Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Questions and Answers & Summary

Poem 1 Abhisara-The Tryst Questions and Answers

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Summary, Questions and Answers

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Write a critical appreciation of Tagore’s Abhisara – the Tryst.
Answer:
Abhisara – the Tryst is the translated version of his Sanyasi Upagupta, which Tagore himself translated in English in 1916. The poem is about Upagupta a Buddhist monk and a courtesan named Vasavadatta who stand as a sharp contrast to each other all because of their contrasting nature.

While Vasavadatta stands as a potential symbol of youth, glamour and elegance, Upagupta is the symbol of simplicity and selflessness. Tagore intends to establish that youth and pomp are ephemeral and all that is valued in the world is love and care advocated by Upagupta.

Abhisara – the Tryst begins when monsoon hits Mathura. A Buddhist monk, Upagupta is found sleeping on the dusty pavements near the city wall of Mathura. The street lamps are out. The doors are locked as people inside are in profound sleep.

The stars in the sky are capped in the clouds of August and silence reigns everywhere. Vasavadatta a courtesan, breaks the silence with her tinkling anklets and wakes Upagupta as she bumps on his breast.

Lowering her lamps, she discovers the saintly face of Upagupta which overwhelms her. She begs forgiveness for her unintentional bump with the sage and Courteously invites Upagupta in her house. The dusty pavement is after all not “a fit bed” for him.

Upagupta denies coming with her but vows come to her only “when the time is ripe”. The sky is instantly – blazed with furious thunderstorms, terrorizing the courtesan with some unknown threat. She hurries back home while lightening continues growing violent in the sky.

Spring arrives meanwhile. The world around looks colourful with flowers on the branches of the roadside trees. Sweet melodies of flute are audible from a far distance. Upagupta the young hermit-strolls alone through deserted streets before stopping at the base of the city wall. A woman is found lying in the shade of the mango grove.

Upagupta recognizes her. She is Vasavadatta, banished by the city folk because of contracting a deadly plague. Upagupta sits beside her, puts her forehead on his lap and gives her water to wet her lips. He then cleans her sores and smears her body with sandalwood balm.

Feeling better the woman asks who he is. Upagupta reminds her that the time has come at last to meet Vasavadatta and that he is here. The bounteous heart of Upagupta is established as he nurses Vasavadata when people banished her due to fear of contagion.

Question 2.
Abhisara – the Tryst is a poem which spreads the message of love and compassion. Discuss with close reference to the poem.
Answer:
Abhisara – the Tryst advocates the ‘idea that love and compassion are all that the world needs particularly when in trouble like Vasavadatta, the courtesan of Mathura. Vasavadatta however is the symbol of pomp and pride which are of ephemeral nature. The society which she entertains finally ostracizes her when plague hits her badly.

Upagupta, a Buddhist monk only stays beside her. His compassion shows the world that love and care have magical power to heal even a perilous disease like plague. While Upagupta stands as a symbol of humanity, the society of Vasavadatta is a potential symbol of inhumanity and selfishness. Here lies the difference between the world of an ascetic and the world driven by materialistic pleasure.

For the first time, Vasavadatta meets Upagupta on the dusty pavement where the hermit was sleeping. She wakes him up with her unintentional bump in his breast. Instead of being annoyed, Upagupta continues staring at her with compassion. The courtsan is at once moved by the polite gesture of the hermit and courteously invites him in her house.

She says that the dusty pavement is not a “fit bed” for Upagupta. But, Upagupta turns down her invitation saying that he will come to her when the time is ripe. Terror strikes in the heart of Vasavadatta who hurries back to home while lightening continues growing violent in the sky. The second meeting establishes the bounteous heart of Upagupta.

While wandering through the deserted streets, Upagupta discovers Vasavadatta lying in the shades of mango grove. Plague has almost ruined her youth. The townsfolk whom she once entertained with  her dance have thrown her out due to fear of contagion. Upagupta sits beside her, puts her forehead on his lap, gives her water to wet her lips, cleans her sores and smears her body with sandal wood balm.

Feeling better, Vasavadatta demands to know that who is the “merciful one” that nurses her when the world has ostracized her. Upagupta replies that the time has come at last to meet her again and that he is here. Tagore intends to show that the unkind human world badly needs the lesson of humanity which Upagupta tutors through his care for the sick and infirm Vasavadatta.

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
With close reference to the text describe the character of Upagupta.
Answer:
Upagupta is a Buddhist monk, revered even by Emperor Ashoka. He is found sleeping on the dusty pavement near the city wall of Mathura. Upagupta’s benevolence is established towards the end of the poem when he rescues the courtesan named Vasavadatta.

Infected with deadly plague, Vasavadatta is found lying in the shade of the mango grove as she is banished by the townsfolk because of the fear of contagion. Upagupta sits beside her, puts her forehead on his lap and gives her water to wet her lips. He then cleans her sores and smears her body with sandalwood balm. Feeling better the woman asks who he is. Upagupta reminds her that the time has come at last to meet Vasavadatta again and that he is here.

The first meeting occurred in the month of August when Vasavadatta courteously invites the morrk to come to her house finding him resting on the dusty pavement. Upagupta is thus, endowed with divine power which aids him to foresee the danger in Vasavadatta’s life. He keeps his words and establishes his bounteous heart once he nurses Vasavadata with love and care.

Question 2.
With close reference to the poem describe the character of Vasavadatta.
Answer:
Vasavadatta is a beautiful young “dancing girl” who experiences a reversal of fortune towards the end of the poem. Dressed in blue shawl she looks elegant with jewels studded all over her body. Her courteous nature is established once she bumps on Upagupta’s breast and instantly begs forgiveness.

Even she invites Upagupta in her house as the dusty pavement is not “a fit bed” for him. Upagupta’s avowal that he will meet her only when the “time is ripe” strikes terror in her heart and she instantly disappears while lightening continues growing violent in the sky.

In the spring Vasavadatta is again found. She is now banished by the cityfolk whom she once entertained. Infected with deadly plague, Vasavadatta is left alone in the shade of the mango grove where Upagupta shows up before her. He puts her forehead on his lap, gives her water to wet her lipsy cleans her sores and smears her body with sandalwood balm.

Feeling better, Vasavadatta demands to know that who is the “merciful one” that nurses her when the world has ostracized her. Upagupta replies that the time has come at last to meet Vasavadatta again and that he is here. Vasavadatta’s story counsels us that youth and pomp are ephemeral and all that is valued in the world is love and care, advocated by Upagupta.

Question 3.
Describe the first meeting between Upagupta and the young dancing girl, Vasavadatta.
Answer:
The first meeting between Upagupta and Vasavadatta occurs when the city of Mathura was hit by monsoon. It was a dark night. The stars in the sky were capped in the clouds of August. The street lights were off and the people were locked in their room. Upagupta was sleeping on the dusty pavements near the city wall of Mathura.

While heading towards home, a city dancer named Vasavadatta bumps on with the breast of Upagupta. Lowering her lamps, she discovers the saintly face of Upagupta which overwhelms her. She begs forgiveness for her unintentional bump with the sage and courteously invites Upagupta in her house. The dusty pavement is after all not “a fit bed” for him. Upagupta denies coming with her but vows come to her only “when the time is ripe”. The sky blazed with furious thunderstorm, and Vasavadatta hurries back home terrified with sage’s prophesy.

Question 4.
Describe the sencond meeting between Upagupta and the young dancing girl, Vasavadatta.
Answer:
The second meeting between Upagupta and Vasavadatta occurs when the city of Mathura was hit by the boisterous spring. Colourful flowers bloomed on the branches of the roadside trees and the melody of flute came floating by in the evening from a far distance. The moon overhead illumed the lonely streets where Upagupta was seen waking alone amidst the love-sick tunes of koels.

Suddenly he discovered Vasavadatta lying in the shade of the mango grove. Because of contracting a dangerous plague, the townsfolk had banished her due to fear of contagion. But Upagupta however keeps his words.

Sitting beside the ailing dancer, he puts her forehead on his lap and gives her water to wet her lips. He then cleans her sores and smears her body with sandalwood balm. Finally he reminds Vasavadatta that the time at last has come to meet her and that he is here.

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Question 1.
Upagupta is the disciple of ………….
a. Lord Shiva
b. Lord Vishnu
c. Lord Buddha
d. Lord Brahma
Answer:
c. Lord Buddha

Question 2.
In which city was Upagupta found sleeping?
a. Lucknow
b. Varanasi
c. Gaya
d. Mathura
Answer:
d. Mathura

Question 3.
It was the month of when Upagupta was found sleeping
a. September
b. August
c. April
d. Mayz
Answer:
b. August

Question 4.
Whose feet touched the breast of Upagupta?
a. A young man
b. A young boy
c. A girl named Vasavadatta
d. An old lady
Answer:
c. A girl named Vasavadatta

Question 5.
Who was Vasavadatta?
a. A priest
b. A singer
c. A dancer
d. A painter
Answer:
c. A dancer

Question 6.
How did Vasavadatta see the face of Upagupta?
a. In faint moonlight
b. In broad daylight
c. By thelight of stars
d. By lowering her lamp
Answer:
d. By lowering her lamp

Question 7.
What did Vasavadatta offer to Upagupta?
a. Food
b. Cloth
c. To come to her house and rest
d. Water
Answer:
c. To come to her house and rest.

Question 8.
When does Upagupta promise to come to Vasavadatta?
a. In autumn
b. The next year
c. When the time will ripe
d. In summer
Answer:
c. When the time will ripe

Question 9.
Why did Vasavadatta tremble hearing Upagupta’s promise?
a. Because it started raining suddenly
b. Because of sudden thunder and lightening
c. Because she anticipated some dreadful event in her life
d. Because she was in doubt whether Upagupta would keep his words
Answer:
c. Because she anticipated some dreadful event in her life

Question 10.
Name the two months mentioned in the poem
a. April and June
b. March and April
c. April and May
d. April and August
Answer:
d. April and August

Question 11.
What happens to Vasavadatta towards the end of the poem?
a. She dies
b. She was caught with plague
c. She was in debt
d. She disappeared from the town
Answer:
b. She was caught with plague

Question 12.
What does Upagupta do finding Vasavadatta lying.
a. He ran away
b. He nursed her
c. He called people around
d. He cried
Answer:
b. He nursed her

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Summary

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Introduction

Tagore’s Abhisara – the Tryst is the translated version of his Sanyasi Upagupta, which first appeared in a collection of verses named Fruit Gathering. The poem was translated in English by Tagore himself In 1916. Upagupta a Buddhist monk, revered even by Emperor Ashoka, accidentally meets a dancer named Vasavadatta and vows that he will meet her again when actually she needs him.

The monk reappears at the time of perilous plague and nurses the dancer with compassion, when she is ostracized from the society. Upagupta’s righteousness, his simplicity and selflessness is a sheer contrast to the pomp and elegance of Vasavadatta, the beautiful dancer.

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Summary

Amidst pitch-black darkness Upagupta, a Buddhist monk is found sleeping on the dusty pavements near the city wall of Mathura. The street lamps are out. The doors are locked with people inside, enjoying profound sleep. The stars in the sky are capped in clouds of August and silence reigns all around. The tinkling of the anklets breaks the silence of the night as a courtesan tiptoes on the street. She is Vasavadatta a beautiful young girl who bumps on the breast of Upagupta and wakes him up.

Upagupta is at once shocked but, remains calm with his merciful eyes fixed on Vasavadatta. The young courtesan is dressed in blue shawl and studded with jewels. It seems as if she is drenched in youth as she looks remarkably beautiful.

Vasavadatta lowers her lamp and discovers the saintly face of Upagupta. She is overwhelmed and begs forgiveness for her unintentional bump with the sage. Courteously she invites the monk in her house as the dusty pavement is not worth for him to sleep. Upagupta turns down the offer but, vows to come to her only when the time comes. The sky is suddenly blazed with furious thunderstorm, terrorizing the courtesan with some unknown threat. She hurries back home while lightening continues growing violent in the sky.

Mean while, spring arrives and the world around becomes colourful with flowers grown on the branches of the roadside trees. The April nights are glorified by the sweet melodies of distant flutes. People are all gathered in the nearby forest to enjoy the flower festival. The moon overhead showers its rays upon the empty – streets where Upagupta, the young hermit walks alone amidst the love-sick tunes of koels from the mango grove. -Upagupta stops at the foot of the city wall.

He finds a woman lying in the shade of the mango grove. The woman contracted a dangerous plague that leaves scars all over her body. She is banished from the city for fear of contagion. Upagupta sits beside her, puts her forehead on his lap and gives her water to wet her lips. He then cleans her sores and smears her body with sandalwood balm. Feeling better the woman asks who he is. Upagupta reminds her that the time has come at last to meet her and that he is here.

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Paraphrase

Lines 1 to 4:

Amidst pitch-black darkness Upagupta, a Buddhist monk is found sleeping on the dusty pavements near the city wall of Mathura. The street lamps are out. The doors are locked with people inside, enjoying profound sleep. The stars in the sky are capped in the * clouds of August and silence reigns all around.

Lines 5 to 10:

The tinkling of the anklets breaks the silence of the night as a courtesan tiptoes on the street. She is Vasavadatta a beautiful young girl who bumps on the breast of Upagupta and wakes him up. Upagupta is shocked at once but, remains calm with his merciful eyes fixed on Vasavadatta. The young courtesan is dressed in blue shawl and studded with jewels. It seems as if she is drenched in youth as she looks remarkably beautiful.

Lines 11 to 16:

Vasavadatta lowers her lamp and discovers the saintly face of Upagupta. She is s overwhelmed and begs forgiveness for her unintentional. bump with the sage. Courteously she invites the monk in her house as the dusty pavement is not worth for him to sleep.

Upagupta at once turns down the offer but, vows to come to her only when the time comes. The sky is suddenly blazed with a furious thunder storm terrorizing the courtesan with some unknown threat. She hurries back home while lightening continues growing violent in the sky.

Lines 17 to 21:

Spring arrives and the world around ‘ becomes colourful with flowers, grown on the branches of the roadside trees. The April nights are glorified by the sweet melody of the flute, audible from a far distance. People are all gathered in the nearby forest to enjoy the flower festival. The moon overhead showers its rays upon the empty streets where Upagupta, the young hermit walks alone amidst the love-sick tunes of koels; from the mango grove.

Lines 22 to 32:

Upagupta stops at the foot of the city wall. He finds a woman lying in the shade of the mango grove. The woman contracted a dangerous plague that leaves scars all over her body. She is banished from the, city for fear of contagion.

Upagupta sits beside her, puts her forehead on his lap and gives her water to wet her lips. He then cleans her sores and smears her body with „ sandalwood balm. Feeling better the woman asks who he is. Upagupta reminds her that the time has come at last to meet Vasavadatta and that he is here.

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Annotations with Comments

Lines 1 to 8

disciple : follower
murky : gloomy
tinkling : soft sound made by tiny bells
anklets : Ghungroos, an ornament worn round an ankle
startles: surprised
forgiving: tender and loving

Lines 9 to 16

starred : decorated
clouded covered
mantle : shawl
wine of her youth : refers to her youthful beauty. This is an example of metaphoro
austerely : severely simple
ascetic : monk
graciously : kindly
dusty earth : the dusty pavement
time is ripe : time will come
showed its teeth : broke into lightning

Lines 17 to 35:

growled : to snarl (as if the terrible sound of storm validates the monk’s prediction
aching : bending over by the weight of fruits and flowers
gay : happy
afar : far
gazed : looked down
plaint : complain
rampart : structure
pestilence : plague
driven away : thrown away, ostracized
moistened : wetted
smeared : applied
merciful : kind at heart

Comment:

The time, at last, has come to visit you: The prediction of the ascetic finally comes true. As the time is ripe now, Upagupta shows up before Vasavadatta to save her from dying a horrible death. Patiently he sits beside her, puts her forehead on his lap, gives her water to wet her lips, cleans her sores and smears her body with sandalwood balm. Upagupta’s benevolence is established as he nurses a woman whom all have abandoned due to fear of contagion.

Rhapsody: A Collection of ISC Poems Workbook Answers

In the Bazaars of Hyderabad Poem Questions and Answers & Summary by Sarojini Naidu

In the Bazaars of Hyderabad Poem Questions and Answers & Summary by Sarojini Naidu

OU Degree 1st Sem English – In the Bazaars of Hyderabad Poem Questions and Answers & Summary

Comprehension – l.

Answer the following questions in 80-100 words.

Question 1.
Describe the variety of articles the goldsmiths make. Who will buy these things?
Answer:
When the poet goes up to the goldsmiths and asks them what they are making. They reply that they are making wristlet, anklet and ring to adorn us and are making bells to be tied to the feet of blue pigeons. And the bells are as thin and lightweight as the wings of a dragonfly.

They are also making golden girdles (belts or cords worn around waist) for the dancers and golden sheaths for keeping the king’s swords. Thus the goldsmiths are making a variety of articles which are bought by commoners and rich people; and dancers and kings.

Question 2.
Can you think of a reason why the musicians and magicians are paired together in one stanza? Elaborate on your answer.
Answer:
When the poet asks the musicians what instruments they are playing, they reply that they are playing on sitar, sarangi and drum. After that, the poet goes to the magicians and asks them what they are chanting. They reply that they are chanting the spells to bring in aeons (a divine power), who would help them perform their magical tricks. The musicians and magicians are paired together in one stanza because both of them have the power of spell on people and lead them to a world of fantasy.

Question 3.
Comment on the juxtaposition of the flower-girls making garlands for a bridegroom, while also making them for corpses at the same time.
Answer:
In the last stanza of the poem, the poet asks the flower girls what they are weaving with the azure (deep blue) and red tassels (strands of flower). The flower girls reply that they are making garlands for the bride and the groom and to adorn their bed for the wedding night. They also say that they are making sheets of newly brought white flowers for use on the dead man’s grave for fragrance.

There is the juxtaposition of the flower-girls making garlands for a bridegroom while also making them for corpses at the same time. The flower-girls make garlands of flowers for both happy movements and sad movements. It means that the poem celebrates both extremes of life.

Question 4.
How does this poem balance the physical world with the philosophical one?
Answer:
Sarojini Naidu’s poem balances the physical world with the philosophical one. On the one hand, the poem talks about the articles made and sold for the purpose of material happiness. For example, the merchants sell richly displayed crimson and silver coloured turbans, purple silk tunics, mirrors of amber panels and jade handled daggers. Vendors weigh saffron, lentil and rice; maidens grind sandalwood, henna and spice. Pedlars call the customers to purchase chessmen and ivory dice and satisfy their gaming habits.

Goldsmiths make wristlets, anklets, and rings; bells for the feet of the blue pigeons; golden girdles for dances golden scabbards for the king’s swords; and garlands of flowers are sold for the bridal bliss. On the other hand, the poem also talks about selling of articles of things which have philosophical significance. For example, the flower-girls wave sheets of freshly collected white blossoms to perfume the dead bodies. Life has come to full circle from physical world to philosophical world.

Question 5.
The swadeshi movement launched during the freedom struggle urged Indians to boycott British products and to rely on local ones. Re-read Naidu’s biography on page 1, and discuss what relevance the poem may have in this context.
Answer:
Sarojini Naidu wrote the poem in the context of India’s freedom movement, particularly as a part of the Swadeshi Movement. During that freedom movement, the Indians decided to boycott European merchandise and use the Indian products instead. Through the poem ‘In the Bazaars of Hyderabad’, Sarojini wanted to convey the message that India is rich in tradition and they don’t need the foreign products.

So, she goes on to give a picture of a bazaar where traditional Indian products are ruling. The poem is in the form of questions and answers. The poet asks the questions and the merchants answer them. Through this technique, she makes the picture of the bazaar visible to us.

Comprehension – II

Answer the following questions in 350-400 words.

Question 1.
Describe the scene of the bazaar in your own words.
Answer:
Sarojini Naidu wrote the poem in the context of India’s freedom movement, particularly as a part of the Swadeshi Movement. During that freedom movement, the Indians decided to boycott European merchandise and use the Indian products instead. Through the poem ‘In the Bazaars of Hyderabad’, Sarojini wanted to convey the message that India is rich in tradition and they don’t need the foreign products. So, she goes on to give a picture of a bazaar where traditional Indian products are ruling.

The poem is in the form of questions and answers. The poet asks the questions and the merchants, vendors, maidens, pedlars, goldsmiths, fruitmen, musicians, magicians, flower- girls answer them. The poem begins with the poet’s question to the merchants about what they are selling.

She sees that the goods are displayed nicely to attract the buyers. The merchants reply that they are selling crimson (deep red) and silver coloured turbans, purple brocade tunics (loose long kurtha), mirrors with amber-frame and daggers (knife) with handles made of jade (a green stone).

The poet then visits the vendors, the maidens and the pedlars (salesmen). She asks the vendors what they are weighing for sale. The vendors reply that they are weighing saffron, lentil and rice. The poet then asks the maiden girls what they are grinding. The reply comes that they are grinding sandalwood, henna and spices. Then the poet asks the pedlars what they are calling as their trade cry. They say that they are selling chessmen and dice made from ivory for the game of chess.

Now the poet goes up to the goldsmiths and asks them what they are making. They reply that they are making wristlet, anklet and ring to adorn us and are making bells to be tied to the feet of blue pigeons. And the bells are as thin and lightweight as the wings of a dragonfly. They are also making golden girdles (belts or cords worn around waist) for the dancers and golden sheaths for keeping the king’s swords.

The poet now asks the fruit sellers what fruits they are selling. They answer that they are selling the fruits such as citron, pomegranate and plum. Now as the poet asks the musicians what instruments they are playing, they reply that they are playing on sitar, sarangi and drum. After that, the poet goes to the magicians and asks them what they are chanting. They reply that they are chanting the spells to bring in aeons (a divine power), who would help them perform their magical tricks.

In the last stanza of the poem, the poet asks the flower girls what they are weaving with the azure (deep blue) and red tassels (strands of flower). The flower girls reply that they are making garlands for the bride and the groom and to adorn their bed for the wedding night.

They continue to say that they are making sheets of newly brought white flowers for use on the dead man’s grave for fragrance. In this way, poet Sarojini Naidu portraits the scenes of the bazaars of Hyderabad and gives us a sense of the rich Indian heritage.

Question 2.
Reading this poem is an experience that involves the senses. Discuss.
Answer:
Reading Sarojini Naidu’s poem ‘In the Bazaars of Hyderabad’ provides us with an experience that involves the senses. The poet describes the articles and goods in rich fashion. The colours and material used for making different merchandise that find place in the poem touch every human sense and therefore, the poem is a visual treat to its readers.

The poem begins with the poet’s question to the merchants about what they are selling. She sees that the goods are displayed nicely to attract the buyers. The merchants reply that they are selling crimson (deep red) and silver coloured turbans, purple brocade tunics (loose long kurtha), mirrors with amber-frame and daggers (knife) with handles made of jade (a green stone).

The poet then visits the vendors, the maidens and the pedlars (salesmen) and asks about their goods on sale. The vendors reply that they are weighing saffron, lentil and rice. The maiden girls are grinding sandalwood, henna and spices. The pedlars are selling chessmen and dice made from ivory for the game of chess.

Now the poet goes up to the goldsmiths and asks them what they are making. They reply that they are making wristlet, anklet and ring to adorn us and are making bells to be tied to the feet of blue pigeons. And the bells are as thin and lightweight as the wings of a dragonfly. They are also making golden girdles (belts or cords worn around waist) for the dancers and golden sheaths for keeping the king’s swords.

When asked, the fruit sellers answer that they are selling the fruits such as citron, pomegranate and plum. Now as the poet asks the musicians what instruments they are playing, they reply that they are playing on sitar, sarangi and drum. After that, the poet goes to the magicians and asks them what they are chanting. They reply that they are chanting the spells to bring in aeons (a divine power), who would help them perform their magical tricks.

In the last stanza of the poem, the poet asks the flower girls what they are weaving with the azure (deep blue) and red tassels (strands of flower). The flower girls reply that they are making garlands for the bride and the groom and to adorn their bed for the wedding night.

They continue to say that they are making sheets of newly brought white flowers for use on the dead man’s grave for fragrance. Therefore, poet Sarojini Naidu’s poem, ‘In the Bazaars of Hyderabad’ portraits the beautiful scenes of the bazaars of Hyderabad and gives us a rich visual treat to our sense whereby we can feel the rich Indian heritage.

Question 3.
What do you think are the special features of the bazaar? How does it compare with a fair or bazaar in your town?
Answer:
Sarojini Naidu’s poem ‘In the Bazaars of Hyderabad’ presents the rich-heritage of the Indian culture and tradition. It explains the special features of the typical bazaars of Indian towns and cities. The poet describes the articles and goods in rich fashion with their colours and materials.

The bazaars mentioned in the poem are rich in terms cost, artistry, skills, and self-sufficiency and thereby their representation to the world. However, when we compare these bazaars with a fair or bazaar in our towns, we can find that the present- day-bazaars are inferior to the ones mentioned in the poem.

The poem begins with the poet’s question to the merchants about what they are selling. She sees that the goods are displayed nicely to attract the buyers. The merchants reply that they are selling crimson (deep red) and silver coloured turbans, purple brocade tunics (loose long kurtha), mirrors with amber-frame and daggers (knife) with handles made of jade (a green stone). If we compare our fairs, we hardly find the mirrors with such costly frames, coloured silk tunics or turbans.

The poet then visits the vendors, the maidens and the pedlars (salesmen) and asks about their goods on sale. The vendors reply that they are weighing saffron, lentil and rice. The maiden girls are grinding sandalwood, henna and spices. The pedlars are selling chessmen and dice made from ivory for the game of chess. In the contrast, sandalwood is not ground in the bazaars now-a-days.

Similarly, the goldsmiths in the poem are making wristlet, anklet and ring to adorn us and are making bells to be tied to the feet of blue pigeons. And the bells are as thin and lightweight as the wings of a dragonfly. They are also making golden girdles (belts or cords worn around waist) for the dancers and golden sheaths for keeping the king’s swords. In the present day fairs, it is difficult to find bells being tied on the pigeon feet. Moreover no kings, no scabbards of gold!

In the present-day bazaars, we also find the fruit sellers selling the fruits such as citron, pomegranate and plum. We can also see musicians playing on sitar, sarangi and drum; and magicians chanting the spells to bring in aeons (a divine power), who would help them perform their magical tricks.

There is similarity between the bazaars mentioned in the poem and the bazaars of now-a-days. We can also find the flower girls weaving flowers of different colours with the azure (deep blue) and red tassels (strands of flower); and making garlands for the bride and the groom and to adorn their bed for the wedding night. We can also see them making sheets of newly brought white flowers for use on the dead man’s grave for fragrance.

Therefore, poet Sarojini Naidu’s poem, ‘In the Bazaars of Hyderabad’ portraits the beautiful scenes of the bazaars of Hyderabad and gives us a rich visual treat to our sense whereby we can feel the rich Indian heritage.

Question 3.
What do you think are the special features of the bazaar? How does it compare with a fair or bazaar in your town?
Answer:
Sarojini Naidu’s poem ‘In the Bazaars of Hyderabad’ presents the rich-heritage of the Indian culture and tradition. It explains the special features of the typical bazaars of Indian towns and cities. The poet describes the articles and goods in rich fashion with their colours and materials.

The bazaars mentioned in the poem are rich in terms cost, artistry, skills, and self-sufficiency and thereby their representation to the world. However, when we compare these bazaars with a fair or bazaar in our towns, we can find that the present- day-bazaars are inferior to the ones mentioned in the poem.

The poem begins with the poet’s question to the merchants about what they are selling. She sees that the goods are displayed nicely to attract the buyers. The merchants reply that they are selling crimson (deep red) and silver coloured turbans, purple brocade tunics (loose long kurtha), mirrors with amber-frame and daggers (knife) with handles made of jade (a green stone). If we compare our fairs, we hardly find the mirrors with such costly frames, coloured silk tunics or turbans.

The poet then visits the vendors, the maidens and the pedlars (salesmen) and asks about their goods on sale. The vendors reply that they are weighing saffron, lentil and rice. The maiden girls are grinding sandalwood, henna and spices. The pedlars are selling chessmen and dice made from ivory for the game of chess. In the contrast, sandalwood is not ground in the bazaars now-a-days.

Similarly, the goldsmiths in the poem are making wristlet, anklet and ring to adorn us and are making bells to be tied to the feet of blue pigeons. And the bells are as thin and lightweight as the wings of a dragonfly. They are also making golden girdles (belts or cords worn around waist) for the dancers and golden sheaths for keeping the king’s swords. In the present day fairs, it is difficult to find bells being tied on the pigeon feet. Moreover no kings, no scabbards of gold!

In the present-day bazaars, we also find the fruit sellers selling the fruits such as citron, pomegranate and plum. We can also see musicians playing on sitar, sarangi and drum; and magicians chanting the spells to bring in aeons (a divine power), who would help them perform their magical tricks.

There is similarity between the bazaars mentioned in the poem and the bazaars of now-a-days. We can also find the flower girls weaving flowers of different colours with the azure (deep blue) and red tassels (strands of flower); and making garlands for the bride and the groom and to adorn their bed for the wedding night. We can also see them making sheets of newly brought white flowers for use on the dead man’s grave for fragrance.

In her poem, Sarojini Naidu presents the beautiful bazaars of Hyderabad. The poem also presents us an opportunity to compare the bazaars of then Hyderabad with those of the present Hyderabad and other towns and villages.

In the Bazaars of Hyderabad Poem Summary in English

Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949) was not only a patriot and freedom fighter, but also a great poet. She was born in Hyderabad, into a highly educated Bengali family. She was an active participant in India’s freedom movement. An outstanding public speaker, she was elected president of the Indian National Congress in 1925. She worked for women’s education and franchise, and campaigned against purdah.

She became the Governor of Uttar Pradesh in independent India and thus became the first woman Governor in India. Naidu anchored her poetry in the culture of India. When she started writing poetry, she imitated English poets. Soon, however, she began to write about Indian themes. She played an important part in the social and cultural life of Hyderabad for many years. Gandhi hailed her as Bharat Kokila (‘The Nightingale of India’).

Sarojini Naidu wrote the poem in the context of India’s freedom movement, particularly as a part of the Swadeshi Movement. During that freedom movement, the Indians decided to boycott European merchandise and use the Indian products instead. Through the poem ‘In the Bazaars of Hyderabad’, Sarojini wanted to convey the message that India is rich in tradition and they don’t need the foreign products. So, she goes on to give a picture of a bazaar where traditional Indian products are ruling.

The poem is in the form of questions and answers. The poet asks the questions and the merchants answer them. Through this technique, she makes the picture of the bazaar visible to us. The poem contains five stanzas of six lines each. It follows a unique rhyme scheme where the second, fourth and sixth lines in each stanza rhyme together. The third and fifth lines also rhyme in the same manner. The last stanza is a slight exception though. So the general scheme is ABCBCB.

The poem begins with the poet’s question to the merchants about what they are selling. She sees that the goods are displayed nicely to attract the buyers. The merchants reply that they are selling crimson (deep red) and silver coloured turbans, purple brocade tunics (loose long kurtha), mirrors with amber-frame and daggers (knife) with handles made of jade (a green stone).

The poet then visits the vendors, the maidens and the pedlars (salesmen). She asks the vendors what they are weighing for sale. The vendors reply that they are weighing saffron, lentil and rice. The poet then asks the maiden girls what they are grinding. The reply comes that they are grinding sandalwood, henna and spices. Then the poet asks the pedlars what they are calling as their trade cry. They say that they are selling chessmen and dice made from ivory for the game of chess.

Now the poet goes up to the goldsmiths and asks them what they are making. They reply that they are making wristlet, anklet and ring to adorn us and are making bells to be tied to the feet of blue pigeons. And the bells are as thin and lightweight as the wings of a dragonfly. They are also making golden girdles (belts or cords worn around waist) for the dancers and golden sheaths for keeping the king’s swords.

The poet now asks the fruit sellers what fruits they are selling. They answer that they are selling the fruits such as citron, pomegranate and plum. Now as the poet asks the musicians what instruments they “are playing, they reply that they are playing on sitar, sarangi and drum. After that, the poet goes to the magicians and asks them what they are chanting. They reply that they are chanting the spells to bring in aeons (a divine power), who would help them perform their magical tricks.

In the last stanza of the poem, the poet asks the flower girls what they are weaving with the azure (deep blue) and red tassels (strands of flower). The flower girls reply that they are making garlands for the bride and the groom and to adorn their bed for the wedding night. They continue to say that they are making sheets of newly brought white flowers for use on the dead man’s grave for fragrance.

Therefore, poet Sarojini Naidu represents an Indian market to give us a sense of the rich Indian heritage. This poem was her protest against the European products and an appreciation of our own goods. With this poem, Ms. Naidu sensitises the people about the Swadeshi movement.

In the Bazaars of Hyderabad Poem Summary in Telugu

సరోజినీ నాయుడు (1879-1949) దేశభక్తుడు మరియు స్వాతంత్ర్య సమరయోధురాలు మాత్రమే కాదు, గొప్ప కవయిత్రి కూడా. ఆమె హైదరాబాద్లో ఉన్నత విద్యావంతులైన బెంగాలీ కుటుంబంలో జన్మించింది. ఆమె భారతదేశ స్వాతంత్ర్య ఉద్యమంలో చురుకుగా పాల్గొనేవారు. అత్యత్తమ ప్రజా వక్త, అమె 1925లో భారత జాతీయ కాంగ్రెస్ అధ్యక్షురాలిగా ఎన్నికయ్యారు.

ఆమె మహిళల విద్య మరియు ఫ్రాంచైజీ కోసం పనిచేసింది మరియు పర్దాకు వ్యతిరేకంగా (ప్రచారం చేసింది. ఆమె స్వతంత్ర భారతదేశంలో ఉత్తరప్రదేశ్కు గవర్నర్గా పనిచేశారు మరియు తద్వారా భారతదేశంలో మొదటి మహిళా గవర్నర్గా అవతరించారు. నాయుడు ఆమె కవిత్వాన్ని భారతదేశ సంస్కృతిలో ఎంకరేజ్ చేశారు.

ఆమె కవిత్వం రాయడం ప్రారంభించినప్పుడు, ఆమె ఆంగ్ల కవులను అనుకరించింది. అయితే, త్వరలోనే ఆమె భారతీయ ఇతివృత్తాల గురించి రాయడం ప్రారంభించింది. ఆమె అనేక సంవత్సరాలు హైదరాబాద్ సామాజిక మరియు సాంస్మృతిక జీవితంలో ఒక ముఖ్యమైన పాత్ర పోషించింది. గాంధీ ఆమెను భారత్ కోకిల (‘ది నైటింగేల్ ఆఫ్ ఇండియా’) అని కీర్తించారు.

సరోజినీ నాయుడు భారత స్వాతంత్ర్య ఉద్యమం సందర్భంలో, ముఖ్యంగా స్వదేశీ ఉద్యమంలో భాగంగా ఈ కవితను రాశారు. ఆ స్వాతంత్ర్య ఉద్యమ సమయంలో, భారతీయులు యూరోపియన్ వస్తువులను బహిష్కరించాలని మరియు బదులుగా భారతీయ ఉత్పత్తులను ఉపయోగించాలని నిర్ణయించుకున్నారు. ‘ఇన్ ద బజార్స్ ఆఫ్ హైదరాబాద్’ అనే కవిత ద్వారా సరోజిని భారతదేశం సంర్రదాయాలతో సుసంపన్నమైనదని, పారికి విదేశీ ఉత్పత్తులు అవసరం లేదనే సందేశాన్ని అందించాలనుకున్నారు. కాబట్టి, ఆమె సాంర్రదాయ భారతీయ ఉత్పత్తులు పాలించే బజార్ చిత్రాన్ని అందించింది.

కవిత ప్రశ్నలు మరియు సమాధానాల రూపంలో ఉంది. కవి ప్రశ్నలు అడుగుతాడు మరియు వ్వాపారులు వాటికి సమాధానాలు ఇస్తారు. ఈ టెక్నిక్ ద్వారా, అమె బజార్ యొక్క చిత్రాన్ని మనకు కనిపించేలా చేస్తుంది. పద్యంలో ఒక్కొక్కటి ఆరు పంక్తుల ఐదు చరణాలు ఉన్నాయి. ఇది డ్రతి చరణంలోని రెండవ, నాల్గవ మరియు ఆరవ పంక్తులు కలిసి ఉండే ప్రత్యేక ప్రాస పథకాన్ని అనుసరిస్తుంది. మూడవ మరియు ఐదవ పంక్తులు కూడా అదే పద్ధతిలో ప్రాసను కలిగి ఉంటాయి. చివరి చరణం కొంచెం మినహాయింపు. కాబట్టి సాధారణ పథకం ABCBCB.

వారు ఏమి విక్రయిస్తున్నారు అని వ్యాపారులసు కవి ప్రశ్నతో కవిత ప్రారంభమవుతుంది. కొనుగోలుదారులను ఆకర్షించడానికి వస్తువులు చక్కగా ప్రదర్శించబడడాన్ని ఆమె చూస్తుంది. వ్యాపారులు తాము క్రిమ్సున్ (లోతైన ఎరుపు) మరియు వెండి రంగు తలపాగాలు, పర్పుల్ ట్రోకేడ్ ట్యూనిక్స్ (వదులుగా పొడవాటి కుర్తా), కాషాయం-(ఫేమ్తో కూడిన అద్దాలు మరియు జాడే (ఆకుపచ్చ రాయి) తో చేసిన హ్యోండిల్స్తో కూడిన బాకులు (కత్తి) విక్రయిస్తున్నట్లు బదులిచ్చారు.

కవి అప్పుడు విక్రేతలను, కన్యలను మరియు పెడ్లర్లును (అమ్మకందారులను) సందర్శిస్తాడు. ఆమె అమ్మకానికి ఏమి తూకం వేస్తున్నారని విక్రేతలను అడుగుతుంది. కుంకుమ, పప్పు, బియ్యం తూకం వేస్తున్నామని విక్రేతలు సమాధానమిస్తున్నారు. అప్పుడు కన్యాశుల్కం ఏమి గ్రెండ్ చేస్తున్నావు అని కవి అడిగాడు. గంధం, గోరింట, సుగంధ (ద్రవ్యాలు రుబ్బుతున్నారని సమాధానం వస్తుంది. అప్పుడు కవి పెడ్లగు తమ వ్యాపార కేకగా పిలుస్తున్నారని అడుగుతాడు. చదరంగం ఆట కోసం ఏనుగు దంతాలతో తయారు చేసిన చదరంగం, పాచికలు విక్రయిస్తున్నట్లు చెటుతున్నారు.

ఇప్పుడు కవి స్వర్ణకారుల దగ్గరకు వెళ్లి ఏం చేస్తున్నావని అడిగాడు. వారు మమ్మల్ని అలంకరించేందుకు మణికట్టు, చీలమండ మరియు ఉంగరాన్ని తయారు చేస్తున్నారని మరియు నీలి పావురాల పాదాలకు కట్టడానికి గంటలు తయారు చేస్తున్నారని వారు సమాధానమిచ్చారు. మరియు గంటలు డ్రాగన్పై రెక్కల వలె సన్నగా మరియు తేలికగా ఉంటాయి. వారు నృత్యకారులకు బంగారు కవచాలు (నడుము చుట్టూ ధరించే బెల్టులు లేదా (త్రాడులు) మరియు రాజు కత్తులు ఉంచడానికి బంగారు తొడుగులు కూడా తయారు చేస్తున్నారు.

కవి ఇప్పుడు పండ్ల అమ్మేవాళ్లను ఏ పండ్లను విక్రయిస్తున్నారని అడిగాడు. సట్రాన్, దానిమ్మ, రేగు వంటి పండ్లను విక్రయిస్తున్నామని సమాధానమిస్తున్నారు. ఇప్పుడు కవిగారు సంగీత విద్వాంసులను ఏ వాయిద్యాలు వాయిస్తున్నారని అడగగా, వారు సితార్, సారంగి మరియు డ్రమ్ పై వాయిస్తున్నారని సమాధానం ఇచ్చారు. ఆ తర్వాత కవి మం(త్రగాళ్ల దగ్గరకు వెళ్లి ఏం జపిస్తున్నారని అడిగాడు. వారు తమ మంత్ర విన్యాసాలను ప్రదర్శించడంలో సహాయపడే ఏయన్స్ (ఒక దైవిక శక్తి) ని తీసుకురావడానికి మం(త్రాలను జపిస్తున్నారని వారు సమాధానం ఇచ్చారు.

కవిత చివరి చరణంలో, ఆకాశనీలం (లోతైన నీలిరంగు) మరియు ఎర్రటి కుచ్చులు (పువ్వుల తంతువులు) తో ఏమి నేస్తున్నారని కవి పూల అమ్మాయిలను అడుగుతాడు. తాము వధూవరులకు దండలు చేస్తున్నామని మరియు పెళ్లి రాత్రికి వారి మంచాన్ని అలంకరించుకుంటామని పూల అమ్మాయిలు జవాబిస్తారు.

చనిపోయిన వ్యక్తి సమాధిపై సువాసన కోసం కొత్తగా తెచ్చిన తెల్లటి పువ్వుల షీట్లను తయారు చేస్తున్నామని వారు చెబుతూనే ఉన్నారు. అందువల్ల, కవయిత్రి సరోజినీ నాయుడు మనకు గొప్ప భారతీయ వారసత్వం యొక్క భావాన్ని అందించడానికి భారతీయ మార్కెట్ను సూచిస్తుంది. ఈ పద్యం యూరోపియన్ ఉత్పత్తులపై ఆమె నిరసన మరియు మన స్వంత వస్తువులసు ప్రశంసించింది. ఈ కవితతో శ్రీమతి నాయుడు స్వదేశీ ఉద్యమం గురించి ప్రజలను చైతన్య పరిచారు.

In The Bazaars of Hyderabad – Sarojinin Naidu

What do you sell O ye merchants?
Richly your wares are displayed.
Turbans of crimson and silver,
Tunics of purple brocade,
Mirrors with panels of amber,
Daggers with handles of jade.

What do you weigh, O ye vendors?
Saffron and lentil and rice.
What do you grind, O ye maidens?
Sandalwood, henna and spice.

What do you call, O ye pedlars?
Chessmen and ivory dice.

What do you make, O ye goldsmiths?
Wristlet and anklet and ring,
Bells for the feet of blue pigeons
Frail as a dragon-fly’s wing,
Girdles of gold for dancers,
Scabbards of gold for the king.

What do you cry, O ye fruitmen?
Citron, pomegranate and plum.
What do you play, O musicians?

Sitar, sarangi and drum.
What do you chant, O magicians?
Spells for aeons to come.

What do you weave, O ye flower-girls
With tassels of azure and red?
Crowns for the brow of a bridegroom,
Chaplets to garland his bed.
Sheets of white blossoms new-garnered
To perfume the sleep of the dead.

Glossary:

wares: articles offered for sale crimson: a deep red
tunic: an upper garment, slightly longer than a shirt
brocade: a rich patterned fabric, typically woven with gold or silver thread
amber: a deep yellow-orange colour
dagger: a short knife with a pointed blade used for piercing or stabbing
jade: a hard green semiprecious stone
pedlar: someone who travels about selling his wares
girdle: belt or cord worn around the waist
scabbard : a close-fitting cover for a dagger or a sword
citron: a kind of citrus fruit, similar to oranges
sarangi: a stringed musical instrument, played with a bow
aeon: an immeasurably long period of time
tassel: a bunch of decorative threads knotted at one end
azure: bright blue
chaplet: garland
new-garnered: freshly plucked

OU Degree 1st Sem English Study Material

A Living God Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

A Living God Story Questions and Answers

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions Chapter 1 A Living God

A Living God Story Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Describe after “A Living God” the behaviour of the sea during the tsunami.
Answer:
The Sea played the Nemesis in the lives of the villagers of the coastal village. The fateful day has been oppressive; and in spite of a rising breeze, there was still in the air that sort of heavy heat which,according to the experience of the Japanese peasant, at certain seasons precedes an earthquake. And presently an earthquake came.

It was not strong enough to frighten anybody; but Hamaguchi, who had felt hundreds of shocks in his time, thought it was queer, a long, slow’, spongy motion. Probably it was but the after-tremor of some immense seismic action very far away. The house crackled and rocked gently several times; then all became still again. It had darkened quite suddenly, and it was acting quite strangely. It seemed to be moving against the wind. It was running away from the land.

No such ebb had been witnessed on that coast within the memory of a living man. Unfamiliar spaces of ribbed sand and reaches of weed-hung rock were left bare. Through the twilight eastward all looked, and saw at the edge of the dusky horizon a long, lean. dim line like the shadowing of a coast where no coast ever was, a line that thickened as they gazed, that broadened as a coast-line broadens to the eyes of one approaching it, yet incomparably more quickly.

For that long darkness was the returning sea, towering like a cliff, and coursing more quickly that the kite flies. Tsunami shrieked the people, and then all shrieks and all sounds and all power to hear sounds wee annihilated by a nameless shock heavier than any thunder, as the colossal swell smote the shore with a weight that sent a shudder through all the hills, and a foam burst like a blare of sheet-lighting.

Then for an instant, nothing was visible but a storm of spray rushing up the slope like a cloud; and the people scattered back in panic from the mere menace of it. When they looked again, they saw a white horror of sea raving over the place of their homes. It drew back roaring, and tearing out the bowels of the land as it went. Twice, thrice, five times the sea struck and ebbed, but each time with lesser surges; then it returned to its ancient bed and stayed, still raging, as after a typhoon.

Question 2.
Describe how Hamaguchi became “A Living God”.
Answer:
Hamaguchi gohei : Hamaguchi Gohei was the “Muraosa” or the headman of a coastal village. Like other villagers, his principal occupation was cultivation. He was liked as well as respected by the village peasantry. People also called him “Ojiisan”, or rather, grandfather of the village.

Being the richest among the village peasantry, he was sometimes officially referred to as the “ Choja”.He advised the small farmers about their interest, arbitrated when they disputed, advanced them money at need, and helped them sell their rice on the best possible terms.

He was wise and prudent. With old age, he gained experience and always remembered his ancestral advices. He understood the oceanic behaviour and that was why he could preconceive through his extra sensory perception when the tsunami was going to be apocalyptic on the village.

He never cared for his personal interest and was never self-centered. On the eve of the tsunami, when he found that he had no time either to send a message to the villagers in a festive mood, or send some signal, he set fire to his hard earned rice-stacks in a frantic desperation. It became a towering inferno and thus became a signal for the Buddist Temple on the hilltop and the villagers, a few of whom had gone to inspect the seabed when the sea went off the coastal line.

Seeing the fire and the accompanying smoke, the Acolyte of the hill-top temple started ringing their huge bell, and then the villagers rushed toward Hamaguchi’s cottage. A few of the villagers tried to douse the fire in the rice-stacks, but Hamaguchi stopped them as the burning stacks were still sending signal about something dangerous.

Hamaguchi almost lost everything that was precious for a peasant. From then on, Hamaguchi was elevated to a state of Godliness from manliness in the mind of the villagers. They regarded him as “A Living God” who risked everything to save the life of the villagers with everything he had.

A Living God Story Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
What are the risks the people living on a coastal line face?
Answer:
The people residing beside the coastal line are always prone to face natural calamities like storm, fornado, tsunamis etc.

Question 2.
Which is the natural calamity discussed here; When and where did it take place.
Answer:
The story narrates about a Tsunami invasian or a village along the Japanese coast line.
This incident took place in Japan on 17 June, 1896.

Question 3.
What was Hamaguchi’s status in the village?
Answer:
Hamaguchi Gohei was the “Muraosa” or headman of a coastal village. Like other villagers, his principal occupation was cultivation. People also called him “Ojiisan” or grand father of the village.

Question 4.
Where was Hamaguchi’s house located? What was its importance?
Answer:
Hamaguchi’s big house was located on the edge of a hill. The placement of his house makes us aware of the important role the old man is going to play in the story.

Question 5.
Where had his family members gone on that day?
Answer:
Hamaguchi’s family members had gone to the village to celebrate their harvest by a dance in the court of the ujigami”. The whole village was decorated with banners and paper lanterns.

Question 6.
What unusual thing the old man saw from his balcony?
Answer:
Hamaguchi observed from the windows of his house, the subtle change in the sea. The waves are rising, darkening and moving in the opposite direction of the wind. He recollected his grandfather’s story and became apprehensive of the impending Tsunami.

Question 7.
Who was Tada? Why did Hamaguchi call him?
Answer:
Tada a lad of ten, was Hamaguchi’s grandson. Hamaguchi called Tada and ordered him to bring a burning torch with the help of that burning torch, Hamaguchi set fire to all his precious rice stacks.

Question 8.
How were the villager generally warned?
Answer:
The blazing rice stacks created a huge fire. The village priest and the villagers could easily see the rising flames in the fields. The priest understood the message and rang the temple bells. The villagers also rushed towards the fields in no time.

Question 9.
At first what reaction did the villagers set forth for Hamaguchi?
Answer:
The confused villagers failed to realise that Hamaguchi had sacrificed his rich harvest to save them. They felt Hamaguchi had turned “insane”. After the attack of Tsunami, the villagers understood the real meaning of the “insane” actions of Hamaguchi.

Question 10.
How did the villagers showed their reverence towards ‘Hamaguchi’?
Answer:
After the Tsunami, the villagers understood the real meaning of Hamaguchi’s “insane” actions. They revered him as a divine personality and accepted him as “living god” and started calling him “Hamaguchi Daimyojin”. They build his temple and prayed to him for courage and strength.

Question 11.
What is the “era of Meiji”?
Answer:
The Meiji era is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 1868 to July 1912.

Question 12.
Why was Hamaguchi sometimes referred to as “Choja”?
Answer:
Being the richest member of the peasantry, Hamaguchi was sometimes referred to as “Choja”.

Question 13.
Where did Hamaguchi’s farmhouse stand?
Answer:
Hamaguchi’s big, thatched firm house stood at the verge of a small plateau overlooking a bay.

Question 14.
What is “Ujigami”?
Answer:
An Ujigami is a guardian god or a spirit of particular place in the Shinto religion of Japan.

Question 15.
What is seismic reaction?
Answer:
Seismic reaction relates to earthquakes or other vibrations of the earth and its crust.

Question 16.
What is “Unconscious perception”?
Answer:
“Unconscious perception” is extra sensory perception.

Question 17.
What did it signify when the sea receded from its coast line?
Answer:
It signified the advent of the Tsunami.

Question 18.
Why did Hamaguchi set fire to his rice-stacks?
Answer:
Hamaguchi set fire to his rice-stacks because he wanted to generate signals to the villagers about an impending Tsunami.

Question 19.
Who rang the bell at the hill-top temple?
Answer:
The Acolyte of the temple rang the bell.

Question 20.
Who or what is Kumi-Cho?
Answer:
Kumi-Chio is a Yakuza leader and their brotherhood. They are high in rank in Yakuza clan.

Question 21.
What is “Kita”?
Answer:
The name “Kita” meaning “north”, reflects the location among the wards of Tokyo.

Question 22.
How many villagers did Hamaguchi save?
Answer:
Hamaguchi saved four hundred villagers.

Question 23.
Suddenly, Hamaguchi became “as poor as the poorest”. Why?
Answer:
Hamaguchi set fire to all his rice-stacks and now he had nothing to eat. He lost his capital investment.

A Living God Story Logic Based Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
The story “A Living God” is a real story because….
Answer:
It is based on a real incident in Tsunami prone Japan and it relates the self sacrifice made by Hamaguchi Gihei, the villave headman to save his village from the inpending danger.

Question 2.
Hamaguchi was justified in being apprehensive of the impending danger because ……..
Answer:
He remembered a story narrated to him by his grandfather long ago, about such situation.

Question 3.
Hamaguchi was right in setting the stock of rice on fire because ……..
Answer:
The rising frames gave silent message to the priest of the temple, that same danger is nearby and he started ringing the temple bell.

Question 4.
A human being can be called “A living God” because……….
Answer:
He like a saviour sacrificed his rice crops to save the precious lives of his villagers.

Question 5.
The title of the story can be justified because ……..
Answer:
The title is symbolic. The bible says that God is “living” and saviores of humanity, similarly,
Hamaguchi Gochei sacrificed his capital investment to save the life of four hundred villagers. He evaluates the precious lives of his fellow beings.

Question 6.
Hamaguchi Gochei can be regarded the hero of the story because ……..
Answer:
He is the main character in this story. He rendered selfless sacrifice to save the lives of his village at the time of natural calamity i.e. Tsunami striking his village nearly five times.

Question 7.
Tada thinks that his grandfather has been mad because ………..
Answer:
Rice was the main source of their survival and his grandfather has invested a lot of money for the paddy crop. Instead of selling it to market, Hamaguchi Gohei set fire to his stack of rich harvest.

Question 8.
Hamaguchi emerges out to be a great character because ………….
Answer:
His sacrifice, selfless deed and presence of mind at the time of crisis saved the life of four hundred villagers when Tsunami hit the village. The villagers also realised his divine personality.

Question 9.
Hamaguchi was quite happy after the Tsunami because…….
Answer:
He has saved the lives of nearly four hundred people from devastating natural calamity.

Question 10.
The villagers accepted Hamaguchi as their god and Hamaguchi temple was formed because ……..
Answer:
The villagers realised his sacrifice and quick presence of mind and so they prayed to him for courage and strength

A Living God Story MCQs

Question 1.
“Muraosa” means ……….
a. The head priest
b. The head man of a village
c. Foam of the sea waves
d. A wise man
Answer:
b. The head man of a village

Question 2.
“Choja” refers to ……….
a. Poorest member of the community
b. Oldest man of the village
c. Richest man of the village
d. Head cook
Answer:
c. Richest man of the village

Question 3.
Submarine volcanic reaction means ……….
a. Volcano explosion in a submarine
b. Destruction submarines by volcanic eruption
c. Volcanic eruptions which take place beneath the surface of the water
d. Submarines hitting volcanoes
Answer:
c. Volcanic eruptions which take place beneath the surface of the water

Question 4.
“Ujigami” is ……….
a. A spirit of a particular place in he Shinto religion of Japan
b. A Japanese village food
c. A kind of flower decoration
d. Japanese style of hair braiding
Answer:
a. A spirit of a particular place in he Shinto religion of Japan

Question 5.
“Tsunami” is …………….
a. A long, high sea wave caused by an earthquake
b. A sea-storm
c. A typhoon
d. A hurricane
Answer:
a. A long, high sea wave caused by an earthquake

Question 6.
“Seismic action” is …………..
a. Sudden movement along faults within the earth
b. Vibration on the crust of the earth
c. Seasonal storms
d. Black monsoon sky
Answer:
a. Sudden movement along faults within the earth

Question 7.
Seeing the fire lit by Hamaguchi, the – of the temple rang the bell.
a. The main priest
b. The door keeper
c. The devotees
d. The Acolyte
Answer:
d. The Acolyte

Question 8.
“Mura” refers to ………..
a. Evenness
b. Uniformity
c. Equality
d. None of these
Answer:
d. None of these

Question 9.
“Kumi-Cho” refers to ………..
a. Subordinate
b. Head of a group
c. A Japanese food
d. A Japanese village festival
Answer:
b. Head of a group

Question 10.
“Kita” means ………..
a. North
b. Name of a little boy
c. Beware
d. Urgent
Answer:
a. North

Question 11.
……….. the sea struck and ebbed”
a. Twice
b. Thrice
c. Four times
d. Five times
Answer:
d. Five times

Question 12.
“Shingle” refers to
a. Single
b. Boulders
c. Turtles
d. Small rounded pebbles
Answer:
d. Small rounded pebbles

Question 13.
“But he had saved ……… lives by the sacrifice”
a. One thousand
b. One thousand five hundred
c. Four hundred
d. Five hundred
Answer:
c. Four hundred

Question 14.
“Taimatsu” refers to ……….
a. A Japanese festival
b. Pine torches
c. A weapon
d. A sea food
Answer:
b. Pine torches

Question 15.
“Ojiisam” refers to …….
a. Great grand father
b. Grand father
c. A Shinto temple
d. A Japanese food
Answer:
b. Grand father

Question 16.
wrote the story “A Living God”?
a. Edgar Allow Poe
b. Henry James
c. Lafcadio Heam
d. Ken liu
Answer:
c. Lafcadio Heam

Question 17.
Who is known as “Hamaguchi”?
a. a young boy
b. a woman
c. an old man
d. a philosopher
Answer:
c. an old man

Question 18.
In which village Hamaguchi was regarded as the ‘headman’
a. Muraosa
b. Oska
c. Toya
d. None of the above
Answer:
a. Muraosa

Question 19.
When did the incident of Hamaguchi Gohei took place?
a. Before the First World War
b. Before the Second World War
c. Before Meiji era
d. Before the Tegi era
Answer:
c. Before Meiji era

Question 20.
Who was Hamaguchi’s Grandson?
a. Saki
b. Toki
c. Tada
d. None of the above
Answer:
c. Tada

Question 21.
Who is referred to as ‘choja’ in Japan’?
a. the richest member of the community
b. illiterate person
c. an old man
d. a young man
Answer:
a. the richest member of the community

Question 22.
Which word refers grandfather is Japan?
a. Ojiisan
b. Choja
c. Taka
d. Muraosa
Answer:
a. Ojiisan

Question 23.
How will the peasants celebrate then merry making of having fine harvest?
a. by singing
b. by a dance
c. by singing and dancing
d. by merry-making
Answer:
b. by a dance

Question 24.
How old was Tada ……..
a. six years old
b. seven years old
c. a lad of fourteen
d. a lad of ten
Answer:
d. a lad of ten

Question 25.
What is the name given to the sudden rising of tidal waves?
a. Tornado
b. Whirlpool
c. Tsunami
d. Strom
Answer:
c. Tsunami

Question 26.
What are ‘pine torches’ referred to in Japanese?
a. Owani
b. Taimatsu
c. Ojiisan
d. Diamyojin
Answer:
b. Taimatsu

Question 27.
Pine torches are used in which festival?
a. Shinto Festivals
b. Paus festivals
c. Harvest festivals
d. None of the above
Answer:
a. Shinto Festivals

Question 28.
“Tada! – quick, very quick! Light me a torch”— Who said the above lines?
a. Villavers
b. Buddhist priest
c. Hamaguchi Gohei
d. mothers with babies at their backs
Answer:
c. Hamaguchi Gohei

Question 29.
Hamaguchi Gochei saved the lives of villagers
a. four hundred
b. one hundred
c. five hundred
d. ninety only
Answer:
a. four hundred

Question 30.
How many times the Tsunami struck Hamaguchi’s village?
a. Once
b. Twice
c. Thrice
d. five times
Answer:
d. five times

Question 31.
What was Hamaguchi named by the villagers after they were saved?
a. Hamaguchi Ojiisan
b. Nobori
c. Hamaguchi Gohei
d. Hamaguchi Daimyojin
Answer:
d. Hamaguchi Daimyojin

Question 32.
The story of Hamaguchi is an account of sacrifice, selfless action and ………..
a. absence of mind
b. presence of mind
c. bravery
d. None of the above
Answer:
b. presence of mind

Question 33.
The present narratives is an excerpt from the book
a. In Ghostly Japan
b. Shadowing
c. Gleaning in Buddha Fields
d. A Japanese Miscellany
Answer:
d. A Japanese Miscellany

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers

A Work of Artifice Poem Questions and Answers & MCQs

A Work of Artifice Poem Questions and Answers & MCQs

A Work of Artifice Poem Questions and Answers & MCQs

Read the extracts given below and the following questions:

Question 1.
“But a gardener Carefully pruned it It is nine inches high”
a. Name the poem and the poet. What does the gardener carefully prune and why do you think so?
b. Why do you think the word ‘but’ is used in the above line of the poem?
c. What are the two fates of the bonsai tree told in the poem? Explain How do they differ?
d. With whom is the fate of the bonsai compared to? Which fate of the bonsai do you think is better? Why? Give reasons.
Answers:
a. The name of the poem is “A Work Of Artifice”.The poet’s name is Marge Piercy. The gardener pruned the bonsai tree carefully which he has grown in the attractive pot in order to make it look beautiful for decorating at home and also in order to restarain the growth of the tree.

b. The bonsai tree could have grown eighty feet tall if it had grown on the mountainside. But the height of the bonsai tree has been checked by the gardener by pruning it carefully and thus he was able to restrict its height from eighty feet to nine inches only.

c. The bonsai tree which is in the attractive pot, maintained by the gardener who prunes it and whittles back its branches has one fate. The bonsai tree growing on the side of the mountain driven by lightning, has another fate. The first one being at home is small as its height is checked by the gardener whereas the second one os eighty feet tall standing on the mountainside with no one to restrict its growth or to take care of it.

d. According to me, the bonsai tree on the mountain side has a better fate than the one growing in the pot because the bonsai on the mountain side is free from all restrictions. The women in the same way who are not under restrictions but are free to chase their dreams have a better fate than the women who are confined at home with social restrictions and are made to do only house-old chores.

Question 2.
“Every day as he
Whittles back the branches”
a. Who is “he” referred to in the above line? What does “whittles” mean?
b. Whose branches are whittled back? Why?
c. While he whittles back the branches, he is saying something to it. What are they?
d. Explain the inner meaning of what “he” says?
Answers:
a. “He” is refererred to the gardener in the above line. “Whittles” means to carve into an object by constantly cutting small slices from it.

b. The branches of the bonsai tree that has been grown by the gardener in the pot are being whittled back. The branches of the tree are whittled back in order to make it look more beautiful and also to check its growth.

c. While the gardener whittles back the branches of the bonsai tree, he croons to it and says that it is the nature of the tree to be small and cozy, domestic and weak. He also says to the little tree that it is lucky since it has grown in a pot as it is safe from all the hazards of outside.

d. Here the tree is actually compared to a woman and the gardener symbolizes the man who thinks a woman to be weak and small, menial and humble. The man considers a woman fit to be at home. According to him this is her appropriate position where she does only her household activities. At the same time he also considers a woman to be lucky to be at home pot in the poem as she is also safe from the hazards that can come to her from outside.

Question 3.
“How lucky, little tree, To have a pot to grow in”
a. Which tree is said to be little tree?What does the “pot” in the poem symbolize?
b. Why does the speaker call the little tree lucky?
c. What is done to the little tree everyday and why?
d. Just before these lines the speaker speaks something in a negative tone. Explain it.
Answers:
a. The bonsai tree grown in the attractive pot which is only nine inches high is said to be little tree. The pot in the poem symbolizes the house where women are confined to-limited to the domestic sphere.

b. According to the speaker the little tree is lucky to grow in a pot because it is small and fragile.So it will not be able to tolerate or withstand the lightning of the storm,which the bonsai tree on the mountain side can endure.

c. The branches of the little tree are whittled back everyday by the gardener carefully so that it doesn’t grow tall and its height is restricted only to nine inches.The gardener prunes the tree everyday also to make it look beautiful in the attractive pot.

d. Just before these lines the speaker that is the gardener use some negative words to describe the nature of the bonsai tree.He describes the tree to be small and cozy and domestic and weak.The
gardener thinks the small bonsai plant to be only a decorative item at home.So it is called domestic.lt is mentioned as weak because since it is small it will not be able to withstand the natural calamities.

Question 4.
“With living creatures One must begin very early to dwarf their growth;
a. Who is “ there” in the above line referred to? What does the line “to dwarf their growth” mean?
b. What are the examples given by the speaker “to dwarf their growth”?
c. Explain the examples given by the speaker.
d. What is the theme of the poem?
Answer:
a. “There” is referred to actually the human beings especially the women of the society whose growth is being curbed. “To dwarf their growth” means to stunt or restrict their growth.

b. The speaker uses some examples through which the growth can be stunted. They are bound feet and crippled brain.

c. The practice of bound feet of women to prevent their feet from growing in the Chinese culture, of course to some extent is painful. Again crippled brain means making their brains unfit by making the women to believe what the men think. The women are mad to lose their power of thinking and reasoning. Thus through these two ways the women are suppressed in society.

d. In the poem Marge Piercy alludes to the trickery of men and the oppression of women. lt is about the suppression of the full potential of women by the men in patriarchal society by using different means of trickery.

A Work of Artifice Poem MCQs

Question 1.
Who is the main speaker of the poem ?
a. The poet
b. The tree
c. The gardener
d. The mountain
Answer:
a. The poet

Question 2.
What does the quote “bound feet” refer to?
a. Things related to garden
b. Things related to women
c. Things that refer to a beauty shop
d. Things that refer to shoes
Answer:
b. Things related to women

Question 3.
Which of the following would best exemplify the theme?
a. Negative experiences can limit us in the future
b. Women are unfairly oppressed by the society especially in some Asian cultures
c. Gardening practices should be changed
d. Moving away from harmful situations can be harmful for growth
Answer:
b. Women are unfairly oppressed by the society especially in some Asian cultures

Question 4.
The poet has spoken about the bonsai’s height which it could have grown on the mountainside. What is it?
a. hundred feet tall
b. eighty inches tall
c. eighty feet tall
d. ninety feet tall
Answer:
c. eighty feet tall

Question 5.
What is the height of the bonsai tree in the pot?
a. five inches high
b. seven inches high
c. eight inches high
d. nine inches high
Answer:
d. nine inches high

Question 6.
What does the home of a woman compared to in the poem?
a. mountain
b. pot
c. garden
d. tree
Answer:
b. pot

Question 7.
Who is deceived in the poem?
a. The gardener
b. The bonsai plant
c. The women
d. Both (b) and (c)
Answer:
d. Both (b) and (c)

Question 8.
What figures of speech do we find used to describe the bonsai?
a. Personification and extended metaphor
b. Metaphor
c. Personification
d. Simile
Answer:
a. Personification and extended metaphor

Question 9.
In the lines 12-16 of the poem the speaker uses certain adjectives? How many adjectives are used in these lines?
a. five
b. six
c. three
d. four
Answer:
a. five

Question 10.
What part of speech is artifice?
a. Adverb
b. Noun
c. Adjective
d. Pronoun
Answer:
b. Noun

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers

A Work of Artifice Poem Summary, Theme, Critical Analysis by Marge Piercy

A Work of Artifice Summary by Marge Piercy

A Work of Artifice Poem Summary, Theme, Critical Analysis by Marge Piercy

A Work of Artifice Summary

In the poem “A Work Of Artifice’, Marge Piercy uses the extended metaphor of a bonsai tree in order to represent the suppression and cultural restrictions that are usually placed on women by the society. Through the use of her different poetic devices, Piercy makes use of a gardener in her poem who controls the growth of the tree so that it may not grow to its full height and beauty just like the patriarchal society prevents women from reaching their full potential as human beings.

Marge Piercy’s work strikes at the root of gender inequality prevalent in a male-dominated world. But however, the poem speaks more about the psychological degeneration that happens due to the clipping of wings. Most plausible explanation is that their freedom becomes a challenge for the dominant male mindset prevalent in the society. However, it also suggests the moral degradation of the male-dominated society which has always looked at women as inferior objects meant only for decoration.

A Work of Artifice About the Author Marge Piercy

The poet Marge Piercy (born march 31,1936) is an American progressive activist and writer. Upon graduation from Mackenzie High School, Piercy became the first in her family to attend college, studying at the University of Michigan where she received a B.A degree in 1957. She earned an M.A Degree from Northwestern University in 1958.

She is the author of more than seventeen volumes of poems. Among these are “The Moon is Always Female” and “The Art Of Blessing The Day”. Some of her novels are “Going Down Fast”, “Dance The Eagle To Sleep”, “Fly Away Home”, “Small Changes,” Women On The Edge Of Time, etc.

Among some of her poetries are Living In The Open, My Mother’s Body, Available Light, The Moon Is Always Female, Mars And Her Children, etc. Her novels tell stories from the view points of multiple characters, often including a first person voice among numerous third person narratives. Her poetries tend to be highly personal free verse and centered on feminist and social issues. She got many awards like-Arthur C. Clarke Award, Bradley Award, May Sarton Award, Golden Rose Poetry Prize, etc.

A Work of Artifice Theme

Men are tricky and use their tricks to their advantage to manipulate women. They brainwash the women into believing that they must conform into the wishes of men. So the theme of the poem is the suppression of the full potential of women in society as a result of cultural restrictions and gender biases.

A Work of Artifice Critical Analysis

The subject of the poem is artifice; an act of deliberate and clever deception. But who is being deceived? As the poem progresses,it becomes clear that not only is the bonsai tree created using artifice, it is also that the tree is being tricked. Thus the bonsai tree is subjected to artifice in multiple ways.

The beginning of the poem is simple, straight forward. The speaker describes the bonsai tree as being grown in an “attractive pot”, which draws attention to the aesthetic beauty. The small tree in the beautiful pot is contrasted with that of a wild tree on the mountain side. These two images -the small tree in the pot in a domestic space and a wild tree driven by lightning during a storm on the mountain side-present two fates.

Then again the bonsai tree that is in the pot is confined and subjected to the constant pruning and crooning of the gardener. But if the Bonsai tree would have been given an opportunity to grow, could have becomes ten times larger. Thus the bonsai tree symbolizes the way the women are subjugated and oppressed by males. This becomes evident in the lines when the gardener sings “it is your nature to have a pot to grow in.

This part of the poem describes the crooning of the gardener that could easily be transferred to a husband talking to is wife. The husband like the gardener would be telling his wife that she is lucky to be at home, doing domestic chores as she is weak and small. It is her home that protects her from the “lightning strike” just as the bonsai tree is protected in the pot.

The poem unfolds as the themes of trikery and oppression become more evident. In the lines “With living creatures to dwarf their growth”the speaker shows a gradual transition from the tree to the woman. As with the bonsai tree the gardener has to start early to keep it small so also the man or society must begin early as well in order to “trick” woman into reluctant subjugation. When looking into the literal meaning of dwarf it can give a different perspective to the reader, of what message the poet is trying to convey. Dwarf means to stunt one’s growth or to belittle a person.

This is what happens when the society of men use their social standards to prevent women from flourishing to their full potential. Through the use of demeaning language and trickery, similar to that of the gardener, the males are able to oppress the women and stunt their emotional and physical growth. In the physical sense, the man can enjoy her “bound feet”, delight at the sight of her “hair in curlers”, both of which are symbols of beauty.

On the emotional side, he can cripple her brain by making her think this is the way she should look, this is how beautiful she should be and this is the only way that she can be accepted. The last two lines of this poem shed a bit of light onto the women. “ The hands you /love to touch”- through this there is a message and that is do not bite the hands that feed you lovingly. Their trials, their tribulations and their triumphs can be seen in every crevice and fold. Their hands were the one thing that kept them going.

Piercy’s feminism is evident in her poem “A Work Of Artifice”. Men attempted and succeeded to hold back women simply to reinforce their personal belief that men are socially, mentally and physically stronger than women. The speaker in Piercy’s poem may have broken his “creatures” confidence,but he never completely succeeded at breaking her totality. Though she may have been his work of artifice, his trickery, she was still amazingly her own women.

A Work of Artifice Title of the Story

The title “A Work of Artifice” is a key element and is sarcastic as it deals with the biggest irony in a women’s life. An artifice is a clever trick. The title itself says that a work of trickery is taking place and this is evident in the actions of the gardener who Is seen crooning to the trees. He regards the bonsai tree to be small and weak and he ignores the fact that It could be huge and wild.

The same is true for the man telling the woman that she should be pleased with the life the way it is. So through trickery both the tree and the woman are oppressed and their powers curbed. Women and trees are not meant to be so restrained, and the captivated and subjugated lives they are compelled into, are through a state of mind and trickery that is enforced by a gardener, the males.

The potentiality and the strength of the bonsai tree and the women are overlooked and neglected as we see that both if given a chance and opportunity could grow up into bigger ones. Instead of eighty feet tall, the bonsai tree is nine-inches tall (made by the pruning of the gardener). The women instead of giving power in the society are forced to lead a domestic life.

Bonsai which is known for its aesthetic beauty, can also be big and wild. Its nature is not to be tiny and weak. Women are also not to be cozy decorations of home, they can also follow their dreams like men. In other words we can say that the bonsai we see in the pot is the outcome of the trickery of the gardener who is an oppressive force. So in other words we can say that the title “A Work Of Artifice” is appropriate.

A Work of Artifice About The Poem

The poem “A Work Of Artifice” illustrates the domination and oppression of women. Marge Piercy, the poet uses vivid imagery of the bonsai tree in this poem; to illustrate the subjugation of the women. She also tells about the trickery and coaxing of the gardener.

Through this poem. Marge Piercy compares the lives of women with the bonsai tree and the gardener’s trickery is compared to the different customs of the society following patriarchal system. With her use of words and meanings, Marge Piercy is able to unfold gradually a seemingly innocent poem into a more complex one.

A Work of Artifice Main Point Of The Poem

The poem “A Work Of Artifice” points out that satisfaction and self-fulfilment can be attained by using one’s skills to serve a specific function in life. It is the I opinion of the speaker that an unproductive existence has no value or significance because it is vain and pointless.

A Work of Artifice Linewise Summary

1. The bonsai tree
in the attractive pot
could have grown eighty feet tall
on the side of a mountain
till split by lightning.
But a gardente
carefully pruned it.
It is nine inches high.

“A Work Of Artifice” describes how a bonsai tree is made to grow in the attractive pot which has the potentiality to grow to a height of about eighty feet. On the side of the mountain, driven by lightning and thunder (bad weather). But due to the careful pruning of it by the gardener, its height is being curbed and it becomes something miniature fit for decorations at home.

The bonsai here symbolizes a woman at home (that is pot of the bonsai tree) who not only has the potentiality but also the right to fulfill her dreams. But due to the men (that is the gardener) who subjugate and oppress the women in the society, by compelling them to follow the social regulations and restrictions, curb the potentiality of the women.

2. Every day as he
whittles back the branches
the gardener croons,
It is your nature
to be small and cozy,
domestic and weak;
how lucky, little tree,
to have a pot to grow in. 
With living creatures
one must begin very early
to dwarf their growth:
the bound feet,

the crippled brain,
the hair in curlers,
the hands you
the hands you love to touch.

The gardener in the poem is seen to “whittled” back the “branches” of the bonsai tree every day like men suppress the women every day in the society. The gardener is seen crooning to the tree saying that it is the nature of the bonsai tree to be small and cozy,” dometsica and weak”.

At the same time we see the gardener satisfied with his own idea says that the little tree is fortunate to have a pot to grow in the men in the patriarchal society symbolize the gardener. They regard the women to be small, cozy, and fragile fit to be confined at home and do domestic chores. They also make the women, believing that they are lucky to have a house where they stay safely.

3. With living creatures
one must begin very early
to dwarf their growth:
the bound feet,

the crippled brain,
the hair in curlers,
the hands you love to touch.

In these lines, the speaker zooms out the gardener’s point of view where he says that one must start early to “dwarf their growth” which means to dwarf the growth of both the bonsai tree and a women. Then he gives certain examples of how to curb or suppress the growth.

Through “bound feet”, “crippled brain”, “hair in curlers” the gardener (the men) would be able to oppress the growth of both the tree as well as the women. The practice of “bound feet” of women to prevent their feet from growing, was of course to some extent is painful.

Again “crippled barain” which means mentally making their brains unfit by making the woman to believe that this is the way they should look, this is the only way that they are accepted. The gardener who fashions bonsai tree love to touch the branches and leaves they prune in the same way whom they oppress.

A Work of Artifice Linewise Explanation

1. The bonsai tree
in the attractive pot
could have grown eighty feet tall
on the side of a mountain

The bonsai tree in the attractive pot could have grown eighty feet tall on the side of the mountain. The poet has chosen the metaphor of a bonsai tree because bonsais are good for decoration and is used as a symbol of woman. The bonsai tree like a woman is attractive and is grown in the pot which is compared to woman’s house where she is confined. A bonsai in the could have grown eighty feet tall if it would have been grown on the mountainside. So also if a woman is given a chance to show her potentiality, she may do do.

2. till split by lightning.
But a gardente
carefully pruned it.
It is nine inches high.

The bonsai tree growing on the side of the mountain is being driven by lightning. But the bonsai in the pot is safe from lightning just as a woman is safe at home from the outside invaders. The bonsai in the pot is carefully trimmed by the gardener not only to make it look attractive but also suppressing the height. It is only nine inches tall. This symbolizes the woman being curbed by the males in the male dominating society.

3. Every day as he
whittles back the branches
the gardener croons,
It is your nature
to be small and cozy,
domestic and weak;

The women are conditioned to live according o social customs and traditions. The gardener everyday trims the branches, croons the gardener is the metaphor for the society and the male members of the family. He sets the rules for the plant.

So also the male member sets the rule for the family. A woman is taught to feel cozy in the small space assigned to her. It began from her father’s home and ends at her husband’s just like the gardener tends the tree and turns it into an object of decoration by trimming and pruning it.

We find the gardener talking to the bonsai plant to be small, cozy, domestic and weak. All these adjectives are actually made to describe the nature of a woman. A woman is confined at home cozily, being weak and small.

4. how lucky, little tree,
to have a pot to grow in.
With living creatures
one must begin very early
to dwarf their growth:
the bound feet,
the crippled brain,
the hair in curlers,
the hands you
the hands you love to touch.

Since the gardener considers the tree’s nature to be small and helpless(like that of a woman) he also says that the little tree is fortunate to have a supporting, safe pot in which it can grow. Then he says that one must start early to “dwarf their growth” as in the case of the bonsai tree. He offers examples such as binding the feet of women from childhood in Chinese beauty practice so that the feet remain tiny and delicate looking.

Again we find another practice of curling hairs. Both practices make the women appealing. Then again another example of crippled brain which implies the subjugation of women by men where women are made weak psychologically and they lose their power of thinking and reasoning. In the last two lines there is a change of tone. The speaker says that men presumably love to touch the hands of the very women the oppress, just as the gardener who fashions the bonsai tree, loves to touch the branches and leaves they prune.

A Work of Artifice Annotations and Vocabulary

Artifice — trickery or use of something intended to deceive.
Pruned — the process of trimming a tee, shrub or bush by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems.
Whittles — trims or carves into an object by repeatedly cutting small slices from it.
Croons — sings or hums in a soft low voice,especially in a sentimental manner.
Bound feet — here means, tied feet and therefore unable to move freely.
Crippled brain — here means, a brain that does not work reasonably or in a normal way.

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers for Class 9 & 10

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers for Class 9 & 10

This Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers for Class 9 & 10 are meant for the students, appearing for the I.C.S.C. Examination to be held in and after the year 2025. The questions have been written under immense research and studies in accordance with the standard of the school level. Each and every poem has been thoroughly explained, and it is followed by annotations, comprehensions, summary, and text-based multiple-choice questions. we shall feel amply rewarded if these answers can make the task of the learners easier and more interesting.

Treasure Chest Workbook Solutions – Treasure Chest Workbook Answers Class 9 & 10

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Poems Questions and Answers

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Poems Summary for Class 9 & 10

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers will help students to have a better and clearer understanding of short stories pertaining to the new ICSE syllabus. Our endeavour is to make the texts interesting and easily understood. To facilitate this we have included detailed summaries, word notes, Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), critical analysis, and solved questions. This will enable you to do self-study and guide you to write precise answers using the keywords from the texts. This will help teachers in classroom teaching, preparing question papers, and for project assignments. This Treasure Chest Workbook Solutions will be a delightful revelation for any student of literature who is keen to have a better understanding of these stories.

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Questions and Answers

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Summary for Class 9 & 10

Needless to say that ICSE students are expected to forge ahead with their skill in the use of the English language and grammar so that they may, with a solid foundation in the language, improve upon their literary expressions. Often we experience cryptic sentences and expressions in different forms of literary art; e.g. novels, short stories, poems, plays etc. when expressions become mysterious or obscure in meaning. Literary art is often unbound by the rigidity of grammatical disciplines; but then, that is the prerogative of the author and we are not meant to enjoy that liberty.

Therefore, one must be extremely careful about error-free syntax while a strict vigil should equally be maintained both in cases of spelling and paragraph formations. Above all, a student of English literature is expected to have eloquence in the art of presentation. The correctness of the answer is important.

What is equally important— is how one presents it. I mean an elegant style. It is summarily impossible, to show the sun by striking a match— stick at the corner of one’s own room. But one can light a candle or a few incense sticks to drive away a little darkness or spread a little aroma inside a dark room. Treasure Chest Workbook Solutions are intended to emit a little light as such. We sincerely believe that this Treasure Chest Workbook Answers Class 9 & 10 shall serve the purpose of the students of ICSE.

Rhapsody: A Collection of ISC Poems Workbook Answers for Class 11 & 12

Rhapsody A Collection of ISC Poems Workbook Answers for Class 11 & 12

It’s our great pleasure in our part to present ISC The best guide to Rhapsody makes an honest and thoroughly attempt to bring the context with easy paraphrasing Scene wise abridgement, Mcqs, Reasoning, Short type and long type of question and answers. The Rhapsody Workbook Solutions analyses and tackles differently and untraditional by following the latest syllabus and norms of I.S.C. It is specially designed to cater to the needs of the students who are preparing for I.S.C 2024 onwards examinations. The answers are relevant, concise, and self-explanatory. Students will not have to seek any external help to comprehend them. It is hoped that it will definitely give a good clearance to the doubts cropped in the minds of the students. It has been written to meet the requirements of the students in the desired way.

Rhapsody Workbook Solutions for ISC Class 11 & 12

Rhapsody: A Collection of ISC Poems Questions and Answers for Class 11 & 12

This Rhapsody: A Collection of ISC Poems Questions and Answers for Class 11 & 12 are meant for the students, appearing for the I.S.C. Examination to be held in and after the year 2007. The questions have been written under immense research and studies in accordance with the standard of the school level. Each and every poem has been thoroughly explained, and it is followed by annotations, summary, long Questions and their answers, short question and their answers, and text-based multiple-choice questions. we shall feel amply rewarded if these answers can make the task of the learners easier and more interesting.

This Rhapsody: A Collection of ISC Poems Workbook Answers for Class 11 & 12 has been written in a simple language and lucid style to enrich with useful knowledge of Shakespearean style. The questions will be student-friendly and they would be able to grasp the context in an enthusiastic manner. A large number of MCQs, reasoning, short and long type of questions have been provided. Assignments from each Act will help the students to nurture their minds and make their approach to their answers in a fruitful way. The foremost thing is about the pattern of Council questions which will be helpful for the Preparation of ISC students. The questions cover the entire drama in a reasonable way. Students will find it easy to get authentic answers to any single question.

Bonku Babu’s Friend Summary, Theme by Satyajit Ray

Bonku Babu’s Friend Summary by Satyajit Ray

Bonku Babu’s Friend Summary, Theme by Satyajit Ray

Bonku Babu’s Friend Summary

‘Bonku Babu’s Friend’ is a short story written by Satyajit Ray. This story portrays Bonku Babu, a soft-spoken and timid person who teaches Geography and Bengali at Kankurgachi Village Primary School. Each year, whenever a new batch of students replaced the old one, the tradition of teasing Bonku Babu continued years after years. Some drew his cartoon on the blackboard; some put glue on his chair and others do some other mischievous activities to taunt him. Bonku Babu did not get upset.

Only sometimes, he cleared his throat and said, “Shame on you, boys!” Bonku Babu kept on tolerating these because he could not afford to do otherwise and also he loved the good students who were attentive in class and also respected him. Fie used to spend his weekdays with his students who loved him, but in weekends, whenever he used to go to Sripati Babu’s house, he felt like, he must not go there again because even his fellow-mates, Nidhu Babu, Chandi Babu and others used to poke fun at him.

Bonku Babu used to get sad and angry sometimes, but he never expressed himself to others. One day, the topic of conversation was space – as in, they were talking of spaceships and space-travel. After sunset, a moving point of light was seen in the northern sky. A similar kind of light was seen three months back, which had led to many assumptions.

But at the end, it had turned out to be a Russian satellite, called Khotka or might be Phoska. This satellite was supposed to be going round the earth at a height of 400 miles, providing a lot of valuable information to scientists. That evening, Bonku Babu was the first who spotted the light and told Nidhu Babu about it. But Nidhu Babu took full credit about it among their fellow-mates and Bonku Babu remained silent. But he kept on thinking about it. Everyone gave their different opinions but Bonku Babu was lost in his own thoughts.

When the meeting was over and Bonku Babu was on his way to home, he saw the light, coming from the bamboo grove. Suddenly, his ears began ringing. He felt as if someone was humming loudly — a long, steady noise and it was not stopping. Bonku Babu was scared, but curiously drove him further forward. As he went past a cluster of bamboo stems, he saw an object. It was like a giant glass bowl turned upside-down, covering the pond wholly. A gentle pink light was shining out from its strong, translucent shade, that turned the whole area bright.

Soon, he met with Ang, an alien who came out of the ship and greeted Bonku Babu. Though he was amazed, yet kept on talking with him. From him, he gathered knowledge and also got a chance to express himself to him. Ang helped him boost his self-confidence.

When Ang left, Bonku Babu found himself to be a completely different person who now did not fear to express himself to others. Bonku Babu became a happy and bright personality who now knew what he was and what he could do to stop ill-beahiour and bad-mouthing.

Bonku Babu’s Friend About the Author Satyajit Ray

Satyajit Ray was an Indian filmmaker, one of the greatest directors of the twentieth century. Born in the city of Calcutta (now Kolkata) on May 2, 1921-April 23, 1992, to a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and letters, Ray studied at Presidency College and at the Visva- Bharati University, at the poet Rabindranath Tagore’s Santiniketan.

His grandfather was a writer and illustrator, and his father, Sukumar Ray, was a poet. Writer and illustrator of Bengali. Ray grew up in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and was looked after by his mother. He entered a government school, where he was taught chiefly in Bengali, and then studied at Presidency College, Calcutta’s leading college, where he studied in English. He graduated in 1940, he was fluent in both English and Bengali languages.

Ray Returned to Calcutta from Santinikatan, in 1943 got a job in a British-owned advertising agency, became its art director within a few years, and also worked for a publishing house as a commercial illustrator, becoming a leading Indian typographer and book-cover designer. In 1949 Ray was encouraged in his cinematic ambitions by the French director Jean Renoir, who was then in Bengal. The success of The Bicycle Thief (1948), convinced Ray that he should attempt a film Pather Panchali.

Pather Panchali was completed in 1955 and turned out to be both a commercial and a tremendous critical success, first in Bengal and then in the West following a major award at the 1956 Cannes International Film Festival. This assured Ray the financial backing he needed to make the other two films of the trilogy: Aparajito (1956; The Unvanquished) and Apur Sansar (1959; The World of Apu).

He consciously avoided repeating himself. As a result, his films contain an unusually wide gamut of mood, milieu, period, and genre, with comedies, tragedies, romances, musicals, and detective stories treating all classes of Bengali society from the mid-19th to the late 20th century.

Some of Ray’s finest films are Charulata (1964), Teen Kanya (1961), Ghare Baire (1984) were based on the novels or other works by Rabindranath Tagore. The rest of Ray’s major works include Ahsani Sanket (1973), Aranyer Din Ratri (1970), Mahanagar (1963) and a trilogy of films made in the 1970s, Pratidwandi, Seemabaddha (1971), and Jana Aranya (1975).

After a gap, Ray made Pikoo (1980) and then fell ill with heart disease. He revived the children’s magazine Sandesh (which his grandfather had started in 1913) and edited it until his death in 1992. Ray was the author of numerous short stories and novellas, and in fact writing, rather than filmmaking, became his main source of income. His stories were translated and published in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere.

The story ‘Bonku Babu’s Friend’ centres around Bonku Babu, a cool-head teacher who lived a simple life. Though he had been teaching for 22 years in a school yet he received the teasing of the students of new batches. But Bonku Babu did not leave his job because it was his necessity and also he felt really good when some good students used to respect him and study attentively in class. He spent his days while spending his time in class, with students who were fond of him.

Though he used to spend his weekends at Sripati Babu’s place, yet every time whenever he came back, he felt of not going there ever again because not even the children but also the adults used to make fun of him. Bonku Babu was basically lonely until he met Ang. an alien who was landed on earth from a spaceship. His conversation with Ang became interesting and thought-provoking.

They had a long chat and through this, Ang became the most friend person in Bonku Babu’s life. Ang’s influence, though short, made Bonku Babu self-confident. He made him think positively. Fie turned into a new leaf who knew that he was also important and valuable.

Bonku Babu’s Friend Theme

A. Bonku Babu, a Simple, knowledgeable yet timid person: Bonku Babu was a teacher of Geography and Bengali at a village primary school. He was a knowledgeable person but his simplicity, politeness and soft-hearted nature often made him a victim of ill-behaviour. Not only the students but also the adults did not spare a chance to tease him.

B. A Sudden Meeting: One day, while returning from Sripati Babu’s place, Bonku Babu saw a strange object. Soon he came to know that it was a spaceship from which a strange creature came down. He introduced himself as Ang. Ang knew 14000 languages and so he talked with Bonku Babu fluently. They had a long conversation which became a turning point in Bonku Babu’s life.

C. The Reawakening: When Ang left, Bonku Babu understood that he also was valuable no matter what people say about him. When he again went to Sripati Babu’s place to attend the gathering, he was a changed person with a new attitude, self-confidence and free mind. Ang unknowingly became his inspiration and a true friend.

Bonku Babu’s Friend Title of the Story

The story ‘Bonku Babu’s Friend’ is a short story written by Satyajit Ray. The story deals with Bonku Babu and his loneliness. He is a school teacher. He is calm and composed, knowledgeable and sincere to his work. Yet, he gets victimised by the people around him.

He gets teased, not only by his students, but also by his fellow-mates. He feels sad yet he does not have the courage to voice protest or give them suitable replies. Things go on like this until he meets Ang. Ang is an alien who comes to the earth in a spaceship.

Ang is very much knowleageable, smart and amicable. In the bamboo grove, they had a long and interesting conversation. In this conversation, Bonku Babu gets a chance to open up his mind. He understands that he too can speak up his mind.

Though Ang was on earth for a very short period of time, he becomes Bonku Babu’s one and only true friend, a friend who made him believe in himself and taught him to take a stand. The story ends on a good note. Thus, the title of the story ‘Bonku Babu’s Friend’ is apt.

Bonku Babu’s Friend Setting of the Story

A setting of a story generally means the time and the place in which a Story is told. Almost every story has a setting. The story, ‘Bonku Babu’s Friend’ too has a strong setting. The author Satyajit Ray knitted the story in a well-constructed plot and setting. The story talks about Bonku Babu, his loneliness and his one true friend Ang.

The story goes on in its usual flow until it takes a turn when Bonku Babu gets a chance to meet Ang, an alien. In a bamboo grove, at night, he sees a spaceship from which Ang comes out, meets him and they have a friendly conversation. In this place, he finally gets to know about himself. He gets a chance to know about true friendship and self-importance. Though Ang could not be able to stay with him forever, yet he taught him some life lessons, unknowingly. Therefore, after going through the story it can be said, that the setting of this story made if thought-provoking and the characters strong.

Bonku Babu’s Friend Main Points to Remember

  • Bonku Babu was a calm-head and simple person who used to teach Geography and Bengali at a Primary school.
  • His students used to tease him but he never behaved strictly with them.
  • In spite of ill-behaviours, he maintained him calm because he could not afford to do otherwise and he also loved the good students who were attentive in his class and also respected him.
  • He did not even wanted to visit Sripati Majumdar’s place because even adults used to tease him and made poked fun on him.
  •  One day, the topic of conversation was space in which Bonku Babu and others gave their different viewpoints.
  • That particular evening, Bonku Babu saw a strange light and he told about it to NidhuBabu. But Nidhu Babu took the full credit of it among their group.
  • Bonku Babu remained silent but he kept on thinking.
  • Suddenly, he met with Ang, an alien who came to the earth in a spaceship and the long conversation with him changed Bonku Babu from inside.
  • Bonku Babu who was soft-spoken, timid and afraid was now turned into a new leaf.
  • Though Ang left, he left his impression on Bonku Babu and made himself his true friend.

Bonku Babu’s Friend Annotations and Vocabulary

Temper — composure
Tease — to make fun of
Spook — ghost
Enthralled — to hold spellbound
Prank — a mischievous act
Endurance — the ability to withstand hardship or adversity
Obscure — dark or dim
Humbug — nonsense
Feigned — not genuine or real
Amazement — a feeling of astonishment
Radiant — bright
Provocation — incitement
Impenetrable — incapable of being penetrated
Foliage — flora
Amiable — friendly
Occurrence — something that occurs
Striding out — to stand astride
Guffaw — a loud burst of laughter
splattering — to scatter or fall in.

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers