Bhakti Ved – Page 3

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Questions and Answers & Summary

July 16, 2024July 16, 2024 by Phani

Poem 1 Abhisara-The Tryst Questions and Answers

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Summary, Questions and Answers

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Long Answer Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Short Answer Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Summary

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Introduction

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

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

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Summary

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

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

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

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

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

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Paraphrase

Lines 1 to 4:

Lines 5 to 10:

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

Lines 11 to 16:

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

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

Lines 17 to 21:

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

Lines 22 to 32:

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

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

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Annotations with Comments

Lines 1 to 8

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

Lines 9 to 16

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

Lines 17 to 35:

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

Comment:

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

Rhapsody: A Collection of ISC Poems Workbook Answers

A Considerable Speck Poem Questions and Answers & MCQs

July 16, 2024July 15, 2024 by Prasanna

A Considerable Speck Poem Questions and Answers & MCQs

Read the given extracts and answer the following questions:

Question 1.
And I idly poised my pen in air
To stop it with a period of ink

a. Name the poem and the poet.
b. What is ‘it’ referred to in the above extract? What was
the speaker doing?
c. Explain the lines of the above extract.
d. What thoughts did the speaker have which stopped him from doing the action? (spoken about in the above line.
Answers:
a. The name of the poem is “A Considerable Speck” and the poet’s name is Robert Frost.

b. ‘It’is referred to the mite that came and fell on the manuscript of the poet. The speaker is the writer himself who was writing on a white sheet of paper.

c. The speaker says that while he was writing, he saw a speck on the white sheet of paper on which he was writing. He at that moment wished to stop it by a period of ink of his pen. So he poised his pen in the air.

d. Something strange about the speck made him think over and so he didn’t want to stop it. He thought that it was not a “dust speck” that could be blown by his breathing. It was also a living creature like him. It was unmistakably a mite. The speaker thought it to have a certain predisposition or inclination of its own.

Question 2.
With Ioathing, for again it turned to fly
a. What is ‘it’ referred to in the above line?
b. Why did ‘it’ turned to fly?
c. What ‘inclination’ did the speaker say ‘it’ had?
d. How was the speaker able to see ‘it’ on the sheet?
Answers:
a. “It” is referred to the microscopic creature that is the mite which fell on the poet’s manuscript on which he was writing.

b. When the mite went racing wildly on the paper, it came across the writing where the ink was still wet. It paused and either tasted or smelt the ink. So with hatred, it turned to fly.

c. The poet says that the mite had a propensity or inclination of its own. It lived in its own self-engrossed world. So it paused possibly with the thought that the writer or the poet would do something to it.

d. The poet says that ‘it’-the mite would have been invisible because of its minute size, if it would not have fallen on the white sheet. Inspite of its microscopic size, the speck was visible to the poet just because it was a contrast on its background on the white sheet of paper.

Question 3.
Yet must have had a set of them complete.
a. What is ‘them’ referred to in the lines of the above extract?
b. What does the speaker think of ‘them’ in the line just before the above line?
c. What makes the speaker say the above line?
d. How was ‘it’using the ‘set of them’ in the stanza from which the above line is taken?
Answers:
a. “Them” is referred to the feet of the mite in the above extract.

b. The speaker says that the mite was too tiny to have any feet.

c. First the speaker thought the mite to be too tiny to have feet. But then he says that since the mite did not want to die, it ran with terror and crept cunningly. So the speaker thought that since it was running and creeping, it must have had a complete set of legs.

d. The mite first showed its unwillingness to die. This can be explained from the way it moved and ran. In order to express its reluctancy, it ran in terror and crept in a cunning way. Then it hesitated and next when it reached the middle of the paper it bent down.

Question 4.
Cower down in desperation to accept
Whatever I accorded it of fate.

a. Who “cower down accept” and why?
b. What did the speaker do then?
c. What did the speaker say about the modem men?
d. Through the lines of the above extract what does the poet wants to say about the mite?
Answers:
a. The mite cowered down or bent down desperately to accept its fate which was in the poet’s hands. It waited for the judgement to be given by the poet, possibly accepting what the poet would do to it.

b. The speaker let it lie there on the paper till he hoped it slept. He knew that it was not harmful, so it let it lie on the paper.

c. The speaker said that the modern men were swept away by a sense of purpose and selfishness which the speaker was not. He was against the “collectivistic regimenting of love” with which the modern world was being swept.

The poet was fascinated and wonder-struck with the minute creature as he examined it in details. Through his poem he tried to emphasize the importance of the microscopic creature. Inspite of its small size or inspite of being a speck, it is considerable or considered to be important for the poet as it is shown to have intelligence which is the utmost necessity of all the living creatures especially the human beings.

The mite displays its mind with intelligence on the paper by its different reactions like-pausing with suspicion, racing wildly, turning to fly, reaction to the ink with hatred, running with terror, creeping cunningly and bending down desperately to accept its fate.

Question 5.
No one can know how glad I am to find
On any sheet the least display of mind.

a. Who displays the mind and where?
b. Who is the speaker in the poem?
c. How would you describe the speaker’s attitude towards the speck he sees on his manuscript sheet?
d. What does the poem finally suggest is the significance of the speck?
Answers:
a. The microscopic creature, the mite displayed its mind with intelligence on the sheet of paper on which the poet was writing.

b. The speaker in this poem appears to be a writer as the use of the words pen, paper, ink and writing are mentioned several times in the poem.

c. The speaker seems to appreciate the speck. He respects it and almost treats it as a human in his poem. Even though the speck was there he neither let it get in his way nor did he make it upset. He basically thought to stop it from trespassing on his page by a period o ink but he did not. Then again we find how he left it on the paper until it slept.

d. The speck was a mite which helped the speaker realize several things. The mite itself was not really significant but the way it displayed itself on the sheet of paper was important. It displayed its mind on the paper by showing its intelligence inspite of its microscopic size.

A Considerable Speck Poem MCQs

Question 1.
The poem speaks of human capabilities of …………….
a. mind and intelligence
b. mind and soul
c. spirit and mind
d. none of the above
Answer:
a. mind and intelligence

Question 2.
Find a word from the poem that means the same as abhorrence …………..
a. poised
b. suspicion
c. loathing
d. desperation
Answer:
c. loathing

Question 3.
It ran with terror and ______crept. Fill in the gap
a. loathing
b. cunning
c. regimenting
d. strange
Answer:
b. cunning

Question 4.
Yet must have had a set of them complete. “Them” means ……………..
a. the mite’s wings
b. the mite’s eyes
c. the mite’s feet
d. none of the above
Answer:
c. the mite’s feet

Question 5.
Then in of the open sheet …. Fill in the blank
a. bottom
b. side
c. centre
d. middle
Answer:
d. middle

Question 6.
The speck here in the poem is said to have
a. evilness
b. cunningness
c. intelligence
d. both (b) and (c)
Answer:
d. both (b) and (c)

Question 7.
The word from the poem that means the same as ‘balanced’ is ……….
a. idly
b. loathing
c. poised
d. hesitate
Answer:
c. poised

Question 8.
The poet tried to stop the mite with the help of
a. a drop of water
b. a period of ink
c. a drop of tea
d. none of the above
Answer:
b. a period of ink

Question 9.
It ……………. : I could see it hesitate. Fill in the gap
a. faltered
b. paused
c. turned
d. raced
Answer:
a. faltered

Question 10.
The second stanza of the poem deals with the description of ………..
a. the mite using imagery
b. the speaker’s attitude towards the speck
c. the poet’s justification for not killing it
d. both a and b
Answer:
b. the speaker’s attitude towards the speck

Question 11.
The tone of the poem is critical
a. critical
b. satirical
c. creeping
d. both a and b
Answer:
d. both a and b

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers

Seeing People Off Questions and Answers & Summary by Max Beerbohm

July 16, 2024July 15, 2024 by Prasanna

OU Degree 1st Sem English – Seeing People Off Questions and Answers & Summary

Comprehension-I.

Answer the following questions in 80-100 words.

Question 1.
‘Our failure is in exact ratio to the seriousness of the occasion, and to the depth of our feeling.’ What failure is Beerbohm talking about? Explain the meaning of this statement.
Answer:
Henry Beerbohm feels that he is not good at seeing people off. For him, to send a friend off is one of the most difficult things in the world. Beerbohm opines that when a friend is going on a longish journey, and will be absent for a longish time, we turn up at the railway station. The dearer the friend, and the longer the journey, and the longer the likely absence, the earlier do we turn up, and the more lamentably do we fail.

He laments that the process of ‘seeing off’ or ‘sending off’ cannot match our deep feelings towards the person who is travelling. The limitation of seeing off also fails in matching the seriousness of departing of a friend to a longer distance. It has become a formality or farce. Therefore, Beerbohm considers the limitations of the seeing off are a failure.

Question 2.
What about le Ros surprises Beerbohm at the train station?
Answer:
When Beerbohm turns up at Euston railway station to see off a friend, he happens to see Hubert le Ros, a renowned stage actor in London. According to Beerbohm, Le Ros was an excellent actor, and a man of sober habit. One thing about Le Ros that surprises the author is that he has changed a lot since the author saw him seven or eight years before.

Le Ros used to work for the Strand, a London theatre, but with of less success. The author recalls that when Le Rose was not employed, he borrowed from the author a half- a- crown (a British coin worth 25 pence). The author feels that Le Ros was then a magnetic and attractive actor. However, his magnetism had never made him successful on the London stage. His failure remains a mystery to the author. As the result, Le Ros has gone into oblivion, and the author also forgot him for a while.

Question 3.
Elaborate on the purpose and working of the AASB in your own words.
Answer:
In the essay, “Seeing People Off” Beerbohm explains the futility of the process of seeing off people when they leave on a journey. After a gap of seven or eight years, the author happens to meet Hubert le Ros, a London stage actor at the platform. From the conversation with Le Ros, Beerbohm comes to know about AASB. According to Le Ros, AASB stands for the Anglo-American Social Bureau’.

He explains that the thousands of Americans annually pass through England. Many hundreds of them have no English friends. In the old days, they used to bring letters of introduction. But the English are so inhospitable that these letters are hardly worth the paper they are written on.

They send that into the Bureau, giving the date of their departure, and a description by which the seer-off can identify them on the platform. And then, they are affectionately seen off. Therefore, the AASB supplies a long-felt want of ‘friends’ or ‘seers-off’. Moreover, Americans are a sociable people, and most of them have plenty of money to spend.

The AASB supplies them with English friends. Fifty percent of the fees is paid over to the ‘friends’ or ‘seers- off’. The other fifty is retained by the AASB. Le Ros is an employee in the Bureau and acts as a seer-off to the visiting Americans. He wishes to be the Director of the Bureau, since it is earning a lot of money in the business.

Question 4.
Beerbohm says that despite being a good actor, le Ros never found success on the London stage. Comment on this statement in the light of this essay.
Answer:
Beerbohm says that despite being a good actor, le Ros never found success on the London stage. When Beerbohm turns up at Euston railway station to see off a friend, he happens to see Hubert le Ros, a not-so-successful stage actor in London. According to Beerbohm, Le Ros was an excellent actor, and a man of sober habit.

One thing about Le Ros that surprises the author is that he has changed a lot since the author saw him seven or eight years before. Le Ros used to work for the Strand, a London theatre, but with of less success. The author recalls that when Le Rose was not employed, he borrowed from the author a half-a-crown (a British coin worth 25 pence).

The author feels that Le Ros was then a magnetic and attractive actor. However, his magnetism had never made him successful on the London stage. His failure remains a mystery to the author. As the result, Le Ros has gone into oblivion, and the author also forgot him for a while.

However, in the due course of their interaction, the author comes to know that Le Ros is a successful employee as a ‘seer-off working with the ‘Anglo-American Social Bureau’ (AASB) which supplies a long-felt want of ‘friends’ or ‘seers-off to the visiting Americans who do not have friends in England. Though he was not successful as a ‘stage actor’, he is now successfully acting as a ‘seer-off,

Question 5.
Why does the author say that he envied le Ros? How is this connected to his request to le Ros?
Answer:
When the Author asks about his present work, Hubert le Rose shares his happiness in working or acting as ‘seer-off’ for the ‘Anglo-American Social Bureau’ (AASB). The AASB supplies a long-felt want of ‘friends’ or ‘seers-off to the visiting Americans who do not have friends in England. Le Ros also claims that it (acting as a seer-off to a visiting American) is a great pleasure in itself.

Then Beerbohm laments that it was unbearable experience of coming to the platform to see off a friend in an artificial manner. In the contrast, Le Ros is acting in doing so and getting satisfaction out of his work for the AASB.

He quotes French philosopher Denis Diderot who says: You can’t act without feeling’. Therefore, the Author feels envied Le Ros. Then the author requests Le Ros to teach him the art of seeing off or acting with feelings. Such request is the direct result of his envying Le Ros’ success as a seer-off and his own failure in the art of sending off people.

Comprehension – II.

Answer the following questions in 350-400 words.

Question 1.
Who was Hubert le Ros? Describe him and his personality in your own words. What difference did the author notice between le Ros’ previous and present circumstances?
Answer:
Sir Henry Beerbohm (1872-1956) was an English writer and caricaturist popular for his witty essays and amusing caricatures. He also worked as drama critic, and a radio broadcaster. People were attracted to Beerbohm for his charming conversation and amusing anecdotes.

He parodies of famous people-both written and drawn – brilliantly captured the absurdities and affectations of his subjects with a gentle humour free of malice. Sir Henry Beerbohm’s essay ‘Seeing People Off’ is about the art of seeing off and difficulties associated with sending people off. In the essay, Beerbohm explains the futility of the process of seeing off people when they leave on a journey.

When Beerbohn turns up at Euston railway station to see Hubert le Ros, a not-so-successful stage actor in London. Beerbohm says that despite being a good actor, le Ros never found success on the London stage. The author now notices much difference between le Ros’ previous and present circumstances. According to Beerbohm, Le Ros was an excellent actor, and a man of sober habit. One thing about Le Ros that surprises the author is that he has changed a lot since the author saw him
seven or eight years before.

Le Ros used to work for the Strand, a London theatre, but with of less success. The author recalls that when Le Rose was not employed, he borrowed from the author a half-a-crown (a British coin worth 25 pence). The author feels that Le Ros was then a magnetic and attractive actor. However, his magnetism had never made him successful on the London stage.

His failure remains a mystery to the author. As the result, Le Ros has gone into oblivion, and the author also forgot him for a while. However, in the due course of their interaction, the author comes to know that Le Ros is a successful employee as a ‘seer-off’ working with the ‘Anglo-American Social Bureau’ (AASB) which supplies a long-felt want of ‘friends’ or ‘seers-off’ to the visiting Americans who do not have friends in England.

In the course of his argument, le Ros explains that thousands of Americans annually pass through England. Many hundreds of them have no English friends. In the old days, they used to bring letters of introduction. But the English are so inhospitable that these letters are hardly worth the paper they are written on. According to Le Ros, many Americans cannot afford to keep friends in England.

But they can all afford to be seen off. The fee is only five pounds (twenty-five dollars) for a single traveller; and eight pounds (forty dollars) for a party of two or more. They send that into the Bureau, giving the date of their departure, and a description by which the seer-off can identify them on the platform. And then, they are affectionately seen off.

Therefore, the AASB supplies a long-felt want of ‘friends’ or ‘seers-off’. Moreover, Americans are a
sociable people, and most of them have plenty of money to spend. The AASB supplies them with English friends. Fifty per cent of the fees is paid over to the ‘friends’ or ‘seers- off’.

The other fifty is retained by the AASB. Le Ros is an employee in the Bureau and acts as a seer-off to the visiting Americans. He wishes to be the Director of the Bureau since it is earning a lot of money in the business. Though he was not successful as a ‘stage actor’ earlier, he is now successfully acting as a ‘seer-off’. Le Rose returns the half-a-crown that he has borrowed the author. Moreover, he is now looking prosperous and solid due to his making money for acting as a ‘seer-off’.

Question 2.
How did the author’s farewell at the train station differ from le Ros’ send-off? What was iconic about this difference?
Answer:
Sir Henry Beerbohm’s essay ‘Seeing People Off is about the art of seeing off and difficulties associated with sending people off. In the essay, Beerbohm explains the futility of the process of seeing off people when they leave on a journey.

When Beerbohm turns up at Euston railway station to see off a friend, he happens to see Hubert le Ros, a not-so-successful stage actor in London. Upon their interaction, the author comes to know that Le Ros is also at the station to see off a young American lady. Beerbohm and Le Ros both are at the station to send their respective ‘friends’. However, the author’s farewell at the train station differs from le Ros’ send-off in a strikingly manner.

Beerbohm says that despite being a good actor, le Ros never found success on the London stage. The author now notices much difference between le Ros’ previous and present circumstances. According to Beerbohm, Le Ros was an excellent actor, and a man of sober habit. One thing about Le Ros that surprises the author is that he has changed a lot since the author saw him seven or eight years before.

Le Ros used to work for the Strand, a London theatre, but with of less success. The author recalls that when Le Rose was not employed, he borrowed from the author a half-a-crown (a British coin worth 25 pence). The author feels that Le Ros was then a magnetic and attractive actor. However, his magnetism had never made him successful on the London stage.

However, in the due course of their interaction, the author comes to know that Le Ros is now a successful employee as a ‘seer-off’ working with the ‘Anglo-American Social Bureau’ (AASB) which supplies a long-felt want of ‘friends’ or ‘seers-off’ to the visiting Americans who do not have friends in England. Therefore, the AASB supplies a long-fplt want of ‘friends’ or ‘seers-off’.

Moreover, Americans are a sociable people, and most of them have plenty of money to spend. Le Ros is an employee in the Bureau and acts as a seer-off to the visiting Americans. He wishes to be the Director of the Bureau, since it is earning a lot of money in the business. Though he was not successful as a ‘stage actor’ earlier, he is now successfully acting as a ‘seer-off’. Le Rose returns the half-a-crown that he has borrowed the author. Moreover, he is now looking prosperous and solid due to his making money for acting as a ‘seer-off’.

Le Ros also claims that it (acting as a seer-off to a visiting American) is a great pleasure in itself. Le Ros is acting as a seer-off with a lot feeling. Moreover, he gets satisfied out of his work for the AASB. He quotes French philosopher Denis Diderot who says: You can’t act without feeling’. Le Ros also claims that his work is worth, since it prevents the people from feeling “out of it”’; it earns them the respect of the guard; it saves them from being despised by their fellow passengers. It gives them a footing for the whole voyage.

In the contrast, Beerbohm laments that it was unbearable experience of coming to the platform to see off a friend in an artificial manner. Therefore, the Author feels envied Le Ros. Then the author requests Le Ros to teach him the art of seeing off or acting with feelings.

Such request is the direct result of his envying Le Ros’ success as a seer-off and his own failure in the art of sending off people. There lies the irony between their sending off: Beerbohm’s seeing off is about seeing off people as acting without feelings and emotions, and Le Ros’ seeing off is about seeing off people as acting with full of emotions and feelings.

Question 3.
What does Beerbohm’s attitude towards seeing people off at a port or train station? Why does he feel this way, and what does he prefer instead?
Answer:
Sir Henry Beerbohm (1872-1956) was an English writer and caricaturist popular for hi witty essays and amusing caricatures. He also worked as drama critic, and a radio broadcaster. People were attracted to Beerbohm for his charming conversation and amusing anecdotes.

He parodies of famous people-both written and drawn – brilliantly captured the absurdities and affectations of his subjects with a gentle humour free of malice. Beerbohm’s essay ‘Seeing People Off is about the art of seeing off and difficulties associated with sending people off. In the essay, Beerbohm explains the futility of the process of seeing off people when they leave on a journey.

Henry Beerbohm feels that he is not good at seeing off people at a port or train station. For him, to send a friend off is one of the most difficult things in the world. Beerbohm opines that when a friend is going on a longish journey, and will be absent for a longish time, that we turn up at the railway station. The dearer the friend, and the longer the journey, and the longer the likely absence, the earlier do we turn up, and the more lamentably do we fail.

He laments that the process of ‘seeing off’ or ‘sending off cannot match our deep feelings towards the person who is travelling. The limitation of seeing off also fails in matching the seriousness of departing of a friend to a longer distance. It has become a formality or farce. Therefore, Beerbohm considers the limitations of the seeing off are a failure. Beerbohm’s seeing off is about seeing off people as acting without feelings and emotions.

In the contrast, even after their yesterday’s part, when the same friends turn up at the railway station next day, they gaze at each other as dumb animals gazing at human beings. They try to ‘make conversations’ and are fed up with .waiting eagerly for the train guard to blow his whistle and put an end to the farce- their impatient wait. Therefore, Beerbohm considers the act of ‘seeing people off’ is tedious one and not worth in doing it.

Seeing People Off Poem Summary in English

Sir Henry Beerbohm (1872-1956) was an English writer and caricaturist popular for hi witty essays and amusing caricatures. He also worked as drama critic, and a radio broadcaster. People were attracted to Beerbohm for his charming conversation and amusing anecdotes.

Henry Beerbohm feels that he is not good at seeing, off people at a port or train station. For him, to send a friend off is one of the most difficult things in the world. Beerbohm opines that when a friend is going on a longish journey, and will be absent for a longish time, that we turn up at the railway station. The dearer the friend, and the longer the journey, and the longer the likely absence, the earlier do we turn up, and the more lamentably do we fail.

Instead, Beerbohm prefers to make the farewell quite worthy in a room, or, even on a door-step. For him, leave-taking is an ideal one when it ends in a private place where the friends can express their genuine feeling sorrow, without any awkwardness, no restraint on their side. In the contrast, even after their yesterday’s part, when the same friends turn up at the railway station next day, they gaze at each other as dumb animals gazing at human beings.

They try to-‘make conversations’ and are fed up with waiting eagerly for the train guard to blow his whistle and put an end to the farce- their impatient wait. Therefore, Beerbohm considers the act of ‘seeing people off’ is tedious one and not worth in doing it.

When Beerbohm turns up at Euston railway station to see off a friend, he happens to see Hubert le Ros, a not-so-successful stage actor in London. Beerbohm says that despite being a good actor, le Ros never found success on the London stage. The author now notices much difference between le Ros’ previous and present circumstances.

According to Beerbohm, Le Ros was an excellent actor, and a man of sober habit. One thing about Le Ros that surprises the author is that he has changed a lot since the author saw him seven or eight years before. Le Ros used to work for the Strand, a London theatre, but with less success. The author recalls that when Le Rose was not employed, he borrowed from the author a half-a-crown (a British coin worth 25 pence).

However, in the due course of their interaction, the author comes to know that Le Ros is now a successful employee as a ‘seer-off working with the ‘Anglo-American Social Bureau’ (AASB) which supplies a long-felt want of ‘friends’ or ‘seers-off’ to the visiting Americans who do not have friends in England. In the course of his argument, le Ros explains that the thousands of Americans annually pass through England. Many hundreds of them have no English friends. In the old days, they used to bring letters of introduction. But the English are so inhospitable that these letters are hardly worth the paper they are written on.

According to Le Ros, many Americans cannot afford to keep friends in England. But they can all afford to be seen off. The fee is only five pounds (twenty-five dollars) for a single traveller; and eight pounds (forty dollars) for a party of two or more. They send that into the Bureau, giving the date of their departure, and a description by which the seer-off can identify them on the platform. And then, they are affectionately seen off.

Therefore, the AASB supplies a long-felt want of ‘friends’ or ‘seers-off’. Moreover, Americans are a sociable people, and most of them have plenty of money to spend. The AASB supplies them with English friends. Fifty per cent of the fees is paid over to the ‘friends’ or ‘seers- off’. The other fifty is retained by the AASB.

Le Ros is an employee in the Bureau and acts as a seer-off to the visiting Americans. He wishes to be the Director of the Bureau, since it is earning a lot of money in the business. Though he was not successful as a ‘stage actor’ earlier, he is now successfully acting as a ‘seer-off’. Le Rose returns the half-a-crown that he has borrowed the author. Moreover, he is now looking prosperous and solid due to his making money for acting as a ‘seer-off’.

Le Ros also claims that his work is worth, since it prevents the people from feeling “out of it”; it earns them the respect of the guard; it saves them from being despised by their fellow passengers. It gives them a footing for the whole voyage. In the contrast, Beerbohm laments that it was unbearable experience of coming to the platform to see off a friend in an artificial manner.

Therefore, the Author feels envied Le Ros. Then the author requests Le Ros to teach him the art of seeing off or acting with feelings. Such request is the direct result of his envying Le Ros’ success as a seer-off and his own failure in the art of sending off people.

Seeing People Off Poem Summary in Telugu

సర్ హెస్రీ బీర్టోమ్ (1872-1956) హాడ్ చమత్కారమైన వ్యాసాలు మరియు వినోదభరితమైన వ్యంగ్య చిత్రాలకు ప్రసిద్ధి చెందిన ఒక ఆంగ్ల రచయిత మరియు వ్యంగ్య చిత్రకారుడు. అతను నాటక విమర్శకుడిగా మరియు రేడియో బ్రాడ్కాస్టర్గా కూడా పనిచేశాడు. అతని మనోహరమైన సంభాషణ మరియు వినోదభరితమైన కథల కోసం ప్రజలు బీర్టోమ్ వైపు ఆకర్షితులయ్యారు.

అతను ప్రసిద్ధ వ్యక్తులను పేరడీ చేసాడు-ప్రాసిన మరియు గీసిన రెండూ – దుర్మార్గం లేని సున్నితమైన హాస్యంతో అతని విషయాల యొక్క అసంబద్ధాలు మరియు (ప్రభావాలను అద్భుతంగా సంగ్రహించారు. బీర్దోమ్ యొక్క వ్యాసం ‘సీయింగ్ పీపుల్ ఆఫ్’ అనేది చూసే కళ మరియు ప్రజలను పంపడంలో ఉన్న ఇబ్బందుల గురించి. వ్యాసంలో, బీరీదోమ్ ప్రజలు ప్రయాణంలో బయలుదేరినప్పుడు వారిని చూసే ప్రక్రియ యొక్క వ్యర్థతను వివరిస్తుంది.

ఓడరేవు లేదా రైలు స్టేషన్ వద్ద ప్రజలను చూడటం తనకు మంచిది కాదని హెన్రీ బీర్బోమ్ భావించాడు. అతనికి, స్నేహితుడిని పంపడం ప్రపంచంలోని అత్యంత కష్టమైన విషయాలలో ఒకటి. ఒక స్నేహితుడు సుదీర్ఘ ప్రయాణానికి వెళుతున్నప్పుడు మరియు చాలా కాలం పాటు గైరాజరు అయినప్పుడు, మేము రైల్వే స్టేషన్కు వస్తామని బీర్దోమ్ అభిప్రాయపడ్డారు.

ప్రియమైన స్నేహితుడు, మరియు ప్రయాణం ఎక్కువ, మరియు ఎక్కువ కాలం లేకపోవడం, మనం అంత త్వరగా వస్తాము మరియు మరింత విచారకరంగా విఫలమవుతాము. ప్రయాణిస్తున్న వ్యక్తి పట్ల మనకున్న లోతైన భావాలకు ‘సీయింగ్ ఆఫ్’ లేదా ‘సెండింగ్ ఆఫ్’ (ప్రక్రియ సరిపోలడం లేదని అతను విలపించాడు. స్నేహితుడి నుండి ఎక్కువ దూరం వెళ్లడం యొక్క గంభీరతను సరిపోల్చడంలో కూడా ఆఫ్ సీయింగ్ పరిమితి విఫలమవుతుంది. ఇది లాంఛనంగా లేదా (ప్రహసనంగా మారింది. అందువల్ల, బీర్దోమ్ చూడటం యొక్క పరిమితులను వైఫల్యంగా పరిగణించింది.

బదులుగా, బీర్దోమ్ వీడ్కోలును ఒక గదిలో లేదా డోర్-స్టెప్లో కూడా చాలా విలువైనదిగా చేయడానికి ఇష్టపడతాడు. అతని కోసం, సెలవు తీసుకోవడం అనేది ఒక (పైవేట్ ప్రదేశంలో ముగుస్తుంది, అక్కడ స్నేహితులు తమ నిజమైన అనుభూతిని వ్యక్తం చేయగలరు, ఎటువంటి ఇబ్బంది లేకుండా, వారి వైపు ఎటువంటి సంయమనం లేకుండా.

దీనికి విరుద్ధంగా, వారి నిన్నటి భాగం తర్వాత కూడా, అదే స్నేహితులు మరుసది రోజు రైల్వే స్టేషన్కి వచ్చినప్పుడు, వారు ఒకరినొకరు మూగ జంతువులు మనుషులను చూస్తున్నారు. వారు ‘సంభాషణలు’ చేయడానికి ప్రయత్నిస్తారు మరియు రైలు గార్డు తన విజిల్ను ఉదడానికి మరియు ప్రహసనానికి ముగింపు పలికే వరకు ఆత్రుతగా వేచి ఉండటంతో విసుగు చెందారు- వారి అసహనంతో కూడిన నిరీక్షణ. అందువల్ల, బీర్దోమ్ ‘ప్రజలను దూరంగా చూడటం’ అనేది చాలా దుర్భరమైన చర్య మరియు దానిని చేయడం విలువైనది కాదు.

బీర్దోమ్ స్నేహితుడిని చూడటానికి యూస్టన్ రైల్వే స్టేషన్కి వచ్చినప్పుడు, అతను లండన్లో అంతగా విజయం సాధించని రంగస్థల నటుడు హుబెర్ట్ లే రోస్ చూస్తాడు. మంచి నటుడిగా ఉన్నప్పటికీ, లండన్ వేదికపై లే రోస్ ఎప్పుడూ విజయం సాధించలేదని బీర్దోమ్ చెప్పారు. రచయిత ఇప్పుడు లే రోస్ యొక్క మునుపటి మరియు ప్రస్తుత పరిస్థితుల మధ్య చాలా వ్యత్యాసాన్ని గమనించారు. బీర్దోమ్ ప్రకారం, లే రోస్ అద్భుతమైన నటుడు మరియు తెలివిగల వ్యక్తి.

లే రోస్ గురించి రచయిత ఆశ్చర్యం కలిగించే విషయం ఏమిటంటే, రచయిత తనను ఏడెనిమిదేళ్ల క్రితం చూసినప్పటి నుండి అతను చాలా మారిపోయాడు. లే రోస్ లండన్ థియేటర్ అయిన స్ట్రాండ్ కోసం పనిచేశాడు, కానీ తక్కువ విజయం సాధించాడు. లే రోజ్ ఉద్యోగంలో లేనప్పుడు, అతను రచయిత నుండి సగం-కిరీటం (25 పెన్స్ విలువైన (బ్రిటిష్ నాణెం) తీసుకున్నాడని రచయిత.

గుర్తుచేసుకున్నాడు. లే రోస్ అప్పుడు అయస్కాంత మరియు ఆకర్షణీయమైన నటుడని రచయిత భావిస్తాడు. అయినప్పదికీ, అతని అయస్కాంతత్వం అతన్ని లండన్ వేదికపై ఎప్పుడూ విజయవంతం చేయలేదు. అతని వైఫల్యం రచయితకు మిస్టరీగా మిగిలిపోయింది. ఫలితంగా, లే రోస్ ఉపేక్షకు గురయ్యాడు మరియు రచయిత కూడా అతనిని కొంతకాలం మరచిపోయాడు.

అయినప్పటికీ, వారి పరస్పర చర్య యొక్కనిర్ణీత సమయంలో, దీర్ఘకాలంగా భావించిన కోరికను అందించే ‘ఆంగ్లో-అమెరికన్ సోషల్ బ్యూరో, తో కలిసి పని చేస్తున్న ‘సీర్-ఆఫ్గా లీ రోస్ ఇప్పుడు విజయవంతమైన ఉద్యోగి అని రచయిత తెలుసుకున్నారు. ఇంగ్లాండ్లో స్నేహితులు లేని సందర్శించే అమెరికన్లకు ‘స్నేహితులు’ లేదా ‘సీర్స్-ఆఫ్.

తన వాదనలో, వేల మంది అమెరికన్లు ఏటా ఇంగ్లండ్ గుండా వెళుతున్నారని లె రోస్ వివరించాడు. వారిలో అనేక వందల మంధికి ఆంగ్లేయ స్నేహితులు లేరు. పూర్వకాలంలో పరిచయ లేఖలు తెచ్చేవారు. కానీ ఇంగ్లీషువారు చాలా నిరాదరణకు గురవుతున్నారు, ఈ అక్షరాలు వారు హ్రాసిన కాగితం విలువైనవి కావు. లే రోస్ ప్రకారం, చాలా మంది అమెరికన్లు ఇంగ్లాండ్లో స్నేహితులను ఉంచుకోలేరు. కానీ వీళ్లంతా చూసీచూడనట్టు చూసుకుంటారు.

ఒక్క ప్రయాణికుడికి రుసుము ఐదు పౌండ్లు (ఇరవై-ఐదు డాలర్లు) మాత్రమ్షేమ మరియు రెండు లేదా అంతకంటే ఎక్కువ పార్టీలకు ఎనిమిది పొండ్లు (నలభై డాలర్లు). వారు దానిని బ్యూరోకి పంపుతారు, వారు బయలుదేరే తేదీని మరియు ప్లాట్ఫారమ్పై చూసే వ్యక్తి వారిని గుర్తించగల వివరణను ఇస్తారు. ఆపై వారిని ఆప్యాయంగా చూసుకుంటారు. అందువల్ల, %జుజుణఔ% ‘స్నేహితులు’ లేదా (సీర్స్-ఆఫ్’ యొక్క దీర్ఘకాల కోరికను అందిస్తుంది. అంతేకాకుండా, అమెరికన్లు స్నేహశీలియైన వ్యక్తులు, మరియు వారిలో చాలా మందికి ఖర్చు చేయడానికి డబ్బు పుష్కలంగా ఉంటుంది. %జుజుణఔ% వాటిని ఆంగ్ల మిత్రులతో సరఫరా చేస్తుంది.

ఫ్టుజులో యాభై శాతం ‘ఫెండ్స్’ లేదా ‘సీర్స్-ఆఫ్’కి చెల్లించబడుతుంది. మిగిలిన యాభైని %జుజుఐఔ% నిలుపుకుంది. లే రోస్ బ్యూరోలో ఒక ఉద్యోగి మరియు సందర్శించే అమెరికన్లకు దర్శనిగా వ్యవహరిస్తాడు. వ్యాపారంలో చాలా డబ్బు సంపాదిస్తున్నందున, అతను బ్యూరో డైరెక్టర్గా ఉండాలని కోరుకుంటున్నాడు. ఇంతకుముందు ‘రంగస్థల నటుడు’గా రాణించలేకపోయినా, ఇప్పుడు ‘సీయర్ ఆఫ్’గా సక్సెస్ఫుల్గా నటిస్తున్నాడు. లే రోజ్ రచయితను అరువుగా తీసుకున్న సగం కిరీటాన్ని తిరిగి ఇచ్చాడు. అంతేకాదు, ‘సీర్-ఆఫ్’గా నటించి డబ్బు సంపాదించడం వల్ల ఇప్పుడు ఆయన సంపన్నంగా, దృఢంగా కనిపిస్తున్నారు.

లే రోస్ కూడా ఇది (సందర్శిస్తున్న అమెరికన్కి సీర్-ఆఫ్గా నటించడం) చాలా ఆనందంగా ఉందని పేర్కొంది. లే రోస్ చాలా ఫీలింగ్తో చూసే వ్యక్తిగా నటిస్తున్నాడు. అంతేకాకుండా, అతను %జుజుఐఔ% కోసం తన పని నుండి సంతృప్తి చెందుతాడు. అతను ఫఫెంచ్ తత్వవేత్త డెనిస్ డిడెరోట్ను ఉటంకిస్తూ ఇలా అన్నాడు: మీరు అనుభూతి లేకుండా నదించలేరు.

లే రోస్ తన పని విలువైనదని కూడా పేర్కొన్నాడు, ఎందుకంటే ఇది ప్రజలను “అది బయటకు” అనుభూతి చెందకుండా చేస్తుంద్ష్మి అది వారికి గార్డు యొక్క గౌరవాన్ని పొందుతుంద్షి ఇది వారి తోటి ప్రయాణీకులచే తృణీకరించబడకుండా వారిని కాపాడుతుంది. ఇది మొత్తం సముద్రయానం కోసం వారికి పునాదిని ఇస్తుంది. దీనికి విరుద్ధంగా, కృత్రిమ పద్ధతిలో స్నేహితుడిని చూడటానికి ప్లాట్ఫారమ్ పైకి రావడం భరించలేని అనుభవం అని బీర్దోమ్ విలపించాడు.

అందువల్ల, రచయిత లే రోస్కు అసూయపడుతున్నట్లు అనిపిస్తుంది. అప్పుడు రచయిత లే రోస్ని తన భావాలతో చూసే లేదా నదించే కళను నేర్పించమని అభర్థించాడు. అటువంటి అభ్యర్థన, అతను అసూయపడే లే రోస్ యొక్క ప్రత్యక్ష ఫలితం, ఒక సీర్-ఆఫ్ మరియు ప్రజలను పంపే కళలో అతని స్వంత వైఫల్యం.

Glossary:

feat: an achievement that requires great courage, skill or strength
lamentably: done very badly or in a way that deserves criticism
restraint: self-control intimacy: close familiarity or friendship
implore: to beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something
entreaty: an earnest or humble request
reciprocate: to respond to something by doing something similar; to feel for someone the same way they feel for you
gulf: a large division or a huge difference between two things, people, etc.
yawn: (of an opening or space) be very large and wide.
farce: an event or situation that is absurd
Euston: a busy train station in central London
elapse: to pass or go by
gaily: in a cheerful or light-hearted way
prophecy: a prediction of what will happen in the future
conviction: certainty; assurance
conscientiously: doing one’s duty well or thoroughly
bustle: activity and movement
unabated: without any reduction in intensity or strength alight: to come to a rest; to settle upon
portly: having a stout body; of a stately or dignified appearance injunction: an authoritative warning or order
engagement: an arrangement to do something (here, out of an engagement means that he was not employed)
crown: a British coin worth 25 pence sober: serious and sensible seedily: in a disreputable way imitation: fake
ill-shorn: not well shaved (and therefore looking unkempt)
lantern jaw: a long, protruding or wide square jaw, often with a large chin
sombre: serious
unhinged: mentally unbalanced
explicit: stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt presently: after a short time; soon assent: to express approval or agreement bewildered: confused
inhospitable: unfriendly or unwelcoming to people want: lack of something essential out of it: feeling that one has not been included in something
despise: to feel contempt or disgust for
footing: the basis on which something is established
be a martyr to something: (idiomatic expression) to suffer a lot because of an illness, problem or bad situation
resentment: bitterness at having been treated unfairly
Diderot: Denis Diderot (1713-84), a French philosopher and art critic, who argued that great actors display the illusion of emotions without actually feeling them ornate: highly decorated or elaborate
grudge: to feel resentful or to hold ill will towards someone or something

OU Degree 1st Sem English Study Material

I Remember, I Remember Poem Summary, Theme, Critical Analysis by Thomas Hood

July 16, 2024July 15, 2024 by Prasanna

I Remember, I Remember Poem Summary, Theme, Critical Analysis by Thomas Hood

I Remember, I Remember Summary

In the poem I Remember, I Remember, Thomas Hood goes back down to the memory lane to bring back the treasured memories from his childhood. The poet reminisces about his joys of childhood often comparing them with his present state of adulthood. As he delves more and more into his childhood days, he remembers every ounce of joy that he had received beginning from his childhood’s morning when he could feel the sun’s warmth coming from the little window of his room.

The passing day from morning till night gave pleasure to the child. But at present the poet wishes for the night to take away his breath which indicates his desire to death due to his present painful life. The contrast between his past and his present is clear through the portrayal of the sun that is daytime which is brighter and that which symbolises the past and the mentioned of the night that is darkness which means his present situation which is full of pain and distress.

In the second stanza, the poet moves from his house to the garden where the child looks and Remembers the different flowers like roses, violets, lilies and lilacs that made the garden bright. He believed these flowers to be heavenly blessed flowers. He also talks about the laburnum which reminds him of his brother as he had planted it on his birthday. His brother is no more whereas the tree is living. “The tree is living yet” conveys the message that his brother is no more but the tree he had once planted has life in it.

Next we see him that he focuses on his playing on swing and the way he moved through the air, that is in a light and carefree manner shows how he spent his childhood days happily. He was like feathers which flied quickly. This stanza contrasts youthful feeling of vitality and heaviness of the present. He says that a wonderful summer also can not heal him.

Then the poet contrasts the child’s close relationship with heaven with the rational knowledge of the adult, who lost faith in spirituality. He thinks of the dark huge fir trees that he imagined to be close to the heaven. All those were ignorance but now though he thinks rationally but there is lack of joy in his mind. So the poem, apart from being filled with an idealization of childhood, it is also wrapped with the concrete realisation of adulthood.

I Remember, I Remember About the Author Thomas Hood

Thomas Hood was an editor, publisher, poet and humorist. He was born in London (23rd May 1799). He was the son of a London bookseller. His satirical style of writing almost seemed out of place for the time in which he lived. Hood had private education in Islington but left this at the age of 14 to enter into employment at a counting house. He was not at all healthy and moreover, his profession made it worse.

So he left and became an engraver, in the city of London. Again his health failed him and he was sent to relations in Scotland. It is here, that his interest in outdoors and poetry began. In 1821 he became the sub-editor of the London Magazine and quickly became part of a wide and varied social scene. Hood’s work is streaked with humour.

In his day, some of his poems were translated for sale in Europe. Many of his works are considered classics and he remains today as a highly regarded poet of the Victorianera. Though he was known for his light verse and puns, Hood also depicted the working conditions of the poor.

Some of his published works are Odes and Addresses to Great People, Whims and Oddities, Up the Rhine, The Comic Annual etc. His best known poems are The Bridge of Sighs and The Song of Shirt. Thomas Hood died at the young age of 45 on the 3rd of May, 1845.

I Remember, I Remember Theme

Throughout the poem, Thomas Hood speaks of his childhood memories and also talks about the fleeting nature of time. He talks of his childhood memories, his childhood innocence childish ignorance in the poem. He also speaks that with time as it is the nature of it how everything changes. So memories of childhood and the fleeting nature of time become the major theme of this poem.

I Remember, I Remember Critical Analysis

The first stanza of the poem begins with the line I Remember, I Remember that continues to ring throughout the poem. This line centralised the poem on the word “I”. By elevating the self, Hood exposes to the readers a childhood memory.

The use of the present tense “remember” also helps to create a divide, within the poem. Hood is stuck in the present, he “remembers” the past days of his childhood from which his mind is unable to come out. The more he delves in his past days, the more he compares them with his present days.

They have left an indelible impression in his mind. The sun is personified as a force for good. He is shown to be friendly peeping in through the window of his room. But things have changed and at present he wishes he never wakes up. There is an equilibrium maintained in the first stanza between day and night, with hours of the day being bright and better when Hood was a child and with the darkness of night when he is in adulthood. The complete idealization of childhood is evident right down from the balance of day and night.

Though it is exaggerated, but it shows how much Thomas Hood mourns for his lost childhood. This stanza comes to an end with an exclamation from the poet. He wishes he had died. We can also find a link between the word ‘night’ and the poet’s death. We can also find a link between the word ‘night’ and the poet’s death. The next stanza focusses on two images those are the colours and the flowers of the period. The words like ‘red’, ‘white’ describe the array of different flowers.

Though the flowers symbolises natural beauty in his childhood memory, they are presented as delicate and fragile which are likely to perish and fade. Thomas Hood imagines all these flowers but they are not real. He says of roses, violets, lilies, lilacs which used to brighten up the garden. “The tree is living yet!” exclamation compounds Hood’s sense of excitement. | He sees a living remnants of the past he has lost. The tree had been planted by his brother who is no more but the tree it self is still alive. Hood finds something palpable which triggers yet more memories by his idyllic period or his childhood days.

The perceived lightness of the character is presented by Thomas Hood in the next stanza where he gives examples of his flying. Hood, relates his childhood to a bird, flying freely as he used to swing on his favourite tree. The words ‘rush’ and ‘fresh’ present the freedom of his childhood days- which he used to spend in a jovial manner. There was a time when Hood used to fly through the air with no obligations.

But then again we find a subtle shift back to the depressive present adulthood days. He used the past tense ‘flew’. Although he still cherishes and relishes his memories of his idyllic period at the same time he is also aware of his present period of his life which has now come to an end. The sense of freedom which he once rejoiced has new ended.

Hood evokes a contrast between the lightness of childhood and heaviness of the present. ‘So heavy now’ means that since he has lost the sense of childhood and ignorance which was full of joy and freedom, ‘he is stuck’ now and his mind is not free but it is heavy. The tragedy in this poem. Therefore is subtle but continual. We find the poet mourning for the things that he no longer is.

After the depressive nature of the last three lines of stanza 3, the first line in stanza 4 takes on a haunting melancholy. We find Hood to be in a depressed Hood. He wishes he was closer to the heaven. If he cannot return to his childhood days or period, he feels like he would rather die. The bitter melancholy that can be felt under the surface of the poem finally breaks here.

This is how the poet feels, and there is nothing he can do about it. In this stanza we find Hood who used to think about the tall fir trees, who tops of nearly touched the sky. Now that he is older he knows that the fir trees are not touching the sky. It was the ignorance of his childish nature which made Hood think in that way.

Though he now is aware of the reality, yet he is not happy. He is farther from heaven now than ‘when he was a boy’. We can stay that according to Hood, his childhood days were heavenly full of freedom joy, ignorance which was far better than his present painful days.

I Remember, I Remember Title of the Story

In the poem, ‘I Remember, I Remember’, the poet Thomas Hood gives a description of his childhood memories which at his present moment he remembers, and so he craves to go back to his childhood days. He remembers his home, his bedroom window through which the sun used to peep in and filled his room with warmth and brightness. He also says that the sun was friendly and was never late to visit him each morning. He is personifying the sun in the first stanza.

But things at present have changed. In his adulthood, he wishes the night to take away his breath. In the first stanza we find how the poet vividly remembers the house where he was born and also the different moments which he had spent there.

Then again in the second stanza, the poet think and remembers of the surrounding of his house. He remembers the different flowers like red and white roses, violets, lily cups which used to brighten and lighten up surrounding of his house. He also remembers the lilacs where the robin built its nest.

Then he remembers the laburnum tree which his brother had planted. Through his brother is no more, the presence of the tree which is still alive, reminds him of his brother. The poet does not visualise all these things concretely but all the things mentioned, have been his remembrance and commemoration of his childhood days. He also tells about how he used to swing through the air very fast to feel the rush of the fresh air. He used to be very jovial, vivacious and high

spirited as he flew like a bird on its wings. But now he says he is heavy as he is now not free like his childhood days. Here in this stanza also we find how the poet first recollects and remembers his past days and then he compares them to his present depress life.

Lastly we see, how clearly the poet again remembers the fir trees which used to touch the sky. When he was a child his ignorance made him think that the tops of the fir trees touched the sky. Though now in reality at his adulthood, he is aware of the truth but still he says that the days of his ignorance were better than his present days.

Almost in the whole poem, we find how Thomas Hood has given a description of his childhood days. Then he has compared that phase his life to the present phase. So first he remembers all the days of his childhood and then he gives a comparison. We find every stanza starting with ‘I Remember, I Remember’. So it can be said that the title of the poem ‘I Remember, I Remember’ is a relevant and suitable one.

I Remember, I Remember About the Poem

I Remember, I Remember by Thomas Hood is a poem that gives a high contrast to the childhood days and experience, a world with beautiful thoughts and an adult world which is very practical and is filled with regrets and losses and pain and without any joy like that of his childhood days. It is dedicated by Thomas Hood to the nostalgic embrace of the memory of childhood. In this poem, he Remembers his “childish ignorance” cherishing his memories and painting them with different colours and images.

Through his poem, it is clear that his childhood was a time of great happiness so he recollects all the things that are associated with his childhood. Childhood is said to be the most beautiful phase of one’s life. The poet in this poem brings out the truth and makes us not only to realise that childhood is the best phase but also makes the readers nostalgic about that idyllic period of their lives.

I Remember, I Remember Main Point Of The Poem

I Remember, I Remember is a reflective and emotional poems. It recalls the nostalgic memories of the poet’s childhood. The poet Thomas Hood wishes to get back his childhood days and the energy and be free from all the pains and sufferings that he suffers now as a grown up. He wonders about the moments where he lost his innocence and realized that the world is not what it seemed to be.

So his thoughts in his adulthood change and he realises the hypocrisy of the people around the world. So we can find a comparison of his childhood pleasant days with the painful present one. His longing and desire to regain the childhood days are clearly seen from this poem “I Remember, I Remember”.

I Remember, I Remember Linewise Summary

Stanza – I:

In the first stanza, Thomas Hood, the poet of ‘I Remember, I Remember’ describes the house where he was born. He feels nostalgic and could remember his house, his bedroom and the little window of his bedroom from where the sun came peeping in, in the morning. Here the poet personifies the sun who was friendly and did not forget to shine in time. The sun shared its warmth and brightness to him. These childhood days were very pleasant to him.

By the very presence of the sun peeping in through his little window, Thomas Hood wants to describe the past of his life which was bright like the sun. In the next two lines of the first stanza, he speaks of the night which is in contrast with the day of sun. His present days are being described as dark as the night. It is full of pains, suffering and depression. So he wants his breath to be taken away by night or in simple word he wants to die since he cannot go back to his childhood days.

Stanza – II:

The second stanza also starts with the line ‘I Remember, I Remember’. In this stanza he describes the garden of house which he remembers to be bright and colourful with white and red roses, violets, lily cup lilacs etc. With these colours he has tried to show the colourful days which he used to have in his childhood phase.

He also remembers the lilacs when the robin bird built its nest. When he remembers, all these natural beauties, he feels nostalgic and then he the laburnum which his brother had planted on his birthday. He remembers it vividly and again his present situation makes him unhappy as the tree is alive but still his brother who had planted the tree was dead.

Stanza – III :

The poet then remembersand goes on to recollect his childhood days spent on the swing breathing the fresh pure air. He understands in his present adulthood phase that his spirit enjoyed these tiny moments and they are still fresh in his memory. Now he is grown up and he has seen the world and experienced both the good and bad from his life. He once had spirit which used to fly in feathers like birds. Then was the time when he was carefree and so he had a spirit that was light and joyful.

But now his present life is full of worries, pains and sufferings since his mind is repleted with all these his spirit now heavy. So he cannot fly now like a bird which he used to do when he was a child. Summer is cherished in the country where the poet was born. But even such wonderful summer pools are not able to heal his fever. The fever is actually the illness of his mind. He is now mentally unfit rather than physically.

Stanza – IV:

In the next stanza that is in last one, the poet Thomas Hood Remembers the fir trees which were thick and so high that their tops almost used to touch the sky. This imagination of the fir trees being touching almost the sky was just due to childish ignorance. Since he was a child then, he did not know that trees cannot touch sky.

But now that he is grown up, he knows the reality. Though he knows the reality, he has no joy. This means that in his adulthood he has come across many good and bad things. He has been introduced with the stark reality of the world. He can understand now that life is full of pains, worries and sufferings. There was a time in his childhood when his joy was boundless.

He was unaware of the harsh reality of the world and so he was always happy. This happiness of his childhood is like heaven to him. His childhood days were heavenly but now in his adulthood i.e at present he is far away from heaven as there is no joy in his mind.

So in the poem, we find Thomas Hood while delving into his childhood finds peace and happiness. He Remembers his days when he was a child and he cherised all the memories of that idyllic period. With these happy memories, we find Thomas Hood comparing his life and the days of his adulthood which he finds full of despair and gloom.

He is filled with worries, anguish and depression in his present life, so he wishes to die since he knows that it is only possible for him to recollect those happy memories but it is not possible for him to go back to those days.

I Remember, I Remember Linewise Explanation

1. I Remember, I Remember
The house where I was born,
The little window where the sun
Came peeping in at morn

The poet Thomas Hood describes the house where he was born. He Remembers it and also says about how the sun used to shine and peek through the little window of his bedroom.

2. He never came a wink too soon,
Nor brought too long a day,
But now, I often wish the night
Had borne my breath away!

In this line the sun has been personified. The poet says that the sun had been friendly with him and had always been in time. He had neither visited him late nor did he remain long a day. In the next two lines the poet speaks about the night. He wishes the night to take his breath away. The daytime with the sun, is his childhood and the night, his adulthood or present time which he does not want to live.

3. I Remember, I Remember
The roses, red and white,
The vi’lets, and the lily – cups,
Those flowers made of light!

The poet again remembers of the flowers growing in his garden. The variety of flowers like the red and white roses, the violets, the lilies looked bright and colourful in the garden. This is also a recollection from childhood memories which his recollection from childhood memories when his days were brought and colourful like the flowers

4. The lilacs where the robin built,
And where my brother set
The laburnum on his birthday, —
The tree is living yet!

The poet remembers and speaks of the lilac tree with the rest of robin. The laburnum tree which is still alive reminds him of his brother who had planted it on his birthday. Though his brother is no more but the tree which he had planted is alive.

5. I Remember, I Remember
Where I was used to swing,
And though the air must rush as fresh
To swallows on the wing.

In these lines of the third stanza, the poet remembers the days when he used to swing through the fresh air. He remembers how he used to fly like birds, when he used to swing, he felt light here he compare bird with wings.

6. My spirit flew in feathers then,
That is so heavy now,
And summer pools could hardly cool
The fever on my brow!

During his childhood days he used to swing and his spirit also flew in feathers, that is, he used to be in high spirits then. But now he is heavy hearted as his life is now full of sufferings. The summer pools which are usually comfortable in the country where the poet is born, also could hardly heal him or cool him because he is mentally and spiritually ill.

7. I Remember, I Remember
The fir trees dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky:

The poet remembers the thick high fir trees with slender tops. When he was a child he used to think that the tops of the fir trees almost touched the sky.

8. It was a childish ignorance,
But now ‘tis little joy
To know I’m farther off from heav’n
Than when I was a boy.

But now he can realize that it was his childish ignorance that made him believe this, because tops of trees can never touch the sky. This is the truth and reality. When he realizes the truth of life and since he has experienced many things (good and bad) in the world, his joys is no more. So he says that his childhood days with ignorance was heavenly and blissful to him but now he is far from heaven, that is, there is no heavenly joy in his adulthood life.

I Remember, I Remember Annotations and Vocabulary

Peeping — peering
Morn — morning
Borne — to contain ( past participate of bear)
Vi’lets — a kind of flower which is purple, blue or white Lilacs a shrub or small tree which has fragrant violets, pink or white blossom.
Laburnum — a small tree having hanging clusters yellow flowers
Slender — slim, lean
Ignorance — unconsciousness

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers

The Model Millionaire Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

July 16, 2024July 15, 2024 by Prasanna

The Model Millionaire Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

A. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow:

Unless one is wealthy there is no use in being a charming fellow. Romance is the privilege of the rich, not the profession of the unemployed. The poor should be practical and prosaic. It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating. These are the great truths of modem life which Hughie Erskine never realized. Poor Hughie! Intellectually, we must admit, he was not of much importance. He never said a brilliant or even an ill-natured thing in his life.

But then he was wonderfully good-looking, with his crisp brown hair, his clear-cut profile, and his grey eyes. He was as popular with men as he was with women, and he had every accomplishment except that of making money.

His father had bequeathed him his cavalry sword, and a History of the Peninsular War in fifteen volumes. Hughie hung the first over his looking-glass, put the second on a shelf between Ruffs Guide and Bailey’s Magazine, and lived on two hundred a year that an old aunt allowed him. He had tried everything

Question 1.
“Unless one is wealthy there Is no use in being a charming fellow.”- Why?
Answer:
Earning a livelihood is essential but if a person wants to live a lavish life, then he or she has to be rich because good looks cannot buy anything. It is not even essential but when a person has money, he or she can avail anything very easily. That is why it is said so

Question 2.
What qualities made Hughie Erskine popular with men and women?
Answer:
Hughie was wonderfully good-looking. He was very good heart. He never said any ill-natured thing. He never said any unkind word even. In fact, he had every quality except that of making money. All this made him very popular among men and women.

Question 3.
Describe the appearance of Hughie.
Answer:
Hughie was a very a charming and handsome fellow with his crisp brown hair, clear-cut profile and grey eyes. Though Hughie was wonderfully good-looking yet he was a failure of making money.

Question 4.
What did Hughie’s father leave for him? What did he get from an old aunt?
Answer:
Hughie’s father left for him his cavalry sword and a History of the Peninsular War in fifteen volumes. He got two hundred pounds a year from an old aunt. Hughie had no earning of his own even if he tried very hard.

B. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow:

To make matters worse, he was in love. The girl he loved was Laura Merton, the daughter of a retired Colonel who had lost his temper and his digestion in India, and had never found either of them again. Laura adored him, and he was ready to kiss her shoe-strings.

They were the handsomest couple in London, and had not a penny-piece between them. The Colonel was very fond of Hughie, but would not hear of any engagement. ‘Come to me, my boy, when you have got ten thousand pounds of your own, and we will see about it,’ he used to say; and Hughie looked very glum on those days, and had to go to Laura for consolation.

Question 1.
What worsened Hughie’s condition?
Answer:
Hughie, though charming had no luck in making money. Therefore when he fell in love with a girl named Laura Merton, then that worsened his condition.

Question 2.
Who was Laura Merton? What was her father?
Answer:
Laura Merton was the love of Hughie’s life. Her father was a retired colonel who had lost his temper and his digestion in India and had never found either of them again.

Question 3.
How was Laura with her father?
Answer:
Laura and her father had a good bonding with each other. Laura loves her father, respects and obeys her father whereas her father was so caring for his lovable daughter that “he was ready to kiss her shoe-string.” Her father just wanted his daughter’s future to be secured.

Question 4.
What condition did he give to Hughie?
Answer:
Laura’s father was very fond of Hughie but he was not willing to give his daughter’s marriage with him because Hughie had no earning. So he gave him a condition of earning 10000 pounds to get married to her. This condition made Hughie very glum and had to go to Laura for consolation.

C. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow:

One morning, as he was on his way to Holland Park, where the Mertons lived, he dropped in to see a great friend of his, Alan Trevor. Trevor was a painter. Indeed, few people escape that nowadays. But he was also an artist, and artists are rather rare.

Personally he was a strange rough fellow, with a freckled face and a red ragged beard. However, when he took up the brush he was a real master, and his pictures were eagerly sought after. He had been very much attracted by Hughie at first. it must be acknowledged, entirely on account of his personal charm.

Question 1.
Why was Hughie going to Holland Park?
Answer:
Hughie was going to Holland park to meet his friend Alan Trevor. Alan was a great friend of Hughie who was also a painter.

Question 2.
Why did Alan Trevor like Hughie so much as to let him visit his studio whenever he wanted?
Answer:
Artists always love thing of beauty. Trevor was an artist and Hughie was wonderfully good-looking. Hughie was also a carefree and joyful spirit. Trevor came to like Hughie very much. That was why he let him visit his studio whenever he liked.

Question 3.
How was Alan Trevor?
Answer:
Alan Trevor was a painter by profession but personally, he was a strange rough fellow with a freckled face and red ragged beard. However, whenever he took up the brush he was a real master and his pictures were eagerly sought after.

Question 4.
What idea about Hughie and Alan do you get from the above passage?
Answer:
From the above passage, we came to know that Hughie and Alan were great friends. They liked each other and cared for each other. Though Hughie had no money, Alan never underestimated him or bragged about his success. They both were amicable to each other.

D. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow:

‘The only people a painter should know,’ he used to say, ‘are people who are bete and beautiful, people who are an artistic pleasure to look at and an intellectual repose to talk to. Men who are dandies and women who are darlings rule the world, at least they should do so.’ However, after he got to know Hughie better, he liked him quite as much for his bright buoyant spirits and his generous reckless nature, and had given him the permanent entree to his studio.

When Hughie came in he found Trevor putting the finishing touches to a wonderful life-size picture of a beggar-man. The beggar himself was standing on a raised platform in a corner of the studio. He was a wizened old man, with a face like wrinkled parchment, and a most piteous expression.

Question 1.
What did Alan use to say?
Answer:
Alan used to say that painters notice people who are “bete and beautiful, people who are an aretistic pleasure to look at and an intellectual repose to talk to. Men who are dandies and women who are darlings rule the world, at least they should do so.”

Question 2.
Why did Alan start liking Hughie?
Answer:
After Alan got to know Hughie better, he started liking him for his buoyant spirit and generous reckless nature and that had given him a permanent entry to Alan’s studio.

Question 3.
After reaching the studio, what did Hughie find?
Answer:
Hughie found a beggar who was posing as a model. The beggar himself was standing on a raised platform in a corner of the studio. The beggar was a wizened old man, with a face like wrinkled parchment, and a most piteous expression.

Question 4.
Describe the appearance of the model from the above passage.
Answer:
Alan’s model was a beggar who was standing on a raised platform in a corner of the studio. He was a wizened old man, with a face like wrinkled parchment, and a most piteous expression. He was so realistic that stirred sympathy in Hughie’s mind.

E. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow:

Over his shoulders was flung a coarse brown cloak, all tears and tatters; his thick boots were patched and cobbled, and with one hand he leant on a rough stick while with the other he held out his battered hat for alms. What an amazing model!’ whispered Hughie, as he shook hands with his friend.

‘An amazing model?’ shouted Trevor at the top of his voice; ‘I should think so! Such beggars as he are not to be met with every day. A trouvaille, mort cher; a living Velasquez! My stars! what an etching Rembrandt would have made of him!’ Poor old chap! said Hughie, ‘how miserable he looks!

But I suppose, to you painters, his face is his fortune?’ ‘Certainly,’ replied Trevor, ‘you don’t want a beggar to look happy, do you?’ ‘How much does a model get for sitting?’ asked Hughie, as he found himself a comfortable seat on a divan.

Question 1.
How was the beggar dressed?
Answer:
The beggar was very poorly dressed. Over his shoulders, was a coarse black cloak, torn and tattered and his thick boots were patched and cobbled. With one hand, he leant on a rough stick while the other was holding out his battered hat for alms.

Question 2.
Why did Hughie think that the beggar was “an amazing model”?
Answer:
Hughie thought that the beggar was “an amazing model” because he was very realistic. His appearance and miserable condition.,rose sympathy in Hughie’s heart. Though he would be paid by Trevor, yet he felt of giving some money to him.

Question 3.
How and why did Hughie oblige the old beggar?
Answer:
One day, Hughie went to see his friend, Alan Trevor, who was a painter. He saw Trevor painting a wonderful picture of a beggar man. The beggar himself was standing in a corner of the studio. He was wizened old men. His face was wrinkled. He had a brown cloak over his shoulder. It was all in rags. His thick boots had many patches. He had a rough stick in one hand.

He was leaning over this stick. With his other hand, he was holding out his for alms. The old beggar looked the very pitcher of misery. Hughie was deeply moved by the miserable looks of the old beggar. He could not help pitying him. He searched his pockets, but could find only one sovereign there. Then he walked up to the beggar and slipped it into his hand.

Question 4.
From the above mentioned passage, what idea do you get about Hughie?
Answer:
From the above mentioned passage, we could realize that Hughie, though poor, had a soft heart that felt for the old beggar. The beggar’s appearance made him feel sad for him though he would be paid by his artist friend Trevor. So, after a very brief conversation with Trevor, he decided to help the beggar. These qualities showed us that Hughie was a true gentleman.

F. Read,the extract below and answer the questions that follow:

Nonsense, nonsense! Why, look at the trouble of laying on the paint alone, and standing all day long at one’s easel! It’s all very well, Hughie, for you to talk, but I assure you that there are moments when Art almost attains to the dignity of manual labour. But you mustn’t chatter; I’m very busy. Smoke a cigarette, and keep quiet.’

After some time the servant came in, and told Trevor that the frame-maker wanted to speak to him.‘Don’t run away, Hughie,’ he said, as he went out, ‘I will be back in a moment.’ The old beggar-man took advantage of Trevor’s absence to rest for a moment on a wooden bench that was behind him.

He looked so forlorn and wretched that Hughie could not help pitying him, and felt in his pockets to see what money he had. All he could find was a sovereign and some coppers. ‘Poor old fellow,’ he thought to himself, ‘he wants it more than I do, but it means no hansoms for a fortnight;’ and he walked across the studio and slipped the sovereign into the beggar’s hand.

Question 1.
“Nonsense, nonsense!”- Who said to whom and when?
Answer:
Alan Trevor said this to his friend Hughie. Seeing the miserable condition of the beggar, Hughie asked Trevor how much he used to give his models. At this Trevor told him a small amount compared to the price in which his paintings are sold. At This Hughie told Trevor that he should give a percentage of his earning to the models. Hearing this Trevor said so.

Question 2.
Why did Trevor think that Hughie was talking nonsense?
Answer:
Hughie told Trevor that he should gi ve a percentage of his earning to his models. Hearing this Trevor told him that he was talking nonsense because he thought that they were doing their job and they got paid well. And as “art almost attains to the dignity of manual labour”, there was no point of sharing the amount earned.

Question 3.
What did Hughie do after Trevor left?
Answer:
After Trevor left, Hughie shifted his attention to the beggar again who was resting on a wooden bench for a moment. His miserable condition made Hughie feel sorry for him. So, he decided to help him by giving him some money. But he only had a sovereign in his pocket so he gave it to him.

Question 4.
“He wants it more than I do”- Who said this? Why?
Answer:
This was said by Hughie to himself. Hughie wanted to help the old beggar because he felt sympathy for him. But when he searched his pocket, he only found a sovereign in it. So if he would give it to him then no money would be left for him. But he felt that the old beggar needed that money more than him so he said this.

The Model Millionaire Story Poem MCQs

Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

Question 1.
“What an amazing model!” Who said this?
a. Hughie
b. Alan Tevor
c. Laura Merton
Answer:
a. Hughie

Question 2.
Who is Laura Merton’s father?
a. Baron Hausberg
b. Alan Trevor
c. A retired
Answer:
c. A retired

Question 3.
Who is the protagonist of the story. The Model Millionaire?
a. Hughie Erskine
b. Laura Merton
c. Alan Trevor
Answer:
a. Hughie Erskine

Question 4.
Who was popular with men and women?
a. Alan Trevor
b. Colonel Merton
c. Hughie Erskine
Answer:
c. Hughie Erskine

Question 5.
How many months had Hughie Erskine gone on Stock Exchange?
a. Seven
b. Six
c. Nine
Answer:
b. Six

Question 6.
Who was Alan Tervor in the story?
a. Poet
b. Writer
c. Painter
Answer:
c. Painter

Question 7.
Where was the beggar man standing in the story?
a. In the corner of studio
b. In the room
c. In a house
Answer:
a. In the corner of studio

Question 8.
Who was the old beggaman?
a. Alan Trevor
b. Baron Hausberg
c. Beggar
Answer:
b. Baron Hausberg

Question 9.
What was the only source of income for Hughie Erskine?
a. The aunt
b. The father
c. None of these
Answer:
a. The aunt

Question 10.
Who is the richest man of Europe?
a. Alan Trevor
b. Beggar
c. Baron Hausberg
Answer:
c. Baron Hausberg

Question 11.
Who was the friend of Hughie Erskine?
a. Baron Hausberg
b. Alan Trevor
c. Laura Merton
Answer:
b. Alan Trevor

Question 12.
What was the wedding gift for the marriage of Hughie Erskine and Laura Merton from Baron Hausberg?
a. A cheque of 10,000 pounds
b. A cheque of 5,000 pounds
c. A cheque of 2,000 pounds
Answer:
a. A cheque of 10,000 pounds

Question 13.
Who the writer of Model Millionaire?
a. R.K Narayan
b. Oscar Wilde
c. Rusking Bond
Answer:
b. Oscar Wilde

Question 14.
What is the theme of the story the Model Millionaire?
a. Patriotism
b. Quest for identity
c. Appearances can be deceptive
Answer:
c. Appearances can be deceptive

Question 15.
The Model Millionaire ends with twist and full of humour and ………..
a. Silliness
b. Iron
c. Mockery
Answer:
b. Iron

Question 16.
Who is Laura Merton?
a. Hughie’s beloved
b. Baron Hausberg’s sister
c. Alan Trevor’s wife
Answer:
a. Hughie’s beloved

Question 17.
Why did Hughie give the model a sovereign?
a. He is a donor
b. He want to become famous
c. Being sympathetic for him
Answer:
c. Being sympathetic for him

Question 18.
How many characters are painted in the story, The Model Millionaire?
a. Six
b. Five
c. Three
Answer:
a. Six

Question 19.
Who is Monsieur Gustave Naudin?
a. Baron Hausberg’s friend
b. Baron Hausberg’s servent
c. Baron Hausberg’s brother
Answer:
b. Baron Hausberg’s servent

Question 20.
Why was Hughie shocked to hear Trevor?
a. The Beggar was a thief
b. The beggar was rich person
c. The beggar was very poor.
Answer:
b. The beggar was rich person

Question 21.
Why does the Colonel not allow Hughie to marry his daughter?
a. He is poor and jobless
b. He is aged
c. He is not handsome
Answer:
a. He is poor and jobless

Question 22.
How did Hughie respond when he heard that Trevor told the beggar about his private life?
a. Angry
d. Amused
c. Furious
Answer:
c. Furious

Question 23.
Whom did the beggar’s old suit belong to?
a. Trevor
b. Hughie
c. Hughie’s uncle
Answer:
a. Trevor

Question 24.
Why couldn’t Hughie Marry Laura?
a. Her father opposed the proposal
b. She was not pretty
c. He was poor and jobless
Answer:
c. He was poor and jobless

Question 25.
Why did Hughie think the beggar deserve a share of Trevor’s earning?
a. The bagger has no relative
b. Model’s work is hard as painter’s
c. The beggar is very poor
Answer:
b. Model’s work is hard as painter’s

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Poem Summary, Theme, Critical Analysis by T.S. Eliot

July 16, 2024July 15, 2024 by Prasanna

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Poem Summary, Theme, Critical Analysis by T.S. Eliot

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Summary

The poem starts with the poet’s journey at the railway station. It is a narrative poem that tells us about Skimbleshanks, an extraordinary cat doing extraordinary acts on the train named “Night Mail”. The Night Mail is ready to start but everyone is restless and their murmuring and confused movements give us a feeling that they are waiting for someone to give” green signal” for the journey.

At last when it was 11:42 we see Skimbleshanks coming out of the luggage van and then the signal “All Clear” is given by Skimbleshanks. The train is set for the North. The cat is portrayed as the manager of the train always busy in managing it or in other words he is in charge of the train. The cat is very meticulous and has a keen eye for details and does not discriminate between first and third class passengers. He is seen managing the bagmen playing cards He examines every passenger and that gives us to feel that he never approves of any riot.

They are naturally quiet at night. It gives us an impression of how he is responsible for such a calm and peaceful atmosphere. He makes sure that there is no speck of dust on the floor and all the berths are neatly dusted with a newly folded sheet. He makes everything neat and tidy and is kind to everyone. We see Skimbleshanks safeguarding the railway passengers throughout their journey and wins their trust and respect in the poem.

It is he who made the guard to ask the preference of the passengers whether they would have weak or strong tea in the morning. The poet makes witty comments on the cat’s habit of drinking scotch whisky to make his night more vigilant. At every station the cat gets out of the train and refreshes himself.

As the train stops by, in many places like Dumfries, Carlisle, Crewe and Gallowgate, the poet talks about the various kinds of activities and deeds done by the cat. Skimbleshanks is a perfectionist and is also pedantic. In the morning when a passenger reaches his or her destination, the cat is seen in front bidding goodbye. Since Skimbleshanks is so perfect therefore the train is organized and the passengers have a happy journey. Thus they travel on the Night Mail again’

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat About the Author T.S. Eliot

Thomas Steams Eliot better known as T. S. Eliot was an essayist, publisher, playwright, literary and social critic and one of the major poets of the twentieth century. He was born in St Louis, Missouri, on September 26, 1888 and died on January 1965 Eliot was to pursue four careers; editor, dramatist, literary critic and philosophical poet.

He was probably the most erudite poet of his time in the English language. He received honorary degrees from twelve universities in Europe. His first book of poems, PRUFROCK AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS was published in 1917. With the publication of his poem THE WASTELAND in 1922, Eliot won an international reputation.

It consists of five sections and proceeds on a principle of “rhetorical discontinuity” that reflects the fragmented experience of the 20th century sensibility of the great modern cities of the west. Other notable works T. S. Eliot include FOUR QUARTETS (1943) and the play MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL (1935). His awards and honors include the British Order of Merit and the Nobel Prize for literature which he one in 1948.

Again his play THE COCKTAIL PARTY won the 1950 Tony Award for the best play. In 1964, T. S Eliot was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. OLD POSSUM’S BOOK OF PRACTICAL CATS was adapted in 1981 into the musical cats, which won seven Tony Awards. Among his non fictions are THE SECOND ORDER MIND, TRADITION AND THE INDIVIDUAL TALENT. CHRISTIANITY AND CULTURE etc.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Theme

In the poem Skimbleshanks-The Railway Cat”, we find Skimbleshanks to be obsessed with perfection and he is well organised and punctilious. Even though he is a cat, he is the reason why everything in the Midnight Mail is perfect and under control. So the theme of this poem is perfection which is not only pretty but also important in everything.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Critical Analysis

When we first read the poem “Skimbleshanks-The Railway Cat” of T. S. Eliot,we can think about it’s meaning as absurd. It is quite natural for the readers to respond in such a way.

The first thing that we can do for understanding the basic idea of this poem is to see it as a simple entertaining rhyme. In this poem,T. S. Eliot is a simple minded traveller who observes the movement of Skimbleshanks-The Railway Cat. He describes the cat as a normal human being. The poet is to start his journey in the Night Mail, a British West Coast Main Line train which ran from London to Scotland. We find veryone in a confused situation, murmuring about

Skimbleshanks. The guards, the stationmaster’s daughter, the passengers, the porters all are seen waiting for Skimbleshanks to give a green signal for the train to depart. At last when it is 11:42, we see Skimble coming out of the luggage van and then he gives his signal “All Clear” and the train is set for the North.

The poet says that throughout the journey whenever he opened his eyes or wherever the train stopped, he could see the cat somewhere on the train or out on the platform. This presence of Skimbleshanks everywhere on the train, platform and station gives an impression that he is someone very important and is in-charge of the train.

He is attributed with the roles of a supervisor and a patrolling police officer. He is seen to be wandering in the first class as well as in the third class compartments. He is also present there supervising the bagmen playing cards. Thus he is found to be examining every passengers. The calmness and serenity of the night leaves an impression that he never approves of any riots.

Naturally the passengers remain quiet. So we can say that Skimbleshanks is responsible for such a calm and serene atmosphere. He is very intelligent and clever. He writes the passenger’s names on the door of the train. The passengers find their berths neat and tidy with new blankets. The floor is seen to be absolutely spick and span. Light can be adjusted accordingly and there is also a fan and a beautiful basin. One can shut window if felt cold.

In the poem while the poet goes to bed in his cabin, he sees the cat behind the guard. This is because it is he who made the guard, to ask the passengers of their preferences of weak or strong tea in the morning. Even when the passengers are sleeping peacefully, the cat is seen to be wandering on the train. The poet here makes a witty comment on the cats habits of drinking scotch whisky.

This is because to make Skimbleshank’s night watch more vigilant. Again Skimbleshanks is seen to be getting out of the train at every station and refreshing himself. The cat is seen catching fleas and mice. In other words Skimbleshanks in the poem is shown to be a perfectionist, taking care of even the minute things. He is seen to ensure that everything is running smoothly.

As the train stops at Dumfries, Crewe, Carlisle and Gallowgate-the different stations, the cat is seen doing his various deeds. This shows that he is very accurate. In the morning when a passenger reaches his or her destination, Skimbleshanks can be seen in front bidding the passenger good bye. He gives a wave of his long brown tail and tells the passengers “I’ll see you again”.

We find that in this poem, the poet describes the importance and significance of Skimbleshanks and presents him to be the most important person who checks everything like a detective and remembers the faces of persons. He portrays how Skimbleshanks cater to the needs of the passengers and the general security of the train.

Not only this, through this poem we can say that Skimble’s intense surveillance of his passengers comes from love. He cares deeply about a good railway experience. He can see into one’s thoughts. He just wants a peaceful time for everybody. He is a cat who means business, whose authority must be respected. His authority is kind as long as he is obeyed (he will spot any offence). Skimbleshanks will love you.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Title of the Story

The title of the poem, by T. S. Eliot is SKIMBLESHANKS- THE RAILWAY CAT. From the very title we can well understand that Skimbleshanks is a cat and so it makes an impression that he is in charge of a train in the railway station. As we read the poem, we can see that the poet describes Skimbleshanks as the most important one in the railway station.

He is the hero of the NIGHT MAIL train. The poem is about this cat Skimbleshanks. The Night Mail is ready to start. The railway staffs are in commotion to find Skimbleshanks as he is the manager of the train. They are waiting for Skimbleshanks to give a” green signal” for the journey. At last at 11:42 we see Skimbleshanks coming out of the luggage van.

He then gives a signal of “All clear” and at last the poet along with the other passengers in the train were off for the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere. In the second stanza the poet says that Skimbleshanks supervises the driver, the guards and the bagmen playing cards. He moves around the corridor to examine all the faces of the first as well as the third class passengers of the Sleeping Car Express. By now it is clear to us, what role Skimbleshanks plays.

He examines every passengers and we may feel that he approves no riot. He is like a patrolling police officer. So it is quite natural for the passengers to be quiet and calm. He also knows what other passengers are thinking. Thus it is again Skimbleshanks who is responsible for the calm atmosphere.
On the next stanza,we find the poet saying about Skimbleshanks being perfect, when he writes the names of the passengers so that they can find their places in the compartments of the train easily.

The poet finds the berths neat and clean with “newly folded” blanket, with no dust on the floor. There the poet and the other passengers can find light, fan, basin to wash faces and a handle to shut the window if someone sneezes. All these show that Skimbleshanks is not only meticulous but also can be said to safeguard the railway passengers throughout the journey.

Everyone sleeps peacefully but Skimbleshanks continues his “rounds” on the train. He is there to ask the passengers, their preferences of weak or strong tea in the morning. Skimbleshanks is in a habit of drinking scotch whisky to make his night vigilance strong. He refreshes himself by getting out of the train at every station. The whole poem is about Skimbleshanks.

Before ending the poem, the poet again describes how the cat gives a wave of his long brown tail to the passengers thus bidding goodbye to them and saying them “I’ll see you again” Thus the cat caters to the needs of the passengers and the security of the Night Mail. After reading the whole poem, we can say that the title of the poem as Skimbleshanks- The Railway Cat is very appropriate.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat About The Poem

SKIMBLESHANKS- THE RAILWAY CAT- is a poem that is full of rhythm and races along,to the beat of a fast passenger train. This poem is one of Eliot’s ‘cat’ poem, which first appeared in the collection of Eliot’s poems called OLD POSSUM’S BOOK OF PRACTICAL CATS.

Skimbleshanks is almost human, the master who knows well the most important passenger on the Sleeping Car Express. In this poem the character of Skimbleshanks is portrayed as a bright and diligent tabby cat who works on the, male train and he is in charge of the train. The cat is attributed with the roles of a supervisor and a patrolling police officer.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Main Point Of The Poem

SKIMBLESHANKS – THE RAILWAY CAT by T. S Eliot glorifies an ordinary cat who is said to be possessing supernatural powers to safeguard the railway passangers through out their journey in a perfect and well-organized way. So the poem is actually a satire that ridicules our unnecessary dependence upon the supernatural.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Linewise Summary

1. There’s a whisper down the line at 11:39
When the Night Mails ready to depart,
Saying “Skimble where is Skimble has he gone to hunt the thimble?

We must find him or the train can’t start”
All the guards and all the porters and the stationmaster’s daughters
They are searching high and low,
Saying “Skimble where is Skimble for unless he’s very nimble
The Night mail just can’t go”
At 11,42 then the singas’s nearly due
And the passengers are frantic to a man-
Then Skimble will appear and he’ll saunter to the rear:
He’s been busy in the luggage van!

He gives one flash of his glass-green eyes
And the signal goes “All Clear!”
And we’re off at last for the northern part
Of the Northern Hemisphere.

The poem opens with the whisper going down the railway line. lt is time for the departure of the train named the Night Mail Express. lt is the time of ll:39.Near the railway line everyone is whispering about the departure of the train because the signal for departure is to be given, but the one who is in charge of giving the signal for the departure of it, is not here.

He is none other than Skimble Shanks. So everyone, is calling Skimbleshanks by his name. Everyone is discussing whether Skimbleshanks has gone to hunt the thimble. Thimble here refers to a party game in which one person hides a thimble on other small objects somewhere in the room, while all the players are outside.

The Skimble shanks has gone to hunt the thimble while everyone present in the station was waiting like all the players outside. They said that they must find Skimbleshanks or the train can’t start. All the guards, the porters, station master’s daughters are searching everywhere in the station for
skimbleshanks.

They said that unless skimble in very agile and sprightly, the Night Mail will not be able to go that is unless he comes and shows his energy and agility and the activity the Night Mail will not be able to start. At 11:42, the time for the signal has already arrived and the passengers are crazy and panic-stricken for only one man that is Skimbleshanks.

Here Skimbleshanks has been personified as a man. Then Skimbleshanks is seen ambling in the rear of the train after which he is busy in the luggage van. When ultimately the time has come for the signal to be given, Skimbleshanks gives the signal of “All Clear” and train starts.

The poet presents himself as the passenger of the train and he with the other passengers have left the station for the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere. In this stanza we see that how Skimbleshanks acts as the supervisor of the railway station and the train. In this stanza we see that unless he gives a signal of all is clear, the train can’t leave.

2. “You may say that by and large it is
Skimble who’s in charge of the Sleeping Car Express.
From the driver and the guards to the bagmen playing cards
He will supervise them all, more or less.
Down the corridor, he paces and examines all the faces

Of the travellors in the First and the Third;
He establishes control by a regular patrol
And he’d know at once if anything occurred.
He will watch you without winking and he sees what you are thinking

And it’s certain that he dosen’t approve
Of hilarity and riot so the folk are very quiet
When Skimble is about and on the move.
You can play no pranks with Skimbleshanks!

He’s a Cat that cannot be ignored;
So nothing goes wrong on the Northern Mail
When Skimbleshanks is abroad”

In the second stanza the poet tells directly about Skimbleshank’s activities or duties which he performs perfectly in the railway station. He is incharge of the sleeping Car Express and it is his duty to supervise the guards, the bagmen, and the driver of the train.

We also find Skimbleshanks going down the corridor of the first and as well as the third class compartments without any discrimination and examining the faces of all the travelers present there. By regular patrolling, Skimbleshanks is keen that he knows if anything occurred or not.

He watches the passengers so minutely that he is able to see or say what they are thinking. He never approves of any riot or even amusement. So when skimbleshanks is about or on movement, all the passengers are quiet. In this stanza Skimbleshanks is not only shown responsible, dutiful and meticulous but also a strict supervisor.

So he is a cat who cannot be ignored or cannot be played pranks on. So it is obvious that on the Northern Mail nothing goes wrong; everything remains perfect when Skimbleshanks is present there. He is a perfectionist and organizes everything in a perfect way.

3. Oh it’s very pleasant when you have found your little den
With your name written up on the door.
And the berth is very neat with a newly folded sheet
And there’s not a speck of dust on the floor.

There is every sort of light-you can make it dark or bright;
There’s a handle that you turn to make a breeze.
There’s a funny little basin you’re supposed to wash your face in
And a crank to shut the window if you sneeze.

Then the tuard looks in politely and will ask you very brightly
“Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?”
But Skimble’s just behind him and was ready to remind him,
For Skimble won’t let anything go wrong.

In the third stanza, when the passengers go to their respective compartments, they find their names written up on the door. When they board the train, they find their berths to be spick and span with new folded blanket. The floors are also neat and tidy and not a speck of dust is to be found anywhere. The compartments have all sorts of lights, which can be adjusted to bright as well as dim ones. There are also fans with handles which when turned, make breeze. There are also basins for washing faces for the passengers.

In other words all the things needed for the men while travelling are provided to them. If a passenger sneezes due to cold, he can shut the window with the help of a handle. Again in the morning when the guard comes and politely asks the passengers whether they would have strong or weak tea, it is Skimbleshanks who stands behind the guard to remind him, that he is there to see whether everything is right because Skimbleshanks is shown in the poem as a character who does not let anything go wrong.

When the passengers go to sleep on their cozy berths, they do it without any worries because they know that Skimbleshanks is there. So they do not have to worry about mice also because everything is left to the railway cat-Skimbleshanks. In the 4th stanza the poet says that Skimbleshanks is always fresh and bright and is also very particular in his vigilance at night as every now and then he has a cup of tea mixed with a drop of scotch whisky.

He also catches fleas when passengers are fast asleep at Crewe. He is seen to be walking up and down the stations like Crewe, Carlisle, Dumfries when all the passengers seem to be asleep. He walks out at Carlisle to greet the stationmaster. Then again at Dumfries we find him talking to the police whether he ought to know about anything.

At the Gallowgate, when the passengers reach their destination, it is again Skimbleshanks who help them to get out. Waving his long brown tail he bids the passengers goodbye and says “I’ll see you again” and he says that without fail, the passengers will meet Skimbleshanks. From the very beginning of the poem till the end of it, we find Skimbleshanks in all the activities or works related to the managing and supervising of the railway station and the Night Mail train.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Linewise Explanation

1. There’s a whisper down the line at 11:39
When the Night Mails ready to depart,
Saying “Skimble where is Skimble has he gone to hunt the thimble?

The poet being one of the passengers of the Night Mail train says that at 11:39 a whisper can be heard down the railway line from where the Night Mail train is soon to depart. But Skimbleshanks who is in charge of the train has not arrived, so the people present in the station are searching for Skimbleshanks and are talking or whispering about him, who has most probably gone to hunt the thimble or some important work.

2. We must find him or the train can’t start”
All the guards and all the porters and the stationmaster’s daughters
They are searching high and low,
Saying “Skimble where is Skimble for unless he’s very nimble
The the Night mail just can’t go”

So the people in the station are discussing that the train can’t start unless Skimbleshanks who is responsible for the train to start, has to be found out. Therefore the guards, the porters, the statio ’master’s daughters all are searching for him everywhere in the station saying that unless Skimbleshanks is active and shows his agility, the Night Mail just can’t move.

3. At 11.42 then the signal’s nearly due
And the passengers are frantic to a man
Then Skimble will appear and he’ll saunter to the rear:
He’s been busy in the luggage van!

Then when it is 11:42, the train is about to depart and all the passengers of the train are panic-stricken for their departure which is depending on Skimbleshanks. Then Skimble appears and he ambles to the rear or the back part of the train. He has been busy in the luggage van all these time.

4. He gives one flash of his glass-green eyes
And the signal goes “All Clear!”
And we’re off at last for the northern part
Of the Northern Hemisphere.

We find Skimbleshanks coming and giving the green signal of “All Clear” and then the train starts off at last for the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere.

5. “You may say that by and large it is Skimble who’s
in charge of the Sleeping Car Express.
From the driver and the guards to the bagmen playing cards
He will supervise them all, more or less.

The poet directly says that by and large or on the whole it can be said that it is Skimbleshanks the cat who is in charge of the Sleeping Car Express. It is he who supervises the driver, the guard, the bagmen playing cards. Or in other words these people attached with the work of the railway station or train, are also supervised or managed by Skimbleshanks.

6. Down the corridor he paces and examines all the faces
Of the travellors in the First and the Third;
He establishes control by a regular patrol
And he’d know at once if anything occurred.

Skimbleshanks is seen walking down the corridor of the compartments and examining the faces of the first and third class travellers. He does not discriminate between the passengers of the two classes. He establishes full control like a patrolling officer and he knows at knows at once if anything has occurred.

7. He will watch you without winking and he sees what you are thinking
And it’s certain that he dosen’t approve
Of hilarity and riot so the folk are very quiet
When Skimble is about and on the move.
You can play no pranks with Skimbleshanks!

He’s a Cat that cannot be ignored;
So nothing goes wrong on the Northern Mail
When Skimbleshanks is abroad”

Skimbleshanks keep a watch on everyone and he can also say what a passenger is thinking or what is going in his mind. And he also never approves of any riot or exuberance of any sort. So the passengers remain quiet and calm because when Skimbleshanks is there, nothing can go wrong on the Northern Mail. No one can play pranks on Skimbleshanks. So no one can ignore Skimbleshanks- The Railway Cat.

8. Oh it’s very pleasant when you have found your little den
With your name written up on the door.
And the berth is very neat with a newly folded sheet
And there’s not a speck of dust on the floor.

In these lines, the poet says that when a passenger finds his name written up on the door and he finds his neat berth in the train with new folded blanket sheet, he feels pleased. Even the floor of the compartment is neat and clean with not even a speck of dust.

9. There is every sort of light-you can make it dark or bright;
There’s a handle that you turn to make a breeze.
There’s a funny little basin you’re supposed to wash your face in
And a crank to shut the window if you sneeze.

In the compartments of the train, a passenger can find every sort of light which can be made dim or bright. If one feels hot, one can turn a handle to make the fan start. A basin is also there for washing face. If a passenger sneezes one can avoid that by shutting the window with the help of a handle.

10. Then the tuard looks in politely and will ask you very brightly
“Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?”
But Skimble’s just behind him and was ready to remind him,
For Skimble won’t let anything go wrong.

In the morning again Skimbleshanks is found to be standing behind the guard. The guard asks the passengers politely whether they would have weak or strong tea. Skimbleshanks stands behind him to remind him that he is there and nothing can go wrong.

When the passengers are ready to sleep in the cosy, comfortable berth, pulling up the cover, they feel nice and realize, that there is not a single mouse to bother them as Skimbleshanks has already got rid of them. So everyone can depend on Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat.

11. In the watches of the night he is always fresh and bright:
Every now and then he has a cup of tea
With perhaps a drop of Scotch while he’s keeping on the watch,
Only stopping here and there to catch a flea.

When skimbleshanks is in the dity of vigilance at night, he is always fresh and bright even at that time. The poet gives a reason for his freshness and brightness. It is said that every now and then he was a cup of tea mixed with perhaps a drop of scotch whiskey to fulfill his duty well. He also catches fleas that cause disturbance to the sleep of the passengers.

12. You were fast asleep at Crewe and so you never knew
that he was walking up and down the station:
You were sleeping all the while he was busy at Carlisle,
Where the greets the stationmaster with elation.

When the passengers in the midnight are fast asleep at crew station and are even unknown of thes, we can see skimbleshanks walking up and down the station. Again in the station Carlisle, he is seen greeting the stationmaster with exhilaration.

13. But you saw him at Dumfries, where he speaks to the police
If there’s anything they ought to know about:
When you great to Gallowgate there you do not have to wait-
For Skimbleshanks will help you to get out!
He gives you a wave of his long brown tail
Which says: ‘Til see you again!
You’ll meet without fail on the Midnight Mail
The Cat on the Railway Train.”

When the train reaches the station of Dumfries, Skimbleshanks is seen talking to the police if there is anything he should know. When ultimately the train reaches Gallowgate station that is the destination, Skimbleshanks is there to help them out. The passengers need not to wait but Skimbleshanks is ready to bid them goodbye by waving his long brown tail and saying “I’ll see you again”

The passengers come to know that if they travel on the Midnight Mail again then without fail they would meet Skimbleshanks. The Cat of the Railway Train again. From the starting of the poem till the end of it, we find that Skimbleshanks is the main character who is playing the major role in the Railway Department (Night Mail Train).

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Annotations and Vocabulary

Thimble — a small metal or plastic cap with a closed end to protect the finger and push the needle in swing. OR Here refers to a party game in which one person hides a thimble or other small object somewhere in the room while all the players wait outside.
Nimble — agile ; sprightly Frantic-panic-stricken
Saunter — amble or stroll; walk in a slow relaxed manner.
Bagmen — persons in charge of the mailbags’
Supervise — manage; administer
Crank — a handle
Hilarity — extreme amusement, especially when expressed by laughter.
Speck — a tiny spot or pinprick.
Counterpane — a bedspread; blanket.
Crewe — an English town.
Elation — ecstasy; exhilaration; happiness.

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers

The Night Mail Poem Questions and Answers & MCQs

July 16, 2024July 15, 2024 by Prasanna

The Night Mail Poem Questions and Answers & MCQs

Read the given extracts below and the following questions:

Question 1.
“Pulling up Beattock, a steady climb;
The gradient’s against her, but she’s on time.
a. Where is the above line take from and who is the poet?
b. Who is ‘she’ referred to in the above line?
c. Explain the above lines.
d. Before these lines, what is ‘she’ crossing and what is she carrying?
Answer:
a. The above line is taken from the poem” Night Mail.” The poem is written by W.H. Auden.

b. ‘She’ in the above line is referred to the Night Mail train, It has been personified as a lady by the poet.

c. The poet talks about the Night Mail train that is crossing the border with the letters, cheques and the postal orders and then is running up the slope of Beattock. This steep slope is trying to retard or hinder her speed but she overcomes this hurdle and reaches her destination on time.

d. The Night Mail train is crossing the border of England and Scotland and is carrying cheques, postal orders, letters for the rich and the poor. She is also carrying letters for the shopkeeper of the shop at the corner and for the girl who stays next door.

Question 2.
Snorting noisily as she passes Silent miles of wind-bent grass.
a. What is “snorting noisily” referred to?
b. Before this where did she pass and how?
c. What do the birds do when she passes and why?
d. What do the sheepdogs do and why? What is the only thing that shakes when she passes?
Answers:
a. As the train passes the grass fields she makes roaring sound.She covers a long distance of grassy fields and the presence of the air causes the grass to bend and bow.

b. Before this, she passed grass lands, cotton fields and moorland with rocks and stones and as she passes she overflows the white steam behind her.

c. When the Night Mail passes, the birds look at it through the bushes.They turn their heads to look at her. They stare at her empty coaches (blank-faced. or the coaches without passengers. But they don’t react as they know that she is harmless.

d. The sheepdogs also do not react when they hear the noise of the approaching Night Mail. They just keep sleeping with paws across. They know that they cannot change the course of her so they don’t bother and lie down again. They are also habituated with her movement like this daily and they know that she is harmless. So inspite of being sensitive animals, they do nothing. Ajug in the bedroom is the only thing that shakes when she passes.

Question 3.
Men long for news
a. What are these men?
b. Why do they long for news?
c. What news are they waiting for?
d. How does the poet describe the descent of the train?
Answers:
a. These men are the citizens of Scotland and London who are waiting for their letters and other messages and documents.

b. They long for news because they are waiting for the arrival of some documents or message which are very important and significant for them.

c. Some are waiting for their examination results, some for invitation, bank details, money, postal orders and many other things which are very important for them to receive.

d. With the approaching of the morning, the Night Mail also climbs down towards Glasgow. Here the poet has given a description of an industrial landscape with fields of apparatus, the furnaces standing against the dark plain like huge chessmen. And all the people of Scotland, in the valleys and beside the lake long for the news to come.

Question 4.
Thousands are still asleep
a. Who are still asleep and when?
b. What are they dreaming?
c. What do they wait with eager heart?
d. What are the different types of letters that the Night Mail bring?
Answers:
a. Thousands of people are asleep When the train is approaching towards Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

b. The people are dreaming of terrifying monsters (nightmares. or dreaming of friendly tea beside the band in Cranston’s and Crawford’s.

c. They are waiting eagerly for the news to come. They wait for the train and expect that the postman will come and knock at the door and will deliver them the letters and messages for which the people are waiting. The letter relieve them of their loneliness as they feel wanted and realise that they are cared. loving, cold, official, clever, stupid. long, short, etc. There are typed, printed letters and also letters which are misspelled.

Question 5.
The gradients is against her, but she is on time.
a. Who is being talked about in the above line?
b. What is gradient and why is it against her?
c. What is the significance of ‘but’ here?
d. How does ‘she’ help the people?
Answers:
a. The Night Mail is being talked about in the above line.

b. The ‘gradient’ is the mountain slope here.It is ‘against her’ because she has to climb up to the steep slope.

c. The ‘but’ here signifies that though it is tough going uphills; the train is on time despite the slopy terrain. This signifies that nothing could retard or hinder the movement of the train though she had to pass so many hurdles before reaching her destination. This same nature should also be shown by us.

d. The Night Mail connects people through the letters and messages it brings. The people feel connected on receiving letters. The letters relieve them of their loneliness as they feel wanted and realise their importance in life. They realise that they are being cared for by their friends, relatives, families, beloveds, etc.

The Night Mail Poem MCQs

Question 1.
The Night Mail is ……………..
a. an express train
b. a passenger train
c. a train that carries mail
d. a train that carries goods
Answer:
c. a train that carries mail

Question 2.
On the arrival of the Night Mail the birds are ………..
a. are frightened
b. have flown away
c. are pleased
d. are unconcerned
Answer:
d. are unconcerned

Question 3.
Why do the sheepdogs continue to sleep on the arrival of the train? Because they can’t ………..
a. attack it
b. change her course
c. bite it
d. get into it
Answer:
b. change her course

Question 4.
The Night Mail comes from ………..
a. mountains
b. moorland boulders
c. across the border
d. wind-bent grasses
Answer:
c. across the border

Question 5.
The Night Mail brings cheques and ………..
a. money orders
b. pay orders
c. count orders
d. postal orders
Answer:
d. postal orders

Question 6.
The Night Mail brings letters for the ………..at the corner.
a. house
b. farm
c. shop
d. slum
Answer:
c. shop

Question 7.
The is against her but she is on time.
a. moorland boulder
b. grassland
c. sceptre
d. gradient
Answer:
d. gradient

Question 8.
Birds turn their heads as the Night Mail ………..
a. snorts
b. approaches
c. passes
d. turns
Answer:
b. approaches

Question 9.
What does gently shake in the bedroom when the Night Mail passes?
a. a jug
b. a table
c. a glass
d. a cuo
Answer:
a. a jug

Question 10.
The train passes silent miles of ………..
a. moorland
b. wind-bent grasses
c. cotton grass
d. farmlands
Answer:
b. wind-bent grasses

Question 11.
How do the birds react when the train comes?
a. they began to chirp
b. they fly away
c. they fall asleep
d. they turn their heads to see it
Answer:
d. they turn their heads to see it

Question 12.
The train descends or climbs down __________ when dawn freshens.
a. Glasgow
b. Scotland
c. Edinburgh
d. Hebrides
Answer:
a. Glasgow

Question 13.
The four colours of the letter mentioned by the poet in the poem are ………….
a. yellow, pink, white and blue
b. red, blue, pink and yellow
c. pink, violet, white and blue
d. red, violet, blue and white
Answer:
c. pink, violet, white and blue

Question 14.
Pulling up Battock, a steady climb
a. Going away from the border of the Beattock fast
b. Going towards the border of the Beattock slowly
c. Going towards the border of the Beattock fast
d. Going away from the border of Beattock slowly
Answer:
b. Going towards the border of the Beattock slowly

Question 15.
Silent miles of wind-bent grasses.
a. small roads where winds bend grasses
b. small grass bent by winds
c. long grass bent by winds
d. long roads where the winds bend the grass
Answer:
d. long roads where the winds bend the grass

Question 16.
Asleep is granite
a. Aberdeen
b. Edinburgh
c. London
d. Scotland
Answer:
a. Aberdeen

Question 17.
Who wakes up when the train passes the farm?
a. everybody
b. a baby
c. no-one
d. farmers
Answer:
c. no-one

Question 18.
The Night Mail shovels over her shoulder
a. black smoke
b. white steam
c. hot vapours
d. dark steam
Answer:
b. white steam

Question 19.
By what does the train pass?
a. cotton grass
b. cotton fields
c. cotton mills
d. cotton balls
Answer:
a. cotton grass

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers

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

July 16, 2024July 15, 2024 by Phani

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

Comprehension – l.

Answer the following questions in 80-100 words.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Comprehension – II

Answer the following questions in 350-400 words.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the Bazaars of Hyderabad Poem Summary in English

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the Bazaars of Hyderabad Poem Summary in Telugu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In The Bazaars of Hyderabad – Sarojinin Naidu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Glossary:

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

OU Degree 1st Sem English Study Material

Bonku Babu’s Friend Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

July 16, 2024July 15, 2024 by Prasanna

Bonku Babu’s Friend Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

A. Read the passage and answer the questions:

No one had ever seen Bonku Babu get cross. To tell the truth, it was difficult to imagine what he might say or do if one day he did get angry. It was not as if there was never any reason for him to lose his temper. For the last twenty-two years, Bonku Babu had taught geography and Bengali at the Kankurgachhi Village Primary School.

Every year, a new batch of students replaced the old one, but old or new, the tradition of teasing poor Bonku Babu continued among all the students. Some drew his cartoon on the blackboard; others put glue on his chair; or, on the night of Kali Puja, they lit a chasing-rocket and set it off right behind him. Bonku Babu did not get upset by any of this. Only sometimes, he cleared his throat and said, “Shame on you, boys!”

Answer the Following Questions

Question 1.
Why did no one have ever seen Bonku Babu get cross?
Answer:
Bonku Babu was a calm-head and timid person who, though knowledgeable, could not protest against the humiliation he had to face everywhere. Therefore no one had ever seen him get cross.

Question 2.
What was the profession of Bonku Babu?
Answer:
Bonku Babu was a teacher of Bengali and Geography at the Kankurgachi Village Primary School. He had been teaching there for 22 years. He was popular among his students. He was good in his job yet he faced various problems in his workplace.

Question 3.
How was the relationship between Bonku Babu and his students?
Answer:
Though Bonku Babu was a good and kind-hearted person, he always used to get taunted by his students. Students made fun of him by drawing his cartoon on the blackboard or putting glue on his chair or chasing a rocket behind him at the Kalipuja. They made his life miserable at the school.

Question 4.
What would happen if one-day Bonku Babu get angry?
Answer:
No one had ever seen Bonku Babu getting angry. He used to teach in a primary school for 22 years, tolerating all the teasing and taunting. He never protested. Sometimes he just as said “Shane on you, boys!” But that was just a mild comment compared to what he had to face every day. So if he ever would lose his temper, no one would know what he would do or say or how would he react.

B. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow:

During the weekend, Bonku Babu went to the lawyer, Sripati Majumdar’s house, to spend the evenings with other regulars. On a number of occasions, he had come back thinking “Enough, never again!” The reason was simply that he could put up with the pranks played by the boys in his school, but when grown-ups, even middle-aged men started playing the fool with him, it became too much to bear. At these addas that Sripati Babu hosted in the evenings, nearly everyone poked fun at Bonku Babu, sometimes bringing his endurance almost to breaking point.

Answer the Following Questions:

Question 1.
Where did Bonku Babu use to go on weekends?
Answer:
On weekends, Bonku Babu used to go to the lawyer Sripati Majumdar’s house to spend his evening time with his fellow-mates.

Question 2.
Why did he think “enough, never again”?
Answer:
Not only his students but also the grown-ups even the middle-aged men used to play pranks on him and poked fun at him. At Sripati Babu’s adda, nearly everyone used to taunt him which sometimes brought his endurance at the breaking point. At this, he used to think “enough, never again”.

Question 3.
What became too much to bear for Bonku Babu and why?
Answer:
Bonku Babu used to get bullied by his students at school each and every day. He somehow tolerated all those. But when he went to Sripati Babu’s place, even the adults used to make fun of him. They used to taunt him and tease him in their own way which made him very sad. So that is why these insults and mockery became too much to bear for Bonku Babu.

Question 4.
What idea do you get about Bonku Babu’s condition from the above mentioned passage?
Answer:
From the above mentioned passage, we came to know that Bonku Babu was in a very troubled position. He always got bullied by the children and the adults. These made him feel sad and miserable. Though he wanted to protest, he could not.

C. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow

On one particular day, the topic of conversation was space – in other words, they were talking of spaceships and space-travel. Soon after sunset, a moving point of light had been seen in the northern sky. A similar light was seen three months ago, which had led to much speculation.

In the end, it had turned out to be a Russian satellite, called Khotka – or was it Phoska? Anyway, this satellite was supposed to be going round the earth at a height of 400 miles, and providing a lot of valuable information to scientists.

That particular evening, Bonku Babu was the first to spot the strange light. Then he called Nidhu Babu and showed it to him. However, when he arrived at the meeting he found that Nidhu Babu had coolly claimed full credit for being the first person to see it, and was boasting a great deal about it.

Bonku Babu said nothing. No one in the group knew much about satellites, but that did not stop them from offering their views. Said Chandi Babu, “You can say what you like, but I don’t think we should waste our time worrying about satellites

Answer the Following Questions

Question 1.
What were they talking on one particular day?
Answer:
On one particular day, as Bonku Babu was at Sripati Babu’s place, everyone was busy at discussing about a specific topic. They were talking about spaceships and space-travel.

Question 2.
Why was Bonku Babu silent?
Answer:
One evening, while Bonku babu and Nidhu was together, Bonku Babu saw a strange light and showed it to Nidhu Babu. But at their adda, Nidhu Babu took full credit of it and told everyone that he was the first person to see it. This kind of humiliated him so Bonku Babu was silent.

Question 3.
Why did no one in the group know about satellites?
Answer:
No one in the group did not have much knowledge about satellites and so they did not have any idea about what the name of the satellite or where it had been seen. They did not care about it at all.

Question 4.
After reading the above mentioned passage, what idea do you form about the people of Sripati Babu’s adda?
Answer:
The people of Sripati Babu’s place were not at all concerned about anything. They simply used to come there and gossip about anything they did not care. They considered Bonku Babu as an in signifant person that is why they simply ignored him.

D. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow:

A few moments later, Bonku Babu – still fixed stiffly at the same spot – saw that the object gradually stopped ‘breathing’. All at once, his ears ceased ringing and the humming stopped. A second later, a voice spoke, shattering the silence of the night.

It sounded human, but was extraordinarily thin. “Milipi-ping kruk! Milipi-ping kruk!” it said loudly. Bonku Babu jumped a little. What did it mean? What language was this? And where was the speaker? The next words the voice spoke made his heart jump again.

“Who are you? Who are you?”
Why, these were English words! Was the question addressed to him? Bonku Babu swallowed. “I am Bonkubihari Datta, sir, Bonkubihari Datta,” he replied.
“Are you English? Are you English?” the voice went on.
“No, sir!” Bonku Babu shouted back. “Bengali, sir. A Bengali kayastha.”
This was followed by a short pause. Then the voice came back, speaking clearly: “Namaskar!” Bonku Babu heaved a sigh of relief and returned the greeting.

“Namaskar!” he said, suddenly realizing that the invisible bonds that were holding him tightly had disappeared. He was free to run away, but he did not. Now his astounded eyes could see that a portion of the glass mound was sliding to one side, opening out like a door.

Answer the Following Questions

Question 1.
What stopped ‘breathing’?
Answer:
Once, while returning from Sripati Babu’s place, Bonku Babu saw a strange object. The object seemed mysterious and unearthly. That object made Bonku Babu immobile and stopped ‘breathing’.

Question 2.
What did Bonku Bihari suddenly realise?
Answer:
Bonku Babu suddenly realised that the invisible bonds that were holding him tightly had disappeared. Though he was now free to flee, he stayed instead as he wanted to know more about what was to come. He was surprised and somewhat afraid, but he decided not to go.

Question 3.
Why did the strange creature change his language?
Answer:
At first, the creature was talking in his own language which was not understandable to Bonku Babu. So, to communicate with him, he changed his language.

Question 4.
How was the meeting between Bonku Babu and the alien?
Answer:
For, Bonku Babu the meeting was at first scary. He was also confused about what he was witnessing. But when the started their conversation, it slowly became interning and enlightening for both of them, especially Bonku Babu. He was really started to like taking with the Alien.

E. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow:

The creature walked slowly towards Bonku Babu, and stopped only a few feet away. Then it gave him a steady, unblinking stare. Automatically, Bonku Babu found himself folding his hands. Having stared at him for nearly a minute, it spoke in the same voice that sounded more like a flute than anything else, “Are you human?”
“Yes!”
“Is this Earth?”
“Yes!”
“Ah, I thought as much. My instruments are not working properly. I was supposed to go to Pluto. I wasn’t sure where I had landed, so I spoke to you first in the language they use on Pluto. When you didn’t reply, I could tell I had lartded on Earth. A complete waste of time and effort. It happened once before. Instead of going to Mars, I veered off and went to Jupiter. Delayed me by a whole day, it did. Heh heh heh!”

Answer the Following Questions

Question 5.
When did Bonku Babu find himself folding his hands?
Answer:
Walking towards Bonku Babu, when he stopped only a few feet away and gave a steady and unblinking stare at him, his hands folded automatically.

Question 6.
What did the creature ask Bonku Babu after giving him a stare? What happened to the creature previously?
Answer:
After staring at Bonku Babu, he asked him if he was human. When Bonku Babu replied ‘yes’, he asked again if that was earth. Previously, he went to Jupiter instead of going to Mars

Question 7.
How did the creature realize that he reached earth?
Answer:
The spaceship in which the creature was travelling had some faults in its instruments. He was supposed to go to Pluto. When he landed, he wasn’t sure about the place. But when he asked Bonku Babu in the language they use in Pluto he did not reply but when he asked in English and Bonku Babu replied, he understood. That is.,why he realized that he reached earth.

Question 8.
How did the meeting with Ang change Bonku Babu’s life?
Answer:
Bonku Babu was a good-natured and calm-head person who was always treated badly by his students as well as fellow-mates. But he never protested and endured everything. The meeting with Ang helped him open up his mind and change his point of view. Ang’s friendly and easy-going nature helped to boost up his confidence. He was finally able to speak for himself. In this way, Ang made Bonku Babu’s life better.

Bonku Babu’s Friend Story Poem MCQs

Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

Question 1.
Why did Banku Babu not run away?
a. His legs and hands were tied.
b. He wanted to know who or what was the cause of the strange happening in the grove.
c. He could not feel his leg.
Answer:
b. He wanted to know who or what was the cause of the strange happening in the grove.

Question 2.
Why did the creature realize that he was not on Pluto?
a. Bonku Babu did not reply to the strange language that he spoke.
b. There were no animals.
c. The plants looked different.
Answer:
a. Bonku Babu did not reply to the strange language that he spoke.

Question 3.
Why was Banku Babu a mild-mannered man?
a. He never laughed.
b. He never reacted even when the students teased him.
c. He was afraid of the alien.
Answer:
b. He never reacted even when the students teased him.

Question 4.
Why did Bonku Babu almost jump up?
a. He could not hear the voice clearly.
b. He was frightened of the strange creature in front of him.
c. He could not understand who was talking and what was being said.
Answer:
c. He could not understand who was talking and what was being said.

Question 5.
When did Bonku Babu feel very uncomfortable?
a. The creature examined him by pressing his arms and legs with his fingers.
b. The creature spoke to him.
c. The creature tried to poke him.
Answer:
a. The creature examined him by pressing his arms and legs with his fingers.

Question 6.
What was the creature’s fault?
a. He did not speak up against bribery.
b. He did not have a bath every day.
c. He allowed people to hurt and insult him.
Answer:
c. He allowed people to hurt and insult him.

Question 7.
Why Sripati Majumdar used to invite people in his house?
a. So that he could talk to them.
b. It made him feel important.
c. He liked feeding them.
Answer:
b. It made him feel important.

Question 8.
Why was Chandi Babu not interested to talk about rockets?
a. He had not seen them take off.
b. He would get burnt if he went near them.
c. He was afraid of them.
Answer:
a. He had not seen them take off.

Question 9.
Why did Nidhu Babu and others laugh at Bonku Babu?
a. He wanted to know what would happen if aliens landed on earth.
b. They thought he was stupid.
c. He was so quiet.
Answer:
b. They thought he was stupid.

Question 10.
Why did Bonku Babu leave Sripati Majumdar’s house early?
a. He wanted to meet the alien
b. He wanted to rest at home
c. He was tired of being made fun of
Answer:
c. He was tired of being made fun of

Question 11.
from the pink light was coming?
a. A bowl of water with coloured fish in it.
b. A giant football in the field.
c. An unturned giant glass bowl.
Answer:
c. An unturned giant glass bowl.

Question 12.
Why did Ang leave in his spaceship?
a. He had to go to the planet Pluto.
b. Bonku Babu told him to go away.
c. He had some other work
Answer:
a. He had to go to the planet Pluto.

Question 13.
Which subjects does Banku Babu teach in school?
a. Bengali and English
b. Geography and Bengali
c. History
Answer:
b. Geography and Bengali

Question 14.
What is the profession of Sripati Majumdar?
a. A teacher
b. A doctor
c. A lawyer
Answer:
c. A lawyer

Question 15.
A moving point of light had been seen in which part of the sky?
a. Northern sky
b. Southern part of the sky
c. Middle sky
Answer:
b. Southern part of the sky

Question 16.
How many months ago was a similar light seen?
a. Two month ago
b. Three month ago
c. One month ago
Answer:
b. Three month ago

Question 17.
At what height the Russian satellite was to be going round the earth?
a. 400 miles
b. 200 miles
c. 500 miles
Answer:
a. 400 miles

Question 18.
Who first spotted the Russian satellite?
a. Sripati Babu
b. Nidhu Babu
c. Banku Babu
Answer:
c. Banku Babu

Question 19.
Who was the owner of the bamboo grove?
a. Banku Babu
b. Poncha Ghosh
c. Nidhu Babu
Answer:
b. Poncha Ghosh

Question 20.
Who wrote the story ‘Bonku Babu’s Friend’?
a. Rabindra Nath Tagore
b. Satyajit Ray
c. None of these
Answer:
a. Rabindra Nath Tagore

Question 21.
For how many days was Bonku Babu injured?
a. 3 days
b. 4 days
c. 1 month
Answer:
a. 3 days

Question 22.
Who dropped his cup after hearing Bonku Babu’s speech?
a. Poncha Ghosh
b. Nidhu Babu
c.Ramkanai
Answer:
c.Ramkanai

Question 23.
In which year did Satayajit Ray die?
a. 1992
b. 1991
c. 1993
Answer:
a. 1992

Question 24.
“Is there any place that you have wished to visit, or a scene that you have longed to see, but never could?’’ Who said this?
a. Nidhu Babu
b. Ang
c. Bonku Babu
Answer:
b. Ang

Question 25.
From which planet did Ang come?
a. Craneus
b. Mars
c. Jupiter
Answer:
a. Craneus

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers

I Remember, I Remember Poem Questions and Answers & MCQs

July 16, 2024July 15, 2024 by Prasanna

I Remember, I Remember Poem Questions and Answers & MCQs

Read the following extracts and answer the following questions:

Question 1.
“He never came a wink too soon,
Nor brought too long a day,

A. Where are the above lines taken from? Who is the poet?
Answer:
The above lines are taken from the poem “I
Remember, I Remember” The poet is Thomas Hood.

B. Who is ‘he’ referred to in the above line? What do lines mean?
Answer:
‘He’ in the above the line is referred to the sun which is being personified.
He never came wink too soon, nor brought too long a day means the sun which was neither early

C. Why was the day never too long for the poet?
Answer:
The poet as a child was always occupied with several activities around him. He derived his happiness from various natural elements and hence the day was never too long for him.

D. Do you think the above lines indicate that the poet possible finds his day long now? Why?
Answer:
Yes, the lines indicate that the poet finds his days too long now, as there is not much joy in his present days when compared to his childhood days which were always joyful and was full of joyful activities.

Question 2.
The tree is living yet!

A. Which tree is referred to the above line? Who planted it?
Answer:
The tree in the above line is referred to the laburnum tree that the poet’s brother had planted on his birthday.

B. Why does the poet uses the word ‘yet’ in the above line?
Answer:
Thomas Hood uses ‘yet’ in the above line to make it understand that though the tree had been planted long by his brother and with the fleeting time, his brother is dead but the tree is still alive.

C. What else does he ‘Remember’ before this line? Describe.
Answer:
The poet remembers the different flowers in his garden. He remembers the white and red-coloured roses, the violets, the lilies that used to brighten up his garden. There was also lilacs where the robin built its nest. Apart from laburnum trees, all the flowers could be seen in his garden. He recollect all these in this stanza of the poem.

D. What comparison does the poet give in the first stanza of the poem?
Answer:
The poet in the first stanza gives a comparison between day and night. The day with bright sun, peeping through the window of his room is compared to his childhood days which he remembers to be bright and joyful like the sun. The night is compared to his adulthood which is full of worries and sufferings so he does not want to live.

Question 3.
My spirit flew in feathers then,

A. How did he fly?
Answer:
The poet used to fly in a swing in his childhood days, through and the fresh air.

B. With what did he compare his flying with?
Answer:
The poet compare his flying on the swing with that of a bird. A bird with wings fly lightly and easily. So when he used to swing, he also flew lightly like a bird.

C. What is the meaning of “My spirit ….then?”
Answer:
In his childhood days, the poem led a carefree,innocent, life with childish ignorance and he had a spirit which was free from all sorrows, pains, worries, depression and anxieties. The phase of his childhood was only filled with joy and happiness. So he had an elected and light spirit. So his spirit flew like birds in feathers.

D. How do you think the poets spirit fly when he was a child?
Answer:
The poet, Thomas Hood enjoyed every aspect of nature during his childhood days. He found happiness and solace in the smallest of this around him. So, his spirit used to be happy and light during his childhood days. This was how his spirit flew when he was a child.

Question 4.
It was a childish ignorance.

A. What does ‘it’ refers to?
Answer:
‘It’ refers to the thoughts of the poet as a child which was ignorant of energy truth and reality of the world.

B. Why does the poet refer to it as ‘childish’?
Answer:
The poet had immature thoughts as a child that the fir trees were quite high and their tops almost touched the sky. Now when he is grown up, he is referring to these thoughts as ‘childish’.

C. Is the poet still as ignorant as he was a child? How can you say so?
Answer:
No, the poet is not as ignorant as his childhood days. First of all in the above line the past tense ‘was’ tells that he is not ignorant at present. Secondly after this line he says that now he has little joy since he knows the reality and is aware of the sufferings of the world.

D. What does the poet wants to convey through this poem?
Answer:
Thomas Hood recalls childhood memories and compares his childhood joy with his gloomy present. The poem deals with the wonder of life through childhood memories. The poet writes this poem in a sad mood because he was recollecting his childhood which he can never get back.

In his present time, we find him fed up with his life. So he wants to say that childhood period is the best period or phase of one’s life but with the passage of time when one grows up. His care free to phase of his childhood changes to life full of worries an side pression of adulthood.

Question 5.
‘To know that I’m farther off from heaven’

A. What can you say from the above line, about the poet as a child?
Answer:
The above line suggests and reveals that the poet was happier as a young boy and that he is now away from happiness.

B. Why did the poet feel closer to heaven earlier?
Answer:
Earlier, the poet as a child innocent and found happiness in various elements of nature. He enjoyed whatever the nature offered him and hence he felt close to heaven. It can also be said that childhood days were heavenly as it was happy and satisfied in all ways.

C. Why does the poet feel farther off from heaven now?
Answer:
The word ‘heaven’ in the poem symbolized nature and also the childhood phase itself. The poet was close to nature and since he was ignorant of the present world which is full of troubles and worries, he found happiness which was heavenly. Now, he is unable to connect with things around him. Though he knows everything now but still he does not find the same peace and happiness in nature as his mind is disturbed. Hence he feels that he is farther off from heaven now.

D. The last three lines suggest that the poet has lost his youthful joy and optimism. Do you agree?
Answer:
I agree with this viewpoint. The poet seem to have lost his youthful joy and optimism. He compares the past and the present saying that in the past he was full of life and thus happier. Now he is getting towards the end of his life and he does not have the joy and optimism (My spirit, is so heavy low.. The poet suggest that he is ill (The fever on my brow. and unhappy.

However the poem also suggests that the poet is worried about what will happen after his death. He is concerned that as a child he was closer to heaven than he is now (To know that I’m farther off from heaven/Than when I was a boy..

I Remember, I Remember Poem MCQs

Question 1.
What mood does the poet create?
a. Regretful
b. Nostalgic
c. Cheerful
d. Formidable
Answer:
b. Nostalgic

Question 2.
How does Thomas Hood organize the poem.
a. By describing his joy filled childhood memories and listing his different obstacles in his present life.
b. By showing the effects that his hardships have caused on him
c. By contrasting the joy filled days of the past and the days of pain and sorrow.
d. By providing solutions to his adversity in adulthood.
Answer:
c. By contrasting the joy filled days of the past and the days of pain and sorrow.

Question 3.
What does the poet personifies in the poem?
a. A tree
b. His memory
c. The sun
d. The flowers
Answer:
c. The sun

Question 4.
Which line best represents that he regrets his life as an adult?
a. ‘But now, I often wish the night had borne my breath away’
b. ‘The laburnum on his birthday – The tree is living yet’
c. ‘My spirit flew in feathers then, That is so heavy now’
d. The fir trees dark and high ,I used to think their slender tops were close against the sky’
Answer:
a. ‘But now, I often wish the night had borne my breath away’

Question 5.
What is the main theme of the poem?
a. Childhood misery and recollection of sorrows.
b. Childhood unhappiness and recollection of pains.
c. Childhood quilt and recollection of grief.
d. Childhood innocence and recollection of joys.
Answer:
d. Childhood innocence and recollection of joys.

Question 6.
This poem is a ———– poem
a. Reflective and humorous
b. Reflective and emotional
c. Humorous and emotional
d. Reflective and imaginary
Answer:
b. Reflective and emotional

Question 7.
What does the poet despite?
a. Poets house and garden
b. Flowers and birds
c. Poet and his brother
d. A poet’s childhood fantasy with adult reality
Answer:
d. A poet’s childhood fantasy with adult reality

Question 8.
What does the poet by “he never came a wink too soon?”
a. Come on time.
b. Come late
c. Come early
d. Never come
Answer:
a. Come on time.

Question 9.
What flowers are mentioned in the poem?
a. Red and white roses, violets, lilies
b. Tulips, daffodils and roses
c. Poppy, sunflowers and blue bells
d. Rose, tulips and lilies.
Answer:
a. Red and white roses, violets, lilies

Question 10.
Where did the Robin built its nest?
a. In the lilacs
b. On the branch.
c. On top of labumum tree.
d. In the roof
Answer:
a. In the lilacs

Question 11.
Who planted the laburnum tree on his birthday?
a. Speaker’s parents
b. Speaker’s brother
c. Speaker’s uncle
d. Speaker’s friend
Answer:
a. Speaker’s parents

Question 12.
How do the fir trees described in the poem?
a. Dark and high
b. Attractive
c. Tall
d. Short.
Answer:
a. Dark and high

Question 13.
I Remember, I Remember has ending.
a. Unexpected
b. Expected
c. Happy
d. Unhappy
Answer:
d. Unhappy

Question 14.
How did the poet enjoy the freshness of the air?
a. In the boat
b. In the plane
c. On the swing
d. In the house.
Answer:
c. On the swing

Question 15.
What does the author reveal through his use Ian exclamation mark at the end of stanza 3?
a. That he is excited to see he is still alive to view the tree again.
b. That the tree reminds him of his birthday when he planted it.
c. That he is surprised the tree is still alive after all this time.
d. That he is joyful of remembering his brother then planting the tree.
Answer:
c. That he is surprised the tree is still alive after all this time.

Question 16.
What is the poet referring to in terms of “childish ignorance”?
a. The size and adversity of the world.
b. The passing of time
c. The speed at which he approaches death
d. His soul reaching for the heaven.
Answer:
a. The size and adversity of the world.

Question 17.
The poem “I Remember, I Remember” is about ………….
a. Nature love
b. Mortality and immortality
c. Growing up
d. Romanticism
Answer:
c. Growing up

Question 18.
“He never came a wink too soon” Identify the figure of speech.
a. Metaphor
b. Personification
c. Simile
d. None of the above
Answer:
b. Personification

Question 19.
The roses in the poem are____ in colour.
a. Pink
b. Red
c. White
d. Both b and c
Answer:
d. Both b and c

Question 20.
The slender tops of the fir trees were close against the____
a. Sky
b. Heaven
c. Roof
d. None of the above
Answer:
a. Sky