Questions and Answers

Thank You, Ma’am Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

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Thank You, Ma’am Story Questions and Answers

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions Chapter 5 Thank You, Ma’am

Thank You, Ma’am Story Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Describe briefly why did Mrs. Jones take Roger to her home and not hand him over to the police?
Answer:
Mrs. Jones was a sturdy, strong, courageous woman who worked till late hours of night in the Beauty salon of a hotel. Naturally, she returned home at late hours risking the perils of Harlem streets at night. In one such night, she caught Roger, a frail, teenaged, petty purse-snatcher who could not flee from her tight grip.

In such cases, it is normally witnessed that the criminal is handed over to the police. If the criminal is a teen-aged, the police usually send him to a court for juvenile justice or worse, to a Borstal school.

But once Mrs. Jones had a close look at the dusty, hungry face of Roger, her motherhood got the better of a typical civilian and much to the curious looks of the bystanders, she dragged Roger to her home, which is a boarding house. She had his face washed; hair combed and busied herself in cooking some supper for her and for Roger. Roger had enough opportunity to dash out of the house through the open door, but like a mother’s child, he sat on th bedstead and waited for supper.

Mrs. Jones’ hitherto bolted motherly love now was open. She confessed that she also wanted things in her youth she didn’t get. But she didn’t steal money for that to buy those. She also confided that she did a thing or two wrong, but that was not the right way. Mrs. Jones could understand that Roger was still like a wild willow and not a hardened criminal.

But in case he was handed over to police, he would be a professional criminal in no time. The human bondage between a mother and a son outlived the discernment, non-challance of the civilized society. Mrs. Jones gave ten dollars to Roger to buy a pair of blue suede shoes and bade him good bye with warning that he must not ever steal.

Actually Mrs. Jones purpose was to transform Roger and reinvent in him a young boy as pure as ever. Roger never expected that someday, somebody would care for him to wash his face, comb his hair and ask if he was hungry. At home, he had no warm heart waiting eagerly for his safe return.

Life for him was to be led either by tricking or by force. At every step, he had to be afraid of the law-keepers. To earn ten dollars by way of honest labour was an absurd dream for him. Pitted against poverty and distrust, he never learnt to trust in the human qualities of love and care. But Mrs. Jones turned the table. She shattered all his convictions against mankind.

Her motherly treatment to a petty purse snatcher, hovering along the streets of Harlem for easy prey, dug out the innocent boy in Roger. When one is down, it is not necessary to tread on his head. But if people like Mrs. Jones give him a hand-up, he might rise again shaking off the label of a criminal and return to the normal stream of human life. Thus, Roger’s transformation was complete.

Question 2.
‘Shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet”. Who said this? To whom did she say this and why?
Answer:
Mrs. Luella Bates Washington, a Beauty salon worker at one of the Harlem hotels, meant exclusively for women, said this. She said this to Roger, a juvenile criminal, whose juvenile crimes were not keeping with his age. Roger, a teen-aged urchin, roving around Harlem streets for easy prey, tried to snatch Mr. Jones’ purse. Being a strong woman, she caught him firmly when the strap of her purse snapped and the boy fell on the pavement as he failed to keep balance on his feet.

Mrs. Jones made the boy stoop down and pick her purse up. She asked if the boy was not ashamed of his action. The boy replied in the affirmative and begged to be forgiven. By then, she had a closer look at the boy’s dirty face. He was fourteen or fifteen and grew up wildly- with no human love and care. He wore tennis shoes and blue jeans and suddenly, although Mrs. Jones had earlier kicked him hard at his posterior for his crime, dawned on him with a motherly compassion. She asked further if he was hungry.

The boy, eager to be free from the grip of Mrs. Jones, replied in the negative and prayed to let him go. Still, when the boy struggled to be released from Mrs. Jones’s grip, he was given a solid jerk and that brought him in front of her and then with a wrestler’s twist on the boy, she continued to drag him to her home, which was a boarding house.

Once inside the house, Mrs. Jones got to know that his name was Roger and she let him go free pointing to the wash-basin. She realized that the boy had grown up among negligence, poverty, filth and unholy association. His growth was not supported by love and care. He just grew up like those unwanted weeds. She came to know that Roger had nobody at his home. He was a destitute.

She made him wash his face, comb his hair and then he sat on a bedstead while Mrs. Jones disappeared behind a curtain to cook supper for both. Roger could dash out through the front door as there was nobody to stop him. But as a weed grows up faster than those of the planted trees, Roger got the magical touch of motherly love and care in Mrs. Jones’s behaviour and that worked like a miracle in the mind of a juvenile criminal. So, he could not move.

Mrs. Jones admitted later that she also committed some errors in her youth, but she did not want to bring it to light. Much like Roger, she didn’t get many things in her prime youth. What she didn’t say was that she didn’t go out stealing from people to get money to buy things.

After supper, she gave ten dollars to Roger to buy a pair of blue suede shoes and advised him not to steal again. That was because something obtained by way of evil means would ultimately lead one to miseries and this was what she meant by the phrase under quotation.

Thank You, Ma’am Story Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
What happened to Mrs. Jones on a night when she was returning home on foot?
Answer:
A juvenile criminal of about fourteen in fifteen years tried to snatch her purse.

Question 2.
Why didn’t Mrs. Jones hand over Roger to the police?
Answer:
Having a close look at the dusty, frail and hungry face, Mrs. Jones took pity on Roger and didn’t hand him over to the police.

Question 3.
How did Roger become a juvenile criminal?
Answer:
Roger was a destitute and grew up like an unwanted weed. Poverty and hunger made him desperate to own things by foul meAnswer:Thus he became a juvenile criminal.

Question 4.
How did Mrs. Jones drag Roger to her home?
Answer:
Mrs. Jones was dragging Roger to her home. But when Roger struggled to free himself from Mrs. Jones’ grip, Mrs. Jones gave him a jerk and brought him in her front. Then, in a wrestler’s style, tightened her hand around Roger’s neck and dragged him straight to her home.

Question 5.
What did Mrs. Jones and Roger eat in their supper?
Answer:
They ate some lima beans, ham and cocoa and then a cake.

Question 6.
Did Mrs. Jones commit some error in her prime youth?
Answer:
Yes, Mrs. Jones committed some errors in her prime youth.

Question 7.
Did Mrs. Jones get everything she wanted in her youth?
Answer:
No, Mrs. Jones didn’t get everything she wanted in her youth.

Question 8.
Why did Roger volunteer to go to the store?
Answer:
That was because Roger was moved by Mrs. Jones motherly love and wanted to do something for her out of gratitude.

Question 9.
What was Mrs. Jones parting advice to Roger?
Answer:
Anything owned by foul means, would bring nothing but miseries in life. Roger must give up stealing.

Question 10.
Why couldn’t Roger say anything else but ‘’Thank you” to Mrs. Jones?
Answer:
Roger, a juvenile criminal and a destitute, had never tasted motherly love and care. And when he got this from Mrs. Jones, his voice was almost choked with emotion. He wanted to say so many things at a time. But his emotion only gave way to a mere “Thank you.”

Thank You, Ma’am Story Logic Based Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
The woman’s bag was heavy because —
Answer:
It was loaded with several things of her daily needs.

Question 2.
The boy fell down on the.ground because —
Answer:
The bag was too heavy for the boy to snatchs and run away with it, so he fell on the ground, unable to maintain his balance.

Question 3.
Mrs Jones kiched the boy because —
Answer:
The boy tried to snatch the huge bag which he was carrying on her shoulders at night. Then she took hold of the frail boy.

Question 4.
Mrs. Jones bent down because —
Answer:
she had to pick the bag and also grasp the boy who tried to snatch her bag and run away with it.

Question 5.
The boy attempted the theft because —
Answer:
He was tempted by a desire to have blue suede shoes.

Question 6.
The boy could not set himself free because —
Answer:
The woman was quite heavy and well-built and she caught the boy by his shirt. The frail boy failed to free himself.

Question 7.
Mrs. Lucila Bates Washington. Jones dragged the boy to her house —
Answer:
Because the boy looked weak and untidy. The heavy lady wanted to wash and clean the young lad.

Question 8.
The boy did not run away with the woman purse, when there was on opportunity for him to do so because —
Answer:
The boy lacked the strength to take away the heavy purse, he lost his balance while snatching the heavy purse and fell down due to its weight.

Question 9.
The boy behaved like an obedient student because —
Answer:
The frail boy was caught by the heavy lady while snatching her bag. He was so frightened and weak that the strong woman made him behave the way she wanted.

Question 10.
Roger looked quite shabby
Answer:
Because he wore dirty clothes and his face was also dirty. It prompts Mr. Jones to wash his face.

Question 11.
The woman asked the boy to go to the sink because —
Answer:
she wanted to tidy the boy. With motherly heart she instructed the boy to wait near the sink until the water was warm for him to wash. She offered the boy a clean towel.

Question 12.
The boy knew that the woman was not alone in that boarding house because —
Answer:
He could hear other roomer laughing and talking in the large house. Some of their doors were open too.

Question 13.
Roger dried his face again because —
Answer:
He had no notion what to do next. The door was open which tempted him to run away from the grasp of the woman but he didn’t.

Question 14.
The woman did not ask the boy any question about his family and life because —
Answer:
She does not want to embarrass Roger by asking questions about his family, parents and life.

Question 15.
Mr. Jones got up and went behind the screen because —
Answer:
She heated some lima beans and ham she had in the ice-box, made cocoa to feed the young frail snatcher.

Question 16.
The lady did not send Roger to the store for milk because —
Answer:
She was going to make cocoa out of his canned milk which she already had in her small kitchen.

Question 17.
After finishing the food why did the lady got up because —
Answer:
She wanted to give Roger ten dollar to buy himself some blue suede shoe and warned him not to steal or shatch from any body.

Question 18.
There was a continuous conversation between Mr. Jones and Roger because —
Answer:
Mrs Jones treated Roger like her son and shared her life events with the boy.

Question 19.
The boy could not say “Thank you, Ma’am” because
Answer:
The transformed boy desired to thank the lady from the core of his heart but had to go without saying thanks as she had closed the doors already

Question 20.
Mrs. Jones deserve great respect because —
Answer:
She helped the boy to transform without any motive and does not even let him show his gratefulness towards her. She is an ideal character who can bring change in society.

Thank You, Ma’am Story MCQs

Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

Question 1.
Roger couldn’t run away with Mrs. Jones’ purse as ………..
a. The purse was too heavy
b. People caught him
c. Mrs. Jones caught him
d. He was injured
Answer:
c. Mrs. Jones caught him

Question 2.
Roger wanted to steal Mrs. Jones’ purse as ………..
a. He wanted some money to buy a lunch
b. He wanted to gamble with the money
c. He wanted to have his bus fare
d. He wanted to buy a pair of blue suede shoes
Answer:
d. He wanted to buy a pair of blue suede shoes

Question 3.
Mrs. Jones didn’t hand over the boy to the police because ………..
a. It would be troublesome
b. The Police Station was far away
c. The bystanders resisted
d. Mrs. Jones took pity on him
Answer:
d. Mrs. Jones took pity on him

Question 4.
Mrs. Jones took the boy to her home which was a ………..
a. Cottage
b. Shanty
c. Boarding House
d. Palace
Answer:
c. Boarding House

Question 5.
“Half Nelson” means
a. Strangulate
b. A wrestling trick
c. Nelson’s son
d. A kind of food
Answer:
b. A wrestling trick

Question 6.
The first thing that Roger did at Mrs. Jones’ house was
a. Take bath
b. Drink some tea
c. Clean the floors
d. Wash his face
Answer:
d. Wash his face

Question 7.
The door was open, nut still Roger didn’t run away because ………..
a. He was afraid to get caught
b. His legs were tied
c. He was tired
d. Mrs. Jones’ motherly love cast a spell on him
Answer:
d. Mrs. Jones’ motherly love cast a spell on him

Question 8.
By saying, “I have sine things too.” Mrs. Jones meant that
a. She did some great things
b. She was good in sports
c. She committed some mistakes
d. She performed well in her school
Answer:
c. She committed some mistakes

Question 9.
“So you need somebody to go to the store,” asked the boy. The boy said so because …………..
a. He wanted to flee
b. He wanted to do something for Mrs. Jones
c. He wanted to get some money
d. He wanted to steal from the store
Answer:
b. He wanted to do something for Mrs. Jones

Question 10.
“Eat some more – ”she said ……………
a. dear
b. Lad
c. Father
d. Son
Answer:
d. Son

Question 11.
Mrs. Jones gave – dollars to Roger
a. 15
b. 12
c. 14
d. 10
Answer:
d. 10

Question 12.
“Shoes come by devilish like that will – your feet”.
a. Soothe
b. Blister
c. Burn
d. Comfort
Answer:
c. Burn

Question 13.
“Do not make the mistake of – on to my pocket book”
a. Sticking
b. Latching
c. Snatching
d. Hatching
Answer:
b. Latching

Question 14.
“Thank you, Ma’am” is a story that tells about the – of a juvenile criminal.
a. Transportation
b. Elevation
c. Transformation
d. Deportation
Answer:
c. Transformation

Question 15.
“He barely managed to say,” – ”before she shut the door”
a. Good Bye
b. Good Night
c. Good Morning
d. Thank You
Answer:
d. Thank You

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers

Rhapsody Workbook Answers Poem 7 Tithonus

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Poem 7 Tithonus

Rhapsody Workbook Answers Poem 7 Tithonus

Tithonus Poem Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Who has made Tithonus immortal? What are its consequences and what does he long for?
Answer:
Tithonus was made immortal as a gift from the goddess of Dawn Eos, who was also attracted by his beauty and chose him as her lover. Tithonus being given a gift of immortality lives with Eos, his wife at the quiet limit of the world.

Since he has gained a power of eternal life, he does not die but confronted with old age and its attendant pains he meditates upon death and mortality. He mourns the fact that death cannot release him from his misery. His misery is his old age where he has become weak, wrinkled and crippled.

He has changed from a beautiful handsome man to a decrepit old man who has lost his youth and beauty. He was granted the life of eternity by the goddess of Dawn but he could not escape the ravages of time. The Hours or time has aged him and his youth and beauty faded away and thus he has been marred and left maimed. To him this boon which he was once granted has transferred into a curse.

Whenever he recollects his past, he compares them with his present miserable situation. Whenever he sees the human beings living in the world of which he was once a part, he feels like dying as he realizes that mortality can only put an end to his miserable life where he is existing as an old, crippled and weak man without eternal youth and beauty. So he desires to die so that he can be free from the fetters of immortality. Freedom is in his aspiration and he knows that it cannot be attained without death.

Question 2.
Describe the poem as a dramatic monologue.
Answer:
The poem “Tithonus” is a monologue of a single character . The prince of Troy and the lover of the goddess of dawn,Aurora, is found to speak here of his frustration and desperation even after enjoying the boon of immortality. Tithonus is found to speak of himself, with a part of his address, meant for his beloved Goddess Aurora. Hence we can say that the poem is a monologue.

A dramatic monologue is a poetical piece in the first person. In it, a character -a man or a woman is placed in a dramatic situation and made to give out his or her thought or feeling,under the incitement of that very situation.

The essence of the dramatic monologue lies in the situation in which the only
character is placed and in a tensed situation,speaks out. So we find here in the poem how Tithonus the Greek hero speaks of his existing state of his life. He enjoys eternal life but with infirmities and ailments of his old age, he is being pressed down with helplessness.

He feels exhausted and haunted by the hard truth of an external existence without youth, health or beauty and roams in utter desolation like a “white hair’d shadow”. So we find how he brings out the state of his mind, his sense of profound sorrow and desperation through his monologue. Frustration seeps deep into his heart and much sought old bliss has all turned into a terrible curse to him.

Death and not eternal life, is his choice now. Tennyson’s poem is a monologue as Tithonus speaks out of his acute agony and restlessness and then addresses hu=is lover Eos and asks her to release him from the boon of immortality. We find no speech of Eos in the whole poem. Tithonus is the only character who speaks in an uninterrupted flow. ,

Question 3.
Compare the feelings of Tithonus towards immortality in his youth and in his old age.
Answer:
Death takes man into a world from where he cannot return but immortality has brought Tithonus far away from the world of men, too far to retrace his steps. This poem Tithonus is based on Greek mythology where we find Aurora the goddess of dawn, falling in love with Tithonus for his beauty. Tithonus asked Eos or Aurora for a boon of eternal life but unfortunately he did not ask for eternal youth.

He therefore grows old but does not die while Eos his wife also does not die and does not even grow old and possesses the same beauty or in other words she being a goddess has eternal life as well as eternal youth and beauty. While he was young, he was granted the boon of immortality by Eos his lover. When he received the boon, he thought himself to be the happiest man.

He was once a person “glorious in his beauty”. But since he is aged, weak and crippled now, he lost his youth and beauty. With the passage of time, he has grown old but Eos is externally young and beautiful as she is a goddess and possesses a life of eternity with eternal youth and beauty.

Compared to his wife, he is a completely a mismatch. The youthfulness and the beauty of Eos seem to be incongruous when compared to that of Tithonus. So he now yearns to free him from immortality and grant him his freedom through mortality. He is in a miserable wretched condition due to his old age and compares his present image to that of a ‘white hair’d shadow’ of the past.

Question 4.
Describe how the poet paints a picture of the journey of the goddess of dawn across the sky?
Answer:
The poet paints a beautiful picture of the goddess of dawn when she arrives or appears in the sky. Through the speech of Tithonus the poet describes how the goddess of dawn appears. When she arrives, the night disappears thus her arrival marks the end of the darkness of the night.

Tithonus looks at her beauty and says that as it dawns, the radiating sunbeams, and the red tinge of the sky look like her reddened cheeks. The brightening glare of the sunlight is being compared to the goddess’s brightened eyes.

The eyes dazzle so much that even the stars in the sky seem to disappear. The brightness of her eyes, make even the stars invisible. Tithonus looks at her beauty before which the shining stars get blinded into invisibility.

The white horses that pull her chariot yearn for the yoke, to start pulling her chariot again. As her chariot starts its journey across the sky, the horses seem to shake off the darkness of night from their manes. The whole sky glows with flakes of dazzling light. In other words when the goddess of dawn appears the dark sky changes into radiating sky, the radiance of which can even blind the stars.

Tithonus Poem Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Who is Tithonus? What has he been granted and by whom and why?
Answer:
Tithonus is the lover of Aurora, the goddess of Dawn. He was a Trojan by birth and the son of the king of Troy, Laomedon. Tithonus was a man so glorious in his beauty that the goddess of Dawn, Aurora fell in love with him and raised him to the status of god by granting him the boon or gift of immortality when she was asked for. Tithonus asked the goddess for his immortality and Aurora granted it to him spontaneously and generously.

Question 2.
Why does Tithonus call the boon of immortality cruel?
Answer:
Tithonus calls the boon of immortality cruel because with the passage of time, he has grown old and his body has perished and he is not as beautiful and handsome as he once used to be. With his growing age his body also reacted and has become weak and shrivelled. So he realizes that a boon of eternal life has no value and is cruel, without a boon of eternal youth.

Question 3.
Where does Tithonus live and with whom and how?
Answer:
Tithonus’s dwelling place is with the goddess of Dawn.He is old and due to his old age he is withering within the arms of his beloved on the Eastern fringes of the sky and feeling sort of a wandering shadow of his past.

Question 4.
What are the images of the natural cycle of life and death in “Tithonus” ?
Answer:
In “Tithonus” Tennyson illustrates the natural cycle of birth and death through the images of the woods decaying, the vapours fading, the swans dying, the clouds, days and seasons passing and human beings working and going to their graves ultimately after their death.

Question 5.
What does the legend of Tithonus say about human nature?
Answer:
The poem of Tithonus tells us that human nature is prone to greed and dissatisfaction with life.What humans have been given with is never enough for them.So they crave and yearn for more without knowing their limitations.So like the hapless Tithonus we strive for superiority.

Question 6.
Give the description of the appearance of dawn on her chariot.
Answer:
In the poem,the poet paints a beautiful picture of Eos through the speech of Tithonus. In the poem,he says that just before sun rises, Tithonus catches signt of the ‘dark world’where he was born mortal and then he witnesses the approaching of the goddess of dawn.

He can see her cheeks which begin to turn red and her eyes grow so bright that they overpower the light of the stars. When Aurora’s chariot starts its journey driven by a team of horses, the twilight in the sky is being converted into glaring flakes of light. So he now says that she grows beautiful with the start of a new morning.

Question 7.
What similarity is mentioned between the grant of immortality to Tithonus and the way wealthy people give money to someone?
Answer:
Tithonus asked a boon of immortality from Eos the goddess of dawn. Aurora or Eos granted this boon to him generously and spontaneously like a rich philanthropist who has so much money that he gives away the money to ones who ask for it without thinking twice.

Question 8.
What is the significance of the title Tithonus?
Answer:
The poem deals with a poignant expression of the inevitability of death and the necessity of accepting it as such. Tithonus who was granted the gift of immortality had to bear the consequences of varying “from the kindly race of men”. Though he succeeded in defying death, his youth and beauty deserted him in his old age. The only way to overcome this, was to ask for his freedom from the life of eternity.

Tithonus Poem Logic Base Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
Tithonus calls immortality cruel because…………..
Answer:
He realizes that the immortality with which he has been gifted by the Goddess of Dawn, is a curse to him as he has grown old with the passage of time and his body has become wrinkled, weak and crippled due to old age.

Question 2.
Tithonus withers slowly but does not die because…………..
Answer:
He has been gifted by the boon of immortality by the Goddess of Dawn, Eos.

Question 3.
Eos the goddess of Dawn chose Tithonus as her lover because…………..
Answer:
She was attracted by Tithonus’s glorious beauty.

Question 4.
Tithonus compares the goddess with wealthy men because…………..
Answer:
The Goddess of Dawn had gifted Tithonus with the boon of immortality when she was asked for it by Tithonus and she gave this boon to him thoughtlessly and arrogantly in such a way as wealthy men give money without much thought.

Question 5.
A glimpse of the dark earth was visible to Tithonus from the sky because…………..
Answer:
The clouds were separated from one another by a soft blowing breeze.

Question 6.
The vapours weep their burden to the ground because…………..
Answer:
The air which carries the vapours or mists become heavy and fall on the ground unable to bear their burden or load.

Question 7.
The trees in the wood decay and fall because…………..
Answer:
It is the nature of the living creatures to decay and perish after a particular span of time.

Question 8.
Tithonus felt like God because…………..
Answer:
The goddess of Dawn was attracted by his beauty and chose him to be her lover and married him and Tithonus in the arms of the Goddess felt like god himself.

Question 9.
The goddess did not take back the boon of 1 immortality from Tithonus because…………..
Answer:
The gods and goddesses cannot take back the boon once granted to someone.

Question 10.
Tithonus calls the earthly people happy because…………..
Answer:
They have not been granted with the gift of immortality like Tithonus. So they will face death as they do not have to live lives of eternity with crippled and feeble bodies,like Tithonus.

Tithonus Poem About the Poet Alfred Lord Tennyson

Alfred Lord Tennyson was an English poet, who was the poet Laureate during much of Queen Victoria’s reign. He was born on August 6,1809, in Somerby, Lincolnshire, England. He was awarded the Chancellor’s Gold Medal at Cambridge for one of his first pieces, “Timbuktu” in 1829.

He published his first solo collection of poems “Poems, Chiefly Lyrical,” in 1830. His early poetry, with its medievalism and powerful visual imagery, was a major influence on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Tennyson excelled in short lyrics like “Break, Break, Break,” “The Charge of The Light Brigade,” “Tears, Idle Tears” and “Crossing The Bar.”

Much of his verse was based on classical mythological themes, such as Ulysses. He also wrote blank verses including “Idylis of The King,” “Ulysses” and “Tithonus.” Many of his phrases have become commonplace in English Language like “To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield,” “Knowledge comes but wisdom lingers”etc. He died in October 6, 1892.

Tithonus About the Poem

The poem “Tithonus” is written by the Victorian poet Alfred Lord Tennyson,in the year 1833. It was originally written as “Tithon” and was completed in 1859. It first appeared in the Cornhill Magazine in 1860. It is based on the Greek Myth. According to the myth, Tithonus is the son of Laomedon upon whom the beautiful goddess Eos fell in love.

According to the myth, the Goddess granted Tithonus a boon of immortality and forgot to grant him eternal youth. This resulted in turning Tithonus into a helpless, weak, maimed and old person. Finally we find how Tithonus being unable to bear his weak, shrivelled, body due to his old age, requested the Goddess to free him from the boon of immortality and let him die like other human beings.

In the Greek mythology, Tithonus was transformed into a grasshopper but in this poem nothing like this has been produced. The poem concentrates on human limitations and the the problems that occur when natural cycle of existence is tampered with by human beings or by Gods.

Tithonus Poem in Summary

The poem “Tithonus” is based on an ancient Greek myth, where Aurora the goddess of dawn fell in love with Tithonus the son of King Laomedon, the king of Troy, and has gifted him with physical immortality. The first stanza of the poem opens with the speech of Tithonus speaking to his beloved, the goddess Eos (or Aurora).

Eos granted Tithonus physically immortality which is the actual reason for his despair and pain. He speaks of the woods in the forests growing old and their leaves falling to the ground. Man is born on the earth, works here and then faces death and is buried underground. The swan dies after few years. This is the usual and natural way by which every living creatures perish.

But Tithonus is cursed to live forever. Unlike all the other creatures of the world he is unable to die. He is lingering on in “cruel immortality.” While men and animals fade away, and death consumes them from the earth, yet he remains to wander on earth. He grew old, with passage of time and thus he lost his valour and strength.

His dwelling place is with the goddess of dawn in the Eastern region of the sky among the mists, but he is feeling like a wandering shadow as he is old withering in the arms of his beloved. Every morning he is compelled to see and observe Eos’s chariot taking her into the sky where Tithonus once adored her. So Tithonus, wails his gift and recalls his beauty in his youth and regrets for the gift of physical immortality instead of the youthful immortality.

He thinks how he was once a handsome man and how Eos had chosen him as her lover, and how Tithonus himself had asked her for his gift of immortality. He was given this gift as a wealthy man gives his wealth liberally to someone in need. But now the time has snatched his youthful looks and left him old, wrinkled and shrivelled. Thus he now craves and yearns to be free from the trance of love and requests his lover to take back the gift.

He now realizes how in vain, he had longed to be different from all mankind. Tithonus laments however, that the Hours, the goddesses who accompany Aurora were angry because Tithonus was able to resist death, so they took their revenge by battering him until he grew old and withered and was left maimed leading to a miserable painful life.

Now though he cannot die, he remains forever old and he must dwell in the presence of Aurora, who renews herself each morning and is thus young forever. Tithonus compares his present appearance to Eos’s beauty which she still possesses so he appeals to Aurora to take back the gift of immortality while the silver star of Venus rises in the morning. He realizes the ruin in longing to be different and unique from the rest of mankind and in living beyond the normal human lifespan.

Tithonus Poem Line Wise Explanation

The woods decay, the woods decay and fall,
The vapours weep their burthen to the ground,
Man comes and tills the field and lies beneath,
And after many a summer dies the swan.
Me only cruel immortality
Consumes: I wither slowly in thine arms,
Here at the quiet limit of the world,
A white-hair’d shadow roaming like a dream
The ever-lilent spaces of the East,
Far-folded mists, and gleaming halls of morn.

The poem is a dramatic monologue where the speaker is Tithonus. Tithonus was the prince of Troy who was gifted with immortality by the Goddess of Eos who fell in love with Tithonus. Having been maimed and aged beyond recognition by his longevity, Tithonus yearns and longs to be released from his endless life and find peace in death. In a very sorrowful mood, he addresses the Goddesses of Dawn.

He says that the trees perish and drop down on the earth, the drops of water also fall on the ground when the air carrying them becomes heavy with them. Humans are born, they come and work and then finally have to mingle with the dust of the earth, they have worked on. After living for some years, the swans also meet their death. But only for him, immortality has become cmel and he cannot bear it.

Old age is taking away his strength from his body while he is decaying in Eos’s amis. He appears like a shadow with white hairs. The region where he stays and wanders about is the Eastern region of the sky, which is covered with mists. He can see the light and shine of the early morning from a distance only.

These lines give us a very dismal picture of Tithonus’s existence. Through these lines he means to say that all the perishable things of nature are better and happier than him as they follow the natural cycle of birth and death. He realizes the importance of the end of life. Sd what he sees around him in the world, among the living creatures and natural elements ie the gift of mortality is being taken away from him which is actually not a boon but a curse to him.

Alas! for this gray shadow, once a man-
So glorious in his beatuty and thy choice,
Who madest him thy chosen, that he seem’d
To his great heart none other than a God!
I ask’d thee, ‘Give me immortality.’
Then didst thou grant mine asking with a smile,
Like weathy men, who care not how they give.

In these lines, Tithonus is seen lamenting of his once glorious and youthful looks which have now changed into a poor shadow of him. He recalls how he was once handsome, dynamic, vibrant and youthful. His looks were so handsome that Goddess Eos was attracted by it and chose him as her lover which made him the happiest man. He then had asked her to grant him the boon of ‘life of eternity.’ She granted him this, as rich people give money to someone without thinking much, thus indicating that even the Goddess did not think about the consequences of the boon.

She gave the boon without thinking what the consequences would be for the receiver of the gift. So here Tithonus regrets when he thinks that he has received eternal life without eternal youth. The consequence at present is that he has changed into an old man from a passionate young man while his wife is still young.

These lines also indicate the carelessness of Eos while granting Tithonus eternal life.She forgot to grant him eternal youth. Her granting of the boon also suggests that Eos behaved in rather an arrogant manner as her deed is compared to the rich people’s manner of giving money without much thought, when asked for.

But they strong Hours indignant work’d their wills,
And beat me down and marr’d and wasted me,
And tho’ they could not end me, left me maim’d
To dwell in presence of immortal youth,
Immortal age beside immortal youth,
And all I was, in ashes. Can thy love,

The Goddess of Dawn, granted Tithonus eternity but Time has taken its toll and made him weak, withered and old. As a result of the gift of immortality Tithonus does not face death. Instead he is crippled and is now a deformed old man.

He then compares his looks with that of his wife, the Goddess of Dawn, who is still young and possesses the youthful beauty. With the passage of time, his youth has passed away and he is now forced to live with his young and passionate wife, inspite of his old and withered body.

He speaks that this is the natural cycle where a person grows old with the passage of time. On the other hand, Gods enjoy eternal youth and do not become old, which implies that human beings cannot follow the ways of Gods. These lines also suggest how hapless men become before the on slaughts of time.

Thy beauty, make amends, tho’ even now,
Close over us, the silver star, thy guide,
Shines in those tremulous eyes that fill with tears
To hear me? Let me go: take back thy gift:
Why should a man desire in any way
To vary from the kindly race of men
Or pass beyond the goal of ordinance
Where all should pause, as is most meet for all?

In these lines Tithonus asks the Goddess of Dawn, if she can take back the gift of eternity that had been given to him. He wants to ask if she can rectify her error of granting him such a gift. The tears in her eyes make Tithonus realize that she cannot do that. While asking the goddess to take the gift back, Tithonus explains that he has no reason of not accepting the lot of other human beings, which destine them to die. So like other humans, he also wants to die and wither away. Since it is a common fact of all the living creatures, so there should not be an exception in his case.

These lines emphasize that all living creatures are perishable and mortal. If they are born, they have to die since life cycle is made up of birth and death. But if one does not follow the course of nature, one has to suffer. When the person does not follow this pattern of life, it becomes miserable for him. Even the gods seem to be helpless which is proved by the tears in the eyes of the Goddess of Dawn.

A soft air fans the cloud apart; there comes
A glimpse of that dark world where I was born.
Once more the old mysterious glimmer steals
From thy pure brows, and from thy shoulders pure,
And bosom beauting with a heart renew’d.

Tithonus in these lines describes that with the blowing of zephyr, the clouds get separated from one another and through the gap, when the earth can be seen, he remembers it, where he was born. He sees the mild light coming from the beautiful face of the Goddess. He notices the passionate heart of the Goddess beating and her bosom heaving.

He draws a beautiful picture of the dawn. Through the description of the dawn, he brings out the contrast between the youthful beauty of his wife and his own shrivelled and wrinkled looks due to his old age. Through these lines the poet wants to create a contrast between the world of the Goddess of Dawn and the mortal,earthly world to which Tithonus belongs.

The words ‘renewed heart’ is referred to the eternal beauty of the Goddesses. On the other hand Tithonus’s world is full of darkness. It emphasizes the absence of compatibility and the presence of incongruity between Tithonus and the goddess. On one hand the poet here beautifully paints the brightness and charm of early morning and on the other hand draws a picture of Tithonus who lacks the charmness and brightness due to his decrepit situation.

Thy cheek begins to redden thro’ the gloom,
Thy sweet eyes brighten slowly close to mine,
Ere yet they blind the stars, and the wild team
Which love thee, yearning for thy yoke, arise,
And shake the darkness from their loosen’d manes,
And beat the twilight into flakes of fire.
Lo! ever thus thou growest beautiful
In silence, then before thine answer given
Departest, and thy tears are on my cheek.
Why wilt thou ever scare me with thy tears,
And make me tremble lest a saying learnt,
In days far-off, on that dark earth, be true?
‘The Gods themselves cannot recall their gifts.’

These lines give a vivid description of how the goddess of Dawn appears. Tithonus describes her cheeks turning red and her eyes shining bright. As she arrives, the night comes to an end. The darkness of the night slowly leaves and the Dawn arrives with her bright, charming beauty. Tithonus speaks of this beauty of hers as so bright that the shining stars also look pale as compared to it. So the stars become invisible due to the brightness of dawn. The ‘wild team’ or the team of horses drawing her chariot yearn for the yoke, to start pulling her chariot again.

As her chariot starts its journey, the whole sky glimmers with the dazzling flakes of light. The Goddess of Dawn disappears again before answering to Tithonus’s request, to take back the gift of immortality. She goes back silently. Tithonus notices her helplessness and says that he realizes her helplessness is not being able to make him mortal again. So the goddess’s eyes are filled with tears and this tears remind him of the saying that he had heard long ago. It was that gods cannot take back the boon granted to someone.

So here we find, how he gives a clear description of the Goddess of Dawn with cheeks getting red and eyes shining brightly. This shows the poet’s sense of beauty. Again we find that the Goddess is aware of the pain and agony of Tithonus but inspite of it she feels helpless. It points out that even gods are unable to act according to their will. They too have certain limitations like the human beings.

Ay me! ay me! with what another heart
In days far-ff, and with what other eyes
I used to watch-if I be he that watch’d-
The lucid outline forming round thee; saw
The dim curls kindle into sunny rings;
Changed with thy mystic change, and felt my blood
Glow with the glow that slowly crimson’d all
Thy presence and thy portals, while I lay,
Mouth, forehead, eyelids, growing dewy-warm
With kisses balmier than half-opening buds
Of April, and could hear the lips that kiss’d
Whispering I knew not what of wild and sweet,
Like that strange song I heard Apollo sing,
While Ilion like a mist rose into towers.

Tithonus remembers the days when he was the young lover of the beautiful Goddess. He realizes that he is perhaps a completely different person who used to look at the changing colours and shapes of Aurora at dawn. Tithonus could see her curls changing into bright sunny rings. This view used to bring a change in Tithonus also. Her radiance made him feel his blood glow with passion and desire.

He remembers his youth when he would feel his whole body come alive at dawn as Eos kissed him on his eyelids, mouth and forehead. He felt lying in the fragrance of soothing flower beds. At that time he heard her loveful words which he could understand. Eos used to whisper to him “wild and sweet” melodies like the music Apollo’s lyre, which was sung while creating the Towers of Troy. The Towers seemed to rise out of mists. These lines show Tithonus’s depth of suffering and pain. He also regrets and senses the loss resulting from the gifts of immortality that he received from the Goddess of Dawn.

Yet hold me not for ever in thine East:
How can my nature longer mix with thine?
Coldly thy rosy shadows bathe me, cold
Are all thy lights, and cold my wrinkled feet
Upon thy glimmering thresholds, when the steam
Floats up from those dim fields about the homes
Of happy men that have the power to die,
And grassy barrows of the happier dead.
Release me, and restore me to the ground;
Thou seest all things, thou wilt see my grave:
Thou wilt renew thy beauty morn by morn;
I earth in earth forget these empty courts,
And thee returning on thy silver wheels.

In these lines Tithonus asks Aurora not to keep him imprisoned and captivated in the East where she rises anew each morning because his eternal old age contrasts so painfully with his eternal renewal. He says that their natures do not match and it is impossible also to match because she is an immortal Goddess with non perishable beauty whereas Tithonus is a human being whose death is to be inevitable but due to Tithonus’s gift which he received from the goddess, he has become immortal which is against the rule of human being’s life.

So he has become immortal but his beauty and youth are perishable and so now his feet tremble when he finds himself at her threshold. He cringes cold and wrinkled, whereas she rises each morning to warm “happy men who have the power to die” and men who are already dead in their burial mounds. A look at the steam floating from the homes of men who are destined to die tells him that they are happy since they do not have to suffer eternal life without permanent youth. When Tithonus sees all these, he also feels to die and to be buried under the ground.

So Tithonus asks the Goddess to release him and free him from captivity and let him die. By this way, the Goddess will see his grave and will see him lying in his grass-covered grave even after his death. Her beauty and youth are ordained to get renewed for ever.

But Tithonus will not remember her beautiful court as he cannot match her in youth and beauty. If he is set free from immortality, he will die and go to his grave. Aurora is described as being on ‘silver wheels’ because she was the Goddess of Dawn, and was ‘personified’ as the sun rising in the sky.

Tithonus Poem Theme

The poem “Tithonus” by Tennyson is based on a Greek myth in which the prince of Troy marries the goddess of dawn who grants him eternity but forgets to gift him with ever-lasting youth. As a consequence of it we find how Tithonus suffers from old age and infirmities but his wife remains the same and possesses the beauty as she is the Goddess of Dawn. So, he fails to match the youth and passionate feeling of his beloved wife. So the poem focuses and centres around the aftermath of the gift of immortality, granted to Tithonus by Aurora.

The poem contains the lamentation of the hero, as he is cursed with immortality, without the blessing of eternal youth & beauty. His health fails, his body perishes and his beauty also withers with the passage of time. So Tithonus only aspires for freedom from the boon of immortality. Human beings cannot and should not aspire for a life meant for Gods.

They should live like what they are ie humans should be aware of their limitations. So once a human being tries to over reach the limits and follow the ways of god. he has to face terrible consequences. One should be happy as long as one is aware of one’s limits and limitations just like Tithonus who suffered a lot as he accepted immortality.

Tithonus Poem Word Meaning

Decay — decline
Vapours — mist
Burthen — burden
Tills — ploughs
Immortality — eternal life or life of eternity
Consumes — slowly eats up
Release — set free
Feebler — weaker
Indignant — resentful ; discontented
Agonizing — giving mental pain
Envy — jealousy
Thy choice — your selection
Grant — give
Hours — time
Thresholds — buildings
Wills — desires
In ashes — in old age
Make amends — rectify or make correction
Tremendous — trembling
Silver star — the morning star
Ordinance — order
Fans the clouds — separates the clouds with air
Mysterious — strange
Glimpse — a quick look
Glimmer — shine
Wild team — a chariot of Aurora pulled by the team of horses
Mane — hair on the horses neck
Twilight — a soft glowing light from the sky when the sun is below horizon
Growest — grows
Lucid — clear
Crimsoned — turned crimson red
Portals — large entrance to a building Barrows , ancient graveyard

Tithonus Poem Critical Appreciation

The poem “Tithonus” by Alfred Lord Tennyson brings out the despair, agony and pain which the speaker of this poem faces due to the boon of immortality which was gifted to him by the goddess of Dawn, Eos. While granting, she forgets to grant him, eternal youth, and thus he is condemned to aging forever.

The poem is in the form of a dramatic monologue where Tithonus, the hero of the poem lanients about his “eternal life” without eternal beauty. He addresses all the words to the Goddess of Dawn, his wife who is presumably present there in front of him.

This presence of his wife Eos makes the poem a dramatic monologue. The first thing that strikes
the critic is how well the theme suits the tone of reflective melancholy that the poet does so well, using rhythm and other sonic devices to produce the effect of languor, and longing for the eternal beauty of the Goddess.

On the thematic level, we can appreciate the work as we can understand how prolonged life, especially outliving the powers of one’s youth, is equally problematic like premature death. From the character of Tithonus, we can also learn that over-ambition is not good. There are certain limitations, certain rules which human beings must follow.

When humans become over-ambitious and they want to exist like super humans, downfall of them is inescapable. The poem teaches us that human beings should not step into the territory of super humans. So the cycle of nature should not be disrupted as it creates a great trouble if it is done so.

Tithonus Poem Style

The poem “Tithonus”, written b’ Tennyson is in the form of dramatic monologue. It is based on the classical mythological theme. It revolves around the Greek myth of the Trojan prince Tithonus and his lover Eos or Aurora, the Goddess of Dawn. It has no specific rhyme scheme or pattern of meter,meaning that it is written in blank or free verse.

Tithonus is the only speaker expressing his pain and agony to the Goddess of Dawn. The devices used by the poet make the poem beautiful, interesting and artistic. ‘Thy cheek begins to redden thro’ the gloom flakes of fire,’ ‘The dim curls rings’ are the visual images used by the poet to describe Eos. He has used many metaphors and sirniles as well.

‘A white —hair’d shadow’ is a metaphor for old Tithonus who is nothing but a mere shadow of his past. ‘Like that strange song sing/ While towers’, ‘A white-hair’d like a dream’ are examples of similes.there are also uses of alliterations, assonance and personification, in the poem.

Tithonus Poem MCQs

Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

Question 1.
The poem is written by
a. T.S.Eliot
b. A.L.Tennyson
c. Thomas Hood
d. H.W.Longfellow
Answer:
b. A.L.Tennyson

Question 2.
The speaker in the poem is
a. The Goddess Aurora
b. The Goddess of Sky
c. Tithonus
d. God Apollo
Answer:
c. Tithonus

Question 3.
Tithonus lives in the company of the Goddess of Dawn in …………..
a. The East
b. The West
c. The North
d. The South
Answer:
a. The East

Question 4.
The bird mentioned in the poem is alan ………..
a. eagle
b. sparrow
c. pigeon
d. swan
Answer:
d. swan

Question 5.
Tithonus was chosen by
a. Athena
b. Derneter
c. Eos
d. Ens
Answer:
c. Eos

Question 6.
The immortality and old age seem cruel to the speaker and he wants to ……….
a. live longer
b. live in the company of human beings
c. die and get released from the boon
d. become young again
Answer:
c. die and get released from the boon

Question 7.
The animals mentioned in the poem are ………..
a. lions
b. tigers
c. dogs
d. horses
Answer:
d. horses

Question 8.
A’ white – hair shadow’is an example of ………..
a. simile
b. assonance
c. metaphor
d. alliteration
Answer:
a. simile

Question 9.
Tithonus is unhappy ………….
a. with the Goddess of Dawn
b. with other Gods
c. because he has become immortal but grown old
d. as he has to die like other human beings
Answer:
c. because he has become immortal but grown old

Question 10.
Due to the boon of immortality Tithonus as an old man has to live with his
a. old and withered wife
b. young and beautiful wife
c. youthful passion for beauty
d. a wife cursed to die soon
Answer:
b. young and beautiful wife

Rhapsody: A Collection of ISC Poems Workbook Answers

Rhapsody Workbook Answers Poem 3 Sonnet-116

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Poem 3 Sonnet-116

Rhapsody Workbook Answers Poem 3 Sonnet-116

Sonnet-116 Poem Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
What symbolism is used in Sonnet 116?
Answer:
A symbol is created when something has both literal and figurative meaning. A metaphor, on the other hand, has only figurative meaning, and it compares two unalike things. In this sonnet, speaker says that love, real love, is an “ever-fixed mark / that looks on tempests and is never shaken.” He compares love to a lighthouse, an object that stays put and guides ships through storms and does not move, via a metaphor.

Next, he says that love is “the star to every wandering barks,” again using a metaphor, to compare love to the North Star, which seems never to move in the skies, so ships can use it to navigate. The speaker also uses a lot of personification in the poem, the attribution of human qualities to things that are not human. For example, both “Love” and “Time” are given intention; Love is described as not being “Time’s fool,” and both Love and Time are gendered as male.

Question 2.
Critically analyse “Sonnet 116.”
Answer:
‘Sonnet 116’ has its own richness with a deeply meaningful inside. The first 126 sonnets of Shakespeare are addressed to a young man, with whom the poet or speaker is emotionally bound. The rest of the sonnets are addressed to the “Dark Lady”.

When we go through the poem, we can understand that Love is the most important theme of ‘Sonnet 116’. The poet glorifies the meaning of true love, which can overcome all obstacles and thus remain unchanged even in the course of time.

This sonnet starts with the reference to the Christian marriage service and its accompanying ceremonies. In this poem, the poet talks about the union of true minds. The poet makes the distinction between true love and unfaithful love. According to him, love is not a love that alters under changed circumstances. True love never changes, except though one of the lovers becomes unfaithful to another.

In this poem, Shakespeare uses two metaphors to bring out the permanence of true love. First, the poet says that love is an ever-fixed mark, a lighthouse that always guide us in storms but never shakes. Next, he says that love is the pole star that guides every wandering ship in the ocean. Its value is unknown when its height is calculated.

In the third quatrain, the poet reveals the ravages of time. Time being personified as a reaper who carries the sickle with which he cuts man’s life, looks, and possessions. Time will ruin the pink lips and the cheeks, but true love does not depend on physical beauty as it is everlasting, even with the passage of time. Until the end of the world, it will remain the same.

It’s constant and permanent, and nothing will change it. The last two lines strongly support the poet’s assertion that true love is constant and permanent. If someone proves that this assertion is false, then the poet claims adamantly that he never wrote any poetry, and no man has ever known true love.

Question 3.
“Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks…man ever loved.”— Explain these lines in your own words.
Answer:
Here, we should notice on the capitalized “Time.” Actually, Shakespeare personifies time as a person here giving an impress on death. He says that love is not the fool of time. One’s rosy lips and cheeks will certainly pale with age, as “his bending sickle’s compass come.” Shakespeare’s diction is important here, particularly with his use of the word “sickle.”

Through these lines the inevitability of death is portrayed. We are assured here that death will certainly come, but that will not stop love. It may kill the mortals, but the love itself is eternal. True love always persists, the passing of time does not affect it’s purity. This thought is continued in lines eleven and twelve, the final two lines of the third quatrain.

Shakespeare uses lines thirteen and fourteen, the final couplet of Sonnet 116, to assert just how truly he believes that love is everlasting and conquers all. In this part of Sonnet 116, Shakespeare is telling his readers that if someone proves, he is wrong about love, then he never wrote the following words, and no man ever loved.

He conveys here that if his words are untrue, nothing else would exist. The words he just wrote would have never been written, and no man would have ever loved before. His adamant nature is clearly shown here about this matter, and his tough words are what strengthen the sonnet itself. The speaker and poet himself are convinced that love is real, true, and everlasting.

Question 4.
“O no, it is an ever-fixed mark..”- Explain this with reference to the context.
Answer:
Here, Shakespeare tells his readers more confidently about the everlasting nature of true love. The poet asserts that it is like a lighthouse that guides people through its beam. Again, it can be argued here that Shakespeare decides to personify love since it is something that is intangible and not something that can be defeated by something tangible, such as a storm.

Shakespeare, describing the nature of true love through these lines uses the metaphor of the North Star to add richness to the poem. To Shakespeare, love is the star that guides every bark, or ship, on the water, and while it is priceless, it can be measured. This a well-noted reference. Shakespeare concedes that love’s worth is not known, but he says it can be measured. Through these lines, perhaps the poet assumes that the readers will understand the different ways in which one can measure love: through time and actions.

Question 5.
Comment on the theme of the poem “Sonnet 116.”
Answer:
The main theme in William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116” is true love and its everlasting nature. The poet here says that hue love unites two mind and it never changes with time. He talks about love in terms of marriage of true minds. Marriage,just like love, is a holy bond between two persons. It should be based oh mutual respect, trust, and honesty. Nothing can come between two minds if they are duly in love.

Then, the poet defines love in the first stanza. He explains that love will not be love if it changes or ends because of the change of situation or hardships in life. Love, therefore, should be steadfast, fixed, and Constantin the second stanza, the poet develops his definition of love.

He states that love should as solid and fixed as a rock or an oak tree that stands against tempests. Here tempests stand for hardships, ordeals and sufferings of life. It should enlighten the way of the people and guide them just like the North Star that guides the sailors in the dark sea.

In the third stanza, Shakespeare points out that love should be timeless or eternal to be precise. It should stay fixed in its position and strength. It should survive the test of time and grow stronger. As lovers grow older, the bond of love should become tighter.

To conclude, the poet illustrates the characteristics of true love in this sonnet. In his opinion, true love is the love that helps people to be happy and productive. It is very precious and loveable feeling. It should be permanent, timeless and self-contained. This is the type of love that one should maintain in his life.

Sonnet-116 Poem Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
What are the different aspects of love that the poet discusses in the sonnet?
Answer:
The poet distinguishes between true love and unfaithful love. Love is not love which alters under changed circumstances. True love is constant and permanent which never alters with time. Nothing can destroy it whereas unfaithful love always alters with time and does not stand a chance to fade away.

Question 2.
What is the style of writing the sonnet?
Answer:
The poem, “Sonnet 116” is a sonnet which is deeply meaningful. This sonnet is divided into three quatrains and ended with a couplet. The rhyming scheme of this poem is abab, cdcd, efef, gg. This poem strictly follows the style of iambic pentameter with stressed and unstressed syllables. To add richness to the poem, the poet had used various standard metaphors, alliteration and declamatory to state the very fact of the poem.

Question 3.
What does Shakespeare in his poem “Sonnetll6” refer to by the phrase “marriage of true minds”?
Answer:
By the phrase “marriage of true minds” Shakespeare in his poem “Sonnet 116” refers to two devoted minds that are in true love. Persons devoid of self-interest have true minds. Thus the ‘marriage’, means the union, of these two people who are completely and faithfully in love with each other.

Question 4.
How does Shakespeare use the image of Pole Star in his poem “Sonnet 116”?
Answer:
In his poem “Sonnet 116” Shakespeare uses the star to mean the Pole Star which remains forever in the same position in the northern sky. This star guides the off track ships to the proper track. Similarly ideal relationship guides those people who are baffled in the sea of life.

Question 5.
What does Shakespeare in his poem “Sonnet 116” means by the expression “Love’s not Time’s fool”?
Answer:
By the expression “Love’s not Time’s fool”, Shakespeare in his poem “Sonnet 116” means that true love never bends down in front of time. No matter how hard and ruthless the time’s “bending sickle” is, it cannot shake the intensity of true love. According to the poet, true love is eternal so it does not alter.

Question 6.
“If this be error and upon me proved/I never writ, nor no man ever loved.”- Comment.
Answer:
According to the poet, his ideologies about true love and its nature are absolutely correct and he is quiet adamant in proving his point. Throughout this sonnet, Shakespeare has discussed true love and its everlasting nature and at the end, ends it on a note of certainty. He says that if his ideologies are perceived to be wrong by any chance, it should be assumed with confidence that he was never written anything or no person in this earth has ever loved truly.

Question 7.
What type of love does the poet have in mind while writing this sonnet?
Answer:
In this sonnet, the poet William Shakespeare visualizes an ideal love that has no end. Shakespeare expresses that if two persons are truly in love with each other, then nothing can come in between them as their relationship would be beyond physical beauty and it will last for eternity.

The poet strictly discourages any false show of love and make the readers understand the value of true love. According to the poet, true love doesn’t change with time, it lasts

Sonnet-116 Poem Logic-Based Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
According to the poets “love I not level which alters” because_______
Answer:
True love never changes.

Question 2.
The poet strictly discourages the false show of love because _______
Answer:
It has no purity in it.

Question 3.
In this poem. the poet does not celebrates physical beauty because_____
Answer:
It fades out with the passing of time.

Question 4.
True love is compared with the Pole Star because ______
Answer:
It remains constant always.

Question 5.
“Love’s not Time’s fool” because ______
Answer:
It does not change with time.

Question 6.
Time has been personified in his sonnet as a reaper because ______
Answer:
It destroys every mortal things.

Question 7.
True love is compared with a lighthouse because
Answer:
Just like a lighthouse it guides us to the purity of heart.

Question 8.
True love should not be restricted to anything because
Answer:
It is eternal.

Question 9.
The poet has used several figures of speech in this poem because
Answer:
To add richness to the poem.

Question 10.
“Sonnet 116” can be considered as a typical example of Shakespearean sonnet because
Answer:
Ofits structure and form.

Sonnet-116 Poem About the Poet William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was a renowned English poet, playwright, and actor born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. His birthday is most commonly celebrated on 23 April. His father was a successful local businessman and his mother was the daughter of a landowner. Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist.

He is often called England’s national poet and nicknamed the Bard of Avon. He wrote about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

William Shakespeare would have lived with his family in their house on Henley Street until he turned eighteen. When he was eighteen, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was twenty-six. It was a rushed marriage because Anne was already pregnant at the time of the ceremony. Together they had three children. Their first daughter, Susanna, was born six months after the wedding and was later followed by twins Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet died when he was just 11 years old.

But he is thought to have spent most of his time in London writing and performing in his plays. Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer. Shakespeare’s career jump-started in London, but when did he go there? We know Shakespeare’s twins were baptised in 1585, and that by 1592 his reputation was established in London, but the intervening years are considered a mystery. Scholars generally refer to these years as ‘The Lost Years’.

During his time in London, Shakespeare’s first printed works were published. They were two long poems, ‘Venus and Adonis’ (1593) and ‘The Rape of Lucrece’ (1594). He also became a founding member of The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a company of actors. Shakespeare was the company’s regular dramatist, producing on average two plays a year, for almost twenty years.

He remained with the company for the rest of his career, during which time it evolved into The King’s Men under the patronage of King James I (from 1603). During his time in the company Shakespeare wrote many of his most famous tragedies, such as King Lear and Macbeth, as well as great romances, like The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest.

Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were mainly comedies and histories and these works remain regarded as some of the best work produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language. In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights.

Shakespeare’s success in the London theatres made him considerably wealthy, and by 1597 he was able to purchase New Place, the largest house in the borough of Stratford- upon-Avon. Although his professional career was spent in London, he maintained close links with his native town.

Recent archaeological evidence discovered on the site of Shakespeare’s New Place shows that Shakespeare was only ever an intermittent lodger in London. This suggests he divided his time between Stratford and London (a two or three-day commute). In his later years, he may have spent more time in Stratford-upon-Avon than scholars previously thought.

Shakespeare’s plays remain highly popular today and are constantly studied, performed, and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts throughout the world. Around 1613, at the age of 49, he retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare’s private life survive. He died on 23 April 1616, at the age of 52. He died within a month of signing his will, a document which he begins by describing himself as being in “perfect health”.

Sonnet-116 About the Poem

Sonnet 116 is one of the most celebrated sonnets of Shakespeare that talks about the unchanging nature of human love. The definition of love that it provides is among the most often quoted and anthologized in the poetic canon. Essentially, this sonnet presents the extreme ideal of romantic love: it never changes, it never fades, it outlasts death and admits no flaw. What is more, it insists that this ideal is the only love that can be called “true”- and if love is considered as ever-changing, or non-permanent, then according to the poet, no man has everloved.

The basic division of this poem’s argument into the various parts of the sonnet form is extremely simple: the first quatrain says what love is not (changeable), the second quatrain says what it is (a fixed guiding star unshaken by tempests) and the third quatrain says more specifically what it is not (“time’s fool” – that is, subject to change in the passage of time), and the final couplet announces the speaker’s certainty. What gives this poem its rhetorical and emotional power is not its complexity but it’s force of linguistic and emotional conviction.

Sonnet-116 Poem in Detail

Sonnet 116 is one of the celebrated sonnets of Shakespeare where the poet talks about the importance of true love thus differentiating it from the false show of being in love. This sonnet is formed by following a perfect Shakespearean form with three quatrains and a rhyming couplet. It’s rhyme scheme is abab, cdcd, efef, gg.

The sonnet begins with “Let me not to the marriage of true minds/Admits impediments…”, which expresses that true love is the union of two minds completely devoted to each other. Shakespeare delineates the great qualities of true love. The poet has explained true love in a very free way. Expressing his faith in the power of true love, the poet says that there can be no obstacles in the union of true lovers. True love is everlasting, that is why never changes even when there is a chance of change. It does not submit to the power of its annihilator. In other words the poet declares its unparalleled quality of constancy and steadfastness. True love never submits to anybody.

The theme of the poem is fully developed by comparing the everlasting nature of true love to the sun and North star (Pole Star) which is to remain constant and guide the wandering ships in the uncharted ocean. In the same way true love also does not yield before the difficulties of life and guide lovers in their life. True love is permanent and fixed like the sun and the pole star in the universe.

According to Shakespeare, time is a universal destroyer which destroys everything but it has no effect on true love. He compares time to a farmer. A farmer reaps crops with his sickle. In the same way time destroys the physical beauty of a person. It can finish the rosy lips and cheeks of a lady. But true love is beyond physicality as love does not come in the range of time’s sickle.

It does not change with the passage of time. The depth of love, like full worth and potentialities of the pole star, can never be completely known. The North Star and ideal love are both beyond human estimation as they are too high to be measured. The love or the spiritual love is not at all affected by death, decay and destruction caused by the passage of time. Whereas it remains constant even to the dreadful day of judgment.

At the end of the poem, we see a strong determination of the poet in proving his point. Here, the poet makes a claim, asserting that if anybody can prove him wrong, he will admit that he is neither a poet nor has anybody ever loved in this world. This shows, how positive the poet is, when it comes to trust the power of true love. To conclude, it can be said that the theme of this sonnet has been beautifully and effectively developed. True love is constant, immortal and a source of guidance to the lovers in life.

Sonnet-116 Poem Line Wise Explanation

“Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments, love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.”

The poem begins with these deeply meaningful lines where Shakespeare uses the metaphor of marriage to compare it to true, real love. According to him, marriage is the result of two devoted minds completely in love with each other. Ho is saying that there is no reason why two people who truly love should not be together; nothing should stand in their way.

Perhaps he is speaking about his feelings for the unknown person to whom it is assumed that this sonnet is dedicated. Shakespeare further continued with his thought that true love conquers all. In these lines, the speaker expresses that if love changes with time, it is not true because true love never dies, or if someone tries to “remove” it, it won’t be. Love does not stop just because something is altered, it lasts forever.

“O no, it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand’ ring bark,
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.”

Here, Shakespeare tells his readers more confidently about the everlasting nature of true love. The poet asserts that it is like a lighthouse that guides people through its beam. Again, it can be argued here that Shakespeare decides to personify love since it is something that is intangible and not something that can be defeated by something tangible, such as a storm.

Shakespeare in these lines uses the metaphor of the North Star to add richness while discussing about true love. To Shakespeare, love is the star that guides every bark, or ship, on the water, and while it is priceless, it can be measured. This a well-noted reference. Shakespeare concedes that love’s worth is not known, but he says it can be measured. Through these lines, perhaps the poet assumes that the readers will understand the different ways in which one can measure love: through time and actions. With that thought, the second quatrain ends.

“Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come,
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom:
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.”

Here, we should notice on the capitalized “Time.” Actually, Shakespeare personifies time as a person here giving an impress on death. He says that love is not the fool of time. One’s rosy lips and cheeks will certainly pale with age, as “his bending sickle’s compass come.” Shakespeare’s diction is important here, particularly with his use of the word “sickle.”

Through these lines the inevitability of death is portrayed. We are assured here that death will certainly come, but that will not stop love. It may kill the mortals, but the love itself is eternal. True love always persists, the passing of time does not affect it’s purity. This thought is continued in lines eleven and twelve, the final two lines of the third quatrain.

Shakespeare uses lines thirteen and fourteen, the final couplet of Sonnet 116, to assert just how truly he believes that love is everlasting and conquers all. In this part of Sonnet 116, Shakespeare is telling his readers that if someone proves, he is wrong about love, then he never wrote the following words, and no man ever loved.

He conveys here that if his words are untrue, nothing else would exist. The words he just wrote would have never been written, and no man would have ever loved before. His adamant nature is clearly shown hereabout this matter, and his tough words are what strengthen the sonnet itself. The speaker and poet himself are convinced that love is real, true, and everlasting.

Sonnet-116 Poem Theme

The main theme in William Shakespeare “Sonnet 116” is true love and its everlasting nature. The poet here says that true love unites two mind and it never changes with time. Thepoet begins by saying that one should not put obstacles in front of truelove. He talks about love in terms of marriage of true minds. Marriage, just like love, is a holy bond between two persons. It should be based on mutual respect, trust, and honesty.

Nothing can come between two minds if they are truly in love. Then, the poet defines love in the first stanza. He explains that love will not be love if it changes or ends because of the change of situation or hard ships in life. Love, therefore, should be steadfast, fixed, and constant. In the second stanza, the poet develops his definition of love. He states that love should as solid and fixed as a rock or an oak tree that stands against tempests. Here tempests stand for hardships, ordeals and sufferings of life.

It should enlighten the way of the people and guide them just like the North Star that guides the sailors in the dark sea. In the third stanza, Shakespeare points out that love should be timeless or eternal to be precise. It should stay fixed in its position and strength. It should survive the test of time and grow stronger. As lovers grow older, the bond of love should become tighter.

To conclude, the poet illustrates the characteristics of true love in this sonnet. In his opinion, true love is the love that helps people to be happy and productive. It is very precious and loveable feeling. It should be permanent, timeless and self- contained. This is the type of love that one should maintain in his life.

Sonnet-116 Poem Word Meaning

Marriage – A legally accepted relationship between two people in which they live together, or the official ceremony that results in this
Impediments – Something that makes progress, movement, or achieving something difficult or impossible
Alteration – To change something, usually slightly, or to cause the characteristics of something to change
Alters – To change something, usually slightly, or to cause the characteristics of something to change
Bears – To accept, tolerate, or endure something, especially something unpleasant
Doom – Death, destruction, or any very bad situation that cannot be avoided
Admits – Accepts
Tempests – Storms
Wand’ring – Roaming
Rosy – Red in colour, here, signifies youth and beauty
Sickle – An agricultural implement consisting of a curved metal blade
Brief – Small
Cheeks – The fleshy side of the face below the eye
Compass – To devise or contrive with craft or skill
Edge – Side
Doom – Destruction, death

Sonnet-116 Poem Critical Appreciation

Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets, all dealing with the theme of love, time, beauty, friendship and mortality. Each of his sonnets is unique in its own way. ‘Sonnet 116’ has its own richness with a deeply meaningful inside. The first 126 sonnets of Shakespeare are addressed to a young man, with whom the poet or speaker is emotionally bound.

The rest of the sonnets are addressed to the “Dark Lady”. When we go through the poem, we can understand that Love is the most important theme of ‘Sonnet 116’. The poet glorifies the meaning of true love, which can overcome all obstacles and thus remain unchanged even in the course of time.

This sonnet starts with the reference to the Christian marriage service and its accompanying ceremonies. In this poem, the poet talks about the union of true minds. The poet makes the distinction between true love and unfaithful love. According to him, love is not a love that alters under changed circumstances. True love never changes, except though one of the lovers becomes unfaithful to another.

In this poem, Shakespeare uses two metaphors to bring out the permanence of true love. First, the poet says that love is an ever-fixed mark, a lighthouse that always guide us in storms but never shakes. Next, he says that love is the pole star that guides every wandering ship in the ocean. Its value is unknown when its height is calculated.

In the third quatrain, the poet reveals the ravages of time. Time being personified as a reaper who carries the sickle with which he cuts man’s life, looks, and possessions. Time will ruin the pink lips and the cheeks, but true love does not depend on physical beauty as it is everlasting, even with the passage of time. Until the end of the world, it will remain the same.

It’s constant and permanent, and nothing will change it. The last two lines strongly support the poet’s assertion that true love is constant and permanent. If someone proves that this assertion is false, then the poet claims adamantly that he never wrote any poetry, and no man has ever known true love.

Sonnet-116 Poem Style

The poem, “Sonnet 116” is a sonnet which is deeply meaningful. This sonnet is divided into three quatrains and ended with a couplet. The rhyming scheme of this poem is abab, cdcd, efef, gg. This poem strictly follows the style of iambic pentameter with stressed and unstressed syllables.

To add richness to the poem, the poet had used various standard metaphors like- “Love’s not Time’s fool, though his height be taken/Within his bending sickle’s compass come”, “It is the star to every wand’ring bark,/Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken” etc.

In this poem, we can also witness the use of alliteration (“But bears it out even to the edge of the doom” etc.) and declamatory (“O no…” etc.) to state the very fact of the poem.

Sonnet-116 Poem MCQs

Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

Question 1.
In which year was Vi1Iiam Shakespeare born?
a. 1588
b. 1564
c. 1616
d. 1600
Answer:
b. 1564

Question 2.
How many sonnets did Shakespeare write?
a. 152
b. 164
c. 154
d. 156
Answer:
c. 154

Question 3.
What does “Sonnet 116” talk about?
a. Ideal love
b. Ideal companionship
c. Ideal moments
d. Ideal friendship
Answer:
a. Ideal love

Question 4.
“Love’s not Time’s fool” What figure of speech is used here?
a. Metaphor
b. Personification
c. Alliteration
d. Allegory
Answer:
b. Personification

Question 5.
What is the theme of “Sonnet 116 ?
a. True love remains steady
b. Even the strongest love is temporary
c. Age and time alter love
d. Love change as life changes
Answer:
a. True love remains steady

Question 6.
According to the poet what is true love?
a. Mortal
b. Dishonest
c. Immortal
d. Corrupted
Answer:
c. Immortal

Question 7.
What is the rhyme scheme of the sonnet 116 ?
a. ABAB BCBC CDCD EE
b. ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
c. ABBAABBA CDCDCD
d. ABBAABBA CDECDE
Answer:
b. ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

Question 8.
How many children did Shakespeare have?
a. Three
b. Two
c. Four
d. One
Answer:
a. Three

Question 9.
“It is the______to every wand’ ring bark”
a. Earth
b. Moon
c. Sun
d. Star
Answer:
d. Star

Question 10.
What does “tempests” suggest iii “Sonnet 116”?
a. Difficulties, obstacles a lover may face
b. A strong wind
c. A storm
d. Temptations
Answer:
a. Difficulties, obstacles a lover may face

Question 11.
Where did Shakespeare’s career start?
a. Norway
b. London
c. USA
d. Scotland
Answer:
b. London

Question 12.
When was Venus and Adoiiis”puhlished?
a. 1593
b. 1693
c. 1594
d. 1359
Answer:
a. 1593

Question 13.
When was “The Rape of published?
a. 1794
b. 1694
c. 1894
d. 1594
Answer:
d. 1594

Question 14.
Which star guides every bark”?
a. Orion
b. Canis Major
c. Pole Star
d. Sun
Answer:
c. Pole Star

Question 15.
How are the lips mentioned here?
a. pink
b. pale
c. rosy
b. dark
Answer:
c. rosy

Rhapsody: A Collection of ISC Poems Workbook Answers

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers for Class 11 & 12

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Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers for Class 11 & 12

It’s our great pleasure in our part to present ISC The best guide to Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers for Class 11 & 12 makes an honest and thorough attempt to bring the context with easy paraphrasing Scene wise abridgment, Mcqs, Reasoning, Short type and long type of question and answers. The ISC Collection of Short Stories Workbook Answers analyses and tackles different and untraditional by following the latest syllabus and norms of I.S.C.

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions for Class 11 & 12

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Summary for Class 11 & 12

What is a short story?

It is difficult to be candid about the length and definition of a short story. We have the examples of O’ Henry, the great American short story maestro, whose short story.” An Apology” runs for only 213 (Two hundred and thirteen) words whereas D.H. Lawrence’s “The Fox” (1923) is about 30,000 (Thirty thousand) words. We are, therefore, confronted with the question: “How long (or short) is a short story?”

And so far as the form is concerned a short story has to be so flexible and susceptible to so much variety that it is almost impossible to apply any strict shape, length, subject, or style to it. It may be concerned with a scene, an episode, an experience, an action, the exhibition of a character or characters, the day’s events, a meeting, a conversation, a fantasy, and almost every possible thing.’

We may, however, say that a short story is a genre of literary art where there is a common singularity of theme, action, and setting in a small canvas of expression and in most cases, a sudden and almost unexpected twist of eventuality in the end.

This, however, is a general perception.

Short stories have been experimented the world over and still, neither the authors nor the critics have found any rock-solid definition with which this particular form of literary art can be capsuled with.

This ISC Prism Workbook Solutions for Class 11 & 12 has been written in a simple language and lucid style to enrich with useful knowledge. The Prism ISC Short Stories Contents will be student-friendly and they would be able to grasp the context in an enthusiastic manner.

Beethoven Poem Questions and Answers & Summary

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Poem 8 Beethoven Questions and Answers

Beethoven Poem Summary, Questions and Answers

Beethoven Poem Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Attempt a critical appreciation of Shane Koyczan’s Beethoven.
Or
Question 2.
Shane Koyczan’s Beethoven is an inspirational poem. Discuss.
Answer:
Shane Koyczan’s Beethoven sings in praise of the great legendary composer, Beethoven, who is revered as the god of music. Brought up in the tyrannical ambience of his unkind father named, Johann van Beethoven, Ludwig van Beethoven successful emerges as a great classical maestro despite being deaf. The poem shows how miracle happens if there is resolution to achieve even the most impossible task.

To begin with, Beethoven opens with the picture of an unhappy childhood where a father is seen constantly bullying his son. The father wants his child to become a musical expert and thus, goes to the extent of abusing his child both physically and mentally without any mercy.

Long practice sessions were forced upon the child and the severe ache in fingers hardly melts the father’s heart. Whether Beethoven plays notes gently, slowly, or fiercely, the unkind father would discourage him saying, “NOT GOOD ENOUGH”.

Life continues be difficult for Beethoven even after he grows up. His incurable deafness stands as a challenge to his musical career which was overcome with strong determination. People love his symphonies. They shower applaud to his music which pierces into the nerves of the audience like a fleet of warship marching through the incessant firing of cannon shells, exploding violently.

But, what seems pathetic is while his symphonies enthral the audience, stimulate their nerves but; the composer himself cannot hear his music all because of being deaf. Musicians however teased him, aped his gesture by holding their bows a bit above the strings which would produce no sound. Yet, they were bound to acknowledge Beethoven’s expertise whose timeless music takes one to the heights of the towers of Babylon.

In other words, the incredible symphonies of Beethoven has immense power to turn the entire solar system into cymbals where from the comets would collide and the constellations would continue shaking violently until the stars begin to fall from the sky. In a way, Beethoven was a genius whose symphonies make the universe cry.

Beethoven still survives in his music. He never bowed up before anyone except music. Being deaf, he had to cut off the legs of his piano so that the vibrations of the musical notes produced on the floor could easily be felt. The man who never stooped before anyone bowed only before music, his god.

His symphonies are so life like that it seems as if one sees the figures of love and hate dancing in the rhythm of waltz. To know Beethoven, one need not to have to read his biography. Instead, listening to his symphony will assure his greatness.

Question 2.
Narrate the story of Beethoven as described in the poem Beethoven.
Answer:
Beethoven’s story is the story of a fighter who fiercely combats every impediment to emerge as an all time great music composer. From childhood, Beethoven had a tough time dealing with a despotic father who would bully his son both physically and mentally.

The father : however dreams of making his son a musical maestro. Hence, even a slight mistake was rewarded with severe punishment. Even when musical notes were played gently, slowly, or fiercely, the unkind father would discourage him saying, “NOT GOOD ENOUGH”.

Deafness stands a severe challenge to Beethoven, once he grows up. Musicians however teased him, aped his gestures and often mocked his perfection. But despite all their aversion, they were bound to acknowledge Beethoven’s expertise whose timeless music takes one to the heights of the towers of Babylon.

In other words, the incredible symphonies of Beethoven has immense power to turn the entire solar system into cymbals wherefrom the comets would collide and the constellations would continue shaking violently until the stars begin to fall from the sky. In a way, Beethoven was a genius whose symphonies make the universe cry.

Beethoven still survives in his music. He never bowed up before anyone except music. Being deaf, he had to cut off the legs of his piano so that the vibrations of the musical notes produced on the floor could easily be felt. The man who never stooped before anyone bowed only before music, his god.

His symphonies are so life like that it seems as if one sees the figures of love and hate dancing in the rhythm of waltz. To know Beethoven, one need not to have to read his biography. Instead, listening to his symphony will assure his greatness.

Beethoven Poem Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
What picture of Beethoven’s father does the poet create in the poem.
Answer:
Johann van Beethoven, the father of Ludwig van Beethoven is presented as an ambitious man with despotic nature. It was indeed tough for Ludwig to live under a tyrannical father who is devoid of mercy. The childhood of Ludwig was horrifying all because of his father who loves bullying his son because of his dream of making LudWig a musical maestro.

Often Ludwig was lashed by his father without significant cause. This however leaves the child in trauma and his striving for playing perfect notes on piano remains unacknowledged all because of his father’s heart breaking comments.

Whether Beethoven plays notes gently, slowly, or fiercely, the unkind father would discourage him saying, “NOT GOOD ENOUGH”. These words however remains perpetually in his mind and later in life when the orchestra x played his symphonies Beethoven would only hear his father’s “anthem”: “Not Good Enough”.

Question 2.
Describe the impact of Beethoven’s symphonies on the audience.
Or
Question 3.
How does audience react hearing the symphonies of Beethoven.
Answer:
Endowed with god gifted talent, Beethoven’s timeless symphonies leave a great impact upon the music lovers from around the globe. So enthralling are his symphonies, that they stimulate the nerves of the listeners and overwhelm them. It seems as if the symphonies pierce into the nerves of the audience like a fleet of warship marching through the incessant firing of cannon shells, exploding violently.

In other words, the symphonies of Beethoven electrify every molecule of a body and create a heavenly sensation from within. Musicians who once accompanied Beethoven and teased him for his deafness also acknowledge his greatness. They knew that Beethoven’s music has immense power to turn the entire solar system into cymbals where from the comets would collide and the constellations would continue shaking violently until the stars begin to fall from the sky.

In other words, the incredible music of Beethoven has the power to move the nature and make the universe cry. His symphonies are indeed so life like that it seems as if one sees the figures of love and hate dancing in the rhythm of waltz. In a way, hearing Beethoven’s music is pure addiction.

Beethoven Poem Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Question 1.
Beethoven was a …………
a. soccer
b. musician
c. painter
d. actor
Answer:
b. musician

Question 2.
Beethoven’s father used to ………… him
a. admire
b. care for
c. bully
d. support
Answer:
c. bully

Question 3.
What did Beethoven’s father say repeatedly to his son?
a. WELL ENOUGH
b. EXCELLENT
c. NO BAD
d. NOT GOOD ENOUGH
Answer:
d. NOT GOOD ENOUGH

Question 4.
What is the precious tool of a musician?
a. eardrum
b. musical sense
c. eyes
d. legs
Answer:
a. eardrum

Question 5.
How does Beethoven’s music enter into human nervous system?
a. stealthily
b. with a sudden jerk
c. like a fleet of warship marching through the incessant firing of cannon shells
d. very slowly
Answer:
c. like a fleet of warship marching through the incessant firing of cannon shells

Question 6.
Before whom does Beethoven bow down?
a. Kings
b. Queens
c. God
d. Music
Answer:
d. Music

Question 7.
How db musicians mock Beethoven?
a. by making faces
b. by imitating his tender voice
c. by holding their bows a quarter of an inch above the strings not making sound
d. by amputating the legs of piano
Answer:
c. by holding their bows a quarter of an inch above the strings not making sound

Question 8.
Which among the following statements is not true?
a. Beethoven’s music takes one to the heights of the towers of Babylon
b. Beethoven’s music leaves no impact upon the audience
c. Beethoven’s music can shake the constellations until the stars begin to fall from the sky.
d. Beethoven’s music can make the universe cry.
Answer:
b. Beethoven’s music leaves no impact upon the audience

Question 9.
Beethoven’s thoughts move at the speed of ………….
a. light
b. sound
c. air
d. rocket
Answer:
b. sound

Question 10.
To know Beethoven one needs to
a. listen to his music
b. read his bio graphy
c. search internet
d. know more about his father
Answer:
a. listen to his music

Beethoven Poem Summary

Beethoven Poem Introduction

Beethoven by Shane Koyczan sings in praise of the great musical maestro who despite being deaf is yet considered the god of music. Beethoven had a difficult upbringing due to his dictatorial father. But in the end, he became a well-known composer whose works continue to inspire people around the globe. The poem shows that nothing after ail is impossible if one has the will to achieve even the most impossible task.

Beethoven Poem Summary

Beethoven, the great musical Maestro had a troublesome childhood under his tyrannical father, Johann van Beethoven. He tortured his son both physically and emotionally out of the desire to turn him into a genius. Often he would mercilessly beat his kid for playing wrong note on piano. The father expected his son to play music like a skilled player.

But, being too small Beethoven’s music missed the passion in playing musical notes and was thus, forced into long practice session which oftentimes caused severe ache in his fingers. No mercy was ever shown to him. Instead, even when Beethoven played the notes gently, slowly, or fiercely, the young child was bullied and was left heartbroken with comments like “NOT GOOD ENOUGH”.

Life however continued to be difficult for Beethoven even after he grew up. His incurable deafness stood as a challenge to his musical career which was overcome with strong determination. People love his symphonies. They shower applaud to his music which pierce into the nerves of the audience like a fleet of warship marching through the incessant firing of cannon shells, exploding violently.

But, what seems pathetic is while his symphonies/enthral the audience, stimulate their nerves but; the composer himself cannot hear his music all because of being deaf. Musicians however teased him, aped his gesture by holding their bows a bit above the strings which would produce no sound. Yet, they were bound to acknowledge Beethoven’s expertise whose timeless music would take one to the heights of the towers of Babylon.

In other words, the incredible symphonies of Beethoven has immense power to turn the entire solar system into cymbals where from the comets would collide and the constellations would continue shaking violently until the stars begin to fall from the sky. In a way, Beethoven was a genius who would make the universe cry with his symphonies.

Beethoven still survives in his music. He never bowed up before anyone except music. Being deaf, he had to cut off the legs of his piano so that the vibrations of the musical notes produced on the floor could easily be felt.

The man who never stooped before anyone bowed only before music, his god. His symphonies are so life like that it seems as if one sees the figures of love and hate dancing in the rhythm of waltz. To know Beethoven, one need not to have to read his biography. Instead, listening to his symphony will assure his greatness.

Beethoven Poem Paraphrase

Listen …. Beethoven : Under tyrannical father, Beethoven the musical maestro had his torturous childhood. Often lashed without significant cause, his father abuses the child in every possible way. While some fathers drink out of frustration, some others shout or beat their children. But Beethoven’s father is ‘ phenomenally abusive, trying every form of abuse on his child. The ambition of making his child a genius goads every father to”torture their kids and Beethoven’s father however was no exception.

Little boy NOT GOOD ENOUGH: No mercy was ever shown to Beethoven. At home he had to earn mercy by playing perfect musical notes. He was expected to play music like a skilled player. But, being too small his music missed the passion of divine music which seems to be played by the angels with harps.

Whether he plays softly or slowly or strongly, his father would break his heart saying, not good enough. Long practice session at home would cause severe ache in his fingers. Sometimes they used to twirl like roots of tree trunks. But, Beethoven’s father would show no mercy and continued bullying his child saying, “NOT GOOD ENOUGH”.

A musician….addiction : A musician’s forte is his eardrum. A deaf musician finds it difficult to play the ’ symphony composed in his mind. Beethoven was a deaf musician. He could not hear the applaud of audience for his incredible performance. The passionate cry of women remained inaudible to him. Its really ironical that while ‘ his music enthralled the audience, stimulated their nerves but the composer himself cannot hear his music all because of being deaf.

So inspiring his music was that it seemed as if the symphonies pierced into the nerves of v the audience like a fleet of warship marching through i the incessant firing of cannon shells, exploding violently. In other words, the symphonies of Beethoven would ‘ electrify every molecule of a body and create a heavenly sensation within. In a way, hearing Beethoven’s music is pure addiction.

And kings, …. Not Good Enough : Beethoven would bow before none except music. Kings, Queens didn’t really matter to him. Being deaf, he had to cut off the legs of his piano so that the vibrations of the musical notes produced on the floor could easily be felt. The man who never stooped before anyone bowed only before music, his God.

But, whenever his symphonies were played by musicians, the discouraging words of his father would haunt him terribly. He would repeat the same words of his father even when music was played softly or slowly. Beethoven could hear nothing. Hence, he would repeat what his father once said to him NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

So they …. Must be a genius : Because of being deaf, Beethoven was always teased. Musicians would hold their bows a bit above the strings and ape the gesture of the maestro. No music was produced since the bows would not touch the strings of the instrument. But, despite their kidding, they were bound to acknowledge Beethoven as all time musical maestro whose timeless music would take one to the heights of the towers of Babylon.

In other words, the incredible symphonies of Beethoven has immense power to turn the entire solar system into cymbals wherefrom the comets would collide and the constellations would continue shaking violently until the stars begin to fall from the sky. In a 5 way, Beethoven was a genius who would make the universe cry with his symphonies.

His thoughts moving …. Listen : Beethoven’s thoughts moved at a speed of sound, transformed to music dipped in emotion. In fact, his music is so full of life that one has the feeling of touching his music while hearing his symphonies. In other words, the symphonies of Beethoven are so life like that it seems as if one sees the figures of love and hate dancing in the rhythm of waltz. To know Beethoven, one need not have to read his biography. Instead, listening to his symphony will assure his greatness.

Beethoven Poem Annotations with Comments

Listen…. Beethoven

Hitting : beating
His father: refers to Johann van Beethoven, court musician and harsh disciplinarian who gave Ludwig his first music lessons.
Father … hitting him: the father appears to be of abusive nature
Yell: holler, shout
did it all: Every form of abuse was tried on his child
geniuses: intelligent

Comment:

His father made a habit of hitting him : Johann van Beethoven, Beethoven’s father, had a tyrannical personality. Instead of showing compassion, Johann used to thrash his deaf youngster for every error made by Beethoven. Johann’s lust for his son’s fame provoked him to abuse his child.

Little boy….. NOT GOOD ENOUGH

little boy : refers to Beethoven
name meant nothing : name had to be earned in the house by playing perfect notes on piano
mercy : compassion
mercy had ……. earned : Beethoven had to earn mercy by playing perfect notes on piano
note : musical note
tumbling : falling
tickle the toe : please
harp : musical instrument
tickle the toes …. hard of hearing : Beethoven was expected to play music like a skilled player. But, being too small his music missed the passion of divine music which seems to be played by the angels with harps.
anthem : (here) the same tedious, irksome and discouraging words
ivory : piano reeds of white colour
Not good enough: this is the typical refrain of the father who always I discourages his son with these words
Cramped up : ached
Gnarled : twisted
Gnarled roots ………… trunk : the exhaustive practice not only caused pain in his fingers but they twirled like roots of tree trunks.

Comment:

Who heard….Good enough : Instead of inspiring his son, Johann van Beethoven, Beethoven’s father, would discourage his kid by criticizing his music. Every time he would break the heart of his son saying that the music played by Beethoven was “NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

A musician …………… addiction

Precious tool : refers to the eardrum
Pound out : to make or produce
Symphonies : intricate musical piece
A musician …… his mind: a musician who is deaf finds difficult to play the symphony
composed in his mind
He: refers to Beethoven
Coudn’t hear…….. clapping : because of being deaf,Beethoven could not.
Whispering Beethoven : hear the people applauding for his incredible performance whispering the name of Beethoven because of being carried away by his incredible performance

As they …. addiction

Invade : enter Invade their nervous
system : allow music to stimulate their nerves
Armada : a fleet of warships
Canon balls : canon shells
Molecule : smallest part
Heavenly sensation : divine sensation (feelings)
Ache : long
He was an addiction : refers to the music of Beethoven

And kings,…not good enough

Got down : bowed
For no one: Even Kings and Queens were not revered
Amputated : cut off like music
Feel the vibrations : legs of the piano are amputated so that the vibrations of the musical notes produced on the floor could easily be felt
Got down…. music : This shows Beethoven’s love for music which is his God after all. He only bends up before music and nobody else.
Orchestra: a group of instrumentalists playing classical music.
Anthem: refers to the discouraging words of Johann van Beethoven
Broken record: broken record plays the same tone continuously

So they ……….. Must be a genius

They : refers to the instrumentalists
Mock : teased
Mimicking : aping
Holding their …… sound: holding their bows a bit above the strings and ape the gesture of Beethoben. No music was produced
since the bows would not touch the strings of the instrument.
Intimacy : familiarity
Towers of Babylon : a tower built by Noah’s descendants (probably in Babylon) who intended it to reach up to heaven so that direct communication with God is possible.
Cymbals : a musical instrument which consists of two metal plates
Collide : crash into one another
Crescendo : gradual increase in sound Univershad begun
to cry : Beethoven was a genius who would make the universe cry with his symphonies.

His thoughts moving … Listen :

His thought ………. speed of sound : the thought of Beethoven moved at a speed of sound
Tangible : perceptible by touch
You could touch it : Music of Beethoven is so lively that it seems one can touch his note
Waltz : a musical rhythm
Precision : accuracy
Listen : listen to the symphony of Beethoven
To know … Listen : To know Beethoven one need not have to read his biography. Instead, listening to his symphony will assure his greatness.

Rhapsody: A Collection of ISC Poems Workbook Answers

The Great Automatic Grammatizator Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

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The Great Automatic Grammatizator Story Questions and Answers

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions Chapter 4 The Great Automatic Grammatizator

The Great Automatic Grammatizator Story Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Describe after Roald Dahl why “The Great Automatic Grammatizator” was made and how did it work?
Answer:
Adolf Knipe: Adolf Knipe was a technocrat by profession and was exceedingly creative. He designed and made a Computing Machine that could calculate and do all mathematics in a jiffy. But his penchant for literary art was almost an obsession.

He thought himself a litterateur and then realized that neither the editors and nor the readership understood anything like literature since none of his contributions saw the light of the day in one of the periodicals.

His talent and aggression, coupled with tenacity and enterprise to emulate and even excel over the established authors, propelled him to devise a machine with memory-stacked with vocabulary, English Grammatical rules and usages, human sentiment, passion, emotion, style and all those elements that were pre-requisites for literary writing that included stories, novels etc.

The machine had different gears, levers, switches, press-buttons, and pedals and so on. It was reminiscent of the cockpit of a Second World War Fighter Plane (Dahl was once a Fighter Plane Pilot). A press on a switch here, and a press on the pedal there, would print out a particular form of literary art like story, novel etc. The quality of such machine-printed matters would be as good as the stuff that was printed in the standard magazines.

His machine worked out successfully and then his techno-commercial acumen led him to open up an Agency. His Agency solicited Agreements with the renowned authors to lend their names to his Agency. The Agency would machine-print literary contributions to different renowned magazines in their names and earn their bit.

Of course, the name lenders were to be handsomely rewarded. After the renowned authors rejected his witty proposal outright, he opted for the mediocre, not- so-renowned and the exhausted authors, and they readily accepted the proposal. Needless to say that Knipe created a monopolistic machine-controlled literary culture and himself became nouveau riche. Knipe’s character and the character of the gizmo are well-defined.

Question 2.
Critically analyze Roald Dahl’s “The Great Automatic Grammatizator” as a satirical story.
Answer:
Roald Dahl’s “The Great Automatic Gammatizator” impregnates within it a general apprehension of the writers of the ‘50s and even the ‘60s that the advent of computers was akin to the advent of artificial intelligence. In a relevant manner therefore, he satirizes in the story a machine complete with almost a memory bank- stacked with vocabulary, plot, English Grammatical rules; and all those elements that are needed to write in one of the forms of literary art.

Knipe, a technocrat as well as a failed aspirant in the field of literary art, invents such a machine that can, with a press on a switch here and another press on a pedal there, print all kinds of literary art like stories, novels and so on. His techno-commercial acumen propels him to sell the idea to the not-so renowned and the exhausted authors to lend their names to his Agency which would publish literary contributions in their names in different periodicals and pay them handsomely and they wouldn’t have to write a single line any where.

Knipe was successful because his targeted people needed money, and himself became a nouveau riche by way of his innovative monopolistic financial strategy. Dahl hasn’t spared the editors of famous magazines or periodicals. Knipe curses on the very word, “Editor” and says to Mr. Bohlen, when his literary contributions are compared with those that are usually published in renowned magazines; his seems to be much better. Well, it was his conviction.

Dahl always dealt with the bizarre, fanciful and the impractical. His description of the machine is reminiscent of the cockpit of a Second World War fighter plane, one of which he once flew. The mutual distaste between Mr. Bohlen and Mr. Knipe has produced some humerous soliloquies; especially when they talk about their appearances and that of course, brings some comic relief.

Like a host of people in those days, Dahl misunderstood the difference of rationale between a computer and an artificial, self propelling intelligence. In case of a computer, it’s a “Garbage in, Garbage out” syndrome. It will give its output according to the quality of the input. It can’t THINK! It can neither monitor or sensor whatever it is fed with! It works algorithmically, and can’t breach out its given limit. It is preprogrammed.

But the noetic quality of human mind or artificial intelligence cannot be used in a machine as an input simply because nobody can fathom the bottomless depth of human mind and its variations. Dahl wrote many short stories, novels and even the script of the James Bond movie,” You only live twice”.

Unfortunately, he never remembered the Shakespearian adage, “Brevity is the soul of wit “. Whereas the ideal canvass of a short story is necessarily short, his stories are unusually long, the crux of which is just minuscule. However, his satire of the literary world in general is well avowedly clear.

Question 3.
How does Knipe explain his project as a profit earning venture to Mr. Bohlen?
Answer:
Mr Knipe was a succesful technocrat with a zeal to excel and emulate over the writers in demand, designed and created an automatic machine with extra ordinary memory storage capacity and loaded with English grammar; vocabulary, human emotions, passions and styles of renowned authors in the literary circle. Mr. Knipe shared this plan with John Behlen in his office. At first, Mr. Behlen rejected the idea thinking it to be absurd. Knipe disclosed Mr. Bohlen that in literary world he was a failure, as none of his kuterart wire were ever, published.

Mr. Bolhen felt relieved that Mr. Knipe was not a good writer. Then Mr. Knipe explained that he has programmed a new machine to produce storied of high demand among literary world. He established the point that his published work would earn a lot of money also.

He convinced Mr. Bolhen that the machine had the potential to earn then a lot of profit as the magazines handsomely pay the published authors for their literary work. Knipe suggested that they would be able to fabricate writers by setting up their own literary agency where they would involve writers to write for their agency only and they would offer then low payment Mr. Knipe alos offered Mr. Bohlen to put his name on some of their writing Mr. Bolhen felt happy imagining himself as a remerkable, renowned writer. Greedy Mr. Bolhen after that agreed upon Knipe’s proposal and ordered him to develop his new machine. Through this long process Mr. Knipe’s profit earning cature become successful.

The Great Automatic Grammatizator Story Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Describe Adolf knipe in short?
Answer:
Adolf knipe is the central character of the story “The Great Automatic Grammatizator” He is a young engineer and a genius in his field of work.

Question 2.
Why do you think the title “The Great Automatic Grammatizagor” appears unique and strange at the first sight?
Answer:
The story “The Great Automatic Grammatizator” progresses with the plot where a young engineer invented an automatic story and novel producing device. This machines ferms the centre of the story. The automatic nature of the machine with developed functions on the principles of the grammar of the English language and adolf knipe becoming great and successful, marks the relevance of the title.

Question 3.
What does John Bolen tells knipe in the begining of the story?
Answer:
In the beginning of the story, Mr. John Behlen, the head of the firm of electrical engineers appreciates knipe, a young engineer, for his contribution in developing an automatic computing engine.

Question 4.
What was Mr. John Bohlen’s suggestion to knipe in at the beginning of the story?
Answer:
When John Bohlen’s words of praise and acknowledgement failed to please knipe and moreover he notices the dirty dress of the boy with have falling on his faces he suggested him to have holiday for a week and to take rest and have proper enjoyment.

Question 5.
Why was knipe not satisfied at r. Bohlen’s suggestions?
Answer:
Knipe expresses his discontent that John Bohlen could not understand the reason of his disturbed mind. Knipe thought that his superior believed that he had some problem due to some woman in his life. Knipe started plotting to take revenge from his greatest enemies.

Question 6.
What ideas attracts Knipe?
Answer:
Mr Adolph knipe, a talented technocrat was attracted by the idea, he could utilise electrical computing machine for literary purpose. He decides to feed several words and sentences into the machine and the write a story through it.

Question 7.
“Dont get too ambitions, my boy” Who said these words and on what context?
Answer:
Mr Bohlen uttered the avove sentence for his subordinate Mr. Adolph Knipe, when Knipe conviness Bohlen that the machine has the potential to earn them a lot of profit as the magazines handsomely pay the published author for their contribution. He also added that they can fabricate writers by setting up their own literary agency.

Question8.
What is the central thrust of the story “The Great Automatic Grammatizator”?
Answer:
The central thrust of the story is the criticism of unscruplous ways in which books are selected for publication. It is a sattire on the approach of the editors of the magazines who select and evaluate literature. The time at which the story was written the author was highly influenced by the market forces that ignored quality and ren for quantity.

Question 9.
Discuss the way Knipe convinces Bohlen to accept his proposal
Answer:
Knipe shared his plan with John Bohlen in his office. Bohlen rejects the idea informing him that no one will accept a machine that write stories. Knipe then tells his incharge that he is quite unhappy with Bohlen’s job and wanted to be a writer.

Knipe also informs that he has written five hundred six stories, though all of them were rejected by publisher. This statement made Bohlen feel that Knipe was not a good writer. Knipe stresses on the point that published works earns a lot of money also. He then convinces Bohlen that the machine has the potential to earn a lot of profit.

Question 10.
What suggestions were put forward by Knipe for setting the literary agency?
Answer:
Knipe suggested Mr. Bohlen that they would fagricate writers by setting up their own literary agency. They would ask the writers to write for the agency. They would pay them low and then would publish their creative ideas in different journals getting a much higher price. Knipe also offered Bohlen to put his none on some of their writings. Greedy Bohlen accepts Knipe’s proposal and ordered him to develop the new machine.

Question 11.
State briefly how the machine worked in the beginning
Answer:
It took Knipe and Mr. Bohlen six months to complete the machine. Both were nervous when they were about to produce their first story with the help of the machine. By just pressing few buttons they were able to generate stories, articles etc enough to declare oneself a versatile writer.

Question 12.
Why Mr. Bohlen became impatient when the machine started its work?
Answer:
In the beginning, the machine was quite noisy and produced strange series of letters, but no story at all. When they tried to generate a writing for the Digest it failed to give proper result and there were no spaces between words. Seeing this type of functionality of the machine Mr. Bohlen became impatient and angry.

Question 13.
How the new machine produced intellectual novels?
Answer:
Mr. Knipe upgraded the machine by adding certain special keys/buttons. One his to preselect elements like tensions, paths, surprise to produce a desired effect in a novel. Knipe added another control to include passion as an important element of a novel and created half a dozen more novels for their literary agency publication.

Question 14.
Why the female romance novelist agreed to sign the contract?
Answer:
The female romance novelist agreed to sign the contract as she realized that the machine generated better novels than her own.

Question 15.
What is the central theme of this story?
Answer:
The central theme deals with commercialization of the literary art through automation to create a monopolistic capitalism. In other words, the story deals with the possibility of replacing human creativity by way of automation and probable profitability of the monopolistic capitalism.

The Great Automatic Grammatizator Story Logic Based Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
Adolf Knipe did not like MnBohlen’s face because
a. He had a tiny mouth
b. He had purple lips
c. His lips were narrow
d. His lower lips moved when he talked
Answer:
(all correct)

Question 2.
Mr. Bohhlen didn’t like Adolph Knipe’s face because
a. He has a drooping appearance
b. He had an untidy appearance
c. His hair fell all over his face
d. He had a long, horse-like face
Answer:
(all correct)

Question 3.
Knipe was not interested in his technical work because
a. His boss behaved rudely
b. He had less salary
c. He had to work over-time
d. He always preferred to be a writer
Answer:
d. He always preferred to be a writer

Question 4.
Knipe didn’t like the magazine because
a. They didn’t print his stories
b. Quality of printing was bad
c. They printed sloppy, boring stuff
d. The magazine was costly
Answer:
c. They printed sloppy, boring stuff

Question 5.
“The Great Automatic Grammatizator” was invented because
a. English Grammar needed correction
b. It would have an artificial intelligence
c. The machine would create a monopolistic trading in literary circle
d. It would make Knipe famous
Answer:
c. The machine would create a monopolistic trading in literary circle

Question 6.
Mr. Bohlen was attracted to Knipe’s proposal because
a. It would make him famous
b. The members of his Club will appreciate him more
c. It would fetch big money
d. He will have more opportunity as an entrepreneur
Answer:
c. It would fetch big money

Question 7.
Mr. Knipe considered the forms of literary art as products because
a.The Publication houses purchased those against money
b. The authors wrote as per the will of the publisher and got paid
c. The authors wrote as per the taste of the readers to get paid
d. The magazines published advertisements against payments
Answer:
a.The Publication houses purchased those against money

Question 8.
The machine and its operation looked more like the cockpit of a Fighter Plane because
a. It had dials, pedals, switches
b. It was a restricted area for commoners
c. The author, erstwhile being a Fighter Plane Pilot,has subconsciously portrayed the machine befitting to his experience
d. It made tremendous sound
Answer:
c. The author, erstwhile being a Fighter Plane Pilot, has subconsciously portrayed the machine befitting to his experience

Question 9.
Knipe failed to convince the topmost writer to j sign the agreement because ……………
a. He did not have time
b. He did not give an appointment to Knipe
c. He thought Knipe was a lunatic
d. He thought Knipe was a confidence trickster
Answer:
c. He thought Knipe was a lunatic

Question 10.
Knipe was successful in signing most of the mediocre and the exhausted literary contributors I because
a. They grew old
b. Their hands trembled while writing
c. They were busy on other businesses
d. They were more interested in a guaranteed income without doing almost anything
Answer:
d. They were more interested in a guaranteed income without doing almost anything

The Great Automatic Grammatizator Story MCQs

Question 1.
In spite of Knipe’s detestable looks, Mr. Bohien valued him for his ……………….
a. Writing skill
b. Drawing skill
c. Technical skill
d. Commercial skill
Answer:
c. Technical skill

Question 2.
Mr. Bohien looked at the long ……. face of the younger man
a. Gleeful
b. Curious
c. Passionate
d. Melancholy
Answer:
d. Melancholy

Question 3.
Adolph Knipe went home by to his two room apartment
a. Train
b. Car
c. Bus
d. Tram
Answer:
c. Bus

Question 4.
Whenever a Youngman gets depressed, everybody thinks it’s a ……..
a. Job
b. Tension
c. Woman
d. Fear
Answer:
c. Woman

Question 5.
A machine cannot have a …………..
a. Face
b. Mouth
c. Brain
d. Hands
Answer:
c. Brain

Question 6.
He’s just as ……… and ……….. as ever
a. Bad, ungrateful
b. Ugly, Untidy
c. Smooth, Careful
d. Spooky, Fearful
Answer:
b. Ugly, Untidy

Question 7.
Mr. Bohlen was — to see him back
a. Displeased
b. Distressed
c. Pleased
d. Glad
Answer:
c. Pleased

Question 8.
“All I know sir, I have the —”
a. Flair
b. Will
c. Urge
d. Plan
Answer:
c. Urge

Question 9.
And stories-well-they’re just another—
a. Product
b. Material
c. Concept
d. Thing
Answer:
a. Product

Question 10.
“I still think its — Knipe”
a. Wise
b. Impracticable
c. Prudent
d. Profitable
Answer:
b. Impracticable

Question 11.
“I don’t like it, Knipe, to me, that — of trickery”
a. Sounds
b. Looks
c. Appears
d. Smacks
Answer:
d. Smacks

Question 12.
The man listened politely, decided he was dealing with a —
A. Genius
b. Lunatic
c. Franchisee
d. Representative
Answer:
b. Lunatic

Question 13.
The second writer on the list, when he saw Knipe was serious, actually — him with a large —
a. Invited, welcome
b. Welcomed, wreathe
c. Chased, stick
d. Attacked, metal paperweight
Answer:
d. Attacked, metal paperweight

Question 14.
He had persuaded something like — percent of the writers
a. 75
b. 70
c. 80
d. Eighty five
Answer:
b. 70

Question 15.
Give us strength, Oh Lord, to let our children —
a. Rejoice
b. Play
c. Grow
d. Starve
Answer:
d. Starve

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers

Rhapsody Workbook Answers Poem 2 Why I Like the Hospital

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Poem 2 Why I Like the Hospital

Rhapsody Workbook Answers Poem 2 Why I Like the Hospital

Why I Like the Hospital Poem Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
In general, people do not like hospitals. But the poet expresses his liking For it. Why do you think he does that? Discuss.
Answer:
A hospital is a place with a depressing surrounding. People come here with several illnesses. Some get treated, some don’t and some even die there. So, there is no feel good vibe. But the poet expresses his liking for it because he is tired by seeing the materialistic world around him where people have become emotionless to survive.

People stop caring as they have become a machine. But things change when a person gets admitted to a hospital. This is the only place where people open their floodgates of emotions and thus feel all the pain, sadness and loneliness.

In hospitals, they understand how lonely they are as they have no one around to keep company. They have to face all the illnesses and the after-effects hopelessly. Asa hospital is the only place where people do feel, the poet says that he likes the hospitals, no matter how gloomy the surroundings are.

Question 2.
How does the poet use satire and humour in this poem? Discuss with reference to the context.
Answer:
In the poem, “Why I Like the Hospital” the poet expresses him liking for the hospitals because it is the only place where people do feel. They open their floodgates of emotions and thus feel all the pain, sadness and loneliness. In each stanza, the poet uses satire and humour to express his liking for the hospital. He humorously describes the ailments of the patients to mock at the human race.

The descriptions of the cancer-affected mother and her hesitation before telling her kid about her ailment, the bald girl with a missing breast or the old lady with her IV pole are actually horrifying but the poet presents these images before us like an amusing incident. While going through the poem, the loneliness of the patients and the helplessness of the terminal patient could not fail to tremble our heart in fear.

But the poet satirically says that he likes to witness all these because a hospital is the only place where people do not hesitate to express their feelings. The smell of the antiseptic, the biting cold air coming from the air-conditioner and the fresh flowers in the wastebasket add to the lifelessness of the hospital. Through satire and humour, the poet tries to make us understand the very fact of living. He wants us to live our life fully rather than spending our days in regret.

Question 3.
What is the theme of the poem “Why I Like the Hospital”?
Answer:
The very theme of this poem is to giving our feelings a chance to breathe freely which is a quite a difficult task is our modern world. People now have learnt to stifle their emotions and only express those in hospitals where they are left alone without anyone to hold their hands. Ironically, they are being praised for leaving their emotions.

The poet, through this poem has shown us some harsh realities of life and advises us to express our emotions without hesitation. The poet says that he likes visiting a hospital because only here, true emotions can be witnessed. This is also a place that shows how lonely a man is, nowadays. The poet wishes this scenario to be changed. Through this poem, by showing some grim realities, he wants us to value emotions.

Question 4.
Write in your own words, how does the poet describe the human sorrow and suffering in his poem “Why I Like the Hospital’’?
Answer:
In the poem “Why I Like the Hospital” the poet expresses the human sorrow and suffering, satirically. In this poem, we see a mother, having cancer, hesitates to tell her kids about her disease. A bald girl is also seen in a depressed mood gazing at the shunt placed “above her missing breast” and an old woman walking with an IV pole.

These images horrify the readers. The poet again portrays images of lonely, sick people looking for someone who would keep them company. Each sick person is compared with a lonely tree “wondering what happened to the forest.”

In this poem, there is a particular reference to a terminal patient who was “sobbing without shame” expressing his “overflowing bilge of helplessness and rage” as he did not have any hope left to be saved and he has no one to keep company, he was sympathising and talking to his own self. These shocking images show us how helpless a person could be. By satirising these grim realities, the poet wants to open our eyes so that we can understand the true meaning f living and value emotions.

Why I Like the Hospital Poem Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
In the poem “Why I Like the Hospital”, why does the poet express his liking for the hospital?
Answer:
In the poem “Why I Like the Hospital” the poet says that the contemporary world made us totally emotionless and for this, we even get appreciated. People have become self-centred and materialistic. But in hospitals, true emotions can be seen.

There, people express their grief and realize how lonely they are. They feel helpless but they have no one to get them out of their situation. That is why the poet expresses his liking for the hospital as it is the only place where true emotions are expressed.

Question 2.
What are the things that the poet does not like in the hospital?
Answer:
The poet does not like the smell of the antiseptic or the biting cold air coming from the air-conditioner all night or even the fresh flowers in the wastebasket as these add to the gloominess and lifelessness of the hospital. These are also the signs of carelessness and antipathy that repel him. So he does not like these.

Question 3.
What hospital scenes are depicted in this poem?
Answer:
In this poem, a few hospital scenes are depicted which sadden the readers to a great extend. He portrays scenes of a cancer patient who is also a mother, has difficulty in deciding how to tell her kids about her illness.

There is a bald girl who is staring in depression at the tube that is fixed upon her missing breast. There is another old woman who is walking in great difficulty with her IV pole. The poet has also portrayed a number of sick persons who are helpless, lonely and eagerly waiting for company. These images show how pathetic a human life could be.

Question 4.
Describe the condition of the man mentioned in the stanza 6.
Ans.
In stanza 6 : we can see a patient wearing a lime- green dressing gown, bending over in a chair. He is not yelling at the doctors or pretending to be strong; he is just crying helplessly. He has no one to stand by his side.

He is afflicted with some deadly disease so he could not be saved. He is completely lonely in this world so he is consoling himself, listening to each word said and actually speaking to himself. By portraying this man, the poet actually shows the readers the harsh reality of today’s world.

Question 5.
Why was the terminal patient “sobbing without shame”?
Answer:
The terminal patient knew that no medication or surgery could save him from his illness. He was feeling helpless and he did not have anyone to console him. He did not even have a-wife to make a phone call. He was all alone in this earth and so he could not hold his emotions any longer.

Out of hopelessness, fear and anxiety he was “crying without shame”. He knew that he did not have much time left, so he did not care about what people would think.

Why I Like the Hospital Poem Logic-Based Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
The mother with cancer is hesitating because ………..
Answer:
She could not decide how to tell her kids about her illness.

Question 2.
The bald girl is gazing downward in depression because ………..
Answer:
She has tube installed above her missing breast.

Question 3.
The poet does not like the smell of the antiseptic or the high air-conditioning because ………..
Answer:
These heighten the depression.

Question 4.
The poet does not like to see fresh flowers in a waste basket because ………..
Answer:
This is a sign of carelessness and antipathy.

Question 5.
Patients in a hospital have “forced intimacy of the ‘self with the self’ because ………..
Answer:
They have no near and dear ones who would stand by them or take care of them.

Question 6.
Each sick person is compared to a tree in a forest because ……………
Answer:
They are suffering from loneliness.

Question 7.
Another man in a lime-green dress is sobbing without shame because ………..
Answer:
He knows that he could not be saved.

Question 8.
The man is not yelling at the doctors because ………..
Answer:
He is feeling hopeless.

Question 9.
The man is holding “his own hand in sympathy” because………..
Answer:
He is completely alone is this world.

Question 10.
The man is telling himself everything because
Answer:
He has no one to talk to.

Why I Like the Hospital Poem About the Poet Tony Hoagland

Tony Hoagland was born on November 19,1953, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Tony Hoagland authored witty, poignant poems that comment on contemporary American life and culture. He attended Williams College, the University of Iowa, and the University of Arizona.

His books of poetry include Unincorporated Personas in the Late Honda Dynasty Graywolf Press; What Narcissism Means to Me, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award; Donkey Gospel, which received the James Laughlin Award; and Sweet Ruin, chosen by Donald Justice for the 1992 Brittingham Prize in Poetry and winner of the Zacharis Award from Emerson College.

Hoagland’s other honors and awards include two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a fellowship to the Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center, the O. B. Hardison Prize for Poetry and Teaching from the Folger Shakespeare Library, the 2008 Jackson Poetry Prize from Poets & Writers magazine, as well as the Poetry Foundation’s 2005 Mark Twain Award in recognition of his contribution to humor in American poetry.

In 2002, the American Academy of Arts and Letters praised the poet’s work with a citation stating, “Tony Hoagland’s imagination ranges thrillingly across manners, morals, sexual doings, kinds of speech both lyrical and candid, intimate as well as wild.” He taught at the University of Houston and Warren Wilson College. He died of pancreatic cancer on October 23,2018. His latest book of poems, Unincorporated Persons In the Late Honda Dynasty, was published by Graywolf Press in 2010.

Why I Like the Hospital About the Poem

The poem “Why I Like the Hospital” written by Tony Hoagland expresses some harsh realities of life. Our world has become a contemporary materialistic world with no liveliness. People have become emotionless and self- centred and so they cannot express their feelings to anyone, openly, especially the western people who are accustomed with choking their feelings even if it is their personal loss.

This eventually leads to loneliness and depression that result in physical and mental instability including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, cardiac failure and so on. Therefore, sarcastically, it is in the hospital where there is no restriction of any kind to express pathos. Therefore, in this poem, we can see many heartbreaking pictures of pain and suffering in the hospital in a humorous way. The poem begins with a saying that the hospital is the only place where anyone can be in their bad mood and also can witness many scenes of sufferings.

In this poem, the poet expresses that he kind of likes the way people count their good and bad actions performed in their life. He also likes the way people wait for other people to show up and ask for their well-being. He also recalls his several other experiences at the hospital that are depicted in a very realistic manner. The poet’s liking for the hospital is actually a satire on the way of contemporary life that allows no show for emotions as they are tagged as weakness. This poem also satirises the society that leaves patients on their own when they were in great need for warmth and empathy.

Why I Like the Hospital Poem in Detail

This poem opens up suddenly with a satire, “Because it is all right to be in a bad mood there” that expresses the miserable life of the people nowadays. A gloomy mood is presented where the underground garage and the elevator with “other customers staring at the closed beige door like a prison wall” evoke the perfect mood of resentment. The poet says that the hospital is the only place that grants permission letting out the emotions.

It is the only place where a mother having cancer, could not decide how to tell her kids about her disease, a bald girl is seen in a depressed mood gazing at the shunt placed “above her missing breast” and an old woman walking with an IV pole. The poet says that he does not like the smell of the antiseptics, or the excessive cold air coming from the air- conditioner or even the fresh flowers thrown into the wastebasket.

But ironically he says that he likes some people seeing in the hospital “break out a notebook and invent a complex scoring system” to calculate their days on earth doing good and bad deeds. The poet also expresses his like in seeing lonely, sick people looking for someone who would keep them company.

In this poem, there is a particular reference to a terminal patient who was “sobbing without shame” expressing his “overflowing bilge of helplessness and rage” as he did not have any hope left to be saved and he has no one to keep company, he was sympathising and talking to his own self.

Throughout the poem, though the poet has used a number of satires and humours to point out the poor condition of the humans, this final image of that dying person shows us a disturbing image of the contemporary society that has no feelings even for a dying person.

Why I Like the Hospital Poem Line Wise Explanation

“Because it is all right to be in a bad mood there,
slouching along through the underground garage,
riding wordlessly on the elevator with the other customers,
staromg at the closed beige doors like a prison wall.”

These opening lines of this poem hints at the very theme of the poem. The poet says that it is all right to be in a bad mood in a hospital as here, no one would judge. A gloomy mood is presented here where the “other customers” in underground garage and the elevator stare at the closed door in the hospital as if they are entering a prison world.

“I like the hospital for the way it grants permission for pathos the mother with cancer deciding how to tell her kids,the bald girl gazing downwards at the shunt installed above her missing breast, the crone in her pajamas, walking with an IV pole”:

These lines tell us that the poet likes the hospital only because it allows a person to open his/hers floodgates of emotions. This is the only place that permits a person to express his sorrow, loss and pain without hesitation. The poet ironically tells here that he likes to watch the mother who is having cancer, having difficulty in deciding a way to tell her kids about her ailment. There is also the mention of the bald girl who is staring with sad eyes at the shunt installed above her missing breast. He also mentions an old woman who is walking in the hospital with her IV pole, to survive.

“I don’t like the smell of antiseptic,
or the air-conditioning set on high all night,
or the fresh flowers tossed into the wastebasket,
but I like the way some people on thier plastic chairs
break out a notebook and invent a complex scoring system
to tally up their days on earth,
the column on the left that says, Times I Acted Like a Fool,
facing the column on the right that says,
Times I Acted Like a Saint.

The narrator here tells his dislike about the smell of the anti-septic that is used in the hospital. He uses tells about his strong dislike for the excessive cold air coming from the air conditioner of the hospital and also the fresh flowers in the wastebasket as these are the signs of carelessness and antipathy. Again, the poet uses the image of a fool and a saint which are amusing and thought-provoking as well and through these images the poet expresses that it is only the hospital where a person is compelled to reflect over their own good or bad deeds.

“I like the long prairie of the waiting;
the forced intimacy of the self with the self;
each sick person standing in the middle of a field,
like a tree wondering what happened to the forest.”

Here, the poet shows us a picture of the sick and lonely persons who are waiting to be taken care of. But they have no one to keep them company and so their waiting is pointless as they are forced into loneliness. Each of the sick persons are compared with a lone tree, standing in the middle of a field wondering what could have happened with the forest.

“And once I saw a man in a lime-green dressing gown,
hunched over in a chair, a man who was not
yelling at the doctors, or pretending to be strong,
or making a murmured phone call to his wife,
but one sobbing without shame,
pumping it all out from the bottom of the self,
the overflowing bilge of helplessness and rage,
a man no longer expecting to be saved,

Here another image is shown. Here we can see a man in a lime-green dressing gown, “hunched over in a chair”. He is neither yelling at the doctors nor trying to be strong. He is not even making a phone call to his wife as he has not anyone to talk to. The man is actually crying “without shame” and expressing his innermost feelings through his tears. He is feeling helpless as he has no hope left for himself. He knows that he can’t be saved.

“but if you looked, you could see
that he was holding his own hand in sympathy,
listening to every single word,
and he was telling himself everything.”

The poet concludes by saying that as he has no one to whom he can depend, he is holding his own hand “in sympathy”. As he has none to talk to and express his feelings he is talking to himself. Through his poem, the poet expresses the harsh reality of today’s world where we are all alone to face our own need.

Why I Like the Hospital Poem Theme

The very theme of this poem is to giving our feelings a chance to breathe freely which is a quite a difficult task is our modem world. People now have learnt to stifle their emotions and only express those in hospitals where they are left alone without anyone to hold their hands. Ironically, they are being praised for leaving their emotions.

The poet, through this poem has shown us some harsh realities of life and advises us to express our emotions without hesitation. The poet says that he likes visiting a hospital because only here, true emotions can be witnessed. This is also a place that shows how lonely a man is, nowadays. The poet wishes this scenario to be changed. Through this poem, by showing some grim realities, he wants us to value emotions.

Why I Like the Hospital Poem Word Meaning

Slouching — To stand, sit, or walk with the shoulders hanging forward and the head bent slightly over so that you look tired and bored
Wordless — Without any words.
Elevator — A device like a box that moves up and down, carrying people or goods from one floor of a building to another or taking people up and down
Prison — A building where criminals are forced to live as a punishment.
Pathos — A quality that evokes pity or sadness.
Cancer — A serious disease that is caused when cells in the body grow in a way that is uncontrolled and not normal, killing normal cells and often causing death.
Gazing — To look at something or someone for a long time, especially in surprise or admiration, or because you are thinking about something else
Bald With little or no hair on the head Crone An unpleasant or ugly old woman.
Antiseptic — A chemical used for preventing infection in an injury, especially by killing bacteria Prairie ‘ A wide area of flat land without trees in Canada and the northern US.
Intimacy — A situation in which you have a close friendship or sexual relationship with someone.
Hunched — Leaning forward with your shoulders raised, or bending your back and shoulders into a rounded shape
Yelling — To shout something or make a loud noise, usually when you are angry, in pain, or excited.
Pretending — To behave as if something is true when you know that it is not, especially in order to deceive people or as a game
Murmured — To speak or say something very quietly
Sobbing — Noisy crying
Bilge — Nonsense
Rage — Violent uncontrollable anger
Sympathy — Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else’s misfortune

Why I Like the Hospital Poem Critical Appreciation

The poem “Why I Like the Hospital” written by Tony Hoagland is a thought-provoking poem. The poet has used humour and satire to mock the humans of the contemporary society. Nowadays, people are practically emotionless and for this they are praised. They have learnt to stifle their emotions as emotions are now considered as weakness.

At this, the poet mockingly says that he likes visiting hospitals as a hospital is the only place where people open the floodgates of their emotions. In a hospital, terrifying scenes can be seen. Sick people are seen in a hospital, sad, looking for company. They do not know what to do or how to overcome the situation. They are full of emotions but no one to take care of.

The poem is deeply meaningful with many humorous yet pathetic incidents are expressed. The disturbing images of loneliness and alienation of a lone sick person waiting for company or a patient sobbing helplessly as he knows that he cannot be saved are also heart-touching.

Why I Like the Hospital Poem Style

The poem “Why I Liked the Hospital” is divided into eight stanzas, containing four lines each. The poet has used simple language to express his point of view. The poet has used the enjambment technique to give a flow to this poem. His words and phrases are thought-provoking and bear rich meanings.

In this poem, we can witness the poet’s usage of imageries like, “the bald girl gazing downward at the shunt”.and similes like, “staring at the closed beige doors like a prison wall”. and metaphors like, “fresh flowers tossed into the wastebasket” that give richness to the poem. Moreover, it can be said that the style of writing this poem is lucid and unique.

Why I Like the Hospital Poem MCQs

Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

Question 1.
Where is the garage located?
a. At underground
b. At rooftop
c. At an open ground
c. At a river bank
Answer:
a. At underground

Question 2.
Who is the narrator in this poem?
a. A sick man
b. A bald girl
c. The poet himself
d. the mother with cancer
Answer
c. The poet himself

Question 3.
With what are the beige doors compared?
a. Like a wall
b. Like a prison wall
c. Like a bed room wall
d. Like a bathroom wall
Answer:
b. Like a prison wall

Question 4.
Why 10es the poet like the liospital?
a. Because it grants permission for pathos
b. The food is very good there
c. The environment is cozy
d. People there are friendly
Answer:
a. Because it grants permission for pathos

Question 5.
Who is in lier pajamas?
a. The bald girl
b. The mother with cancer
c. The crone
d. None of them
Answer:
c. The crone

Question 6.
What does the poet flot like about hospital?
a. Smell of the antiseptic
b. air-conditioner set on high all night
c. The fresh flowers tossed into the wastebasket
d. All of these
Answer:
d. All of these

Question 7.
With what are sick persons compared?
a. A tree wondering what happened to the forest
b. Flowers in wastebaskets
c. Dead people
d. Saints
Answer:
a. A tree wondering what happened to the forest

Question 8.
What was the colour of the dressing gown?
a. Lime red
b. Lime green
c. Green
d. White
Answer:
b. Lime green

Question 9.
What for Hoagbnd’s poetry are knowiì?
a. The acerbic take on contemporary life
b. Wit
c. Straight talk
d. All of these
Answer:
d. All of these

Question 10.
Who wrote the poem “Why I Like the Hospital”?
a. Tony Hoagland
b. Rabindranath Tagore
c. William Shakespeare
d. William Wordsworth
Answer:
a. Tony Hoagland

Question 11.
Who has the cancer in the poem “Why I Like the Hospital”?
a. The kids
b. The narrator
c. The mother
d. The bald girl
Answer:
c. The mother

Question 12.
Who is sobbing without shame?
a. A terminal patient
b. The old lady
c. The mother
d. The kids
Answer:
a. A terminal patient

Question 13.
Why was the bold girl depressed?
a. Because she was ill
b. Because was in a hospital
c. Because she is in danger
d. Because she lost her breast
Answer:
d. Because she lost her breast

Question 14.
What is the full name of the poet?
a. Tony Hoagland
b. Anthony Dey Hoagland
c. Hoagland
d. None of these
Answer:
b. Anthony Dey Hoagland

Question 15.
In which year was Tony Hoagland died?
a. 2020
b. 2017
c. 2018
d. 2019
Answer:
c. 2018

Rhapsody: A Collection of ISC Poems Workbook Answers

The Homecoming Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

by
The Homecoming Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

The Homecoming Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

A. Read the following extract and answer the questions:

Phatik Chakravorti was the ring leader among the boys of the village. A new mischief got into his head. There was a heavy log lying on the mud flat of the river waiting to be shaped into a mast for a boat. He decided that they should all work together to shift the log by main force from its place and roll it away. The owner of the log would be angry and surprised, and they would all enjoy the fun.

Every one seconded the proposal, and it was carried unanimously. But just as the fun was about to begin, Makhan, Phatik’s younger brother, sauntered up, and sat down on the log in front of them all without a word. The boys were puzzled for a moment.

He was pushed, rather timidly, by one of the boys and told to get up but he remained quite unconcerned. He appeared like a young philosopher meditating on the futility of games. Phatik was furious. “Makhan,” he cried, “if you don’t get down this minute I’ll thrash you!” Makhan only moved to a more comfortable position.

Question 1.
Who was Phatik Chakravorti?
Answer:
Phatik Chakravorti was a 14-year-old teenage boy who was Makhan’s elder brother and also the ringleader among the boys of the village.

Question 2.
Why did Phatik’s friends obey Phatik’s words?
Answer:
Phatik was the ringleader among the boys of the village. He was wild, turbulent and also dominant. That is why his words had an influence on his friends and they obeyed his words.

Question 3.
What did Phatik decided to do?
Answer:
There was a heavy log lying on the mud-flat of the river, waiting to be shaped into a mast for a boat. Phatik decided that he and his friends should shift the log by main force from its place and roll it away. At this, he owner of the log would be angry and surprised but it would be fun for them.

Question 4.
Who was Makan?
Answer:
Makhan was the younger brother of Phatik. He was just the opposite natured but he did not get along with Phatik well. Rather, he was always busy in troubling Phatik. While playing with the log, Makhan bumped into Phatik and his friends and troubled them.

B. Read the following extract and answer the questions:

All the other boys shouted themselves hoarse with delight. But Phatik was a little frightened. He knew what was coming. And, sure enough, Makhan rose from Mother Earth blind as Fate and screaming like the Furies. He rushed at Phatik and scratched his face and beat him and kicked him, and then went crying home. The first act of the drama was over. Phatik wiped his face, and sat down on the edge of a sunken barge on the river bank, and began to chew a piece of grass.

A boat came up to the landing, and a middle-aged man, with grey hair and dark moustache, stepped on shore. He saw the boy sitting there doing nothing, and asked him where the Chakravortis lived. Phatik went on chewing the grass, and said: “Over there,” but it was quite impossible to tell where he pointed. The stranger asked him again.

He swung his legs to and fro on the side of the barge, and said; “Go and find out,” and continued to chew the grass as before. But now a servant came down from the house, and told Phatik his mother wanted him. Phatik refused to move. But the servant was the master on this occasion. He took Phatik up roughly, and carried him, kicking and struggling in impotent rage.

Question 1.
Why was Phatik frightened?
Answer:
After following Phatik’s order, when his friends messed with Makhan, Phatik knew that Makhan would report this to his mother and his mother would take his brother’s side and beat him. That is why he got frightened.

Question 2.
What did Makhan do after Phatik’s friends took a toll on him?
Answer:
After Phatik’s friends took a toll on him, Makhan rose from the ground angrily and screamed like the Furies. Then he rushed at Phatik, scratched his face, beat and kicked him and then went crying home.

Question 3.
What did Phatik do after Makhan left?
Answer:
After Makhan left, Phatik wiped his face, sat down the edge of a sunken barge at the bank of the river and started chewing a piece of grass. Then he had a vague conversation with a stranger who asked him the address of the Chakravortis. He was busy in his own thoughts and did not want any interruptions.

Question 4.
What did Phatik do when a servant came down from their house?
Answer:
While Phatik was busy in his own thoughts, reluctant to go home, a servant from their came
down looking for him. When he told him that his mother wanted to see him, he refused to move. So the servant had to take him by force. So he took him up roughly and carried him kicking and struggling in rage.

C. Read the following extract and answer the questions:

His mother took Makhan’s side in a moment, and pulled Phatik away, beating him with her hands. When Phatik pushed her aside, she shouted out: “What I you little villain! Would you hit your own mother?” It was just at this critical juncture that the grey-haired stranger arrived. He asked what the matter was. Phatik looked sheepish and ashamed.

But when his mother stepped back and looked at the stranger, her anger was changed to surprise. For she recognised her brother, and cried: “Why, Dada! Where have you come from?” As she said these words, she bowed to the ground and touched his feet. Her brother had gone away soon after she had married, and he had started business in Bombay. His sister had lost her husband while he was in Bombay. Bishamber had now come back to Calcutta, and had at once made enquiries about his sister.

He had then hastened to see her as soon as he found out where she was. The next few days were full of rejoicing. The brother asked after the education of the two boys. He was told by his sister that Phatik was a perpetual nuisance. He was lazy, disobedient, and wild.

But Makhan was as good as gold, as quiet as a lamb, and very fond of reading, Bishamber kindly offered to take Phatik off his sister’s hands, and educate him with his own children in Calcutta. The widowed mother readily agreed. When his uncle asked Phatik if he would like to go to Calcutta with him, his joy knew no bounds, and he said; “Oh, yes, uncle!”

Question 1.
What happened when Phatik went home?
Answer:
When Phatik went home, he had to face false accusations that Makhan made, to draw his mother’s attention. His mother took Makhan’s side and beat him with her hands. She rebuked him badly knowing only the half-truth.

Question 2.
Who was Bishamber?
Answer:
Bishamber was Phatik’s uncle who had started his own business in Bombay. Phatik’s mother lost her husband when Bishamber was in Bombay and so after a long time he came to back to Calcutta to meet his sister.

Question 3.
How did Phatik’s mother describe her children to Bishamber?
Answer:
To Bishamber, she described Phatik as a perpetual nuisance, a lazy, disobedient and wild natured boy who cared for none. As for Makhan, she described him as good as gold, as quiet as a lamb and very fond of reading. To her, Makhan was her ideal son.

Question 4.
What did Bishamher offer? Why?
Answer:
Bishamber offered to take Phatik off his sister’s hands and educated him with his own children in Calcutta. As Phatik was nothing but a troublemaker for his family, he thought of taking him so that he could learn some proper manners.

D. Read the following extract and answer the questions:

When they reached Calcutta, Phatik made the acquaintance of his aunt for the first time. She was by no means pleased with this unnecessary addition to her family. She found her own three boys quite enough to manage without taking any one else. And to bring a village lad of fourteen into their midst was terribly upsetting. Bishamber should really have thought twice before committing such an indiscretion.

In this world of human affairs there is no worse nuisance than a boy at the age of fourteen. He is neither ornamental, nor useful. It is impossible to shower affection on him as on a little boy; and he is always getting in the way. If he talks with a childish lisp he is called a baby, and if he answers in a grown-up way he is called impertinent. In fact any talk at all from him is resented.

Then he is at the unattractive, growing age. He grows out of his clothes with indecent haste; his voice grows hoarse and breaks and quavers; his face grows suddenly angular and unsightly. It is easy to excuse the shortcomings of early childhood, but it is hard to tolerate even unavoidable lapses in a boy of fourteen. The lad himself becomes painfully selfconscious. When he talks with elderly people he is either unduly forward, or else so unduly shy that he appears ashamed of his very existence.

Question 1.
What did Phatik realize when he reached his uncle’s home?
Answer:
After reaching his uncle’s house at Calcutta, Phatik made his first acquaintance with his aunt and realized that she was not at all pleased with this unnecessary addition to her family. His cousins also disliked him. He suddenly became a total misfit.

Question 2.
Why did no one liked Phatik at Bishamber’s place?
Answer:
Phatik was a rural boy who was not familiar with city life. Moreover he was a burden to him aunt because he was an unwelcoming guest. So, no one liked him.

Question 3.
Why “there is no worse nuisance than a boy at the age of fourteen”?
Answer:
A boy at the age of fourteen is a teenage boy who is neither ornamental, nor useful. He is neither a baby nor an adult. He is not well-adjusted to the society and thus he always feels lonely and neglected. Therefore, handling the emotions of a teenage boy is tough.

Question 4.
What idea do you get from the above mentioned passage?
Answer:
The above mentioned passage talks about how Phatik became an unwelcoming guest at his uncle’s place. As he was a teenager, he was very tender at heart and so his surroundings made him feel troubled and lonely. He felt neglected, rejected and a total misfit.

E. Read the following extract and answer the questions:

The cramped atmosphere of neglect in his aunt’s house oppressed Phatik so much that he felt that he could hardly breathe. He wanted to go out into the open country and fill his lungs and breathe freely. But there was no open country to go to. Surrounded on all sides by Calcutta houses and walls, be would dream night after night of his village home, and long to be back there.

He remembered the glorious meadow where he used to fly his kite all day long; the broad river-banks where he would wander about the live long day singing and shouting for joy; the narrow brook where he could go and dive and swim at any time he liked. He thought of his band of boy companions over whom he was despot; and, above all, the memory of that tyrant mother of his, who had such a prejudice against him, occupied him day and night.

A kind of physical love like that of animals; a longing to be in the presence of the one who is loved; an inexpressible wistfulness during absence; a silent cry of the inmost heart for the mother, like the lowing of a calf in the twilight;-this love, which was almost an animal instinct, agitated the shy, nervous, lean, uncouth and ugly boy. No one could understand it, but it preyed upon his mind continually.

Question 1.
What is the above passage about?
Answer:
The above passage is about the troubles that Phatik faced while staying at Kolkata. His miserable condition and mental pain are very well reflected in the mentioned passage.

Question 2.
Do you feel sympathy towards Phatik? Why?
Answer:
Yes, I feel sympathy for Phatik because he faced serious issues at the city and there was no one who could stand by him. He got rejected, neglected and unloved by his aunt and the others and his mother also did not care to hear from her son. his son.

Question 3.
What did Phatik dream and remember?
Answer:
Surrounded on all sides by the large brick houses of Calcutta, Phatik dreamt about his nights at his village home and longed to go back there. He remembered the glorious meadows where he used to fly his kites all day long, the playful activities at the riversides and the brook where he could dive and swim at any time. He also missed his friends and even remembered his tyrant mother.

Question 4.
How did Phatik feel when he was at Kolkata?
Answer:
He was not at all pleased when he was at Kolkata. He was a wild and free boy at his village but when he came to the city, the cramped atmosphere of neglect at his aunt’s house saddened Phatik so much that he felt that he could hardly breathe.

Not only at house but also at school and other places, he got humiliated as he was a village boy. He could not stand the stuffy city life of Kolkata and wished to go back.

F. Read the following extract and answer the questions:

The fever rose very high, and all that night the boy was delirious. Bishamber brought in a doctor. Phatik opened his eyes flushed with fever, and looked up to the ceiling, and said vacantly: “Uncle, have the holidays come yet?

May I go home?” Bishamber wiped the tears from his own eyes, and took Phatik’s lean and burning hands in his own, and sat by him through the night. The boy began again to mutter. At last his voice became excited: “Mother,” he cried, “don’t beat me like that! Mother! I am telling the truth!’

Question 1.
Who got high fever?
Why was he in a delirious state?
Answer:
Phatik got high fever.
Phatik got very sick with fever that rose high with time. But he did not got the love and care that he needed. So, he was in a delirious state.

Question 2.
Why was Bishamber crying?
Answer:
Phatik was found by the police, highly sick with fever, and they brought him home. Bishamber brought in a doctor. Phatik’s eyes were flushed with fever and he was kind of hallucinating. His miserable condition made him feel sorry and guilty as well. That is why he was crying.

Question 3.
Why did Phatik say, “Mother, don’t beat me like that!”
Answer:
Phatik had got high fever and so he was hallucinating of going home. He was remembering his memories of his happy days when he was at his village. As his mother used to beat him and never took side of him and never even listened to him, he was in his hallucination was requesting his mother not to beat him.

Question 4.
Who do you think was responsible about Phatik’s condition? Why?
Answer:
Phatik’s aunt and his mother were responsible about his condition. When he was at his village, his mother was never kind to him and never even listened to him or cared much about him. To her, Phatik was a complete nuisance. When Phatik reached the city, his aunt too disliked him, did not cared for him and abandoned him. These acts made Phatik feel left out.

The Homecoming Story MCQs

Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

Question 1.
What was the name of Phatik’s brother?
a. Makhan
b. Bishamber
c. Mohon
Answer:
a. Makhan

Question 2.
Where did Phatik’s uncle live?
a. Bombay
b. Delhi
c. Calcutta
Answer:
c. Calcutta

Question 3.
Who didn’t like Phatik’s way of living?
a. Neighbours
b. Mother
c. Sister
Answer:
b. Mother

Question 4.
What was the new mischief Phatik thought of?
a. To cut a coconut tree
b. To beat Makhan
c. To push a long into the river
Answer:
c. To push a long into the river

Question 5.
Phatik’s last words were Mother have come
a. The holidays
b. Aunt and Uncle
c. Brother
Answer:
a. The holidays

Question 6.
Who took Phatik home roughly?
a. Makhan
b. Mother
c. Servant
Answer:
c. Servant

Question 7.
How old was Phatik?
a. 13
b. 14
c. 15
Answer:
b. 14

Question 8.
Where had Bishambar gone after his sister had married?
a. Bombay
b. Delhi
c. Calcutta
Answer:
a. Bombay

Question 9.
What does Bishambar offer to his sister?
a. To take Makhan with him to Calcutta
b. To take Phatik with him to Calcutta
c. To take Makhan and Phatik with him to Calcutta
Answer:
b. To take Phatik with him to Calcutta

Question 10.
When was Rabindranath Tagore born?
a. 1 June 1858
b. 3 May 1859
c. 7 May 1861
Answer:
c. 7 May 1861

Question 11.
In which year Rabindranath Tagore was awarded Noble prize?
a. 1914
b. 1913
c. 1925
Answer:
b. 1913

Question 12.
Who gave a terrible ander to his friends to roll the log?
a. Phatik
b. Nikhil
c. Mohan
Answer:
a. Phatik

Question 13.
What is the current condition of Phatik’s father?
a. He is working person
b. He is retired person
c. He is dead
Answer:
c. He is dead

Question 14.
What is the reaction of Phatik’s aunt on his arrival in Calcutta?
a. She becomes very happy on his arrival
b. She is not happy with his arrival
c. None of these
Answer:
b. She is not happy with his arrival

Question 15.
“You great clumsy, country fool!” Who said to whom?
a. Phatik’s aunt to Phatik
b. Phatik’s brother to Phatik
c. Phatik’s mother to Phatik
Answer:
a. Phatik’s aunt to Phatik

Question 16.
Where was Phatik going when the police drag him back?
a. It was going to see his friend
b. He was going home
c. He was going to Bombay
Answer:
b. He was going home

Question 17.
How does Phatik’s aunt react to Phatik’s arrival at her home?
a. She is. not pleased with his arrival
b. She welcomes Phatik very warmly
c. She thinks Phatik will help her in her household chores
Answer:
a. She is. not pleased with his arrival

Question 18.
Which statement is not correct about the boy of fourteen according to Rabindranath Tagore?
a. He is neither ornamental nor useful
b. It is an attractive and growing age
c. He is very clever and obedient
Answer:
c. He is very clever and obedient

Question 19.
Who send the message to Phatik’s mother to come to Calcutta?
a. Phatik’s uncle
b. Phatik’s aunt
c. Phatik’s Cousins
Answer:
a. Phatik’s uncle

Question 20.
In which month the holiday will come?
a. October
b. November
c. May
Answer:
b. November

Question 21.
Where was Phatik going when the police drag him back?
a. He was going to Bombay
b. He was going to see his friend
c. He was going home
Answer:
c. He was going home

Question 22.
What did Phatik loss?
a. Notebook
b. Lesson book
c. Tiffin
Answer:
b. Lesson book

Question 23.
Which statement describes Phatik’s mental condition?
a. His felt he was going to have an attack of malarial fever
b. His face and eyes were flushed red with fever
c. He would dream night after night his village home and long to be back there
Answer:
c. He would dream night after night his village home and long to be back there

Question 24.
What was painful for Phatik?
a. welcoming
b. he was unwelcome
c. none of these
Answer:
b. he was unwelcome

Question 25.
Who wrote the story “Homecoming”?
a. Rabindranath Tagor
b. Satyajit Ray
c. None of these
Answer:
a. Rabindranath Tagor

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers

The Glove and the Lions Poem Questions and Answers & MCQs

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The Glove and the Lions Poem Questions and Answers & MCQs

Question 1.
And one day as the lions fought, sat looking at the court
a. Name the poem and the poet.
b. Who is ‘his’ referred to in the above extract? Who else were present in the court?
c. What was he looking at?
d. How did the lions fight?
Answers:
a. The name of the poem is “The Glove And The Lions.”
The poem was written by James Henry Leigh Hunt.

b. “His” is referred to King Francis. There were the King,the nobles and the ladies in the court.

c. King Francis was in his court who was a very hearty king and he was also fond of a royal sport lions fighting. All the nobles and their ladies were seated above an arena which was full of fighting lions. King Francis was looking at these lions fighting among themselves.

d. The lions in the court of King Francis were very loud and ferocious. They were quite savage and vicious and they roared with horrid laughing jaws. They began to fight and tear into one another. As they moved the wind seemed to move alongside their paws. Their blows were strong like beams. (The roar of the lions is actually a demonstration of power. They were making a huge commotion while they rolled upon the floor. The scene was bloody as bloody froth came whisking through the air.

Question 2.
“He surely would do wondrous things to show his love to me.”
a. Who are ‘he ‘and ‘me’ referred to in the above extract?
b. What wondrous things would he do?
c. Explain how he did this wondrous things?
d. What did he do after this wondrous thing?
Answers:
a. ‘He’ is referred to the Count de Lorge and ‘me’ is referred to the lover of the Count.

b. The lover of the Count threw her glove in the middle of the lions in order to prove the Count’s love towards her. And the Count bravely retrieved the glove. This was the wondrous thing that he did.

c. The Count was very brave and everyone would admit that he had done a heroic deed. The Count jumped down among the lions quickly and grabed the glove and safely got back to his place.

d. After recovering his lover’s glove from amongst the lions,we expected him to hand over the glove to his beloved in a smiling,gentle manner. But the Count was insulted with this attitude of his lover.So after retrieving the glove, he threw it at the woman’s face.

Question 3.
“No love”, quoth he,”but vanity sets love a task like that.”
a. Who is the speaker of the above extract? Whose vanity is spoken of here?
b. What vanity is spoken of here?
c. How did the speaker react to the task that was fulfilled by the Count?
d. In the beginning of the poem, what does the speaker think about the person of whose vanity is spoken of?
Answer:
a. The speaker of the above extract was King Francis. He was speaking of the vanity of the Count’s lover.

b. The Count’s lover who wants to gain admiration and glory dropped her glove among the lions to prove the Count’s love. This action or attitude shown by the woman is referred to as the vanity which made her drop the glove and not her love.

c. When the Count retrieved the glove from among the lions with valour and bravery and threw it at his lover’s face, King Francis praised the Count for his entire action.

d. In the beginning of the poem we find that when King Francis saw the couple-the Count and his lover to be seated among the other aristocrats and nobles, he had a special feeling about the woman. King Francis had a crush on her and he “sighed” for her.

Question 4.
Faith gentlemen, we’re better than there
a. Who is the speaker and who are the gentlemen?
b. “We’re better than there” – Which place did the speaker want to refer?
c. What was the reason for the speaker to say the above line? Explain the line.
d. Who overheard the speaker and what did she think after this?
Answers:
a. The speaker of the above extract is King Francis.The gentlemen are referred to the nobles and the aristocrats who gathered in King Francis’s court to watch a royal sport.

b. “There”means the place where the lions were fighting with each other. The king and others were all sitting above and the lions were below fighting among themselves.

c. The lions were savage. They were snarling and fighting with each other and tearing each other. The sight of bloodshed and violence among the lions caused King Francis to comment that they were safer seated above, than being among the beasts below.

d. The comment of King Francis was overheard by the beautiful woman or the Count’s lover. When she overheard this, she thought that the Count her lover who was “brave as brave can be” could surely do some wondrous things in order to show his love to her.

Question 5.
He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild
a. Who is ‘he’ referred to in the above extract? Give adjectives to describe him?
b. Why did he leap among the ‘lions wild?’
c. How was the leap and how did he do his task?
d. What character traits can we draw about the lover of the Count?
Answers:
a. “He” is refered to Count De Lorge. He can be described as brave and quick.

b. His ladylove in order to prove his love for her and to gain glory and admiration for herself dropped a glove among the lions expecting the Count to recover it.So the Count leaped among the wild lions.

c. The leap was quick and the return was also quick.
After recovering the glove, he came and took his place beside his lover.

d. The lady was beautiful with smiling lips and bright eyes. She was the crush of King Francis. But we also find her self-conceited. She herself was distracted by the comment of the king and decided to set a task for her lover. So we see how she in order to gain glory and admiration for herself did not even hesitate to play with her lover’s life by setting him a fatal task. So we can say that she was a self – engrossed and arrogant lady.

The Glove and the Lions Poem MCQs

Question 1.
…………… is the “royal sport” mentioned in the first line.
a. Horse riding
b. Lions fighting
c. A fight between the best swordsmen
d. Wrestling
Answer:
b. Lions fighting

Question 2.
Who came to see the royal sport?
a. The king, the nobles, the ladies
b. The king, the nobles, the countrymen
c. The king, the queen, the nobles
d. The king, the queen, the countrymen
Answer:
a. The king, the nobles, the ladies

Question 3.
‘The Count my lover is brave as brave can be’ Who thought so?
a. The king
b. The nobles
c. Count de Lorge’s dame
d. The ladies watching the lions fight
Answer:
c. Count de Lorge’s dame

Question 4.
In the poem “the royal beasts” is referred to
a. The brave nobles
b. The brave king
c. The royal pet animals
d. The fierce lions
Answer:
d. The fierce lions

Question 5.
The poet who wrote the poem “The Glove And The Lions” is …………….
a. RB. Shelley
b. James Henry Leigh Hunt
c. Rudyard Kipling
d. William Shakespeare
Answer:
b. James Henry Leigh Hunt

Question 6.
The lady dropped the glove in the arena because
a. She knew that the Count loved her and would bring it back to her.
b. She wanted to prove to the spectators that the Count was the bravest of all men.
c. She wanted to gain fame and glory by showing off the Count’s love for her.
d. She wanted to be the centre of attention.
Answer:
c. She wanted to gain fame and glory by showing off the Count’s love for her.

Question 7.
“Faith gentlemen, we’re better here than there.” Who is the speaker?
a. Count De Lorge
b. Count De Lorge’s lover
c. King Francis
d. The poet
Answer:
c. King Francis

Question 8.
King, lovers, all look on; Fill in the gap.
a. Lords
b. Nobles
c. Ladies
d. Gentlemen
Answer:
c. Ladies

Question 9.
“With horrid laughing jaws.” What figure of speech is this?
a. Simile
b. Metaphor
c. Alliteration
d. Personification
Answer:
d. Personification

Question 10.
“Ramped and roared the lions” What figure of speech is this?
a. Metaphor
b. Alliteration
c. Personification
d. Alliegory
Answer:
b. Alliteration

Question 11.
What did De Lorge do with the glove?
a. Gave the glove to his dame gently
b. Handed the glove to the king
c. Threw the glove at the dame’s face
d. Threw the glove towards the nobles, ladies
Answer:
c. Threw the glove at the dame’s face

Question 12.
King Frands was a king.
a. Sport loving
b. Jovial
c. Wicked
d. a and b both
Answer:
d. a and b both

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers

The Model Millionaire Summary, Theme by Oscar Wilde

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The Model Millionaire Summary by Oscar Wilde

The Model Millionaire Summary, Theme by Oscar Wilde

The Model Millionaire Summary

This is the story of a very good-looking young man, named Hughie Erskine. He was popular and kind. However, he was not very clever and had no money. He kept changing his job but always failed. Finally he stopped working and lived on money given to him by an old aunt.

He was in love with a girl named Laura Merton, the daughter of a retired Colonel. But the Colonel would only allow them to get married if Hughie had ten thousand pounds of his own, which was a sort of next to impossible target for Hughie to achieve.

One day, Hughie visited his friend, Alan Trevor, who was a painter. When Elughie reached his art gallery, he saw Alan, painting a model. The model was a beggar-man. Hughie felt sorry for the model because his appearance was very poor so he gave him a sovereign.

Later that night. Hughie met Alan at Palette Club. They had an enlightening conversation. Hughie found out from Alan that the model was actually not a beggar-man, but a millionaire, named Baron Hausberg. Hughie went home unhappily, somewhat ashamed for giving such a big man a sovereign whereas Alan laughed loudly.

The next morning, a messenger from Baron Hausberg came and brought him a letter. The letter contained a cheque for ten thousand pounds which was a wedding present to Hugh Erskine and Laura Merton from Baron Hausberg.

This was an expected event for Hughie and this is also the turning point of the story. On the day of the marriage, Alan Trevor was the best man and the Baron made a speech at the wedding breakfast. Alan said, “Millionaire models are rare enough, but model millionaires are rarer still!”

The Model Millionaire About the Author Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin on 16 October 1854 to Sir William Wilde and his wife Jane. Oscar’s mother, Lady Jane Francesca Wilde, was a successful poet and journalist. She wrote patriotic Irish verse under the pseudonym “Speranza”. Oscar’s father, Sir William Wilde, was a leading ear and eye surgeon, gifted writer, who wrote books on archaeology and folklore. Oscar had an elder brother, Willie, and a younger sister, Isola Francesca.

He was educated at Portora Royal School, Trinity College, Dublin, and Magdalen College, Oxford. After he was graduated, he moved to Chelsea in London to establish a literary career. In 1881, he published his first collection of poetry – Poems that received mixed reviews by critics. He worked as an art reviewer, lectured in the United States and Canada. He also lectured in Britain and Ireland.

On May 29, 1884, Oscar marred Constance Lloyd, daughter of a wealthy Queen’s Counsel Horace Lloyd. They had two sons, Cyril and Vyvyan. To support his family, Oscar accepted a job as the editor of Woman’s World magazine, where he worked from 1887-1889. Wilde’s greatest talent was for writing plays. His first successful play, Lady Windermere’s Fan, opened in February 1892.

He produced a string of extremely popular comedies including A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband, and The Importance of Being Earnest. These plays were all highly acclaimed and firmly established Oscar as a playwright.

He wrote The Ballad of Reading Gaol, revealing his concern for inhumane prison conditions. He spent the rest of his life wandering Europe, staying with friends and living in cheap hotels. He died of cerebral meningitis on November 30, 1900, penniless, in a cheap Paris hotel.

The Model Millionaire Theme

The story ‘The Model Millionaire’ is a short story by the Irish author Oscar Wilde. It centres round Hughie Erskine, a young man and a model who posed for a beggar to Hughie’s friend’s art gallery. Hughie was a very handsome man who was in love with Laura Merton but was unable to marry her because he was poor.

He had no fixed income to ran a family that is why her father didn’t want her to get married to Hughie until he earn 10000 pounds. One day, Hughie went to his friend Alan Trevor’s art gallery where he saw an old beggar as his model. His appearance made Hughie felt sorry for his condition. So when Alan left, he gave him a sovereign which was the highest denomination left in his pocket.

After a few days, from Alan Trevor, he came to know that he told the beggar Hughie’s life story. Hughie felt a little bad because he did not want to disclose his personal matters to the beggar. Then Alan told him that he was not a beggar but a millionaire.

He was Baron Housberg, one of the richest man in Europe. Hughie felt ashamed for giving him a coin but later he was awarded by Baron Housberg for his generosity. MrHousberg gave a cheque for 10000 pounds as his wedding gift and even attended the wedding of Hughie and Laura.

The Model Millionaire Characters

Hughie Erskine:

An extremely handsome young yellow who was kind and good-natured but he had back luck in the field of making money. Though he tried very hard, he could not get success in framing a suitable career. He was in love with Laura Merton but as he was poor, her father was not willing to get his daughter married to Hughie.

R Laura Merton:

A young woman who was in love with Hughic irrespective of his status of being poor or rich. Though her father put a condition of earning 10000 pounds to Hughie, she was willing to marry him without it.

R Laura’s father:

Laura’s father was a colonel who was a strict and concerned father as a father should be. He wanted to secure his daughter’s future so did not want his daughter getting wasted with Hughie. He did not support to his daughter’s whims and put a condition to Hughie. He asked Hughie to earn 10000 pounds in order to get married to his daughter so that his daughter could spent her life comfortably.

R Alan Trevor:

Alan Trevor was an artist and also Hughie’s friend. He was a good and generous friend who told the life story and problems of Hughie to Mr Housberg. He played an important role in uplifting Hughie’s life-graph and also became the best man of Hughie at his wedding.

Baron Housberg :

Mr Housberg was one of the richest man in Europe. He became a model of Alan Trevor and posed as a beggar. He was so realistic that Hughie actually thought him to be a real beggar and gave him a sovereign out of sympathy. This act of kindness softened Mr Housberg and when he came to know the life story of Hughie, he presented him a cheque of 10000 pounds as his wedding gift. He also attended Hughie’s wedding.

The Model Millionaire Title of the Story

‘The Model Millionaire’ is a short story written by Oscar Wilde. It was first printed in the newspaper The World’ in June 1887. This story talks about a young man named Hughie Erskine and a millionaire named Baron Housberg. Hughie was a poor man who was in love with Laura Merton but due to the lack of money and a fixed income, he could not be able to do that.

His life went on as usual until one day he met an old beggar at his friend’s art gallery. That man was posing as his model. His tattered clothes and poor appearance made Hughie feel sorry for that man. Hughie, though himself was poor, gave him a sovereign and left. The next time, when Alan met with Hughie he told him that the old beggar was actually one of the richest man in Europe.

His name was Baron Housberg. Hughie, though felt ashamed of giving such a big man a coin, Mr Housberg thought otherwise. He was so much impressed by such a benevolent act that he awarded him 10000 pounds as his wedding gift and himself attended the wedding.

So the story shows how a millionaire who became a model changed a man’s life for good and thus became the model-millionaire not only because of his wealth but also for his big heart. Thus the title ‘The Model Millionaire’ is apt.

The Model Millionaire About the Story

In the story ‘The Model Millionaire’ by Oscar Wilde we see Hughie Erskine who was an extremely good-looking fellow, popular among men and women, had every accomplishment in his life except making money. He was in love with Laura Merton but as he had a poor financial prospect, her father did not want him to get married to his daughter.

He even told him to get engaged with Laura only when he would earn ten thousand pounds. Though his luck was not favourable in monetary matters, yet we see him moved to pity when he saw an elderly beggar, posing as a model for his friend who was an artist named Alan Trevor. He felt so sympathetic to that man that he gave the beggar the highest denomination that he had m his pocket and left.

Soon when he again met Trevor, he came to know that the beggar was actually one of the wealthiest man in Europe named Baron Housberg and he himself asked Trevor to paint a picture of him as a beggar. Hughie felt ashamed for giving such a big man a coin but Trevor told him not to worry. Soon he got rewarded ten thousand pounds by Baron Housberg for his benevolent conduct and got to marry Laura. Baron Housberg attended the wedding and gave blessings to this newly wed.

The Model Millionaire Setting of the Story

The story “The Model Millionaire” shows how a certain event can change a person’s whole life. In this story, we say Hughie’s certain meeting with Baron Hausberg who posed as a beggar for Alan Trevor as Alan was a painter and Baron went to him to become a model for him.

Baron Housberg was one of the richest men in Europe but his poor appearance made Hughie sorry for him. Though he himself had no money to marry the love of his life Laura Merton, yet he gave him a sovereign out of sympathy and concern.

He later came to know the real identity of the beggar which made him feel ashamed of himself but his benevolence impressed Mr Housberg. He rewarded him with 10000 pounds as his wedding gift and himself attended the wedding. So, the story which took motion at Alan Trevor’s art gallery, ended on a happy note at a wedding ceremony. Thus we can say that the setting of the story is well-built with a perfect plot containing a nice beginning, suitable climax and happy ending.

The Model Millionaire Main Points to Remember

  • Hughie Erskine was a young man who was extremely handsome but his financial career was at a toss. He had every accomplishment except making money.
  • He was in love with Laura Merton but he had no money, her father was not willing to get his daughter married to him.
  • His only source of income was two hundred pounds a year’s which was given to him by his elderly aunt but Laura’s father demanded his earning to be 1000 pounds to get engaged with his daughter.
  • Once Hughie went to meet artist friend named Alan Trevor. There he found him making a portrait of a beggar. The appearance of the beggar made him pity on him.
  • Hughie decided to give him some money. Though Alan used to pay his models, Hughie thought it was not at all enough. So, when Alan left, he gave the beggar a sovereign.
  • Later, from Alan, he came to know that the model was not a beggar but was one of the richest men in Europe named Baron Housberg.
  • Hughie felt ashamed about giving a sovereign to a millionaire but Alan assumed him not a worry.
  • Later, a representative of Baron Housberg came to Hughie’s house with an envelope that contained a cheque for 10000 pounds as his wedding present. Hughie and Laura got married and Mr. Housberg attended the wedding.

The Model Millionaire Annotations and Vocabulary

Prosaic — average or ordinary
Accomplishment — Achievement
Wretched — Miserable or unhappy
Bequeath — bestow through a will
Sovereign — old British gold coin
Cavalry — An army on horseback
Extravagance — Spending money recklessly
Stroll — A slow and relaxed walk
Sherry — A type of sweet wine
Conquest — Victory
Consolation –Solace
Frock-coat — A long coat worn by men in old times
Forlorn — Dejected
Buoyant — Cheerful
Wizened — Age signs

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers