and social prestige also increased. He acquired a number of friends in the next town as well as in his own village. Even though he had precious little to do, his life became crowded with colourful events. He cultivated umpteen vices including adultery.

Question 2.
What advice did the supporters of Tammanna give for getting back his land?
Answer:
When Basavaiah acquired Tammanna’s two hundred acres forcibly, Tammanna could not tolerate this invasion. Tammanna’s supporters advised him about the various methods available for getting back his land. They told him that he could go to the court of law. He could also take recourse to the police. If he did not want to do either, there were any number of persons ready to attack Basavaiah and using force and violence to wrest his land from him.

Question 3.
How did Tammanna react to Basavaiah’s encroachment of his land?
Answer:
When Tammanna-came to know that Basavaiah had forcibly taken away two hundred acres of his land, he could not tolerate this invasion. When his supporters advised him to either go to the court or seek the help of the police or ask some persons to attack Basavaiah and take back his land forcibly, Tammanna hit on a unique idea, of annihilating Basavaiah. He thought of getting all his experiences composed in the form of ballads and telling the people through them about the cruelty and the meanness of Basavaiah.

Question 4.
How did Basavaiah try to overcome his humiliation?
Answer:
When Tammanna started singing ballads through which he told the people about Basavaiah’s cruelty and his meanness, he became very popular. Many scholars of folklore and literary critics translated his songs and earned their share of the fame. All this made Basavaiah shrink in humiliation. However, he tried to redress his humiliation by acquiring more material wealth and luxuries. He got a palatial mansion built for himself. He appointed a number of persons just to praise him. He bedecked himself with gold, diamonds, and other precious stones. He even started inviting scholars, poets and musicians to his place with the intention of investing his home with meaning.

The Gardener Comprehension III

Question 1.
The rivalry between Tammanna and Basavaiah keeps moving from the visible domain to the invisible. Comment.
Answer:
In the beginning, there appeared to be a healthy competition between Tammanna and Basavaiah. Tammanna did not take Basavaiah as his rival at all. Therefore, when Basavaiah acquired fifteen admirers to outdo Tammanna’s ten friends, it did not come to Tammanna’s notice at all. Tammanna did whatever he wanted without bothering about Basavaiah. But Basavaiah did not keep quiet. When he came to know that Tammanna possessed one thousand acres of land, and he had only eight hundred, he could not tolerate this. He sent word to Tammanna asking him to sell two hundred acres to him. Tammanna did not agree.

On the contrary, he offered to buy all the land that belonged to Basavaiah. Therefore, Basavaiah went along with his people and acquired two hundred acres of Tammanna’s land forcibly and got a fence built around it. Tammanna could not tolerate this invasion. Later, when his supporters suggested to him that he could go to the court of law or the police or use his own people to attack him and forcibly wrest his land from him, Tammanna did not accept their suggestion. Tammanna probably thought that competing with Basavaiah by physical means has no end to it because it depends on who is able to muster more muscle power. Muscle power has its own limitations. Secondly, muscle power needs the involvement of many more people apart from Tammanna.

Moreover, as long as both of them were fighting by visible means people will not know who was trying to compete with whom. Until then, Basavaiah was the first one to show to the people he had more land, more friends, more wealth, etc. Tammanna never did anything to spite Basavaiah. Whatever Tammanna did, was on his natural inclination and not to spite Basavaiah. Therefore, Tammanna realized the limitations of competing with Basavaiah by physical means. That is why he thought of putting an end to the unhealthy rivalry of Basavaiah by taking recourse to something invisible. He took recourse to singing ballads and telling the people through them about the cruelty and the meanness of Basavaiah.

Question 2.
How does Tammanna adopt a counter-strategy to challenge the material wealth of Basavaiah?
Answer:
When Tammanna came to know that the rivalry between him and Basavaiah had reached a peak and that two hundred acres of his land had been forcibly taken away from him and had been even fenced up, Tammanna hit on a plan of annihilating Basavaiah completely. He got all his bitter experiences with Basavaiah composed in the form of ballads and started singing them before the people, announcing to everyone Basavaiah’s cruelty and his meanness. This way his reputation as an artist started spreading fast and critics and scholars of folklore thronged him and translated his songs.

Question 3.
Tammanna turns reflective in the course of his life. What does this tell us about human nature?
Answer:
‘The Gardener’ is the story of Tammanna, an old man, now employed in a coconut plantation. Though the story is initially narrated by the author, Tammanna himself becomes the narrator later. Tammanna is the protagonist in the story and he tells the story of the rivalry between two farmers Tammanna and Basavaiah. Though Tammanna is one of the characters in the story, the narrator does not disclose his identity till the end. The second narrator tells us that Tammanna was a farmer, had ten acres of land, a comfortable house and people too ready to carry out his orders. Then he tells us about his rival Basavaiah.

We learn from the narrator that Tammanna did not perceive Basavaiah as his rival initially. Tammanna led a normal life and became prosperous gradually and came to possess 1000 acres of land. Until some point whatever Basavaiah did to keep himself on par with Tammanna was seen as healthy competition.

But, one day, Basavaiah asks Tammanna to sell him his two hundred acres of land and Tammanna refuses. Basavaiah takes the land forcibly. Though there were various options available for getting his land back, Tammanna searches for a method that could annihilate Basavaiah completely. Instead of proving might is right or seeking justice from the court of law, Tammanna uses a different strategy. He composes and sings ballads about Basavaiah’s meanness and cruelty. Very soon Tammanna becomes very popular and Basavaiah has no answer to his brainy ideas.

Secondly, Tammanna having found meaningful engagement in ‘art’ forgets Basavaiah’s bad deeds. Just when Basavaiah is contemplating what to do next to spite Tammanna, he comes to know that Tammanna is ill. Basavaiah is pleased with the news. But their rivalry does not end there. Tammanna decides to outbeat him by manipulating the situation itself. He gives up everything and goes away to Chennarayapatna so as to spread the news that Tammanna is dead. Later Basavaiah dies a natural death. When Tammanna comes to know about his death, he becomes reflective. Though there is no cause-effect relationship between the rumour of Tammanna’s death and Basavaiah’s real death, Tammanna is shaken out of his senses.

Until then both Basavaiah and Tammanna indulged in rivalry to satisfy their ego. With the death of Basavaiah, Tammanna loses his identity and he becomes a non-entity. This makes Tammanna reflect over human nature and comes to the conclusion that man needs some issue to fight for or cling on to. In this game, when the loser dies it is natural for the winner to feel guilty. He suffers from a sense of guilt that he was responsible for Basavaiah’s death. Naturally, when Tammanna is accused by his own conscience, he becomes reflective. When one becomes reflective, one tends to review one’s own actions objectively. We do not normally attach emotions to our thinking and then we discover what went wrong and where. Here, both Tammanna and Basavaiah have not done anything ‘bad’ intentionally. They only fought imaginary battles and lived in a dream world of their own.

Man is mortal and all the glory that man believes to enjoy is created by our mind. Man is a dreamer and lives in a dream world of his own. Since man’s life has its own limitations, man’s dream and reality rarely go in unison. When reality overtakes man, the man comes to realize that he is only a puppet in the scheme of things and man is in reality ‘nothing’, but builds up his own image to boost his confidence so that life becomes meaningful as long as he is alive.

Question 4.
How does the reference to Russia and America provide another dimension to the story?
Answer:
‘The Gardener’ presents the story of two farmers who get actively involved in rivalry and each one tries to overtake the other in earnings, wealth and social prestige. But, at one point, Basavaiah takes recourse to force and forcibly occupies a part of Tammanna’s landholdings. Until now both of them had tried to upstage the other using tangible means. But now Tammanna realizes the limitations of muscle power and so uses his ‘intellect’ to unleash a strategy by which he wishes to annihilate Basavaiah completely. He gets all his bitter experiences with Basavaiah composed in the form of ballads and songs and sings them in public.

Thus, Tammanna tries to give a fitting reply to Basavaiah’s use of physical force and so their fight takes a psychological dimension. Basavaiah fails to match up to the manipulatory tactics of Tammanna and shrinks in humiliation. However, he tries to console his wounded pride by indulging in luxurious living. No matter what he does, he does not succeed in upstaging Tammanna. It is at this stage higher forces play their own role. Tammanna falls ill and Basavaiah enjoys psychologically telling himself that Tammanna’s disease is Basavaiah’s health. This way, Basavaiah gets the satisfaction of finding a reason to keep himself happy. So, here the story has now passed from the physical dimension to the psychological dimension.

At this stage, Tammanna comes out with another plan. He plans to use something beyond man’s life. Tammanna thinks that as long as Basavaiah knows that he is alive, Basavaiah will continue to take him as his rival. So Tammanna hits on an idea which works at a level higher than the physical and psychological level. His plan is to beat Basavaiah on another plane, which is beyond man’s limits. He knows for sure that if Basavaiah comes to think that Tammanna is dead, Basavaiah will stop treating him as his rival. Tammanna goes away to Chennarayapatna and spreads the news that Tammanna is dead. It is sheer coincidence that Basavaiah dies a natural death. But Tammanna comes to feel guilty that he was the cause of his death. This incident brings him back to his senses and he reflects over his life.

Now, after the death of Basavaiah, Tammanna has become a non-entity. When he reflects over their mutual game plans, Tammanna realizes that man invents several reasons to make his life meaningful. He also realizes that man can go on indulging in whims and fancies until a certain age only. Later, when the man comes to confront reality, he comes to see the truth. Then he becomes spiritual. That is when a man realizes his limitations. Thus we see the plot taking several dimensions from physical to psychological and then to spiritual.

But, this story also takes another dimension. Earlier, stories that used to focus on man’s vices like cruelty, meanness, greed, jealousy, rivalry, etc., used to be portrayed on a smaller canvas and the stories used to be confined to people living in towns, cities and kingdoms. We are now in the post-modern society and the common man is now being influenced by global forces. In traditional societies, solutions to man’s mundane, existential problems used to be found locally. A king or a Lord or a chieftain or a zamindar used to dispense justice. But this story is situated in a post-modern society.

When Basavaiah acquires Tammanna’s land forcibly, Tammanna’s followers offer three solutions – seek the help of the police; seek a legal solution; or take recourse to use muscle power. The three strategies suggested by Tammanna’s followers saturate this story in the post-modern scenario. Their thinking exhibits a modern world where police, law court and mafia exist. Even at the national and international levels, big countries like Russia and America follow such strategies.

The fact that Tammanna makes a reference to Russia and America, is only a hint by the author that the problems of ‘man’ in the modern society cannot be confined to the war between ‘virtues and vices’ of the yesteryears but man’s problems are complex and are reflected at the global level also.

Similarly, when Tammanna makes a reference to Russia’s declaration to America that America is not their enemy and she will not wage a war against America, it is only a strategy by the writer to suggest that Tammanna and Basavaiah belong to post-modern society. One can also infer that a literary artist in the modern world cannot be blind to man’s problems in general and try to suggest solutions at the local level. Man’s problems are deep-rooted and have implications at different levels. Man’s problems go beyond a nation and though problems of human society are the same, they assume different dimensions as human society becomes more and more complex every day.

Question 5.
Observe how the story employs multiple narratives. How does this technique unveil the mystery of human relationships?
Answer:
In the short story ‘The Gardener’ by P. Lankesh, there is a story within a story and there are two narrators.
In the first story, the author in the persona of the first-person narrator introduces the protagonist Tammanna and the story of the owner of the coconut plantation. Then, the first narrator makes way for the second narrator to take over. Interestingly, in the story, the narrator is the protagonist and tells his own story to the second owner’s wife. However, the narrator employs the third-person narrative style and distances himself from the story. Thus ‘The Gardener’ is an example of the use of multiple narratives.

Multiple narratives describe a type of story that follows several protagonists rather than focusing on one main character. In some cases, writers choose this structure to show the individual perspectives of characters in a larger ‘macro story’ and how they relate to each other. ‘The Gardener’ is an example of the second type. Tammanna is the protagonist in both stories.

In the first story, we learn how Tammanna uses his own biography to indirectly give a message to the owner’s wife. He gives to the lady his own perspective of human life and experience. The author has used this technique of multiple narratives to reveal the mystery of human relationships.

In his own life, Tammanna has learnt lessons of being proactive in a rivalry with Basavaiah. He plays his game with Basavaiah, only until he dies. Basavaiah’s death comes as a revelation to him about human nature. Only then does he theorise saying ‘man does not live with the intention of acquiring wealth, or education or art but for some kind of unbearable vengefulness’. Until then, both Basavaiah and Tammanna showed a keen interest in fighting and a zest for life. But once Basavaiah dies, Tammanna loses all enthusiasm for life. He says he is a non-entity now.

Now he has become philosophical. Therefore, when he finds the owner of the coconut plantation cultivating all kinds of vices and the lady getting desperate about her husband, the ‘guilt’ about Basavaiah’s death that was pricking his conscience gets transformed into a virtue or a positive force and that motivates him to tell his own story objectively to the owner’s wife.

Had not the author used multiple narrative structures, Tammanna’s story could not have come out as a story to educate the owner’s wife. Thus, multiple narrative structures is able to unveil the mystery of human relationships.

The Gardener Additional Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following questions in a word, a phrase, or a sentence each:

Question 1.
When, according to the narrator, does man lose his name?
Answer:
After a particular age.

Question 2.
When did Tammanna forget all his songs and ballads?
OR
Whose death made Tammanna forget his songs and ballads in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
After the death of Basavaiah/ Death of Basavaiah.

Question 3.
Where was the coconut grove where the narrator met the old man?
Answer:
Near Chennarayapatna.

Question 4.
How big was the plantation when the old man took over?
Answer:
Ten acres.

Question 5.
What was the most important possession ofTammanna?
OR
Whom did Tammanna consider as the most important among all his possessions?
Answer:
His rival Sangoji or Basavaiah.

Question 6.
Who was Tammanna’s rival?
Answer:
Basavaiah.

Question 7.
How much of Tammanna’s land did Basavaiah acquire forcibly at first?
OR
How many acres of land did Basavaiah encroach?
Answer:
Two hundred acres.

Question 8.
When did the rivalry between Tammanna and Basavaiah move from the visible to the abstract level?
Answer:
When Tammanna composed ballads mentioning Basavaiah’s cruelty and his meanness and sang them, the rivalry between Tammanna and Basavaiah moved from the visible to the abstract level.

Question 9.
Mention one of the ways suggested by Tammanna’s followers to get back his encroached land.
Answer:
‘Going to the court of law seeking justice’ was one of the ways suggested by Tammanna’s followers to get back his encroached land.

Question 10.
What was the theme of Tammanna’s songs?
OR
Whose cruelty and meanness did Tammanna’s songs make mention of?
Answer:
The theme of Tammanna’s songs was cruelty, meanness and the injustice done to him by Basavaiah.

Question 11.
Tammanna’s disease was Basavaiah’s
(a) health
(b) weakness
(c) sorrow.
Answer:
(a) health.

Question 12.
When, according to Tammanna, did Basavaiah have no more reason to live?
Answer:
According to Tammanna, the moment he left the town and disappeared from Basavaiah’s sight, Basavaiah did not have any reason to live.

Question 13.
What became the main reason of Tammanna’s life?
Answer:
Punishing or annihilating Basavaiah for the injustice, cruelty, and meanness showed by him was the main reason of Tammanna’s life.

Question 14.
Where did the narrator meet the old man by chance?
OR
Where did the author notice the old man standing with a spade in one hand and a newspaper tucked under his arm?
Answer:
The author or the narrator noticed the man standing in a coconut grove near Chennarayapatna.

Question 15.
What had the old man tucked under his arm when the narrator met him?
Answer:
The old man had a newspaper tucked under his arm.

Question 16.
What came to an end after the old man’s arrival in the garden?
OR
When did the petty thefts come to an end?
Answer:
The petty thefts in the garden came to an end after the old man’s arrival.

Question 17.
Who became apprehensive about the plantation owner’s vices?
Answer:
The owner’s wife became apprehensive about the owner’s adultery and his umpteen other vices, cultivated lately.

Question 18.
How many acres of land did Tammanna finally have?
Answer:
Tammanna finally had only eight hundred acres of land.

Question 19.
What did Basavaiah do to counter Tammanna’s fame as a poet?
Answer:
To counter Tammanna’s fame as a poet, Basavaiah started inviting scholars, poets and musicians to his place.

Question 20.
Who became lethargic after the arrival of the old man in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
In The Gardener’, the owner of the plantation in Chennarayapatna became lethargic after the arrival of the old man.

Question 21.
Whose name is said to be Sangoji and later corrected as Basavaiah in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
In The Gardener’, it is Tammanna’s rival whose name is said to be Sangoji and later corrected as Basavaiah.

Question 22.
Who hit upon the idea of composing and singing ballads in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
In The Gardener’, Tammanna hit upon the idea of composing and singing ballads.

Question 23.
Who was felicitated as the best poet of his times in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
In The Gardener’, it was Tammanna who was felicitated as the best poet of his times.

Question 24.
Who appointed a number of persons to praise him in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
In The Gardener’, it was Basavaiah who appointed a number of persons to praise him.

Question 25.
Whose palatial mansion looked dull and empty without Tammanna’s books in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
In The Gardener’, it was Basavaiah’s palatial mansion which looked dull and empty without Tammanna’s books. ‘

Question 26.
When did Basavaiah find the means of surpassing Tammanna in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
In The Gardener’, it was only when Tammanna fell ill, did Basavaiah find a means of surpassing Tammanna.

Question 27.
Whose disease was Basavaiah’s health, according to the narrator of ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
According to the narrator of The Gardener’, Tammanna’s disease was Basavaiah’s health.

Question 28.
When would Basavaiah go on offering stiff competition, according to Tammanna, in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
According to Tammanna, in The Gardener’, Basavaiah would go on offering stiff competition at the level of the body, until he died.

Question 29.
According to the old man, when did he conceive the story of Tammanna and Basavaiah?
Answer:
According to the old man, he conceived the story of Tammanna and Basavaiah, one day, when he found the wife of the plantation owner in a fix, perturbed and confused.

Question 30.
Who thought his death alone could destroy Basavaiah, in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
In The Gardener’, Tammanna thought that his death alone could destroy Basavaiah.

Question 31.
When did Basavaiah pass away, according to Tammanna, in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
According to Tammanna in The Gardener’, Basavaiah passed away after Tammanna had left his village.

Question 32.
Who says he avenged himself by becoming a non-entity in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
In The Gardener’, Tammanna says that he avenged himself by becoming a non-entity.

Question 33.
Who, according to Tammanna the old man, is not amenable to any advice in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
In ‘The Gardener’, according to Tammanna the old man, the owner of the coconut grove (where he was a labourer), was not amenable to any advice.

Question 34.
How long does a man go on living for some revenge, according to the old man, in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
According to the old man in ‘The Gardener’, the man goes on living for some revenge or the other till the day of his death.

Question 35.
Who paints well, according to the old man, in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
According to the old man in ‘The Gardener’, the young child of Lokya paints well.

Question 36.
What happened to Basavaiah after Tammanna gave up everything and went away?
Answer:
Basavaiah died a few days after Tammanna had left the town giving up everything.

Question 37.
Who narrated his story to the wife of the plantation owner in Gardener’?
Answer:
In ‘The Gardener’, Tammanna narrated his story to the wife of the p. .tation owner.

Question 38.
What was the old man well versed in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
Agriculture.

Question 39.
When did Tammanna forget his songs and ballads?
Answer:
Tammanna forgot all his songs and ballads after Basavaiah’s death.

II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80-100 words each:

Question 1.
Why does Tammanna feel that human nature can be strange?
OR
‘Man goes on living for some revenge’. How is this presented in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
One afternoon, Tammanna finds the owner’s wife coming towards the coconut grove. She looked worried and anxious. However, Tammanna knew why she looked so. Then, he narrates the story of Tammanna and Basavaiah and finally confesses that he was Tammanna, Basavaiah’s rival, and how he had given up all his property and come to Chennarayapatna. Before telling her that Basavaiah had died, Tammanna tells her he had come to realize that human nature is very strange. He offers an explanation of why he thinks so.

According to Tammanna, though man needs wealth, education, and many more things, they do not give him a compelling reason to live. In his opinion ‘Man lives for some kind of unbearable vengefulness’. He arrives at this inference based on his own experience of life. As long as he was staying in his village, Basavaiah had considered him his rival and had gone on trying to out beat him in wealth, health, art, and so on. The very fact that there was a rival to him and he had to strive to compete with him in every aspect, gave him sufficient reason to live. It is here that one finds human nature strange.

All through his life, though man struggles to earn wealth, education, food, etc., he does not find real happiness in these things. But he derives a kind of pleasure when he finds that there is someone competing with him in these areas. Though it is the making of his own imagination yet he finds pleasure accepting his imaginary rival as real and fighting to out beat him. This gives him the real reason for his existence.

Having come away from Basavaiah, to punish him with the news of his death, Tammanna realizes that human nature is very strange. After the death of Basavaiah, he realises that he had become a non-entity and had lost his name and fame. He tells his own story along with the truth that he had realized, only to convince the owner’s wife that she needs to mend her husband.

Question 2.
What measures did Tammanna adopt to humiliate Basavaiah? Explain.
OR
Give an account of the strategies used by Tammanna to destroy Basavaiah in ‘The Gardener’.
Answer:
When Tammanna came to know that the rivalry between him and Basavaiah had reached a peak and that two hundred acres of his land had been forcibly taken away from him and had been even fenced up, Tammanna hit on a plan of annihilating Basavaiah completely. He got all his bitter experiences with Basavaiah composed in the form of ballads and started singing them before the people, announcing to everyone Basavaiah’s cruelty and his meanness. This way his reputation as an artist started spreading fast and critics and scholars of folklore thronged him and translated his songs.

As days rolled by, Tammanna’s popularity increased, and Basavaiah began to shrink in humiliation. Basavaiah tried to undo the damage to his self-esteem by showing more interest in acquiring all kinds of material wealth. He got a palatial mansion built for himself. Then he bedecked himself with gold, diamonds, and other precious stones. Then he started inviting scholars, poets, and musicians to his place and tried to invest his home with meaning. However, one-day Tammanna suddenly took ill. This news cheered up Basavaiah’s spirits. Tammanna’s disease became Basavaiah’s health. Tammanna thought of yet another method of punishing Basavaiah.

Tammanna thought Basavaiah could no longer compete with him if he came to know that Tammanna had died. Therefore, Tammanna avenged himself by leaving his town, abandoning all his property, and walking away hundreds of miles. When Basavaiah came to know that Tammanna was not there in the village, he had no more reason to live and he passed away.

Question 2.
Why did the plantation owner’s wife find it hard to decide whether the old man’s arrival was for the better or for the worse?
Answer:
Before the arrival of the old man, the owner had only ten acres of land. Though the owner himself was in charge of the work in the plantation, there used to be petty thefts and he could not prevent them. Secondly, he was very busy and hard-working and hardly had any time to spend with his friends. So, he had hardly any friends at all.

Once the old man was appointed as an overseer on the farm, the old man being well-versed in agriculture, understood the problems of the workers and solved all the problems. His efficient supervision resulted in a dramatic increase in the earnings of the farm. Consequently, the owner expanded his farm, became lethargic, and shied away from hard work, leaving the plantation in charge of the old man.

Furthermore, the owner’s wealth and social prestige also increased. Along with that, he acquired a number of friends in the next town as well as in his own village. Even though he had precious little to do, his life became crowded with colourful events. He also cultivated umpteen vices including adultery. These changes in her husband’s lifestyle made the wife wonder whether the old man’s arrival was for the better or for the worse.

Question 3.
How did the rivalry between Tammanna and Basavaiah move towards an invisible, abstract domain?
OR
Trace the course of the rivalry between Tammanna and Basavaiah that moved from a visible domain to an abstract domain.
OR
Give an account of the strategies used by Tammanna to destroy Basavaiah.
OR
Bring out the rivalry between Tammanna and Basavaiah.
OR
The rivalry between Tammanna and Basavaiah started moving from the visible to the invisible domain. Explain.
OR
Explain the methods adopted by Tammanna to humiliate Basavaiah.
Answer:
In the beginning, there appeared to be a healthy competition between Tammanna and Basavaiah. Tammanna did not take Basavaiah as his rival at all. Therefore, when Basavaiah acquired fifteen admirers to outdo Tammanna’s ten friends, it did not come to Tammanna’s notice at all. Tammanna did whatever he wanted without bothering about Basavaiah. But Basavaiah did not keep quiet.

When he came to know that Tammanna possessed one thousand acres of land, and he had only eight hundred, he could not tolerate this. He sent word to Tammanna asking him to sell two hundred acres to him. Tammanna did not agree. On the contrary, he offered to buy all the land that belonged to Basavaiah. Therefore, Basavaiah went along with his people and acquired two hundred acres of Tammanna’s land forcibly and got a fence built around it. Tammanna could not tolerate this invasion. Later, when his supporters suggested to him that he could go to the court of law or the police or use his own people to attack him and forcibly wrest his land from him, Tammanna did not accept their suggestion.

Tammanna probably thought that competing with Basavaiah by physical means has no end to it because it depends on who is able to muster more muscle power. Muscle power has its own limitations. Secondly, muscle power needs the involvement of many more people apart from Tammanna.

Moreover, as long as both of them were fighting by visible means people will not know who was trying to compete with whom. Until then, Basavaiah was the first one to show to the people he had more land, more friends, more wealth, etc. Tammanna never did anything to spite Basavaiah. Whatever Tammanna did, was on his natural inclination and not to spite Basavaiah.

Therefore, Tammanna realized the limitations of competing with Basavaiah by physical means. That is why he thought of putting an end to the unhealthy rivalry of Basavaiah by taking recourse to something invisible. He took recourse to singing ballads and telling the people through them about the cruelty and the meanness of Basavaiah.

Question 4.
How did Basavaiah try to surpass Tammanna? Why wasn’t he successful?
OR
How did Basavaiah try to surpass his rival in ‘The Gardener’?
OR
How did Basavaiah react to Tammanna’s popularity?
OR
How did Basavaiah start filling his life with all kinds of material wealth?
Answer:
When Tammanna came to know that the rivalry between him and Basavaiah had reached a peak and that two hundred acres of his land had been forcibly taken away from him and had been even fenced up, Tammanna hit on a plan of annihilating Basavaiah completely. He got all his bitter experiences with Basavaiah composed in the form of ballads and started singing them before the people, announcing to everyone Basavaiah’s cruelty and his meanness. This way his reputation as an artist started spreading fast and critics and scholars of folklore thronged him and translated his songs.

Basavaiah tried to surpass Tammanna’s fame by filling his life with all kinds of material wealth. He got a palatial mansion built for himself. He appointed a number of persons just to praise him and bedecked himself with gold, diamonds, and other precious stones. But he was not successful. We can conclude so because the visitors to his house told him that without Basavaiah’s books his house looked dull and empty.

Question 5.
How does Tammanna take revenge on Basavaiah through invisible means?
OR
Explain the invisible means by which Tammanna decided to destroy Basavaiah.
OR
What invisible means did Tammanna use to annihilate Basavaiah completely? Explain.
Answer:
When his supporters advised him to either go to the court or seek the help of the police or ask some persons to attack Basavaiah and take back his land forcibly, Tammanna hit upon a unique idea of annihilating Basavaiah through invisible means. He thought of getting all his experiences composed in the form of ballads and singing them before the public.

When Tammanna started singing ballads through which he told the people about Basavaiah’s cruelty and his meanness, he became very popular. Many scholars of folklore and literary critics translated his songs and earned their share of fame. All this made Basavaiah shrink in shame. This way, Tammanna took revenge on Basavaiah through invisible means.

Question 6.
How did Tammanna and Basavaiah manage their rivalry in the beginning in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
In the beginning, there appeared to be a healthy competition between Tammanna and Basavaiah. Tammanna did not take Basavaiah as his rival at all. Therefore, when Basavaiah acquired fifteen admirers to outdo Tammanna’s penfriends, it did not come to Tammanna’s notice at all. Tammanna did whatever he wanted without bothering about Basavaiah. But Basavaiah did not keep quiet. When he came to know that Tammanna possessed one thousand acres of land, and he had only eight hundred, he could not tolerate this. He sent word to Tammanna asking him to sell two hundred acres to him. Tammanna did not agree.

On the contrary, he offered to buy all the land that belonged to Basavaiah. Therefore, Basavaiah went along with his people and acquired two hundred acres of Tammanna’s land forcibly and got a fence built around it Tammanna could not tolerate this invasion. Later, when his supporters suggested to him that he could go to the court of law or the police or use his own people to attack him and forcibly wrest his land from him, Tammanna did not accept their suggestion. Tammanna realized the limitations of competing with Basavaiah by physical means. That is why he thought of putting an end to the unhealthy rivalry of Basavaiah by taking recourse to something invisible.

Question 7.
What did Basavaiah do to invest his home with meaning in ‘The Gardener’? Explain.
Answer:
As Tammanna’s popularity increased, Basavaiah began to shrink in humiliation. Basavaiah tried to undo the damage to his self-esteem by showing more interest in acquiring all kinds of material wealth. He got a palatial mansion built for himself. He appointed a number of persons just to praise him. Then he bedecked himself with gold, diamonds, and other precious stones. Then he started inviting scholars, poets, and musicians to his place and tried to invest his home with meaning.

Question 8.
Describe the circumstances that led Tammanna to become a non-entity in ‘The Gardener’.
Answer:
Tammanna is the protagonist in the story and he tells the story of the rivalry between himself and Basavaiah. Tammanna was a farmer, had ten acres of land, a comfortable house, and people too ready to carry out his orders. Besides, he also had a rival. It was Basavaiah. Tammanna did not perceive Basavaiah as his rival initially. Tammanna led a normal life and became prosperous gradually and came to possess 1000 acres of land. Until some point whatever Basavaiah did to keep himself on par with Tammanna was seen as healthy competition.

But, one day, Basavaiah asks Tammanna to sell him two hundred acres of his land and Tammanna refuses. Basavaiah takes the land forcibly. Though there were various options available for getting his land back, Tammanna searches for a method that could annihilate Basavaiah completely. Instead of proving might is right or seeking justice from the court of law, Tammanna uses a different strategy. He composes and sings ballads about Basavaiah’s meanness and cruelty. Very soon Tammanna becomes very popular and Basavaiah has no answer to his brainy ideas.

Just when Basavaiah is contemplating what to do next to spite Tammanna, he comes to know that Tammanna is ill. Basavaiah is pleased with the news. But their rivalry does not end there. Tammanna decides to out beat him by manipulating the situation itself. He gives up everything and goes away to Chennarayapatna so as to spread the news that Tammanna is dead. Later Basavaiah dies a natural death. Though there is no cause-effect relationship between the rumour of Tammanna’s death and Basavaiah’s real death, Tammanna is shaken out of his senses. With the death of Basavaiah, Tammanna loses his identity and he becomes a non-entity.

Question 9.
What circumstances led to the unhappiness of the owner’s wife in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
The owner of the coconut plantation was quite a normal person. He was working hard to bring about improvement in his earnings. Probably he had little expertise in managing agricultural workers. Therefore, he was looking for someone who would help him. That is why the moment he spoke to the old man [Tammanna) he felt that he had got the kind of man he wanted. His expectations proved right and the old man helped him in every way and solved all his problems, which eventually resulted in increasing his income.

Once his worries disappeared and he had hardly any work to engage himself in, his personal attention went towards acquiring property and social prestige. It is quite natural that with social prestige follow certain vices among which adultery was one. Adultery affects any woman.

All along, her husband had been faithful to her and once his wife came to know that he was spending his money and time with other women, she got seriously worried and was very unhappy. She found it hard to decide whether the arrival of the old man had done good or bad for her husband.

III. Answer the following questions in about 200 words each:

Question 1.
How did Tammanna and Basavaiah try to outdo each other?
OR
Describe the rivalry between Tammanna and Basavaiah.
OR
How did Tammanna avenge himself?
OR
How does Tammanna successfully outsmart his rival Basavaiah?
Answer:
In the beginning, there appeared to be a healthy competition between Tammanna and Basavaiah. Tammanna did not take Basavaiah as his rival at all. Therefore, when Basavaiah acquired fifteen admirers to outdo Tammanna’s ten friends, it did not come to Tammanna’s notice at all. Tammanna did whatever he wanted without bothering about Basavaiah. But Basavaiah did not keep quiet. When he came to know that Tammanna possessed one thousand acres of land, and he had only eight hundred, he could not tolerate this. He sent word to Tammanna asking him to sell his two hundred acres to him. Tammanna did not agree. On the contrary, he offered to buy all the land that belonged to Basavaiah.

Therefore, Basavaiah went along with his people and acquired two hundred acres of Tammanna’s land forcibly and got a fence built around it. Tammanna could not tolerate this invasion. Later, when his supporters suggested to him that he could go to the court of law or the police or use his own people to attack him and forcibly wrest his land from him, Tammanna did not accept their suggestion.

Moreover, as long as both of them were fighting by visible means people will not know who was trying to compete with whom. Until then, Basavaiah was the first one to show to the people he had more land, more friends, more wealth, etc. Tammanna never did anything to spite Basavaiah. Whatever Tammanna did, was on his natural inclination and not to spite Basavaiah.

Therefore, Tammanna realized the limitations of competing with Basavaiah by physical means. That is why he thought of putting an end to the unhealthy rivalry of Basavaiah by taking recourse to something invisible. He took recourse to singing ballads and telling the people through them about the cruelty and the meanness of Basavaiah.

As days rolled by, Tammanna’s popularity increased, and Basavaiah began to shrink in humiliation. Basavaiah tried to undo the damage to his self-esteem by showing more interest in acquiring all kinds of material wealth. He got a palatial mansion built for himself. Then he bedecked himself with gold, diamonds, and other precious stones. Then he started inviting scholars, poets and musicians to his place and tried to invest his home with meaning.

However, one-day Tammanna suddenly took ill. This news cheered up Basavaiah’s spirits. Tammanna’s disease became Basavaiah’s health. Tammanna thought of yet another method of punishing Basavaiah. Tammanna thought Basavaiah could no longer compete with him if he came to know that Tammanna had died. Therefore, Tammanna avenged himself by leaving his town, abandoning all his property and walking away hundreds of miles. When Basavaiah came to know that Tammanna was not there in the village, he had no more reason to live and he passed away.

Question 2.
‘Without vengefulness, there would be no reason for man’s existence’. How does ‘The Gardener’ bring this out?
Answer:
Tammanna did not take Basavaiah as a rival at all. But, Basavaiah took him as his rival seriously and tried to outdo Tammanna in everything. Therefore, when Tammanna bought four more acres adjacent to his land, Basavaiah also did the same. If Tammanna had ten friends, Basavaiah would acquire fifteen admirers. Gradually, it rose to such a pitch that there was no land left in the village for them to buy. All land belonged to either Tammanna or Basavaiah. Tammanna owned one thousand acres and Basavaiah eight hundred. Basavaiah could not tolerate this. He sent word to Tammanna asking him to sell two hundred acres.

Tammanna did not agree. He was prepared to buy all the land that belonged to Basavaiah. Basavaiah went mad with rage. He went along with his people and acquired two hundred acres of Tammanna’s land forcibly. A fence was built around that land. Tammanna could not tolerate this invasion. Though his supporters explained to him all the means available to him, he was not satisfied with them because he knew that sooner or later Basavaiah would again try to outdo him by hook or by crook. Tammanna did not want Basavaiah to trouble him again.

As days rolled by, Tammanna’s popularity increased, and Basavaiah began to shrink in humiliation. Basavaiah tried to undo the damage to his self-esteem by showing more interest in acquiring all kinds of material wealth. He got a palatial mansion built for himself. Then he bedecked himself with gold, diamonds, and other precious stones. Then he started inviting scholars, poets and musicians to his place and tried to invest his home with meaning.

However, one-day Tammanna suddenly took ill. This news cheered up Basavaiah’s spirits. Tammanna’s disease became Basavaiah’s health. Tammanna thought of yet another method of punishing Basavaiah. Tammanna thought Basavaiah could no longer compete with him if he came to know that Tammanna had died. Therefore, Tammanna avenged himself by leaving his town, abandoning all his property and walking away hundreds of miles. When Basavaiah came to know that Tammanna was not there in the village, he had no more reason to live and he passed away.

Question 3.
The arrival of the old man to the garden caused both good and bad things. How is this brought out in ‘The Gardener’?
Answer:
The owner of the coconut plantation was quite a normal person. He was working hard to bring about improvement in his earnings. Probably, as he did not have much experience and expertise in managing agricultural work, he was not able to reap the benefits of his hard work. Often, there used to be thefts and worker-related problems. He also felt that he needed the assistance of a person well- versed in dealing with such problems. Once he had spoken to the old man for a few minutes, he was convinced that he had found the right person and so hired him immediately. Thus the old man became an employee in the coconut grove and stayed on.

The old man was so experienced in agriculture that he easily understood the problems of workers. The petty thefts in the garden came to an end, and naturally, the income from the garden increased dramatically. Consequently, the increase in income brought a perceptible change in the lifestyle of the owner. The plantation expanded, but the owner became lazy and shied away from hard work. Once his worries disappeared and he had hardly any work to engage himself in, his personal attention went towards acquiring property, and fame. His life became crowded with colourful events.

On account of his newly acquired clout, he cultivated umpteen other vices including adultery. He became a source of worry to his wife. The owner’s wife found it hard to decide whether the old man’s arrival was for the better or for the worse. On the whole, one can conclude that the arrival of the old man to the garden caused both good and bad.

Question 4.
Rivalry can make one both aggressive and reflective. How does Tammanna’s narrative in The Gardener” prove this?
Answer:
Yes. “Rivalry can make one both aggressive and reflective”.
In ‘The Gardener*, Tammanna is both the protagonist as well as the narrator. He narrates the story of the rivalry between two farmers Tammanna and Basavaiah. From his narration, one can easily infer how aggressively he has fought with Basavaiah for saving his self-esteem.

In the beginning, he did not even imagine that he had a rival. But he becomes aware of the rivalry between himself and Basavaiah when the latter takes his land forcibly and he is made to feel helpless. He becomes alert and starts planning strategies to out beat Basavaiah’s moves. He composes and sings ballads and publicizes Basavaiah’s meanness and cruelty. Very soon Tammanna gains popularity and Basavaiah is made to feel that he has been defeated in his own game. Soon after that, when Tammanna falls ill, Basavaiah is pleased with the news. But their rivalry does not end there. Tammanna’s next move shows how aggressive and vengeful he can be. He gives up everything and goes away to Chennarayapatna so as to spread the news that Tammanna is dead.

Later, Basavaiah dies a natural death. Though there is no cause-effect relationship between the rumour of Tammanna’s death and Basavaiah’s real death, Tammanna is shaken out of his senses. He becomes reflective. He understands that with the death of Basavaiah, he had lost his identity and had become a non-entity. Finally, he realizes that both he and Basavaiah had indulged in rivalry only to satisfy their ego.

The Gardener Vocabulary

An antonym is a word opposite in meaning to a given word.

Note the use of antonyms for the following words found in the lesson:

1. Impoverish – enrich
2. Elaborate – concise
3. Petty – grand
4. Suffused – removed
5. Lethargic – active
6. Annihilate – preserve
7. Vengeful – benevolent
8. Agony – ecstasy
9. Flourish – languish
10. Wealth – poverty
11. Famous – obscure
12. Cruelty – kindness
13. Best – worst
14. Enemy – friend
15. Stiff – flexible

Question 1.
What do the following expressions from the lesson mean?

1. in a flash
2. flesh and blood
3. out of hand
4. vanish into thin air

Answer:

1. very suddenly or quickly.
2. the human body or nature.
3. out of control.
4. go away suddenly, unexpectedly and without a trace.

Additional Exercises

A. Passive Voice:

Question 1.
Tammanna came to the plantation after walking hundreds of miles. He _____ (appoint) to look after the garden. The workers were happy as their problems _____ (solve). The income improved dramatically but a change in the owner’s lifestyle _____ (notice) by his wife.
Answer:
was appointed; had been solved; was noticed.

Question 2.
Basavaiah had 200 acres less land than Tammanna. So Tammanna _____ (ask) to sell his 200 acres to Basavaiah. This _____ (reject) by Tammanna. Instead, a demand _____ (place) that Tammanna was ready to buy all his land.
Answer:
was asked; was rejected; was placed.

Question 3.
Basavaiah tried to outshine Tammanna in his own way. A palatial house _____ (build) by him. A number of persons ____ (appoint) just to praise him. Scholars, poets and musicians _____ (invite) to his place.
Answer:
was built; were appointed; were invited.

B. Fill in the blanks by choosing the appropriate expressions given in brackets:

Question 1.
The quarrel between Tammanna and Basavaiah rose to such a pitch that it started to ______ all their supporters. When Basavaiah forcibly acquired Tammanna’s land, Tammanna was advised by his supporters to ______ to the police. (take recourse, push in, suck in)
Answer:
suck in; take recourse.

Question 2.
Tammanna ______ everything and went to a far off place. Basavaiah was left with no reason to live. After some time Basavaiah ______. (gave up, chance upon, passed away)
Answer:
gave up; passed away.

Question 3.
‘Tammanna was ______ in agriculture. As a result, the owner of the garden started to _____ from hard work. (shy away, well versed, better at)
Answer:
well versed; shy away.

Question 4.
The narrator says he conceived the story The Gardener’ ______. The old man he met in a coconut grove had come to the garden seeking work. The owner needed a man exactly like him and asked the old man to ______. (in a flash, stay on, vanish into thin air)
Answer:
in a flash; stay on.

Question 5.
Tammanna thought of yet another method of punishing Basavaiah. He wanted to separate his songs from his own _____. He wanted his fame to ______. Therefore he gave up everything and became a non-entity. (flesh and blood, vanish into thin air, out of hand)
Answer:
flesh and blood; vanish into thin air.

C. Fill in the blanks with appropriate linkers:

Question 1.
The gardener started narrating the story of Tammanna and Basavaiah to the owner’s wife. ______ proceeding with the story, he started fumbling for words ______ he had made a mistake. The owner’s wife was not interested in the story. She felt like going away ______ stayed back ______ she did not want to hurt the old man. (but, after, as though, as)
Answer:
After; as though; but; as.

Question 2.
The rivalry between Tammanna and Basavaiah looked like healthy competition in the beginning. _____ it rose to such a pitch _____ they started competing in buying each acre of land in the village. _____ no land in the village was left for buying. Even then Basavaiah was not happy ______ he had 200 acres less than Tammanna. (because, finally, gradually, that)
Answer:
Gradually; that; Finally; because.

Question 3.
Basavaiah sent word that he was prepared to buy Tammanna’s 200 acres of land. This made Tammanna furious. _____ he said he was prepared to buy all the land ______ belonged to Basavaiah. _______ Basavaiah forcibly acquired 200 acres of Tammanna’s land. ________ the enmity between them became fierce and sucked in all their supporters. (as a result, in turn, which, instead)
Answer:
In turn; which; Instead; As a result.

The Gardener by P. Lankesh About the Writer:

P. Lankesh [1935-2000) is an Indian writer and journalist who wrote in Kannada. After graduating with an honours degree in English from Central College at Bangalore, he completed his Master of Arts degree in English from Maharaja College, Mysore. P. Lankesh’s first work was ‘Kereya Neeranu Kerege Chelli’, a collection of short stories published in 1963. This was followed by several collections of short stories and poetry, three novels, critical essays, translations (including Charles Baudelaire’s ‘Les Fleurs du Mai’, ‘Oedipus Rex’, and Sophocles’ ‘Antigone’), as well as several plays and films. His 1976 film ’Pallavi’ – a cinematic narration, told from the female protagonist’s point of view and based on his novel ‘Biruku’ – won India’s national award for best direction.

The Gardener Summary in English

[This short story is the translated English version of ’Thotadavanu’, taken from ‘When Stone Melts and Other Stories’, a collection of short stories published by Sahitya Academi. It is translated into English by H.S. Raghavendra Rao.]

It is said that in these short stories Lankesh shows his preoccupation with human meanness and attempts to explore the evolution of a post-Emergency political and cultural scenario. The title ‘When Stone Melts’ refers to the mystery at the heart of every transformation, the invisible and inescapable play of history and location that engender the process of change.

The narrator addresses the reader directly in the first person asking for an apology for being brief. He says that the story was conceived in a flash and hence if he elaborates it, the story will lose its vitality. There are only four characters, besides the narrator: Tammanna, Basavaiah or Sangoji, and the owner of the coconut grove and his wife.

There are two stories in this story. The first story is narrated by the author in the first person and the second story is narrated by Tammanna who is also the protagonist in the first story. In the second story, the narrator/protagonist tells his own story to the lady distancing himself from the main story.

The narrator says that this story originated in his chance encounter with an old man who was standing in a coconut grove near Chennarayapatna. The old man (who had been employed in the coconut grove), was a labourer, overseer and philosopher, all rolled into one.

One day the old man came to the coconut garden after walking hundreds of miles. Since the owner of that plantation needed a person of his qualifications, he hired him immediately after talking to him for a few minutes. Thus the old man became an employee in the coconut grove and stayed on. The old man did useful work. He was so well-versed in agriculture that he easily understood the problems of workers. The petty thefts in the garden came to an end, and naturally, the income from the garden improved dramatically. Consequently, the increase in income brought a perceptible change in the lifestyle of the owner. The plantation expanded, but the owner became lazy and shied away from hard work.

The owner’s wife found the owner’s behaviour strange and puzzling. She found it hard to decide whether the old man’s arrival was for the better or for the worse. Her husband’s wealth and social prestige had risen higher, and he had acquired a great number of friends in his own village and in the next town as well. Even though he did not do any useful work, his life became crowded with colourful events. On account of his newly acquired clout, he cultivated umpteen other vices including adultery. Though their farm was initially merely ten acres, it had grown beyond their imagination.

Therefore, the owner’s wife realized that financially they had been doing well but her only source of worry was that along with financial improvement, their life was also gradually getting out of hand. Thus, one day when she was in a fix like this, the old man met her. He smiled at her, brought down an offering offender coconuts from a nearby tree, and sat on the embankment of the well. She had no alternative and so she sat next to him. The old man now begins his narrative and takes the action or plot to its climax.

The old man says that, in a far off place, once there lived a man called Tammanna. He had everything: ten acres of land, a comfortable house, and people too ready to carry out his orders or instructions. Besides these possessions, he also had a rival and his name was Sangoji. However, soon after uttering the name Sangoji, the old man started fumbling for words as if he had committed a mistake. The coconut grove owner’s wife, who was listening, felt that it was none of her concern and felt like going away immediately. But, not wishing to hurt the old man, she continued to sit there quietly.

The old man continued his story. He corrected himself once, saying his name was not Sangoji but Basavaiah. [At this moment in the story, the narrator gives a hint to the reader that the old man is telling a true account of his own experience disguising it in the form of a story].

Both Tammanna and Basavaiah were rivals. If Tammanna bought four more acres adjacent to his land, Basavaiah would also do the same. If one of them had ten friends, the other would acquire ‘ fifteen admirers. Though initially, all this looked like healthy competition, it took a nasty turn later.

Their rivalry rose to such a pitch that there was no land left in the village for them to buy. All land belonged to either Tammanna or Basavaiah. Tammanna had one thousand acres and Basavaiah eight hundred. Basavaiah could not tolerate this. His men asked Tammanna to sell two hundred acres but Tammanna refused to do so. On the other hand, Tammanna offered to buy all the land that belonged to Basavaiah. Basavaiah became furious. He went along with his people and acquired two hundred acres of Tammanna’s land forcibly, and got it fenced up all around. Tammanna could not put up with this invasion.

Tammanna’s advisers told him that there were three ways by which Tammanna could get back his land. He could go to the court of law or he could also take recourse to the police. If he did not like to do, either way, he could also use muscle power to get his land back. There was any number of persons ready to attack Basavaiah and wrest his land from him. But Tammanna was in search of a method that could destroy Basavaiah completely. Tammanna got all his experiences composed in the form of ballads and sang them in public. Their rivalry moved away from the visible to the invisible.

Basavaiah could not do the same way. He tried to show his rivalry in doing agricultural tasks more diligently, but that was also in vain. Meanwhile, Tammanna’s reputation started spreading all around. His songs started making mention of Basavaiah’s cruelty and his meanness. Scholars and critics went after his songs and earned their share of fame. Basavaiah became desperate and angry and retaliated by encroaching on more and more of Tammanna’s land. But Tammanna was ignorant of all this and blissfully enjoyed his singing. Art had become the raison d’etre of his life. He was even felicitated as the best poet of his times.

Basavaiah felt humiliated, which he tried to hide by acquiring all kinds of luxuries. He got a palatial mansion built for himself; appointed a number of people to praise him and bedecked himself with gold, diamonds, and other precious stones. But his house looked dull and empty because Tammanna’s books were not there. He attempted to fill the lacuna by inviting scholars, poets, and musicians to his place. This way, he tried to invest his home with meaning.

One day, Basavaiah came to know that Tammanna was ill. The news made him happy. At that point, Basavaiah found the means of surpassing Tammanna. Health is wealth. Tammanna’s disease was Basavaiah’s health. But Tammanna thought differently. He had thought of yet another method of punishing Basavaiah. Tammanna contemplated ‘death’. As long as he continued his rivalry at the level of the body, Basavaiah would go on offering stiff competition. But, if he died, Basavaiah could do nothing to defeat him. The old man ends his storytelling the coconut garden owner’s wife that wishing to destroy Basavaiah completely, Tammanna gave up everything and ran off from his village.

As long as Tammanna was there, Basavaiah had a reason to be alive, but once Tammanna left the place Basavaiah passed away. The old man tells the lady that Basavaiah died because he had no reason to live. Then he confesses to her that he is Tammanna himself. After Basavaiah’s death, Tammanna tells the lady that he forgot all his songs and ballads, lost his fame, and became a non-entity. He concludes telling her that, that way he avenged himself.

Tammanna tells the woman that the experiences of his life had made him realize that human nature is very strange. He sums up his experiences in one sentence. He tells her that though man works to fulfill his many needs like wealth, education, art, and many more things, yet those things do not give him the right, compelling reasons to live. All through his life man lives for some kind of unbearable vengefulness. It is in this vengefulness that he finds a reason for his existence.

Finally, using his autobiographical account as an example, the old man. tries to covertly give her a message. He tells her that her husband was flourishing as a rich man and was not amenable to any advice. Man is so complicated that till the day of his death, he goes on living for some revenge or the other, confronting one challenge or the other. He wants her to understand that she had better try to understand why her husband is living like that.

Finally, he asks her to take the whole story as a dream and hot to take his words seriously. We can infer here that he is saddened by the coconut grove owner’s lifestyle and wants to put an end to it by cautioning the lady about her husband and do something to find out why her husband was doing so. As soon as the old man finishes his story, the first narrator reappears and tells the reader that he had seen all this in a dream and hence he is unable to elaborate.

The Gardener Summary in Kannada

Glossary:

• Perceptible: visible, noticeable
• Lethargic: lazy, sluggish
• Diligent: hard-working
• Raison d’etre (n) (French): reason, the reason for existence
• Annihilate: destroy

The main aim is to share the knowledge and help the students of 2nd PUC to secure the best score in their final exams. Use the concepts of Karnataka 2nd PUC English Answers Chapter 7 The Gardener in Real time to enhance your skills. If you have any doubts you can post your comments in the comment section, We will clarify your doubts as soon as possible without any delay.

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Karnataka 2nd PUC English Textbook Answers Springs Chapter 13 Where there is a Wheel

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Where there is a Wheel Questions and Answers, Notes, Summary

Where there is a Wheel Comprehension I

Where There Is A Wheel KSEEB Solution Question 1.
What does cycling as a symbol of social mobility mean?
Answer:
Cycling through the word evokes minute meaning, it is broader when it comes to society. Social mobility has two meanings literally. It moves society from one place to another, which means the transportation of people, and it also connotes the progress of society. When women want to go for a market they do not want to wait for men they could go on themselves.

Where There Is A Wheel Summary KSEEB Solution Question 2.
When Jameela Bibi says, “It is my right. We can go anywhere”, she is
a. asserting her right to move freely.
b. suggesting mobility leading to liberation.
c. expressing her indifference to dirty remarks.
d. boasting about her cycling skill.
Answer:
(a) asserting her right to move freely.

Where There Is A Wheel Notes KSEEB Solution Question 3.
What does bicycle represent for the rural women?
OR
Mention any one of the symbols which bicycling represents for the women.
Answer:
For the rural women bicycle represents ‘freedom’.

Where There Is A Wheel Questions And Answers KSEEB Solution Question 4.
What is common between neo-literates and neo-cyclists?
Answer:
Cycling as a social movement was first popularized by the neo-literates. These neo-literates are the ones who became neo-cyclists.

Where There Is A Wheel 2nd Puc Notes KSEEB Solution Question 5.
‘Enforced routine’ and ‘male imposed barrier’ refer to
a. confining women to the kitchen.
b. subjecting women to drudgery.
c. status of women in a patriarchal society.
d. lack of freedom of movement
Answer:
(c) status of women in a patriarchal society.

Where There Is A Wheel Pdf KSEEB Solution Question 6.
How did the men react to women taking to cycling?
Answer:
Initially, women had to put up with vicious attacks on their character. Some of the men made filthy remarks. But later, once it got social sanction from the Arivoli organization, some menfolk became less hostile and some of them even encouraged the women to learn cycling.

Where There Is Wheel KSEEB Solution Question 7.
What do the phrases ‘flags on the handlebar’ and ‘bells ringing’ suggest?
Answer:
The phrases ‘flags on the handlebar’ and ‘bells ringing’ refer to the women’s cycle rally organized on International Women’s Day in 1992 in which 1500 female cyclists took Pudukkottai by storm.

2nd Puc English Where There Is A Wheel Notes KSEEB Solution Question 8.
Why did UNICEF sanction mopeds to Arivoli women activists?
Answer:
The UNICEF sanctioned fifty mopeds to Arivoli women activists in appreciation of their work of initiating more than 70000 women to display their cycling skills at the public ‘exhibition-cum-contests’ in a single week in 1992.

Question 9.
Why is the cycle called ‘the humble vehicle’?
Answer:
The word ‘humble’ means ‘poor’, the lowest in rank. The writer calls the cycle a humble vehicle because it is the most common and ubiquitous vehicle seen even in the most remote of places, a common man’s vehicle.

Where there is a Wheel Comprehension II

Question 1.
What is the role of Arivoli Iyakkam in liberating women?
Answer:
In Pudukkottai district there is an organization called Arivoli Iyakkam (Light of Knowledge Movement) which spearheaded the district’s vigorous literacy drive. N. Kannammal is the central coordinator of Arivoli. This literacy organization conducted literacy campaigns among rural women and created a good number of neo-literates. Later, the Arivoli literacy activists, led by N.

Kannammal pioneered the cycling learning movement and thus gave cycling a social sanction. Later, at Kilakuruchi village, the Arivoli activists conducted a cycling training camp for their neo-literates as well as other women enthusiasts. A large number of those who learnt cycling come to train new learners, as master trainers, and this way they helped nearly 70000 rural women to learn cycling. Thus, by teaching them to read and write along with ‘cycling’, the Arivoli organization liberated a vast majority of the rural women in the Pudukkottai District.

Question 2.
In what different ways has the cycle empowered rural women?
OR
Discuss how the cycling movement has empowered the rural women of Pudukkottai.
Answer:
‘Cycling’ empowers women in many ways. It gives them ‘confidence’ which results from being self-dependent and free to carry out their duties and responsibilities without depending on the menfolk. For example, womenfolk can fetch water from even the remotest source and cart provisions on their own. In this way, cycling emancipates womenfolk psychologically. Cycling also empowers women economically and politically. Cycling boosts their income. Some of the women who sell agricultural or other products within a group of villages can save a great deal of time by going to such places on their bicycles.

Secondly, it gives them much more time to focus on selling their produce. Thirdly, it enlarges the area they can hope to cover. Finally, if they choose to enjoy their leisure, cycling gives them a lot of leisure also. These women, besides performing these jobs, can also perform other chores. Finally, to top it all, it gives them self-respect. They can also participate in political work.

Question 3.
Why does the author describe the Arivoli ‘cycling training camp’s unusual experience?
Answer:
One of the pioneers in encouraging ‘cycling’ and giving it a social sanction was the Arivoli activists. These activists conducted a ‘cycling training camp’ in Kilakuruchi village. The writer, who visited the camp, calls it an unusual experience because, on that Sunday, all the prospective learners had turned out in their Sunday best. The author remarks that one could not help being struck by the sheer passion of the pro-cycling movement. The learners exuded so much enthusiasm and passion for learning cycling.

Question 4.
Do you think neo-literate women taking to cycling contributes to the literacy movement?
Answer:
Yes. Women taking up cycling is as significant as their taking up literacy because cycling gives them mobility, freedom, and independence which together give the women confidence to stand on their own legs. Initially, Sheela Rani Chunkath, a district collector, in 1991 intended to train female literacy activists so as to enable them to spread literacy among women in the interior. Therefore, she included mobility as a part of the literacy drive.

However, cycling played a much more significant role than literacy in the lives of the womenfolk. It gave them confidence, freedom, and independence to eke out an independent existence. Cycling helped them stay attached to their children and family and yet be financially independent. It also helped the women to share family responsibilities with the menfolk.

Question 5.
How does Sheela Rani Chunkath, the district collector, promote the empowerment of women?
OR
Bring out the role of Sheela Rani Chunkath in the empowerment of women in Pudukkottai.
Answer:
In 1991, Sheela Rani Chunkath was the district collector of Pudukkottai. As a part of the female literacy drive, she wanted to train female literacy activists so that literacy would reach women in the interior. She had realized that the lack of mobility among women played a big role in undermining their confidence. Therefore, she included ‘mobility’ as a part of the literacy drive. Naturally, literacy activists learned cycling first. This inspired the neo-literates also to learn cycling. This, in turn, inspired every woman in the village to learn cycling.

The literates, having become neo-cyclists, encouraged every woman in the district to learn cycling, by organizing ‘cycle training camps’. Thus, Sheela Rani Chunkath became instrumental in ‘cycling’ becoming a social movement in the Pudukkottai district. This way Sheela Rani Chunkath should be commended for promoting ‘freedom’ of women by including ‘cycling’ in her literacy project.

Question 6.
How did the women react to the shortage of ladies’ cycle?
Answer:
Once ‘cycling’ as a symbol of women’s liberation caught the imagination of the womenfolk in the Pudukkottai district, every woman in the district volunteered to learn cycling. Not surprisingly, this led to a shortage of ‘ladies’ cycles. These women enthusiasts did not hesitate. They volunteered to buy even ‘gents’ cycles and learned cycling. Later on, many women started preferring the ‘gents’ cycle because it has an additional bar from the seat to the handle and that way it enabled them to go out along with a child also. Even to this day thousands of women in Pudukkottai district ride ‘gents’ cycles. ‘

Where there is a Wheel Comprehension III

Question 1.
How does P. Sainath show that cycling brings about changes beyond economic gains?
Answer:
P. Sainath presents an eye-witness report of ‘cycling’ becoming a social movement. He tells us how tens of thousands of women in the Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu got initiated to learn cycling.

The Arivoli activists led by N. Kannammal pioneered the ‘cycling’ movement. As a part of their vigorous literacy drive, these activists learned cycling. Later, they organized ‘cycling training camps’ for other women. Thus, it got social sanction. Once the movement became a big force, every woman in Pudukkottai volunteered to learn cycling. Towards the end of the article, Sainath says, besides giving women freedom, mobility, and independence, it also has definite economic implications.

It boosts their family income. Sainath reports that a section of the women sells agricultural or other products within a group of villages. For them, cycling cuts down on time wasted in waiting for buses. Secondly, it gives them much more time to focus on selling their produce. Thirdly, it enlarges the area they wish to cover. Lastly, it can increase their leisure time.

In conclusion, he says, cycling brings about changes beyond economic gains also. ‘Cycling’ gives them a sense of self-respect which is vital to their sense of well-being. Thus, Sainath says that this humble vehicle has become a metaphor for freedom for these women.

Question 2.
‘O sister come learn cycling, move with the wheel of time…’ How does the song suggest that the cycle could be an instrument of social change and progress?
Answer:
In the article titled ‘Where There is a Wheel’, Sainath, the writer, reports an important social movement that took place during 1992-94 that stunned the people of the Pudukkottai district in Tamil Nadu.

There was an organization named ‘Arivoli lyakkam’ which led the female literacy movement in Pudukkottai. These Arivoli activists learned ‘cycling’ so as to enable themselves to spread the message of literacy among rural women in the interior. Once the activists learned cycling, they, in turn, taught their neo-literates cycling. These neo-literates, neo-cyclists trained women in cycling, all over the district. During this period Muthu Bhaskaran, an Arivoli activist, wrote a famous song to encourage rural women to learn cycling. The song is intended to call upon the womenfolk to learn cycling.

The song conveys a simple message and when it is sung in Tamil, the mother tongue of these rural women, its meaning is easily understood. It only calls upon the woman to set in motion her own wheel of life. Until then, the woman could not move out of the house, because her ‘mobility’ depended on her being able to find money to go by bus. Going by bus also depended on the permission of the menfolk. The woman needed the help of her menfolk even to sell the agricultural produce which grew on her land. This way the woman could not break the male-imposed barriers. Once she learned cycling she got the freedom to move to any place she wanted and the freedom to do any work she wished to.

This song invites the woman to learn cycling and set in motion the wheel of her life. Here, the ‘wheel’ refers to ‘progress’. So, it tells the woman to learn cycling and be responsible for her own progress.

Where there is a Wheel Additional Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following questions in a word, a phrase, or a sentence each:

Question 1.
Name the person who wrote the famous cycling song.
OR
Name the Arivoli activist who wrote/penned the famous cycling song.
Answer:
Muthu Bhaskaran.

Question 2.
In which district of Tamil Nadu, according to P. Sainath, has cycling been a social movement?
OR
Where was cycling started as a social movement, according to P. Sainath?
Answer:
Pudukkottai district in Tamil Nadu.

Question 3.
What is Fatima by profession?
Answer:
A secondary school teacher.

Question 4.
What is the literacy movement of Pudukkottai called?
Answer:
Arivoli Iyakkam.

Question 5.
What does Arivoli Iyakkam mean?
Answer:
Light of Knowledge movement.

Question 6.
What is Arivoli Iyakkam mentioned in ‘Where There is a Wheel’?
Answer:
Arivoli Iyakkam, which means, Light of Knowledge movement, is the literacy movement of Pudukkottai.

Question 7.
Name one of the pioneers of the cycling movement in Pudukkottai.
Answer:
N. Kannammal, the Arivoli central coordinator.

Question 8.
Who is the central coordinator of Arivoli?
OR
Who was the central coordinator of the cycling movement in ‘Where There is a Wheel’?
Answer:
N. Kannammal.

Question 9.
Who was the brain behind the cycling movement?
OR
Who is Sheela Rani Chunkath?
OR
Whose brainchild is the cycling movement, according to P. Sainath?
Answer:
Sheela Rani Chunkath, a former district collector, was the brain behind the cycling movement.

Question 10.
When and why did Sheela Rani start the cycling movement?
Answer:
In 1991, Sheela Rani Chunkath started the cycling movement in the Pudukkottai district with the intention of training female literacy activists so that literacy would reach women in the interior.

Question 11.
What did Sheela Rani add as a part of the literacy drive?
Answer:
Sheela Rani added ‘mobility’ as a part of the literacy drive.

Question 12.
Why did Sheela Rani include mobility as a part of the literacy drive?
Answer:
Since lack of mobility among women played a big role in undermining their confidence, Sheela Rani included mobility as a part of the literacy drive.

Question 13.
In which year and on what occasion was the all-women’s cycle rally held?
Answer:
The all-women’s cycle rally was held on International Women’s Day in 1992.

Question 14.
Who is the owner of Ram Cycles?
Answer:
S. Kannakarajan.

Question 15.
Who was the male Arivoli activist who encouraged the cycling movement?
Answer:
Muthu Bhaskaran was the male Arivoli activist who encouraged the cycling movement.

Question 16.
Who trains women in cycling in Kudimianmalai?
OR
Name the quarry worker and Arivoli volunteer who trains other women.
OR
Name one of the women who has trained young women from their community in the art of cycling.
Answer:
Manormani.

Question 17.
Who is Manormani?
Answer:
A quarry worker and an Arivoli volunteer.

Question 18.
Name the quarry worker and Arivoli volunteer who trains other women to learn cycling.
Answer:
Manormani is the quarry worker and Arivoli volunteer who trains other women to learn cycling.

Question 19.
Which movement helped the ‘neo-literates’ to become ‘neo-cyclists’?
Answer:
The literacy movement helped the ‘neo-literates’ to become ‘neo-cyclists’.

Question 20.
Name the organization that sanctioned fifty mopeds for Arivoli women activists.
Answer:
The UNICEF sanctioned fifty mopeds for Arivoli women activists.

Question 21.
What is the chosen medium for the rural women ofPudukkottai?
Answer:
Cycling is the chosen medium for the rural women of Pudukkottai.

Question 22.
Why did some women prefer to buy gents’ cycles?
Answer:
Some women preferred to buy gents’ cycles because there was not only a shortage of ladies’ cycles, but they could also seat a child on the additional bar.

Question 23.
Name the male Arivoli activist who wrote the famous cycling song.
Answer:
Muthu Bhaskaran, a male Arivoli activist, wrote the famous cycling song.

Question 24.
What had stunned the inhabitants ofPudukkottai on International Women’s Day?
Answer:
The all-women’s cycle rally in which 1500 female cyclists participated, had stunned the inhabitants of Pudukkottai on International Women’s Day.

Question 25.
Which vehicle is called ‘humble’ in ‘Where There is a Wheel’?
Answer:
The writer calls the bicycle a humble vehicle.

Question 26.
What is meant by ‘neo-cyclists’ mentioned in ‘Where There Is A Wheel’?
Answer:
The term ‘neo-cyclists’ in the lesson ‘Where There is a Wheel’, refers to all those rural women in the Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, who have taken to bicycling as a symbol of independence, freedom, and mobility.

Question 27.
Name one of the three women who trained other women in cycling in ‘Where There Is A Wheel’.
Answer:
Jameela is one of the three women who trained other women in cycling, in the lesson ‘Where There is a Wheel’.

Question 28.
Who has benefited the most by cycling, according to P. Sainath?
Answer:
According to P. Sainath, the neo-literate rural women in the Pudukkottai district have been benefited the most by cycling.

Question 29.
Who took to ‘cycling’ as a social movement in ‘Where There Is A Wheel’?
Answer:
As stated in ‘Where There is a Wheel’, tens and thousands of neo-literate rural women in the Pudukkottai district took to ‘cycling’ as a social movement.

Question 30.
What, according to the speaker, has brought a change in the lifestyle of the women of Pudukkottai?
Answer:
According to the speaker, learning to ride a bicycle has brought a change in the lifestyle of the women of Pudukkottai.

Question 31.
In which official position was Sheela Rani Chunkath, according to P. Sainath?
Answer:
According to Sainath, Sheela Chunkath was then the district collector.

Question 32.
Who was S. Kanakarajan mentioned in ‘Where There Is A Wheel’?
Answer:
As mentioned in ‘Where There is a Wheel’, S. Kanakarajan was the owner of Ram Cycles, a shop in Pudukkottai which sold bicycles.

Question 33.
Mention one of the reasons for women buying gents’ cycles, according to P. Sainath.
Answer:
According to P. Sainath, a shortage of ‘ladies’ cycles was one of the reasons for women buying ‘Gents’ cycles.

Question 34.
What led to a shortage of ladies’ cycles in Pudukkottai, according to P. Sainath?
Answer:
According to P. Sainath, ‘cycling’ became a social movement for the rural women in Pudukkottai district. The district’s literacy activists learned cycling. Then, every one of the neo-literates became a neo-cyclist. This encouraged ‘everywoman’ in the district to learn cycling. Consequently, all the ‘ladies’ cycles stocked in the market got sold resulting in a shortage of ‘ladies’ cycles.

Question 35.
Where did the rural women display their new cycling skills, according to P. Sainath?
Answer:
According to P. Sainath, the rural women displayed their new cycling skills in an all women’s cycle rally held in Pudukkottai on International Women’s Day in 1992.

Question 36.
What did banks provide the women of Pudukkottai with, according to P. Sainath?
Answer:
According to P. Sainath, banks provided loans to the women of Pudukkottai for buying bicycles.

Question 37.
What, according to P. Sainath, played a big role in undermining women’s confidence?
Answer:
According to P. Sainath, lack of mobility among women played a big role in undermining their confidence.

Question 38.
Who gave social sanction to cycling in ‘Where there is a Wheel’?
Answer:
According to P. Sainath, it was the Arivoli that gave social sanction to cycling.

II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80 – 100 words each:

Question 1.
Bring out the nature of freedom gained in Pudukkottai with the introduction of the cycle.
Answer:
The introduction of cycling has brought freedom, mobility, and independence to more than 100000 rural women in the Pudukkottai district. There were quite a few rural women who used to go by bus to sell their agricultural products within a group of villages. Now, these women have learnt cycling can go to such places on cycle, and cut down on time, and also cover a larger area.

Secondly, these women needed the help of menfolk to reach even the bus stop. Moreover, they had to rush back early to tend to the children and perform other chores like fetching water. With the introduction of cycling, they have become mobile and independent. They have a lot of freedom to plan they’re occupational as well as their domestic duties and enjoy leisure too.

Question 2.
How has the cycle transformed the lives of many women in Pudukkottai?
OR
Comment on how cycling reduced women’s dependence on men with reference to Sainath’s essay.
OR
What benefits, according to P. Sainath, has cycling brought into the lives of rural women?
OR
How has a bicycle brought a total change in the lives of rural women?
OR
How did cycling transform the lives of women in the Pudukkottai district and help them change with the times?
Answer:
The introduction of cycling in the Pudukkottai district has brought about a tremendous change in the lives of rural women. Cycling has offered a way out of enforced routines around male- imposed barriers. The rural women, in particular, have gained a great deal of confidence on account of their learning cycling. Earlier, they used to be burdened with economic as well as social or familial obligations. Many young mothers had to help the menfolk in earning the family income as well as do domestic chores like tending to children and fetching water from remote places. Even to sell their agricultural produce in nearby villages, they had to carry their produce to the bus stop with the help of their menfolk.

Secondly, they had to come back within a fixed time to tend to little kids at home and to store or fetch water from remote places. Naturally, though they were capable of doing all these duties on their own, their ‘immobility’ created a big hurdle. They had to walk long distances to fetch water and sell their produce. After learning cycling, such women became free and independent. This gave them a lot of confidence. Moreover, the ability to ride a bicycle gave them a lot of self-respect.

Question 3.
Why does P. Sainath say that visiting an Arivoli cycling training camp is an unusual experience?
Answer:
Sainath, the writer, says that visiting an Arivoli ‘cycling training camp’ is an unusual experience because one day when he went to Kilakuruchi village to see the camp he was amazed to see all the prospective learners turned out in their Sunday best. The writer tells us that one cannot help being struck by the sheer passion of the pro-cycling movement. There was a look of determination on their faces.

Question 4.
What role did Sheela Rani play in the cycling movement?
OR
How did Sheela Rani promote the cycling movement?
Answer:
Sheela Rani Chunkath was the district collector of Pudukkottai. In 1991 as a part of the female literacy drive, she wanted to train female literacy activists so that literacy would reach women in the interior. She had realized that the lack of mobility among women played a big role in undermining their confidence. Therefore, she included ‘mobility’ as a part of the literacy drive.

Naturally, literacy activists learned cycling first. This inspired the neo-literates also to learn cycling. This, in turn, inspired every woman in the village to learn cycling. The literates, having become neo-cyclists, encouraged every woman in the district to learn cycling, by organizing ‘cycle training camps’. Thus, Sheela Rani Chunkath became instrumental in ‘cycling’ becoming a social movement in the Pudukkottai district.

Question 5.
How does the author show that cycling is linked to the literacy movement in the district?
OR
How did Sheela Rani Chunkath empower the women of Pudukkottai by including cycling in the literacy drive?
Answer:
Sheela Rani Chunkath was the district collector of Pudukkottai in 1991. As a part of the female literacy drive, she wanted to train female literacy activists so that literacy would reach women in the interior. She had realized that the lack of mobility among women played a big role in undermining their confidence. Therefore, she included ‘mobility’ as a part of the literacy drive.

Naturally, literacy activists learned cycling first. This inspired the neo-literates also to learn cycling. This, in turn, inspired every woman in the village to learn cycling. The literates, having become neo-cyclists, encouraged every woman in the district to learn cycling by organizing ‘cycle training camps’. Thus, cycling came to be linked to the literacy movement in Pudukkottai.

Question 6.
What are the economic implications of cycling?
OR
Discuss how cycling has had definite economic implications on women’s status.
Answer:
Cycling brought many benefits to rural women in Pudukkottai. Besides instilling a lot of confidence in rural women, it also helped them economically. A large section of the rural womenfolk were small producers who used to wait for buses to carry their produce to sell in other villages.

Even to carry their produce to the bus stop they had to depend on fathers, brothers, husbands or sons.
Once these women learned cycling, they became mobile and independent. Learning cycling enabled them to visit a number of villages and sell their produce. Secondly, after learning cycling they were able to combine different tasks with nonchalance. Consequently, one can see many a young mother riding a cycle with a child on the bar and the produce on the carrier. She could also be seen carrying two or three pots of water hung across the back and cycling towards work or home.

Question 7.
How has cycling swept across the district of Pudukkottai?
Answer:
It is not an exaggeration to say that cycling has swept across the district of Pudukkottai. It is not surprising to see even rural agricultural workers riding a bicycle carrying water, their products, and also their children on the bicycle. In fact, cycle-riding women have become ubiquitous in the Pudukkottai district.

Apart from women agricultural workers, quarry labourers, and village health nurses have also taken to cycling. Joining the rush are balwadi and Anganwadi workers, gem cutters and school teachers, and also grama services and mid-day meal workers as well.

Ques 8.
Why was there a shortage of ladies’ cycles in the district of Pudukkottai? How was the problem overcome?
OR
How did the women react to the shortage of ladies’ cycles?
OR
Why was there a shortage of ladies’ cycles in Pudukkottai? How did the women react to it?
Answer:
Once the idea of learning cycling as a sign of women’s emancipation caught on among the womenfolk of Pudukkottai, there was a huge demand for ‘ladies’ cycles. Once the stocks of ladies cycles got exhausted there was a shortage of ‘ladies’ cycles. Consequently, women did not hesitate to buy ‘gents’ cycles as well. In fact, some women even preferred ‘gents’ cycles because the gent’s cycles have an additional bar from the seat to the handle. That way the women realized that they could seat a child on the bar. Consequently, the shortage of ladies cycles was solved by going in for gents cycles.

Question 9.
How has cycling inculcated a sense of self-respect in the women of Pudukkottai?
Answer:
The writer says that it would be very wrong to emphasize only the economic aspect of learning cycling. He says that learning cycling brings a sense of self-respect to the individual. He quotes the opinion of Fatima, a secondary school teacher. She opines that learning cycling is not economic in her case at all. She cannot afford a bicycle, yet she hires one every evening just to feel the goodness, that independence. What she means to say is, when a woman learns to ride a bicycle, she enjoys a sense of achievement.

Women do not need to depend on their husbands to help them physically in carrying their produce to the market. Secondly, nothing can bind them to their homes. They go out, fetch water and provisions, and come back home to attend to their domestic duties and responsibilities at the right time. This way they enjoy a lot of freedom. It is this feeling that gives women a sense of self-respect.

III. Answer the following questions in about 200 words each:

Question 1.
How has cycling become a metaphor for freedom in Pudukkottai?
OR
How does the speaker highlight the freedom and empowerment accomplished due to cycling?
OR
In what different ways does the bicycle help rural women in ‘Where There Is A Wheel’?
Answer:
The idea of empowering women giving them ‘mobility’ came from Sheela Rani Chunkath, the District Collector of Pudukkottai in 1991. She included ‘mobility’ as a part of the literacy drive so as to facilitate female literacy activists to reach rural women in the interior. Once the literacy activists learned cycling, they taught the neo-literates cycling. Once the neo-literates learned cycling, every other woman in the district volunteered to learn cycling. Later, the Arivoli activists organized a ‘Cycling Training Camp’ and created ‘Master trainers’ who in turn conducted several cycling training camps. This way, in a short period of time, over 100,000 rural women in the Pudukkottai district learned cycling.

The author opines that ‘cycling’ gave these women freedom, mobility, and independence. Consequently, these women stopped depending on the menfolk to transport their agricultural produce to bus stops. They themselves carried the produce and sold them in the neighbouring villages and this way covered a larger area. Secondly, they also took care of the young ones at home and completed household chores in time as a result of the proper utilization of time. They could also fetch water from far off places and cart provisions on their bicycle. Thus, ‘cycling’ empowered rural women in many ways. Furthermore, the ability to carry on all the duties and responsibilities on their own gave the women a sense of achievement and self-respect. Thus, the author who witnessed this silent revolution concludes that the humble vehicle – the bicycle – has become a metaphor for freedom, in Pudukkottai.

Question 2.
How does the essay ‘Where There is a Wheel’speak about women and empowerment?
OR
How is ‘wheel’ symbolic of a change in ‘Where there is a wheel’?
OR
A humble vehicle can be a tool for women’s empowerment. Discuss.
OR
A humble vehicle can work wonders in empowering rural women. Explain with reference to ‘Where There Is A Wheel’.
Answer:
In this essay titled ‘Where There is a Wheel’, Sainath reports how learning to ride a bicycle became a social movement and eventually became a symbol of women empowerment in the Pudukkottai district of Tamilnadu. Here, the ‘wheel’ of the cycle has become a symbol for the empowerment of women. The introduction of cycling has brought about tremendous change in the lives of rural women. Cycling has offered a way out of enforced routines around male-imposed barriers.

The rural women, in particular, have gained a great deal of confidence on account of their learning cycling. Earlier, they used to be burdened with economic as well as social or familial obligations. Many young mothers had to help the menfolk in earning the family income as well as do domestic chores like tending to children and fetching water from remote places. Even to sell their agricultural produce in nearby villages, they had to carry their produce to the bus stop with the help of their menfolk.

Secondly, they had to come back within a fixed time to tend to little kids at home and to store or fetch water from remote places. Naturally, though they were capable of doing all these duties on their own, their ‘immobility’ created a big hurdle. They had to walk long distances to fetch water and sell their produce. After learning cycling, such women became free and independent. This gave them a lot of confidence. Moreover, the ability to ride a bicycle gave them a lot of self-respect.

Apart from women agricultural workers, quarry labourers, and village health nurses have also taken to cycling. Joining the rush are balwadi and Anganwadi workers, gem cutters, school teachers, grama services, and mid-day meal workers as well.

It would be very wrong to emphasize only the economic aspect of learning cycling. Learning cycling brings a sense of self-respect to the individual. The writer quotes the opinion of Fatima, a secondary school teacher. She opines that learning cycling is not economic in her case at all. She cannot afford a bicycle, yet she hires one every evening just to feel the goodness, that independence. What she means to say is, when a woman learns to ride a bicycle, she enjoys a sense of achievement. She feels that she does not need to depend on her husband to help her physically in carrying her produce to the market.

Secondly, nothing can bind her to her home. She becomes mobile. She goes out, fetches water and provisions, and comes back home to attend to her domestic duties and responsibilities at the right time. This way she enjoys a lot of freedom. It is this feeling that gives a woman a sense of self-respect.

Question 3.
Justify the statement ‘Wheel brings progress’ with reference to ‘Where There is a Wheel’.
Answer:
In ‘Where there is a Wheel’, P. Sainath, the writer, refers to the ‘wheel’ of the bicycle to document the spectacular progress achieved by rural women in the Pudukkottai district of Tamilnadu. The title symbolically conveys the ‘progress’ achieved by rural women over a period of one and a half years. ‘Wheel’ is a commonly accepted symbol for progress or movement or mobility. ‘Wheel’ also means continuous progress or movement. While stagnation indicates decay and deterioration, mobility indicates dynamism.

The writer remarks that “people find curious ways of hitting out at their backwardness, of expressing defiance, a hammering at the fetters that hold them”. All these phrases make a reference to how the rural women of Pudukkottai district defied the challenge of the male bastion and broke the fetters that chained them to the confines of their homes by learning to ride a bicycle. These rural women, which included agricultural workers, quarry labourers, village health nurses, ballad is and anganwadis, gem cutters, school teachers, mid-day meal workers, and gram sevikas, had to depend on the male persons at-home – brother, husband, father – to go to the market to sell their produce and to go to their workplaces in addition to doing household chores like carrying water from the village well, cooking, taking care of infants and washing clothes and utensils.

Today, women can be seen doing many tasks on their bicycles. They can be seen carrying water from the well along with their small kids sitting on the bar of their cycle in the front. Many of them bicycle their way to villages to sell agricultural products or to work in the quarries.

Question 4.
People find curious ways of hitting out at their backwardness. How is this brought out in ‘Where There Is A Wheel’?
Answer:
P. Sainath, in his essay ‘Where There is a Wheel’, remarks that “people find curious ways of hitting out at their backwardness, of expressing defiance, a hammering at the fetters that hold them”. All these phrases make a reference to how the rural women of Pudukkottai district defied the challenge of the male bastion and broke the fetters that chained them to the confines of their homes by learning to ride a bicycle.

Sheela Rani Chunkath was the district collector of Pudukkottai. In 1991 as a part of the female literacy drive, she wanted to train female literacy activists so that literacy would reach women in the interior. She had realized that the lack of mobility among women played a big role in undermining their confidence. Therefore, she included ‘mobility’ as a part of the literacy drive. Naturally, literacy activists learned cycling first. This inspired the neo-literates also to learn cycling. This, in turn, inspired every woman in the village to learn cycling. The literates, having become neo-cyclists, encouraged every woman in the district to learn cycling, by organizing ‘cycle training camps’. Thus, Sheela Rani Chunkath became instrumental in ‘cycling’ becoming a social movement in the Pudukkottai district.

Cycling brought many benefits to rural women in Pudukkottai. Besides instilling a lot of confidence in rural women, it also helped them economically. A large section of the rural womenfolk were small producers who used to wait for buses to carry their produce to sell in other villages. Even to carry their produce to the bus stop they had to depend on fathers, brothers, husbands, or sons. Once these women learned cycling, they became mobile and independent. Learning cycling enabled them to visit the number of villages and sell their produce. Secondly, after learning cycling they were able to combine different tasks with nonchalance.

Consequently, one can see many a young mother riding a cycle with a child on the bar and the produce on the carrier. She could also be seen carrying two or three pots of water hung across the back and cycling towards work or home. Besides helping the women economically, cycling brought a sense of self-respect to them. He quotes the opinion of Fatima, a secondary school teacher.

She opines that learning cycling is not economic in her case at all. She cannot afford a bicycle, yet she hires one every evening just to feel the goodness, that independence. What she means to say is, when a woman learns to ride a bicycle, she enjoys a sense of achievement. Women do not need to depend on their husbands to help them physically in carrying their produce to the market. Secondly, nothing can bind them to their homes. They go out, fetch water and provisions, and come back home to attend to their domestic duties and responsibilities at the right time. This way they enjoy a lot of freedom. It is this feeling that gives women a sense of self-respect.

Where there is a Wheel Vocabulary

A. Idioms and Phrases:

An idiom is the special use of language. Idioms do not give the literal meaning of the individual words used in the idiom.
E.g. ‘a change of heart’ would literally mean a heart transplant. However, idiomatically it would mean ‘a change in one’s attitude or feelings’.
i. Look at the following pairs of idiomatic expressions. The meanings of the first pair are given in brackets. Find out the missing ones.

Question 1.
a. to the day (exactly)
b. to this day (even now)

Question 2.
a. take by storm (capture by the sudden or violent attack)
b. the calm before the storm ( ______)
Answer:
A quiet period immediately before a period of great activity or trouble.

Question 3.
a. for all one knows (considering how little one knows)
b. before one knows where one is ( _______ )
Answer:
(or before one knows it) with baffling speed.

Question 4.
a. at/behind the wheel (in control of the situation)
b. put a spoke in somebody’s wheel ( _______ )
Answer:
spoil someone else’s plans and stop them from doing something

Question 5.
a. turn out in one’s best (be well-dressed)
b. as things turned out ( _______ )
Answer:
how something develops/ends.

ii. Identify the sentences in which these expressions have been used in this lesson.

1. And to this day, thousands of women here ride ‘gents’ cycles.
2. Flags on the handlebars, bells ringing, over 1,500 female cyclists took Pudukkottai by storm.
3. For all he knew, I was an undercover agent of the sales tax department.
4. (Note: This usage is not found in the lesson.)
5. In Kilakuruchi village all the prospective learners had turned out in their Sunday best.

B. Phrasal verbs are expressions which have a combination of a verb and a preposition.

Some of the phrasal verbs used in this article are given below. With the help of the teacher/ dictionary find out their meanings and use them in sentences of your own.
Take to, give up, run into, hit out at, sweep across, put up with.

• Take to: to start doing something as a habit
• give up: stop doing something
• run into: to meet someone when you did not expect to
• hit out at: to fight something vigorously
• sweep across: to extend or spread in a wide range
• put up with: to accept unpleasant behaviour by someone or an annoying situation without complaining, even though you do not like it.

Additional Exercises

A. Passive Voice:

Question 1.
The rural women of Pudukkottai found a way of hitting out at their backwardness. Cycling ____ (choose) as a medium in doing so. Cycling ______ (learn) by over one-fourth of all rural women. The new skill _______ (display) by over 70,000 of these women.
Answer:
was chosen; was learnt; was displayed.

Question 2.
Arivoli played an important role in the cycling movement. A number of training camps _____ (arrange) by Arivoli. In order to encourage bicycling, songs _____ (sing) by neo-cyclists. The UNICEF ______ (impress) and sanctioned fifty mopeds for Arivoli women activists.
Answer:
were arranged; were sung; was impressed.

Question 3.
Cycling gained momentum gradually. Though dirty remarks _____ (make), women paid no attention. Scores of young women _____ (train) by Jameela and her friends. A direct link ______ (see) by a neo-cyclist woman between cycling and her personal independence.
Answer:
were made; were trained; was seen.

Question 4.
Now we often see a woman doing a four-kilometre stretch on her bicycle to collect water. Even carting provisions from other places ____ (do) on their own. But, when this began, filthy remarks ______ (make). Even then social sanction ______(give) to cycling by Arivoli.
Answer:
was done; were made; was given.

Question 5.
Gents’ cycles have certain advantages. These ______ (prefer) by some women as these have an additional bar from the seat to the handle. A child _____ (can, seat) on it. Carting provisions _____ (can, do) on their own.
Answer:
are preferred; can be seated; can be done.

Question 6.
It was the occasion of International Women’s Day in 1992. Pudukkottai _____ (take) by storm. The town’s inhabitants _____ (stun) by the all-women’s cycle rally. However, it ______ (approve) by all males.
Answer:
was taken; were stunned; was approved.

Question 7.
In no time cycling became a way of life in Pudukkottai. It _____ (introduce) as a tool of social change. Mobility, facilitated by cycling _____ (include) as a part of literacy drive. The idea ______ (propose) by Sheela Rani Chunkath, the district collector.
Answer:
was introduced; was included; was proposed.

Question 8.
Cycling brought a mighty change in the life of women in Pudukkottai. They started moving on their own. Dependence on men _____ (reduce) to some extent. Provisions too _____ (cart) from one place to another and a four-kilometre stretch ____ (cover) on their cycles to fetch water.
Answer:
was reduced; were carted; was covered.

Question 9.
The District Collector’s main aim was to make literacy reach the interior. So mobility _____ (include) as a part of literacy drive. Loans _____ (provide) by banks for women to buy cycles. Specific duties ______ (allot) to each block to promote this drive.
Answer:
was included; were provided; were allotted.

B. Fill in the blanks by choosing the appropriate expressions given in brackets:

Question 1.
Sheela Rani Chunkath included mobility ______ the literacy drive. People made dirty remarks but the neo-cyclists _____ to these remarks. (turned a deaf ear, to come off, as a part of)
Answer:
as a part of; turned a deaf ear.

Question 2.
A lot of women were unable to wait for ladies’ cycles. Therefore they had to _____ men’s cycles. They knew that bicycles would ______ time wasted in waiting for buses. (cut down on, put up with, go in for)
Answer:
go in for; cut down on.

Question 3.
Cycling has _____ Pudukkottai. It has become a movement. It was the ______ of Sheela Rani Chunkath who was the former District Collector. (brainchild, swept across, go out)
Answer:
swept across; brainchild.

Question 4.
In the heart of rural Pudukkottai, young women _____ the roads on their bicycles. Jameela Bibi, who has ______ cycling, told the reporter that it was her right. (taken to, give up, zip along)
Answer:
zip along; taken to.

Question 5.
In Kilakuruchi village all the prospective learners had in ______ their Sunday best. You can’t help ____ the sheer passion of the pro-cycling movement. (a way out, being struck by, turned out)
Answer:
turned out; being struck by.

C. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate linkers:

Question 1.
Cycling made women independent _______ it reduced their dependence on men. _____ it gave them a sense of freedom. _____ they had to put up with vicious attacks on their character. _____ all women in Pudukkottai learnt cycling. (moreover, as, even then, but)
Answer:
as; Moreover; But; Even then.

Question 2.
Cycling has had very definite economic implications. It boosts their income. ______ for sellers it cuts down on time wasted in waiting for buses. ______ it gives them much more time to focus on selling their produce. _______ it enlarges the area they hope to cover. _____ it increases their leisure time, too. (thus, first, furthermore, on top of that)
Answer:
First; Furthermore; On top of that; Thus.

Where there is a Wheel by P. Sainath About the Writer:

Palagummi Sainath (born 1957) is an Indian journalist and photojournalist focusing on social problems, rural affairs, poverty and aftermath of globalization in India. He is the Rural Affairs Editor of The Hindu. A regular contributor to The Telegraph in Kolkata, he also writes for the fortnightly Frontline and the daily Business Line in Chennai.

Sainath has received close to forty national and international journalism awards and fellowships in thirty years as a journalist, including the Ramon Magsaysay journalism award in 2007, the European Commission’s Natali Prize in 1994, the Boerma journalism Prize from the UN FAO in 2001, the Amnesty International global award for human rights journalism in 2000, and the B.D. Goenka Award for excellence in journalism in 2000. In June 2011, Sainath was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree (DLitt) by the University of Alberta, the university’s highest honour.

Where there is a Wheel Summary in English

This lesson is an article taken from a book titled ‘Everybody Loves a Good Drought’, by P. Sainath, a popular photo-journalist. Besides giving a brief history of ‘cycling’ as a social movement in Pudukkottai, he also reports how a group of women initiated the remaining women in the village to learn ‘cycling’ so as to use it as a symbol of independence, freedom and mobility. Finally, he also comments on the general impact of this on women’s lives in the Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu.

The author begins the article commenting that when people hear the caption, “Cycling as a social movement”, it may sound far-fetched to them, but it is true. Then the author remarks that “people find curious ways of hitting out at their backwardness, of expressing defiance, a hammering at the fetters that hold them”.

The author then quotes statistics to prove his point. He reports that over the past eighteen months, 100000 rural women have taken to bicycling as a symbol of independence, freedom and mobility, and their number constitutes over one-fourth of all rural Women in Pudukkottai. Among them over 70000 of them have taken part in public exhibition-cum-contests to proudly display their skills, yet the desire to learn ‘cycling’ and the ‘training camps’ continue.

The author then tells us how two of the participants Jameela Bibi, and Fatima, a secondary school teacher, feel about their achievement in cycling. The author quotes Jameela Bibi, who says, “It’s my right, we can go anywhere. Now I don’t have to wait for a bus”. Similarly, he quotes Fatima also. Fatima says, “There is freedom in cycling. We are not dependent on anyone now. I can never give this up!” Jameela, Fatima and their friend Avakanni, all in their early twenties, have trained scores of other young women in the art of cycling.

The author remarks that “Cycling has swept across this district; women agricultural workers, quarry labourers and village health nurses are among its fans. They are now being followed by balwadi and Anganwadi workers, gem cutters, school teachers, gramasevikas and mid-day meal workers. The vast majority are those who have just become literate”. The district’s vigorous literacy drive led by Arivoli Iyakkam (Light of Knowledge Movement) has been quick to tap this energy. The author has spoken to every one of these ‘neo-literate’, ‘neo-cyclist’ women and asserts that there is a direct link between cycling and the neo-cyclists’ personal independence.

Then he reports the opinion of the coordinator who says that the “cycling training has given confidence to women and it has reduced their dependence on men”.

The author says that he often sees a woman doing a four-kilometre stretch on her bicycle to collect water, sometimes with her children. He opines that women can cart provisions from other places on their own. Initially, these women had to put up with vicious attacks on their character. Even filthy remarks used to be made by men. He praises the ‘Arivoli’ organisation for volunteering to give social sanction to cycling.

Next, he mentions the ‘Cycle Training Camp’ that he had seen in Kilakuruchi village. He says that it was an unusual experience to see all the prospective learners who had turned out in their Sunday best. They appeared to be determined to learn cycling. The Arivoli activists produced songs for the neo-cyclists to encourage bicycling. The author quotes a line which says, “O sisters, come learn cycling, move with the wheel of time”.

Then, we learn that those who got trained in cycling came back in large numbers to help new learners. They worked free of charge for Arivoli as ‘master trainers’. Then, he comments that there is not only a desire to learn but a widespread perception among them that ‘all women ought to learn cycling’.

In the next part of the report, the writer gives a brief historical background to cycling as a social movement. He reports that in 1991 a former district collector by name Sheela Rani Chunkath hit on the idea of training female literacy activists so as to reach women in interior villages. She also included ‘mobility’ (for women) as a part of the literacy drive, because lack of mobility among women played a big role in weakening the confidence of women. It is reported that Chunkath paid personal attention to this idea and motivated the banks to give loans to women to buy cycles. Each block was assigned specific duties in promoting the drive. The district collector met with great success in her plan. Due to the initiative taken by her, the literacy activists learned cycling.

This encouraged the neo-literates, and their example was followed by every woman in the village to learn cycling. This led to a shortage of ‘ladies’ cycles. Then the women started using ‘gents’ cycles. In fact, some women even preferred ‘gents’ cycles because it has an additional bar from the seat to the handle. The author then says, even to this day thousands of women here ride ‘gents’ cycles.

On the International Women’s Day in 1992, over 1500 female cyclists with flags on the handlebars, bells ringing, took Pudukkottai by storm. The towns’ inhabitants were stunned by this all women’s cycle rally.

The writer describes the reactions of the men to this social movement. The author gives the opinion of S. Kanakarajan, owner of Ram Cycles. The cycle dealer says that he had seen a rise of over 350 per cent in the sales of ‘ladies’ cycles in one year. But the author believes that the percentage of increase mentioned by the cycle agent is incorrect because a lot of women have gone in for ‘gents’ cycles as they could not wait for ‘ladies’ cycles. Then the writer remarks that not all males were hostile and some men were even encouraging in their attitude. For instance, Muthu Bhaskaran, a male Arivoli activist, wrote the famous cycling song that has become their anthem.

The writer cites the example of Manormani to illustrate how learning to ride a bicycle can help stone quarry workers also. The twenty-two-year-old Manormani is a stone quarry worker and Arivoli volunteer. She works in Kudimianmalai’s stone quarries. According to her, it is vital for her co-workers to learn cycling because their working places are a little cut off from the main road. Those who learn cycling can be mobile (which means they can go home after work and come back the next day, otherwise, they will have to stay there alone in a new place facing a lot of problems or travel by bus every day). The writer says that in 1992, more than 70000 women displayed their cycling skills at the public ‘exhibition-cum-contests’ run by Arivoli. The UNICEF, who were impressed with the achievement of these activists, sanctioned fifty mopeds for Arivoli women activists.

The writer gives his views about cycling as a social movement. He says that cycling boosts income. Some of the women sell agricultural or other produce within a group of villages. For such people, cycling saves time. Secondly, cycling gives you more time to focus on selling your produce. Thirdly, it helps you to cover a larger area. Lastly, it can increase your leisure time too. Earlier, small producers had to carry their produce only by bus and had to depend on fathers, brothers, husbands, or sons even to reach the bus stop. They could cover only a limited number of villages to sell their produce as they had to do so on foot.

Moreover, these women had to rush back early to tend to the children and perform other chores like fetching water. Those who had bicycles now combined these difficult tasks without any anxiety or tension. Even now one can see along some remote road, a young mother, with a child on the cycle bar and, produce on the carrier. She could also be seen carrying two or even three pots of water hung across the back, and cycling towards work or home.

Finally, the author opines that for these neo-literate/neo-cyclist women, more than the economic aspect, the sense of self-respect it brings is vital. The author admits in a confessing tone that never before had he seen that humble vehicle (cycle) in that light – the bicycle as a metaphor for freedom. Before concluding, the writer quotes Kannammal who opines that for rural women it is a Himalayan achievement like flying an aeroplane.

In the last paragraph, the author adds a postscript. He says that in April 1995, when the author returned to Pudukkottai, the craze for learning cycling was still on (three years later). Then he adds that a large number of women were unable to afford bicycles which then cost around Rs. 1400 each. He concludes saying that Pudukkottai remains unique among Indian districts for the stunning proportion of women who have taken to cycling and the enthusiasm for gaining the skill among the rest.

Where there is a Wheel Summary in Kannada

Glossary:

• neo-literates: new literates
• gramsevikas: women social workers in villages
• phenomenon: a fact or an event in nature or society
• brainchild: an idea or invention of one person
• non-chalance: indifference; unmoved

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Karnataka 2nd PUC English Textbook Answers Springs Chapter 12 The Voter

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The Voter Questions and Answers, Notes, Summary

The Voter Comprehension I

The Voter Questions And Answers 2nd PUC KSEEB Solution Question 1.
The roof was a popular young man because of he-
a. had not abandoned his village.2nd PUC English Textbook Answers Springs Chapter 12 The Voter
b. wanted to guide his people.
c. was forced to return to his village.
Answer:
(a) had not abandoned his village.

The Voter Summary 2nd Puc KSEEB Solution Question 2.
Why was Marcus considered rich and powerful?
Answer:
Marcus had two long cars and had just built himself the biggest house anyone had seen in these parts. He had entertained his people slaughtering five bulls and countless goats to feed the people. Though the village had no electricity, he had installed a private plant to supply electricity to his new home. Secondly, his house was opened by the Archbishop. Thirdly, he had been made a minister after he won the election. That is why he was considered rich and powerful.

The Voter Notes 2nd PUC KSEEB Solution Question 3.
Marcus Ibe had earlier been
a. doctor
b. schoolteacher
c. politician.
Answer:
(b) school teacher.

The Voter 2nd Puc Notes KSEEB Solution Question 4.
The fact that Marcus Ibe left the good things of the capital and returned to his village whenever he could, shows
a. his devotion to his people and love for the place
b. he enjoyed all the comforts of the city in his village.
c. he wanted to improve the amenities in his village.
Answer:
(b) he enjoyed all the comforts of the city in his village.

2nd Puc English Lesson The Voter Summary In English KSEEB Solution Question 5.
After the feasting, the villagers
a. praised Marcus’s faithfulness and generosity.
b. intended to demand more for their votes
c. realized Marcus’s wealth.
Answer:
(c) realized Marcus’s wealth.

Voter Notes 2nd PUC KSEEB Solution Question 6.
The ‘whispering campaign’ is
a. secret campaigning at night
b. bargaining for votes.
c. clandestine distribution of money.
Answer:
(c) clandestine distribution of money.

The Voter By Chinua Achebe Questions And Answers 2nd PUC KSEEB Solution Question 7.
The village eider Ezenwa tilted the lamp a little because
a. he could not see properly.
b. the place was too dark.
c. he wanted to confirm the amount paid to each.
Answer:
(c) he wanted to confirm the amount paid to each.

Question 8.
‘Firewood’ refers to
a. Roof taking advantage of the situation.
b. the advantages of being a voter.
c. the benefits the elders received.
Answer:
(c) the benefits the elders received.

Question 9.
Roof and the leader of the POP campaign team were
a. friends.
b. strangers.
c. acquaintances.
Answer:
(a, c) friends/acquaintances.

Question 10.
The roof was mesmerized by
a. the red notes on the floor.
b. the picture of the cocoa farmer.
c. the POP campaign leader.
Answer:
(a) the red notes on the floor.

Question 11.
Roof’s act of inserting the torn ballot papers in two boxes signifies
a. keeping his promise.
b. appeasing Iyi
c. absolving himself of his guilt
Answer:
(c) absolving himself of his guilt.

The Voter Comprehension II

Question 1.
Trace the change in the attitude of the villagers before the second election. Give reasons.
OR
Why did the people decide not to cast their vote for free in the forthcoming election?
OR
Explain the change that had come into the thinking of Umuofia in ‘The Voter’.
OR
Trace the reasons behind the ‘radical change’ that had come into the thinking ofUmuofia in ‘The Voter’.
Answer:
In this short story, Chinua Achebe makes an attempt to present before the reader how ‘elections’ lose their sanctity and are misused by greedy politicians for self-aggrandizement instead of bringing about improvement in the life of the people.

The people of Umuofia vote en masse in favor of the People’s Alliance Party and elect Marcus Ibe, a local teacher, as their leader. Once getting elected, people see a great many changes in Marcus’ life. Their elected representative becomes wealthy, is awarded chieftaincy titles and doctorate degrees, besides many other honours. He also builds a huge mansion in his native village and names it ‘Umuofia Mansions’. He spends most of his time in the capital and comes back to stay in his village mansion sometimes.

The villagers do not have running water and electricity, but he gets a private plant installed in his village to supply electricity to his new house. To top it all, his new house is opened by the Archbishop. On the day the new house is opened, he hosts a grand dinner to all the people of his village, slaughtering five bulls and countless goats. The common people realize that winning an election can change an ordinary mission school teacher into a wealthy and powerful man.

They also know that it is their ballot which has given him all those benefits. They recall that they had given their votes free of charge five years ago. They realize that they had underrated the power of the ballot paper and should not do so again. That is why, in the second election, they demand money for their votes.

Question 2.
What was the justification for the formation of the POP?
OR
What reasons are given for the formation of the POP?
Answer:
POP stands for Progressive Organisation Party. This party is formed by the tribes down the coast to save themselves from ‘totally political, cultural, social and religious annihilation’. The POP was a complete non-entity in the first election. Once the organizers come to know that there is no opposition party, some rich members of the tribes down the coast, form this party. They want the people to know that they will be paid pounds and not shillings if they listen to them and vote for them. In the story, we do not get any hint about the objectives of the PAP, but the organizers of the POP claim that they want to save the people from political, religious, cultural annihilation, though they appear to be no better.

From the situation described in the story, we can infer that the writer intends to tell the reader that no political party is seriously interested in improving the welfare of the people. They seem to know for sure that by winning an election, they can take the government in their hands and become rich. They seem to be unaware of their duties and responsibilities.

Question 3.
The roof is an intelligent manipulator. Justify with reference to the story,
OR
What is the role played by Roof in ‘The Voter’?
Answer:
Roof Okeke is an energetic young man and has come back to his own village Umuofia, after working as a bicycle repairer’s apprentice for two years in Port Harcourt. It is true that he would have enjoyed a rich life if he had stayed on in his job. But he comes back to the village and tells the people that he wants to guide them in difficult times. Later he becomes an ’election campaign manager’ for Marcus Ibe and over a period of five years becomes an expert in election campaigning at all levels.

In the story, we get to know more about Roof when he is on the job, engaged in one of his whispering campaigns. He tells the elders that Marcus Ibe, being a ‘son’ from their village, has been made a minister and it should be considered a great honour. Then he tries to use his rationalistic thinking with the people. He asks them, “Do you ever stop to ask yourselves why we should be singled out for this honour?” He himself answers his question. He tells them that they are favoured by the PAP leaders. Here we see Roof as a manipulator at work. He knows for sure that Marcus was perhaps the only man with some education.

Secondly, there was no opposition party. Basically, the village folk were innocent and naive and hardly realized the meaning of an election and the value of their mandate. Roof exploits this situation to his advantage.

Moreover, when he comes to learn that people had understood the benefits of entering politics and winning an election as seen in the case of Marcus Ibe and are now planning not to give their vote free of charge, he immediately informs Marcus and keeps him prepared to pay some money to the people in exchange for their votes.

Finally, we get a clear picture of Roof as a manipulator when he accepts five pounds from the election manager of POR He makes sure that they will not disclose the news of his accepting the money. He also tries to keep his conscience clear by telling them that he works for Marcus; while putting his ballot paper into the box, he cleverly manages to cast his vote for both Marcus and Maduka, without attracting the wrath of ‘iyi’.

The Voter Comprehension III

Question 1.
The POP campaign leader’s meeting with Roof shows the misuse of transparency in a democratic setup. Discuss.
Answer:
In this story, Achebe satirizes ‘politicians’ and makes an attempt to show how even in a democratic setup election can become farcical.

Unlike in dictatorship or monarchy, in a democratic setup, people have the freedom to elect a ‘person’ to work as their representative in the government and work for their upliftment. One of the hallmarks of democracy is its insistence on transparency. Every person is subject to scrutiny by the public in the election process. A person is free to vote for a person of his choice from among the contestants. ‘Transparency’ in this refers to Roof’s informing the POP campaign leader that he is working for Marcus.

Secondly, whether Roof informs him or not, it is well known to everyone that Roof is Marcus’ election campaign manager. The candidates are permitted by law to make known to the people all such appointments and maintain transparency in their dealings.

However, no candidate can strike a deal with the people and buy their votes. But this is done clandestinely. The POP campaign leader knows that Roof is working for Marcus. Therefore, they want to buy Roof’s vote first so that they will let him know that the POP leaders will pay in pounds and not in shillings. This is the message they want to put across to the people through Roof. Probably, next time, Roof who has made a name as an efficient election campaign manager for Marcus, will be bold enough to demand ‘pounds’ instead of shillings from Marcus and if he refuses to pay in pounds, he might go and work for the POP leader. That way he will be able to motivate his people to vote for POP instead of the circus. Thus, the POP campaign managers’ meeting with Roof is daring misuse of transparency in a democratic setup.

Question 2.
To every human comes a time of reckoning. How does Roof’s dilemma on the day of the election reflect this?
OR
Why did Roof face a dilemma while he was inside the voting booth? How did he resolve it?
OR
“There comes a time in every man’s life to decide”. Explain with reference to ‘The Voter’.
Answer:
In ‘The Voter’, Roof is an energetic young man who has the reputation of sacrificing a bright future for the sake of the people of his village. The roof has worked in a city for two years and has experience in dealing with both literates and illiterates. Based on this knowledge of general human behaviour, Roof builds for himself a career as an election campaign manager for Marcus Ibe.

When the story opens, we learn that Marcus Ibe is Chief the Honourable Minister of Culture in the outgoing government and is seeking people’s mandate for a second term. We also learn that Marcus considers Roof a real expert in election campaigning at all levels. Roof knows how politicians make money. He also knows that the people of Umuofia have now decided to vote for Marcus for a price. Roof conveys this news to Marcus and prepares him beforehand.

Like an efficient manager, he tries to highlight the strong points of PAP and finally strike a bargain with the voters paying them four shillings per vote. Everything is now going according to his plan and is happy.

But, one evening, the leader of the POP campaign team comes to his house to meet him. He tempts Roof to vote for Maduka paying him five pounds. Roof’s greed tempts him to accept the offer. But, he also gets trapped. The leader asks him to swear on the ‘Iyi’, that he would vote for Maduka.

The roof cannot go back on his promise. So he swears to vote for Maduka. Finally, on the day of the voting, Marcus wants to make sure that every one of his people casts his vote without fail. Therefore, Roof being his election manager, Marcus sends him to the booth first to vote. Now, Roof is caught in a moral dilemma. All along he has worked for Marcus and his conscience does not permit him to cheat Marcus. Now, when Marcus asks him to cast his vote he is in two minds. He feels that he cannot betray Marcus. For a moment, his mind tells him that he should vote for Marcus and go back and return the money he had received from the POP election manager.

Secondly, he remembers that he had sworn on that ‘lyi’. In a few seconds, his mind hits on a new idea. He folds the ballot paper in the middle and tears it into two halves at the crease. He drops the first half into the box meant for Maduka and confirms his vote saying that he votes for Maduka. Since he has not taken an oath to vote for Marcus, there is no fear of ‘lyi’ in him but only his guilt. Since he has worked as his manager for money and rewards, he drops the other half into the box meant for Marcus. Thus, he ensures that he does not cheat either. By tearing the ballot paper and casting his vote for both of them he overcomes his moral dilemma.

Question 3.
What comment does the story offer on the electoral system? Is it relevant?
Answer:
In ‘The Voter’, Achebe tries to present a true picture of the drama that is witnessed during an election held in a small town in Nigeria. There are two main characters and two political parties in the story and the voters are the villagers of Umuofia.

The roof is an energetic young man, who is now working as the election campaign manager for Marcus Ibe, who was once a local mission school teacher and was on the verge of dismissal from service on the basis of a female teacher’s complaint.

Marcus Ibe joins the People’s Alliance Party, contests the election, and gets elected. He becomes a minister and his government completes a five-year term and he is now seeking re-election. During his term as a minister, he amasses a lot of wealth, comes to own two big cars, builds a huge mansion in his native village, and wins several chieftaincy titles and doctorate degrees.

But his people remain the same – poor, illiterate, ignorant, and naive. The situation in his village also does not show any improvement. The same old problems of lack of running water and electricity continue to plague the people and prevent them from improving economically and politically. When the story opens, we learn that Marcus Ibe is seeking a second term and everyone is sure that he is going to get a landslide victory because there is no opposition party worth taking into consideration.

But there is a change in the perception of the people. After feasting in Marcus’ new house and noticing his wealth and power, the poor people of Umuofia realize that ‘elections’ do have a meaning and their votes which they had underrated before, are of high value. Therefore, they demand some value for their votes and Roof manages to convince them that they should vote for Marcus again by giving four shillings each.

Some tribes down the coast had set up a new political party called POP with the objective of saving the people from ‘totally political, cultural, social and religious annihilation’. Their campaign leader comes to Roof’s house and offers to buy his vote for five pounds. Roof initially is enamoured of the five-pound notes and agrees to vote.

But the POP leader cleverly gets him to swear on the ‘iyi’ that he will vote for Maduka. Finally, on election day, his conscience pricks him to a little extent and Roof feels like voting loyally for Marcus and returning the money to the POP election manager. But the oath he has taken before ‘iyi’ does not allow him to do so and there is a moral dilemma. However, Roof cuts his ballot paper in two, drops one half into the box meant for Maduka and drops the other half into the box meant for Marcus, and saves his conscience and his life too. This is the story in a nutshell.

There are lessons to learn from this story. We must note that merely naming our government as ‘democracy’ and setting up all the things needed for holding elections do not guarantee that people will be able to exercise their true mandate and will elect competent members to the government which will strive for the upliftment of the people socially, educationally, economically and culturally. We cannot guarantee democratic governance by merely holding elections regularly. First, we must educate the people about their rights, duties, and responsibilities in any election.

Secondly, we must ensure that people have the right to recall their representatives if they do not strive to improve a lot of people. Thirdly, elected representatives must be forced to account for their earnings after joining the government. Finally, there should be an authority which should oversee that sanctity of election procedures is not tampered with.

Also, those who get elected are self-centered and exploit the people and the situation to their benefit. On the whole, one can argue that by merely holding elections regularly we cannot ensure that a democratic government will come into place.

Secondly, the electoral system that is now in place in the story is not foolproof. As regards the relevance of the story to our own situation, one can argue that it is highly relevant even today. Even after nearly seven decades of independence, we have not been able to ensure free and fair elections, the main reason being the lack of education and moral values. We are witness to every type of corrupt practice in elections.

Question 4.
‘Democracy is more than holding elections regularly.’ Do you think the story supports this statement?
Answer:
In ‘The Voter’, Achebe tries to present a true picture of the drama that is witnessed during an election held in a small town in Nigeria. There are two main characters and two political parties in the story and the voters are the villagers of Umuofia.
The roof is an energetic young man, who is now working as the election campaign manager for Marcus Ibe, who was once a local mission school teacher and was on the verge of dismissal from service on the basis of a female teacher’s complaint.

Marcus Ibe joins the People’s Alliance Party, contests the election, and gets elected. He becomes a minister and his government completes a five-year term and he is now seeking re-election. During his term as a minister, he amasses a lot of wealth, comes to own two big cars, builds a huge mansion in his native village, and wins several chieftaincy titles and doctorate degrees.

But his people remain the same – poor, illiterate, ignorant, and naive. The situation in his village also does not show any improvement. The same old problems of lack of running water and electricity continue t<3. plague the people and prevents them from improving economically and politically. When the story opens, we learn that Marcus Ibe is seeking a second term and everyone is sure that he is going to get a landslide victory because there is no opposition party worth taking into consideration.

But there is a change in the perception of the people. After feasting in Marcus’ new house and noticing his wealth and power, the poor people of Umuofia realize that ‘elections’ do have a meaning and their votes which they had underrated before, are of high value. Therefore, they demand some value for their votes and Roof manages to convince them that they should vote for Marcus again by giving four shillings each.

Some tribes down the coast had set up a new political party called POP with the objective of saving the people from ‘totally political, cultural, social and religious annihilation’. Their campaign leader comes to Roof’s house and offers to buy his vote for five pounds. Roof initially is enamoured of the five-pound notes and agrees to vote.

But the POP leader cleverly gets him to swear on the ‘iyi’ that he will vote for Maduka. Finally, on election day, his conscience pricks him to a little extent and Roof feels like voting loyally for Marcus and returning the money to the POP election manager. But the oath he has taken before ‘iyi’ does not allow him to do so and there is a moral dilemma. However, Roof cuts his ballot paper in two, drops one half into the box meant for Maduka and drops the other half into the box meant for Marcus, and saves his conscience and his life too. This is the story in a nutshell.

There are lessons to learn from this story. We must note that merely naming our government as ‘democracy’ and setting up all the things needed for holding elections do not guarantee that people will be able to exercise their true mandate and will elect competent members to the government which will strive for the upliftment of the people socially, educationally, economically and culturally. We cannot guarantee democratic governance by merely holding elections regularly. First, we must educate the people about their rights, duties, and responsibilities in any election.

Secondly, we must ensure that people have the right to recall their representatives if they do not strive to improve a lot of people. Thirdly, elected representatives must be forced to account for their earnings after joining the government. Finally, there should be an authority which should oversee that sanctity of election procedures is not tampered with.

Also, those who get elected are self-centred and exploit the people and the situation to their benefit. On the whole, one can argue that by merely holding elections regularly we cannot ensure that a democratic government will come into place. Secondly, the electoral system that is now in place in the story is not foolproof.

As regards the relevance of the story to our own situation, one can argue that it is highly relevant even today. Even after nearly seven decades of independence, we have not been able to ensure free and fair elections, the main reason being the lack of education and moral values. We are witness to every type of corrupt practice in elections.

The Voter Additional Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following questions in a word, a phrase, or a sentence each:

Question 1.
Where did Roof work as a bicycle repairer’s apprentice?
OR
What did Roof do in Port Harcourt?
Answer:
Roof worked as a bicycle repairer’s apprentice in Port Harcourt.

Question 2.
How long had Roof worked as a bicycle repairer’s apprentice?
Answer:
Roof worked as a bicycle repairer’s apprentice for two years.

Question 3.
The roof had given up being a bicycle repairer’s apprentice in order to
(a) contest elections
(b) guide his people
(c) campaign for Marcus.
Answer:
(b) and (c) guide his people/campaign for Marcus.

Question 4.
Who had formed the Progressive Organisation Party?
Answer:
The Progressive Organisation Party (POP) had been formed by the tribes down the coast.

Question 5.
To which village did Roof belong?
Answer:
To Umuofia.

Question 6.
Who was supposed to be very popular in his village?
Answer:
Roof.

Question 7.
According to the villagers, what was Roof’s motivation for leaving a promising career?
Answer:
The villagers believed that a strong desire to guide the people of Umuofia in difficult times was the motivation behind Roof’s leaving a promising career.

Question 8.
Which political party did the people of Umuofia support?
Answer:
People’s Alliance Party.

Question 9.
To which party did Marcus belong?
Answer:
To the People’s Alliance Party.

Question 10.
What was Marcus in the outgoing government?
Answer:
Minister of Culture.

Question 11.
Who did the Roof campaign for in the elections?
Answer:
For Marcus Ibe.

Question 12.
What was Marcus Ibe before he joined politics?
Answer:
A mission school teacher.

Question 13.
Why did Marcus Ibe face the threat of being dismissed from service as a school teacher?
Answer:
A female teacher had complained against Marcus Ibe. Hence, his dismissal was imminent.

Question 14.
What had Marcus named his new house?
Answer:
‘Umuofia Mansions’.

Question 15.
Who was the most trusted campaigner of Marcus?
Answer:
Roof.

Question 16.
How much salary had Marcus withdrawn in advance?
OR
How much had Marcus Ibe drawn in advance for the election?
Answer:
Five months’ salary.

Question 17.
How much did Marcus offer the people at first to vote for him?
Answer:
Two shillings to each voter.

Question 18.
How much did Marcus offer the people finally to vote for him?
OR
How many Shillings was finally accepted for the votes by the elders?
Answer:
Four shillings.

Question 19.
Who was the enemy Roof referred to when he spoke to the elders?
Answer:
The Progressive Organisation Party.

Question 20.
Who is the leader of the Progressive Organisation Party?
OR
Who had formed the POP?
Answer:
Maduka.

Question 21.
How much money did the POP offer Roof to vote for Maduka?
OR
How much does Roof get from the representatives of Maduka?
OR
How much did the POP campaign team offer Roof for his vote?
Answer:
Five pounds.

Question 22.
What was the election symbol of the People’s Alliance Party?
OR
What is the symbol used by Marcus in the election?
Answer:
A motor car.

Question 23.
What was the symbol of the Progressive Organisation Party?
Answer:
A man’s head.

Question 24.
What is ‘Umuofia Mansions’?
OR
Where did Marcus Ibe build his big mansion in ‘The Voter’?
Answer:
‘Umuofia Mansions’ is the name of the biggest house in Umuofia, built by Marcus Ibe.

Question 25.
Where, on the election morning, did Marcus Ibe sit shaking hands with the villagers?
OR
Where was Marcus Ibe seated on the morning of the election?
Answer:
On the election morning, Marcus Ibe sat in the ‘owner’s corner’ of his enormous green car, shaking hands with the villagers.

Question 26.
What was Rufus Okeke called as?
OR
Who was addressed as Roof, for short?
Answer:
Rufus Okeke was called Roof for short by the people of his village.

Question 27.
What had Marcus promised the voters if he was elected in the forthcoming election?
OR
Mention the promise made by PAP if they were voted to power.
Answer:
Marcus had promised to give pipe-borne water to the village if he was elected in the forthcoming election.

Question 28.
Who competed against Marcus in the elections?
Answer:
Maduka, the leader of the POP, competed against Marcus in the elections.

Question 29.
What warning did Roof give Marcus about the coming elections?
Answer:
The roof had warned Marcus about the radical change that had come into the thinking of Umuofia since the last national election.

Question 30.
Why did Marcus Ibe join politics?
Answer:
Marcus had wisely joined politics just in time to avoid imminent dismissal arising from a female teacher’s complaint.

Question 31.
What does PAP stand for?
Answer:
PAP stands for the People’s Alliance Party.

Question 32.
What does POP stand for?
Answer:
POP stands for Progressive Organisation Party.

Question 33.
How much did Roof give the villagers to cast their votes for Marcus?
Answer:
The roof gave four shillings to each of the villagers to cast their votes for Marcus.

Question 34.
What was Roof made to swear on to ensure his vote for Maduka?
OR
What was Roof asked to swear on by the POP team?
Answer:
The roof was made to swear on the Iyi of Mbanta to ensure his vote for Maduka.

Question 35.
Who was PAP’s most illustrious son referred to in ‘The Voter’?
Answer:
Marcus Ibe was PAP’s most illustrious son referred to in ‘The Voter’.

Question 36.
Who was the Minister of Culture in the outgoing government in ‘The Voter’?
Answer:
Marcus Ibe was the Chief Honourable Minister of Culture in the outgoing government mentioned in the voter.

Question 37.
Name the man of high traditional title in Umuofia mentioned in ‘The Voter’.
Answer:
Ogbuefi Ezenwa is the man of high traditional title in Umuofia mentioned in ‘The Voter’.

Question 38.
Mention one of the honours/benefits politics had brought to Marcus Ibe in ‘The Voter’.
Answer:
Some of the honours/benefits politics had brought to Marcus Ibe were wealth, chieftaincy titles, and doctorate degrees.

Question 39.
Opposition to Marcus Ibe in ‘The Voter’ was like
(a) a fly trying to move a dunghill.
(b) the bird challenging his personal spirit
(c) a mortar turning its back on the ground.
Answer:
(a) a fly trying to move a dunghill.

Question 40.
Who conducted the whispering campaign in ‘The Voter’?
Answer:
Marcus Ibe’s stalwarts conducted the whispering campaign in ‘The Voter’.

Question 41.
The roof offered _____ shillings initially to the elders for their votes in ‘The Voter’.
(a) four
(b) two
(c) five
Answer:
(b) two.

Question 42.
Where does the iyi come from, according to the POP campaigner, in ‘The Voter’?
Answer:
According to the POP campaigner in ‘The Voter’, the ‘iyi’ comes from Manta.

Question 43.
Whose election symbol was ‘man’s head’ in ‘The Voter’?
Answer:
In ‘The Voter’, ‘Man’s head’ was the election symbol of the Progressive Organisation Party (POP).

Question 44.
What precaution did Roof take while inserting the ballot paper in ‘The Voter’?
Answer:
In ‘The Voter’, while inserting the ballot paper, Roof took the precaution of putting the first half into Maduka’s box.

Question 45.
When did Marcus’s boys conduct whispering campaigns in ‘The Voter’?
Answer:
In ‘The Voter’, Marcus’s boys conducted whispering campaigns at night.

Question 46.
How many elders were there when Roof conducted the whispering campaign in ‘The Voter’?
Answer:
There were five elders besides Roof and his assistant when Roof conducted the whispering campaign in ‘The Voter’.

II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80 – 100 words each:

Question 1.
The roof was a very popular man in his village. Give reasons.
Answer:
Roof Okeke was an energetic young man and had come back to his own village Umuofia, after working as a bicycle repairer’s apprentice for two years in Port Harcourt. It was true that he would have enjoyed a rich life if he had stayed on in his job. But he came back to the village and told the people that he wanted to guide them in difficult times. Later he became an ‘election campaign manager’ for Marcus Ibe and over a period of five years became an expert in election campaigning at all levels. Hence he was a very popular man in his village.

Question 2.
How did the POP campaign team trap Roof?
OR
Describe the meeting held by the POP campaign team with Roof in ‘The Voter’.
OR
Describe the meeting held by the POP campaign team with Roof in ‘The Voter’.
Answer:
In the story ‘The Voter’, Roof is the election campaign manager for Marcus Ibe, a candidate of the People’s Alliance Party. On the night before the election, the leader of the POP campaign team visits Roof’s house. He places five pounds on the floor and tells Roof that he wanted his vote. Initially, Roof did not know what to say or do. But, when he gets up from his chair, closes the door, and comes back, he gets enough time to weigh the proposition. He craves to make such a huge amount, his own.

However, his conscience pricks him and he tells in a feeble voice that the other person knows that he works for Marcus and it will be very bad on his part to accept a bribe, vote for Maduka, and deceive his own master. But when the other person tells him that Marcus will not know who he has voted for, Roof throws away his moral scruples to the wind and asks him whether anyone will talk about him outside. When he assures him that they are only interested in votes and not gossip, Roof’s greed tempts him to accept the offer. But, he also gets trapped. The leader asks him to swear on the Tyi’, that he would vote for Maduka. The roof cannot go back on his promise. So he swears to vote for Maduka.

Question 3.
Describe the last-minute election campaign in Umuofia.
OR
Give a picture of the activities on the election morning.
Answer:
On the day of the election, Chief the Honourable Marcus Ibe was doing things in a grand style. He had hired a highlife band from Umuru and stationed it at such a distance from the voting booths as just managed to be lawful. Many villagers danced to the music, their ballot papers held aloft, before proceeding to the booths. Marcus sat in the ‘owner’s corner’ of his enormous green car and smiled and nodded. Some villagers came up to the car, shook hands with the great man, and said in advance ‘Congrats!’

Roof and the other organizers were prancing up and down, giving last-minute advice to the voters and pouring with sweat. Roof tried to guide illiterate women saying “Our sign is the motor-car”. Then he told them, “Don’t look at the other with the man’s head: it is for those whose heads are not correct”. Finally, he shouted, “Vote for the car and you will ride in it!”

Question 4.
How is Roof’s dilemma brought out in ‘The Voter’?
OR
Roof’s dilemma on the day of the election is the result of his own misdeeds. Do you agree? Give reasons.
Answer:
On the day of the election, we see Roof in a moral dilemma. For the first time, his moral conscience pricks him not to betray Marcus. But it is only a momentary impulse and vanishes almost immediately when Roof recalls the picture of iyi and the cocoa farmer harvesting his crop. Then he hits on an idea of deceiving both Marcus and Maduka. He folds the ballot paper, tears it in two at the crease, and drops the first half into the box meant for Maduka and the other half into the box meant for Marcus. Thus, the writer successfully delineates how ‘money politics’ can corrupt people at all levels. It also reveals the contagious nature of an immoral attitude as the villagers who feel they “have climbed the iroko tree today and would be foolish not to take down all the firewood needed” blatantly ask for bribes.

It is Roof who is responsible for this moral degradation. The fall of Roof demonstrates the deepening level of corruption and the dimming of moral principles. Although Roof overcomes his personal dilemma on election day by tearing his ballot paper in two – one-piece for Maduka, the opponent, and one for Chief Marcus Ibe, his own employer his act illustrates the basic unreliability and political dishonesty of people working for elections. The plot of the story hinging on this man who bribes the electorate and who is bribed in turn drives home the deviant tendency of the political scene.

Question 5.
What changes did politics bring in Marcus Ibe?
OR
Describe how Marcus Ibe in ‘The Voter’ had managed to become a ‘successful’ politician.
OR
Everyone is full of praise for Marcus Ibe. What qualities and achievements attracted the people to praise him?
Answer:
Marcus Ibe was a not-too-successful mission school teacher. When he was almost on the verge of dismissal on the basis of a female teacher’s complaint, he joined politics, got elected as a representative of Umuofia, and was made Minister of Culture. People referred to him as Chief the Honourable Minister of Culture. In a period of five years Marcus became very wealthy, was given many chieftaincy titles and doctorate degrees and several other honours.

He got a huge mansion built in Umuofia and named it ‘Umuofia Mansions’ and got it opened by the Archbishop. On the day of the opening, he hosted a grand lunch to the people of his village slaughtering five bulls and countless goats. After feasting in his house, people were full of praise for him. They opined that he was a great man and does his things like a great man. He also owned two big cars.

Question 6.
Account for Roof’s popularity in ‘The Voter’.
OR
The roof was a very popular man in his village. Give reasons.
Answer:
Rufus Okeke, called Roof for short, was a very popular man in his village. His popularity was due to the fact that even after spending two years as a bicycle apprentice in Port Harcourt, Roof had come back to Umuofia of his own free will with the intention of guiding his people in difficult times. If he had stayed on in his job he would have enjoyed a rich life. By this gesture, he wins the gratitude and admiration of his people.

Question 7.
What was the whispering campaign and how did Roof conduct it in ‘The Voter’?
Answer:
A ‘whispering campaign’ refers to secret meetings held between the group of elders of a village and the election campaign manager of a political party. The election manager goes to such campaigns armed with money bags and woos the voters offering money for votes.

In ‘The Voter’, Roof, the most trusted campaigner of the PAP, conducted a whispering campaign in the house of Ogbuefi Ezenwa, a man of the high traditional title. Initially, Roof tried to kindle the pride of the people telling them that the PAP had made Marcus Ibe, one of their own sons, Honourable Minister of Culture in the outgoing government, and offered them 2 shillings each initially. But, Ezenwa rejected it saying that two shillings were shameful and Marcus was a great man, who did his things like a great man. Later, when Roof offered them 2 more shillings each, they accepted it and agreed to cast their vote for Marcus Ibe. Thus, Roof conducted his whispering campaign.

Question 8.
Why was Roof in a fix when putting in his ballot paper, in ‘The Voter’?
Answer:
As soon as Roof went into the voting booth, he was confronted by the ‘car’ on one box and the ‘head’ on the other. He took out his ballot paper from his pocket and looked at it. For a moment he found himself caught in a moral dilemma. He could not decide whether he should vote for Marcus Ibe of the PAP or Maduka of POP.

As the election campaign manager for Marcus Ibe, he had worked enthusiastically urging the people to vote for PAP. He had also taken a lot of money and other gifts for his service. But, now he had put himself in a fix because he had accepted five pounds from the POP and had sworn before the ‘iyi’ that he would vote for Maduka. So he did not want to cheat, because his fear of ‘iyi’ from Mbanta troubled him seriously. On the other hand, he felt guilty for betraying Marcus Ibe. For a moment he felt like going back to the campaign manager and returning his five pounds.

Finally, the moment he thought of the red notes, he visualized the cocoa farmer busy at work and his swearing on that ‘iyi’. Therefore, he folded the ballot paper, tore it into two along the crease, and put one half in each box. He put the first half into Maduka’s box confirming his action verbally, “1 vote for Maduka”.

Question 9.
Trace the behaviour of Roof on the day of voting.
Answer:
On the day of the election, Roof appears to be seriously interested in ensuring that the voters know who to vote for and how to exercise their choice. Along with others Roof prances up and down giving last-minute advice to the voters. As soon as the first rush of voters is over, Marcus promptly asks his campaign boys to go one at a time and put in their ballot papers. He asks Roof to go first. Roof’s spirits fall, but he lets no one see it. Roof dashes off in his springy fashion towards the booth.

When Roof goes into the booth, he faces a moral dilemma. But he overcomes his moral dilemma, cuts the vote into two, and drops the two halves in the boxes, one half for Marcus and the other half for Maduka. While coming out, he looks as happy as he was when he went in. Thus, by putting on a happy face and walking with a lot of energy in his gait while going into the booth as well as while coming out of the booth, Roof is able to conceal his betrayal of Marcus in the election.

III. Answer the following questions in about 200 words each:

Question 1.
Do you think Roof is right in tearing the ballot paper into two? Explain.
OR
Do you agree or disagree with how Roof resolves his dilemma regarding how to cast his
vote?
OR
In the story, Roof has to make a difficult decision about how to cast his vote. Do you agree with the way he resolves this dilemma? Why or why not?
OR
Why does Roof tear the ballot paper into two?
Answer:
The main focus of Achebe in ‘The Voter’ is the satirisation of money politics and the contagious nature of corruption. Roof, the protagonist of the story, is an energetic young man of Umuofia, who has come back to his village giving up a bright future in the city. People believe that he has come back to guide them in difficult times and so hold him in high esteem.

The village Umuofia already belonged en masse to the People’s Alliance Party and had elected Chief the Honourable Marcus Ibe as their representative in the previous election and nobody doubted his re-election this time also. The man behind Marcus’ success is Roof. He was his election campaign manager and had become a real expert in election campaigning at all levels.

But towards the end of the story, we see that Roof is offered five pounds by the leader of the election campaign for a POP on condition that Roof votes for Maduka. A roof does not hesitate at all but tries to tell them that he is working for Marcus. But they allay his fears telling him that Marcus will not be there to watch him when he drops his vote in the box. Roof accepts their offer and swears to vote for Maduka in the presence of ‘iyi’.

On the day of the election, Marcus wants to make sure that every one of his people votes for him. Therefore, he asks Roof to cast his vote first. When Roof goes into the booth, he faces a moral dilemma. His conscience tells him that he ought not to betray Marcus. There is an impulse in him to run to the leader of the POP election campaign manager and return his money. But, when he recalls that he had sworn to vote for Maduka in the presence of ‘iyi’, he changes his decision in a split second and folds the ballot paper in two. He tears it into two halves and drops the first half into the box meant for Maduka and the other half into Marcus’ box. He also confirms his vote for Maduka by saying aloud, “I vote for Maduka”, and then goes out happily.

This act of Roof, of tearing the ballot in two, invalidates his vote. When a person tears it in two, it is clear that he has not chosen any person at all, though he may have dropped the two halves of the paper into different boxes. When Roof tears the ballot paper in two it is only to resolve the moral dilemma he is facing and not with the intention of exercising his choice. If he puts two halves in two different boxes, it does not mean that he has voted in favour of both. Actually it is an invalid vote. This is against the spirit of elections and is condemnable.

Question 2.
How does Roof conceal his betrayal of Marcus in the election? Elucidate.
Answer:
On the day of the election, Roof appears to be seriously interested in ensuring that the voters know who to vote for and how to exercise their choice. Along with others Roof prances up and down giving last-minute advice to the voters and pouring with sweat. As soon as the first rush of voters is over, Marcus promptly asks his campaign boys to go one at a time and put in their ballot papers. He asks Roof to go first. Roof’s spirits fall, but he lets no one see it. Roof dashes off in his springy fashion towards the booths. When Roof goes into the booth, he faces a moral dilemma.

But he overcomes his moral dilemma, cuts the vote into two, and drops the two halves in the boxes, one half for Marcus and the other half for Maduka. While coming out, he looks as happy as he was when he went in. Thus, by putting on a happy face and walking with a lot of energy in his gait while going into the booth as well as while coming out of the booth, Roof is able to conceal his betrayal of Marcus in the election.

Question 3.
Give an account of Roof’s role as an election campaigner.
OR
The roof is an expert election campaigner. Substantiate the statement.
Answer:
The roof is an energetic young man of Umuofia, who has come back to his village giving up a bright future in the city. People believe that he has come back to guide them in difficult times and hence hold him in high esteem. When we read about the election, the writer tells us that the village of Umuofia already belonged en masse to the People’s Alliance Party and had elected Chief the Honourable Marcus Ibe as their representative in the previous election and nobody doubted his re-election this time also. The man behind Marcus’ success is Roof.

The roof was his election campaign manager and had become a real expert in election campaigning at all levels. Having already seen a change in Marcus’ status and wealth, Roof is able to gauge the people’s mood and the change in people’s perception of Marcus Ibe and had conveyed to his leader that a radical change had come in them. This way he prepares Marcus to plan his strategy to woo the voters in the coming elections.

After feasting in Marcus’ house on the day of the opening of his new house, people had realized what good things politics had showered on Marcus. They also regretted to a little extent that they had given their vote to Marcus free of charge in the previous election. Therefore, this time, they decided to demand a price for their vote. As expected, Roof, being an expert in election campaigning, comes armed with money to his whispering campaigns.

During his whispering campaigns, Roof uses a lot of political rhetoric and tells the people convincingly that PAP favours the people of Umuofia. He says, “What greater honour can a village have? Do you ever stop to ask yourselves why we should be singled out for this honour? Think of the pipe-borne water they have promised us …” This way Roof manages to mesmerize the naive people into believing that Marcus is a great man and is going to do great things for their village.

Besides, Roof satisfies their desire for a share of Marcus’ earnings by giving them four shillings each. On the day of the election, Marcus entertains the people hiring a highlife band from Umuru. He sits in an enormous car and tries to impress the people with his wealth and eminence. He coins catchy slogans like ‘Vote for the car, and you will ride in it’. It is these strategies planned by Roof that ensure Marcus’ victory in the elections.

Question 4.
‘The Voter’ ridicules the power and selfishness of Marcus Ibe. Explain.
Answer:
‘The Voter’ highlights what kind of people become people’s leaders, how politics bestows wealth and power on them, and because of such people how elections become farcical. The two main characters in the story are Marcus and Roof, and the voters are the people of Umuofia. The whole focus of the plot is to ridicule greedy and selfish politicians and to show how they manage to corrupt the society also.

Marcus was a not-too-successful mission school teacher. When he was almost on the verge of dismissal on the basis of a female teacher’s complaint, he joined politics, got elected as a representative of Umuofja, and was made Minister of Culture. In about five years, people see a great many changes in Marcus’ life. Their elected representative becomes wealthy, is awarded chieftaincy titles and doctorate degrees besides many other honours. He also builds a huge mansion in his native village.

In a satirical tone, the writer says that Marcus had christened his new house ‘Umuofia Mansions’ in honour of his village and had slaughtered five bulls and countless goats to entertain the people on the day it was opened by the Archbishop. Marcus believed that, by entertaining people thus, people would respect him and would hold him in high esteem.

But the people are not naive and ignorant. They know where his ‘power’ and money come from. The people know that he had acquired all this only after they had elected him their representative giving their votes free of charge five years ago. Even after five years, the people and their village remained the same as before but Marcus had changed completely.

When Roof tells Marcus that a radical change had come into the thinking of Umuofia since the last election, like any other corrupt politician Marcus prepares himself to bribe the people. The people come prepared to demand their share of his wealth. Instead of demanding developmental work for their village, the people tell Roof that two shillings are too shameful and settle the deal for four shillings each. It is Marcus and Roof who blatantly offer money, tacitly admitting that they have used the public money selfishly for their own development, that the voter ridicules them by demanding more money for their vote, sending the message that real power to change the face of a village, town or country is in the hands of the voter and not selfish politicians like Marcus.

Question 5.
‘Roof was the most trusted of the whispering campaigners’. To what extent is this true in ‘The Voter’?
OR
To what extent was Roof the most trusted of the whispering campaigners in ‘The Voter’?
Answer:
When the story opens, we learn that Marcus is seeking re-election as a representative of Umuofia. Secondly, we also know that it was Roof who had worked for his success in the previous election. As a trusted whispering campaign manager of Marcus, he had been able to convince the people of Umuofia that Marcus would work for the welfare of the people and they would get many amenities like running water and electricity. Then, he had worked hard to get Marcus elected and had kindled the expectations of the people.

But, during the five years as people’s representative, Marcus proved to everyone how joining politics can be lucrative. He had also given gifts to Roof to retain him as his election campaigner for the coming election also. However, Roof was clever enough to perceive a change in the mood of the people and warned Marcus about it. That is why, in the whispering campaign, he goes armed with money bags to woo the voters.

Until the last day of the campaigning, Roof remains loyal and the most trusted of Marcus’ whispering campaigners. But, the visitor from POP cleverly lures Roof to promise his vote for Maduka offering a huge sum of money. It is at this juncture that we see a dent in his loyalty towards Marcus. Even though he knows that a half ballot paper is invalid as a person’s mandate, he tears the vote in two and puts one half into each box, thus resolving the moral dilemma in his mind. This way he is only comforting his conscience and does not remain functionally loyal to Marcus.

Question 6.
Do you think ‘the voter’ is right in demanding money to vote for Marcus Ibe? Explain.
Answer:
The people of Umuofia give their mandate to Marcus and get him elected as their representative believing that he would work for their welfare and upliftment. However, as his term rolls by, they witness a substantial change in Marcus’ status and wealth, while the people’s status remains the same. People realize how politics can make someone rich and powerful. They regret that they had underrated the power of their mandate, and so decide to demand a share of his earnings to cast their vote.

That is why, in the whispering campaign, when Roof offers each one of the two shillings, they tell him that it was too shameful to accept just two shillings from Marcus for their vote because Marcus was no longer a poor man and was doing great things like a great man. Then they agree to cast their vote taking four shillings each.

An election process in any democratic set up has high intrinsic value because it symbolizes people’s mandate and the elected representative becomes the voice of those people. Naturally, when the voters of Umuofia demand money to vote for Marcus, it only means that their real mandate has not given them what they needed and they remain in abject poverty as before. They have lost faith in elections as a means to achieve their welfare. The previous election may have failed them but they ought not to become corrupted. That will pave the way for further deterioration by building obstacles in the path to their own development. They are not right in demanding money.

Question 7.
‘The Voter’ is a comment on the awareness of voters. Discuss.
Answer:
In the story ‘The Voter’, Chinua Achebe satirizes ‘politicians’ and makes an attempt to show how even in a democratic setup election can become farcical because of ignorance, illiteracy, and corruption. The story also highlights how deep-rooted corruption in society can be.

Marcus Ibe, who was once a local mission school teacher, was now Chief the Honourable Minister of Culture in the outgoing government. During his term as a minister, he had amassed a lot of wealth. Thus, ‘politics’ had brought about a great change in the life of Marcus and Roof as well. But, the people of Umuofia had remained the same – poor, illiterate, ignorant, and naive – and their villages remained dry and wretched without even the basic amenities.

Marcus, who is seeking a second term, is sure that he is going to get a landslide victory because of the absence of any strong opposition party worth taking into consideration. But, this time, there is a change in the perception of the people. After feasting in Marcus’ new house and noticing the increase in his wealth and power, the poor people of Umuofia realize that elections do have a meaning and it is during elections that their votes have value.

They also know that it is ‘politics’ that has brought wealth and power to Marcus. They strike a bargain with Roof and agree to sell their vote for four shillings each. This way, the people of Umuofia shed their moral scruples and make up their minds to be satisfied with just a little share of the thief’s booty. Eventually, it is this strain in the people’s minds that helps a corrupt politician like Marcus to win elections with the least resistance.

Like Marcus, Roof also realizes how people’s elected representatives can become rich in a very short time. Having worked as his election manager, Roof extracts enough money as well as other benefits from Marcus during his first term. In the second term. Roof’s greed for wealth is kindled by another political party – the POR They know that it is Roof’s expertise in election campaigning that woos the voters of Umuofia and Roof is amply compensated by Marcus for his efforts.

The POP, with a view to making a dent in Marcus’ electorate, lures Roof with an offer of five pounds just to cast his vote for Maduka. Their intention is only to win over Roof to their side with the’ promise that he can make much more money from POP than from PAP. Once Roof bites the bait, they ensure that he is in their clutches, by forcing him to swear on the ‘iyi’. Though Roof is caught in a dilemma, he solves the conflict in his mind by tearing the ballot paper into two and casting his vote for both parties.

Thus, both the episodes prove how ‘corruption’ can ruin both the literate and the illiterate, the educated and the uneducated, and make democratic processes ineffective and farcical. The voters, who have been given the power to elect a leader who can help them improve their lives, use the very process of election to settle for a pittance and build obstacles in the path to their own development. This way they make a mockery of the electoral system.

Question 8.
Demanding money to vote for a particular person is not wrong. How is this brought out in ‘The Voter’?
Answer:
‘The Voter’, a short story by Chinua Achebe, happens in a village called Umuofia. It is a satirical and realistic portrayal of how corrupt politicians deceive people in elections and what mediatory strategies they use to woo the voters and subvert the power of the people’s mandate in choosing a leader df their choice. Incidentally, the author also seems to question the very basis of societal and ethical norms, socio-economic conditions of the people, moral decadence, etc. The corrupt and greedy political leader in the story is Marcus Ibe.

He is the Chief Honourable Minister of Culture in the outgoing government and is seeking re-election as a candidate of the PAR Soon after becoming the minister, Marcus had made use of his political status for his self-aggrandizement. In a period of five years, he had managed to amass a great deal of wealth, power, status, and public adulation. He had two long cars and had just built himself the biggest house in those parts. To top it all, on the day of the opening of his mansion, Marcus Ibe held a grand banquet for the people of the village slaughtering five bulls and countless goats. Thus, politics had made him richer.

On the other hand, the status of the people remained the same. They lived in abject poverty without even the basic amenities like electricity and drinking water. Though they had been watching how politics had brought wealth and power to Marcus, it had not dawned on them that it was the power of their vote which had given him all the comforts. After the feasting was over, the villagers told themselves that they had underrated the power of the ballot paper before and should not do it again. His election manager Roof was shrewd enough to understand the change in the attitude of the people. Therefore, he went to the whispering campaign armed with money and successfully bought their vote paying four shillings each to the leaders.

The question that arises now, is, whether demanding money to vote for a particular person is right? The author seems to argue that as long as politicians in a democratic set up fulfill their promises to the people and take care of their welfare, the question of buying votes does not arise at all. When politicians themselves flout all democratic norms and ideals and work only for their aggrandizement, there is nothing wrong with people demanding some value for their votes. This is brought out clearly in the story.

Ezenwa, the highest traditional title holder, says, “Marcus is a great man and does his things like a great man. We did not ask him for money yesterday; we shall not ask him tomorrow. But today is our day; we have climbed the iroko tree today and would be foolish not to take down all the firewood we need”. Thus, one can rightly conclude that demanding money to vote for a particular person is not wrong.

Question 9.
‘The Voter’ presents the role of money and ridicules its power in an election. Explain.
Answer:
‘The Voter’, a short story by Chinua Achebe, happens in a village called Umuofia. It is a satirical and realistic portrayal of how corrupt politicians deceive people in elections and what mediatory strategies they use to woo the voters and subvert the power of the people’s mandate in choosing a leader df their choice. Incidentally, the author also seems to question the very basis of societal and ethical norms, socio-economic conditions of the people, moral decadence, etc. The corrupt and greedy political leader in the story is Marcus Ibe. He is the Chief Honourable Minister of Culture in the outgoing government and is seeking re-election as a candidate of the PAR Soon after becoming the minister, Marcus had made use of his political status for his self-aggrandizement.

In a period of five years, he had managed to amass a great deal of wealth, power, status, and public adulation. He had two long cars and had just built himself the biggest house in those parts. To top it all, on the day of the opening of his mansion, Marcus Ibe held a grand banquet for the people of the village slaughtering five bulls and countless goats. Thus, politics had made him richer.

On the other hand, the status of the people remained the same. They lived in abject poverty without even the basic amenities like electricity and drinking water. Though they had been watching how politics had brought wealth and power to Marcus, it had not dawned on them that it was the power of their vote which had given him all the comforts. After the feasting was over, the villagers told themselves that they had underrated the power of the ballot paper before and should not do it again. His election manager Roof was shrewd enough to understand the change in the attitude of the people. Therefore, he went to the whispering campaign armed with money and successfully bought their vote paying four shillings each to the leaders.

The question that arises now, is, whether demanding money to vote for a particular person is right? The author seems to argue that as long as politicians in a democratic set up fulfill their promises to the people and take care of their welfare, the question of buying votes does not arise at all. When politicians themselves flout all democratic norms and ideals and work only for their aggrandizement, there is nothing wrong with people demanding some value for their votes.

This is brought out clearly in the story. Ezenwa, the highest traditional title holder, says, “Marcus is a great man and does his things like a great man. We did not ask him for money yesterday; we shall not ask him tomorrow. But today is our day; we have climbed the iroko tree today and would be foolish not to take down all the firewood we need”. Thus, one can rightly conclude that demanding money to vote for a particular person is not wrong.

The Voter Vocabulary

Use suitable prefixes to form antonyms:
A prefix is an affix which is placed before the stem of a word. Adding it to the beginning of one word changes it into another word.
Prefix – In-, Un-, Im-, Dis-

Question 1.

1. Gratitude
2. Certain
3. Install
4. Personal
5. Honour
6. Disputed
7. Correct
8. Mask
9. Lawful
10. Grateful
11. Wavering
12. Regard
13. Perturbed
14. Tolerant.

Answer:

1. Ingratitude
2. Uncertain
3. Uninstall
4. Impersonal
5. Dishonour
6. Undisputed
7. Incorrect
8. Unmask
9. Unlawful
10. Ungrateful
11. Unwavering
12. Disregard
13. Unperturbed
14. Intolerant.

Additional Exercises

A. Passive Voice:

Question 1.
The roof was a young man. He ______ (know) to everyone in Umuofia. The POP campaigner met him at night. No words _____ (waste) between them. Roof _____ (give) five pounds to vote for Maduka.
Answer:
was known; were wasted; was given.

Question 2.
Marcus Ibe was the PAP candidate. He ______ (warn) about the radical change in the thinking of Umuofia. So five months’ salary _______ (draw) in advance. His campaign boys _____ (arm) with eloquent little jute bags.
Answer:
was warned; was drawn; were armed.

Question 3.
Marcus Ibe was extremely generous to Roof. He ______ (ask) to lend one of his many robes by Roof. When Marcus Ibe’s wife objected, she ______ (rebuke) publicly by him. Roof won a land case because he _____ (drive) by a chauffeur to the disputed site.
Answer:
was asked; was rebuked; was driven.

Question 4.
The roof received a strange visit from the POP campaigner. Though the campaigner and Roof ______ (know) to each other, his visit was cold and business-like. No words _____ (exchange) between them. When the visitor placed five pounds on the floor, Roof ______ (mesmerize) by the picture of the cocoa farmer.
Answer:
were known; were exchanged; was mesmerized.

Question 5.
Marcus was doing things in a grand style. A high life band from Umuru ______ (hire) by him and it ______ (station) at a distance from the voting booth. Marcus sat in his car when last-minute advice ______ (give) to voters by Roof and others.
Answer:
had been hired; was stationed; was given.

Question 6.
The man nudged his companion and he brought forward an object that ______ (cover) with a red cloth. It was a fearsome little affair. It _____ (keep) in a clay pot and feathers ______ (stick) into it.
Answer:
was covered; was kept; were stuck.

B. Report the following conversation:

Question 1.
Roof: I work for Marcus Ibe.
POP campaigner: We have plenty of work to do tonight Are you taking this or not?
Roof: Will it not be heard outside this room?
POP campaigner: We are after votes, not gossip.
Answer:
Roof informed the POP campaigner that he worked for Marcus Ibe. The POP campaigner remarked that they had plenty of work to do that night. He further asked Roof whether he was taking that or not. Roof asked cautiously whether it would be heard outside that room. The POP campaigner stated that they were after votes and not gossip.

Question 2.
Roof: Do not forget. Our sign is the motor-car.
Woman: Is it like Marcus’s car?
Roof: It is the same car. Don’t look at the other with the man’s head.
Answer:
Roof implored the woman not to forget that their sign was the motor-car. The woman wanted to know whether it was like Marcus’s car. Roof replied that it was the same car. He also asked the woman not to look at the other with the man’s head.

Question 3.
POP campaigner: The iyi comes from Mbanta. Swear on it.
Roof: I will cast my paper for Maduka. But Maduka has no chance against Marcus.
POP campaigner: Maduka gives out pounds, not shillings.
Answer:
The POP campaigner informed Roof that the iyi came from Mbanta. He asked him to swear on that. Roof told him that he would cast his paper for Maduka. But he added that Maduka had no chance against Marcus. In response, the POP campaigner remarked that Maduka gave out pounds, and not shillings.

C. Fill in the blanks by choosing the appropriate expressions given in brackets:

Question 1.
Marcus knew that he would win but didn’t want _______ a single vote. So he asked his campaign boys to go one at a time and put in their ballot papers. At this time Roof was weighed down by guilt but pretended ______. (to be in high spirits, to throw away, pass by)
Answer:
to throw away; to be in high spirits.

Question 2.
The roof was ______ as he had sworn on iyi that he would vote for Maduka. However, on the day of the election, he wanted to hide it. Therefore he did not ______ his calm and confidence. (give up, face lit up, in a fix)
Answer:
in a fix; give up.

Question 3.
In Umuofia, everyone was _____ for Marcus Ibe. He was not like the mortar which as soon as food comes its way ____ on the ground. (looks down at, turns it is back, full of praise)
Answer:
full of praise; turns its back.

Question 4.
It was the time of the election. The campaign in Umuofia was ____. All knew that the honourable minister would have a _____. (in a soup, landslide victory, in full swing)
Answer:
in full swing; landslide victory.

Question 5.
The roof was disturbed on the morning of the election. Suddenly a thought _______ his mind and he _______ in his springy fashion towards the booth. (leapt into, gave out, dashed off)
Answer:
leapt into; dashed off.

Question 6.
Roof’s heart nearly ______ when he saw the iyi. Indeed he knew the fame of Mbanta in these things. What could a single vote cast in secret for Maduka ______ from Marcus’s certain victory? (get a few, few out, take away)
Answer:
flew out; take away.

D. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate linkers:

Question 1.
The roof was a young and energetic man. He never left his village _______ to seek work in the towns _____ decided to remain to guide his people. _____ he was very popular. ______ he was an expert in election campaigning. (moreover, but, in order to, so)
Answer:
in order to; but; So; Moreover.

Question 2.
Everything was moving according to the plan. ______ Roof had received a strange visit from the leader of the POP campaign team. ______ he and Roof were well-known ______ might even be called friends, the visit was business-like. He placed five pounds on the floor before Roof. ______ Roof spoke, his eyes never left the red notes on the floor. (and, although, then, as)
Answer:
Then; Although; and; As.

Question 3.
The roof was a very popular man in his village. ______ the villagers did not explain it in so many words, Roof’s popularity was a measure of their gratitude to an energetic young man ______ unlike most of his fellows nowadays, had not abandoned the village _____ seek any work in the towns. And Roof was not a village lout ______. (who, although, either, in order to)
Answer:
Although; who; in order to; either.

Question 4.
Roof’s heart nearly flew out _____ he saw the iyi ______ he knew the fame of Mbanta well. ____ he was certain that a single vote would not defeat Marcus. _____ he agreed to swear on the iyi. (hence, when, however, as)
Answer:
when; as; However; Hence.

The Voter by Chinua Achebe About the Writer:

Chinua Achebe (1930-2013) is a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. Achebe’s novels focus on the traditions of Igbo society, the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of Western and traditional African values during and after the colonial era. His style relies heavily on the Igbo oral tradition and combines straightforward narration with representations of folk stories, proverbs, and oratory. He also published a number of short stories, children’s books, and essay collections. Some of his works are: ‘Things Fall Apart’, ‘Arrow Of God’, ‘No Longer At Ease’,’ Enemy Of The People’ and ‘Girls At War’.

The Voter Summary in English

In this short story, Achebe offers a satirical picture of how politics and elections generally work in modern African countries like Nigeria.

The protagonist of the story is Rufus Okeke – Roof for short. The majority of the Igbo people in the village are illiterate, backward, and poor. Though the administration of the town is in the hands of a democratic government comprising elected representatives of the people, the people have not yet realized the value of their mandate and are also not yet aware of their rights. It is election time now. The ruling party PAP (People’s Alliance Party) is seeking re-election. There is hardly any other party to obstruct or prevent the re-election of the existing government. One important aspect of this election is the re-election of Marcus Ibe, who is Minister of Culture in the outgoing government. The only other party, which appears to be a non-entity until now, is the POP – Progressive Organisation Party, and Maduka is its representative. The POP is making a strong attempt to garner some votes in its favour.

The focus of the author seems to be to capture the human drama in which a poor, pathetically innocent and naive people make a brave attempt to derive some monetary benefit during the election from a prospective candidate using the mediatory strategies of a literate young man of their town in when they have reposed a great deal of trust.

However, the crux of the plot is how this very same trusted representative of the people manages to strike a rich bargain with the opposition party as well and yet remain loyal to both the parties.

When the story opens, we are introduced to Rufus Okeke. He is a very popular man in the village. His popularity is due to the fact that unlike people of his age, Roof has not abandoned his village seeking work in the towns. Secondly, he is also not a village lout. People like him because they believe that he has given up a bright future and come back to their village on his own after spending two years as a bicycle repairer’s apprentice in Port Harcourt with the intention of guiding the people of the village.

In the next stage, the author tells us about the voters and the government. We learn that the whole village had voted en masse in favour of the People’s Alliance Party and elected Honourable Marcus Ibe of their village, who had become Minister of Culture in the outgoing government. The author tells us in a satirical tone that Marcus Ibe was sure to be re-elected because there was hardly any other opposition party worth considering. From this situation, the reader can infer the predicament of the innocent people pitted against greedy and power-thirsty politicians. In a tone veiled in mild satire, the author says that Roof, the trusted representative of the people of Umuofia, was working as the election campaign manager for the Honourable Minister Marcus Ibe, who was seeking re-election from Umuofia.

The roof was more intelligent and cleverer than the common people of Umuofia. He had become a real expert in election campaigning at all levels – village, local government or national, that is why he was able to gauge the mood and temper of the electorate at any given time. This time, he has been intelligent enough to warn Marcus Ibe that a radical change has come into the thinking of the people in Umuofia since the last election. Thus he kindles the interest of the reader.

The villagers had come to realize that in five years, politics had brought wealth, chieftaincy titles, doctorate degrees and other honours readily to the man whom they had given their votes free of charge five years ago. It is also a paradox that the people who had empowered a person to enjoy such benefits themselves remained poor and ignorant. They did not even know that a doctorate degree holder is not a medical doctor. Anyhow, the people were now ready to try the value of their votes in a different way.

The author then narrates the expectations of the people in Umuofia. The people had now witnessed the ‘good’ things done by politics to their own elected representative Marcus Ibe. Before getting elected, he was only a fairly successful mission school teacher and was on the verge of getting dismissed on the basis of a female teacher’s complaint. Just at that moment, politics had come to their village and at that opportune moment Marcus Ibe had wisely joined up. By doing so he had escaped dismissal.

Secondly, he got elected and became ‘Chief the Honourable’ in the government. Consequently, he got two long cars and had built himself the biggest house in that village. But, he remained a devoted leader of his people. In a satirical tone, the author says that whenever he could, he left the good things of the capital and returned to his village which had neither running water nor electricity, but he had lately installed a private plant to supply electricity to his new house in the village. The writer comments that Marcus knew the source of his good fortune hinting that it is the people of Umuofia who are responsible for his prosperity.

Marcus Ibe had christened his new house ‘Umuofia Mansions’ in honour of his village and on the day the house was opened, he had hosted a grand lunch to his people slaughtering five bulls and countless goats. Moreover, the house was opened by the Archbishop. Thus the writer gives a rosy picture of the eminence and prosperity of Marcus which politics had bestowed on him.

The author describes the reactions of the people of Umuofia after they had enjoyed Marcus’s hospitality. There is subtle irony in the description. The people are full of praise for Marcus’ hospitality. But, they also know that Marcus owes his riches to his getting elected and joining the government. We can perceive a tone of regret when the people conclude after the feasting was over that they had underrated the power of the ballot paper earlier and that they should not do it again. This is the radical change in people’s attitude towards casting their ballot paper in an election free of charge without expecting any benefits.

Since Roof had already warned Marcus Ibe about it, Marcus had also taken suitable measures to meet the expectations of the people. “He had drawn five months’ salary in advance and changed a few hundred pounds into shining shillings and had armed his campaign boys with eloquent little jute bags”. Having sensed that the people of Umuofia will not cast their ballot paper in his favour, free of cost, Marcus had sent money to bribe and persuade the voters to vote for him. The contesting candidate would make his speeches in the morning and at night his expert election managers would conduct their whispering campaign.

Here ‘whispering campaign’ refers to the way election managers visit voters’ houses in the evening after sunset and tell the voters about the prospect of their candidate becoming minister. Thereby they appeal to people’s self-esteem and the honour that is going to be bestowed on their town and finally bribe them into casting their vote in favour of their political party.

We see how the radical change in people brings about a change in the nature of the election process and affects the sanctity of the people’s mandate.

We witness a whispering campaign conducted by Roof in the house of Ogbuefi Ezenwa, a man of the high traditional title. Roof addresses a group of elders and tells them that his party PAP has made a man of their village a minister in the outgoing government. Roof tries to argue that it is a great honour for one of their sons to be singled out for this honour. Then he tells them that PAP leaders look upon Umuofia with a favourable attitude and whether they cast their vote in his favour or not, PAP will form the government. He also tries to hint at the promise made by PAP to the people of Umuofia that they will give pipe-borne water to their village.

After Roof had finished talking, Ogbuefi Ezenwa spoke to Roof. He tells him that they believe as true every word he has said and every one of them would cast his vote for Marcus. He also promises to get their wives’ votes too in his favour. But, he then tells him straightaway that it is shameful to accept two shillings for their vote. He then says that if Marcus were a poor man they would give their vote free as they had done it before. Then the old leader argues that Marcus is a great man and does his things like a great man. Then he tells Roof that they did not demand money before and they will not ask him in future.

The writer also uses the same language to mock at Roof. He says that Roof had also lately been taking down a ‘lot of firewood’ from Marcus. The previous day, he had taken a rich robe from Marcus. Moreover, Marcus himself had rebuked his wife when she objected to Roof taking his fifth bottle of beer from the refrigerator. Furthermore, Roof had been chauffeur-driven to the disputed site, about a land case which he won. Having enjoyed all such benefits from Marcus, Roof understood the demands of the elders. Therefore, he finally drops two more shillings in front of each one of them and tells them in a tone of finality that he is through with it, and pretends to be defiant. Then he ends his campaign with the sentence, “Cast your paper for the enemy if you like!” The elders quickly calm him down with a placatory speech agreeing to vote for Marcus, and pick up the coins on the floor, with a feeling that they have not lost their decorum and dignity in the bargain.

The author has until now introduced the reader to the existing situation. Now he is going to talk about the opposition party. The author here satirises how opposition parties come into being and how sincere they are in their objectives and in their fighting strategies.

In his ‘whispering campaign’, Roof had asked the elders, in the end, to give their vote to the enemy. The enemy of PAP was a new party called the Progressive Organisation Party (POP). It had been formed by the tribes down the coast. The founders of the party claimed that they had founded the party to save themselves from “totally political, cultural, social and religious annihilation”. The party organizers (of POP) knew that they had no chance of winning against the PAP, yet they had taken the plunge for a straight fight with PAP. They had provided cars and loudspeakers to a few rascals and thugs to go around and make a lot of noise. The author hints that they had also spent a lot of money in Umuofia. The writer comments that such money will only make the local campaigners very rich.

The action now reaches the climax. The writer tells the reader that as the election day was approaching nearer, for Roof “everything was moving as planned”.

One evening the leader of the POP campaign team comes to visit Roof. Although they were well known to each other, his visit is cold and businesslike. He places five pounds on the floor before Roof and tells him that they want his vote. Roof immediately gets up from his chair, closes the outside door carefully and comes back to his chair. Within that short time Roof has weighed the proposition. Roof tries to give a reason to the other person for not accepting his proposition. Roof tells him that he was working for Marcus and it would be very bad to accept it. But the other person had come prepared for such an answer. So he tells him that Marcus would not be there when Roof puts his ballot paper in the box. Then, in a dismissive tone, he tells Roof that they have plenty of work to do that night, and asks him whether he is going to accept it or not.

Roof asks him whether anyone would talk about it outside. The other man tells him categorically that they wanted votes and not gossip. Roof accepts the money. Then they get Roof to swear that he would vote for Maduka in front of a little object called ‘iyi’, which had been brought from Mbanta. However, Roof does not hesitate but says aloud that he would cast his vote for Maduka, failing which the ‘iyi’ will take note. The other man is satisfied and leaves. Before he leaves Roof tells him that Maduka has no chance of winning against Marcus. But the other person tells him that it would be enough if he gets a few votes that time, and he “would get more in the following election. All that they wanted was to make the people know that Maduka will give pounds and not shillings”.

The narrator describes the town and the mood of the people. We learn that Chief the Honourable Marcus Ibe was doing things in grand style. He hires a highlife band from Umuru and stations it at a distance considered lawful. Many villagers dance to the music before proceeding to the booths. Some people shake hands with the great man ‘Marcus’ and congratulate him in advance. Roof and his campaign boys give last-minute advice to the people and try to win Marcus’ appreciation. The writer then tells us that Marcus was a stickler for details. He wants to ensure that not a single vote goes to the other party. Therefore, as soon as the first rush of voters is over, he promptly asks his campaign boys to go one at a time and put in their ballot papers. He asks Roof to go first.

Roof dashes off towards the booths without any hesitation. After the electoral officer has explained to him about the two boxes, he goes in and sees the two boxes one of which has the picture of the car and the other, the head. Roof brings out his ballot paper and looks at it. He does not like to betray Marcus even in secret. For a few seconds, he feels like going back to the other man and returning his five pounds. Then he realizes that it is impossible because he has sworn on that ‘iyi’. Then he recalls the red five-pound notes. Roof’s mind works quick as lightning. He folds the paper, tears it in two along the crease and puts one half in each box. He puts the first half into Maduka’s box and says to himself aloud, “I vote for Maduka”, and comes out. The election officials mark his thumb with indelible purple ink and he walks out of the booth as jauntily as he has gone in.

The Voter Summary in Kannada

Glossary:

• Port Harcourt: the capital of Rivers State, Nigeria.
• Umuofia: one of a fictional group of nine villages in Nigeria, inhabited by the Igbo people
• en masse: in one group or body; altogether
• ozo feast: highest and most important magico-religious festival in the Igbo clan of Nigeria.
• iroko tree: is a large hardwood tree from the west coast of tropical Africa; it is a tree which grows very high and which is very difficult to climb but which yields very good quality timber; Native deity; something with magical powers – anyone swearing an oath on an iyi would be afraid to violate his oath because if he did so he would be cursed and punished terribly
• landslide victory: a victory by a large margin; a very substantial victory, particularly in an election
• mesmerize: to hold the complete attention bf; spellbind
• a village lout: a rude, young man (derogatory); a simpleton
• chieftaincy titles: titles given to important people in a village
• naivety: without the experience of social rules or behaviour
• eloquent: expressing or showing something very strongly without words
• the host: the holy bread eaten in the Christian service of the Communion
• deign: to lower oneself to do something one considers unimportant
• decorum: behaviour/appearance showing proper respect for the manners and customs of society
• annihilation: complete destruction
• Mbanta: the name of a place known for people who could prepare very powerful iyis
• sidled: to move uncertainly or secretively as if ready to turn and go the other way
• Abina pickinim de born?: Is he giving birth to a child?
• indelible: marks that cannot be rubbed out; permanent
• jauntily: confident and pleased with life
• lout: a clumsy, crude person
• complete non-entity: entirely unimportant person
• christened: named
• stickler: a person who absolutely insists on something
• muffled: deadened or suppressed
• non-entity: a person without much ability, character or importance
• Ozo feast: ‘Ozo’ is the name of a title conferred on a man for meritorious deeds; Ozo feast is a grand feast during which such a title is conferred on a man

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Karnataka 2nd PUC English Textbook Answers Springs Chapter 3 On Children

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On Children Questions and Answers, Notes, Summary

On Children Comprehension I

On Children Summary KSEEB Solutions 2nd PUC  Question 1.
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, “Speak to us of Children.” And he said: Here ‘he’ refers to
a. her child.
b. the Prophet
c. the poet
Answer:
(b) the Prophet.

On Children Notes KSEEB Solutions 2nd PUC Question 2.
‘Your children are not your children’ means
a. they do not belong to their parents only.
b. the children should have their own space.
c. parents should not be possessive of their children.
Answer:
(b) the children should have their own space.

On Children Poem KSEEB Solutions 2nd PUC  Question 3.
‘They come through you, but are not from you’ means
a. though parents give birth to their children they do not own them.
b. children have independent personalities..
c. parents should be indifferent to their children.
Answer:
(a) though parents give birth to their children they do not own them.

On Children Question And Answer KSEEB Solutions 2nd PUC Question 4.
According to the prophet, what may be given to the children?
OR
What can be given to the children by their parents, according to the prophet?
Answer:
According to the prophet, the parents can give only their love and affection to their children.

On Children 2nd Puc Notes KSEEB Solutions Question 5.
‘their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow’ means
a. children belong to the future.
b. parents cannot shape their children’s future.
c. children have a different vision of life.
Answer:
(a, c) children belong to the future/children have a different vision of life.

On Children Poem Summary KSEEB Solutions 2nd PUC Question 6.
‘The bows’ and ‘living arrows’ refer to ____ and _____
Answer:
parents and children.

On Children Answers KSEEB Solutions 2nd PUC Question 7.
‘For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.’ Discuss the contrast between the underlined words.
Answer:
In the last four lines of the poem, Gibran uses the metaphor of archer-bow-and-arrows to explain the role of parents in bringing up children. In this metaphor, God is the archer, the parents represent the bow, and the children are the living arrows. Like an archer, God bends the bows testing them for stability to aid the arrows as they try to reach their destination. “It is the archer who decides the target, which is marked upon the path of the infinite, and He bends the parents (bows) with His might that His arrows may go swift and far”.

Children are life’s longing for itself and it is the parents who serve as a passage for them to come to the earth. Once they are born, it is the parents’ responsibility to see that the ‘living arrows’ (children) reach the intended target which has been decided by the archer himself. Each arrow is ready to fly but the bow must be able to withstand the strain or pressure caused on it and remain stable or firm so as to enable the arrow to reach its target. The arrows have to fly and the bow has to be stable because the bow must be flexible enough to bend according to the will of the archer. This contrast between the role of the arrows and the role of the bow is brought out in the last line of the poem in the word ‘flies’ which refers to the arrows and ‘stable’ which refers to the bows.

On Children Comprehension II

KSEEB Solutions For Class 12 English 2nd PUC Question 1.
Why does the prophet categorically state “Your children are not your children’?
OR
Tour children are not your children’. How is this statement relevant with reference to ‘On Children’?Explain,
OR
Tour children are not your children’. Why? What does the prophet mean by this?
Answer:
According to Kahlil Gibran, love occupies the most important place in God’s creation. Love is not created by us but is sent from above and it directs everything in our life as it sees fit. In this poem, Gibran illustrates how love works in the intimate relationship of parenthood. Gibran wants us to understand that our role as parents is only ’stewardship’ and nothing else.
In the line ‘Your children are not your children’ Gibran tells parents to be aware that a child is not a thing to be possessed by us because we have not created ‘life’.

A child is eternal life itself and is a gift from the abundance of existence. As parents we may have brought them to the earth. This has happened so because we have been chosen to be a vehicle and so we are nothing else but a passage. It is life’s longing for itself that brings children to earth, as sons and daughters. Since children are not lifeless things we cannot possess them. That is why the prophet categorically states that ‘Your children are not your children’.

On Children Poem Notes KSEEB Solutions 2nd PUC Question 2.
What does the metaphor of bow and arrow signify with regard to the parent-children relationship?
OR
What do the bow and arrow signify in the poem ‘On Children’?
OR
How is the parent-child relationship brought out using the metaphor of bow and arrows?
OR
Bring out the significance of the metaphors ‘bows’, ‘arrows’and ‘archer’.
OR
“Parents are bows, children are arrows and God is the archer”. How does the poem ‘On Children’ highlight these images?
OR
‘On Children’ refers to children as arrows and parents as bows. Explain.
Answer:
In his sermon on children, in the first part, Gibran explains to parents how they should take care of their children as ‘stewards’. In the last part of the sermon, Gibran uses the metaphor of the bow and the arrows to help parents visualize their role in bringing up children.

In this metaphor, God, or the supreme power, is the archer, parents are the bows and the arrows are the children. The archer uses the bow only as an instrument to send the arrows to their target. The archer decides the trajectory and the target on the infinite path and pulls the string with all his might. As he pulls the string, the bow has to bend and yet withstand the strain and pressure caused in shooting the arrow. The bow should not snap in two. From this metaphor, it becomes clear that parents serve only as an instrument or as a vehicle to help the arrow fly to its destination and parents cannot own them.

On Children 2nd Puc KSEEB Solutions Question 3.
According to the prophet, what attitude should parents have towards their children?
OR
How does the poet describe the responsibility of parents in the poem ‘On Children’?
Answer:
Kahlil Gibran tells the parents that they are not the owners of their children. He argues that children have come to this earth as Life’s longing for itself and are born as sons and daughters and they are not created by parents. Hence, parents cannot possess them. Parents should consider themselves as ‘stewards’ and their role is only stewardship. Gibran wants parents not to look upon their children as their puppets and so as not to impose their religion, politics, and ideas on the innocent children. Parents may give their own love but not their thoughts, because the children have their own souls. They have the free will to do as they please and have a mind of their own. They are free to think for themselves.

Parents merely act as ‘guiding lights’ for their children. They have the will to act as who they are and lead their own life and not how their parents want them to. The children have their own future, parents belong to the yesterdays, but children belonging to the tomorrows. We should only give as much love as we can and should let them grow according to their own potential. We may strive to be like them but we should never trust our past on them. We should resist the temptation of making our child a carbon copy of ourselves.

On Children Comprehension III

On Children KSEEB 2nd PUC Question 1.
In this poem, ‘parents could’ stand as a metaphor for
(a) the older generation
(b) leaders
(c) religious heads
(d) teachers.
Having considered the above options, offer different readings of the poem.
Answer:
(a) In the poem ‘On Children’ by Kahlil Gibran, ‘parents’ could stand as a metaphor for the older generation. The poem could be taken as a dialogue between Almustafa, the prophet, and the older generation. As advised by the prophet, the older generation must understand that the children of this generation are born as life’s longing for itself. They have their own souls. Therefore, the older generation must only strive to protect their bodies until they become adults so that they grow up as mature individuals and fulfil god’s mission for which they have come to this earth. The older generation should not indoctrinate the younger generation to lead a life as their parents like because the souls of the younger generation dwell in the house of tomorrow to which the older generation cannot enter. However, their duty is to make the younger generation realize that they have been sent to the earth by God to fulfill his mission.

(b) Similarly, ‘parents’ could also be taken as a metaphor for ‘leaders’. As leaders, they can only protect their children physically, until they come of age. They should not compel them to accept their ideologies and live to fulfill their mission. On the contrary, the leaders must understand that their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, and hence the ideas of the older generation leaders will only take them backward. But the leaders also are god’s children and have been utilized by God as his instrument to send the children to the earth. Therefore, they must see to it that they protect the younger generation until they grow and become mature individuals. They must also be made aware of god’s purpose in sending them to the earth.

(c) The word ‘parents’ could also be taken as a metaphor for religious heads. The poem can be taken as a dialogue between the prophet and the religious heads. The religious heads are also children of God. They must realize that God wants them to protect their children when they are young and lead them in such a way that the children should have full freedom to obey the yearnings of their souls. The religious teachers should not force their children to obey and accept their ideas of God and his creation. They must only make them realize that as children they have been sent by god to this earth to fulfil god’s mission. Like his obedient children, they must be made aware that they have to fulfill god’s mission on this earth.

(d) Similarly, the word ‘parents’ could be taken as a metaphor for teachers and the poem could be taken as a dialogue between Almustafa, the prophet, and the teachers. The teachers must understand that they are expected to serve only as guardians and protect their children until they grow up and mature into fully grown adults. As teachers, they should only make them aware that they have come down to fulfill god’s mission. Teachers should not think that they should punish and make them do what he or she likes. On the other hand, their only job is to see that they are taken care of physically and are given complete freedom for their souls to grow and mature and understand god’s mission in sending, them to this earth.

Question 2.
In light of the poem, think of different levels of freedom children must have in shaping their lives.
Answer:
The parents must understand that God expects them to work as guardians to protect their children physically until they grow up and mature and realize god’s wishes. In their childhood, instead of getting overly attached to them, the parents should treat them as guests in their homes. They must love and respect them. They should help create an environment conducive for their growth and see that they grow and remain physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually healthy. All-round development is important.

Care for their mental health is equally important. Parents can do this by creating an environment allowing the inborn talent and goodness of the children to blossom. Children are not born bad, the environment makes them so. Therefore, it is necessary to create a healthy environment for the children at home, in school, and in society.

Parents should not treat their children as their puppets but shower their love as much as they can and take good care of them as we do to someone who is given to our charge. Parents should take care of their needs only and should not impose their thoughts and ideas on them.

The parents superimpose ideas, thoughts, and even their pride upon their kids. Instead of imposing philosophies and thoughts on the children, they should give them love and create an atmosphere for their inner talents to flower.

As they grow into adults, the parents must exercise all the more patience and give them the freedom to make their own decisions and let them do what they like for a living. They must also strive to make them aware of the pitfalls in their path if they choose the wrong path.

Finally, when they attain a marriageable age, parents should not influence their decisions by highlighting their lineage or wealth or caste. They must allow full freedom to love and marry a girl of their choice.

Question 3.
The poem ‘On Children’ does not focus merely on the lives of children but also talks about the responsibility of parents. Explain.
Answer:
The poem ‘On Children’ is a sermon on parents. It does not focus merely on the lives of children but also talks about the responsibility of parents. In the first part, Gibran argues that children take birth as life’s longing for itself. Since we do not create children, we cannot possess them. However, Gibran argues that parents do have a role in the life of children. He says that we should give our children as much love as we can but never our thoughts. The children must be let free to think for themselves, and parents must not thrust their ideas on them.

Next, Gibran talks about the responsibility of parents. He states that God is the archer, and his parents are his bows. The archer decides on the target, bends the bow to suit his target, and shoots the arrows. The arrows are the children. Thus the archer wants the parents to serve as his instrument. If the bow remains rigid and inflexible, the arrows may not reach the desired destination. Therefore, as parents, it is our responsibility to be flexible enough to allow our children to live their own lives.

On Children Additional Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following questions in a word, a phrase, or a sentence each:

Question 1.
Who does the word “bows’ refer to in the poem?
Answer:
To parents.

Question 2.
Who does ‘living arrows’ refer to in the poem?
Answer:
To children.

Question 3.
Who does ‘archer’ refer to in the poem?
Answer:
To God.

Question 4.
Who does God use as his instrument to send living arrows to the earth?
Answer:
Parents.

Question 5.
Why does God bend the parents with all his might?
Answer:
God bends the parents with all his might to test them for stability and strength so that the arrows (children) that they shoot travel far and reach their destination.

Question 6.
What brings children to the earth?
Answer:
Life’s longing for itself.

Question 7.
Who dwells in the house of tomorrow?
Answer:
Children.

Question 8.
Who loves both the bow and the arrow?
OR
According to the speaker of ‘On Children’, the one who loves both the arrow and the bow is
(a) the archer
(b) the parents
(c) the children.
Answer:
God, the archer.

Question 9.
What, according to the speaker, can parents not visit?
Answer:
The parents cannot visit the house/houses or the world in which their children are going to live. They also can’t visit their houses even in their dreams.

Question 10.
In ‘On Children’, you may give them your love but not your
(a) dreams
(b) thoughts
(c) gladness.
Answer:
(b) thoughts.

Question 11.
What does the phrase’the bow that is stable’ refer to?
Answer:
The phrase ‘the bow that is stable’ refers to parents who serve God’s wishes without fail and with conviction.

Question 12.
In ‘On Children’, God loves the arrow that flies as well as the bow that
(a) does not bend
(b) breaks
(c) is stable.
Answer:
(c) is stable.

Question 13.
Who asked the Prophet to speak on children?
Answer:
A woman asked the prophet to speak about children.

Question 14.
Where, according to the speaker, do the souls of children dwell?
Answer:
According to the speaker, the souls of children dwell in the house of tomorrow.

Question 15.
What should parents not give their children?
Answer:
Parents may give only their love for their children and should not give their thoughts.

Question 16.
What does not go backward, according to the speaker, in ‘On Children’?
Answer:
Life.

Question 17.
Why does the archer bend his bow?
Answer:
The archer bends his bow so that His arrows might go swift and far.

Question 18.
Whose sons and daughters are our children, according to the speaker, in ‘On Children’?
Answer:
According to the speaker in ‘On Children’, our children are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself.

Question 19.
Who, according to the speaker in ‘On Children’, have their own thoughts?
Answer:
According to the speaker in ‘On Children’, the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself have their own thoughts.

Question 20.
Who, according to the speaker in ‘On Children’, are sent forth as living arrows?
Answer:
According to the speaker in ‘On Children’, our children are sent forth as living arrows.

Question 21.
Where, according to the speaker in ‘On Children’, does the archer see the mark?
Answer:
According to the speaker in ‘On Children’, the archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite.

Question 22.
Who, according to the speaker in “On Children’, sees the mark upon the path of the infinite?
Answer:
According to the speaker in ‘On Children’, the archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite.

Question 23.
According to the speaker in ’On Children’, life does not go ______
(a) swift
(b) backward
(c) forth.
Answer:
(b) backward.

Question 24.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for ______. The right word from ‘On Children’ to fill in the blank is
(a) gladness
(b) longing
(c) striving.
Answer:
(a) gladness.

Question 25.
The house of tomorrow in ‘On Children’ cannot be visited even in _______
(a) thoughts
(b) ideas
(c) dreams.
Answer:
(c) dreams.

Question 26.
The’archer’in’On Children’refers to
(a) child
(b) God
(c) Prophet.
Answer:
(b) God.

Question 27.
According to the speaker in ‘On Children’, life does not tarry with
(a) today
(b) tomorrow
(c) yesterday.
Answer:
(c) yesterday.

II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80-100 words each:

Question 1.
How, according to the speaker, should parents look upon their children?
Answer:
According to the prophet Almustafa, parents should never believe that they own or possess their children. They should behave as though their role is that of being guards and/or ‘stewards’. Parents should not treat their children as their puppets but shower their love as much as they can and take good care of them as we do to someone who is given to our charge. Parents should not impose their thoughts and ideas on them because our children belong to the future whereas we belong to the past generation.

Question 2.
How should parents raise their children, according to the speaker?
OR
How should parents take care of their children, according to the speaker in ‘On Children’?
Answer:
Almustafa tells parents that they can only act as ‘stewards’ and their role is one of ‘stewardship’; parents should not treat their children as their puppets but shower their love as much as they can and take good care of them as we do to someone who is given to our charge. Parents should take care of their needs only and should not impose their thoughts and ideas on them. They should not do so because our children belong to the future whereas we belong to the past generation.

Question 3.
What are the views of the Prophet on parents and children in the poem ‘On Children’?
Answer:
According to the Prophet, a child is a gift from the abundance of existence and it is eternal life itself. Children are born as sons and daughters as ‘life’s longing for itself’. Parents do not create them and hence cannot possess them. Parents serve as a ‘passage’ or vehicle to bring the children to this world. Further, children have their own thoughts because they have the free will to do as they please. Whereas parents belong to the yesterdays, their children belong to the future. The children will have their own scriptures and saints; hence parents should only give them as much love as they can and not their thoughts. Parents should not thrust their past as an inheritance on their children but should let them grow according to their own potential.

Gibran uses the metaphor of archer-bow-and-arrows to explain the role of parents in bringing up children. In this metaphor, God is the archer, the parents represent the bow, and the children are the living arrows. Like an archer, God bends the bows testing them for stability to aid the arrows as they try to reach their destination. “It is the archer who decides the target, which is marked upon the path of the infinite, and He bends the parents (bows) with His might that His arrows may go swift and far”.

Question 4.
How is the parent and children relationship brought out in Kahlil Gibran’s poem ‘On Children’?
Answer:
In his sermon ‘On Children’, Gibran assumes the persona of Almustafa and speaks to the people with the intention of enlightening them about ‘children’ and to guide them as to how they should bring up their children.

First, he says that ‘children’ are born to fulfill the ‘longing’ of life itself. They are a gift from the abundance of existence. God, the supreme power, uses parents as a vehicle or passage to bring children to this earth. Since parents do not create ‘life’, parents do not own children. They may house their bodies but not their souls.

Secondly, children have their own souls and are not non-living things. Therefore parents cannot possess them as puppets. Life’s longing for itself brings forth children in the form of sons and daughters. Hence, our sons and daughters do not belong to us though we have borne them.

Thirdly, since parents bring children to this earth, they should also take care of children as ‘stewards’ and protect them, take care of their needs until they grow and mature and become fully developed individuals. Parents should take care of their needs only and should not impose their thoughts and ideas on them.

III. Answer the following questions in about 200 words each:

Question 1.
“Your children are not your children’ How does the poet illustrate this truth in the poem?
OR
How does the poem bring out the relationship between parents and children?
Answer:
The poet firmly believes that life is a journey, and God is both the ‘starting point’ and the destination. This journey is an inner one, a spiritual one and we are born to undertake this journey. The whole poem serves to express this belief. The poet attempts to explain what role the parents should play in bringing up their children.

The speaker says that a child is a gift from the abundance of existence and it is eternal life itself. That is why the poet says that ‘your children are not your children’. Then he makes our role clear. He tells the parents that they have brought their children to this world because they have been chosen to serve as a ‘passage’ or vehicle to bring them to this world.

Further, he tells us that since children belong to the future they have their own thoughts and the free will to do as they please. Then he tells us that we have to take care of our children as ‘stewards’ and give them ‘love’ and physical nourishment so that they grow up to serve their role.

Since God is the creator and the final destination, God is the archer, the parents his bow, and the children his arrows. We only serve to send the arrows swift and far and help it reach its destination. God loves both the bow and the arrows because God is the eternal creator of nature’.

Question 2.
‘On Children’ offers new insights into the parent-children relationships. Discuss.
OR
‘On Children’persuades parents to see their children in a new light Elaborate.
Answer:
‘On Children’ is a sermon given by Almustafa to a woman holding a babe against her bosom. The fourteen-line poem is in the form of an imaginary conversation between a mother and the prophet Of the fourteen lines, the first five lines are devoted to enlightening the parents about who the children are and the remaining lines explain the role of the parents in bringing up their children.

‘On Children’ offers new insight into the parent-children relationship, and rejects our traditional, time-honoured, and conservative ideas of bringing up children.

According to the speaker, a child is a gift from the abundance of existence and it is eternal life itself. Children are born as sons and daughters as life’s longing for itself. Life longs to reproduce itself, and parents are its servants who execute that master plan. God uses parents as his instrument to send living ‘arrows’ to the earth. God, or the Supreme Being, is the archer, the parents are the bows and the children are the living arrows. Parents do not create them and hence they cannot possess them.

They are only the medium through which life expresses itself. Children have their own thoughts because they have the free will to do as they please. Parents can only act as ‘stewards’ and their role is one of ‘stewardship’. Parents should not treat their children as their puppets but shower as much of their love as they can.

Parents should take care of their needs only and should not impose their thoughts and ideas on them because our children belong to the future, whereas the parents belong to the past generation. Therefore, parents should also not burden their children with their dead past, their scriptures, and their saints. Since life looks forward and does not linger on, parents should let their children build their future, realize their potential, and resist the temptation to force their children to be like their carbon copy.

Question 3.
The poem, ‘On Children’rejects conservative upbringing of children. Explain.
Answer:
‘On Children’ is a sermon given by Almustafa to a woman holding a babe against her bosom. The fourteen-line poem is in the form of an imaginary conversation between a mother and the prophet Of the fourteen lines, the first five lines are devoted to enlightening the parents about who the children are and the remaining lines explain the role of the parents in bringing up their children.

‘On Children’ offers new insight into the parent-children relationship, and rejects our traditional, time-honoured and conservative ideas of bringing up children.

According to the speaker, a child is a gift from the abundance of existence and it is eternal life itself. Children are born as sons and daughters as life’s longing for itself. Life longs to reproduce itself, and parents are its servants who execute that master plan. God uses parents as his instrument to send living ‘arrows’ to the earth. God, or the Supreme Being, is the archer, the parents are the bows and the children are the living arrows. Parents do not create them and hence they cannot possess them.

They are only the medium through which life expresses itself. Children have their own thoughts because they have the free will to do as they please. Parents can only act as ‘stewards’ and their role is one of ‘stewardship’. Parents should not treat their children as their puppets but shower as much of their love as they can.

Parents should take care of their needs only and should not impose their thoughts and ideas on them because our children belong to the future, whereas the parents belong to the past generation. Therefore, parents should also not burden their children with their dead past, their scriptures and their saints. Since life looks forward and does not linger on, parents should let their children build their future, realize their potential and resist the temptation to force their children to be like their carbon copy.

Question 4.
We cannot keep pace with our children’s lives and thoughts. How is this elaborated in ‘On Children’?
Answer:
According to the speaker in ‘On Children’, a child is a gift from the abundance of existence and it is eternal life itself. Children are born as sons and daughters as ‘Life’s longing for itself’. Parents may have brought them to this world because they have been chosen to serve as ‘passage’ or vehicle to bring the children into this world.

Children are closer to the very source of life than old people. Children have their own thoughts because they have the free will to do as they please. Parents should not impose their thoughts and ideas on them because our children belong to the future, whereas parents belong to the past generation.

As parents, our days are over. We may try to be like our children, but our past acts like a barrier. Since parents belong to the yesterdays and their children belong to the tomorrows, parents cannot conceive of their future. The children will have their own scriptures and saints. The present is not only a meeting point but also a point of departure. Every day the gap between parents and their children will become wider and wider.

The children have their own future and we should let them grow according to their own potential. The children are closer to existence than we are. Life looks forward and does not linger on. Hence parents cannot keep pace with our children’s lives and thoughts. Parents should let their children build their future, realize their potential and resist the temptation to force their children to be like their carbon copy.

On Children by Kahlil Gibran About the Poet:

Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) is a Lebanese-American artist and poet. His poems are considered ‘poetic essays’, as they do not adhere to the usual verification. ‘The Prophet’ is his best-known work and has been translated into more than 25 languages including Kannada.
‘On Children’ is a selection from ‘The Prophet’, which offers a critique of the usual expectations of parents about their children and urges them to introspect.

Background:
‘On Children’ by Kahlil Gibran is an excerpt from ’The Prophet’, one of his most popular works.
‘The Prophet’ occupies a unique place in world literature. It is a work of remarkable compassion, insight, hope and inspiration, with a timeless message that combines the dignity of the Christian Bible and the wisdom of the Sufis of Islam, phrased with simplicity and rhythmical quality that renders it accessible to a wider readership.

It represents an appeal for a return to and reconciliation with nature, emphasizing the relationship that binds individuals to their environment and their fellow creatures. They all become denizens of one world bound together by life and death. The speaker in ‘The Prophet’ speaks in the persona of ‘Almustafa’. Almustafa sets out his own version of the golden rule common to all great religions that we must do as we would be done by. What he voices is not some unattainable ideal, but practical wisdom and simple moral and spiritual values.

The keynote of ‘The Prophet’ is pantheism. Its central article of belief is that God is latent within everyone as a Greater Self, and that, this is attained through aspiration, or ‘yearning’, which is comparable to prayer in religion, and also through successive reincarnations. Life is a journey, and God is both ‘starting point’ and ‘destination’. The journey represents the condition of full awareness when the soul has embarked on the path leading to its desired union with God. The journey is an inner one, a spiritual one, in contrast to the travels of the twenty-first-century man or woman, which are all physical.

On Children Summary in English

‘On Children’ is an excerpt from ‘The Prophet’, one of Kahlil Gibran’s most popular works. ‘The Prophet1 includes twenty-six sermons on varied topics like Love, Marriage, Children, Houses, Clothes, Laws, Crime and Punishment, Buying and Selling, etc. The sermons are given by Almustafa who speaks in the persona of the poet.

‘Almustafa’ means the ‘chosen one’. The name also implies that he possesses spiritual knowledge and divine characteristics. Almustafa is a man of inner purity and is believed to be the ‘Perfect man’ or the universal man’.

In the opening sermon titled ‘The Coming of the Ship’, we learn that Almustafa has waited twelve years in the city of Orphalese for the ship that was to return and bear him back to the isle of his birth. The ship has arrived and he is about to go onboard. Before he boards the ship he is met by a woman named ‘Almitra’, who is a seeress. She prays to him to speak to the people of Orphalese about all that he has been shown about what lies between birth and death. Each of the 26 sermons is the reply given by Almustafa to all those who request him to speak about a particular topic.

‘On Children’ is one such sermon given by Almustafa to a woman holding a babe against her bosom, when she asks him to speak to the people ‘Of Children’. Almustafa begins his sermon with the opening line ‘Your children are not your children’.

In this imaginary conversation, there are fourteen lines of which five lines are devoted to enlightening the parents about what / who the children are and the remaining lines to explaining what role the parents should play in bringing up their children.

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
They have their own thoughts.

The speaker wants to make the parents aware that a child is a gift from the abundance of existence and it is eternal life itself. Just as we have seen eternal life flowing through mountains, through forests and through plains, children are born as sons and daughters as Life’s longing for itself. Life longs to reproduce itself, and we are its servants who carry out that master plan.

Parents do not create them and hence parents cannot possess them. Parents may have brought them to this world because they have been chosen to serve as ‘passage’ or vehicle to bring the children to this world. They are only the medium through which life expresses itself. Children are closer to the very source of life than old people. Furthermore, children have their own thoughts because they have the free will to do as they please.
In the next few lines, the speaker educates parents as to how they should treat their children.

You may give them your love, but not your thoughts
You may house their bodies but not their souls
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

Almustafa tells parents that they can only act as ‘Stewards’ and their role is one of stewardship’; parents should not treat their children as their puppets but shower their love as much as they can and take good care of them as we do to someone who is given to our charge. Parents should take care of their needs only and should not impose their thoughts and ideas on them. They should not do so because our children belong to the future whereas we belong to the past generation.

As parents, our days are over. Parents may try to be like their children but their past acts like a barrier. On the contrary, children belong to the future. Since parents belong to the yesterdays, and their children belong to the tomorrows, parents cannot conceive of their future. Hence they should not burden their children with their dead past, their scriptures and their saints. The children will have their own scriptures and saints, parents should only give them as much love as they can. The present is a meeting point but also a point of departure. Every day the gap between parents and their children will become bigger and bigger.

And so, parents should not thrust their past as an inheritance on their children. The children have their own future and we should let them grow according to their own potential. The children are closer to existence than we are. Since life looks forward and does not linger on, parents should let their children build their future, realize their potential and resist the temptation to force their children to be like their carbon copy.

In the next few lines, Almustafa, the speaker, tries to give a visual account of how we should play our role as parents and how we can win God’s love:

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so also He loves the bow that is stable.

Almustafa tells the parents that God uses parents as his instrument to send ‘living arrows’ to the earth. God or the Supreme Being is the archer, the parents are the bows and the children are his living arrows. An arrow does not have its own power nor does it create its own path of direction. Both these are provided by God. The archer is God and the path is infinity. Just like the archer, God decides the mark on the infinite path for each child as its destination and using the parents as bows, shoots the arrows. Like an archer, God bends the bows (which are the parents) testing them for stability. The bows must help the arrows to reach their destination.

Existence wants parents to bend like a bow before their own children because they have to travel far and they have to give them strength. Parents should not despise the tests God provides in the image of children, for these tests only make God love the parents more. The speaker wishes us to know that existence loves both parents and children because parents are also children of the same existence. God loves not only parents who are stable, but he also loves children who as arrows will be bows in the future and shoot their own arrows.

At the end of the sermon, the speaker says that while the archer loves the arrows (the children), “He also loves the bow that is stable”, which presents before the reader a paradox. As parents involved in the care of children, Gibran appears to be asking us to be strong and bendable at the same time.

This may seem like a contradictory idea, but if we examine the metaphor of the bow, it begins to make sense. The bow has to be able to withstand the force of its string being drawn back. To do this without snapping in two, the bow also has to have strength. This tensile strength allows the arrow being held on the string to be released with optimal energy as it creates balance through resistance and tension, not unlike the kind of discipline we try to adjudicate in the making and breaking of boundaries for our children either at home or in the classroom. Such discipline uses rules and regulations as guides that will hopefully enhance a child’s sense of freedom by engendering a balanced sense of responsibility within him or her as well.

Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies.
So He loves also the bow that is stable.

These lines imply that God, the archer, loves parents who give their children roots to grow in and the freedom to fly when their time has come to do so. He loves those who slowly step back and set them free as their children grow up, encouraging them to learn from their own experiences and to dream their own dreams. He expects parents to do all they can to help their children to fulfill their own highest potential.

The archer expects wise parents to tell the children in their care that they are the children of God and that therefore each child is as precious and unique as the other. Further, God expects parents to respect their children because they know that even when a child is still living in a smaller body than their own, it has nonetheless come into their world as a frilly developed soul and spirit in its own right, who may have a long history of evolution behind it that could have taken more lifetimes than those of its parents.

God expects wise parents to tell their children that they have come into this life to learn, evolve, and grow some more through their own experiences. When their children go to school, wise parents point out to them that they are learning for themselves and for life itself, not only for this lifetime but for Eternity. He expects wise parents to explain to their children the laws of the universe and that because of this, whatever anyone sends out to life has to return to them. Finally, God expects parents to teach children by their good example.

In conclusion, we may say that in this sermon (‘On Children’) Gibran illustrates how love works in the intimate relationship of parenthood.

On Children Summary in Kannada

Glossary:

• hoyse (v): shelter, protect
• tarry (v): linger, stay at one place
• archer: one who uses bow and arrow (here God)

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Karnataka 2nd PUC English Textbook Answers Springs Chapter 5 A Sunny Morning

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A Sunny Morning Questions and Answers, Notes, Summary

A Sunny Morning Comprehension I

Sunny Morning Notes KSEEB Solution Question 1.
Do you think Laura was a regular visitor to the park? What makes you think so?
Answer:
Yes. Laura was a regular visitor to the park. This is clear from her questions to her maid Petra. She wonders whether somebody would have occupied her seat and whether the pigeons know when to expect her and eagerly come over to feed on the bread crumbs, which means that she comes daily to the park.

A Sunny Morning Summary KSEEB Solution Question 2.
Why are Don Gonzalo and Laura annoyed with each other?
Answer:
Don Gonzalo was annoyed with Laura as she questioned why he had used his handkerchief to brush his shoes and numerically asked whether he would use a shoe brush as a kerchief. Moreover, when he wished her she did not wish him back. Laura was annoyed with Gonzalo because he had scared the pigeons fly away.

A Sunny Morning Notes KSEEB Solution Question 3.
Dona Laura reads without her glasses as
a. she has keen eyesight.
b. she wants to impress Gonzalo.
c. she knows every word by heart.
Answer:
(c) she knows every word by heart.

Sunny Morning Summary KSEEB Solution Question 4.
Gonzalo and Laura keep up a humorous conversation because they;
a. have nothing else to do.
b. enjoy being with each other.
c. have the same temperament.
Answer:
(c) have the same temperament.

A Sunny Morning Questions And Answers Pdf KSEEB Solution Question 5.
Laura and Gonzalo’s friendly conversation begins with
a. Gonzalo reading the poems.
b. Laura’s witty remarks.
c. a pinch of snuff.
Answer:
(c) a pinch of snuff.

A Sunny Morning Answers KSEEB Solution Question 6.
Do you think Laura is an effective narrator?
Answer:
Yes. I think Dona Laura is an effective narrator because when Don Gonzalo asks her what she wishes to tell him Dona Laura tells him clearly that he had scared away the birds which were feeding on her crumbs.

A Sunny Morning Questions And Answers KSEEB Solution Question 7.
Gonzalo does not reveal his identity because:
a. he no longer loves her.
b. his appearance has changed.
c. he looks grotesque and old.
Answer:
(c) he looks grotesque and old.

A Sunny Morning Comprehension II

A Sunny Morning KSEEB Solution Question 1.
Describe the situations wherein Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura recognize each other as ‘the silver maiden’ and ‘the gallant young man’.
Answer:
Both Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo become friends soon after enjoying a pinch of snuff offered by Don Gonzalo. While Don Gonzalo is reading aloud, he comes across a famous quotation. Incidentally, he tells Dona that it is from Campoamor. Then Dona Laura expresses her sympathy for him for reading with all those glasses. This prompts Don to boast about his talent to compose verses. Then, he tells her about Espronceda, Zorrilla, and Becquer. Dona makes fun of him saying that he must have gone with Columbus on one of his explorations.

At this moment, Don Gonzalo tells her that he was also a great friend of Campoamor and he had met him in Valencia. Then he adds that he was a native of Valencia. Dona Laura tells him that she had spent several seasons in a villa called Maricela, which was not far from Valencia. The name Maricela startles Don Gonzalo and he goes on to tell her that he had seen the most beautiful woman there and her name was Laura Llorente. Laura is startled to hear her name mentioned and they look at each other intently. It is precisely at this moment that they begin to recognize each other.

A Sunny Morning 2nd Puc Notes KSEEB Solution Question 2.
What were the circumstances that led Gonzalo to flee Valencia?
OR
What circumstances, according to Gonzalo, made his cousin flee Valencia?
Answer:
The young Laura Llorente and young Gonzalo loved each other very dearly. Every day while passing by on horseback down the rose path under the window of Laura, Gonzalo used to toss up to her balcony a bouquet of flowers. Later in the afternoon, while the gallant young man was returning by the same path, he would catch the bouquet of flowers she would toss him. As days rolled by, Laura’s parents thought of marrying her to a well-known merchant in their locality. One night, while Gonzalo was waiting under her window to hear her sing, the merchant came there unexpectedly and insulted him.

This led to a quarrel and later a duel. The duel went on the whole night and at sunrise the next morning the merchant got badly wounded in the duel. The merchant was a well-known gentleman in Valencia. Since he had been badly wounded in the duel, Gonzalo became apprehensive of fearful consequences and so fled Valencia and went to Seville and then to Madrid.

The Sunny Morning Notes KSEEB Solution Question 3.
Did Laura and Gonzalo pine for each other after they were separated by circumstances? Who is more passionate? How do they react to each other now?
OR
How do Laura and Gonzalo claim to have pined for each other after their separation?
Answer:
Soon after they were separated by circumstances the young lovers Laura and Gonzalo pined for each other. After listening to Gonzalo’s account of how he had fled Aravaca, then joined the army in Africa and had met a glorious death in the war, Laura mutters to herself that it is an atrocious lie. Then Dona pretends to sympathise with him saying he must have been distressed by the calamity. Taking it as a strong point, Gonzalo pretends to say that it was indeed a calamity, but also tries to express his resentment complaining that on the contrary Laura had soon forgotten Gonzalo and was chasing butterflies in the garden without any regret. Dona Laura protests saying ‘no’ loudly and Gonzalo comments that it is a woman’s way. Dona Laura, so as not to be found fault with that way, offers her version of the story.

She tells him that the silver maiden awaited the news of Gonzalo for a year. As she did not receive any letters from him, went to the sea after sunset, wrote his name on the sand, sat on a rock and was finally swept out to the sea by the rising tide. Don Gonzalo mutters to himself that she was a worse liar than he was. Both of them openly express their sympathies for each other. Dona mutters to herself that she will not tell him that she got married two years later. Don Gonzalo mutters to himself that he ran off with a ballet dancer to Paris in three months. From their conversation and from their reactions to each other’s partially concocted story, we can conclude that Laura is more passionate.

Sunny Morning Questions And Answers KSEEB Solution Question 4.
What makes Dona Laura assume that Don Gonzalo is an ill-natured man?
OR
How do Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura accuse each other at the beginning of the play?
Answer:
Soon after entering the park, Don Gonzalo looks for a vacant bench. When he finds that the bench on which he used to sit is occupied by three priests, Don Gonzalo gets irritated and he expresses his annoyance remarking that the priests were idling their time away instead of saying Mass in the church. Then Juanito suggests that he could sit on the bench on which Dona Laura was sitting. But Don Gonzalo tells him that he wants a bench to himself. Then after expressing his anger against the three priests, he walks towards the birds near Dona Laura’s bench, when she angrily asks him to a lookout. On hearing her warning cry, Don Gonzalo asks her whether she intended to speak to him.

Next, when Dona tells him that he had scared the birds away, he retorts telling her that he does not care about the birds. Then she tells him that she cared about the birds very much and hence she was complaining about his behaviour. Don Gonzalo tries to snub her saying that it was a public park. Intending to argue with him, Dona asks him why then he was complaining about the priests taking his bench. Instead of giving her a suitable, polite reply, he dismisses her rudely telling her that they had not met before and he can’t imagine why she was taking the liberty of addressing him. Naturally, Dona who had listened to his comments about the priests and his replies to her queries assumes that he was an ill-natured man.

A Sunny Morning Summary 2nd Puc KSEEB Solution Question 5.
Laura and Gonzalo build stories about themselves so that they can:
a. fool each other.
b. forget the past
c. conceal their emotions.
Answer:
(a) fool each other.

A Sunny Morning Comprehension III

Question 1.
Trace how the irony is built in the play. Did you guess the character’s past even before they did so?
Answer:
(a) The term ‘irony’ means ‘hiding’ or dissembling what actually is the case, not in order to deceive but to achieve special rhetorical or artistic effects.

In the one-act play, ‘A Sunny Morning’ irony is cleverly built into the play. After settling in her bench, Dona Laura sends away Petra, her maidservant, to chat with the guard. Soon after that, she glances towards the trees at right and says “Here they come; they know just when to expect me”. Though the old lady is referring to the arrival of the birds, it also hints at the entry of Don Gonzalo and Juanito, who are needed for the action to move forward. Dona Laura throws three handfuls of crumbs for the pigeons to eat and soon after that we see Don Gonzalo and Juanito entering the scene.

(b) We come across the next instance of irony when Don Gonzalo starts reading aloud statements supposedly from Campoamor’s work.
Don Gonzalo reads aloud the following:

• “All love is sad but sad as it is, it is the best thing that we know”.
• “Twenty years pass. He returns. And each, beholding the other, exclaims can it be that this is he? Heavens, is it she?”
  These lines can be taken as examples of ‘Dramatic irony’.

(c) There are two more instances of irony in the play. They are:

1. When Dona Laura tells Don Gonzalo that Laura Llorente was called ‘The Silver Maiden’ in » that locality, he tells her “I seem to see her as if she were before me now, at that window with the red roses”.

2. He starts giving a description of her beauty, “She was ideal, fair as a lily, jet black hair and black eyes…” and finally says “what forms of sovereign beauty God models in human clay! She was a dream”.
On hearing Don Gonzalo say so, Dona Laura mutters to herself “if you but knew that dream was now by your side, you would realize what dreams come to”.

3. “Here are you and I, complete strangers, met by chance, discussing the romance of old friends of long ago! We have been conversing as if we were old friends”, Dona Laura tells Don Gonzalo after both of them have told their made-up stories.

A careful reading of the play reveals that there is a relationship between the old lady and the old gentleman. When I read the play a second time paying attention to the story and the instances of irony highlighted here, I was able to guess the characters’ past.

Question 2.
Why do Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo spin fictitious stories about themselves?
OR
Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo spin fictitious stories about themselves to cover their tracks. Discuss with reference to ‘A Sunny Morning’.
Answer:
Once Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura realize that they are the same old, young lovers of Maricela who were separated in life by fate, they decide not to reveal their identity because they learn from each other in what high esteem they held each other before they departed, they also come to know that both of them had given up the other as lost forever. While Dona Laura tells herself that she had married someone else after waiting for him for one year, Don Gonzalo tells himself that after fleeing from Valencia, then Seville and Madrid, he had run off to Paris with a ballet dancer in about three months.

Therefore, they concoct fictitious stories so as to conceal their identities completely and to make the other believe that he or she was dead. Later, when they realize that they are alive, they do not want to shatter their mutual images in the eyes of the other. Therefore, Don Gonzalo tells himself that he will not reveal himself because he is grotesque. He wishes that she had better recall the gallant horseman who passed daily beneath her window tossing flowers. Similarly, Dona Laura tells herself that “I am too sadly changed. It is better he should remember me as the black-eyed girl tossing flowers as he passed among the roses in the garden.”

Question 3.
Bring out the feelings of Laura and Gonzalo as they leave the park. Is it different from what they felt about each other at the beginning of the play?
Answer:
When the scene opens, we find Dona Laura entering the park, leaning upon the arm of her maid Petra. Soon, the old lady settles in her usual seat in the park. Then the old lady sends away Petra to meet her boyfriend, the guard. Later, when the pigeons arrive, Dona Laura throws three handfuls of bread crumbs. Next, we see Don Gonzalo coming in dragging his feet and leaning upon Juanito’s arm. Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura have not seen each other before and hence we cannot know about each other’s feelings until they meet.

However, their feelings towards each other become evident only when Don Gonzalo walks towards Dona Laura’s bench, despite her warning call ‘Lookout’. Therefore, when she finds her pigeons being scared away, she is upset and tells him in a complaining tone that he has scared away the birds who were feeding on her crumbs. In reply, Don gives an arrogant reply which provokes her to make a personal comment, ‘Why do you complain that the priests have taken your bench?’ Once again, Don Gonzalo’s rude snubbing reply provokes Dona Laura to say that he is an ill-natured old man and comments that when people reach a certain age they should not become so fussy and cross. Later, Don comes and sits at the extreme end of Dona Laura’s bench and looks at her indignantly. After a few heated exchanges between them, Don Gonzalo mutters to himself ‘Senile old lady! She ought to be at home knitting and counting her beads’.

But, by the end of the play, we find a total change in their attitude towards each other. In the course of their conversation, they discover that they were ‘lovers’ once in their youthful days. But neither of them is ready to disclose their identity. However, the animosity that we witness at the beginning of the play is no longer there when they are ready to depart. Before taking leave of each other, they formally thank each other for having met. Both of them ensure that they are coming to the park the next day. Laura sees Don picking up the lilies dropped by her. Both of them wave farewell. They leave the place as friends.

Question 4.
What do you think would have happened if they had revealed their identity? Do you think they know who they are towards the end of the play?
Answer:
Once Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura realize that they are the same old young lovers of Maricela who were separated in life by fate, they make up fictitious stories and conceal their identity.

If they had revealed their identity, both of them would have been utterly shocked and would have accused each other of deceiving the other. They know that both of them had held the other in high esteem and both of them had fallen deeply in love.

That is why, when they realize that they are the same old lovers of Maricela, they are shocked to realize how much both of them had changed. Dona Laura after listening to Don Gonzalo’s praise of her beauty as The Silver Maiden’ now feels ashamed to confess that she is the old silver maiden of Maricela because she too is sadly changed.

Similarly, Don Gonzalo knows that he is grotesque and so wishes her to keep his image as a gallant horseman who tossed flowers to her every day.

Question 5.
How is the title of the play A Sunny Morning’justifiable? Discuss.
OR
Bring out the instances from the play A Sunny Morning’ to justify it as a blend of romance
and comedy.
Answer:
‘A Sunny Morning’ is a refreshingly new romantic comedy. It tells the story of Don Gonzalo^and Dona Laura who was ardent lovers in their youth but was torn apart in life by fate. However, the two lovers meet again when they are in their 70s, not as lovers but as total strangers unexpectedly, in a park in Madrid. After a few initial heated exchanges and repartees, they settle down, occupy the same bench in the park, spend a good time together and depart as friends. By the time they are ready to leave for the day, they recognize each other’s identity. They do not disclose it but tell atrocious lies to conceal it. There are quite a few lively moments of humor, sarcasm, and irony which entertain the readers and audience. The title A Sunny Morning’ is quite appropriate and aptly captures the spirit of the play. The play can be justifiably called a romantic comedy because there are elements of both romance and comedy in the play.

In its most general sense the word ‘romance’ suggests elements of gallant love, chivalry, and adventure. The phrase ‘romantic comedy’ denotes a form of drama in which love is the main theme and love leads to a happy ending. A love affair is one of the major themes of a comedy. Keeping in view these points, ‘A Sunny Morning’ is a romantic comedy in all respects. It tells the story of two young lovers Laura Llorente and Don Gonzalo of Maricela in Valencia.

Laura Liorente was known in her locality as ‘The Silver Maiden’. She was in love with Gonzalo, a gallant lover. He used to pass by her house on horseback every morning through the rose garden and toss up a bouquet of flowers to her balcony which she caught. On his way back in the afternoon she would toss the flowers back to him. But Laura’s parents wanted to marry her off to a merchant whom she disliked.

One day there ensued a quarrel, leading to a duel between Gonzalo and the merchant, her suitor. The merchant was seriously injured. Fearing serious consequences, Gonzalo fled from his house in the town to Seville and then to Madrid. Even though he tried to communicate with Laura through letters, his attempts failed and he gave her up as lost forever and ran off to Paris with a ballet dancer. Meanwhile, Laura waited for the news of Gonzalo, for one year and finally got married.

These two lovers meet unexpectedly, in a park. They are now in their 70s. Both of them have changed a lot physically but they still cherish the memories of their youth. However, when they meet in the park, they appear to be cynical, fussy, and ill-natured. The way they repartee and express their resentment towards each other creates opportunities for humour in the play. Finally, they become friends after sharing a pinch of snuff. They gradually come to realize that they are the very same lovers of yesteryears.

The title A Sunny Morning’ suggests a warm and bright sunny day. Similarly, the play is also fresh in spirit, devoid of all cliches and stereotypes of earlier, traditional courtly comedies because both the characters and the situations are drawn from contemporary society.

A Sunny Morning Additional Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following questions in a word, a phrase, or a sentence each:

Question 1.
Laura Llorente was known as _______ in the locality in her younger days.
(a) The Silver Maiden
(b) Sovereign Beauty
(c) Golden Lady
(d) dream girl.
Answer:
(a) The Silver Maiden.

Question 2.
Who had occupied Gonzalo’s usual bench in the park?
Answer:
Three priests.

Question 3.
What is the name of Laura’s maid?
Answer:
Petra.

Question 3.
What is the name of Gonzalo’s servant?
OR
Who is the caretaker of Gonzalo in the play?
Answer:
Juanito.

Question 4.
How many priests were sitting on the bench usually occupied by Don Gonzalo?
Answer:
Three priests.

Question 5.
What does Don Gonzalo use to clean the dust off his shoes?
Answer:
His handkerchief.

Question 6.
Where, according to Don Gonzalo, is one of his estates located?
Answer:
In Aravaca.

Question 7.
In which city was Don Gonzalo brought up?
OR
‘Which is the native city of Don Gonzalo in ‘A Sunny Morning’?
OR
Which city, according to Don Gonzalo, is he a native of?
Answer:
Don Gonzalo was brought up in Valencia.

Question 8.
Name the villa in Valencia where Dona Laura spent her youth.
OR
Name the villa Laura Liorente lived in.
Answer:
In a villa called Maricela in Valencia.

Question 9.
What was Dona Laura’s original name?
Answer:
Laura Llorente.

Question 10.
Why do Laura and Gonzalo spin stories about themselves?
Answer:
To conceal each other’s identity.

Question 11.
According to Gonzalo, where did the young man go after the duel?
Answer:
To Seville and then to Madrid.

Question 12.
What did Dona Laura carry every day to feed the pigeons?
OR
What does Dona Laura feed the birds within the park?
Answer:
Dona Laura carried bread crumbs every day to feed the pigeons.
OR
Dona Laura fed the birds with bread crumbs.

Question 13.
Where does the action of the play ‘A Sunny Morning’ take place?
Answer:
The action of the play ‘A Sunny Morning’ takes place in a retired corner of a park in Madrid.

Question 14.
What establishes peace between Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo?
Answer:
A pinch of snuff establishes peace between Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo.

Question 15.
What right does Dona Laura claim to have to criticize Don Gonzalo?
Answer:
Dona Laura claims to have a neighbour’s right to criticize Don Gonzalo.

Question 16.
Who was called ‘The Silver Maiden’ in A Sunny Morning’?
OR
By what name was Laura Liorente known in her locality?
Answer:
Laura Liorente was called ‘The Silver Maiden’ in her locality.

Question 17.
On what condition does Don Gonzalo agree to meet Dona Laura the next day?
OR
In what condition do Gonzalo and Laura depart at the end of the play?
Answer:
Don Gonzalo agrees to meet Dona Laura the next day if it is sunny.

Question 18.
In the play, ‘the silver maiden’ refers to
(a) Petra
(b) Dona Laura
(c) the ballet dancer.
Answer:
(b) Dona Laura.

Question 19.
Why did Don Gonzalo sit next to Laura in the park?
Answer:
Dona Gonzalo sits next to Laura on the bench in the park because all the other benches were fully occupied.

Question 20.
Where, according to Gonzalo, did he meet Campoamor?
Answer:
According to Gonzalo, he met Campoamor in Valencia.

Question 21.
Where did Gonzalo run off to with a ballet dancer?
Answer:
Gonzalo ran off to Paris with a ballet dancer.

Question 22.
Whose name, according to Gonzalo, was his cousin whispering at the time of his death?
Answer:
Laura’s name.

Question 23.
Where do Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura meet after a long time?
Answer:
After a long time, Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura meet in a retired corner of a park in Madrid.

Question 24.
What did Dona Laura use as a cane in ‘A Sunny Morning’?
Answer:
In A Sunny Morning’, Dona Laura used a parasol as a cane.

Question 25.
Who accompanied Dona Laura when she came to the park in A Sunny Morning’?
Answer:
In ‘A Sunny Morning’ Petra, her maid, accompanied Dona Laura, when she came to the park.

Question 26.
Who, according to Petra, belongs to the park in A Sunny Morning’?
Answer:
In ‘A Sunny Morning’, according to Petra, the guard, with whom she used to chat, belongs to the park.

Question 27.
Who accompanied Don Gonzalo when he came to the park in A Sunny Morning’?
Answer:
In ‘A Sunny Morning’ Juanito, Don Gonzalo’s servant accompanied him to the park.

Question 28.
According to Gonzalo, where ought Laura be knitting and counting her beads?
Answer:
According to Gonzalo, Laura ought to be at home, knitting and counting her beads.

Question 29.
What right does Laura claim to have to criticize Gonzalo’s actions in ‘A Sunny Morning’?
Answer:
In ‘A Sunny Morning’, Laura claims her right as a neighbour to criticize Gonzalo’s actions.

Question 30.
What could Gonzalo show as evidence to prove his skill at hunting in ‘A Sunny Morning’?
Answer:
In ‘A Sunny Morning’, Gonzalo could show a wild boar’s head (displayed in his study) as evidence to prove his skill at hunting.

Question 31.
What could Laura show as evidence to prove her skill at hunting in ‘A Sunny Morning’?
Answer:
In ‘A Sunny Morning’, Laura could show a tiger’s skin in her boudoir, as evidence to prove her skill at hunting.

Question 32.
When, according to Gonzalo, did he compose some verses in A Sunny Morning’?
Answer:
In ‘A Sunny Morning’, according to Gonzalo, he composed some verses in his youth.

Question 33.
How old does Gonzalo say he was when he went to America the first time in A Sunny Morning’?
Answer:
In ‘A Sunny Morning’, Gonzalo says the first time he went to America, he was only six years old.

Question 34.
Name the poet whom Gonzalo says, he first met in America in A Sunny Morning’.
Answer:
In ‘A Sunny Morning’, Gonzalo says, he first met Zorilla in America.

Question 35.
Where, according to Gonzalo, did he spend his early youth in A Sunny Morning’?
Answer:
In ‘A Sunny Mornmq’, according to Gonzalo, he spent his early youth in the city of Valencia.

Question 36.
Where, according to Laura, did she spend several seasons in A Sunny Morning?
Answer:
In ‘A Sunny Morning’, according to Laura, she spent several seasons in a villa called Maricela, not far from Valencia.

Question 37.
Who was called ‘The Silver Maiden’ in A Sunny Morning?
Answer:
In ‘A Sunny Morning’, Laura Llorente was called the ‘Silver Maiden’.

Question 38.
According to Gonzalo, the gallant lover in A Sunny Morning’ was his
(a) friend
(b) brother
(c) cousin.
Answer:
(c) cousin.

Question 39.
Who, according to Gonzaio, was badly wounded in A Sunny Morning?
Answer:
In A Sunny Morning’, according to Gonzaio, the merchant was badly wounded in the duel.

Question 40.
Where did the gallant young man take refuge, according to Gonzaio in A Sunny Morning?
Answer:
In A Sunny Morning’, according to Gonzaio, the gallant young man took refuge in Don Gonzalo’s house.

Question 41.
Where did the silver maiden write her lover’s name, according to Laura, in A Sunny Morning?
Answer:
In A Sunny Morning’, according to Laura, the Silver Maiden wrote her lover’s name on the sand.

Question 42.
Who, according to Gonzaio, did he run off to Paris within A Sunny Morning?
Answer:
In A Sunny Morning’, according to Gonzaio, he ran off to Paris with a ballet dancer.

Question 43.
What does Gonzaio pick up with great effort before leaving with fuanito in A Sunny Morning?
Answer:
In A Sunny Morning’, before leaving the park with Juanito, Gonzaio, with great effort, picks up the violets dropped by Laura.

Question 44.
Where, according to Dona Laura, had her best friend sat before being swept into the sea?
Answer:
According to Dona Laura, her best friend had sat down upon a rock on the sand before being swept into the sea.

II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80-100 words each:

Question 1.
How do Laura and Gonzaio conceal their identity?
Answer:
While boasting about his keen eyesight, Don Gonzaio incidentally mentions the names of some famous Spanish literary figures. Then he states that he was a great friend of Campoamor in Valencia, and also reveals that he was a native of Valencia. Laura’s interest being kindled informs him that she had spent several seasons in a villa called Maricela, in the city of Valencia. At this moment both of them understand that they are the original lover’s Laura and Gonzaio who had been separated by fate.

From then onwards, Gonzaio tells her that the gallant lover who was in love with the silver maiden Laura Llorente was his cousin and conceals his identity. Similarly, Laura tells Gonzaio that she came to know about the story of Gonzaio from Laura Llorente, who was her friend. Thus Dona Laura also conceals her identity.

Question 2.
How effectively does Gonzaio account for the love his cousin had for Laura’s friend?
OR
What account does Don Gonzaio give Dona Laura about his cousin’s life after the duel?
OR
What story does Don Gonzaio narrate to Dona Laura regarding his cousin?
OR
What fictitious story did Gonzaio spin about himself in the name of his cousin?
OR
Describe how Don Gonzaio glorifies his cousin’s death.
Answer:
While telling Laura about the duel between the merchant and the gallant lover, Don tells her that the gallant lover was his cousin and he was very fond of him. Don Gonzaio tells her that after the duel the young man took refuge in his house being scared of the consequences of a duel with a person highly regarded in that locality. Then he tells her that from his home his cousin went to Seville and then came to Madrid. Then he wrote Laura many letters which were intercepted by her parents.

He says so because he knows for sure that she did not answer his letters at all. Don then concludes the story saying that, in despair, believing that he had lost his love forever he joined the army, then went to Africa and there is a trench, met a glorious death grasping the flag of Spain and whispering the name of his beloved Laura.

Question 3.
How does Dona Laura describe the story ofher% best friend’s death?
OR
How does Dona Laura describe her friend’s love story?
Answer:
Dona Laura tells Don Gonzalo that her friend had written to her that she had awaited news of Gonzalo for nearly a year. Later one afternoon, just at sunset, as the first stars were appearing she left her house and went to the beach where her beloved had risked his life. She wrote his name on the sand and then sat down upon a rock, her gaze fixed upon the horizon. The waves murmured their eternal threnody and slowly crept up to the rock where the maiden sat. The tide rose with a boom and swept her out to sea.

Question 4.
When does Dona Laura realise that Don Gonzalo is her former lover?
Answer:
After taking a pinch of snuff both Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura sneeze three times alternately. Dona Laura mutters to herself that the snuff has made peace between them. Then, Don Gonzalo starts reading aloud. A little later, Dona Laura sympathises with him for reading with all those glasses. Their conversation turns to Gonzalo’s ability to compose verses. Incidentally, Gonzalo reveals that he was a great friend of Espronceda, Zorilla, Becquer and others. Then while talking about Campoamor, Don Gonzalo tells her that he had met Campoamor in Valencia and he was a native of that city.

This provokes both of them to talk about their earlier identities. When Dona tells him about the villa in Maricella, Gonzalo tells her about the Silver Maiden and like a poet he describes her beauty. At that moment, Dona Laura realizes that Don Gonzalo is her former lover.

Question 5.
What are the’atrocious’ lies that Laura and Gonzalo make up about their lives after their separation?
OR
Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura outwit each other in weaving stories about their own deaths. Elaborate.
OR
Narrate how, according to Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo, the sad love affair of her friend and his cousin ended.
Answer:
During the conversation with Dona Laura, Don Gonzalo gives a romantic description of the silver maiden. Dona Laura realizes that the old man is none other than her former lover Gonzalo. Then, both of them together recount their romantic affair until they come to the end of their story. Don Gonzalo rounds it off telling her that his cousin had to hide for a few days and later to fly. At this point, Dona tells him that he seems to know the story well. Don Gonzalo also tells her the same. Dona Laura tells him that she heard the story from her friend.

Don Gonzalo picks up the same lie and tells her that he heard the story from his cousin. Both of them are now convinced that they were the former lovers of the romantic affair they had just reconstructed. Dona Laura wants to probe further into the affair. Therefore she demands an explanation about Gonzalo’s vanishing from Valencia.

In reply, Don Gonzalo tells her that after staying hidden indoors in Valencia for some time, his cousin went to Seville and then came to Madrid, where he wrote letters to Laura. But, since the letters were intercepted by her parents, she did not get his letters at all and so she did not write back to him. He tells her that Gonzalo, then in despair, believing that he had lost his love forever, joined the army, went to Africa and there is a trench met a glorious death grasping the flag of Spain and whispering the name of his beloved Laura. Immediately, Dona also concocts a story.

She tells him that after waiting for a year for Gonzalo, she went to the beach after sunset one evening. She wrote his name on the sand and then sat down on a rock, her gaze fixed upon the horizon. Then the waves slowly crept up to the rock where the maiden was sitting and the high rising tide rose with a boom and swept her out to sea. Thus ended the sad love affair.

Question 6.
What fictitious story did Gonzalo spin about himself to hide his true identity?
OR
How does Don Gonzalo try to hide his identity?
Answer:
Don Gonzalo tells Dona Laura that his cousin took refuge in his house fearful of the consequences of a duel with a person highly regarded in that locality. From his home, he later went to Seville and then to Madrid. Since his letters to Laura were intercepted by her parents, Gonzalo did not get any reply from her. He became desperate. In despair, believing that he had lost his love forever, he joined the army.went to Africa, and met a glorious death in a trench, grasping the flag of Spain and whispering the name of his beloved Laura.

Question 7.
Bring out a few instances wherein Dona Laura ridicules Don Gonzalo in A Sunny Morning’.
Answer:
In ‘A Sunny Morning’, there are two instances in which Dona Laura ridicules Don Gonzalo.
Both the instances occur when Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo meet face-to-face in the park as an old man and old woman and as total strangers to each other.

Don Gonzalo, soon after entering the park, discovers that his usual bench has been occupied by three priests. He gets irritated and says aloud that the priests were idling away their time instead of saying Mass in the church. Then, in a fit of anger, he rushes towards the bench on which Dona Laura is sitting.

Dona Laura cries out aloud ‘Lookout’, indignantly, and admonishes him for scaring away the birds. Don Gonzalo replies that he would not care about the birds. When she replies that she cared for them, Don Gonzalo tells her that it was a public park. In retaliation, she asks him why he had complained that the priests had taken his bench. Don Gonzalo, being cornered by his own remarks, snubs her, telling her that even though she was a total stranger she was taking the liberty to speak to him and walk away.’

Dona Laura comments that he was an ill-natured old man and people ought not to get so fussy and cross when they reach a certain age. Later, when she notices him losing another bench, says mockingly “serves him right for scaring the birds”. “Poor man! He is wiping the perspiration from his face”. Then, when she notices him walking back towards her bench, says, “A carriage would not raise more dust than his feet”.

Question 7.
Describe how the ‘gallant young man’ was separated from his lover in ‘A Sunny Morning’.
Answer:
Gonzalo and Laura, the two former lovers, had to separate from each other. In her youthful days, Dona Laura was known in her locality as ‘The Silver Maiden’. She was fair as a lily, with jet black hair and black eyes. She was like a dream. She was in love with Gonzalo, the gallant lover. He used to pass by on horseback every morning through the rose garden and toss flowers to her balcony which she would catch. On his way back in the afternoon she would toss the flowers back to him. But Laura’s parents wanted to marry her off to a merchant whom she disliked.

One day there was a quarrel between Gonzalo and the merchant, the suitor. The merchant was badly wounded in the duel and Gonzafo had to conceal himself for a few days. Later he fled from his hometown to Seville and then to Madrid. Even though he tried to communicate with Laura through letters, all his attempts failed. He then joined the army and went to Africa.

III. Answer the following questions in about 200 words each:

Question 1.
Bring out the changes in Gonzalo’s attitude before and after occupying the bench in the park.
Answer:
As soon as Don Gonzalo enters the park along with Juanito, he discovers that his usual seat has been occupied by three priests. He is annoyed and comments rudely saying that the priests were idling their time away when they should be saying mass in the church. Then, when Juanito suggests that he should sit on the bench where Dona Laura was sitting, Don Gonzalo tells Juanito that he wants a bench to himself. Then Juanito informs him that there is no other bench vacant.

Don Gonzalo points at the bench that he usually sat on. When Juanito tells him that there are three priests sitting on that bench, Don asks him to send them away. Later, he comments bitterly saying that the priests were sitting there as if they were glued to the seat. Then he and his servant walk towards the place where the birds are feeding on the bread crumbs.

When Dona Laura angrily asks him to look out, Don asks Laura whether she was speaking to him. Then, when she complains that he had scared the birds away, he answers rudely that he does not care about the birds. But she tells him that she cared for the birds and indirectly tries to make him feel guilty. But he tells her rudely that it is a public park suggesting that she was not right in complaining about him about birds being scared away in a public park. Dona tries to counter him asking why he – had complained that the priests had taken his seat.

Feeling discomfited, Don Gonzalo tries to snub her telling her that she was a stranger and was not right in taking the liberty to address him. A little later, Don Gonzalo sits at the extreme end of her bench and prepares himself to read a book by wearing glasses and adjusting his lenses. Dona sympathises with him for having to read with all those glasses.

Question 2.
Trace the incidents where Laura and Gonzalo secretly guess about each other’s identity.
Answer:
Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo come face-to-face in a retired corner of a park in Madrid on a Sunday morning. The strangers soon become friends without knowing that they were lovers once. Then Gonzalo happens to tell her that he had spent his youth in Valencia city. Laura’s curiosity having been provoked, she tells Gonzalo that she also had spent several seasons in Maricela, a villa near the sea in Valencia.

When Gonzalo is startled to hear the name ‘Maricela’, Dona Laura asks him whether the name is familiar to him. Don Gonzalo tells her that he had seen a beautiful woman Laura Llorente living there. On hearing the name Laura Llorente mentioned, Dona Laura shows her surprise. From that moment onwards, it becomes clear that both of them know who they are and intentionally conceals their identity.

When Dona Laura tells him that Laura Llorente was her best friend and she was called the ‘Silver Maiden’, Don Gonzalo endorses it and tells her that ‘Silver Maiden’ was her popular name in the locality. Further, he tells her that she used to stand at a particular window. Then Dona Laura endorses his statement. Inadvertently, when Don Gonzalo tells her that he spent many hours there during his youthful days, Dona Laura gives a sigh and endorses his statement and says “And in mine, too.”

Then Don Gonzalo gives a description of her beauty and expresses his admiration calling her a dream. Then Dona Laura makes an aside remark and tells Gonzalo that if he but knew that Laura was by his side he would realize what dreams come to. This way, their conversation goes on until the end, each speaking to the other in disguise.

Though they appear to be concealing their identity, they know tacitly that they are the true lover’s Laura and Gonzalo of their youthful days. In the end, before leaving the park, Laura drops the violets, and when Gonzalo stoops to pick up the flowers, Laura looks at him. Thus they come to recognize each other.

Question 3.
‘A Sunny Morning’ portrays wit and humour through Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura’s spontaneous reactions”. Explain.
OR
Give instances of humorous situations in the play in your own words.
Answer:
‘A Sunny Morning’ is a romantic comedy with only two main characters Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura who are in their seventies now. Their chance meeting on a sunny morning in a park in Madrid gives the characters an opportunity to relive the story of their love affair when they were living in Marfcela. The whole story is built up through witty, humorous, lively, and spontaneous interaction between them.

When the play opens, we find Dona Laura happily speaking to the pigeons which were feeding on the bread crumbs. When Don Gonzalo comes there looking for a bench, Dona Laura accuses him of scaring away her birds. In reply, Don Gonzalo tells her that it is a public park and he doesn’t care about the birds. Dona Laura asks him why then did he complain that the priests had taken his seat. Later, when Don Gonzalo comes back to the same place to sit, she asks him why he was seen there again. But, when he tries to put her off saying that they had not met, she tells him that she was only responding to his gesture.

When he tells her that she ought to have only returned his greeting, she remarks that he should have taken her permission to sit on that bench. Finally, with her witty remarks, she makes him tongue-tied and helpless. When he mutters to himself, saying that she was a senile old lady and she ought to be at home knitting and counting her beads, she asks him not to grumble anymore. When she finds him cleaning his shoes with his handkerchief, she taunts him asking whether one uses a handkerchief as a shoe brush. In reply, when Gonzalo asks her what right she has to criticize his actions, she answers playfully that it was her right as a neighbour.

When Gonzalo tries to put her off rudely saying that he does not care to listen to nonsense, she once again teases him remarking that he was very polite. When Gonzalo asks her apologetically not to interfere with what does not concern her, she again tells him stubbornly that she generally says what she thinks. From then on their spontaneous exchange takes a positive direction and soon they become friends.

Question 4.
‘The ways of providence are strange’. How is this true in the case of Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura?
Answer:
‘A Sunny Morning’ presents the story of two young lovers who were once passionately attached to each other. Their love would have culminated in their marriage but they were separated by a cruel blow of fate. However, the ways of providence being strange, these erstwhile lovers happened to meet each other some fifty years later in a park in Madrid. Both of them are in their 70s and have changed a great deal in their appearance. Hence, they fail to recognize each other in the park initially. But as they get acquainted they recall their youthful days.

Again, it is by a stroke of providence that Don Gonzalo happens to reveal that he once lived in Valencia. When they discover that they were lovers once in their youth, they relive their romantic meetings as before and pretend not to recognize their earlier selves. Like young people, they live in a dream world of their own and are reluctant to come back to the world of reality. They tell atrocious lies to defend their previous actions and exit with a promise to meet the next day. The ways of providence are strange and it is undoubtedly true in the case of Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo.

Question 5.
A Sunny Morning’ revolves around concealing and revealing Laura and Gonzalo’s identity. Elaborate.
Answer:
The play ‘A Sunny Morning’ presents the story of two passionate lovers who were separated by a cruel blow of fate before their love could culminate in their marriage. However, this story is presented nearly fifty years later when both Gonzalo and Laura are now in their old age. They happen to meet, as if it was providential, in a retired comer of a park in Madrid one sunny morning. The first part of the play seems an exposition introducing Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura. After a few witty exchanges between the two, the playwright reveals their love story concealing and revealing their identity.

Initially, Don Gonzalo reveals his identity unwittingly in his enthusiasm to tell her that he had met Campoamor in Valencia. Then he adds that he spent his early youth in Valencia. This is a hint to Dona Laura to reveal her identity. She reminds him of a villa named Maricela near the sea. From then on both of them rebuild their story, however concealing that they were the real actors in that love story. On hearing the name Maricela mentioned, Don Gonzalo introduces Laura Llorente. Then Dona Laura builds it further saying “Laura Llorente was popularly called the Silver Maiden”.

Don Gonzalo recreates the scene for the readers mentioning the window where she used to stand hours on end every day. Then Don Gonzalo gives a description of her beautiful personality. Then both of them reveal to the audience their identity by their (aside) remarks.

Now once they had revealed their identity, they try to conceal it by replacing themselves in the story by a substitute. Dona Laura calls Laura of the original story as her friend and Don Gonzalo calls the Gonzalo of the original story as his cousin. Once again having concealed their identity they narrate how their love affair ended. Both of them tell lies to cover up what they did after Gonzalo had fled Valencia. This goes on until the end when Laura sees Gonzalo picking up the violets dropped by her. Thus the whole play ‘A Sunny Morning’ revolves around concealing and revealing Laura and Gonzalo’s identity.

Question 6.
Bring out the instances where Laura and Gonzalo realize each other’s identity.
Answer:
There are several instances in ‘A Sunny Morning’, in which both Laura and Gonzalo recognize each others’ identity. Soon after their initial outbursts of emotion, both Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo become friends. Next, both of them enjoy a pinch of snuff and Don Gonzalo begins to read aloud verses from Campoamor.

When Don Gonzalo mentions that he was a native of Valencia and had met Campoamor there incidentally, Dona Laura tells him that she had spent several seasons at Maricela. When Don Gonzalo tells her that he had seen a beautiful woman by name Laura Llorente in Maricela, Dona Laura tells him that Laura was known by the name ‘Silver Maiden’ in that locality. When Don Gonzalo starts describing Laura Llorente, Dona Laura makes an aside comment. We learn that Dona Laura has recognized his identity.

Later, when Laura tells him that her friend had told her the story of the two lovers, Don Gonzalo recognizes her identity. Then Dona Laura makes an aside remark, “Why tell him? He does not suspect”. Similarly, Don Gonzalo mutters to himself, “She is entirely innocent”. Then when Don Gonzalo tells her how his cousin had met a glorious death in Africa, Dona Laura mutters to herself that he was telling an atrocious lie. Don Gonzalo tells himself that he could not have killed himself more gloriously.

On hearing how Laura had died, Don Gonzalo tells himself, “she lies worse than I do”. Then Dona Laura tells herself that she will not tell him that she married two years later while Don Gonzalo mutters that he had run off to Paris with a ballet dancer in three months. By then it becomes clear that both of them have recognized each other’s identity.

Question 7.
How do Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo annoy each other initially in the park?
Answer:
Soon after occupying her seat in the park, Dona Laura throws three handfuls of bread crumbs to a flock of pigeons and sits watching them feeding on the bread crumbs. Don Gonzalo and Juanito walk towards the birds. Immediately, Dona Laura shouts ‘lookout’ so as to warn them. Then she tells Don Gonzalo that he had scared away the birds. Don Gonzalo brushes aside her remarks telling her that he does not care about the birds as it was a public park. Dona Laura asks him why then did he complain about the priests occupying his usual bench if it was a public park.

Again, Don Gonzalo tries to put her off rudely telling her that since they had not met before she should not take the liberty of addressing him. Dona Laura retaliates saying that he is an ill-natured old man. She wonders why a man like him should be so fussy and cross after reaching a certain age. Later, she sees him moving about without getting a seat on the other side of the park. She enjoys his predicament saying that it serves him right for scaring the birds. Later, when Don Gonzalo sits at the extreme end of Dona Laura’s bench and greets her, she asks him annoyingly why he was there again. Again, there is an angry exchange of words.

When he fails to find a convincing reply to her question, he tells her that he has nothing more to say. Then he mutters to himself that she was a senile old lady and she ought to be at home knitting and counting her beads. Again, Dona Laura tells him rudely not to grumble any more and she was not going to leave just to please him.

Question 8.
Although the romantic affair between Laura and Gonzalo lasts for a brief period of time, the intensity of their love lingers forever. Elaborate.
OR
Answer:
‘A Sunny Morning’ reveals the romantic side of both Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo. Elucidate. Laura and Gonzalo met each other in Valencia as gallant young lovers. They loved each other intensely. Gonzalo used to toss a bouquet of flowers at Laura in the morning and he would receive a bouquet of flowers from her while returning home.

Unfortunately, her parents wanted Laura to marry a merchant instead of Gonzalo. Once, the merchant insulted Gonzalo and it ended up in a duel between them. The merchant was seriously injured in the duel. He was highly regarded in his place and, fearing action, Gonzalo hid in several places. He wrote letters to Laura but they were intercepted by her parents and Laura did not get a chance to read them.

Two years later, she married someone else and settled down in her life. But, the brief romantic affair continued to linger in her heart of hearts. In the same way, Gonzalo did not get any reply to his letters from Laura. So three months later, he married a ballet dancer and settled down in Paris. Here again, he could not completely forget the beautiful ‘Silver Maiden’ that Laura was known as. When they met in the park after a lapse of nearly 50 years, both of them were able to recall the brief, but intense romantic affair in Valencia.

Question 9.
Everything is fair in love and war. How do you substantiate this statement relating to the attitudes of Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo in the play?
Answer:
‘A Sunny Morning’ presents the story of Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura, who were ardent lovers in their youth, but were tom apart in life by fate. They are now in their 70s. The very lovers meet as total strangers unexpectedly in a park in Madrid. As the play begins, Dona Laura is seen in the park feeding pigeons with bread crumbs. It is at that point an old man enters with his attendant. The old man is none other than Don Gonzalo, who is seen to be quite irritated as he finds no bench in the park vacant. Quite grudgingly he comes near Laura and shares her bench. Laura gets infuriated as the old man has scared the pigeons she was feeding and calls him ‘an ill-natured man.’ With her witty remarks, she makes him tongue-tied and helpless.

But, after a few moments of disagreement, both of them have a pinch of snuff and reconcile with each other. Gonzalo says that he is from Valencia and to his surprise, Laura reveals that she is from Maricela. Gonzalo is startled by the revelation and he says that he knows a woman named Laura Llorente who lived in a villa there, who was perhaps the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Both Laura and Gonzalo realize that they were the very same young lovers once. But they pretend not to reveal their identities. Though both of them have changed a lot physically, they still cherish the memories of their adventurous youth.

Though initially, they appear to be cynical, fussy and ill-natured, soon they become friends. When they discover that they were lovers once in their youth, they relive their romantic meetings as before and pretend not to recognize their earlier selves. Like young people, they live in a dream world of their own and are reluctant to come back to the world of reality. They tell atrocious lies to defend their previous actions and exit with a promise to meet the next day.

Question 10.
A Sunny Morning’ is a comic presentation of a serious human relationship. Explain.
Answer:
‘A Sunny Morning’ tells the past love story of two ardent lovers – Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura in a comic way. It is a serious human relationship but was torn apart in life by fate. However, the two lovers meet again when they are in their 70s, not as lovers, but as total strangers, unexpectedly in a parkin Madrid.

Laura Llorente was known in her locality as ‘The Silver Maiden’. She was in love with Gonzalo, a gallant lover. He used to pass by her house on horseback every morning through the rose garden and toss up a bouquet of flowers to her balcony which she caught. On his way back in the afternoon she would toss the flowers back to him. But Laura’s parents wanted to marry her off to a merchant whom she disliked.

One day there ensued a quarrel, leading to a duel between Gonzalo and the merchant, her suitor. The merchant was seriously injured. Fearing serious consequences, Gonzalo fled from his house in the town to Seville and then to Madrid. Even though he tried to communicate with Laura through letters, his attempts failed and he gave her up as lost forever and ran off to Paris with a ballet dancer. Meanwhile, Laura waited for the news of Gonzalo, for one year and finally got married.

Both of them have changed a lot physically but they still cherish the memories of their youth. However, When they meet in the park, they appear to be cynical, fussy, and ill-natured. The way they repartee and express their resentment towards each other creates opportunities for humour in the play. Finally, they become friends after sharing a pinch of snuff. They gradually come to realize that they are the very same lovers of yesteryears.

Question 11.
Laura and Gonzalo recognize each other but conceal their identity. How does A Sunny Morning’ present this?
Answer:
Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo come face-to-face in a retired corner of a park in Madrid on a Sunday morning. The strangers soon become friends without knowing that they were lovers once. Then Gonzalo happens to tell her that he had spent his youth in Valencia city. Laura’s curiosity having been provoked, she tells Gonzalo that she also had spent several seasons in Maricela, a villa near the sea in Valencia. When Gonzalo is startled to hear the name ‘Maricela’, Dona Laura asks him whether the name is familiar to him. Don Gonzalo tells her that he had seen a beautiful woman Laura Llorente living there.

On hearing the name Laura Llorente mentioned, Dona Laura shows her surprise. From that moment onwards, it becomes clear that both of them know who they are and intentionally conceals their identity. When Dona Laura tells him that Laura Llorente was her best friend and she was called the ‘Silver Maiden’, Don Gonzalo endorses it and tells her that ‘Silver Maiden’ was her popular name in the locality. Further, he tells her that she used to stand at a particular window. Then Dona Laura endorses his statement. Inadvertently, when Don Gonzalo tells her that he spent many hours there during his youthful days, Dona Laura gives a sigh and endorses his statement and says “And in mine, too.”

Then Don Gonzalo gives a description of her beauty and expresses his admiration calling her a dream. Then Dona Laura makes an aside remark and tells Gonzalo that if he but knew that Laura was by his side he would realize what dreams come to. This way, their conversation goes on until the end, each speaking to the other in disguise. Though they appear to be concealing their identity, they know tacitly that they are the true lover’s Laura and Gonzalo of their youthful days. In the end, before leaving the park, Laura drops the violets, and when Gonzalo stoops to pick up the flowers, Laura looks at him. Thus they come to recognize each other.

Question 12.
A Sunny Morning’ presents a situation that is not so sunny for Laura and Gonzalo. Do you agree? Give reasons.
Answer:
Yes. I totally agree with the statement. ‘A Sunny Morning’ presents a situation that is not so sunny for Laura and Gonzalo because they are the very same Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura of yesteryears, who were ardent lovers in their youth, but are now in their 70s. Their romantic relationship was torn apart in life by fate. It is a flashback scene, ironically re-narrated by the very same lovers.

In her youthful days, Dona Laura was known in her locality as ‘The Silver Maiden’. She was fair as the lily, with jet black hair and black eyes. She was like a dream. She was in love with Gonzalo, the gallant lover. He used to pass by on horseback every morning through the rose garden and toss up a bouquet of flowers to her balcony which she caught. On his way back in the afternoon she would toss the flowers back to him. But Laura’s parents wanted to marry her off to a merchant whom she disliked. One day there was a quarrel between Gonzalo and the merchant, the suitor. After the duel the young man fled from his hometown to Seville and then to Madrid, being scared of the consequences of a duel with a person highly regarded in that locality. Even though he tried to communicate with Laura through letters, all attempts failed.

Once Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura realize that they are the same old, young lovers of Maricela who were separated in life by fate, they decide not to reveal their identity because they learn from each other in what high esteem they held each other before they departed. come to know that both of them had given up the other as lost forever. While Dona Laura techs herself that she had married someone else after waiting for him for one year, Don Gonzalo tells himself that after fleeing from Valencia, then Seville and Madrid, he had run off to Paris with a ballet dancer in about three months. Therefore, they concoct fictitious stories so as to conceal their identities completely and to make the other believe that he or she was dead.

Later, when they realize that they are alive, they do not want to shatter their mutual images in the eyes of the other. Therefore, Don Gonzalo tells himself that he will not reveal himself because he is grotesque. He wishes that she had better recall the gallant horseman who passed daily beneath her window tossing flowers. Similarly, Dona Laura tells herself that “I am too sadly changed. It is better he should remember me as the black-eyed girl tossing flowers as he passed among the roses in the garden.”

Thus one can conclude that though A Sunny Morning’ presents a situation in which two old lovers are made to present a sunny situation of their past life, which is no longer sunny for them.

Question 13.
“The one-act play, ‘A Sunny Morning’ ultimately proves that ail love is sad.” Discuss.
Answer:
The inference, ‘all love is sad’, with reference to the one-act play, ‘A Sunny Morning’ is an overgeneralization. The comment attempts to universalize the concept of love. The word ‘all’ is an all-inclusive word and ‘all love’ tends to put together all kinds of love like the love between children and parents, love between teenagers, love between friends, love between husband and wife, and love between human beings and animals.

On the contrary, ‘all love is sad’ is a comment made with reference to an imaginative love affair supposed to have taken place between two lovers who were in their prime of youth and it gets re-enacted dramatically as a flashback incident in the play during a conversation that takes place in a retired corner of a park in Madrid on a Sunday morning, between two old people an old lady named Dona Laura and an old man named Don Gonzalo – who are now in their 70s. The dramatic technique used in the play is unique in its approach. The progression of events moves from the present to the past. The flashback technique highlights the intensity of the love between Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo which exists between them even ‘now’ after the lapse of half a century.

Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo have zest in life. Dona Laura loves birds and feeds them regularly. Gonzalo loves books and he promises to feed the birds the next time. There is no bitterness or regret or frustration about the past incident. Both of them seem to cherish those romantic moments they spent together during that phase of their life. It is this positive attitude even after 50 years of that incident that gives this play its vigour. Thus, ‘The Sunny Morning’ is a charming re-enactment of a romantic love affair and there is not even an ‘iota’ of pessimism in it. Hence, the comment ‘all love is sad’ is not the correct inference in the context of the play ‘A Sunny Morning’.

A Sunny Morning Vocabulary:

Collocations
A collocation is a combination of words that are commonly used together; the simplest way of describing collocations is to say that they ‘just sound right’ to native English speakers.

Additional Exercises

A. Passive Voice:

Question 1.
After the duel, the gallant lover fled Valencia. Many letters ______ (write) by him to his beloved. Since no reply ______ (receive), he thought that they ______ (intercept) by her parents.
Answer:
were written; was received; had been intercepted.

Question 2.
When Gonzalo entered the park, his usual bench ______ (occupy) by the priests. He _____ (annoy) and his servant, Juanito ______ (ask) to rout them out.
Answer:
had been occupied; was annoyed; was asked.

Question 3.
One afternoon, just at sunset, as the first stars were appearing, the silver maiden ______ (seen) leaving the house. She sat upon a rock and her gaze ______ (fix) upon the horizon. The tide rose with a boom and she ______ (sweep) out to sea.
Answer:
was seen; was fixed; was swept.

Question 4.
Laura got up to go home. She ______ (support) by her maid. She turned her head and ______ (surprise) to see Gonzalo picking up the violets which ______ (drop) on the ground.
Answer:
was supported; was surprised; had been dropped.

B. Report the following conversation:

Question 1.
Petra: I see him over there waiting for me.
Dona Laura: Do not remain for more than ten minutes.
Petra: I will be back soon.
Dona Laura: Wait a moment.
Petra: What does the senora wish?
Answer:
Petra said that she could see him there waiting for her. In response, Dona Laura requested Petra not to remain for more than ten minutes. Petra assured Dona Laura that she would be back soon. Dona Laura requested Petra to wait a moment. Referring to Dona Laura as senora, Petra asked her what she wished.

Question 2.
Don Gonzalo: I want a bench to myself.
Juanito: There is none.
Don Gonzalo: That one over there is mine.
Juanito: There are three priests sitting there.
Don Gonzalo: Rout them out.
Answer:
Don Gonzalo said in a demanding manner that he wanted a bench to himself. Juanito replied that there was none. Don Gonzalo stated that the one over there was his. Juanito pointed out that there were three priests sitting there. Don Gonzalo ordered Juanito to rout them out.

Question 3.
Dona Laura: Do you use a shoe brush as a handkerchief?
Don Gonzalo: What right have you to criticize my actions?
Dona Laura: A neighbour’s right.
Don Gonzalo: I do not care to listen to nonsense.
Dona Laura: You are very polite.
Answer:
Dona Laura asked Don Gonzalo whether he used a shoe brush as a handkerchief. Don Gonzalo asked her what right she had to criticise his actions. Dona Laura replied that she had a neighbour’s right. Don Gonzalo replied rudely that he did not care to listen to nonsense. Don Laura sarcastically replied that he was very polite.

Question 4.
Don Gonzalo: Do you mind my reading aloud?
Dona Laura: You can read as loud as you please.
Don Gonzalo: Can you read without glasses?
Dona Laura: I can.
Don Gonzalo: I envy your wonderful eyesight.
Answer:
Don Gonzalo asked Dona Laura whether she minded his reading aloud. Dona Laura replied that he could read as loud as he pleased. Don Gonzalo further asked Dona Laura whether she could read without glasses. Dona replied in the positiye. Don Gonzalo remarked that he envied her wonderful eyesight.

Question 5.
Dona Laura: Will you go to your bench tomorrow?
Don Gonzalo: I will come to your bench.
Dona Laura: Do bring something for the pigeons.
Don Gonzalo: I will surely bring the crumbs.
Dona Laura: Thank you.
Answer:
Dona Laura asked Don Gonzalo whether he would go to his bench the next day. Don Gonzalo replied that he would come to her bench. Dona Laura reminded him to bring something for the pigeons. Don Gonzalo assured her that he would surely bring the crumbs. Dona Laura thanked him.

Question 6.
Dona Laura: Have you been in America?
Don Gonzalo: Several times.
Dona Laura: You must have gone with Columbus.
Don Gonzalo: I am old. But I did not know Ferdinand and Isabella.
Answer:
Dona Laura asked Don Gonzalo whether he had been in America. Don Gonzalo replied that he had been to America several times. Dona Laura observed that he must have gone with Columbus. Don Gonzalo said that he was old, but he hadn’t known Ferdinand and Isabella.

C. Fill in the blanks by choosing the appropriate expressions given in brackets:

Question 1.
Three priests were sitting on Gonzalo’s usual bench in the park and talking. Gonzalo said that they were _____ time. He could not tolerate their sitting on his bench and _______ (resign himself, idling away, take liberty)
Answer:
idling away; resigned himself.

Question 2.
Gonzalo and Laura were annoyed with each other in the beginning. Gonzalo told Laura that she could not _____ and comment on his actions. However, the pinch of snuff he offered her tried to ______ between them. (know by heart, take the liberty, Makepeace)
Answer:
take the liberty; make peace.

Question 3.
Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo fail to realize what dreams ______. However, they try to impress each other. When Laura seems to read without glasses, Gonzalo does not know that she knows every word _____. (come to, by heart, take refuge)
Answer:
come to; by heart.

Question 4.
Both Gonzalo and Laura believe in destiny. They affirm that they were separated from each other after the duel since destiny had decided to _____ in their life. Laura’s parents kept a close watch on her and Gonzalo had to flee and ______ in his cousin’s house. (Makepeace, take refuge, play havoc)
Answer:
play havoc; take refuge.

A Sunny Morning by Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Quintero About the playwright:

Serafin (1871 – 1938) and Joaquin (1873 – 1944) Alvarez Quintero were Spanish brothers, known as the ‘Golden Boys of Madrid Theatre’. They were celebrated playwrights of the early twentieth century. Together they wrote about 200 plays which depict the life, manners and speech of the people of their native Andalusia in Southern Spain. Their popular comedies, many of which have been translated into other languages, contributed to the revival of Spanish theatre. ‘The Flowers,’ ‘The Merry Heart,’ ‘One Hundred Years Ago,’ ‘The Galley Slave’ and ‘Apple of His Eye’ are some of their popular plays.

Characters:

Dona Laura
Petra – her maid
Don Gonzalo
Juanito – his servant

Story in brief:

‘A Sunny Morning’ revolves around Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura who, in their youth, were passionately attached to each other. A cruel blow of fate separates the two forever. They do not recognize each other when they meet in a park in Madrid on a sunny morning, after several years. But as they begin to talk in earnest, they realize that they are the protagonists of the original love story. But the usual reunion of the long-lost lovers does not take place here as both of them are unwilling to disclose their real identity since they are both sadly changed.

A Sunny Morning Summary in English

‘A Sunny Morning’ is a short, one-act play by Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Quintero, two renowned Spanish dramatists. It is a romantic comedy which presents the story of Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura who, loved each other in their youth but were forced to separate in life.

On a sunny autumn morning in a quiet corner of a park in Madrid, Dona Laura, a handsome, white-haired lady of about seventy, refined in appearance, is feeding pigeons in the park. Don Gonzalo, a gentleman of seventy, gouty and impatient, enters. Their servants Petra, Dona Laura’s maid, and Juanito come and go nearby.

The conversation between the two seventy-year-olds begins sarcastically, with each accusing the other of encroaching on their private space. Don Gonzalo complains the priests have taken his bench and says Dona Laura is a “Senile old lady! She ought to be at home knitting and counting her beads.” She finds him “an ill-natured old man!” He resigns himself to “sit on the bench with the old lady.”

A pinch of snuff helps to clear their heads, and they find something in common with alternating sneezes of three times each. Dona Laura confides to the audience, “the snuff has made peace between us.”

They begin to banter back and forth in a more friendly manner. Then Don Gonzalo reads out loud from a book of poems. As they converse, Gonzalo says that he is from Valencia and to his surprise, Laura reveals that she is from Maricela where she lived in a villa. Gonzalo is startled by the revelation and he says that he knows a woman named Laura Llorente who lived in a villa there, who was perhaps the most beautiful he had ever seen. Both Laura and Gonzalo realise each other to be former lovers. But they pretend not to reveal their identities.

In her youthful days, Dona Laura was known in her locality as ‘The Silver Maiden’. She was fair as the lily, with jet black hair and black eyes. She was like a dream. She was in love with Gonzalo, the gallant lover. He used to pass by on horseback every morning through the rose garden and toss up a bouquet of flowers to her balcony which she caught On his way back in the afternoon she would toss the flowers back to him. But Laura’s parents wanted to marry her off to a merchant whom she disliked. One day there was a quarrel between Gonzalo and the merchant, the suitor. After the duel the young man fled from his hometown to Seville and then to Madrid, being scared of the consequences of a duel with a person highly regarded in that locality. Even though he tried to communicate with Laura through letters, all attempts failed.

Now Laura and Gonzalo devise stories of their own deaths. The old Gonzalo says that he is the cousin of the young man. According to him, the young Gonzalo had to leave his place as he was involved in a fight with a merchant, the suitor of Laura. Then he joined the army and went to Africa where he met with a glorious death. The old Laura says that she knows the woman named Laura, known as The Silver Maiden’ and that she was her friend during her young age. She also lies that she knows the tragic story of her love affair with a gallant young man named Gonzalo. The old woman reveals that not finding her lover, the young and beautiful Laura committed suicide.

But, in reality, after three months Gonzalo ran off to Paris with a ballet dancer and Laura, on the other hand, got married after two years. Both realise that they are lying but pretend to be unaware. When the play ends, they agree to meet at the park again, still not acknowledging what they both know to be true.

A Sunny Morning Summary in Kannada

Glossary:

• Don: sir
• Dona: Miss, Madam
• Handsome: (of man) good-looking, (of woman) striking and imposing in good looks rather than conventionally pretty.
• Madrid: the capital and largest city of Spain.
  Unimpaired: not damaged.
• Parasol: a colourful umbrella.
• Senora: the Spanish way of addressing a married woman similar to madam or Mrs.
• Adios: adieu, farewell, goodbye.
• Spryest: most active and energetic.
• Gluttons: those who eat excessively.
• Threnody: song of lamentation
• Gouty: suffering from inflammation of the joints
• Aravaca: a neighbourhood of the city of Madrid
• Boudoir: a woman’s private room
• Valencia: the third-largest city in Spain
• Grotesque: distorted.
• Duel: a formal fight between two people in which they use guns or swords in order to settle a quarrel.
• Campoamor, Espronceda, Zorilla and Becquer: famous Spanish writers of the 19th century
• refined: elegant and cultured in appearance and manner
• senile: displaying the weaknesses of old age; also suggests a loss of mental faculties
• counting his beads: praying
• indignant: resentful and annoyed
• Campoamor: Ramon de Campoamor (1817-1901) was a Spanish realist poet and philosopher
• Espronceda: Jose de Espronceda (1808-42), a Spanish romantic poet
• Zorilla: Jose Zorilla (1817-93), a Spanish romantic poet and dramatist
• Becquer: Gustavo Becquer (1836-70), a Spanish post-romanticist poet
• Columbus: Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), an explorer and coloniser
• Ferdinand and Isabella: the Catholic monarchs of Spain; they patronised the explorations of Columbus
• Providence: God; the spiritual power that guides a believer
• refuge: shelter
• atrocious: extremely bad
• prostrated: here, greatly distressed, shocked, upset
• calamity: disaster
• threnody: a lament

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Karnataka 2nd PUC English Textbook Answers Springs Chapter 1 Romeo and Juliet

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Romeo and Juliet Questions and Answers, Notes, Summary

Romeo and Juliet Comprehension I

Romeo And Juliet 2nd Puc Notes 2nd PUC Question 1.
The phrase, “teach the torches to bum bright” suggests:
a. Juliet’s glow is brighter than the light of the torch.
b. her beauty is capable of enabling the torches to bum bright
c. her beauty surpasses the brightness of a light
Answer:
(c) her beauty surpasses the brightness of a light.

Romeo And Juliet Summary 2nd Puc Question 2.
‘for earth too dear’ suggests that the lady’s beauty is
a. divine.
b. rare.
c. expensive.
Answer:
(a) divine.

2nd Puc English Notes KSEEB Solutions Question 3.
‘the measure has done’, connotes the completion of
a. Romeo’s admiration of Juliet’s beauty.
b. the dance organised by Lord Capulet
c. the glorification of Juliet’s charm.
Answer:
(b) the dance organised by Lord Capulet

Romeo And Juliet Questions And Answers 2nd PUC Question 4.
The line, ‘Did my heart love till now?’ conveys
a. Romeo feels he has fallen in love.
b. Romeo has been attracted before.
c. Romeo feels this is true love.
Answer:
(c) Romeo feels this is true love.

Romeo And Juliet Notes 2nd PUC KSEEB Solutions Question 5.
The phrase ‘new snow’, suggests
a. love as pure as snow.
b. description of Romeo’s charm.
c. Juliet’s discreet love for Romeo.
Answer:
(b) description of Romeo’s charm.

Romeo And Juliet 2nd Puc KSEEB Solutions Question 6.
What do you think the phrase ‘face of heaven’ signifies?
Answer:
The phrase ‘face of heaven’ signifies the moonlit night sky.

Romeo and Juliet Comprehension II

Romeo And Juliet Questions And Answers Pdf 2nd PUC Question 1.
What similes does Romeo use to convey Juliet’s beauty?
OR
Romeo’s appreciation of Juliet’s beauty is expressed through images. Explain.
Answer:
Romeo uses two similes to describe Juliet’s extraordinary beauty. The first simile is deployed in the lines

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
As a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear.

In these lines, the phrases ‘cheek of the night’ and ‘Ethiope’s ear’ apparently refer to the darkness of the night personified as an African/Ethiopian lady. As we know, an African lady is black in complexion. Juliet stands out conspicuously amidst others in the dark night, lit up by torches in the room. There is a stark contrast between the bright and shining complexion of Juliet and the dark night.

The second simile is deployed in the lines:

So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows
As yonder lady o’er her fellow’s shows.

In these lines, the comparison is between the ‘snowy dove’ and the ‘crows’. Obviously Juliet is the snowy dove and the other ladies in the room are crows. ‘Dove’ is a symbol of ‘love’ and beauty; crows have always been considered black and ugly. Naturally, for Romeo, Juliet is the personification of love and beauty. It also implies that the other ladies including Rosaline, with whom he had fallen in love, appear ugly and gross to him. That is why he uses the phrase ‘her fellows, to describe them. These two similes highlight how enchanted Romeo is with her beauty.

Romeo And Juliet Notes 2nd Puc KSEEB Solutions Question 2.
How, according to Juliet, would Romeo be immortalised to the world?
OR
How does Juliet intend to make Romeo immortal?
OR
How does Juliet express her feelings about Romeo?
Answer:
In her invocation speech to ‘Night1 Juliet invokes night and along with ‘night’ her Romeo also. To her, Romeo is the ‘day’ in the night. It also implies that Romeo is her life and so when the night falls, she imagines that he will come gliding upon the wings of night. In these lines ‘night’ is personified as a raven and Romeo is likened to ‘new snow’ on a raven’s back Juliet favours the arrival of the night because it is in the night that Romeo has promised to come. That is why Juliet praises night calling it ‘gentle night’ and ‘loving black-browed night’.

Love belongs to Juliet now that she is married, but she does not own it, and she can’t own love until Romeo possesses her. Once she gets her Romeo she does not fear death. Like all mortals, if she dies, Juliet begs fate to set him in heaven with the stars. His presence will make the face of heaven so beautiful that the world will fall in love with ‘night’, and the sun will no longer be worshipped. It also implies that their love will end in their tragic death because of the enmity that exists between the two families. Consequently, the world will come to know about the tragic death of the two lovers and thus Romeo will be immortalized.

Romeo and Juliet Comprehension III

2nd Puc English Romeo And Juliet Notes KSEEB Solutions Question 1.
Comment on the contrasting imagery in the poem. What purpose does it serve in highlighting the intensity of love?
OR
How did Romeo and Juliet express their romantic love feelings to each other?
OR
Both Romeo and Juliet employ contrasting images in their expression of appreciation and admiration for each other. Elaborate.
Answer:
The two stanzas in the poem, one by Romeo and the other by Juliet, highlight the intensity of love of the young lovers. This intensity of love is brought out by using the contrasting imagery of night and day, black and white, bright jewel and a dark surface, snowy dove, etc. Factually speaking, the words ‘bright’ and ‘night’ appear in Romeo’s praise of Juliet’s brightness when he sees her for the first time in the feast hosted by Lord Capulet. Romeo uses the phrase ‘snowy dove’ to refer to and to distinguish Juliet from other ladies in the room. Romeo uses the word ‘crows’ to refer to the other ladies in the room.

Furthermore, Romeo compares Juliet’s brightness with ‘a rich jewel’ hanging upon the cheek of an Ethiope’s ear. Romeo uses these words to highlight her beauty. It also symbolizes the emotional intensity that he shows towards Juliet.

Similarly, Juliet uses the phrase ‘day in the night and ‘whiter than new snow on a raven’s back’ to refer to Romeo. Secondly, she uses the words ‘stars in the night sky’ to refer to Romeo. Literally speaking, both the meetings between Romeo and Juliet take place at night. Secondly, their meeting has to be a closely guarded secret because of the ‘hostility’ and the ‘enmity’ that exists between the two rival families the Montagues and the Capulets.

When Romeo goes to the Capulet*s party, he goes wearing a mask at night. Similarly, he promises to meet Juliet in her chamber on the wedding night, so as not to be seen by anyone. That is why the word ‘night’ symbolically stands for ‘secrecy’ and ‘caution’ that needs to be exercised in their love affair. Thus the playwright has used the word ‘black’ and ‘night’ to strengthen the emotional situation. Thematically speaking, the words ‘day and night’, ‘black and white’, ‘night’ and ‘raven’ are used to evoke the image of ‘death’ whereas ‘white dove’ is a symbol of purity, peace and ‘love’. A raven or a ‘black crow’ is considered a bird of ill-omen.

Furthermore, ‘When I shall die’ and ‘cut him out in little stars’, and ‘heaven’ are expressions that clearly refer to death and immortality. Thus, the playwright is hinting that the secret love affair between the two rivals will culminate in the tragic death of Romeo and Juliet. It can also be inferred that probably Juliet has a premonition of their impending death because of the fatal attraction between them and the enmity that exists between the two families. Thus, the contrasting imagery serves to highlight the intensity of their love.

Romeo And Juliet Class 12 Notes KSEEB Solutions Question 2.
Between Romeo and Juliet, whose love, do you think, is more passionate and intense?
Answer:
It is clear from their expressions that, of the two lovers, Juliet’s love is more passionate and intense. It is well-known that when Romeo goes to the Capulet’s party, it is with the intention of seeing Rosaline and not Juliet. When he sees Juliet for the first time his exclamations are of one who is overwhelmed by the sight of someone who is mesmerizingly (bewitchingly) beautiful and are not the yearnings of someone deeply in love.

On the other hand, when Juliet gets to know Romeo after he had touched her hand and kissed her, Juliet comes to understand what it means to be in love and from then onwards starts feeling the pangs of love. Finally, she expresses her love firmly, asking Romeo to marry her. Her love for Romeo goes on increasing in intensity and finally in her ‘invocation tonight* we find someone yearning to be possessed in love by her husband. She has a premonition of their tragic death which finds expression in her request to ‘night to set up Romeo amidst the stars in heaven after death so that their ‘love’ gets immortalized.

It is also true that, of the two, though Juliet is younger than Romeo, she is more mature and passionate in deciding to get married to Romeo. She accepts Romeo as her partner despite being fully aware of the enmity that exists between the two families.

On the contrary, Romeo, though older than Juliet, is infatuated with Rosaline and is disappointed that she does not reciprocate his love. Only when he meets Juliet who reciprocates his love does he understand what it is to be really in love. Therefore, it can be concluded that it is Juliet who is more passionate and intense in love than Romeo.

Romeo and Juliet Additional Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following questions in a word, a phrase, or a sentence each:

Romeo And Juliet Poem 2nd Puc KSEEB Solutions  Question 1.
Who, according to Romeo, teaches the torches to bum bright?
Answer:
Juliet.

2nd Puc Romeo And Juliet Questions And Answers Question 2.
To what does Romeo compare the women in the room other than Juliet?
Answer:
To crows.

KSEEB Solutions For Class 12 English Question 3.
What does Romeo intend to do after the measure is done?
OR
What does Romeo want to do as soon as the dance is over?
Answer:
Romeo intends to dance with her or at least touch her hand in greeting and make his blessed.

Romeo And Juliet Summary Class 12 KSEEB Solutions Question 4.
What, according to Romeo, will happen when he touches Juliet’s hand?
Answer:
Romeo imagines that his coarse hand will be blessed when he touches Juliet’s hand.

Romeo And Juliet Class 12 KSEEB Solutions Question 5.
What, according to Romeo, was not seen by him until he saw Juliet?
Answer:
Borneo had not seen what true beauty was until he saw Juliet.

Romeo Juliet Poem 2nd Puc KSEEB Solutions Question 6.
What does Juliet ask the loving, black-browed night to do?
Answer:
Juliet asks the loving, black-browed night to bring her Romeo to her.

2nd Puc English Textbook Answers KSEEB Solutions Question 7.
When does Juliet want Romeo to be set up in heaven with the stars?
Answer:
Juliet wants Romeo to be set up in heaven with the stars after her death.

2nd Puc English Notes Romeo And Juliet KSEEB Solutions Question 8.
Why does Juliet call Romeo ‘day in the night’?
Answer:
Juliet calls Romeo ‘day in the night’ because his presence will shine out against the darkness.

Question 9.
Who will come gliding on the wings of the night?
Answer:
Romeo.

Question 10.
What does Juliet want Romeo to be after her death?
Answer:
Juliet wants Romeo to be set up in heaven amidst the stars.

Question 11.
How does Juliet want Romeo to be immortalised?
OR
How, according to Juliet, would Romeo be immortalised to the world?
Answer:
Juliet wants Romeo to be immortalised as stars in heaven.

Question 12.
Why will the world be in love with night?
Answer:
Romeo will make the face of heaven so fine that the world will fall in love with night.

Question 13.
Why will people stop paying attention to the sun?
Answer:
After being cut into little stars, Romeo will make the face of heaven so fine that the world will stop paying attention to the sun.

Question 14.
“For/never saw true beauty till this night” What does true beauty’ refer to?
OR
Whom does the phrase ‘true beauty’ refer to in ‘Romeo and Juliet’?
Answer:
Juliet’s beauty.

Question 15.
How does Juliet hang on the cheek of the night?
Answer:
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear.

Question 16.
When, according to Romeo, would his hand be blessed?
Answer:
When Romeo touches Juliet’s hand in the dancing hall.

Question 17.
Whose rude hand would be made blessed by touching Juliet’s hand?
Answer:
Romeo’s rude hand would be made blessed when it touches Juliet’s hand.

Question 18.
Who is ‘whiter than new snow on a raven’s back’?
OR
Who, according to Juliet, is whiter than new snow?
Answer:
Romeo.

Question 19.
Who is compared to a ‘rich Jewel in an Ethiope’s ear’?
Answer:
Juliet.

Question 20.
Who is compared to a ‘snowy dove’?
OR
Whom does the phrase ‘snowy dove’ refer to?
OR
Who looks like a snowy dove to Romeo?
Answer:
Juliet.

Question 21.
Whom does Romeo address as ‘yonder lady’?
Answer:
Juliet.

Question 22.
Who, according to Juliet, would all the world be in love with at night?
Answer:
Romeo.

Question 23.
Who, according to Juliet, would make the face of heaven so fine?
Answer:
Romeo.

Question 24.
When would people not worship the garish sun, according to Juliet?
Answer:
After Juliet’s death, when Romeo goes to heaven as a star, he will make heaven so fine that people will stop worshipping the garish sun.

Question 25.
What does Juliet teach to bum bright?
Answer:
Juliet teaches the torches to bum bright

Question 26.
Who will come gliding on the wings of the night?
Answer:
Romeo.

Question 27.
When, according to Juliet, would all the world be in love with night?
Answer:
Juliet believes that Romeo, after being set up among the stars in heaven, will make the face of heaven beautiful and charming. Then, the whole world would fall in love with night.

Question 28.
Who, according to Romeo, seems to hang upon the cheek of the night?
Answer:
According to Romeo, Juliet seems to hang upon the cheek of night, like a jewelled earring hanging against the cheek of an Ethiopian lady.

Question 29.
Whose beauty, according to Romeo, is too rich for use?
Answer:
According to Romeo, it is Juliet’s beauty that is too rich for use.

Question 30.
After the dance is over, Romeo intends to
(a) meet and talk to Juliet
(b) touch Juliet’s hand.
(c) watch Juliet’s place of the stand.
Answer:
(b) touch Juliet’s hand.

Question 31.
Who is compared to crows by Romeo?
Answer:
Romeo compares Juliet to a white dove and the other ladies in the hall to a flock of crows.

Question 32.
When does Juliet expect Romeo to come?
Answer:
Juliet expects Romeo to come in the night

Question 33.
Who, according to Juliet, will lie upon the wings of the night?
Answer:
According to Juliet, Romeo will lie upon the wings of night and come gliding to her.

Question 34.
Where, according to Juliet, will Romeo lie upon?
Answer:
According to Juliet, Romeo will lie upon the back of a raven.

Question 35.
Who, according to Juliet, is whiter than new snow?
Answer:
According to Juliet, Romeo is whiter than new snow on the back of a raven.
OR
Romeo looks whiter than snow on the back of a raven.

Question 46.
Who, according to Juliet, is ‘day in the night’?
Answer:
According to Juliet, it is Romeo who is like ‘day in the night’.

Question 47.
When does Juliet want Romeo to be cut out in little stars?
Answer:
Juliet wants Romeo to be cut out in little stars after her death.

Question 48.
What does Juliet want Romeo to be cut out into after her death?
Answer:
After her death, Juliet wants Romeo to be cut out into little stars.

Question 49.
What, according to Juliet, will Romeo make so fine?
Answer:
Once Romeo is set up in heaven as a star, he will make the face of heaven so fine or beautiful and charming.

Question 50.
When Romeo shines like a star in the face of heaven, the world will ______ according to Juliet.
(a) worship the garish sun
(b) fall in love with night
(c) keep staring at heaven
Answer:
(b) fall in love with night.

Question 51.
When, according to Juliet, would all the world be in love with night?
Answer:
According to Juliet, when Romeo is set up as a star in the sky, he will make the face of heaven so fine that the world would be in love with night.

Question 52.
When would the world pay no worship to ‘the garish sun”, according to Juliet?
Answer:
According to Juliet, the world will pay no worship to the garish sun, only when the face of heaven looks fine.

Question 53.
Whom does Juliet associate with the ‘coming of the night’?
Answer:
Juliet associates Romeo with the ‘coming of the night’.

Question 54.
Whose beauty, according to Romeo, is too rich for use?
Answer:
According to Romeo, Juliet’s beauty is too rich for use.

II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80-100 words each:

Question 1.
How does Romeo glorify Juliet’s flawless beauty?
OR
How does Romeo describe Juliet?
OR
How does Romeo describe Juliet’s beauty?
OR
How is Romeo mesmerised by the beauty of Juliet?
OR
Juliet’s beauty was too rich for use. How does Romeo describe it?
Answer:
The moment Romeo catches sight of Juliet, he is enchanted with her flawless beauty. Immediately he exclaims in wonder and says that she teaches the torches (that have lit up the room) to bum bright. Then noticing her conspicuous brightness in the night, he says that she appears like a precious jewel hanging in the ears of an Ethiopian. Finally, seeing that she outshone every other lady in the room, he says that she was like a snowy white dove trooping with crows. He tells himself that he had never felt so much in love because he had never seen anyone truly beautiful like Juliet until that night.

Question 2.
How does Juliet want people to forget the shining sun? Why?
Answer:
Juliet was eager to be with Romeo. So she invokes both the night and Romeo to come along with it so that he comes to her unseen by others. She believes that Romeo is ‘day in the night to her and hence his presence alone will make her night bright to her. Then, once she is possessed by Romeo, her ‘love’ will have been realized. Later, after her death, she wants the ‘night to set up Romeo amongst the stars so that he will make the face of heaven beautiful and make the people forget the shining sun. This way she wants their love to be immortalized.

Question 3.
Does Romeo claim to have never seen true beauty till he saw Juliet How does he justify this statement?
OR
Why does Romeo say he never saw true beauty till that night? Explain.
OR
How did Romeo express his love for Juliet?
OR
‘Forswear it, sight
For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night’. Why does Romeo feel so? Explain.
Answer:
Romeo and Juliet happen to see each other for the first time in the hall where the dancers have gathered. The moment Romeo sets his eyes on Juliet, he is so charmed by her beauty that he stands apart and rapturously praises her beauty. It is night and the room is lit with torches. Romeo is overwhelmed by the beauty of Juliet and so he exclaims and says that Juliet is brighter than the blaze of the torches. Next, he compares Juliet to a jewelled earring hanging against the cheek of an African. He then praises her beauty likening Juliet to a white dove in the midst of a flock of crows.

He tells himself that he had never felt so much in love because he had never seen anyone truly beautiful like Juliet until that night. Romeo is so overwhelmed by her beauty that he tells himself that when that dance is over, he will watch her where she stands and will touch her hand and make his coarse hand blessed.

Question 4.
Why, according to Juliet, would all the world stop paying worship to the garish sun? Explain.
Answer:
Juliet, who has married Romeo in secret, is waiting impatiently for the arrival of night and along with it her love, Romeo, when their marriage will get consummated. Now, Juliet is intensely in love with Romeo and feels passionate for him to possess her so that she can own ‘love’. But the ‘day’ appears to be moving very slowly and she apparently blames the sun for delaying her union with Romeo. Secondly, her natural longing to be with Romeo makes her blame the sun for being ‘lurid’ and obtrusively bright

Once the night arrives, and along with it Romeo, their love gets consummated. After her death she expects Romeo to go to the heavens like a star. She believes that her Romeo will make the face of heaven so fine that the whole world will fall in love with night.

Question 5.
How is the intensity of love between Romeo and Juliet brought out in the poem?
OR
Feelings of Romeo and Juliet for each other are expressed with intensity. Discuss.
Answer:
The intensity of love between Romeo and Juliet is brought out in Juliet’s soliloquy in which she addresses Romeo as ‘day in the night’. She imagines night like a bird and believes that Romeo will come gliding on the wings of a night like ‘new snow’ on a raven’s back. Then, addressing the ‘night’ as ‘gentle night’ and ‘black-browed night, she implores it to bring her Romeo to her.

Next, she asks the night to set Romeo up in heaven as a star so that he will make the face of heaven beautiful and charming. She hopes that when that happens, ‘all the world will be in love with night and will not pay attention to the overbright or lurid sun’. In short, love belongs to Juliet now that she is married, but she does not own it, and she can’t own love until Romeo possesses her. That is why there are so much longing and impatience in her request tonight.

Question 6.
How does Juliet express her love for Romeo?
OR
How does Juliet express her feelings about Romeo?
Answer:
The intensity of love between Romeo and Juliet is brought out in Juliet’s soliloquy in which she addresses Romeo as ‘day in night1. She imagines night like a bird and believes that Romeo will come gliding on the wings of the night like ‘new snow’ on a raven’s back. Then, addressing the ‘night1 as ‘gentle night7 and ‘black-browed night’, she implores it to bring her Romeo to her. Next, she asks the night to set Romeo up in heaven as a star so that he will make the face of heaven beautiful and charming. She hopes that when that happens, ‘all the world will be in life with the night, and will not pay attention to the overbright or lurid sun’.

Question 7.
Why does Juliet want Romeo to be cut out in little stars?
Answer:
Once Juliet gets her Romeo, she does not fear death. Like all mortals, if she dies, Juliet begs fate to set him in heaven with the stars. His presence will make the face of heaven so beautiful that the world will fall in love with ‘night7, and the sun will no longer be worshipped. It also implies that their love will end in their tragic death because of the enmity that exists between the two families. Consequently, the world will come to know about the tragic death of the two lovers and thus Romeo will be immortalized.

Question 8.
How does Juliet glorify her love for Romeo through her address tonight?
Answer:
Soon after her marriage to Romeo, Juliet comes home and waits anxiously for the arrival of the night so that their love is consummated. She implores night to come soon and along with it bring her Romeo. Once she gets her Romeo she does not fear death. Like all mortals, if she dies, Juliet begs fate to set him in heaven with the stars. His presence will make the face of heaven so beautiful that the world will fall in love with ‘night’, and the sun will no longer be worshipped. It also implies that their love will end in their tragic death because of the enmity that exists between the two families. Consequently, the world will come to know about the tragic death of the two lovers and thus Romeo will be immortalized.

III. Answer the following questions in about 200 words each:

Question 1.
‘Romeo and Juliet’ provides an insight into the use of poetic devices in expressing human feelings. Explain.
Answer:
In this lesson, there are two soliloquies, one by Romeo and the other by Juliet. The first soliloquy is taken from Act I, Scene V and the second from Act III, Scene II of Romeo and Juliet1, a romantic tragedy by William Shakespeare. The language used by Shakespeare in these soliloquies is exceptionally creative and provides an insight into his use of poetic devices in expressing human feelings.

In Act, I, Scene V, Romeo is attending a dance party in disguise, as it is hosted by Old Lord Capulet. Romeo is seen gazing at some dancers on the dance floor. When Romeo sees Juliet, he is so fascinated by her beauty that he asks a servant who the lady is. When the servant tells him that he does not know who she is, Romeo stands apart and rapturously praises her beauty.
In this soliloquy, one witness the ebullient outpourings of a dreamy, young lover who has fallen in love with a beautiful, young lady, at first sight, Shakespeare captures both the excitement and wonder the lovers feel on this occasion, in an extraordinary language which abounds in poetic devices.

Line one is hyperbolic. The use of hyperbole is quite appropriate in this context because it is the voice of a young lover who sees before him a beautiful girl who symbolizes his aesthetic sense of what beauty ought to be like. Inline 2, Juliet is likened to an earring, thus making it a simile. The earring hangs upon the cheek of night. Here ‘night’ is personified as a black lady. Thus, we see the use of personification as a device. The meaning is stretched further in the next line, and thus in lines 2 and 3, we see the use of enjambment as a poetic device. (‘Enjambment’ refers to the running over of the sense and grammatical structure from one verse line or couplet to the next without a punctuated pause.) The extended meaning is expected to further highlight the beauty of Juliet using a sharp contrast in the description of the personified night as an Ethiopian lady’s ear-ring.

We find another instance of enjambment in lines 5 and 6. Dove is a symbol of love and a snowy dove is a symbol of peace. This highlights the pristine love of the two young lovers. The snowy dove is trooping with ‘crows’ is again a sharp contrast between the other ladies in the hall and the brightness of Juliet. This contrast is to present a striking visual spectacle before the audience.

Thus, the whole stretch of this soliloquy is an extended metaphor expressing the emotional intensity of a lover who has fallen in love at first sight. In the next two lines, in the phrases ‘my rude hand’ and ‘my heart we find the use of ‘synecdoche’. The word ‘rude’ is tactile imagery. In the last line, the word ‘Beauty’, is a metaphor for Juliet. Finally, in the sentence ‘Did my heart love till now?’ we find Romeo’s realization that his love for Rosaline was only infatuation – a sensual feeling for a lady and devoid of all emotions, whereas now he is in the throes of real love.

The next soliloquy is by Juliet (Act III Scene II). In this scene, Juliet is now waiting for Romeo. In this beautiful speech, we begin to understand the fullness of Juliet’s love.

In the first line, Juliet is addressing ‘night’ as an entity; night is personified. Thus there are two poetic devices used here – an apostrophe and personification. The poet wants to highlight Romeo’s brightness as seen by Juliet when he comes to visit her at the night.

Inline 1, ‘come, night; come, thou day in the night there is a form of parallelism called ‘asyndeton’. (It is a form of verbal compression which consists of the omission of connecting words between clauses.) Next, Juliet calls Romeo’s day-in-night’ which is a metaphor.

In the second line ‘night’ is personified as a bird. In the next line, the bird is mentioned as a ‘raven’, and Romeo’s brightness or white complexion is compared with new snow on the raven’s back. Here, there is a simile. In the fourth line also ‘night* is personified. Juliet describes the night as having black eyebrows, like a human being. Finally, in line 7, we see personification in the phrase ‘face of heaven’. Inline 8, we see the use of ‘metonymy’ in the phrase ‘all the world will be in love with the night’. It means to say that all the people in the world will be in love with night

Thus Shakespeare uses emotive language to associate it with the theme of love to demonstrate Romeo’s love/feelings for Juliet and to create drama. Thus one can undoubtedly say that ‘Romeo and Juliet’ provides an insight into the use of poetic devices.

Question 2.
Juliet’s love for Romeo finds an expression of exaggeration. Explain.
Answer:
It would be very unfair to Shakespeare’s mastery of poetic art and also to Juliet’s characterization if we were to conclude that Juliet’s love for Romeo finds expression in exaggeration. It is worth noting that both the actions – Romeo meeting Juliet in the dance hall and Juliet waiting for Romeo, happen at night Secondly, both the lovers are young, innocent, dreamy, and inexperienced in love. Both of them have entered a new world and until their love for each other is secured through consummation, the playwright cannot show them in any other mood other than portraying their longing for each other in emotive language. Moreover, both of them have fallen in love at first sight and naturally, their emotional outpourings must contain a description of their physical beauty.

Since it is a play, the playwright has to make his language overcharged with emotion so as to dramatize the situation. Naturally, Juliet’s language is hyperbolic. Though ‘hyperbole’ is generally defined as ‘exaggeration’, it is not in the ordinary sense. Here ’hyperbole’ is a poetic device and it has been appropriately used for enhancing the dramatic effect One must also remember that plays are meant to be performed. Therefore, while reading a play one must also visualize the action. Therefore, whatever Juliet says is not an exaggeration but the emotional outpourings of a young lady who has met her lover for the first time and that too only for a short time. In this context, her longing for Romeo comes out in poetic language.

In Juliet’s soliloquy in Act III scene II, Juliet is now waiting for Romeo. From this speech, we begin to understand the fullness of Juliet’s love. She desires the act of love, not just for the physical pleasure, but because it represents for her the pinnacle of marriage. Juliet has met a lover for the first time in her life and this experience of nascent love in an innocent, virgin maiden finds its best expression in this soliloquy.

In the first line, Juliet is addressing ‘night’ as an entity and night are personified. Thus there are two poetic devices used here – an apostrophe and personification. Here Shakespeare is using them for contrast and emphasis. The poet wants to highlight Romeo’s brightness as seen by Juliet when he comes to visit her at the night. Next, Juliet calls Romeo ‘day-in-night’ which is a metaphor.

In the second line, ‘night is personified as a bird. In the next line, the bird is mentioned as a ‘raven’, and Romeo’s brightness or white complexion is compared with the new snow on the raven’s back. Here, there is a simile. In the fourth line also ‘night’ is personified. Juliet describes the night as having black eyebrows, like a human being. In line 7 we see ‘personification’ in the phrase ‘face of heaven’. We see the use of‘metonymy’ in the phrase ‘the world will be in love with the night’, which means to say that all the people of the world will be in love with night In view of the situation that is being presented, exaggeration is quite appropriate.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare About the Poet:

William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. He is often called England’s national poet and the ‘Bard of Avon’. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, in 1564. Very little is known about his life, but by 1592 he was j in London working as an actor and a dramatist. Between about 1590 and 1613, Shakespeare wrote at least 37 plays and collaborated on several more.

Many of these plays were very successful both at court and in the public playhouses. In 1613, Shakespeare retired from the theatre and returned to Stratford-upon-Avon. He died and was buried there in 1616.

Shakespeare wrote plays and poems. His plays, 37 in number, were comedies, histories, and tragedies. His 17 comedies include ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’. Among his 10 history plays are ‘Henry V’ and ‘Richard III’. The most famous among his 10 tragedies are ‘Hamlet’, ‘Othello’, and ‘King Lear’. Shakespeare’s best-known poems are ‘Venus and Adonis’, ‘The Rape of Lucrece’ and the Sonnets, 154 in all.

Romeo and Juliet Summary in English

Background-I

‘Romeo and Juliet’ presents the tragic story of two young lovers Romeo and Juliet, who belong to two powerful noble families of Verona, the Montagues, and the Capulets. The two noble families harbour grudges against each other and have been fighting each other as sworn enemies for a long time.

The action starts with a street brawl between the servants of the two rival families, who are later joined by the heads of the families, the Montagues and the Capulets, themselves. Prince Escalus, 5 who arrives on the scene, admonishes them, restores order, and threatens death to any member of either family found indulging in street fights, in the future. Then he leaves the place taking Lord Capulet along with him.

Only Lord and Lady Montague and Benvolio, their nephew, remain there as the others depart. Lord Montague tells Benvolio that Romeo has been in a bad mood for quite a while, weeping and mooning, staying out all night but going into the house as soon as the sun rises, locking himself in his room with the curtains drawn as if to make ‘himself an artificial night’. Benvolio assures him that he will attempt to find out what is bothering Romeo.

Next, we find Paris, a young relative of Prince Escalus, engaged in a conversation with Lord Capulet. Paris wishes to marry 14-year-old Juliet, the only daughter of the Capulets. Lord Capulet tells Paris that Juliet is yet too young to marry, but tells Paris that he will not oppose the marriage if Paris can win Juliet’s consent. Incidentally, Lord Capulet invites Paris to a feast to be held at his house that evening.

Meanwhile, Benvolio meets Romeo and learns that Romeo is madly in love with Rosaline, who does not love him and insists on remaining chaste.

Next, we learn that Lord Capulet has given his servant a list of guests whom he has to see and ensure that they are invited to the Capulets’ party that evening. But the servant cannot read the names in the list and hence asks two strangers in the street to read. The two strangers are none other than Romeo and Benvolio. Romeo reads out the names of the guests and incidentally learns that fair Rosaline, with whom he is madly in love, is also one of the guests in the party. Romeo and Benvolio decide to ‘crash’ the party. As planned, Romeo and Benvolio gain entry into the party along with a retinue of masked entertainers and torchbearers.

While the guests are engaged in dancing, Romeo happens to see Juliet dancing with a gentleman. Romeo is awestruck by her beauty and tries to find out from a servant, who she is. It is at this juncture that Romeo says these lines.
The lines spoken by Romeo are taken from Act I Scene V when Romeo happens to see Juliet for the first time in the party hosted by the Capulets. Both Romeo and Juliet do not know each other.

Summary – I Romeo’s Speech

Romeo stands apart and rapturously praises her beauty. His words appear to come from someone who has not seen anyone so beautiful as Juliet before. It is night and the room is lit with torches. Romeo exclaims and says that Juliet is brighter than the blaze of the torches. It implies that her brightness outshines the torches and has lit up the hall. In the next two lines again there is a reference to the darkness of the night and the brightly shining lady. Romeo compares Juliet to a jewelled earring hanging against the cheek of an African.

Here again, it implies that Juliet is conspicuously seen amidst others because of her brightness. Romeo is so enchanted with her goddess-like beauty that he declares that she is too beautiful for this world and too beautiful to die and be buried. In the next line, he eulogizes her beauty saying that she outshines the other women like a white dove in the middle of a flock of crows.

Romeo is so overwhelmed by her beauty that he tells himself that when that dance is over, he will watch her where she stands and will touch her hand and make his coarse hand (compared to Juliet’s) blessed. Then he asks himself a question whether his heart loved anyone before that moment. Then he tells himself that if it was true then he would renounce it because he had never felt so much in love because he had never seen anyone truly beautiful like Juliet until that night.

Background-II

(Having slipped away from his friends, Romeo lingers in Capulet s garden under Juliet’s window, and overhears her confess to the stars that she loves him. He reveals his presence to her, and in an ardent love scene, they resolve to be married secretly. The next day, Juliet sends her nurse, of whom she has made a confidante, to make final arrangements, and the wedding is performed at the cell of Friar Laurence, Romeo’s friend. The two lovers depart hoping to meet each other in Juliet’s chamber that night.

Returning from his wedding, Romeo comes upon his friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, in an altercation with Tybalt, who has been seeking Romeo because of his intrusion at the ball. Tybalt does his best to pick a fight, but Romeo, remembering that now Tybalt is his kinsman, refuses to quarrel.

Mercutio, however, who do not understand Romeo’s softness, takes the quarrel upon himself, and when Romeo and Benvolio try to beat down their weapons is slain by Tybalt. Aroused by the death of his best friend, Romeo throws aside his lenity, slays Tybalt, and flees as the angry citizens begin to gather.

Then we come to Act III Scene II, where we find Juliet waiting in her father’s orchard for her husband, Romeo’s, arrival. Juliet, unaware of what has just happened, waits out the passing of the day. She is more impatient than ever, for, that night Romeo is to come to her as her husband. At the opening of the scene, Juliet delivers an impassioned soliloquy, popularly known as ‘Juliet’s invocation to the night’. In her soliloquy, Juliet urges the sun on to its setting in the West, so that night may arrive sooner. She longs for the shelter of darkness when Romeo can come to her unseen. The dark suits lovers, for love, is blind and the beauty of lovers is enough light for them. There are 31 lines in this soliloquy but only 9 lines (lines 17 to 25) are prescribed for your study.

Whereas Romeo’s speech highlights the mesmerising physical beauty of Juliet, Juliet’s soliloquy highlights Juliet’s intensity of love for Romeo.

Summary-II Juliet’s soliloquy

In these nine lines, Juliet invokes both ‘night’ and ‘Romeo’ as well. She addresses Romeo as ‘day in the night’ because his presence will shine out against the darkness. She visualizes night like a bird j and believes that Romeo will come gliding on the wings of the night like ‘new snow’ on a raven’s back. She addresses the night appealingly calling it ‘gentle night’ and ‘black-browed night’. She implores it to bring her Romeo to her. After that, when she dies, she asks the night to take him and set him up in heaven with the stars so that he will make the face of heaven beautiful and charming. She hopes that when that happens ‘all the world will be in love with night, and it will not pay attention to the overbright or lurid sun.

The soliloquy is based on the unifying images of night and light. Juliet courts this night, which by its darkness will allow Romeo’s safe journey to her. The only light she needs is Romeo himself, who is ‘day in the night’. The light of the day and the ‘garish sun’ offer nothing to her; they are only ‘tedious’. It is a night that is ‘loving’, for it blesses her love with its darkness and silence and lets that love shine out. Even the stars, emblems of the fate she does not recognize, seem to be good to her. Romeo will be made eternal by the stars. Juliet’s speech is like singing in the face of death. Thus, Juliet hastens the coming of her wedding night.

In short, love belongs to Juliet, now that she is married, but she does not own it, and she can’t own love until Romeo possesses her. That is why she is waiting now as impatiently as a child waits for a festival.

Romeo and Juliet Summary in Kannada

Glossary:

• Doth (archaic): does
• Ethiopia: an African
• Yonder: over there
• Measure dene: dance ended
• Thou (archaic): you
• Rude: roughly formed
• Garish: lurid, obtrusively bright
• too rich for use: too splendid for common wear
• my rude hand: my hand which will be guilty of profanity in venturing to touch hers
• forswear it, sight: he appeals to his eyes to disclaim having ever before seen real beauty

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Karnataka 2nd PUC English Textbook Answers Springs Chapter 2 Too Dear!

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Too Dear! Questions and Answers, Notes, Summary

Too Dear! Comprehension I

Too Dear Notes 2nd PUC English KSEEB Solutions Question 1.
Why was ‘Monaco’ called a ‘toy kingdom’?
Answer:
Monaco was called a toy kingdom because it had such a tiny landmass that if all the land in the kingdom were divided, there would not be even an acre for each of its seven thousand inhabitants.

Too Dear 2nd PUC English KSEEB Solutions Question 2.
Name the commodities that were taxed in Monaco.
Answer:
The commodities taxed in Monaco were tobacco, wine, and spirit The people also paid a poll tax.

Too Dear Lesson Pdf 2nd PUC English KSEEB Solutions Question 3.
What was the source of the King’s special revenue? Who were its beneficiaries?
OR
Name the special source of revenue in the kingdom of Monaco.
Answer:
The percentage of profit given by the gaming housekeeper to the kinglet was the source of the king’s special revenue. The king, his ministers, courtiers, his servants, a bishop, his generals, and his army were its beneficiaries.

Too Dear Questions And Answers 2nd PUC English Question 4.
Why did the Germans stop gaming houses in their country and how did it benefit Monaco?
Answer:
The Germans stopped gaming houses because those gaming houses did much harm to people. If a man went to a gaming house to try his luck, risking all he had and lost it, then he would even risk money that did not belong to him. If he loses that also, he would be forced to commit suicide by drowning or shooting himself in despair. It benefitted Monaco as it was the only Kingdom that allowed a gaming house to run.

Too Dear 2nd Puc Notes KSEEB Solutions Question 5.
What was the punishment given to the murderer?
Answer:
The murderer was sentenced to death.

2nd Puc English Notes KSEEB Solutions Question 6.
The death sentence was converted into imprisonment for life because
a. Monaco had abolished the death penalty.
b. carrying out the death sentence was expensive.
c. Monaco wanted to show mercy to the criminal.
Answer:
(b) carrying out the death sentence was expensive.

Too Dear Summary 2nd Puc KSEEB Solutions Question 7.
How much did the king spend on the criminal annually?
Answer:
The king spent 600 francs on the criminal annually.

2nd Puc English Notes Too Dear KSEEB Solutions Question 8.
On what condition did the criminal agree to go away from the prison? How was his demand fulfilled?
Answer:
The criminal agreed to go away on condition that he be paid 600 francs as pension for a year regularly until his death. His demand was fulfilled because the prisoner refused to run away from the prison. If he had remained there the king would have been forced to keep a guard over him to watch and also feed him until his death. The criminal left the prison and the king’s dominions as well, as soon as he received one-third of his annuity in advance. He emigrated to another country just across the frontier and settled there comfortably.

Too Dear! Comprehension II

Too Dear Kseeb Solutions KSEEB Solutions Question 1.
Though gambling is a dirty business, why does the king of Monaco resort to it?
Answer:
The king of Monaco resorted to letting the gaming house run in his kingdom because the gaming housekeeper paid a large sum of money out of his profits. This money helped the kinglet to live and enjoy his life, holding court with all the ceremony of a real king.

Too Dear Class 12 Notes KSEEB Solutions Question 2.
Why did the king of Monaco keep changing his mind in dealing with the criminal?
OR
What problems did the authorities of Monaco face in dealing with the criminal? How did they resolve them?
OR
What made the king of Monaco alter his decisions in dealing with the criminal?
Answer:
The king of Monaco kept changing his mind in dealing with the criminal because, every time he took a decision, he faced a problem to execute it. First, the king accepted the judge’s verdict and ordered the execution of the criminal, but he cancelled it and changed the sentence to ‘imprisonment for life’ because there was neither a guillotine machine nor an executioner in his country. Moreover, if he had decided to borrow one from the King of Italy, he would have been forced to levy 2 francs per person as additional tax which he did not like.

Secondly, after keeping the criminal in prison for one year, he realized that he had to spend 600 francs on the maintenance of the criminal until his death, which would have proved to be again a financial burden to his people. Therefore, as advised by his council of ministers, he dismissed the guard hoping that the prisoner would run away. But the prisoner refused to run away because he had nowhere to go and he had stopped the habit of working. Once again the king faced a new problem. Then, as suggested by his council of ministers, the king ordered payment of 600 francs a year as pension and got rid of the criminal.

Too Dear Answers KSEEB Solutions Question 3.
Why was the criminal reluctant to go out of the prison?
Answer:
The prisoner was reluctant to go out of the prison because his character had been ruined by the death sentence given to him and he had nowhere to go. Secondly, by being imprisoned and given food in his cell every day, he had given up working to earn his living. So he had become lazy. Therefore he felt helpless and so refused to go.

2nd Puc English Too Dear Notes KSEEB Solutions Question 4.
How did the criminal lead his life after his release?
Answer:
After his release from prison, the criminal emigrated to another country and settled just across the frontier. With the money he had received as an annuity in advance, he bought a bit of land, started market-gardening and lived comfortably.

Too Dear! Comprehension III

Too Dear Notes 2nd Puc KSEEB Solutions Question 1.
“You can’t earn stone palaces by honest labour.’ Justify with reference to the story.
OR
“You can’t earn stone palaces by honest labour”. How does the author relate this statement to the actions of the king of Monaco?
Answer:
The King of Monaco levied taxes on tobacco, wine, and spirit. He also levied a poll tax. This was the source of his income. But, with the revenue collected this way, the king found it difficult to feed his courtiers, his officials, and to meet his own expenses. Nobody could live a king’s life with the meager income as the Prince of Monaco got from his subjects. Therefore, to drive home the truth of this statement he quotes the proverb, ‘You can’t earn stone palaces by honest labour’. It only means that if one wants to live beyond his means, honest labour alone cannot fetch him enough money for his luxuries.

It implies that one has to take recourse to earn extra money by some dishonest or unethical means. The King of Monaco also had a source of additional or alternative revenue. He used to receive a large sum of money regularly from a gaming housekeeper, who paid it out of his profits earned from his gaming house.

The king knew that earning one’s living by running a gaming house where people risked their money at the roulette table was a dirty business. Yet, he had allowed it to run because he needed more money. Also, he knew that collecting ‘tax’ on tobacco and ‘drink’ was also unethical but, anyhow he had been doing it for a long time and so he did not mind collecting additional revenue by this dirty business as well.

KSEEB Solutions For Class 12 English Question 2.
Though the trial and imprisonment of the criminal is depicted in a comic mode in this story, it does give rise to serious questions. What are they?
Answer:
‘Too Dear!’ tells the story of Monaco, a small kingdom in Europe. The author’s intention is to parody the efforts of the modern state to violently restrain crime.

Monaco had a small population, a small army and was ruled by a kinglet. Since it was a very small kingdom, it had meagre financial resources. The people lived peacefully but somehow a murder was committed. The criminal was tried as per the existing rules of the state and was finally sentenced to death. But, there was neither a guillotine machine nor an executioner in the state.

Therefore the king and the ministers made sincere attempts to borrow them from their neighbours the French Government and the King of Italy. After weighing the pros and cons of incurring a huge expenditure the king gave up the idea of getting the criminal executed and changed it to imprisonment for life. This cost the king 600 francs. When the king reflected over the cost, it struck him that the cost would become a big burden if the criminal lived another fifty years.

Again, the king and his ministers met discussed the issue and dismissed the guard believing that the criminal would run away on his own. But the criminal refused to go. Finally, the criminal was offered a small pension and paid one-third of his annuity as advance. He left the prison and emigrated to another country. Thus, there is a streak of humour in the story throughout

The author’s intention is to prod the reader with the following serious questions:

• Why should ‘violence’ be punished with violence only?
• What is the purpose of trying the criminal in a court of law and decreeing punishment?
• Why are crimes committed and how can they be prevented?
• What is the role of the government in crime prevention?
• What guarantee is there that the ‘truth’ is revealed when the criminal is tried in a court of law?
• How can the miscarriage of justice be prevented?
• How can the court ensure that the convicted criminal is given punishment commensurate with the crime?
• What is the role of the government in ensuring that the family of the criminal is not put to hardship after the execution of a criminal?
• How much time should a country, like Monaco, whose resources are limited, spend on trial and punishment of criminals?

Question 3.
Were there other ways of dealing with the criminal? Discuss in the light of the story.
Answer:
Monaco was a very small kingdom, with a small population and a small army. Also, its revenue was meagre. Yet, the king managed to rule like any other king with courtiers, judges, and ministers enjoying the luxuries and privileges of a king. The king managed to enjoy his kingship, utilizing the additional revenue generated from monopolizing the gambling business. It is highly condemnable that a king should resort to doing a dirty business to enjoy royal comforts. One can only say the king is too self-centered.

As regards the ‘murder’ committed by a criminal, the kingdom did not have either a guillotine machine or an executioner. Secondly, the government could not afford to spend even 12000 francs on borrowing the same from the King of Italy. In such a situation it is quite preposterous to put in place a system of inflicting violence to eliminate violence.

One possible alternative punishment would have been sending the criminal into exile. Another alternative punishment would have been to condemn such criminals to hard, physical labour for life or for a limited period until they reformed their behaviour. It would be far more practical, economical, and humane to use the state’s resources to reduce crimes, this way.

Too Dear! Additional Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following questions in a word, a phrase, or a sentence each:

Question 1.
Where is the kingdom of Monaco situated?
Answer:
Near the borders of France and Italy.

Question 2.
How many inhabitants are there in the kingdom of Monaco?
OR
What is the population of the kingdom of Monaco?
Answer:
About seven thousand.

Question 3.
If the kingdom of Monaco were divided among its inhabitants, how much land would each inhabitant get?
Answer:
Each inhabitant would get less than an acre.

Question 4.
How many men are there in the army of Monaco?
OR
How many soldiers were there in the kingdom of Monaco in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
There are only sixty men in the army of Monaco.

Question 5.
What are the items on which tax is levied in Monaco?
Answer:
The items on which tax is levied are tobacco, wine, and spirits. The people of Monaco also pay poll-tax.

Question 6.
Name the special source of revenue in the kingdom of Monaco.
OR
Where does the special income mentioned in Too Dear!’ come from?
Answer:
The large sum of money paid by the gaming housekeeper, out of his profits from the gaming house.

Question 7.
How did the king of Monaco supplement the kingdom’s revenue?
Answer:
By keeping to himself the monopoly of the gaming business.

Question 8.
Where was the only gambling establishment left in Europe located?
OR
Which was the only place of gambling in Europe as mentioned in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
Monaco.

Question 9.
What business does the Prince of Monaco monopolise?
Answer:
The Prince of Monaco monopolized the business of gaming at the roulette table.

Question 10.
What unusual crime was committed in the kingdom of Monaco?
Answer:
Once, a murder was committed in the Prince’s domains.

Question 11.
What was the hitch in the execution of the criminal?
OR
Why couldn’t the murderer be executed?
OR
Mention one of the reasons for altering the death sentence to life imprisonment in ‘Too Dear!’.
Answer:
The Kingdom of Monaco did not have either a guillotine machine ora professional executioner.

Question 12.
To whom did the ministers of Monaco write first to help them with the execution?
Answer:
The ministers of Monaco wrote a letter of inquiry to the French Government to lend them a guillotine machine and the services of an expert and also inform them of the cost of doing so.

Question 13.
How much did the French government expect for a guillotine machine and an expert?
OR
How much would a guillotine and an executioner cost if supplied from France?
Answer:
The French Government offered to lend a guillotine machine and an expert for a price of 16000 francs.

Question 14.
Who, according to the Council, was a brother Monarch?
Answer:
The King of Italy.

Question 15.
How much did the Italian government demand to supply a guillotine and an executioner?
Answer:
12000 francs.

Question 16.
What reason did the soldiers give for not accepting to execute the criminal?
OR
Why couldn’t the soldiers undertake the job of killing the criminal?
Answer:
The soldiers said that they did not know how to do it and that was one thing that they had not been taught.

Question 17.
Where was the criminal’s food fetched from in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
From the palace kitchen.

Question 18.
Who brought food from the palace kitchen for the prisoner?
OR
Who fetched the criminal’s food initially in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
The guard who was appointed to keep watch over the prisoner brought food for him from the palace kitchen. ,

Question 19.
What was the new item of expenditure noticed by the Prince?
Answer:
The new item of expenditure was the money spent on keeping a guard to watch the criminal and to feed the criminal.

Question 20.
What was the pension offered to the criminal?
Answer:
The king offered a pension of 600 francs to the criminal.

Question 21.
How much did the criminal receive as an advance of his annuity before leaving Monaco?
Answer:
One-third of his annuity.

Question 22.
What work did the prisoner do after being released from prison?
OR
How did the criminal start a new life after he emigrated from Monaco?
OR
What did the criminal do to earn his living after his release?
Answer:
The prisoner bought a bit of land and started market-gardening.

Question 23.
What business does the King of Monaco monopolise?
Answer:
The King of Monaco monopolizes the business of gambling.

Question 24.
What was the initial punishment given to the criminal by the council?
Answer:
The council suggested that the criminal’s head be cut off as directed by law.

Question 25.
“In war, they don’t mind killing people”. Here, the word ‘they’ refers to
a) Council
b) Soldiers
c) Commission.
Answer:
(b) soldiers

Question 26.
Where did the criminal go to fetch his dinner in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
The Prince’s kitchen/ the palace kitchen.

Question 27.
The King’s special revenue in ‘Too Dear!’ came from
a) gaming house
b) poll tax
c) tax on tobacco.
Answer:
(a) gaming house.

Question 28.
The people of Monaco mentioned in ‘Too Dear!’ were
a) sociable
b) peaceable
c) fashionable.
Answer:
(b) peaceable.

Question 29.
Name the ‘Toy Kingdom’ mentioned in ‘Too Dear!’.
Answer:
Monaco is the ‘Toy Kingdom’ mentioned in ‘Too Dear!’.

Question 30.
Who is referred to as ‘a rascal’ by the king in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
The criminal who committed a murder in Monaco is referred to as ‘a rascal’ by the king in ‘Too Dear!’.

Question 31.
Where did the criminal settle after emigrating in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
After emigrating, the criminal settled in a place just across the frontiers, which could be reached by rail in only a quarter of an hour.

Question 32.
Which government is Republican and has no proper respect for the King in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
In ‘Too Dear!’, the French government is Republican and has no respect for the King.

Question 33.
How long was the criminal in the prison in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
The criminal remained in the prison watched by a guard for one year. Then, the guard was dismissed so as to prompt him to run away. But he remained there on his own, unguarded until he was promised a pension.

Question 34.
What does the keeper of the gaming house pay the Prince in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
The keeper of the gaming house pays a large sum to the prince, out of his profits from the gaming house.

Question 35.
Who gains more from the gaming house in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
In ‘Too Dear!’, the prince gains more from the gaming house.

Question 36.
What was unusual about the murder committed in Monaco in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
It was unusual for a murder to be committed in Monaco because the people were peaceable and never had such a crime like ‘murder’ happened before.

Question 37.
The king had to find a special source of revenue because
a) the income from the taxes was insufficient
b) his people drank and smoked less.
c) the people of Monaco gambled a lot
Answer:
(a) the income from the taxes was insufficient.

Question 38.
The death sentence in ‘Too Dear!’ was altered because
a) the king wanted to show mercy to the criminal.
b) doing so would not be expensive.
c) no one was willing to execute the criminal.
Answer:
(b) doing so would not be expensive.

Question 39.
When the guard was dismissed, the criminal in ‘Too Dear!’
a) was happy and tried to run away.
b) worried about the guard’s family
c) did not show any sign of running away.
Answer:
(c) did not show any sign of running away.

Question 40.
The criminal in ‘Too Dear!’ agreed to go away from the prison after
a) he was offered a pension.
b) he was allowed to emigrate.
c) the guard was dismissed.
Answer:
(a) he was offered a pension.

Question 41.
Which kingdom in ‘Too Dear!’ monopolised the gaming business?
Answer:
In ‘Too Dear!’, a tiny little kingdom called Monaco monopolised the gaming business.

II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of80-100 words each:

Question 1.
Why was the murderer finally sentenced to imprisonment for life?
OR
Why was the death sentence of the murderer altered to imprisonment for life?
Answer:
The king of Monaco sent two letters of inquiry to France and Italy so as to borrow a guillotine machine and the services of an executioner to execute the criminal. The French Government wrote to Monaco that it would cost them 16000 francs. The King of Italy offered to do the work for 12000 francs which included the travelling expenses also.

If the king had accepted the offer, he would have been forced to levy 2 francs per head on the whole population to collect 12000 francs. The people would not have accepted such a financial burden and that would have caused a riot. When the General of the Army also pleaded his inability to get the criminal executed by the soldiers, the ministers met again. They assembled a Commission, and a committee and a sub-committee to explore other ways of punishing the criminal at a cheaper price. They all came to the conclusion that altering the death sentence to one of imprisonment for life was the best thing to do. They also felt that such a step would enable the prince to show his mercy. The king too felt that it was not worth spending so much money to execute a criminal. Therefore, the king changed the death sentence to one of imprisonment for life.

Question 2.
Why did the criminal refuse to run away/escape from the prison?
OR
What were the arguments put forth by the prisoner for not running away from the prison?
OR
Why did the criminal refuse to escape from the prison in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
When the king realized that it was a serious matter to keep a criminal imprisoned for life and it would cause his people a huge financial burden, he summoned his ministers and asked them to find a cheaper way of punishing the criminal. The ministers met and after several deliberations suggested that they must dismiss the guard and 6ave some money. The king agreed to their suggestion. Soon, the guard was dismissed and they waited curiously to see what the criminal would do. The criminal came out of his prison at dinner time, collected his food from the palace kitchen, and returned to the prison, shut the door on himself, and stayed inside.

Later, the Minister of Justice asked him why he had not run away, as there was no guard to watch over him. They even told him that the prince would not mind if he ran away. But the prisoner told them that he had nowhere to go as his character had been ruined and people would turn their backs on him. Moreover, he had forgotten the habit of working and so if he ran away he would be forced to work for earning his living. That is why the criminal refused to run away from prison.

Question 3.
Why did the Council decide to offer the criminal a pension?
OR
Why was the criminal finally offered a pension? How did this offer benefit him?
Answer:
The Minister of Justice asked the prisoner why he did not run away as there was no guard to watch over him. He also told him that the king would not mind if he escaped. But the prisoner told him that he had nowhere to go as his character had been ruined and the people would turn their backs on him. Furthermore, as he had been given food in the prison itself and by doing so he had been prevented from doing any work to earn his living, he had become lazy. Therefore, he refused to go away. He was also feeling bad that he had been treated badly. The ministers met once more and discussed the matter seriously. It struck them that the only way to get rid of him was to offer him a pension.

Not only would the criminal get some money to feed himself as long as he was alive, but there would not also be any need to worry about him anymore. That is why the council decided to offer the criminal a pension. The criminal received one-third of his annuity in advance and emigrated to another country just across the frontier. There he bought a bit of land and started market-gardening. He visited the gaming tables and staked two or three francs, sometimes winning and sometimes losing. He lived comfortably and peaceably like the others.

Question 4.
Why did the authorities in Monaco fail to carry out the death sentence?
Answer:
The authorities in Monaco failed to carry out the death sentence because there was neither a guillotine for cutting heads off nor an executioner. Though they tried to borrow a machine and an expert from their neighbouring countries France and Italy, they realized that it would cost the kingdom a huge sum of money and the king would be forced to collect nearly two francs more per head on the taxes. Even if they were to get the machine, none of the soldiers in the army was ready to cut off the criminal’s head because they had not been taught how to behead a criminal. Therefore, the authorities gave up the idea of carrying out the death sentence.

Question 5.
How does the narrator describe the toy kingdom’?
OR
Describe the kingdom of Monaco with reference to ‘Too Dear!’.
Answer:
The tiny little kingdom called Monaco lies near the borders of France and Italy. There are only about seven thousand inhabitants in it The kingdom is so small that if all the land in the kingdom were divided among its inhabitants, there would not be even an acre of land for each inhabitant. But this toy kingdom has a real kinglet and like any other real king, the kinglet lives in a palace with courtiers, ministers, a bishop, generals, and a small army of only sixty men in all. The king lives by collecting taxes from the people, on tobacco, wine, and spirits and a poll tax. Besides, the king also received a large sum of money from a gaming housekeeper.

Question 6.
Why was the criminal offered a pension finally? How did this offer benefit him?
OR
The criminal led a comfortable life after his release. Explain.
OR
How did the criminal benefit from the pension he was offered?
Answer:
The king’s authorities could not get the criminal executed as per the king’s orders because there was neither a guillotine for cutting heads off nor an executioner in their kingdom. Then, they tried hiring a guillotine and an executioner from their neighbouring countries. When they realized that it would cost them a large sum of money which had to be recovered from the people through additional taxation, they decided to ask a soldier to cut off the criminal’s head. But, when they failed to find a soldier who would be ready to cut off the criminal’s head, they altered the death sentence to one of imprisonment for life.

However, when they found that the cost of maintaining a prisoner in prison with a guard on duty cost the king dearly, they dismissed the guard and asked the criminal to run away. But, when the criminal told them that he had nowhere to go and no work to do, they offered him a pension of 600 francs and sent him away. The criminal received one-third of his annuity in advance and emigrated to another country just across the frontier. There he bought a bit of land and started market-gardening. He visited the gaming tables and staked two or three francs, sometimes winning and sometimes losing. He lived comfortably and peaceably like the others.

Question 7.
Describe the efforts of the ministers in carrying out the death sentence in ‘Too Dear!’.
Answer:
Soon after receiving the judgment given by the court, the prince read out the sentence, confirmed it, and ordered the execution of the criminal. However, there was a problem in executing the king’s orders. Monaco did not have either a guillotine or an executioner. The ministers discussed the matter and sent a letter of inquiry to the French Government asking whether they could lend them a machine and an expert to execute the criminal and also inform the cost involved. The French Government informed them that it would lend them a machine and an expert as well and it would cost 16000 francs.

When the ministers informed the king about it, he thought over it and felt that it would be too burdensome for his people to bear. Then a similar inquiry was sent to the King of Italy. The Italian government offered to lend a machine and an expert at a cost of 12000 francs which included travelling expenses also. Though the price quoted by the Italian government was lesser than that of the French government, the king felt that the price was too much for a toy kingdom like theirs.

Therefore, the council met discussed the issue and asked the General of the Army whether a soldier in the Army would be ready to cut off the man’s head in a rough and homely fashion. When the General discussed this issue with his soldiers, no soldier agreed to do it because they had not been taught how to behead a criminal.

Question 8.
How did the criminal spend his life after he was given a pension in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
When the criminal told the ministers that he had nowhere to go and no work to do, they offered him a pension of 600 francs and sent him away. The criminal received one-third of his annuity in advance and emigrated to another country just across the frontier. There he bought a bit of land and started market-gardening. He visited the gaming tables and staked two or three francs, sometimes winning and sometimes losing. He lived comfortably and peaceably like the others.

Question 9.
Where was the criminal in ‘Too Dear!’ kept and what were the arrangements made for him?
Answer:
In ‘Too Dear!’, as soon as the prince had agreed to alter the death sentence to one of imprisonment for life, the ministers began making arrangements for imprisoning the criminal. But, they did not find a prison suitable for a criminal sentenced to life imprisonment. Finally, they managed to find a place strong enough to keep the criminal in it. They put the young criminal there and placed a guard over him. They asked the guard to watch over the criminal and also to fetch his food from the palace kitchen.

Question 10.
Why were a series of meetings held in Monaco in ‘Too Dear!’?
Answer:
In Monaco, a series of meetings were held to figure out the most prudent or the least expensive way of executing the criminal. As there was no guillotine or an executioner in Monaco, the council of ministers discussed the issue and decided to request the French government to lend them a machine and an expert to execute the criminal. The next meeting was held between the king and the council of ministers to inform the king that the French government had asked 16000 francs as a rental for the machine and the expert and to seek the king’s consent When the king asked them whether the job could not be done at a lesser price, the ministers held another meeting and decided to send a similar inquiry to the king of Italy.

When they learnt that the Italian government wanted 12000 francs for the job, they held another meeting to explore other ways of doing the job with less expense. Later, they consulted the Army General and requested him to find a soldier who would do the execution. When they came to know that none of the soldiers would do it, the authorities assembled a commission, a committee, and a sub-committee and finally came to the conclusion that the best way would be to alter the death sentence to one of imprisonment for life.

Question 11.
How does the kinglet in ‘Too Dear!’ feed his courtiers and officials and keep himself?
Answer:
Though it was a tiny little kingdom, Monaco had seven thousand inhabitants. Its kinglet lived like a real king in a palace with courtiers, ministers, a bishop, generals, and an army of sixty men. The king managed his kingdom by collecting taxes from the people on tobacco, wine, and spirits, and a poll tax. As the revenue so collected was inadequate, he permitted a gaming house to function in his kingdom. Its keeper paid a large sum to the kinglet. Since it was the only gaming house in the continent, it fetched the King of Monaco enough revenue to manage his kingdom. Thus he was able to feed himself and his people with this revenue.

III. Answer the following questions in about 200 words each:

Question 1.
Describe the various ways in which the Prince of Monaco tried to get the criminal executed.
OR
Describe the attempts made by the ministers in solving the problem of cutting off the criminal’s head.
Answer:
Soon after receiving the judgment given by the court, the prince read out the sentence, confirmed it, and ordered the execution of the criminal. However, there was a problem in executing the king’s orders. Monaco did not have either a guillotine or an executioner. The ministers discussed the matter and sent a letter of inquiry to the French Government asking whether they could lend them a machine and an expert to execute the criminal and also inform the cost involved in it. The French Government informed them that it would lend them a machine and an expert as well and it would cost 16000 francs.

When the ministers informed the king about it, he thought over it and felt that it would be too burdensome for his people to bear. Then a similar inquiry was sent to the King of Italy. The Italian government offered to lend a machine and an expert at a cost of 12000 francs which included travelling expenses also. Though the price quoted by the Italian government was lesser than that of the French government, the king felt that the price was too much for a toy kingdom like theirs.

Therefore, the council met discussed the issue and asked the General of the Army whether a soldier in the Army would be ready to cut off the man’s head in a rough and homely fashion. When the General discussed this issue with his soldiers, no soldier agreed to do it because they had not been taught how to behead a criminal.

Question 2.
Explain how and why the Council got rid of the prisoner.
OR
In spite of all their efforts, the king and his team failed in punishing the criminal. How is it narrated in the story Too Dear!’?
Answer:
Soon after the king had ordered imprisonment for life as the punishment, the ministers with great difficulty managed to find a place to keep the criminal imprisoned. They put him in it and placed a guard to watch over him. This way the criminal spent one year in prison. This arrangement cost the king 600 francs a year. When the king thought over it, it struck him that the criminal was young and may live for another fifty years.

The king became apprehensive about the cost of keeping the criminal imprisoned for life. Therefore, he summoned his ministers and asked them to find a cheaper way of punishing the criminal. The ministers met and discussed the issue and came to the conclusion that the only way to save money was to dismiss the guard. They believed that the criminal would run away and their problem would be solved. The king agreed to their suggestion and the guard was dismissed accordingly.

However, they waited curiously to see what the criminal would do. The criminal came out of his prison at dinner time, collected his food from the palace kitchen, and returned to the prison, shut the door on himself, and stayed inside. Later, the Minister of Justice asked him why he had not run away, as there was no guard to watch over him. They even assured him that the prince would not mind his running away. But the prisoner told them that he had nowhere to go as his character had been ruined and people would turn their backs on him.

Moreover, he had forgotten the habit of working and so if he ran away he would be forced to work to earn his living. The ministers met once more and discussed the matter seriously. It struck them that the only way to get rid of him was to offer him a pension. The king gave his consent and they finally got rid of him by offering a pension of 600 francs a year. The prisoner received one-third of his annuity in advance and left the king’s dominions. Thus, in spite of all their efforts, the king and his team failed in punishing the criminal.

Question 3.
The king of Monaco is a man without a decisive stand. Do you agree with this? Substantiate your answer with reference to ‘Too Dear!’.
Answer:
No, I do not agree with the statement, “The King of Monaco is a man without a decisive stand” because there is enough evidence to prove that he had to act according to the needs of the situation.

The King of Monaco kept changing his mind in dealing with the criminal because, every time he took a decision, he faced a problem to execute it. First, the king accepted the judge’s verdict and ordered the execution of the criminal, but he cancelled it and changed the sentence to ‘imprisonment for life’ because there was neither a guillotine machine nor an executioner in his country.

Moreover, if he had decided to borrow one from the King of Italy, he would have been forced to levy 2 francs per person as additional tax which he did not like. Secondly, after keeping the criminal in prison for one year, he realized that he had to spend 600 francs on the maintenance of the criminal until his death, which would have proved to be again a financial burden to his people.

Therefore, as advised by his council of ministers, he dismissed the guard hoping that the prisoner would run away. But the prisoner refused to run away because he had nowhere to go and he had got out of the habit of working. Once again the king faced a new problem. Then, as suggested by his council of ministers, the king ordered payment of 600 francs a year as pension and got rid of the criminal.

Question 4.
‘Too Dear!’ ridicules the foolishness of rulers. Discuss.
Answer:
The story ‘Too Dear!’ exposes the predicament of a ruler who is forced to revise his own judgment not out of mercy but out of financial compulsions. The narrator seems to ridicule the foolishness of rulers who make rules unmindful of the real situation in which they are placed.

The story is thus a parody of one of the modern systems of governance. It ridicules the ways of bringing criminals to book and dispensing justice in modern states. Though the story is narrated in a matter of fact tone, there is an undercurrent of sarcasm.
Monaco is a tiny kingdom with only seven thousand inhabitants. It has a real kinglet who lives in a palace with courtiers, ministers, a bishop, generals, and an army of only sixty men in all. The king lives by collecting taxes on tobacco, wine and spirits, and a poll tax. As the revenue collected from the people is too meagre to feed himself and his people, the king permits a gaming house where people play roulette. From the profits of the gaming house, the king gets a large sum of money.

This is the situation in which the king is placed. From this one can infer that, based on the size of the population and the army, the king can only be a toy king or a dummy who in reality cannot control the behaviour of the people except through mutual understanding and ethical principles.

The system of governance is only a make-believe system and it can boomerang or collapse at any point in time. As long as life goes on smoothly, there is no need for the king to prove to the people that he is their ruler and they must obey him. But, it so happens that a crime is committed, and the king being the moral authority has to exercise his authority. Herein lies the crux of the whole story.

The king behaves like a king of a big kingdom in terms of both money and muscle power and announces a death sentence, which cannot be implemented and, instead of punishing the criminal, gives him a pension. This ironic situation is created because of the foolishness of the king. The king ought to have arrived at his final decision about the criminal only after examining the ground reality.

Question 5.
‘It is a good thing that the criminal committed his crime in Monaco’. Why does the narrator in ‘Too Dear!’ feel so? Explain.
Answer:
The story ‘Too Dear!’ exposes the predicament of a ruler who is forced to revise his own judgment not out of mercy but out of financial compulsions. The narrator seems to ridicule the foolishness of rulers who make rules unmindful of the real situation in which they are placed.

Monaco is a tiny kingdom with only seven thousand inhabitants. It has a real kinglet who lives in a palace with courtiers, ministers, a bishop, generals and an army of only sixty men. The king lives by collecting taxes on tobacco, wine and spirits and a poll tax. As the revenue collected from the people is too meagre to feed himself and his people, the king permits a gaming house where people play roulette. From the profits of the gaming house, the king gets a large sum of money.

It so happens that a crime is committed, and the king being the moral authority has to exercise his authority. Herein lies the crux of the whole story. The king behaves like a king of a big kingdom in terms of both money and muscle power and issues a death sentence, which cannot be implemented and instead of punishing the criminal, ends up giving him a pension. This ironical situation is created because of the foolishness of the king. The king ought to have arrived at the final decision only after examining the ground reality.

That is why, the narrator says, “It is a good thing that the criminal committed his crime in Monaco” to ridicule the king because despite being the king he has no power to exercise his authority.

Too Dear! Vocabulary

Words that are spelled the same but have different meanings are called homonyms. E.g. watch, watch.

Question 1A.
Look at the following sets of sentences. The possible meanings of the homonyms used are given in brackets. Match them.
1. a. The valedictory address of the chief guest impressed everyone,
b. She made a mistake in the address while posting the letter (location, speech)
2. a. The poor man’s mind was full of worry.
b. Do you mind passing the jam? (have an objection to, thoughts)
3. a. The soldier gave a complete account of the prisoner’s escape
b. The officer checked the ledger account (financial record, description)
4. a. He went to the ATM to draw some money.
b. The teachers draw pictures on the blackboard.
c. Don’t draw hasty conclusions without ample proof.
d. The offer of free balloons draws children to the park. (attract, sketch, infer, take out.)
Answer:
1. (a) speech, (b) location;
2. (a) thoughts, (b) have an objection to;
3. (a) description, (b) financial record;
4. (a) take out, (b) sketch, (c) infer, (d) attract

Question 1B.
Find the sentences in which the above homonyms have been used in the story and identify the appropriate meanings.

1. The Ministers considered the matter and decided to address an inquiry to the French Government.
2. You can go where you like, and the Prince will not mind.
3. But when a year had passed, the Kinglet, looking over the account of his income and expenditure one day, noticed a new item of expenditure.
4. He always goes at the proper time to draw his pension.

Answer:

1. address – to say something directly to somebody.
2. mind – have an objection to.
3. account – a financial record.
4. draw – take out.

Additional Exercises

A. Passive Voice:

Question 1.
A few years ago a murder _____ (commit). The case _____ (try) in the most judicial manner. The criminal _____ (sentence) to death.
Answer:
was committed; was tried; was sentenced.

Question 2.
A letter _____ (send) to the French government A prompt reply _____ (receive). It said that a machine and an expert ____ (could supply) but the cost would be 16,000 francs.
Answer:
was sent; was received; could be supplied.

Question 3.
The general _____ (call). He _____ (ask) to find a soldier who would cut the man’s head off. The general talked it over with the soldiers. But the soldiers said, “It is not a thing we ______ (have, teach).
Answer:
was called; was asked; have been taught

Question 4.
The guard ______ (dismiss). It _____ (decide) to offer the criminal a pension. The pension fixed was 600 francs. This _____ (announce) to the prisoner.
Answer:
was dismissed; was decided; was announced.

Question 5.
The crime was reported to the Prince of Monaco. The Prince _____ (amaze), for a murder _____ (commit) in his toy kingdom. The ministers _____ (summon) to discuss the matter.
Answer:
was amazed; had been committed; were summoned.

Question 6.
In the toy kingdom, a council _____ (call) to consider what _____ (could do). It _____ (decide) to send a letter to the king of Italy.
Answer:
was called; could be done; was decided.

Question 7.
The king of Italy was a brother monarch, and ______ (might, induce) to do the thing cheaper. So the letter _____ (write), and a prompt reply _____ (receive).
Answer:
might be induced; was written; was received.

Question 8.
The Council met again. The General _____ (summon) and he _____ (instruct) to ask his soldiers if they _____ (prepare) to cut the criminal’s head off.
Answer:
was summoned; was instructed; were prepared.

Question 9.
The Prince agreed to this, and the matter ______ (arrange). There was a small lock-up where people ____ (keep) temporarily. The young fellow _____ (put) there.
Answer:
was arranged; were kept; was put

B. Report the following conversation:

Question 1.
Minister: Why do you not run away? There is no guard to keep you. The Prince will not mind.
Criminal: I know it. But I have nowhere to go.
Answer:
The minister asked the criminal as to why he didn’t run away. He added that there was no guard to keep him. He further added that the prince would not mind. The criminal replied that he knew it, but he had nowhere to go.

Question 2.
Minister: The cost of execution will be 16,000 francs.
Prince: The wretch is not worth the money. Can’t it be done, somehow cheaper? 16,000 francs is more than two francs ahead on the whole population. The people will not stand it.
Answer:
The minister informed the prince that the cost of execution would be 16,000 francs. The prince remarked that the wretch was not worth the money. He asked the minister whether it couldn’t be somehow done cheaper. He added that 16,000 francs were more than two francs ahead on the whole population. He further said that people would not stand it.

Question 3.
Prince: You must find some cheaper way of dealing with this rascal. The present plan is too expensive.
First Minister: In my opinion, we must dismiss the guard.
Second Minister: Then the fellow will run away.
First Minister: Let him run away.
Answer:
The prince remarked to the ministers that they must find some cheaper way of dealing with that rascal. He added that the plan they had then was too expensive. The first minister stated that in his opinion they must dismiss the guard. The second minister continued saying that in such a situation the fellow would run away. The first minister replied that they could let him run away.

C. Fill in the blanks by choosing the appropriate expressions given in brackets:

Question 1.
The kinglet would _______ the account of his income and expenditure at the end of every year. When he noticed new items of expenditure, he would the cost of each item. (reckon up, gave up, look over)
Answer:
reckon up; look over.

Question 2.
The council suggested that the only way _______ the criminal was to dismiss the guard. The guard was dismissed but the criminal did not run away. So one of the ministers decided to tell him ______ to do so. (straight out, to look over, to get rid of)
Answer:
to get rid of; straight out

Question 3.
The criminal was asked to run away. But the criminal said that people would ______ on him if he did so. He also said that he had ______ of working. (got out of the way, turn their backs, be hanged)
Answer:
turn their backs; got out of the way.

Question 4.
There were about 7000 inhabitants in Monaco. The taxes fetched meagre income. Therefore the kinglet was _____ to feed his courtiers and himself. But he found a new source of income by which he could ______ money and lead a luxurious life. (rake in, hard put to it, straight out)
Answer:
hard put to it; rake in.

D. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate linkers:

Question 1.
The special revenue came from a gaming house, _____ people played roulette. Some of the little German Sovereigns used to keep gaming houses of the same kind _____ some years ago they were forbidden to do so. The reason they were stopped was ____ these gaming houses did so much harm. A man would come and try his luck. _____ he would risk all he had and lose it. (because, then, where, but)
Answer:
where; but; because; Then.

Question 2.
The criminal refused to go away _____ they had ruined his character _____ people would turn their backs on him. ____ he had got out of the way of working. He said they might do as they liked, ____ he would not go away. (but, for, besides, and)
Answer:
for; and; Besides; but.

Question 3.
The criminal received one-third of his pension in advance ______ left the kingdom. _____ crossing the frontier, he settled down on a bit of land. ______ he started market gardening ______ fetched him good profit and he lived peacefully and well. (and, later, after, which)
Answer:
and; After; Later; which.

Question 4.
The criminal remained in prison for a year. _____ when a year had passed, the kinglet was shocked to see the amount spent for his keep. _____ he summoned his council to consider the matter. The council considered ____ reconsidered. _____ they decided to dismiss the guard who watched over the criminal. (finally; but, therefore, and)
Answer:
But; Therefore; and; Finally.

Question 5.
The death sentence was altered to life imprisonment. This would enable the Prince to show his mercy ______ it would come cheaper. _____ there was no strong prison fit for permanent use. _____ they managed to find a place ____ would serve the purpose. (but, and, which, however)
Answer:
and; But; However; which.

Too Dear! by Leo Tolstoy About the Writer:

Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (1828-1910), also known as Leo Tolstoy, is a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Tolstoy is a master of realistic fiction and is widely considered one of the world’s greatest novelists. He is best known for two long novels, ‘War and Peace’ (1869) and ‘Anna Karenina’ (1877).

Tolstoy first achieved literary acclaim in his 20s for his ‘Sevastopol Sketches’ (1855), based on his experiences in the Crimean War, and followed by the publication of a semi-autobiographical trilogy of novels, ‘Childhood’, ‘Boyhood’, and ‘Youth’ (1855-1858). His works include two additional novels, dozens of short stories, and several famous novellas, including ‘The Death of Ivan Ilych’, ‘Family Happiness’, and ‘Hadji Murad’.

The story ‘Too Dear!’ is based on an absurd situation in which a small state finds it much too expensive to either hang a criminal or to keep in prison for long. Finally, the criminal has to be rewarded with a pension to save the kingdom some money!

Too Dear! Summary in English

‘Too Dear!’ is a fascinating short story by Count Leo Tolstoy, a famous Russian writer. It is adapted from an episode in Guy de Maupassant’s work ‘Sur L’eau’ in French (translated into English ‘Afloat’) and translated from Russian by Louise Maud and Aylmer Maud.

The story is a parody of one of the modem systems of governance. It ridicules ways of bringing criminals to book and dispensing justice in modern states. The story is narrated in a matter of fact tone but with an undercurrent of sarcasm.

The story begins with the description of a place, its people, and its system of governance. There is a tiny little kingdom called Monaco near the borders of France and Italy. There are only about seven thousand inhabitants in Monaco. The kingdom is so small that if all the land in the kingdom were divided among its inhabitants, there would not be even an acre of land for each inhabitant. But this toy kingdom has a real kinglet and like any other real king, he lives in a palace with courtiers, ministers, a bishop, generals, and an army of only sixty men in all.

The king lives by collecting taxes from the people. There are taxes on tobacco, wine, and spirits and a poll tax too. However, the number of people living in his kingdom being very small, the taxes the people pay for their ‘drinking’ and ‘smoking’ are not adequate enough to feed the king’s courtiers, and officials and to keep himself. Therefore the king had hit upon a new source of revenue. It came from a gaming house, where people play roulette. The keeper of the gaming house got a percentage on the turnover irrespective of whether people lost or won. Out of his profits, the gaming housekeeper paid a large sum to the kinglet.

Incidentally, it is the only gaming house that is left untouched by the rulers in Europe and hence the gambling housekeeper pays so much money to the prince. There were many such gaming houses run by German sovereigns but some years ago they were forbidden to do so. The rulers stopped such gaming houses because they did a great deal of harm to the people. Many a time, it so happened that a man would come and try his luck, then he would risk all he had and lose it. He would finally drown or shoot himself. However, there was no one to stop the Prince of Monaco, and he remained with a monopoly of the business. So now, whoever wants to gamble goes to Monaco and the prince gains a lot of money this way. The Prince of Monaco knows that earning revenue this way is a dirty business but he feels helpless because he has to live.

Though the kinglet knows that collecting taxes on people’s ‘drinks’ and ‘tobacco’ is bad yet he is collecting taxes. In the same way, the Prince is living on the revenue he gets from the gaming house. He lives, reigns, rakes in the money, and holds his court with all the ceremony of a real king. He has his coronation and his levees. He rewards, sentences, and pardons. He also has his reviews, councils, laws, and courts of justice just like other kings, but only on a smaller scale.

In the next part of the story, we see the moral conflict faced by the Prince and his people. A murder was committed in the Prince of Monaco’s domains. The people of Monaco were peaceable and such a thing had not happened before. Like in other countries there was a legal system in place in Monaco also. The criminal was tried according to the procedures of law. The lawyers argued and the judges finally decreed that the criminal be executed as directed by the law. The prince read out the sentence, confirmed it, and ordered the execution of the criminal.

The story now takes a serious and interesting turn. There arose a problem in the execution of the king’s order. Monaco was a toy kingdom and it did not have either a guillotine for cutting heads off or an executioner, the man designated to carry out the execution. The ministers sent a letter of inquiry to the French Government, asking whether they could lend them a machine and an expert to cut off the criminal’s head and also inform the cost involved in it. They received a reply a week later informing them that the French Government would lend them a machine and an expert as well, and it would cost 16000 francs. The king felt that sixteen thousand francs was a lot of money and it was utterly a waste of money to spend so much on beheading a wretched criminal.

The king felt that the people would not accept his decision and if he forced them there might be a riot Therefore, the king called a council and asked them their suggestion. It was decided to send a similar inquiry to the King of Italy. They wrote to the king of Italy and they received a prompt reply. The Italian government informed them that they would supply both a machine and an expert at a cost of 12000 francs including travelling expenses. Though the price quoted by the king of Italy was cheaper than that of the French government, still the price was too much for a toy kingdom like theirs. Therefore, the ministers called another council and discussed the matter.

The council asked the General of the army to find a soldier who would be ready to cut off a man’s head. The members of the council believed that the soldiers have been trained for such a job. The general discussed the matter with his soldiers to see whether one of them would agree to do that job. But the soldiers did not agree to do it because they had not been taught how to behead a criminal.

The king and the ministers met again and discussed the matter thoroughly. Finally, they came to the conclusion that the best thing to do was to alter the death sentence to one of imprisonment for life. This way it would enable the prince to show his mercy and it would also be cheaper. The prince agreed to this and so the matter was arranged accordingly. Though there was no suitable prison for a man sentenced for life, they managed to find a place that would serve as a prison and put the criminal in it. They also placed a guard over him. The guard had to watch the criminal and had also to fetch his food from the palace kitchen. This way, they kept the prisoner imprisoned for more than a year. The whole arrangement of keeping a guard to watch over the criminal and feeding the criminal cost more than 600 francs a year.

One day, while the kinglet was examining the account of his income and expenditure, the new item of expenditure caught his eye. He got worried and so he summoned his ministers and urged them to find some cheaper way of dealing with the criminal. The ministers again met and discussed ways of reducing the expenditure. Finally, they all came to the conclusion that the guard could be dispensed with so that the expenditure on his salary could be saved. They went to the extent of saying “let the prisoner run away and be hanged”. The ministers conveyed their decision to the kinglet and the kinglet gave his consent to it.

Accordingly, the guard was dismissed; but they all waited to see how the prisoner would react. At dinner time the criminal came out, and not finding his guard, he went to the Prince’s kitchen to fetch his own dinner. After collecting his dinner, he returned to the prison, shut the door on himself, and stayed inside. He did not show any signs of running away and this got the ministers worried. The criminal was brought before the Minister of Justice. He suggested to the prisoner to run away. He even told him that if he ran away, the prince would not mind it The prisoner told the minister that he had nowhere to go and accused them of ruining his character by sentencing him to death.

Secondly, he told them that having been confined to the prison, he had given up his habit of working. He actually resented their action in not executing him. He finally told them that he would not like to agree to their proposal that he should run away and escape. The minister felt helpless.

Once more the council was summoned and the criminal’s issue was discussed again. They came to the conclusion that the only way they could get rid of him was by offering him a pension. The ministers decided to pay the prisoner a fixed sum of600 francs as a pension. On receiving the news, the prisoner told them that he would go away on that condition but they must undertake to pay it regularly.

Finally, the prisoner received one-third of his annuity in advance and left the king’s dominions. He emigrated to another country just across the frontier. He bought a bit of land, started market gardening, and lived there comfortably.

The narrator comments jovially that it is a good thing that the prisoner did not commit his crime in a country where they do not grudge expense to cut a man’s head off, or to keep him in prison for life. The author seems to question the very conviction of the rulers about the system of law and governance instituted by the rulers of big nations. The author seems to appreciate the courage and open-mindedness of Monaco in acknowledging their limitations and letting free the prisoner on humanitarian grounds. It is worth noting that the writer puns on the words ‘Too Dear!’. It means either ‘too expensive’ or ‘of great value’. The author leaves it to the reader to decide whether ‘Too Dear!’ refers to executing a criminal or saving a criminal’s life.

Too Dear! Summary in Kannada

Glossary:

• Roulette: a gambling game
• rakes: (colloquial) especially of money: to earn
• levees: an official reception of guests or visitors in the morning
• poll tax: a kind of tax levied on an individual
• Franc: unit of currency of France
• kinglet: the king of a very small country
• domain: land ruled by a king
• peaceable: not causing violence
• spirits: strong alcoholic drinks
• gaming house: a place for gambling
• turnover (n): here, the total amount of money that passed hands between different gamblers
• hitch: a problem that causes a short delay
• jurymen: persons who give decisions in a court or help the judge make decisions
• barrister: lawyer (in higher law-courts)
• guillotine: a machine for beheading (criminals)
• dominions: territories (under the king)
• homely: simple and plain
• emigrate: go to another country to live there.
• stake: money used as a bet; money risked on gambling
• annuity: a fixed amount of money paid to somebody every year
• Frontier: the border between two countries
• grudge: do something unwillingly

The main aim is to share the knowledge and help the students of 2nd PUC to secure the best score in their final exams. Use the concepts of Karnataka 2nd PUC English Answers Chapter 2 Too Dear! in Real time to enhance your skills. If you have any doubts you can post your comments in the comment section, We will clarify your doubts as soon as possible without any delay.

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Karnataka 2nd PUC English Textbook Answers Springs Chapter 11 Japan and Brazil through a Traveller’s Eye

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Japan and Brazil through a Traveller’s Eye Questions and Answers, Notes, Summary

Japan and Brazil through a Traveller’s Eye Comprehension I

Japan And Brazil Through A Traveler’s Eye KSEEB Solution Question 1.
‘Exquisitely well-mannered people’ refers to
a. Indians
b. Japanese
c. Americans.
Answer:
(b) Japanese.

Japan And Brazil Through A Traveler’s Eye Notes KSEEB Solution Question 2.
What behaviour substitutes privacy in Japan?
Answer:
The respect for one another’s privacy and showing courtesy are the substitutes for privacy in Japan.

Japan And Brazil Through A Traveler’s Eye Summary KSEEB Solution Question 3.
The reference to public telephone suggests:
a. how overcrowded Japan is
b. how the Japanese respect privacy
c. how busy the Japanese are.
Answer:
(b) how the Japanese respect privacy.

Japan And Brazil Notes KSEEB Solution Question 4.
Hierarchy in bowing demands
a. youngsters bow to their elders.
b. wife bow to her husband.
c. sisters bow to their brothers.
Answer:
(b) and (c) wife bow to her husband/ sisters bow to their brothers.

Japan And Brazil Through A Traveler’s Eye Textbook Pdf KSEEB Solution Question 5.
How does one show appreciation while eating soup in Japan?
OR
What is the sign of appreciation when eating soup in Japan?
OR
Why do the Japanese make a fearful noise while eating soup?
Answer:
When a person is eating soup offered by a host or hostess, he must make a fearful noise so as to show his sign of appreciation; otherwise, the host or hostess will think that the guest is ill-mannered.

2nd Puc English Notes Japan And Brazil KSEEB Solution Question 6.
How are the pavements in Brazil decorated? What does it tell us about the people there?
OR
Why do Brazilians decorate the pavements they walk on?
Answer:
The grey pavements in Brazil are often decorated with beautiful black mosaics, a unique type of decoration. From this, we can infer that these people are alive to beauty in their surroundings. Secondly, they walk very slowly and meditatively and have a lot of time for contemplation.

2nd Puc English Japan And Brazil Through A Travelers Eye KSEEB Solution Question 7.
What happens when leisurely people in Brazil get a steering wheel in their hands?
Answer:
When leisurely people get a steering wheel in their hands, they drive their vehicles so fast that you would be inclined to believe that gaining a tenth of a second is a matter of grave importance for them all the time.

Japan And Brazil Through A Traveller’s Eye KSEEB Solution Question 8.
Who do the Brazilian drivers look out for when they are driving? Why?
Answer:
The drivers are supposed to look out for pedestrians. But in Brazil, they do not care for people walking on the roads or people trying to cross the roads. The deliberately accelerate and laugh at pedestrians who run to survive. The drivers in Brazil treat pedestrians as fair prey to hunt and mow down.

Question 9.
What remarkable attitude is seen in the war between drivers?
Answer:
The war between the drivers is murderous but good-tempered. They cut in, overtake on both sides and force the other person to break violently and commit all the most heinous crimes. But they smile at the other person without any anger, hostility, or mad hooting.

Japan and Brazil through a Traveller’s Eye Comprehension II

Question 1.
Why is bowing in Japan a complicated process?
Answer:
‘Bowing’ in Japan is complicated because they follow a complicated hierarchy in bowing which they have to follow as sacrosanct. The Japanese know very clearly who should bow to whom, how deeply, and for how long. For example, they follow certain basic rules inside the family. They are: “the wife bows to her husband, the child bows to his father, younger brothers to elder brothers, and the sister bows to all brothers”. The Japanese reflect the smallest difference in rank, standing, age, social position in their bowing style in that split second.

Question 2.
Why does bowing, a natural practice in Japanese culture, look so quaint’ and puzzling to the author?
Answer:
‘Bowing’, a natural practice in Japanese culture, looks so ‘quaint’ and puzzling to the author because when the Japanese bow, they bow neither too deeply nor not deeply enough and bow to the right person at the right time. They know who should bow to whom, how deeply, and for how long. They manage it without difficulty and subtly reflect even the smallest difference in rank, standing, age, and social position. Secondly, they bow with the ceremonious serenity of a courtier yet with a great deal of natural and inimitable grace.

Question 3.
Do you think the author is finding fault with/making fun of the culture of bowing in Japanese and speeding cars in Brazil?
Answer:
No. This article is a piece of travel writing. Travel writing is no longer viewed as a product of some innocent curiosity. It is also not an attempt to understand an alien culture objectively. Rather, this narrative should be read as the author’s perspective on Japanese culture. The author is certainly not finding fault with the Japanese way of eating soup or their habit of bowing.

The author is only expressing his surprise when he looks at their cultural habits as an outsider. The language might sometimes appear to be used for a humorous effect. But, in a piece of creative writing, such liberties in their style must be accepted as natural. If the writer simply described objectively whatever he saw, the article will lose its human interest.

Similarly, the author is expressing his surprise at the way the drivers of four-wheelers move on the road in Brazil and the size of the fast-moving traffic. The author is also expressing his appreciation for the beautiful black mosaics seen on the pavements. He is also expressing his annoyance for the sluggishness of the leisurely walking pedestrians.

Japan and Brazil through a Traveller’s Eye Comprehension III

Question 1.
‘Bowing in Japan is quainter; more formal, more oriental.’ Do you agree?
OR
How does George Mikes describe bowing to be a quainter and infectious trait of Japanese people?
Answer:
Yes. In this article, the author introduces the reader to one of the most fascinating and conspicuous cultural habits of the Japanese people. He tells the reader that as soon as you land in Japan, you perceive immediately that the Japanese are exquisitely well-mannered. Very soon, you will also discover that the Japanese are very courteous and ensure that they do not violate a speaker’s privacy while talking to someone over the phone. Then you come to be a witness to people bowing to each other almost everywhere as if it is an obsession with them.

However, the author records his appreciation for their skill and style of bowing. He says that people bow to each other with the ceremonious solemnity of a courtier and yet with a great deal of natural and inimitable grace. Then he remarks that bowing is neither less nor more silly than shaking hands or kissing the cheek, but it is quainter, more formal, more oriental, and also infectious.

He says so because, while anyone can learn the art of shaking hands or kissing the cheek perfectly well, it is extremely difficult for a European to learn to do ‘bowing’ the way Japanese do because, in a split second, the Japanese manage to subtly reflect all the nuances one needs to follow while bowing. They successfully exhibit the smallest difference in rank, standing, age, and social position. On the other hand, if European attempts to bow to someone, he or she will bow too deeply or not deeply enough; they bow to the wrong man at the wrong time or they do not clasp their hands in front of them which is bad or they do in a wrong way which is considered even worse.

Question 2.
Describe how traffic in Brazil leads to humorous observations.
OR
Give an account of the crawling traffic in Brazil as mentioned by George Mikes.
OR
Write a note on traffic in Brazil.
Answer:
George Mikes makes humorous comments on the ‘traffic’ in Copacabana and Avenida Presidente Vargas in particular and Brazil in general. He opines that Brazilians are easy-going and leisurely characters. But the very same people, the moment they get a steering wheel in their hands, no speed „ is fast for them. They drive with such speed that one would be inclined to believe that gaining a tenth of a second is a matter of grave importance for all of them, all the time. The writer talks about the increasing number of vehicles in Brazil and says that the increase in the number of vehicles is making the pedestrian’s life more hazardous every day. He then narrates an interesting anecdote to give a clear idea of the number of vehicles moving on the road at any given time in Avenida Presidente Vargas.

He asks the reader to imagine that he is standing on one side of the road trying to cross the road. He will spend hours on end contemplating a fascinating problem: How can crawling traffic proceed at such a terrifying speed? He strengthens the same idea by another example. He asks the reader to imagine that a man on his side of the road suddenly catches sight of a friend of his on the other side of the road and starts waving to him. Then he shouts at him asking “How on earth did you get over there?” The other person will yell back at him, “How? I was born on this side!” The author leaves it to the readers to draw their own inferences.

Question 3.
What aspects of our social life, do you think, would appear quaint and odd to a foreign tourist?
Answer:
India is a multi-ethnic, pluricultural, and multilingual country. People of different cultural practices, customs, and traditions are spread throughout the length and breadth of the country, thus making the population heterogeneous in character.
But, foreign tourists who visit India, most often come from countries where the population is homogeneous in character. Naturally, the foreign tourists find quite a few aspects of our social life, quaint and odd.

One of the commonest habits that might appear quaint to them is the way our womenfolk create patterns on the floor in front of their houses or gates, with chalk piece, coloured powder, or flower petals, called Rangoli.

Similarly, the buntings of mango leaves and plantain tree stem that we decorate our houses with special pooja days, auspicious occasions and festivals, and lighting lamps during Deepavali appear odd to them. Secondly, Indians’ love and respect for the holy cow and monkeys as a symbol of god also appear quaint to them.

Another aspect that may appear quaint is the ritual of worshipping vehicles which are commonly seen during Ayudha Pooja. Apart from these, there are several habits which might make us bow our heads in shame. They are urinating in public, spitting chewed betel nut residues on the walls and roads,’ sneaking loudly over mobile phones in public places, jumping at railway and bus ticket counters and at bus stops, crossing roads where there are no pedestrian crossings, honking unnecessarily, parking vehicles on the footpath, disobeying signal lights, men staring at women walking on the street till she moves out of sight, putting up pandals for private functions on the road and blocking it for pedestrians and motorists, shoving garbage on the road, pedestrians jaywalking on the road, etc. Talking to strangers on trains and buses, enquiring them about their jobs and salaries, etc., are also some of the social aspects of Indians which appear quaint to foreigners.

Japan and Brazil through a Traveller’s Eye Additional Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following questions in a word, a phrase, or a sentence each:

Question 1.
What does Mikes call, ‘A man’s castle’ in Japan?
Answer:
A man’s telephone receiver.

Question 2.
How long does it take in Japan to be convinced that you are among exquisitely well-mannered people?
Answer:
Only a quarter of an hour.

Question 3.
Whom do the Japanese stores employ to welcome customers?
Answer:
Bowing girls.

Question 4.
Whatis the duty of the bowing girls in Japanese stores?
Answer:
The bowing girls have to bow deeply and deferentially to all and sundry that visit the Japanese stores.

Question 5.
Which places does the Tokaido Line connect?
Answer:
Tokyo and Osaka.

Question 6.
Where did the writer Mikes meetadeerin Japan?
Answer:
The writer met a deer in one of the parts of Nara, which is a wild deer park in Japan.

Question 7.
What are the pavements in the streets of Copacabana decorated with?
Answer:
With beautiful black mosaics.

Question 8.
What kind of people would take the trouble to decorate the pavements they walk on?
OR
Who, according to the writer, would take the trouble to decorate the pavements they walk on?
Answer:
Only a people alive to beauty in their surroundings and who have plenty of time for contemplation during their meditative walking would take the trouble to decorate the pavements they walk on.

Question 9.
Why are motor cars expensive in Brazil?
OR
What is extremely expensive in Brazil?
Answer:
Motor cars are extremely expensive in Brazil because import duties are crippling and murderous.

Question 10.
Why is the pedestrian’s life in Brazil becoming more hazardous every day?
Answer:
The pedestrian’s life in Brazil is becoming more hazardous every day because the number of motor vehicles is growing by leaps and bounds.

Question 11.
Which place in Brazil does the writer consider as the worst for pedestrians?
Answer:
The author considers Avenida Presidente Vargas as the worst place in Brazil for pedestrians.

Question 12.
Which habit of the Japanese is referred to as mania by George Mikes?
OR
What does the Japanese mania refer to, according to Mikes?
Answer:
George Mikes refers to the Japanese habit of bowing’ as mania.

Question 13.
Which place in Brazil is the worst with regard to traffic, according to George Mikes?
Answer:
Avenida Presidente Vargas, known for its terrifying speed of traffic on the road, is the worst place of all in Brazil.

Question 14.
Whose life is becoming more hazardous in Brazil every day, according to George Mikes?
Answer:
According to George Mikes, the pedestrian’s life is becoming more hazardous in Brazil every day.

Question 15.
What, according to George Mikes, do the driver and pedestrian finally do after the chase in Brazil?
Answer:
According to George Mikes, the pedestrian does not resent being chased by the driver. Both of them smile amicably at each other.

Question 16.
What does the speaker compare Japanese bowing to?
Answer:
The speaker compares Japanese bowing to the ceremonious solemnity of a courtier.

Question 17.
Who are the drivers in Brazil on the lookout for?
Answer:
The drivers in Brazil are on the lookout for any pedestrians stepping off the pavement, who they regard as a fair game.

Question 18.
Which animal created the impression that it bowed to George Mikes in Japan?
OR
Which animal bowed to the author at Nara?
Answer:
At Nara in Japan, a deer created the impression that it bowed to the author.

Question 19.
What did the deer do after bowing to Mikes at Nara?
Answer:
After bowing to the author at Nara, the deer jumped at him and snatched the little food-bag from his hand.

Question 20.
Mikes describes Japan as being
(a) overconfident
(b) overcrowded
(c) overjoyed.
Answer:
(b) overcrowded.

Question 21.
An hour in Japan convinced Mikes that he was among
(a) leisurely characters
(b) ill-mannered louts
(c) well-mannered people.
Answer:
(c) well-mannered people.

Question 22.
What do the people of Japan highly respect, according to Mikes?
Answer:
According to Mikes, the people of Japan highly respect one another’s privacy.

Question 23.
As Mikes says, after a few hours in Japan, one starts _______
(a) thanking
(b) bowing
(c) kissing
Answer:
(b) bowing.

Question 24.
Who bows to all brothers in a Japanese family, according to Mikes?
Answer:
According to Mikes, the sister bows to all brothers in a Japanese family.

Question 25.
What do mothers in Japan carry their babies in, according to Mikes?
Answer:
According to Mikes, mothers carry their babies in little saddles.

Question 26.
The Japanese stores employ ______ to greet customers.
(a) singing girls
(b) dancing girls
(c) bowing girls
Answer:
(c) bowing girls.

Question 27.
Who enters the carriage in a slightly theatrical scene as noticed by Mikes in Japan?
Answer:
According to Mikes, two conductors enter the carriage in a slightly theatrical scene.

Question 28.
Which animal bowed to Mikes in Japan?
Answer:
A deer bowed to Mikes in Japan.

Question 29.
Who is transformed into savages as soon as a bus arrives in Japan?
Answer:
As soon as a bus arrives in Japan, the bowing gentlemen are transformed into savages.

Question 30.
George Mikes compares the act of two Japanese bowing to
(a) an early American traffic law
(b) page-boys turning revolving doors
(c) Tokaido line that connects Tokyo and Osaka.
Answer:
(a) an early American traffic law.

Question 31.
What did the deer snatch from Mikes’hand in Japan?
Answer:
The deer snatched the little food-bag from Mikes’ hand.

Question 32.
In Japan, as soon as the bus arrives, the bowing gentlemen are transformed into
(a) savages
(b) slaves
(c) servants.
Answer:
(a) savages.

Question 33.
What must one do while eating soup in Japan, according to Mikes?
Answer:
According to Mikes, while eating soup one must make a fearful noise.

Question 34.
In Japan, eating soup by making a fearful noise is a sign of
(a) depreciation
(b) appreciation
(c) disregard.
Answer:
(b) appreciation.

Question 35.
Who enters the carriage on the Tokaido line in a slightly theatrical scene in Japan?
Answer:
Two conductors enter the carriage on the Tokaido line, in a slightly theatrical scene.

Question 36.
According to Mikes, bowing girls in Japan are equal to
(a) page-boys
(b) maidservants
(c) security guards.
Answer:
(a) page-boys.

Question 37.
The pavements in the streets of Copacabana in Brazil are often decorated with
(a) pink granite slabs
(b) grey cobblestones
(c) beautiful black mosaics.
Answer:
(c) beautiful black mosaics.

Question 38.
As soon as a driver notices a pedestrian step off the pavement in Brazil, he
(a) regards him as a fair game.
(b) greets him and smiles.
(c) ignores him and moves on.
Answer:
(a) regards him as a fair game.

Question 39.
‘The Avenida Presidents Vargas’ in Brazil is described by Mikes as
(a) a wonderful place.
(b) an auspicious place.
(c) the worst place.
Answer:
(c) the worst place.

Question 40.
When do the drivers of the motor cars in Brazil aim and accelerate?
Answer:
The moment a motor car driver in Brazil notices a pedestrian stepping off the pavement, he regards the pedestrian as fair game, takes aim, and accelerates his car.

II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80 – 100 words each:

Question 1.
What makes Mikes feel that the drivers in Brazil are on the lookout for pedestrians
Answer:
George Mikes feels that the drivers in Brazil are on the lookout for pedestrians because as soon as a driver notices a pedestrian step off the pavement, he appears to regard him as a fair game and so he takes aim and accelerates his vehicle. The pedestrian has to jump, leap, and run for his/her dear life.

Question 2.
‘People respect each other’s privacy’. Explain with reference to Japan in Mikes’ travel writing.
OR
Explain how the people of Japan respect each other’s privacy, according to George Mikes.
Answer:
The people of Japan live on a hopelessly overcrowded island where they have no privacy. However, the people are so well-mannered that they are courteous enough not to overhear a conversation when they find anyone talking to someone else over the telephone. The speaker can consider the telephone receiver as his castle and conduct his most confidential business transactions and intimate love-quarrels in public, yet in perfect privacy without becoming apprehensive about anyone overhearing his conversation.

Question 3.
How does the writer explain the complicated hierarchy in bowing?
OR
Why is bowing in Japan a complicated process?
OR
“The Japanese follow a complicated hierarchy in bowing.” Explain with reference to ‘Japanese Manners’.
Answer:
The writer George Mikes remarks that for the Japanese people ‘bowing’ has become a mania. However, he also speaks in an appreciative tone and says that the people bow to each other with the solemnity of a courtier yet with a great deal of natural and inimitable grace. Besides, he also says that the Japanese follow a complicated hierarchy in bowing. This system decides who bows to whom, how deeply, and for how long. Though it is a little complicated to us, the Japanese manage it without difficulty and subtly and reflect in their bowing even the smallest difference in rank, standing, age, and social position in a split second.

Question 4.
How, according to George Mikes, do the bowing gentlemen turn into savages in Japan?
Answer:
The author George Mikes, having described in detail how ‘bowing’ is followed so ritualistically in Japan, towards the end of the article narrates an incident that happened in one of the parts in Nara, a deer park in Japan. The author bought a pack of food for a deer. On seeing the pack of food, the deer went up to him, looked into his eyes, and bowed to him deeply. Then, almost immediately, it jumped at him and snatched the little food-bag from his hand.

Using this incident as an analogy, George Mikes makes fun of the Japanese people, for their ugly behaviour while boarding a bus. He tells the reader in a sarcastic tone that we can often see the Japanese bowing to each other with ceremonious serenity even at bus-stops. Then he says, “as soon as the bus arrives, the bowing gentlemen are transformed into savages, they push each other aside, tread on each other’s toes and shove their elbows into each other’s stomachs”. The reader, who had all along been encouraged to develop a kind of admiration for the Japanese habit of respectful bowing, is shocked or stunned by this revelation.

Question 5.
Give an account of the Japanese mania for bowing as described by George Mikes.
OR
What is unique about bowing in Japan?
OR
What are the views of George Mikes about Japanese ‘mannerism of bowing’?
Answer:
According to George Mikes, as soon as we land in Japan, the first thing we notice is bowing is so ubiquitous in Japan. The writer comments that it is the mania of the Japanese. He remarks that everyone keeps bowing to everybody else with the ceremonious solemnity of a courtier yet with a great deal of natural and inimitable grace. If two Japanese bow, as a rule, neither is to straighten up before the other stands erect in front of him. He states that bowing is quainter, more formal, and more oriental and also infectious.

Besides, he also says that the Japanese follow a complicated hierarchy in bowing. This system decides who bows to whom, how deeply, and for how long. Though it is a little complicated to us, the Japanese manage it without difficulty and subtly and reflect in their bowing even the smallest difference in rank, standing, age, and social position in a split second.

Apart from saying that the Japanese follow a complicated hierarchy in their bowing, the author says that the Japanese follow certain basic rules inside the family. They are the wife bows to her husband, the child bows to his father, younger brothers to elder brothers, and the sister bows to all brothers of whatever age.

In Japanese stores, bowing girls stand at the top of escalators and their only duty is to bow deeply and deferentially to all and sundry.

The ticket checking conductors on the fast Tokaido Line, march to the middle of the coach and bow ceremoniously in both directions before checking the tickets.

At Nara, a deer created the impression that it bowed to the author.

Question 6.
According to George Mikes, the people of Brazil are both leisurely and speed-loving. Explain.
Answer:
According to George Mikes, the people of Brazil are both leisurely and speed-loving. He remarks that however close by or far off their destination may be, Brazilians do not seem to bother about the time it might take for them to reach their destination. They do not hurry at all; they do not mind even if they reach their destination either an hour too soon or a day late or may not reach at all. But the very same leisurely people, as soon as they get a steering wheel in their hands, no speed is fast enough for them. If one looks at their driving speed, one would be inclined to believe that gaining a tenth of a second is a matter of grave importance for all of them all the time.

Question 7.
Why does George Mikes say that eating soup has more dangers for a European?
Answer:
The author George Mikes concludes his observations with his comments on the Japanese way of eating soup. He remarks that eating soup has more dangers than almost anything else. He opines so because eating soup in a Japanese house puts an outsider in a dilemmatic situation. The Japanese host expects the ‘guest’ to make a fearful noise to Show his sign of appreciation while eating soup. If the guest is a European and if he or she does not make a fearful noise, then the host will think that their guest is an ill-mannered lout. But, having knowledge of this custom, if a European visitor makes a fearful noise while eating soup to express his appreciation, then the host will think that he must be an ill-mannered lout because the Japanese know that no reasonably well brought up European makes such disgusting noises when eating soup.

Question 8.
Bring out the culture of the Japanese as explained by George Mikes.
Answer:
In his travelogue, George Mikes narrates four anecdotes which will help any foreign visitor to understand the cultural traits of the Japanese people. The author first highlights how people’s courtesy serves a double function in Japan. He assertively states that a couple, with perfect confidence, can carry on even their intimate love quarrels in public, in perfect privacy, without being apprehensive of any passerby overhearing them. Next, he talks about the bowing mania of the Japanese people and how the Japanese manage to show even the slightest differences in their hierarchy with a great deal of natural and inimitable grace.

Then, he narrates how, the very same people who, a few minutes ago had bowed to each other with such ceremonious solemnity would behave like savages, push each other aside, tread on each other’s toes and elbow their way into the bus. Finally, he talks about soup-eating in Japan. He says that, according to the Japanese, when eating soup one must make a fearful noise so as to express his appreciation, otherwise the guest will be considered an ill-mannered lout.

Question 9.
Why is a pedestrian’s life hazardous in Brazil, according to George Mikes?
OR
Elaborate on the plight of a pedestrian in Brazil.
Answer:
According to George Mikes, the people of Brazil are both leisurely and speed-loving. Then he says that the people love driving their cars at such speed that as soon as the drivers get a steering wheel in their hands, no speed is fast enough for them. They seem to believe that gaining a tenth of a second is a matter of grave importance for them all the time. The drivers usually lookout for pedestrians who step off the pavement and regard such pedestrians as a fair game. They take aim and accelerate their vehicle. The pedestrians have to jump, leap, and run for their dear life. Naturally, on account of such speed-loving people, a pedestrian’s life is hazardous in Brazil.

Question 10.
Explain how drivers in Brazil care about pedestrians, as mentioned by George Mikes.
Answer:
According to George Mikes, the people of Brazil are both leisurely and speed-loving. Then he says that the people love driving their cars at such speed that as soon as the drivers get a steering wheel in their hands, no speed is fast enough for them. They seem to believe that gaining a tenth of a second is a matter of grave importance for them all the time. The drivers usually lookout for pedestrians who step off the pavement and regard such pedestrians as a fair game. They take aim and accelerate their vehicle. The pedestrians have to jump, leap, and run for their dear life. Naturally, on account of such speed-loving people, a pedestrian’s life is hazardous in Brazil.

Question 11.
How do Mikes portray a view of Japanese culture through their act of bowing?
Answer:
According to George Mikes, as soon as we land in Japan, the first thing we notice is the mania of bowing, which is so ubiquitous in Japan. The writer comments that it is the mania of the Japanese. He remarks that everyone keeps bowing to everybody else with the ceremonious solemnity of a courtier yet with a great deal of natural and inimitable grace. If two Japanese bow, as a rule neither is to straighten up before the other stands erect in front of him. He states that bowing is quainter, more formal, and more oriental and also infectious.

Further, he says that the Japanese follow a complicated hierarchy in bowing. This system decides who bows to whom, how deeply, and for how long. Though it is a little complicated to us, the Japanese manage it without difficulty and subtly and reflect in their bowing even the smallest difference in rank, standing, age, and social position in a split second. Apart from saying that the Japanese follow a complicated hierarchy in their bowing, the author says that the Japanese follow certain basic rules inside the family. They are the wife bows to her husband, the child bows to his father, younger brothers to elder brothers, and the sister bows to all brothers of whatever age.

Question 12.
Why does George Mikes say that nobody hurries in Brazil? What instances does he give to illustrate this?
Answer:
While recording his observations about the paradoxical behaviour of the people in time management, George Mikes says that nobody hurries in Brazil and does not seem to be worried whether they reach their destination an hour too soon, a day late, or not at all. Though his statement appears to be an exaggeration, George Mikes then tells us the reason. His inference seems to be based on his imaginative assessment of the probable time a pedestrian in Copacabana takes to move from one end of a street to the next while walking on the pavement, enjoying the beauty of the black mosaics on the pavements. George Mikes says that the natives seem to relish such beautiful decorations on the pavements and do not mind spending time meditating on the beautiful mosaics while walking on the pavements.

He then cites another instance which highlights the incredible size of the crawling traffic in Avenida Presidente Vargas. Imagining that a pedestrian standing on one side of the street, asks his friend on the other side, how he got there, his friend would reply that he was born on that side and he did not go there crossing the street. This imaginary incident would tell the reader about the size of the moving traffic in Brazil.

III. Answer the following questions in about 200 words each:

Question 1.
How does the writer bring out the dilemma of crossing the road in Avenida Presidente Vargas?
OR
How does the writer bring out the humour in crossing the road in Avenida Presidente
Vargas?
OR
Why is it difficult to cross a road in Brazil? How is this brought out in ‘Traffic in Brazil’?
OR
Describe the situation, one witness, while trying to cross the road in Brazil, as mentioned by George Mikes.
Answer:
While recording his observations about the traffic in Brazil, the author comments about the reckless driving style of the Brazilian people. Then he expresses his surprise over the growing number of motor cars in Brazil, despite the fact that import duties charged by the government for importing cars are crippling and murderous, then he gives the reader an anecdote to help him visualize to himself the number of vehicles that are there and the way they move on the roads.

He tells the reader that one witness the worst traffic problems in Avenida Presidente Vargas. If a pedestrian were to stand on one side of the road, trying to cross the road and contemplating the truly fascinating problem, ‘How can crawling traffic proceed at such terrifying speed?’, he will be spending hour after hour without a ray of hope of an auspicious crossing. Then he rounds up his anecdote telling us that, the pedestrian will witness a scene in which a man standing beside you, on your side of the Avenida Vargas, suddenly catches sight of a friend of his on the other side and starts waving to him. Then he will ask him, “How did you get there?” The other fellow being surprised by this naive question will yell back, “How? I was born on this side!” One can easily infer the author’s intention in giving us this anecdote.

Question 2.
How does George Mikes bring out the humour in the Japanese mannerism of bowing?
OR
Bowing in Japan is so infectious that it leads to a few comic situations. How does Mikes bring this out?
Answer:
George Mikes narrates two very unique habits of the people noticed by every tourist in Japan. One of them is their mannerism of bowing. However, the author’s description is quite packed with humour as well as admiration. He calls the bowing habit of the Japanese a ‘mania’ and says “everybody keeps bowing to everyone else, with the ceremonious solemnity of a courtier yet with a great deal of natural and inimitable grace”. Interspersed in his description of their bowing, there are certain statements which make the description sound humorous in a subtle way. They are:

• After a few hours you start bowing yourself; you bow to the wrong man at the wrong time; you do not clasp your hands in front of you which is bad, or you do which is worse.
• If two Japanese bow, neither is to straighten up before the other stands erect in front of him.
• saw babies carried in Japanese style on their mothers’ backs in clever little saddles, and whenever the mother bowed, the baby bowed too, somewhat condescendingly, from his majestic height.
• Bowing girls in Japanese stores stand at the top of escalators and their only duty is to bow deeply and deferentially to all and sundry.
• The ticket checking conductors on the fast Tokaido Line, march to the middle of the coach and bow ceremoniously in both directions before checking the tickets.
• About the deer in ‘Nara’, the author comments, “it is something genetic and is in the blood of Japanese deer”.
• At the bus-stop, “the bowing gentlemen are transformed into savages” as soon as a bus arrives.

Question 3.
Bowing in Japan is quainter, formal, and oriental. Why does George Mikes say so? Discuss.
Answer:
According to George Mikes, bowing is so ubiquitous in Japan, it is the mania of the Japanese.
Everyone keeps bowing to everybody else with the ceremonious solemnity of a courtier yet with a great deal of natural and inimitable grace. If two Japanese bow, as a rule, neither is to straighten up before the other stands erect in front of him. He states that bowing is quainter, more formal, and more oriental and also infectious.

Besides, he also says that the Japanese follow a complicated hierarchy in bowing. This system decides who bows to whom, how deeply, and for how long. Though it is a little complicated to us, the Japanese manage it without difficulty and subtly and reflect in their bowing even the smallest difference in rank, standing, age, and social position in a split second.

Apart from saying that the Japanese follow a complicated hierarchy in their bowing, the author says that the Japanese follow certain basic rules inside the family. They are the wife bows to her husband, the child bows to his father, younger brothers to elder brother stand the sister bows to all brothers of whatever age.

Question 4.
A natural behaviour looks peculiar when seen from an outsider% eyes. How does Mikes prove this with reference to Japanese bowing?
Answer:
The excerpt titled ‘Japanese Manners’ is a good specimen of travel writing, by George Mikes, a Hungarian-born British travel writer. In this excerpt, the author shares his experience of travelling in Japan and tries to draw the readers’ attention to what is most striking about the Japanese people as seen by a touring journalist.

Though bowing to their fellowmen in Japanese society is a normal trait of Japanese behaviour, to an outsider like George Mikes, ‘bowing’ appears to be an obsession with the Japanese. That is why George Mikes chooses to comment about the bowing patterns of the Japanese in this piece of travel writing.

According to George Mikes, as soon as we land in Japan, the first thing we notice is bowing is so ubiquitous in Japan. The writer comments that it is the mania of the Japanese. He remarks that everyone keeps bowing to everybody else with the ceremonious solemnity of a courtier yet with a great deal of natural and inimitable grace. If two Japanese bow, as a rule, neither is to straighten up before the other stands erect in front of him. He states that bowing is quainter, more formal, and more oriental and also infectious.

Besides, he also says that the Japanese follow a complicated hierarchy in bowing. This system decides who bows to whom, how deeply, and for how long. Though it is a little complicated to us, the Japanese manage it without difficulty and subtly and reflect in their bowing even the smallest difference in rank, standing, age, and social position in a split second.

Apart from saying that the Japanese follow a complicated hierarchy in their bowing, the author says that the Japanese follow certain basic rules inside the family. They are the wife bows to her husband, the child bows to his father, younger brothers to elder brothers, and the sister bows to all brothers of whatever age.

Question 5.
George Mikes brings out the contrast between leisurely characters and dangerous drivers in Brazil. Explain.
Answer:
George Mikes is a keen observer of people’s behaviour, customs, and traditions. In the excerpt titled Traffic in Brazil’, Mikes says very casually that nobody hurries in Brazil and remarks that it does not really matter whether you reach your destination an hour too soon, a day late, or not at all. Next, probably with the intention of finding a suitable explanation for the leisurely attitude of the people, he tells the readers about the ‘grey pavements’ in the streets of Copacabana, which are decorated with beautiful mosaics. Then he adds that ‘only a people alive to beauty in their surroundings and who have plenty of time for contemplations during their meditative, ambulatory exercises would take the trouble to decorate the pavements they walk on. Though Mikes is appreciating the people for their aesthetic sensibility, he is also satirizing the lethargic walking style and attitude of the people.

However, in the very next sentence, he makes fun of dangerous drivers in Copacabana. Mikes remarks that the very same leisurely characters, when they get behind a steering wheel, drive very fast and are reckless. Having made a comment about their time consciousness, now, he says, “gaining a tenth of a second is a matter of grave importance for all of them all the time”. Thus, by juxtaposing two different traits of these people, George Mikes brings out the contrast between leisurely characters and dangerous drivers in Brazil.

Question 6.
People display contrasting patterns of behaviour. Substantiate in the light of’Japan and Brazil Through A Traveller’s Eye’.
Answer:
In this lesson, there are two excerpts titled ‘Japanese Manners’ and ‘Traffic in Brazil’ chosen from George Mikes’ book titled ‘The Land of the Rising Yen’ and ‘How to Tango’ respectively.

In the first excerpt, the writer gives his comments about the Japanese habit of ‘bowing’ and how they manage to respect each others’ privacy even though they are living in an overcrowded island.

In the second excerpt, the author tells us in a humorous vein about their time consciousness and their craze for driving cars recklessly.

However, he makes his travelogue memorable by highlighting the contrasting patterns of behaviour of the people of Japan as well as the people of Copacabana in Brazil.

While describing the Japanese, George Mikes tells the reader that within fifteen minutes after a tourist has landed in Japan, he or she will come to the conclusion that the people of Japan are an exquisitely well-mannered people, who live on a hopelessly overcrowded island. Then, he justifies his opinion by telling the reader how the people respect each others’ privacy by being courteous enough not to overhear a telephone conversation even though they happen to pass by a telephone booth or a counter. Next, he describes the ‘bowing’ mania of the Japanese people. Though he describes their bowing patterns in an appreciative tone, he concludes his write up highlighting a contrasting behavioural trait of the Japanese.

In a humorous tone, he tells the reader that the Japanese people who bow with such ceremonious serenity even at bus-stops, exhibit flippant behaviour almost immediately. He tells the reader that as soon as a bus arrives, the bowing gentlemen become savage-like, push each other aside, tread on each other’s toes and shove their elbows into each other’s stomachs to get into the bus.

Similarly, in his travel write up titled ‘Traffic in Brazil’, while narrating his experiences as a tourist walking through the streets of Copacabana, he comments about the time consciousness of the local people. He says very casually, “Nobody hurries in Brazil”, then he adds “it does not really matter whether you reach your destination an hour too soon, a day late, or not at all”. Then he narrates how the people decorate the grey pavements in the streets with beautiful black mosaics. Then referring to their walking style he says, ‘Only a people alive to beauty in their surroundings and who have plenty of time for contemplation during their meditative, ambulatory exercises would take the trouble to decorate the pavements they walk on.

We should note that though he appears to be appreciating the aesthetic sense of the people, there is also a tone of satirising the sluggish walking style, or the lethargic attitude of the people.

Almost immediately he juxtaposes a contrasting pattern of their behaviour. He tells the reader that the very same leisurely characters when they get behind a steering wheel, drive very fast, and are reckless. He says, “gaining a tenth of a second is a matter of grave importance for all of them all the time”. The reader cannot but infer that the people of Copacabana are very lethargic only while walking but are reckless while driving a motor car. Thus, in both the essays we find George Mikes highlighting contrasting patterns of behaviour of the people.

Japan and Brazil through a Traveller’s Eye Vocabulary

Synonyms are words with the same or similar meanings.
Provide Synonyms for the following words from the lesson. You may consult a dictionary:

1. Intimate – personal, private
2. Quaint – strange, unusual, odd
3. Majestic – royal, kingly, princely
4. Deferential – respectful
5. Solemn – courtly, majestic, stately, dignified
6. Amicably – courteously, cordially
7. Mystify – puzzle
8. Murderous – brutal, fierce, cruel, inhuman
9. Auspicious – favourable
10. Hostility – bitterness, grudge
11. Expensive – costly, dear
12. Savages – uncivilized, barbarous
13. Accelerate – speed up, quicken
14. Import – bring in, ship in
15. Complicated – complex.

Question 1.
Note the use of the following expressions in the travelogue.

1. all and sundry
2. cut in
3. by leaps and bounds
4. listen in
5. fair game
6. get into
7. lookout
8. for dear life
9. be one’s castle
10. clear cut
11. easygoing.

The meaning of each expression is given below. Match the expression with its meaning of looking at the context in which it is used
(a) definite to see or identify
(b) relaxed and happy to accept things
(c) everyone
(d) to move suddenly in front of another vehicle
(e) a place where one can be private and safe
(f) very quickly; in large amounts
(g) as hard or as fast as possible
(h) to listen to a conversation that you are not supposed to hear
(i) to develop a particular habit
(j) someone or something that should be allowed to be criticized
(k) to keep trying to find something or meet somebody.
Answer:
a – 10, b – 11, c – 1, d – 2, e – 9, f – 3, g – 8, h – 4, i – 6, j – 5, k – 7.

Additional Exercises

A. Passive Voice:

Question 1.
Privacy had a double function in Japan. Mikes ______ (surprise) to notice the Japanese attitude towards privacy. Though telephones ______ (situate) in the open, confidential business transactions ______ (conduct) with ease.
Answer:
was surprised; were situated; were conducted.

Question 2.
Bowing in Japan was closely observed by Mikes. Bowing ______ (do) in an oriental and formal manner. One’s social rank and status ______ (reflect) when two persons bowed to each other. In many cases, there were clearcut rules and they _____ (observe) without difficulty.
Answer:
was done; were reflected; were observed.

Question 3.
Mikes visited a Japanese house. He _____ (offer) a bowl of soup. While eating soup it ______ (expect) that he should make a fearful noise. He knew that if Europeans made sounds, they _____ (considered) to be ill-mannered louts.
Answer:
was offered; was expected; were considered.

Question 4.
Drivers in Brazil were very dangerous. Once they ______ (seat) behind the steering wheel, no speed was fast enough for them. If a pedestrian stepping off the pavement ______ (notice), he _______ (regard) as fair game.
Answer:
were seated; was noticed; was regarded.

B. Fill in the blanks by choosing the appropriate expressions given in brackets:

Question 1.
In Brazil, the number of motor vehicles is growing by _______, almost as if cars were distributed free of charge to ______. (all and sundry, turn a deaf ear, leaps, and bounds)
Answer:
leaps and bounds; all and sundry.

Question 2.
In Brazil, the pedestrians are, in fact, on the _____ for drivers. As soon as a driver notices a pedestrian step off the pavement, he regards him as ______. (fair game, to get into, lookout)
Answer:
lookout; fair game.

Question 3.
The deer looked into Mikes’s eyes and bowed deeply. It was no ______. He thought that if they see people bowing all the time, they _______ the habit too. (get into, come up, chance gesture)
Answer:
chance gesture; get into.

Question 4.
The war between drivers is murderous but good-tempered. They ________, overtake on both sides and force you to brake violently. Therefore a pedestrian, while crossing a road, has to jump, leap and run for ______. (dear life, fair game, cut in)
Answer:
cut in; dear life.

C. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate linkers:

Question 1.
Japanese who live on a hopelessly overcrowded island have to respect one another’s privacy _____ rather, would have to _____ they had any privacy. _____ they don’t. ______ courtesy has a double function in Japan. (but, if, or, so)
Answer:
or; if; But; So.

Question 2.
Japanese are said to be well-mannered ______ they respect each other’s privacy. You can conduct your most confidential business transactions and love-quarrels in public ______ in perfect privacy. Anybody could listen in _______ nobody does. _____ a telephone-receiver is a man’s castle in Japan. (yet, therefore, but, because)
Answer:
because; yet; but; Therefore.

Question 3.
Nobody hurries in Brazil. The people of Brazil are leisurely ______ they seem to have all the time in the world ______ decorate the pavements they walk on. ______, the drivers in Brazil drive so fast _______ every tenth of a second is of grave importance. (in order to, and, however, as though)
Answer:
and; in order to; However; as though.

Question 4.
Bowing in Japan is not only quainter but infectious. ______ spending some time in Japan, one starts bowing ______ he or she has been there forever. ______ when a person bows, it is too deep or not too deep enough _____ the outsider is not familiar with the complexities of bowing. (as though, after, however, because)
Answer:
After; as though; However; because.

Question 5.
Motor cars are extremely expensive in Brazil ______ of crippling and murderous import duties. ______ almost everyone owns a car here. ______ the roads in Brazil have heavy traffic. ______ the pedestrian’s life is becoming more hazardous every day. (thus, hence, yet, because)
Answer:
because; Yet; Thus; Hence.

Japan and Brazil through a Traveller’s Eye by George Mikes About the Writer:

George Mikes (1912 – 1987) was a Hungarian-born British artist, author, publisher, illustrator, and journalist. He studied Law and received his doctorate at Budapest University. He is best known for his humorous commentaries on various countries.

His early books included ‘We Were There To Escape’ and ‘How to be an Alien’. Subsequent books dealt with (among others) Japan (‘The Land of the Rising Yen’), Israel (‘Milk and Honey, The Prophet Motive’), the U.S. (‘How to Scrape Skies’), and the United Nations (‘How to Unite Nations’), Australia (‘Boomerang’), the British again (‘How to be Inimitable, How to be Decadent’), and South America (‘How to Tango’). Other subjects include God (‘How to be God’), his cat (‘Tsi-Tsa’), wealth (‘How to be Poor’), or philosophy (‘How to be a Guru’). His autobiography was called ‘How to be Seventy’.

In this lesson, there are two excerpts titled ‘Japanese Manners’ and ‘Traffic in Brazil’, chosen from George Mikes’ book titled ‘The Land of the Rising Yen’ and ‘How to Tango’, respectively. They are two specimens of ‘Travel writing’. The writer is a travel journalist, who presents his observations about the people of Japan and Brazil in these two articles.

In the first excerpt titled ‘Japanese Manners,’ the writer gives his comments about the Japanese habit of ‘bowing’ and how they manage to respect each others’ privacy even though they are living in an overcrowded island. The author shares his experience of travelling in Japan and tries to draw the readers’ attention to what is most striking about the Japanese people as seen by a touring journalist.

Japan and Brazil through a Traveller’s Eye Summary in English

Japanese Manners

Within fifteen minutes after you have landed in Japan, you will learn that the people of Japan are an exquisitely well-mannered people, who live on a hopelessly overcrowded island. Consequently, their living space is very limited and so they do not have any privacy, yet the people respect people’s privacy in a different way. Their ‘courtesy’ serves a double function. They exhibit such polite behaviour that their ‘courtesy’ itself serves as a substitute for privacy. The writer supports his opinion-with as an example.

For example, he says, one finds red telephones in the streets, shops, halls of hotels, etc., and the instrument is placed on a table or a counter. They do not have space to spare for telephone booths. But, any person can conduct his most confidential business transactions, even intimate love quarrels in public and in perfect privacy, without being apprehensive about any passerby overhearing you. The author emphatically says that the person’s telephone receiver is his castle.

The writer then gives his observations about the Japanese obsession with ‘Bowing’. He calls it a ‘mania’ because everybody keeps bowing to everybody else. He remarks that the people bow to each other with the solemnity of a courtier with a great deal of natural and inimitable grace. He comments that though ‘bowing’ is like shaking hands or kissing the cheek, it is quainter, more formal, and more oriental but also infectious. Then he states that bowing is so commonly seen everywhere that even the onlookers start bowing though not the right way as the Japanese do. We bow too deeply or not deeply enough or we bow to the wrong man at the wrong time. Secondly, we do not clasp our hands in front of us, which is considered a bad way, or we may clasp the hands in a bad way which is considered even worse.

Next, the writer tells us that the Japanese have a complicated hierarchy in bowing: who bows to whom, how deeply, and for how long. Then the author cites an incident that happened in America. He tells us that in one of the American states, there was a traffic law which laid down that if two cars met at an intersection, neither was to move before the other had gone. The author uses this incident to tell us that, similarly in Japan, if two Japanese bows, neither are to straighten up before the other stands erect in front of him. Though it sounds a little complicated to us, the Japanese manage it without difficulty and even the smallest difference in rank, standing, age, social position will be subtly reflected in that split second; one man’s bow will be shorter than the others’. In many cases, there are clear-cut differences in position and no difficulties.

According to the Japanese culture, the wife bows to her husband, the child bows to his father, younger brother to elder brothers, the sister bows to all brothers of whatever age. The author then recollects a sight he had seen in Japan, that of Japanese mothers carrying their babies on their backs in little saddles and whenever their mother bowed, the babies bowed too. Then there are the bowing girls in Japanese stores standing at the top of escalators, bowing deeply and deferentially to everyone. Next, the writer narrates his experience on a fast train (Tokaido Line), between Tokyo and Osaka. He tells us that two conductors enter the carriage in a theatrical style, march to the middle of the coach, bow ceremoniously in both directions, and then start checking the tickets.

Later, he narrates how even an animal like the deer do ‘bowing’. He tells the reader that in one of the parts of ‘Nara’ (Nara Park is a vast wildlife park located in the city of Nara, Japan, at the foot of Mount Wakakusa, where wild deer roam about freely), he bought a pack of food for deer. The deer came up to him, looked into his eyes, and bowed deeply. The author states that it was not a chance gesture but it was a proper and courteous bow.

The author conjectures that the deer are more imitative, and having seen the people bowing all the time, probably they also get into the habit. Then he says it may be something genetic and is in the blood of Japanese deer. Finally, he ends the incident, saying that the deer, after bowing to him, jumped at him and snatched the little food-bag from his hand.

In a humorous tone, he tells the reader that the Japanese people who bow with such ceremonious serenity even at bus-stops, exhibit flippant behaviour almost immediately. He tells the reader that as soon as a bus arrives, the bowing gentlemen become savage-like, push each other aside, tread on each other’s toes and shove their elbows into each other’s stomachs to get into the bus.

He ends his travelogue on Japan with his humorous observations about ‘soup eating’ in Japan. According to the Japanese, when eating soup you must make a fearful noise; only then will one be appreciated. If the soup eater does not make a noise, his hostess will think that the guest is an ill-mannered lout. On the other hand, if the guest makes some noise while eating soup, she will think that he is not a reasonably well brought up European because no reasonably well brought up European makes such disgusting noises when eating up the soup. The author tells jokingly that the hostess will conclude that he must be an ill-mannered lout.

Traffic in Brazil

This excerpt is taken from ‘How to Tango’, a humorous commentary on South America, by George Mikes. The author tells us in a humorous vein how the people of Brazil drive their motor vehicles. He also records his appreciation of the people’s talent for decorating their grey pavements.

The author narrates his experiences while walking as a tourist through the streets of Copacabana. The very first sentence is a comment about their time consciousness. He says very casually, “Nobody hurries in Brazil”; then he sarcastically adds, “it does not really matter whether you reach your destination an hour soon, a day late, or not at all”.

Then he turns his attention towards the grey pavements in Copacabana. He states that the grey pavements in the streets are often decorated with beautiful black mosaics which he calls ‘a unique type of decoration’. Then he gives the people of Brazil his compliments for their talent for doing such decorations. He remarks, “Only a people alive to beauty in their surroundings and who have plenty of time for contemplation during their meditative, ambulatory exercises would take the trouble to decorate the pavements they walk on”. He uses a pompous term ‘ambulatory exercises’ to refer to their walking style.

One should also note that though here he is appreciating the people for their aesthetic sense, he is also satirizing their sluggish walking style or the lethargic attitude of the people. In the very next sentence, he makes fun of their ‘driving style’. He tells the reader that the very same leisurely characters when they get behind a steering wheel, they drive very fast and are reckless. Having made a comment about their time consciousness, now he says, “gaining a tenth of a second is a matter of grave importance for all of them all the time”. The reader cannot but infer that the people of Copacabana are very lethargic only while walking and are reckless while driving vehicles.

The writer remarks that buying a motor car in Brazil is an extremely expensive event because import duty for importing cars from other countries is very high. In this context, he also compares Brazil with other countries in South America and says, “Only a few other, poorer South American states are in a worse position in this respect.” Then he remarks that “complaints are universal; hardly anyone can afford a car.” Having said this he proceeds to say that yet you find an unimaginably large number of motor cars here. Then he makes a satirical comment on the craze of the people for buying cars.

He says, “the number of motor vehicles is growing by leaps and bounds as if they were distributed free of charge to all and sundry.”The reader should be careful to note here that the author is also expressing his doubt or surprise at the capacity of the people to pay such huge import duties to buy a car.

Then he explains how reckless the people who drive motor vehicles are. He remarks that “itis, not that drivers do not care about pedestrians”; the trouble is “they are, in fact, on the lookout for them. As soon as a driver notices a pedestrian step off the pavement, the driver considers him as ‘fair game’, he takes aim and accelerates.” The pedestrian has to jump, leap, and run for dear life. In these lines, the author is trying to tell the reader how reckless the drivers are and how they chase people as hunters do while hunting an animal.

However, in the next line, he compliments the people for their sweet and sensible temperament. He tells the reader that the pedestrian does not resent being targeted by the driver. He says, “driver and pedestrian – hunter and prey smile amicably at each other, and they appear to be saying “I win today you will tomorrow”.

In the next paragraph, the author talks about the rivalry between two drivers. Though the war between two drivers appears to be murderous, yet they are good-tempered. He describes the style of their driving – they cut in, overtake on both sides, force you to brake violently and commit all the most heinous crimes on the road twenty times an hour”. Despite exhibiting such recklessness in their driving, they smile at you and do not show any anger, no hostility, and no mad hooting.

In the next paragraph, he recalls an incident he had probably witnessed in a place called Avenida Presidente Vargas. He says it is the worst place in Brazil known for its crowded and slow-moving’ traffic. His statement is paradoxical. He says, on the one hand, that driver’s drive recklessly; and here he calls the traffic ‘crawling traffic’. He says even the onlookers will be contemplating the truly fascinating problem “how can crawling traffic proceed at such terrifying speed”. One can imagine the number of vehicles moving at such terrific speed and probably it is the number of vehicles moving at a time together which makes the reader call it ‘crawling traffic’. He comments about the helplessness of the pedestrian who wishes to cross the road waiting for hours on end.

Then, he concludes narrating a jovial anecdote. He tells the reader that he might witness a situation in which a man standing beside you on your side of the road, suddenly discovers a friend of his on the other side and starts waving to him. He asks him, “How on earth did you ever get there?” The other fellow yells back, “How? I was born on this side”. The author narrates this anecdote probably to convince the reader how difficult it is to cross a busy road in Avenida Vargas.

Japan and Brazil through a Traveller’s Eye Summary in Kannada

Glossary:

• Mania: obsession, a craze
• Condescend: stoop, humiliate
• Genetic: hereditary, inherited
• Subtly: delicate, cunning, elusive
• Tokaido, Osaka, and Tokyo: places in Japan
• Serenity: peacefulness, calmness
• Heinous: hateful, wicked
• Copacabana, Avenida, Presidente Vargas: places in Brazil

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