Important questions of Flamingo (English 12th class)

KEEPING QUIET - BY PABLO NERUDA

Q1. Why does Pablo Neruda urge us to keep still?

ANS. Stillness is necessary for reflection and quiet introspection. We can hear the voice of our conscience and thus withdraw ourselves from undesirable actions and contribute to create a society of peace and mutual understanding.

Q2. ’Under the apparent stillness there is life’. Justify.

ANS. The poet does not want to equate stillness with total inactivity. Under the apparent stillness there is life. We can learn it from the earth when everything seems dead, the earth still remains alive. The life on earth goes on under the apparent stillness.

Q3. Why do men become sad? How can this sadness be overcome?

ANS. Men fail to understand themselves. They are always threatening themselves with death. When they do not understand themselves they become sad. A long silence might interrupt this sadness and make them good.

GIST OF THE POEM

· The poet talks about the need of silence and quiet introspection and the importance of quietude and calmness. He also talks about creating a feeling of mutual understanding among human beings.

· The poet asks us to keep still and count up to twelve. He also asks us to sit still. For a moment we should not speak any language. We should not move our arms so much.

· It will be a moment of complete silence without rush or worry. This would be an exotic moment.

· Then a sudden strangeness will prevail which we will all enjoy. It will be bliss.

· The fisherman would not harm the whales on the cold sea. Even the man gathering salt would stop working and look at his hurt hands and reflect at the pain and harm his strenuous task has caused him.

· All kinds of wars must be stopped at once. The green wars against the environment, wars with poisonous gases, firearms, must be stopped at once.

· People who are all the time preparing for wars leaving no survivors behind ought to find time to wear clothes and walk around with their brothers strengthening the message of peace and brotherhood.

· At the same time the poet cautions not to confuse stillness with total inactivity. Life is an ongoing process and should not be associated with death. It is to be lived with positive attitude.

· He does not want us to ruminate over death.

· But he feels that if for once we do not focus ourselves single-mindedly to keep our lives moving but do some introspection or spend some time in silence doing nothing, we can understand ourselves better and escape from the threatening calls of death.

· The earth can teach us a lesson how everything comes to a dead end and comes to life again.

· In the same manner a quiet introspection can bring all evil thoughts to an end and bring in a new life of peace and tranquility.

· Now the poet will count up to twelve and they should keep quiet and he will go.

A THING OF BEAUTY by JOHN KEATS

Short Answer Questions:

(a) What according to Keats are the things that cause suffering and pain?

The poet says that a scarcity of good-natured people or in other words the wicked people outnumber the good people. And the source of all our sorrows is either ill-health or another human being.

(b) What makes human beings love life in spite of all the suffering?

Answer: The poet says that the beautiful things on earth lifts the pall off our spirits and make life worth living. Each beautiful thing is like a link that forms a chain or wreath that binds us to this earth.

(c) Why does the poet say ‘mighty dead’?

Answer: Monuments are erected in memory of people who were mighty or great when they lived. Physically mighty as in mighty warriors or mentally might as in great poets, writers or philosophers. Their tombs provide inspiration for the living through their beauty just as their works continue to do.

a. What does ‘in spite of all’ refer to?

The expression refers to all the pessimistic and negative thoughts that obstruct our way to happiness. In spite of the sense of hopelessness and gloom that overshadow and darken our way, we are able to find our happiness in the beautiful objects on nature.

b. What, according to the poet, drives away the sadness from our life?

Beauty, in shape or form, helps in driving away the sadness and despair from the dark recesses of our spirit.

c. What does the reference ‘simple sheep’ symbolize?

Lambs and sheep are envisioned as the embodiments of innocent and serene beauty. Jesus Christ, as an apostle of peace, was a shepherd and was seen surrounded by his flock of sheep, his followers. The poet has made specific reference to the sheep as symbols of ‘divine beauty’.

AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS By ADRIENNE RICH

SHORT ANSWER QUESTION S

1. How do Aunt Jennifer’s tiger look like?

The tigers, made by Aunt Jennifer on the screen, are jumping and playing about without any fear of the men beneath the tree. They walk in elegance and style displaying the spirit of courage, fearlessness, strength and confidence.

2. What do the tigers made by the Aunt symbolize?

The tigers made by Aunt Jennifer symbolize the spirit of courage, strength and fearlessness Aunt Jennifer, a victim of male oppression, expresses her crushed feelings in the form of art. So, the tigers are symbolic of the fear of male domination with which Aunt Jennifer suffers.

3. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer’s hands are fluttering through her wool? Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull?

Aunt Jennifer is victimized by the overbearing and dominant nature of her husband. Her life has

Become a torture due to her suppression by her atrocious husband. The fear of her authoritative husband has gone so deep into her being that she seems to have lost all strength and energy. Thus her hands shake and flutter so much that she is not even able to pull the needle through the tapestry.

4. What do you understand by “massive weight of uncle’s wedding band”?

Generally ‘wedding band’ is a symbol of joy and happiness. But in case of Aunt Jennifer, it has

Become a symbol of torture and oppression. Her relationship with her authoritative husband has become a painful burden to carry. Her ‘wedding band’ has brought her a world of pain, misery and torture. She has lost her freedom and entered a world of humiliation and oppression.

5. Explain ’her terrified hands will lie, still ringed with the ordeals she was mastered by’.

These lines convey Aunt’s complete submission to the oppressive authority of her husband. The

Fear of her husband has gone so deep into her being that even death cannot liberate her from the chains of her mental suppression. Memories of her husband’s tortures and atrocities which bent her into a humiliating slavery will continue to haunt her even after her death.

6. Explain ‘The tigers in the panel------------proud and unafraid.’

Here the tigers symbolize the unquestioned authority of man enjoyed by him over his woman counterpart. The lines suggest the dispassionate and unconcerned attitude of the male towards the desire for freedom among women. Here, Aunt Jennifer tries to find an escape in her art but ends up portraying an image of her own suppression. While woman can never free herself from the oppressive authority of her male counterpart, the male, on the other hand will go on enjoying his authoritative arrogance and ferocity without any fear of regrets.

The Last lesson- Alphonse Daudet

1.      What unusual things did Franz notice when he reached his school?

The school usually began with great bustle. Lots of sounds and noises could be heard in the street. For example, the opening the opening and closing of desks could be heard. Children repeated their lessons loudly in unison. The rapping of the teacher’s rod on the table could also be heard. But that day it was all quiet. It was as quiet as Sunday morning. Franz could see through the window that his classmates were already in their seats. The teacher was walking up and down in the classroom. He had his terrible iron rod under his arm. Franz opened the door and went in. he was terribly frightened.

2.      What particular things did Franz notice when he took his seat in the classroom?

The first thing Franz noticed was his teacher’s very fine dress. He was wearing a beautiful green coat and a frilled shirt. He had a little black silk cap. It was all embroidered. Mr. Hamel never wore it except on inspection and prize days. The whole school seemed very strange. But the thing that surprised Franz most was at the back of the room. The village people were sitting on the back benches. They were as quiet as the children in the class. They included old Hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster, and many others. Everybody looked sad. Hauser had brought with him an old primer. He was holding it open on his knees. His great spectacles were lying across the pages.

3.                  What was Mr. Hamel’s opening words to the class and what effect did these words have on Franz?

Mr. Hamel said in a very gentle tone, “My children, this is the last lesson I shall give you. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master comes tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive.” These words were to Franz like a thunderclap. It was going to be his last lesson and he hardly knew how to write. He was full of regret for not learning his lessons. His book had always seemed to him a nuisance. He thought them too heavy to carry. But now he saw them as good old friends that he could not give up. It was a big shock to him that Mr. Hamel was going away and he would never see him again. He forgets all about his ruler and his cranky nature. He was to him now a very lovable and respectable person.

4.                  What did Mr. Hamel ask Franz to recite and what was the result?

Mr. Hamel asked Franz to recite the rule for participles. But Hamel got mixed up on the first words. He kept standing and holding on to his desk. His heart was beating fast. He did not dare to look up. Mr. Hamel did not scold him. He only said that it was a bad habit to say, “I’ll learn tomorrow.” He said that it was the trouble with all people of that district. Mr. Hamel blamed Franz’s parents also. He said that they were anxious to put him to some work and thus have a little more money. And then he said, “I have been to blame also. Have I not often sent you to water my flowers instead of learning your lessons? And when I wanted to go fishing, did I not just give you a holiday?”

5.                  Reproduce in your words the things that took place after the church-clock had stuck twelve.

When the church clock struck twelve, there were sounds of Angelus (midday Roman Catholic prayer). At the same moment, the trumpets of the Prussian Soldiers were heard. They were returning from their drill. Mr. Hamel stood up from his chair; he was looking very pale and tall. He began to say, “My friends, I…..I….” But something choked him. He could not go on. He turned to the blackboard and took a piece of chalk. Then using all his might he wrote as large as he could. “Long Live France! “ What a great patriot Mr. Hamel was!   

Lost spring – Anees Jung

1.                   How does the writer describe Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi?

Seemapuri  is a slum area. About 10000 rag pickers live here. They live in structures of mud. They have roofs of tin and tarpaulin. There is no sewage, drainage or running water. Those who live here came from Bangladesh in 1971. They have no identity or permits. But they have rations cards. They have no identity or permits. But they have ration cards. They have their names on voter’s lists. But to them food is more important than anything else. They pitch their tents wherever they can find food. For them rag picking means survival. Garbage to them means gold. It is their daily bread. It is a roof over their heads. For children it is more. For them, it is a thing wrapped in wonder. When they find a silver coin in a heap of garbage, they don’t stop probing it. They have always a hope of finding more.

2.                   Write a brief note on the town of Firozabad.

Firozabad is a dirty town. It is famous for its bangles. Every other family here is engaged in making bangles. It is the center of India’s glass blowing industry. For generation, families in Firozabad have been working around glass furnaces. They weld glass and make bangles for all the women in the land. But these people have always been poor. They have to work in the high temperatures. They have to work in the dingy cells without air and light. About 20000 children have to work in dark places all day long. Their eyes get more adjusted to the dark then to the light outside. Many of them lose their eyesight even before they become adults. The poor bangle makers lead a miserable life. They are exploited by middleman, policeman, saahukars, bureaucrats and politicians. 

3.                   What did the writer see when Mukesh took him to his home?

The writer saw that it was a slum area. The lanes were stinking. They were choked with garbage. The homes looked hovels. Their walls were crumbling. The doors were wobbly. There were no windows. The homes were crowded with humans and animals living together. Mukesh’s home was like a half built shack. In one part of it, a firewood stove had a large vessel on it. A frail young woman was cooking the evening meal. She was the wife of Mukesh’s elder brother. When Mukesh’s father came in, she brought her veil closer to her face. The old man was a poor bangle maker. Even after long years of hard work, he had failed to renovate his house. He could not send his two sons to school. Mukesh’s grandmother was also there. Her husband had gone blind with dust from the polishing of glass bangles. She called it his Karma.

4.                   What does the writer note about Savita and others in her home?

The writer sees that Savita is a young girl. She is in a dull pink dress. An elderly woman is sitting beside her. She is probably Savitaa’s mother. Savita is soldering pieces of glass.  Her hands Aare moving mechanically. She is making bangles but perhaps she does not about their sanctity. They are the symbols of Indian woman’s suhaag. Savita will not come to know of it when she herself becomes a bride one day. Then her hands will be dyed red with henna. Red bangles will be rolled out into her wrists. The old woman became a bride many years ago. She still has her bangles on her wrist. But there is no light in her eyes. There is no joy in her voice. She says that she has not enjoyed even one meal in all her life. Her husband is an old man. He has a flowing beard. He says that he knows nothing except bangles. However, he feels some consolation in saying that he has made a house for his family to live in.

3 Deep Water by William Douglas

1.     How did the instructor build a swimmer out of Douglas?

The instructor was a very experienced and patient person. He used a novel method to train the writer in swimming. He put a belt round the writer. A rope was attached to the belt. It went through a pulley. The pulley ran over on an overhead cable. The instructor held onto the end of the rope. Thus the writer went back and forth across the pool. He practiced for many weeks. The tension began to grow less. Then the instructor taught him to exhale under the water and exhale above water. The writer repeated thi9s exercise hundreds of time. Bit by bit, he lost some of his old fear. Next the instructor taught him to kick with his legs. Thus, piece by piece, the instructor built out of the writer a swimmer. Then he integrated all the pieces nicely. And at last he said “now you can swim. Dive off and swim the length of the pool”. The writer was able to do it.

2.     How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?

After getting his training from the instructor, Douglas still had some old fears. He feared that his terror would come back to him when he would be alone in the water. So he tried once again. He dived into the pool and swam the length up and down. Little memories of the old terror come to him, but he drove all fears out of his mind. This went for four months. But he was still not satisfied. He was not sure that his fear had left. So he went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire. He swam two miles across the lake. The old fear returned a little. But soon all fear fled and he swam on. On another occasion he went and camped by the side of warm lake. The next morning he dived into the lake. He swam across to other shore and back. He had conquered his fear of water.

3.     What was the ‘misadventure’ at the Y.M.C.A pool that the writer speaks about?

The misadventure referred to happened at the Y.M.C.A swimming pool. The writer had joined the pool to learn to swim. One day he was sitting alone on the side of the pool. There was no one there. He was afraid of going into the water alone. So he was waiting for others to come. Suddenly a big boy came in. he picked the writer up and tossed him into the pool. The writer was frightened but not much. He at once went to the bottom of the pool. On the way down, he made a plan. He would hit the bottom and make a big jump to the surface. But he came up very slowly. He could see nothing but water. He grew panicky. Twice he tried to jump, but the jump made no difference. At last he stopped all efforts. He relaxed. There was no more panic. Everything blanked out. The curtain of life fell. But luckily, before he was dead, he was taken out of the pool and saved.  

4.     The Rattrap by Selma Lagerlof

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

There is a different of the poles between the ironmaster and his daughter. The ironmaster is a very practical person. He makes a regular visit to his forgery to see that the work is done well.  He sees a stranger man there and takes him for an old regimental acquaintance. He offers to make him home for the night. He also wants to do something to help him out of his misery. But when he realizes his mistake he is awfully angry. He at once asks there peddler to get out of his house. But the ironmaster’s daughter is quite different. She sees that the peddler is in no way to blame. He never pretended to be a captain. It was only a mistake of her father.  The young girl sees the peddler only as a poor hungry man. Her only motive is to make him feel at home on Christmas Eve. We can say that the peddler from being caught in the rattrap of the world.

2.       What made the peddler finally change his ways?

We can say that it ids the ironmaster’s daughter who proves an angel in the peddler’s life. When her father comes to know his mistake, he at once orders the peddler to leave his home. But the daughter at once comes to his rescue. She says that it was none of the peddler’s fault. It was only a mistake. She makes her father give in. she tries her best to make the poor hungry man feel at home. Her kindness and sympathy transforms the peddler completely. While leaving, he leaves a small packet for her as a Christmas present. In it, there is a small rattrap, three wrinkled ten krona notes and a letter. The letter says, “Since you have been nice to me all day long, I want to be nice top you, in return…. You can give back to money to the owner old man on the roadside…. The rattrap is a Christmas present from a rat that would have been caught in the world’s rattrap if he had not been raised to captain.

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

The world has rightly been compared to the big rattrap. All the things of comfort and luxury are mere baits. All the lands, villages, cities, seas and countries are also nothing more than baits. These things have never excited for any other purpose. They offer joys and riches. They offer food and shelter. They offer heat and clothing. But they are all exactly as the rattrap offers cheese and pork as bait for the rats. Rattraps have baits for rats.  The rattrap of the world has baits of its own kind for men. As soon as anyone is tempted to touch the bait, the rattrap closes in on him.  Then there is no any escape. Some people have already landed themselves in the snare. They keep going round and round in it, finding no way to escape. There are others who are still circling round the bait. Sooner or later, they too will catch in it.   

INDIGO by Louis Fischer

1.       Write a brief note on the sharecropping system in champaran.

There were big indigo states in the districts of chaamaaparan. All these belonged to the British planters. The peasants working on these estates were all Indians. By an ancient long term co0ntract, the planters had bound the peasants to a cruel system. Under this agreement, the peasants had to plant indigo on 15 percent of the land. The entire produce went as a rent to their landlords. This system was irksome too the peasants but they were helpless. Then it was known own that synthetic indigo had been developed by the Germany. The British planters now found that producing natural indigo on their lands was not profitable. So they forced the peasants to give compensation for releasing them from the contract. It was grave injustice and the peasants opposed to it. There was a long struggle under Gandhiji’s leadership. The landlords agreed to return 25 percent of the compensation they had extracted illegally. Thus at last the sharecropping system came to an end. By and by, the British planters left their estates. These lands now came back to the actual peasants.

2.       Who was Raj Kumar shukla?  How did he take Gandhiji to chaamparan and why?

Rajkumaar shukla was a poor peasant from champaran. He was a man of iron determination. He met Gandhiji 1916 at Luck now. It was during the annual convention of the Indian national congress. He requested Gandhiji to accompany him to Champaran. There he wanted him t5o see the miserable plight of the sharecroppers. Ghandhiji was very busy at the time. He head to go to several parts of the India. But Shukla followed him to wherever he went. Impressed by the Shukla’s tenacity, Gandhiji asked him to meet him in Calcutta. On the appointed day and place, the two met at Calcutta. From there they went been the train to Patna. Shukla wanted to introduce Gandhiji to Rajendra Prasad there but later was out of town. Now they proceeded for Champaaran. On the way, Gandhiji stayed at Muzzafarpur. There he wanted to collect all the information he could about the plight of the sharecroppers. Thus at last Shukla was able to take Gaandhiji to champaran.

3.       Why do you think Gandhiji considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?

Champaran was a new experience for Gandhiji. Here he came to understand the common Indian people and the British rulers in a better manner. He saw that the common Indians could be taught to be brave. They had the courage to fight for their rights. They followed him faithfully. They understood him well. The Champaran episode also broke they myth of the dreadful British power. Gandhiji was ordered first to leave Tirhut but he refused. Again he got notice to leave the champaran immediately. Gandhiji received the notice but wrote on it that he would disobey the order. At the court, he gave sound reasons for it. He said that he was no law breaker. But he had to do his moral duty to his people. Thousands of people rallied in support of Gandhiji. The government was confused. At last the case against Gandhiji had to be dropped. Thus Gandhiji found that the British could not order him about in his own country. The myth of their dreadful power was broken.

4.       What did Gandhiji do in respect of the cultural and social backwardness in the Champaran villages?

Gandhiji noticed the cultural and social backwardness in the Chamaparan villages. He wanted to do something about it he appealed to the teachers. Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh were two young men who had just joined Gandhiji as disciples. They and their wives volunteered themselves for the work. Several more came from Bombay, Poona and other parts of the country. Gandhiji’s wife Kasturba Gandhi and his youngest son Devdas arrived from the Ashram. Primary schools were opened in six villages. Kasturba Gandhi taught the rules on personal cleanliness and community sanitation. Health conditions were miserable. Gandhiji got a doctor to volunteer his services for six months. Three medicines were available- castor oil, quinine and sulphur ointment. Anybody who showed a coated tongue was given a dose of castor oil. Anyone with malaria fever received quinine plus castor oil. And one with skin eruptions received ointment plus castor oil.