FLAMINGO (POETRY & PROSE) XII

INDEX

S.NO CONTENT PAGES

POEMS

1 My Mother at sixty-six 4-14

2 Elementary School Classroom in a Slum 14-33

3 A Thing of Beauty 34-45

4 Keeping Quiet 45-56

5 Roadside Stand 56-71

6 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers 72-82

CHAPTERS

1 The Last Lesson 83-101

2 Lost Spring 102-127

3 Deep Water 127-147

4 The Rattrap 148-174

5 Indigo 175-198

6 Poets & Pancakes 199-222

7 The Interview 223-242

8 Going Places 242-259

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 It promotes health and happiness.

 That is why, in spite of disappointments, hard ships and sorrows
 We weave garlands of flowers
 They bind us to earth
 Remove sadness from our spirits.

Beautiful objects of Nature ---

 Sun, moon
 Young and old trees
 Shady bower
 Daffodils
 Small streams
 Fair musk rose, flower

Beautiful art and literature ---

 Tales of mighty heroes
 Their glorious lives
 Their great fall and end
 Endless fountain of immortal drink
 Have a lasting impression on Man

7. STANZAS FOR COMPREHENSION

(1)

A things of beauty is a joy forever its loveliness increases, it will never pass into
nothingness; but will keep a bower quiet for us, and a sleep full of sweet dreams,
and health, and quiet breathing.

(a) What kind of joy does a beautiful thing provide ?

A thing of beauty provides eternal and everlasting joy to us because it leaves
an indelible imprint in our mind and we relive the joyful experience
whenever we think about it.

(b) Explain : “Its loveliness increases.”

Joy multiplies with every beautiful thought. Likewise the loveliness of a
beautiful thing increases manifold each time we visualize it on our mind
screen.

(c) What does the poet mean by saying ‘it will never pass into nothingness’
?
The joy a beautiful thing provides is eternal. The imprint it leaves on our
mind is indelible. Thus its loveliness can never fade away or die out.

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(d) According to Keats, what treasures does a beautiful thing store for us
?
The poet feels that a thing of beauty can never fade into nothingness, but
will store for us, a quiet bower, a sleep full of sweet dreams, and a healthy,
quiet breathing.

(e) Explain : ‘sleep full of sweet dreams.’

The joy Beauty give us is akin to the joy of a blissful sleep full of pleasant
dreams.

(f) What does ‘quiet breathing’ imply ?

The reference implies to the sense of peace and serenity that one
experiences on seeing beautiful things. Beautiful sights act like nutrition for
a healthy mind and thus refresh and relax us by driving away aggression
and restlessness.

(2)

Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing a flowery band us to the earth, spite
of despondence, of the inhuman dearth of all the unhealthy and o’er – darkened
ways male for our searching.

(a) What, according to the poet do we try doing every morning ?

Life on earth would be a pain without the beauty around us, so the poet feels
that every morning we weave a wreath of flowers which bind us to the earth
and make us live our life.

(b) Explain : ‘wreathing a flowery band to bind us to the earth.’

Keats, as a worshipper of beauty, felt that life on earth would not be worth
living without its treat of beauty. In this expression he expresses a similar
feeling as he feels that every morning we weave a beautiful string of flowers
or memories which help us to support ourselves on earth and motivate us to
live our life here, which would otherwise have been a pain.

(c) What does the expression ‘spite of despondence’ imply ?

The poet sees life as a struggle where man often suffers pain and loss of
hope. The expression refers to the suffering and hopelessness of man which
he experiences at various junctures in life.

(d) Why is there an ‘inhuman dearth of noble natures ?

Man is selfish and self – centred by nature. There are only a few who enjoy
such nobility of character as to rise above their petty differences and show
magnanimity and generosity. On this earth, there is surely a dearth or
shortage of such noble souls.

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(e) What makes our days gloomy ?

Life is a struggle for success. Our path towards success gets obstructed by
the deceit and selfishness of our colleagues. We suffer the pangs of defeat
and loss of hope which makes our life sad and disdainful.

(f) Explain : ‘unhealthy and o’er – darkened ways.’

To be able to enjoy the light at the dark end of the tunnel, one has to cross
and transcend the darkness. The unhealthy and over – darkened ways refer
to the trials and tribulations one encounters in this journey of life.

(3)

Yes, in spite of all, Some shape of beauty moves away the pall from our dark spirits.
Such the sun, the moon, trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon for simple
sheep; and such are daffodils with the green world they live in

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

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

(b) What, according to the poet, drives away the sadness from our life ?
Beauty, in any shape or form, helps in driving away the sadness and despair
from the dark recesses of our spirit.

(c) What images of beauty has the poet referred to here?

The poet sees beauty at its best, through the various objects of nature. He
appreciates this simple and serene beauty through the image of the sun, the
moon, the trees, the sheep, the daffodils and the green pastures and rivers.

(d) How does the poet celebrate the beauty of a ‘tree ?

The poet sees the tree, whether young or old, as a symbol of protection.
Nature, through the trees showers on us the blessing of ‘shade’, protecting
us from heat, intensive light of the sun and also from rain.

(e) What does the reference’s ‘simple sheep’ symbolize ?

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

(f) Explain: ‘With the green world they live in.’

Nature’s beauty is at its best in the lush green surroundings of meadows and
pastures which provide the life support to all plants and animals. No living

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creature can be happy away from nature, and it is in this green world that
they find the true joy and happiness of life.

(4)

That for themselves a cooling covert make ‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest
brake, rich with a sprinkling of fair musk – rose blooms; and such too is the
grandeur of the dooms
(a) What does ‘clear rills’ refer to ?
‘Clear rills’ refers to the rivers and streams which are the natural source of
water, the elixir of life.

(b) How are they beneficial to mankind ?

Streams are rivers, the elixir of human life. Their beautiful sight provides
cooling effect which provides respite in the hot season.

(c) Explain: ‘the mid forest brake.’

Nature is beautiful in all its aspects. The poet enjoys nature’s beauty in the
thick forest undergrowth which is brimming with the growth of musk – rose
flowers.

(d) What does ‘grandeur of the dooms’ imply ?

Growth and decay march hand in hand in nature andthus are the two vital
aspects of life. The poet sees beauty in the magnificent decay and death of
these beautiful bring creations of nature.

(e) What contrasting aspects of life has the poet referred here ?
Life is a blend of warmth and coolness; growth and decay. Every season,
every aspect of life contrasts with the other and has its own charm and
beauty. The lines beautifully bring to light these contrasting aspects of life

(5)

We have imagined for the mighty dead; all lovely tales that we have heard or read;
an endless fountain of immortal drink, pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.

(a) Who are the ‘mighty dead’ ?

The ‘mighty dead’ refers to those great men and warriors who glorified
death by embracing it most gracefully and magnificently.

(b) Why does the poet make this reference ?

The poet refers to the ‘mighty dead’ because beauty can be seen not only in
birth and growth, but also in a magnificent death.
(c) What ‘lovely tales have we heard or read’ ?
A glorified and magnificent death gets recorded in the leaves of history,
leaving an indelible imprint on it. It remains an everlasting source of

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motivation to all those who read or hear about such great men who achieved
glory in death.

(d) What is referred to as an ‘endless fountain of immortal drink’ ?

Beauty, in all respects, whether in growth or in decay, is a perennial source
of motivation. It is an endless fountain from where we can drink the
immortal elixir of life.

(e) Explain : “Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.”

Beauty is the greatest gift of God to man which has been showered upon us
from the heavens above. This beauty is eternal and everlasting, in whose
glory men on earth bask and derive their perennial source of joy and
happiness.

8. SHORT ANSWERS (30 - 40 MARKS)

1. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem ?

Or
What images of beauty does the poet refer to ?
The poet sees shades and colours of beauty in the sun, the moon, the trees,
the innocence of the sheep, the blossoming of the daffodils, the rivers and
streams, mass of ferns, blooming musk – roses and in every aspect of this
green world we live in.

2. List the things that cause suffering and pain.

Or
What pains and sufferings of life have been referred to by the poet in
the poem?
Keats was a sensuous poet and worshipper beauty for which he nurtured
overwhelming passion. But, the pain and sufferings of his life made him
realize that sorrow and suffering were central to life. Even while celebrating
beauty in full measure in this poem, Keats could not remain indifferent to
the pain and hopelessness one suffers on account of the inhuman dearth of
noble natures on earth or the hostile and inhuman attitude that makes our
days gloomy and darkens our ways with despair and despondence.

3. What does the line, therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind
us to earth’ suggest to you ?
Himself a beautiful creation of God, Man has a special relationship with all
things beautiful. Beauty makes this life and world worth living in for him.
He lives for beauty, seeks beauty and experiences beauty.

4. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings
?
No doubt, life on earth is a saga of suffering and pain, but the intermittent
phases of joy and happiness, which beautify life, make human beings love

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life. The treat of natural beauty which abounds, the clear rivers, the gurgling
brooks, the thick forest vegetation – all motivate us to love life with all its
shades of troubles and sufferings.

5. Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’ ?

Beauty, for Keats, was not just sensuous but also intellectual and spiritual.
A magnificent death of a warrior, or a selfless sacrifice, has its own
grandeur. Thus, the poet associates grandeur with the mighty dead because
he saw spiritual and intellectual beauty in their own grandeur and
magnificent death. growth and decay go hand in hand in nature and both
have their own grandeur and beauty. Likewise, a brave and grand death
makes one immortal.

6. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments of do they

make a lasting impression on us ?
According to John Keats, things of beauty make a lasting impression on us.
They are a source of joy forever. Their beauty survives the ravages of time
and continues to live in our thoughts. The loveliness of a thing of beauty
never ceases to be and never passes into nothingness.

7. What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the
earth ?
The poet uses the image of a perennial fountain fountain which pours forth
bounties on earth in the form of immortal drink from the heavens above.
The sun, the moon, the trees, the sheep, the daffodils and the green pastures
and clear rivers are images and reflections of the bounties of beauties of
beauty on earth which God has bestowed on us.

8. What makes the poet believe that a thing of beauty can never pass into
nothingness?
As a worshipper of beauty, Keats staunchly believes that loveliness of
beauty increases manifold as we reflect upon that thought again and again.
Thus the joy derived from a beautiful object lingers on and can never fade
away of die.

9. How does beauty leave an indelible imprint on our mind ?

Man treasures beautiful thoughts and sights in his mind for they provide
him respite and relaxation in his gloomy days. Beauty thus leaves its imprint
in the form of sweet dreams. The feelings of serenity and positive vibrations
it inculcates, soothe and relax the turbulent mind.

10. How, according to the poet, does the darkness and despair of life wither
away ?
At a very young age, Keats had to struggle against the odds of life and hence
he saw sorrow and suffering as the inevitable truth of life. He found respite
in things of beauty, and here too he voices his love for beauty when he says

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that the darkness and despair of life disappears with shapes and sights of
beauty.

11. How does the poem highlight Keats’ yearning for ‘ideal beauty ?
Keats loved the principle of beauty in all things. He visualized beauty as
eternal. But merely physical, sensuous beauty cannot be eternal for it fades
away with time. The beauty that Keats refers to is spiritual beauty, or the
beauty of ideas i.e. realization of truth, which transcends time and space. It
is this ideal beauty that he refers to in the poem, for according to him
‘Beauty is Truth, Truth a Beauty, - that is all’.

12. What philosophy of life is highlighted in the poem ?

Keats worshipped beauty both at its sensouos and spiritual level. All his
poetry reveals a yearning for that lofty loveliness which is real and true. His
passion for beauty, however, did not keep him untouched with the pain and
suffering of life which he saw as the central fact of life. As an escapist, he
found refuge from the pains and sufferings of life in beauty itself. He
believes that beauty ‘moves away the pall from our dark spirits’, making us
love life despite its sorrows and suffering.

13. How does the poem highlight the poet’s immense faith in the diving ?
Keats believed in the oneness of truth and beauty which can be spiritual and
not physical. He saw truth and beauty as the common attributes of the divine
reality. Nature, he felt, was beautiful. The sun, the moon and the stars all
are beautiful only because such beauties are a reflection of the beauty and
majesty of their maker, who is the highest truth. In the concluding lines of
the poem the poet refers to his faith in the divine beauty when he sees nature
as an endless fountain which pours forth its bounties on earth from the
heavens above.

14 What is the myth of Endymion?

Endymion was a handsome shepherd boy of Asia Minor, the mortal lover
of the moon goddess Selene (Cynthia). Each night he was kissed to sleep by
her. She begged Zeus to grant him eternal life. Zeus complied, putting
Endymion into eternal sleep and each night Selene visited him on Mt.
Latmus. The ancient Greeks believed that his grave was situated on this
mountain. Selene and Endymion were believed to have fifty daughters.

15. Explain : ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever.’

It means that the effect of beauty on the soul creates joy that will last forever.
Beauty decreases the effect of the negativity that we come across in life by
life’s dark and gloomy aspects. It relieves us from being weighed down by
worldly worries. Like a true Romantic poet, Keats believes in the power of
nature to heal and give happiness.

16. According to Keats’ nature has a positive impact on us. Discuss.

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Keats writes about nature in two ways: First, he describes the beauty in
nature and secondly, he tells us about the joy and relief nature can bring to
us. Here he refers to the sun, the moon, daffodils, and trees, stating that their
beauty gives to life a meaning and significance. He also states that it is
important to keep the beauty of nature with one even when it grows fainter,
and to look forward to its resurrection. It can elevate one’s mood. Moreover,
beauty is timeless and is with us to stay forever.

17. Keats feels that Nature binds us to the earth. How does he justify this ?
According to Keats, man has a strong relationship with nature. Man is
intertwined to this earth despite the gloom and misery. This band that ties
us down is not like shackles that chain us. On the contrary, it is ‘flowery’ –
welcoming and pleasurable. It also implies that beauty keeps us happy and
cheerful although we may have ‘dark spirits’. The beauty in life ‘is a joy
forever’ because of some natural kinship of beauty towards joy and
permanence.

KEEPING QUIET
(Pablo Neruda)

1. ABOUT THE POET

The real name of Pablo Neruda (1904 – 1973) was Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto.
Neruda spent his early childhood in Temuco, Chile.
In 1920, he adopted the pen name Pablo Neruda in the memory of Czechoslovak
poet Jan Neruda.
Until his death on September 23, 1973, Pablo remained active in the political and
literary arena of his country. Forced to live in and out of Chile on several occasions
due to his political views and activities and diplomatic assignments, Neruda
continued to write prolifically. Much of his poetry bears a stamp of his political
activities and is an expression of his repression during his exile.
Neruda was conferred the Nobel Prize for Literature in the year 1971.

2(a). THEME
‘If speech is silver, silence is golden’, for in the vast treasure of deep silence once
can find a large resource of peace and tranquility. In the hidden recesses of silence,
all digressions disappear for one is with oneself at one’s peaceful best. Silence
creates an exotic moment, where one forgets ones differences; wars come to a
standstill and a feeling of brotherhood prevails. The poem “Keeping Quiet”
celebrates the necessity of introspection and the advantage of ‘doing nothing’ for
sometime in life. Much of the evil disappears in the depths of a silent and inactive

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 In his innocence wonders if pigeons too will coo in German (The irony of the
situation is highlighted).
 Understands the feeling of the old Hauser

Empathises with M. Hamel

 Franz is quick to understand M. Hamel’s sense of helplessness.
 After learning about the reasons for the changed atmosphere, Franz accepts him
with all his faults.
 He observes Mr. Hamel’s effort to control his emotions

9. (30 – 40 words) (2 marks)

Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What were Franz’s feelings as he set out for school ? Why ?

When Franz set out for school, he was petrified since he had started very late for
school in the morning and secondly, he was very scared of a scolding that he would
get from M. Hamel, who had to question them on participles. So in order to escape
this, he thought of running away and spending the day outdoors.

2. What was Franz tempted to do instead of going to school and being

reprimanded ?

Franz was tempted to run away and spend the day outdoors as the weather was
warm and bright. Moreover, he wanted to go in the open field behind the sawmill
and watch the Prussian soldiers drilling. All this seemed much more tempting than
going to school, where he knew he would be scolded for not learning his grammar
lesson in participles.

3. On the way to school, where did Franz see a crowd ? What was the
significance? What was the news that day ?
Franz saw a crowd near the town hall in front of the bulletin – board. For the last
two years all the news that they had got, had come from the bulletins that were
pasted there. Generally they got bad news such as the lost battles, the draft, the
orders of the commanding officer etc. Though unknown to Franz, that day the
notice read that the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine had passed into Prussian
hands. Hence German would be the language of the people and not French.

4. What did the narrator (Franz) find so unusual about the school that morning?
What caused that change ?
Normally there was a great hustle and bustle in the school during morning hours.
The opening and closing of desks and the sounds of students repeating lessons in
unison led to a lot commotion. Likewise, the rapping of the teacher’s great ruler
could be heard out in the street. However, now it was so still. That day everything
was ‘as quiet as Sunday morning’.

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5. Why was Franz disappointed when he saw the absolute calm of the school ?
Franz was late to school because he was dithering about going there. He was
banking on the usual noisy activity to get to his desk without being seen. But this
day, surprisingly, through the window he saw his classmates, already in their
places, and M. Hamel walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his
arm. The day, calm and quiet as Sunday morning, made it impossible for him to
sneak into class unnoticed. This terrified ham.

6. Franz was even more surprised when he entered his class ? What were the
reasons ?
Franz was surprised to see the calm when he reached school. He was even more
surprised when he reached his class. The first thing that shocked him was his
teacher’s attitude. M. Hamel just looked at him kindly and told him to go to his
desk. He then noticed that his teacher was formally dressed in the attire he never
wore except on special occasions. But the thing that surprised him most was that
on the back benches, that were always empty, the village people were sitting quietly
like the students.

7. What did M. Hamel announce at the start of the lesson ?

Franz was wondering about all the strange happenings in the school that he had
observed when M. Hamel let the cat out of the bag. He was very serious and grim.
He said that it was the last French lesson that he would give them. There was an
order from Berlin that day to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and
Lorraine. They would get a new master. As this was their was last French lesson,
he wanted them to be very attentive.

8. How did Franz’s feelings toward schoolwork and schoolbooks suddenly

change ?
When M. Hamel made the announcement that it was the last day for them to study
French, Franz was very disappointed. He felt even worse as he barely knew how to
write French and now he could never learn any more. He was sorry for ot learning
his lessons, for looking for birds’ eggs, or going sliding on the Saar. His books that
had seemed such a trouble a while ago seemed as dear as old friends. He felt that
he couldn’t give them up. The idea of M. Hamel going away also made him feel
very sorry.

9. Why were the villagers in the class that day ?

The announcement on the bulletin board categorically stated that only German
would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The old men of the village
were sitting there in the back of the room because they were sorry, too, that they
had not gone to school for a longer period of time. It was their way of thanking the
master for his forty years of faithful service and of showing their respect for the
country that was no more theirs.

10. What was M. Hamel’s reaction to Franz not being able to answer a question
on participles ?

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When Franz could not recite the rules for the participle, he was very scared of what
M. Hamel would say. But much to his surprise, M. Hamel did not scold him as
usual. He said that Franz must be feeling bad enough for postponing his learning,
as now there was no time. He was also critical of their parents who preferred to put
them to work for a little more money. He also blamed himself for not doing his duty
faithfully.

11. Why did the teacher advise the children and townspeople to hold onto their
language ?
M. Hamel advised the children and townspeople to hold onto their language, French
because they were of French nationality, and as it was their mother tongue they
ought to know to speak and write their mother tongue. He added that French was
the most beautiful language in the world – the clearest, the most logical and that
they should guard it because when people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to
their language, it is as if they hold the key to their prison.

12. What does M. Hamel say about the importance of language to an ‘enslaved’
people ?
M. Hamel said that the French language was the most beautiful language in the
world. It was the clearest and the most logical. But he said what was even more
important was that it was their language. They must guard and hold fast to their
language because when people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their
language it is as if they have the key to their prison. Hence, a knowledge of French
would help them retain their cultural identity.

13. What was the difference in teaching and learning after the order of the
Government ?
Franz was amazed to see how well he understood his French lesson that day. All
that the teacher taught seemed so easy and he could understand it so effortlessly.
Perhaps, it was because he had never listened so carefully or because M. Hamel
had never explained everything with so mush patience. It seemed almost as if he
wanted to give the students all he knew before going away, in a single stroke. The
teacher and the taught both lamented for the lost time.

14. The announcement of the government transformed the school environment of

the classroom. Justify.
The hustle and bustle caused by the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated
in unison and the teachers’ ruler rapping on the table was replaced by an uncanny
quiet though the school was full of people. They had new copies with : France,
Alsace, written on them. Every one worked very quietly. The teacher was dressed
in his formal clothes and the villagers sat on the back benches to attend his class.
The only sound was the scratching of the pens over the paper.

15. The announcement left M. Hamel heartbroken. How did Franz realize this ?
Franz reached his class late; M. Hamel did not scold him and instead looked at him
kindly. Even when he did not know his lesson, M. Hamel did not scold him. He

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blamed himself for not doing his duty faithfully. He sat still in his chair gazing at
everything in the school – room although nothing had changed in the last forty
years. It seemed that he was trying to take each memory with him. He seemed very
attached to everything and looked sad. Hence it seemed that he was heartbroken to
leave.

16. Quote the emotional moments in class the last day of the French lesson that
were etched on Franz’s mind.
Franz recalled seeing old Hauser of the back of the room. He had put on his
spectacles and was holding his primer in both hands. As he spelled the letter, he
was crying. His voice trembled with emotion. It was so funny to hear him that all
of them wanted to laugh and cry.
After the church – clock struck twelve, the bell announced the time for prayer. They
heard the trumpets of the Prussians, returning from drill. M. Hamel stood up, but
he could not talk as emotions choked him. All he could do was to write ‘Vive La
France!’ on the blackboard. Then he took support of the wall, and, without a word,
he signaled to them to go.

17. Why had M. Hamel put on his fine Sunday clothes ? Why were the old men of
the village sitting there in the back of the classroom ?

To ‘honour his French lesson’ M. Hamel put on his fine Sunday clothes. The old
men of the village came to show their sympathy and respect to the teacher. They
felt sorry that they had not gone to school. They thanked M. Hamel for his forty
years of faithful service. They even come to show their respect to France and their
most beautiful language French.

18. “We’ve all a great deal deal to reproach ourselves with.” Why did M. Hamel
blame the parents and himself too for not showing due attention and care to
the learning of French ?
M. Hamel did not hold Franz responsible for neglecting the learning of French.
Most people of Alsace pretended to be Frenchmen. But they could neither speak
nor write their own language. The parents were not anxious to have them learn.
They preferred to put children on a farm or at the mills to earn a little more money.
He even held himself responsible as he often sent his students to water his flowers
instead of learning their lessons. And he used to give a holiday whenever he wanted
to go on fishing.

10. ANSWER IN 120 – 150 WORDS

1. Give a detailed account of the scene in the classroom.

Franz, first looked through the window and saw his classmates, already in
their places, and M. Hamel walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler
under his arm. He was frightened and hesitant. But M. Hamel kindly told
him to come in. On entering, he noticed the teacher wearing his beautiful
green coat, his frilled shirt, and little black silk cap that he never wore except

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on inspection and prize days. But, what surprised him most to see, on the
back benches that were always empty, the village people sitting quietly like
the students. Old Hauser was wearing his three – cornered hat; there was
the former mayor, the former postmaster, and several others as well.
Everybody looked sad. He was further astonished when M. Hamel
announced in a grave and gentle tone that it was the last lesson in French.
The order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the school of
Alsace and Lorraine.

2. Who was Franz ? What did he think about M. Hamel ? Did he chage
his views about M. Hamel ? Illustrate at least two changes that come in
Franz towards his teacher, his school and French.
Franz was a student of a school in Alsace. His school master was M. Hamel.
He was not brilliant. He didn’t prepare his lesson on participles. As he was
asked to recite, he got mixed up and confused. He was not excited in going
to school and did not show any interest in M. Hamel’s teaching. But he was
scared of Hamel’s scolding. He always dreaded the great ruler that M.
Hamel kept under his arm. Franz knew how ‘cranky’ M. Hamel was.

However, Franz was forced to change his opinion about M. Hamel. An order
came from Berlin that German language would be taught in the school of
French districts of Alsace and Lorraine. On knowing that it was the last
lesson that Mr. Hamel was going to deliver, his views about him changed.
He started respecting the man who had spent forty years in the same school.
He felt sorry for not learning French. He shared M. Hamel’s views about
French. It was the most beautiful language in the world. It was a pity that
from next day Mr. Hamel would not teach them French, he would leave
them for good. A new master would come to teach German. He sarcastically
remarked : “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons ?”. He
started liking Hamel. He liked M. Hamel who was in his best clothes in
honour of his last lesson. His views about French took a patriotic turn. He
listened to M. Hamel’s last lesson with rapt attention and dignity.

3. What was M. Hamel’s reaction when Franz could not answer a

question on participles ?
When M. Hamel asked Franz to recite the rule for participles, Franz got
mixed up on the first words and stood there holding on to his desk but M.
Hamel did not scold him as usual. He said that Franz must be feeling bad
himself. Every day he must have felt that there was plenty of time to learn.
But, unfortunately, now it was that they were Frenchmen, who could neither
speak nor write their own language.
However, the teacher was also critical of their parents who were not anxious
enough to have them learn. They preferred to put them to work on a farm
or at the mills for a little more money rather than encourage them to study.
He also blamed himself. He wished he had not often sent them to water his

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flowers instead of learning their lessons. And when he wanted to go fishing,

he had just given them a holiday.

4. Bring out the difference in the environment of the classroom before and
after the announcement.
Usually, when school began, there was a great justle and bustle, which could
be heard out in the street. The noise of the opening and closing of desks and
lessons repeated in unison was very loud. They had to put their hands over
their ears to understand better. The teacher’s great ruler was heard rapping
on the table.
But after the announcement, everything was as quiet as on Sunday morning.
The back benches that were always empty had the villagers sitting quietly
like the students. They had new copies with ‘France, Alsace, France,
Alsace’ written on them in a beautiful round hand. They looked like little
flags floating everywhere in the school – room. Every one set to work very
quietly. The only sound was the scratching of the pens over the paper.
Nobody paid any attention even to the beetles that flew in.

5. The story “The Last Lesson” is all about ‘linguistic chauvinism’

Comment ?
Man was born free, but he bound himself everywhere in chains – the chains
of communism, regionalism, religion, nationalities and even linguistic
confinements. Man long back forgot the lesson of universal brotherhood,
believing that we all are the children of the same God. He segregated
himself from others soon after he became a little more civilized. Wars and
battles for acquiring power became a part of his nature and his desire to rule
and become the lord of the world made him selfish and self – centred.
The story “the Last Lesson” is all about linguistic chauvinism. Acquisition
of power over the Alsacians made the Prussians so domineering that they
imposed even their language on them. Their pride in their language was so
fixed that there was no scope of respecting and accepting the language on
other. Their rulers wanted to dominate even their minds and hearts and
wanted them to even think in their language, thereby causing the loss of
their identity. The story thus highlights linguistic chauvinism which is
becoming a major cause of wars and political disturbance in the world.

6. The people in this story suddenly realize how precious their language
is to them. What illustrates this ? Why does this happen ?
In the story, the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine had passed into
Prussian hands. Hence, they received on order from Berlin that only German
wa to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. It was then that all of
them realized the value of their language. The usual noisy scene at the
school was replaced by one that was as quiet as Sunday Church. The
earnestness of the students was evident by the fact that each one set to work
very quietly. The only sound in the class was the scratching of pens over
paper. Even the village people came and sat quietly in the class like students.

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Everybody looked sad. M. Hamel, who was otherwise disliked, evoked a

feeling of regret in the students. Franz regretted not having listened to him
carefully while M. Hamel who felt heartbroken at the thought of leaving
had never explained everything with so much patience. It seemed almost as
if he wanted to give them all he knew before going away. He summed up
the mood adequately in his words, ‘We’ve all a great deal to reproach
ourselves with.’

7. Franz thinks, ‘Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?’
What could this mean? (There could be more then one answer.)
(a) When Franz wondered whether they would make even the pigeons
sing in German, he meant that they had grown up using French as
their language. Now taking it away from them would be unfair and
unkind. The language was as natural to them as cooing is to the
pigeons. Robbing them of it and forcing German on them would be
not only difficult but next to impossible.

(b) It is difficult for people to accept a language which is imposed on

them. French was their mother tongue and they were comfortable
using it as their own. It would not be easy to switch to a different
language.
(c) Language is a tool for communication. Adopting a new language
cause pain discomfort. It was not going to be easy for them to adapt
to the new situation – and adopt German that was forced on to them.
Moreover, they identified with the French language. It was a factor
that helped them bond with their fellow brethren.

8. What does the story suggest about how students and be motivated to learn
? Do you find young Franz’s change in attitude realistic ? Explain.
Yes, Franz’s change in attitude is very realistic. Some students seem
naturally enthusiastic about learning, but many need or expect their
instructors to inspire, challenge, and stimulate them.
Franz started late for school from home and had not learnt his lesson. Infact,
he thought of running away and spending the day outdoors as it was warm
and bright. All this seemed much more interesting than studying participles.
But after the announcement that they would no longer be studying French
and thus be French people who did not know their language, Franz was
amazed to see how well he understood his French lesson that day. All that
the teacher taught seemed so easy and he could understand it so effortlessly.
Perhaps, it was because he had never listened so carefully or because M.
Hamel explained everything with so much patience. The teacher and the
taught, then, both lamented for the lost time.
Thus we see that students can be motivated to learn if they realize the value
and need for what they are learning.

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9. “When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language
it is as if they the key to their prison.” How does this line become the
last lesson in more than one ?

Value points
 The town of Alsace was coming to terms with the fact of being
annexed by Prussians.
 M. Hamel, the French teacher was upset with the turn of events.
 He was told to stop teaching French from the next day.
 He tried to make his last day in school memorable by dressing in his
Sunday suit and tried giving as much as he could to his students.
 He spoke about the French language very highly and felt that they
were all to blame for their inefficiency.

 He stressed on the fact that they needed to guard the language and
make efforts to keep it alive.
 Especially people who have been enslaved, for them it is their ticket
to freedom.
 People should hold on to their language by thinking in their language, their
thought are theirs and no one can take them away.
 One can be in prison yet be free mentally.
 Thus M. Hamel’s lecture was not only the last lecture, literally but
it was the best parting advice that he could give.
 It was the most important lesson of their lives, as they realized the
importance of knowing one’s language.

10. M. Hamel trued to be an idealistic teacher on the last day. Comment

(comb of Q 3 & 4)

11. Draw a character sketch of M. Hamel, the French teacher.

Value Points
 M. Hamel, the French Teacher has been portrayed though the eyes
of a young boy.
 He has been depicted as a very strict teacher, who did not spare his
ruler as and when required.
 Franz was scared of being admonished and humiliated in front of the
whole class.
 Hamel was very particular about maintaining propriety, so on his
last day he was in his best dress.
 He loved French and was proud of the language. He took pride in
being a French national.
 He was an emotional person, who was attached to his students,
things and village.
 At the end of the class he was overwhelmed with feelings

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 The soulful look that he has when he looks around his class and tries
to absorb as much as he could indicate his fondness for them.
 There is no match of his love, respect and loyalty towards his country.

12. In spite of his young years Franz shows maturity which sits well on him.
Elucidate

Value Points
 Though Franz is only eleven years old yet he displays a mature head.
 He loves the outdoors but is conscious that it is a waste of time
 Has great regard for the senior members
 Empathizes with M. Hamel, understands the anguish Hamel must be
going through
 Is sensitive to the feelings of others
Has a strong conscience (realizes that he hasn’t learnt his lesson)

Chapter – 2 :
LOST SPRING, STORIES OF STOLEN CHILDHOOD
by Anees Jung

1. About the Extract

Anees Jung’s progressively shocking, stark and uplifting collection Lost Spring :
Stories of Stolen Childhood details one after the other, the lives of children who
have had to leave their villages (at times, with their families) for reasons as varies
as caste, religion, overbearing poverty and sheer lack of prospects and who are
devoid of any mens of monetary and familial support.

2. Background stimulus
Read the following poem to get an idea about the life of a rag picker

The rag bicker child

What do you see when you’re looking at me?
My clothes are all tatters my hair full off fleas.
My body is battered my feet always bare
But l have a heart, and need someone to care.
Along time ago l had a mother
A father a sister an aunt and a brother
Where they are now the weather is cold
l need some to love me someone to hold
Each morning at dawn when people start waking
The fires are all lit, but l huddle shaking
The cold and the wet just eats at my bones,
I need someone to love me, someone to hold.
If I rise very early the pickings are best,
I dodge the nigh watchman and fight off the rats.
The other rag pickers, they are my brothers.

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 High temperature, lack of ventilation and light

 Spirals of bangles lie in mounds in disheveled in yards – are pushed
by young boys along narrow lanes of the shanty town
 Boys and girls sit in the dim light of flickering oil lamps to weld the
pieces of circles – their eyes are adjusted to the dark than the light
outside
 Dust from polishing the glass of bangles adversely affects their eyes
 Moneylenders, the keepers of law, bureaucrats, politicians – all
ranged against them and have entrapped the poor bangle – makers
in their web
 Suffer constant fear of ill – treatment by police
 Possible hazards: accidents, loss of vision, skin burns, bronchitis,
physical and mental weakness, mental retardation, ill health due to
poor hygiene and lack of ventilation, genetic problems due to
exposure to chemicals

4. Seemapuri – settlement of Bangladeshi squatters

 Illegal residents – uprooted from their own country that was
devastated by storm in 1971 – food and survival was the most
important
 Live in a state of perpetual poverty
 Is on the fringes of Delhi yet miles away from its glitter, glamour
and affluence – ironical
 Is a wasteland where there are structures of mud with roofs of tin
and tarpaulin
 No sewage, drainage or running water
 Home for 10,000 rag pickers who survive as they eke out a living
from scrounging garbage
 Have lived here for 30 years without permit or identity and have
mastered the art of rag – picking
 Garbage to them is gold

9. SHANSWERS (30 – 40 WORDS) ( 2 MARKS)

1. Who was Saheb ? Where did the write see him ?

Sahib was a young boy, whose family once lived in the green fields of
Dhaka. There the storms swept away their fields and homes, so they shifted
to India. The write encountered him every morning digging for attend
school and study but he could not, on account of his poverty. Like thousands
of ragpickers, he was seen scrounging the garbage heaps in order to make a
living.

2. How did Saheb react to the idea of going to chool ?

Sahib was keen on going to school. He said that he used to dig in the garbage
heaps as he had nothing better to do. When the write suggested that he go
to school, he retorted that there was no school in his neighbourhood. When

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they build one, he would go. She him that asked if she started a school,
would he join. He consented very gladly and a few days later, up to her and
asked her if her school was ready.

3. How does garbage hold different meanings for adults and children ?
Value Points

 For elders – rag – picking – a necessary evil – the only means of

survival
 Children – look at it as a gold mine – full of unexpected surprises
 There’s always the hope finding a coin or a rupee while rummaging
through the garbage
 So, it is wrapped in wonder for them

4. How is the line ‘Few airplanes fly over Firozabad’ symbolically

significant ?

Value Points
 The author finds a spark of motivation in Mukesh who is quite
determined about realizing his dream of becoming a motor –
mechanic.
 He is ready to travel to the garage – a long way from his home to
fulfill his dream
 The author asks if he ever dreams of flying a plane – the question
makes him embarrassed and silent and he answers in negative
 He is satisfied with the more tangible and attainable dream of the
fast moving cars – something that he sees on the streets daily
 Airplanes symbolize something distant, just like a far – fetched
dream – people of Firozabad are not exposed to grand dreams like
this

5. Explain: ‘Seemapuri, (is) a place on the periphery of Delhi yet miles

away from it, metaphorically.’
Geographically, Seemapuri is a place on the outskirts of Delhi. It is an abode
for unlawful residents who came from Bangladesh back in 1971. It is a
wasteland even now but is not deserted and is a place where about 10,000
ragpickers live. It has structures of mud, with roofs of tin and tarpaulin that
do not have sewage, drainage or ruing water. This is unlike the life of glitter
and glamour in Delhi. People in Delhi live a luxurious life in contrast to the
poverty prevailing in Seemapuri.

6. Why had people from Bangladesh left their own fields and come to
settle in the slums in Seemapuri ?
Although, the poor people in Seemapuri lived without permits thay had
ration cards that enabled them to buy grain. The refugees felt it was better
to livingin Seemapuri as at least they could feed their families unlike living

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in the fields, that produced on grain, back home in Bangladesh. Children

grew up in them, becoming partners in survival, by ragpicking. Here thsy
could get daily bread and a roof over their head unlike in their hometown.

7. What does garbage mean to the slum dwellers ? What does it mean to
the Children ?

Children in the slums grow up and often become partners in survival. In

Seemapuri, survival means ragpicking and through the years, it has acquired
the proportions of a fine art. However, the attitude of the children and adults
varies. For the children garbage is like a mysterious package. They discover
unknown valuables in it, but for the elders it is a means of survival. Saheb
looks for a rupee or even a ten – rupee note. On the other hand, the adults
view it as another job which will fetch them at least a meal a day.

8. Bring out the irony in Saheb’s name.

Saheb’s name was ‘Saheb-e-Alam’. He was oblivious of what it meant.
Even if he did know that it meant, ‘lord of the universe’, he would find it
difficult to believe. Contrary what his name represented, he roamed the
streets with his friends, an army of barefoot boys who appeared like the
morning birds and disappeared at noon. Like thousands of ragpickers, he
was seen scrounging in the garbage heaps to make both ends meet.

9. Why does the write feel that it is not tradition but poverty that children
do not wear shoes?
When a boy expressed his desiree for shoes as he had never owned a pair
all his life, the writer recalled that during her travels across the country, she
had seen children walking barefoot in cities and on village roads. People
had informed her that it was not lake of money but a tradition to stay
barefoot. However, she had seen children coveting shoes and hence felt it
was an excuse to cover up for the object poverty in which they lived.

10. Why does the write feel that the child in Udipi was more fortunate than
many others?
In Udipi a boy who was the son of a priest, would pray for shoes. Thirty
years later where the new priest lived, a young boy dressed in a grey unifom,
wearing socks and shoes came in. looking at the boy, the narrator recalled
the boy who had prayed and had got a pair. Then he had prayed that he never
lose them. His prayer was granted. Young boys now wore shoes. But many
others like the ragpickers in the wwriter’s neighbourhood remained
shoeless.

11. Saheb, unlike the children of his age, is resigned to his fate and does not
covet for what he thinks is beyond his means. Justify.
On a winter morning, the writer saw Saheb standing by the fenced gate of
the neighbourhood club, watching two young men dressed in white, playing

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tennis. He said that he liked the game but was content to watch it from
behind the fence. He foes inside when no one is around to swing. His tennis
shoes, shirt and short were discoloured. They were discarded by some rich
boy because of a hole in one shoe. Even the game he was watching so
intently was out of his reach.

12. What is the job that Saheb took up? What is the writer’s reaction to it?
Sahib was a ragpicker. For all such children garbage was like a mysterious
package. They discovered unknown valuables. They, came out in the
morning like birds and disappeared in the afternoon.
But once Saheb picked up a job in a tea stall, life changed for him. He took
up the job as he was paid 800 rupees and given all his meals. The writer felt
that because of the job he had lost his carefree look. Moreover he was ‘no
longer his own master’.

13. How is Mukesh different from Saheb?

Unlike Saheb who sacrificed his freedom as a ragpicker to take up a salaried
job at a tea stall where they paid him 800 rupees and gave him all his meals,
Mukesh insisted on being his own master. Although he was also a child who
lived in a slum and worked at a glass furnace, he was determined to be a
motor mechanic. He was not prepared to give in to the inevitable like Saheb.
Infact, he had chalked out the route that he would take to achieve his
dreams.

14. What is the main occupation of the people of Firozabad?

The dusty town of Firozabad is famous for its bangles. Every other family
in Firozabad is engaged in making in making bangles. It is the centre of
India’s glass – blowing industry where families have spent generations
working at furnaces, welding glass, making bangles for the women. It has
about 20,000 children who work in the hot furnaces where they slog their
daylight hours, often losing the brightness of their eyes even before they
became adults.

15. Describe the miserable plight of the people working at the glass
furnaces.
The children about 20,000 wobbly iron door. It was a half – built shack. In
one part of it, thatched with dead grass, was a firewood stove over which
was placed a large vessel of sizzling spinach leaves. On the ground, in large
aluminium platters were more chopped vegetables. She also noticed a frail
young woman who was cooking the evening meal for the whole family with
her eyes filled with smoke. She was the wife of Mukesh’s elder brother.
Though not much older in years, she had begun to command respect as the
daughter-in-law of the house. The write also noticed Mukesh’s grandmother
and his father.

16. What did the writer see in Mukesh’s house?

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Mukeshs’s house

17. What was the reaction of Mukesh’s family to their poverty?

Mukesh was born in the caste of bangle makers; hence they had accepted
this fact and resigned themselves to their fate. Mukesh’s father was a poor
bangle maker who had worked hard, first as a tailor, then a bangle maker
but not been able to renovate a house or send his two sons to school. He
could only teach them the art making bangles. Mukesh’s grandmother was
an old woman who had watched her husband go blind with the dust from
polishing the glass of bangles. But she accepted it as her fate as she felt that
‘god-given lineage’ could never be broken. It was only Mukesh who dreamt
of being a mechanic.

18. Why don’t the people in Firozabad organize themselves into a

cooperative?
People in Firozabad cannot organize themselves into a cooperative despite
the vicious circle of middlemen who have trapped their fathers ad
forefathers. They feel that if they get organized, they will be hauled up by
the police, beaten and dragged to jail for doing something illegal. There is
no leader among them, no one who can help them see things differently.
Their fathers were as tired as they are. They are trapped in a situation that
revolves around poverty, indifference, greed and injustice.

19. What kind of a future, a according to the writer, will these people have?
The writer realizes the gulf between the two distinct worlds there. One is of
the family, trapped in poverty, burdened by the stigma of caste in which
they are born and the other is a circle of the inhuman sahukars, the
muddlemen, the policemen, the keepers of law, the bureaucrats and the
politician. These people have created a situation that cannot be put down.
To move away would mean to defy the nors and this is not what they have
been taught.

20. How does Mukesh want to accomplish his dreams ?

Unlike most in Firozabad, Mukesh did not want to follow the traditional
profession. The others did not dare to think in this unconventional way. But
Mukesh wanted to accomplish his dreams to be a motor mechanic. For this
he had decided to go to a garage and learn about cars. The farage beig a long
way from his home had not dererred him. He insisted that he would walk.
However, at the moment he was content to dream of cars that he saw racing
down the streets of his tow.

21. Explain: ‘Few airplanes fly over Firozabad.’

The writer was happy that Mukesh wanted to be a motor mechanic and was
prepared to travel to the garage that was a long way from his home to
achieve his dreams. The writer, encouraged by his motivation, asked if he

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ever dreamt of flying a plane. Mukesh was suddenly thoughtful and later
murmured an embarrassed no. He was content to dream of driving cars that
he had seen on the roads. Handlina planes was a far – fetched reality because
of his limited exposure to planes in the slum of Firozabad.

10. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN ABOUT 100 – 125 WORDS.

1. ‘But promises like mine abound in every corner of his bleak world.’
What does the writer mean?
The write met Saheb every morning looking for money in the garbage
dumps of her neighbourhood. He had left his home in the green fields of
Dhaka long ago because of the storms that swept away their fields and
homes the desire for survival had led them to the big city. When the writer
questioned him as to why he dug in the rubbish, he said it was because he
had nothing better to do. On her suggestion that he go to school, he retorted
that there was no school in his neighbourhood. When they build one, he
would go. She asked him half – joking whether he would join if she started
a school. He consented very gladly and a few days later, ran up to her and
asked her if her school was ready. She dodged the question saying that it
took time to build a school. However, she was embarrassed at having made
a promise that she was not serious about but felt that many people made
promises to children like him, which are never fulfilled. They were let down
by many politicians, social workers and other adults who promised them
better facilities but lived up to those promises.

2. Why does writer say, ‘I wonder if this is only an excuse to explain away
a perpetual state of poverty?’
On the writer questioning a child as to why he was barefoot, his simple
answer was that his mother did not bring his shoes down from the shelf. But
the other boy felt that it was just an excuse as he would throw them off,
anyway. When yet another boy expressed his desire for shoes as he had
never owned a pair all his life, the writer recalled that during her travels
across the country she had seen children walking barefoot in cities and on
village roads. People had informed her that it was not lack of money but a
tradition to stay barefoot. But, she wondered if this country. She had heard
of a boy from Udipi who prayed every morning for a pair shoes.

3. Narrate the episode about the boy from Udipi who prayed for shoes.
Why does the write feel that he was more fortunate than the rest?
The write recalled a story a man from Udipi once told her. When the man
was young he would go to school past an old temple where his father was a
priest. He would stop briefly at the temple and pray for shoes. Thirty years
later, the author visited his town and the temple, which now had a new priest
who lived in the backyard. She saw a young boy dressed in a grey school
uniform, wearing shoes and socks, came in. Looking at the boy, she
remembered the prayer made by another boy to the goddess for a pair of

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shoes. When he had finally got a pair, he prayed that he should never lose
them. The goddess had granted his prayer. Young boys like the son of the
priest now wore shoes. But many others like the ragpickers in the writer’s
neighbourhood remained shoeless.

4. What could be some of the reasons for the migration of people from
villages to the cities?
Food, clothing and shelter are the three basic needs of all human beings, the
world over. People in all countries and societies aim and struggle to fulfil
these needs. For some it is a relatively easier task and for some a Herculean
effort.
All major cities see a continuous influx of migrants from small villages.
Some come in search of job, some for education, some to fulfil their dreams
and make money and some for name and fame. Social, economic and
political environment plays a prominent role in their city bound journey.
Poverty, lack of facilities and opportunities, oppression and suppression by
powers that be, natural calamities like flood, famine and personal
necessities and tragedies, all contribute to the migration of people from
villages to the cities.

5. Would you agree that promises made to poor children are rarely kept?
Why do you think this happens in the incidents narrated in the text?
Yes, I agree that promises made to the poor children are rarely kept. The
rich, who come in contact with children from the poor sections of society or
slums mostly do not register the presence of these children, who are a
nuisance for them. They see them begging, picking rags, selling small
objects, polishing shoes or wiping windshields of their swanky cars at high
points but there is hardly any interaction between these two opposite worlds.
And if an individual or a social worker pauses to lesten to them, it is more
out of a sense of curiosity than a social obligation. Promises made during
the course of such interaction are generally thoughtless, careless
suggestions or encouragement which are never meant to be fulfilled but sow
a seed of hope in the hearts of these unfortunate beings. Sahib is one such
example. When the author encourages him to study and offers to open a
school, it ignites a spark in him and raises his hopes. However, she does not
realize the disappointment it would eventually lead to.

6. How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realize his dream?

Mukesh in my view has already taken the first step to make his dream come
true. Unlike his peers who have become weighed down by years of
subservience, Mukesh still retains a hope in his heart and a spark in his
spirit. Despite his miserable condition he has dared to dream of a different
life, a different vocation.

He can definitely realize his dream, if he raises his voice against child labour
and breaks free of the nexus of the corrupt forces conspiring to keep the

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labour class suppressed. If he follows his heart, unmindful of the

difficulties, he can certainly realize his dream to be a motor mechanic.

7. Like all children of his age, Saheb also had many hopes and dreams.
Do you think children like Saheb are able to fulfill their dreams ?
Answer with reference to the text.
Saheb belonged to a Bangladeshi refugee family and lived in a slum and
Seemapuri bordering Delhi. His daily existence was dependent upon his
rag-picking routine and this was the only means of livelihood and survival
known to him. He wanted to own a pair of shoes, go to school, become
educated, play sports and lead a respectable life. He knew that he did not
have many choices and his refugee status and poverty were a great handicap.
But Saheb also possessed a resilient spirit as he decided to give shape to his
dream of a better life by abandoning rag-picking and taking up a regular
job. He joined as an apprentice in a tea-stall for Rs. 800 pm, and did odd
jobs for the owner. The surety of a fix salary at the end of the month took
him a step further from a hand to mouth existence. Though he lost his
independence and ceased to be his own master, but he did pave way for a
better life economically.
In my view few children like Saheb, horn in abject poverty only the
tenacious ones with a never say die attitude succeed in chartering the course
of their own destiny against all odds.

8. Politicians exploit all people and situation to their own benefit.

Comment, keeping in view the situation of refugees in Seemapuri.
It is a common knowledge that in our country slums have mushroomed
around all big and small cities and are inhabited by either refugees from
other countries or migrants from other states within India. These people
come in search of better existence and livelihood and create a world of
shacks and hutments on the periphery of thriving cities. They live in
unhygienic conditions, in abject poverty, struggling daily and surviving on
the hope that one day their life would take a turn for the better. Come
elections and a hope erupts in their hearts as they represent a large vote bank
for the politicians. It is again time for free gifts as baits, empty promises and
rekindled hopes.
People in Seemapuri, ten thousand or more refugees from Bangladesh, are
an example of the above. They have been living there for more than four
decades and earning a livelihood through rag-picking. Devoid of all basic
amenities, they nevertheless possess valid ration cards which enable them
to buy grain at subsidized rate. The need to provide a ration card was
perhaps realized by wily politicians who recognized a massive vote bank in
the 10,000 plus refugees.
9. For most women, bangles are dreams in glass but for bangle makers of
Firozabad they are a vicious circle they cannot wriggle out of.
Comment.

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Bangles – are a symbol of the long life of husband and auspiciousness in

marriage in our country since centuries. With their rainbow colours and
bright hues, these bangles spread joy and happiness in the lives of women.
But ironically little do these women realize that the makers of these
beautiful bangles industry is an underdeveloped, backward town with
neither any infrastructure nor basic amenities. The town resembles a
dumping ground with garbage strewn all over. The glass furnaces where
workers make bangles are ill – lit and ill – ventilated, dingy hovels with
temperatures. People who work in these furnaces are barely able to string
together one frugal meal a day and live in shacks with temporary roofs,
crumbling walls and wobbly doors. To add to the misery, all of them lose
their eyesight at a young age and live in a dark world for the rest of their
lives with no pension, no help and no hope.

10. Why is Mukesh’s dream of ‘learning to drive a car’ likened to a

mirage?
Mukesh, the young child labourer of Firozabad bangle industry is a
representative of nearly 20,000 other such children. He is born in a poverty –
ridden family in the caste of bangle makers. Lack of education and awareness,
stigma of caste and the vicious nexus between sahukars, middlemen, politicians
and police have killed all initiative and drive in the young and old. The young
are weighed down by the baggage of generations of subservience and have
forgotten to dream of different world. Thus Mukesh’s dream of ‘learning to drive
a car’ is likened to a mirage as it is open to speculation whether this dream will
ever be fulfilled.

11. Describe the miserable condition of the people in Seemapuri.

Seemapuri is a place on the outskirts of Delhi. Those who live there are
unlawful residents who came from Bangladesh back in 1971. When they
came, Seemapuri was a wasteland. It is a wasteland even now but is not
deserted but and is a place where about 10,000 ragpickers live. It has
structures of mud, with roofs of tin and tarpaulin. They live in these
temporary homes, merely to earn their survival. Unfortunately, it does not
have sewage, drainage or running water. The poor people have lived here
for more than thirty years without an identity, without permits but with ratio
cards that get their names on voters lists and enable them to buy grain. The
refuges feel it is better to live here as at least they can geed their families
unlike living in the fields, back home in Bangladesh, that produce o grain.
Children grow up in the slums, becoming partners in survival, which is rag-
picking. With years of practice, they seem to have mastered the art. Garbage
to them is gold. It is their daily bread, providing a roof over their heads,
even if it is a leaking roof. But for a child, it is even more. It is like a treasure.
12. Explain: ‘The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag.’
When the write saw Saheb one morning, she noticed that he was on his way
to the milk booth. He was carrying a steel canister. He informed her that he
had taken up employment in a tea stall down the road. The employer had

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offered him 800 rupees and all his meals. The writer noticed that his face
had lost the carefree look. Now butdened with the responsibility of a job, he
seemed fraught with the weight of the steel canister. It was far heavier than
the plastic bag that he carried ‘lightly’ over his shoulder. It was light
because the bag was his. The canister belonged to the owner of the tea shop.
Sahib was burdened as he was no longer the master of his own free will.
13. Elucidate the Significance of the title” Lost Spring: Stories of Stolen
Childhood
Value Points
Anees Jung writes about forfeited innocence in Lost Spring: Stories of
Stolen Childhood
 The title is metaphorical, for it talks of the stealing of something
abstract and effervescent.
 It is a portrayal of the broken spirit of millions of working children
all over the country who are condemned to a life of grueling toil and
exploitation against the background of crushing poverty.
 These poignant stories are of real children who have been subjected
a tough life and to merciless and cruel treatment upon any
recalcitrance. Instead of hands that reach for the stars, a child’s
hands simply become an economic tool, an extra pair of hands that
can help out.
 They have lost the moments of spring – the time of growth,
happiness, rejuvenation and development because they are burdened
under the evil of child labour. They have lost their childhood and
have turned adults before time. In other words they are deprived of
normal childhood.
 Anees Jung exposes a notional shame through the description of
children cleaning floors and tables in small restaurants; polishing
shoes on railway stations; rolling ‘bidis’ for long hours; carrying
loads in factories making bangles, slates, lock and fire crackers,
weaving saris and carpets, and slogging in slaughter – house. They
are the dark side of progress, caught up in grinding poverty and
untrammeled urbanization.
 Society’s role s unchanging and apathetic. It prefers to look away
rather than trying to recognize the child in the child. The guilty
include not only those who visibly exploit the child in workshops,
homes, shops, factories but also his own family.
 Anees writes with passion and concern – for she has met children
whose life stories of despair, must be told to others. In exposing a
shame brought on by society. She hopes for more compassion by
society. She manages to stir the reader out of his smugness and be
reminded of the onus of recapturing the spring that is lost from the
lives of innumerable children in India.

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14. What do you think is the theme of Lost Spring: Stories of Stolen
Childhood?

Value Points
 The lesson portrays through both the stories, the broken spirit of
working children against the backdrop of crushing poverty
(substantiate this with the help of the lesson)
 These children are forced into labour early in life and denied the
opportunity of schooling of even a normal childhood
 So much suffering can thwart a dream, and quite completely
desensitize the ‘haves’ in the society in a relentless, terrible and
predictable way
 Official figures say that there are over 12 million children under 14
who live below the poverty line, which means that they have to
work. This is the world Anees Jung probes.
 She is pained at the governmental and bureaucratic callousness,
apathy and also the social values and cultural norms that support and
accept the concept of child labour
 She hopes for empathy from society – the stories cry out like an
appeal to all the readers

15. Both Saheb and Mukesh nurture a dream each. While Saheb succumbs
to the destiny of being a rag picker and later a worker at the tea stall,
Mukesh hopes to salvage his life. Do you think Mukesh’s dream is
attainable or is it as the author says ;like a mirage’? Justify your
answer.

Value Points
 Both Saheb and Mukesh nurture a dream – one of being a tennis
player and the other of being a motor mechanic and driving cars
 Saheb more pliable – succumbs to his destiny – resorts first to the
fate of being a rag picker and later becomes a labourer at the tea stall
at a meager salary of Rs. 800/-
 The author calls Mukesh’s dream a mirage/ fantasy that can never
be achieved
 Perhaps she feels that Mukesh won’t be able to break away from the
tradition of making bangles that has been the destiny of their caste
for generations
 Also the vicious circle created by the money lenders etc. might deter
him from fulfilling his ambition
 However, Mukesh’ unwavering approach is like a ray of hope – he
is different from the youth of Firozabad – he still dares to dream and
with almost a passionate and single – minded devotion insists ‘I will
walk’
 He has already made up his mind – persistence and passion for
achieving his dream will see him through

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profile, or because they’re often much larger than a road accident. I think the main
fear comes from the lack of control people have when they’re flying.

I used a technique I learnt from lucid dreaming, called a ‘reality check’. The idea
is that whenever you perform a common action, you consciously ask yourself if
you’re dreaming. So, every time I saw a plane, I would perform a reality check.
This enabled me to change the outcome to something more pleasant. It takes
practice and discipline, but this really helped with the bad dreams.

I made a conscious effort to stop myself whenever those thoughts came up, and to
think about a more peaceful situation. For example, I changed these visions so that
instead of the plane plummeting into the ground, it would crash land and everyone
would make off it unharmed. Instead of seeing myself paralyzed with terror, I
transformed the image of myself into someone calm who offered help to the other
passengers. It sounds simple, but it made a big difference to my general attitude
about flying.

To put my mind at ease, I looked around to learn about the safety checks that are
performed, and how safe various airliners are. These pieces of information made a
huge impact, because they appealed to the logical side of my brain. Flying is safe.
I’ve found that getting a window seat makes the flight much more enjoyable. Some
of the views can be absolutely breathtaking, especially around takeoff and landing.
Take some time to reflect on how amazing it is, and it will help you relax.

9. Answer the following questions briefly. (30-40 words)

1. What complexes did the writer have to overcome in order to learn

swimming at the Y.M.C.A.?
When the writer was ten or eleven years old, he decided to learn to swim at
the Y.M.C.A. in Yakima. The greatest impediment was that the Y.M.C.A.
swimming pool revived unpleasant memories and childish fears. He
remembered how terrified he had felt when the waves had knocked him
down in California at the age of three or four. The memory of the waves
pushing him down and him feeling suffocated had felt an indelible imprint
on his mind. Secondly, he hated to walk naked into the pool and show his
skinny legs and for this he had to subdue his pride.

2. Why did he hate the idea of getting into water?

His aversion to the water began when he was in it for the first time. When
he was three or four years old his father took him to the beach in California.
His father and he stood together in the surf. He was clinging on to his father,
yet the waves pushed him down and swept over him. He was buried in water
and felt suffocated and frightened. Though, his father was enjoying, there
was terror in his heart caused by the force of the waves.

3. How were his first few days in the pool ?

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Although the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool brought back unpleasant memories

and evoked childish fears, he soon mustered confidence. He paddled with
his new water wings, watching the other boys and trying to learn. He tried
to copy them two or three times on different days. He had begun to feel
comfortable in the water when the accident happened. It was when a strong
boy, older to him threw him into the pool.

4. What initiated his accident in the pool at Y.M.C.A. ?

The writer went to the pool when no one else was there. So he sat on the
side of the pool to wait for others. He was timid about going in alone and
hence decided to wait for others. He had been there for some time when a
big boy of about eighteen years came up to him and asked him if he wanted
to be ‘ducked’. He them picked him up and, tossed him into the deep end
of the pool.

5. What was the writer’s first reaction on being flung into the pool?
The writer landed in water in a sitting position, swallowed water and went
to the bottom. At first he was frightened, but as he was sinking, he ;planned
that the moment his feet hit the bottom, he would leap and come to the
surface, lie flat on it, and paddle to the edge of the pool. But what he
experienced was on the contrary. It seemed a long way down. In fact, the
nine feet were more like ninety, and before he touched the bottom, his lungs
were ready to burst. But, when his feet hit bottom he summoned all his
strength and made a greater spying upwards thinking he would bob to the
surface like a cork. But nothing like that happened.

6. When the writer was flung into the water, why could he not implement
his plan to come out ?
When the writer was flung into the water, before he touched bottom he felt
that his lungs were ready to burst and when he tried to spring up, he came
up slowly. He saw nothing but water and even his hands clutched only at
water, He felt suffocated and could not scream. Even when his eyes and
nose showed out of the water, his mouth did not. His legs were paralyzed
and rigid and before he, knew, he had started on the long journey back to
the bottom of the pool.

7. What did he feel when he sank into water the second time?
The second time he felt a great force was pulling him under water. He
screamed, but no one heard him. He saw nothing but water with a yellow
glow through when he could not see. He was gripped by terror. He felt
himself go stiff with fear. Even the screams in his throat were frozen. The
beating of his heart and the throbbing in his head were the only signs of life
that he showed.

8. What happened when he made a second attempt to come out of water?

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The second time when he sank down, though he was terrified, he felt a touch
of reason. He had to remember to jump when he hit the bottom, though he
had lost all his breath and his lungs ached, end his head throbbed. He was
feeling dizzy. But he remembered his strategy to spring from the bottom of
the pool and come up like a cork to the surface and then lie flat on the water,
strike out with his arms, and thrash with his legs. This would get him to the
edge of the pool and he would be safe. So he decided to jump when he hit
the bottom. He did so but the jump made no difference. He was still in
water. He was so terrified that he trembled with fright. His limbs refused
to move. He tried to call for help but in vain.

9. What was his last memory in the pool ?

The writer went down the third time. This time he felt the yellowish light
going out and then all attempts stopped. He relaxed; his body felt limp and
then blackness swept over him. Then, the terror left him and he felt quiet
and peaceful. He felt drowsy, tried to jump but then felt as if he was being
carried. It was like floating in space with the gentle and comforting arms of
his mother around him. Then the last consciousness.

10. Where did he regain his memory?

Before he became unconscious, he felt nice and drowsy. He felt he was
being carried and also as if he was floating along in space. He also felt
tender arms like his mother’s lulling him to steep. When he recovered
consciousness, he was beside the pool. He was lying on his stomach and
vomiting. The day who had thrown him into the pool claimed that he had
‘only been fooling. He heard someone say that he had almost died. He also
heard him instructing someone to carry Douglas to the locker room.

11. When did he make an attempt to go into water after the pool episode?
What was the outcome?
A few years after the accident, the writer learnt of the waters of the
Cascades. He wanted to get into then but whenever he tried to get into it,
whether it was wading the Tieton or Bumping River or bathing in warm
Lake of the Goat Rocks, he would be reminded of the terrifying experience
in the pool. This would grip him and his legs would become paralysed. He
would feel petrified.

12. What did the writer miss out on because of his fear of water ?
Whenever the writer wanted to get into water, whether it was wading the
Tieton or Bumping River or bathing in Warm Lake of the Goat Rocks, he
would be reminded of the terrifying experience in the pool. This would grip
him and his legs would become paralysed. The fear stayed with him for
years. Wherever he went for fishing trips deprived him of the joy of
canoeing, boating, and swimming. Although he tried to overcome this fear,
it seemed to have him firmly in its grip.

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13. How did the instructor teach him to swim ?

The instructor took him to the pool and put a belt around him. He put a rope
attached to a belt that went through a pulley that ran on an overhead cable.
He held on to the end of the rope. It was after three months the taught him
to put his face under water and exhale, and to raise his nose and inhale.
Next, he held him at the side of the pool and had him kick with his legs.
The instructor, thus, gradually built him up into a swimmer.

14. The instructor was satisfied but not the writer. Why ?
To overcome his fear of water, one October, the narrator decided to get an
instructor and learn to swim. After about six months, in April, the
instructor’s job was finished as the author had learnt the technique but the
swimming lesson were not finished. He was not sure if he had overcome
his fear. He was not sure how he would react if he was alone in the pool.
When he tried, some little reminders of the old terror returned. So he
decided that he needed more practice.

15. How did he put himself to test ? What was the outcome ?
To test whether all his terror had left him, he went to Lake went worth in
New Hampshire, dived off a dock at Triggs Island, and swam two miles
across the lake to Stamp act Island. He swam the crawl, the breast stroke,
the side stroke, and the back stroke. Only once did the terror return, when
he was in the middle of the lake. He put his face under and saw nothing but
bottomless water. But he challenged the fear and swam on. However, he
knew that he needed more exposure.

16. How did he know that he had conquered his fear ? What was the biggest
lesson that the writer learnt during his lessons in swimming ?
The writer went up the Tieton to Conrad Meadows, up the Conrad creek
Trail to Meade Glacier and camped by the side of warm Lake. The next
morning he swam across to the other share and back. He then shouted with
joy as he had conquered his fear of water.

The writer leant that in death there is peace but in terror there is only the
fear of death. The writer supports Roosevelt completely who said, ‘all we
have to fear is fear itself.’ He had experienced both the sensations of dying
and the terror that fear of it can produce. So he knew that being free from
terror was like being released.

17. How did the near drowning experience at the pool affect him ?

Value Points for Q5.

 Felt weak and trembling as he walked back home
 Shook and cried as he lay on the bed
 Couldn’t eat that night
 Haunting fear gripped him for days

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 Slightest exertion tired him

 Knees felt wobbly
 Sick feeling in the stomach

18. Why did Douglas determine to get over his fear of water when he grew
older?

Value Points;
 Realized that he fear of water had gripped him firmly
 Ruined his fishing trips, deprived him of the joy of canoeing,
boating swimming.
 Could not enjoy his holidays with friends or relatives
 Came to know of the waters of the cascades
 Wanted to get into them to overcome his fear, tried, but terrorizing
memory of t he pool cam back.
 Fear would grip him completely, legs would become paralysed.

19. Why was Douglas determined, legs would become paralysed.

Douglas was determined to get over his fear of water when he came to know
the waters of the Cascades. He wanted to get into them but whenever he
tried, the terrorizing memory of the pool would come back. It would grip
him completely and his legs would became paralysed. It ruined his fishing
trips and deprived him of the joy of canoeing, boating and swimming.

20 How did the instructor ‘build a swimmer’ out of Douglas?

The instructor first put a belt around him to which a rope was attached. This
rope went through a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. He held on to the
end of the rope, and Douglas swam like this for weeks. Three months later
the tension began to decrase. Then he taught Douglas to exhale under water,
and to raise his nose and inhale. After repeated practice he shed a part of the
panic when his head went under water. Next the instructor held him at the
side of the pool and made him kick with his legs. Gradually after weeks of
doing so his legs relaxed. When he had perfected each piece, he put them
together into an integrated whole. Thus, bit by bit, the instructor built a
swimmer out of Douglas.

21. How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
To make sure he had conquered fear, Douglas went to Lake Wentworth in
New Hampshire, dived in and swam two miles across the lake to stamp Act
Island. Only once when he was in the meddle of the lake, did the terror
return. But he confronted it and swam on. Then he swam across Warm Lake
to the other shore and back. Thus he was sure of having conquered his fear
of water.

10. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION IN ABOUT 100 – 125 WORDS.

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1. Which experience made the write feel terrified of water? What decision
did he make to overcome the fear?
From the time when the write was three of four years old he developed an
oversion to water. It was because once when his father had taken him to the
beach in California and together they had stood in the surf till the waves
knocked him down and had swept over him. He felt he was buried in water
and out of breath. He had been frightened though his father had laughed.
This episode of terror was etched on his mind. Hence he feared the
overpowering force of the waves.
To overcome it, he decided to make an attempt to learn swimming when he
was ten or eleven years old. Then he decided to learn to swim. There was a
pool at the Y.M.C.A. in Yakima that was very safe unlike the Yakima River.
It was only two or three feet deep at the shallow end; and while it was nine
feet deep at the other, the drop was gradual. So he got a pair of water wings
and went to the pool.

2. Explain the writer’s first attempt to come out of the pool.

The writer was pushed into water and going down in the pool seemed a long way
down. The nine feet seemed like ninety, and before he touched the bottom his
lungs were ready to burst. But when his feet hit bottom he mustered up all his
strength and made a spring upwards. Unfortunately, instead of bobbing to the
surface like a cork, he came up slowly. He was suffocating and could not scream.
Them his eyes and nose came out of the water but not the month. Hence, he
swallowed water again and choked. He tried to bring his legs up, but they hung
as dead weights. It was as if a great force was pulling him under. He tried to
scream, but could not. Then like dead weight he felt that he was sinking back to
the bottom of the pool.

3. “There is terror only in the fear of death”. Comment with reference to

Deep Water.

Value Points for 03.

 One should not be afraid of dying or drowning or the challenges that
life poses.
 It is the fear of facing and undergoing these ordeals that can cripple
a man’s will to overcome them.
 People who are strong on the inside can defeat and surpass the
hurdles of life.
 Terror lies only in being afraid of the unknown.
 Once you overcome that fear one can defeat fear.

4. Why was the writer’s second attempt to come out of the pool as
unsuccessful as the first?
When the writer went down for the second time, he had lost all his breath.
His lungs ached, his head pulsated. He felt dizzy but decided to spring back
from the bottom of the pool and come up like a cork to the surface and then

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to strike out with arms and legs to reach the edge of the pool. However, on
reaching down, when he opened his eyes he saw nothing but dark water. He
could see nothing through it. He was frightened and felt that he was yelling
under water but even the screams froze in his throat. The only sign of life
was his beating heart and the pounding in his head.
And then he remembered to jump when he hit the bottom, but it made no
difference. There was nothing but water all around. He shook and trembled
with fright, and his limbs were paralyzed.

5. Even after the instructor finished his job of teaching him to swim, why
was the writer still not certain of his ability?
Even after the instructor had finished his job, the writer was not satisfied as
he wondered if he would be terror stricken when he was alone in the pool.
He tried swimming the length up and down the pool and the old terror
returned. But he had decided to challenge terror. So he went to Lake
Wentworth in New Hampshire, dived off a dock at Triggs Island, and swam
two miles across t he lake, he put his face under and saw nothing but
bottomless water. The old sensation, in a mold form, re turned to haunt him.
But, he swam on.

The next morning he dived into the Warm Lake, and swam across to the
other shore and back. It was then that he shouted with joy, as he knew that
he had conquered his fear of water.

6. How did Douglas know that he had finally conquered his fear? What
was the lesson that the writer learnt during his lessons in swimming
and his conquest of the fear of it ?

Value Points for 07.

 Went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire
 Dived off at a dock at Trigs Island.
 Swam across the lake to Stamp Act Island.
 In the middle of lake- terror struck again
 Tried to laugh it off
 Residual doubts were still there
 Went to Warm Lake-swam its length
 Was not afraid this time, realized he had overcome fear
 Lesson learnt-one should not fear death but fear the fear of it
 Knew what being free of terror was being like

7. How did the instructor ‘build a swimmer’ out of Douglas?

Douglas was determined to learn swimming to get over his fear of water.
Hence he engaged a professional instructor who well understood the gravity
of Douglas’ problem and the intensity of the terror that gripped his heart.
Thus rather than teaching him swimming in one go, the instructor built a
swimmer out of him bit by bit. First of all, to make Douglas get over the

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terror of drowning, the instructor put a belt around his waist and attached it
securely to a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. For almost three months,
he was repeatedly made to go back and forth across the pool. Next he was
taught to put his face under water and exhale and also to raise his nose and
inhale. Later, for weeks together he was made to kick with his legs a t the
side of pool. Thus inch by inch a swimmer was built.

8. How does Douglas make clear to the reader the sense of panic that
gripped him as he almost drowned vivid?

Douglas gives a vivid description of the terror that gripped him as he had a
near-drowning experience. Panic-stricken, the child still retained his wits
but when his first attempt to bounce out of water failed, deep terror gripped
him. With legs aching and head throbbing Douglas was unable to shriek
out for help. His very voice got frozen. Like a charge of electricity, he
shook and trembled with fright. Absolutely incapacitated, neither his legs
nor his arms moved. Fear made him stiff and rigid. Only his beating heart
and pounding head indicated that he was still alive. Yet as long as possible
he put up a brave fight against fear.

All these details of his terrorizing experience give a graphic description of

what he felt under the water. The lucidity of the detailed description makes
the reader almost go up and down with him under water.

9. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?

Determined to overcome his fear of water that had him in its grip since his
near-drowning experience, Douglas engaged an instructor under whose
supervision he practiced five days a week, an hour each day. The instructor
tried Douglas with a rope suspended from a pulley to help him overcome
his fear of drowning but each time the instructor loosened his grip.
Douglas’ fear returned. It took him three months to partially overcome it.
Next, the instructor taught Douglas to exhale under water and inhale by
raising his nose. This exercise repeated hundreds of times helped Douglas
shed his panic when he went under water. Next was the turn of building
stamina which Douglas did by kicking at the side of t he pool with his legs.
This exercise continued for weeks before Douglas was able to command his
legs. Douglas, thus spent six months from October to April with the
instructor. Then, he decided to be on his own in the pool to ensure that he
had fully overcome his fear. He practiced on his own till July. Having
gained more confidence, he then went to Lake Wentworth in New
Hampshire. Here, he experienced slight traces of old fear once while
swimming two miles across the lake, but his determination chased it away
immediately. Next, he swam across Warm Lake confidently and knew for
certain that he had over come his fear for all times to come.

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10. Why does Douglas as an adult recount a childhood experience of terror

and his conquering of it? What larger meaning does he draw from this
experience?

An individual’s personality is based on his childhood exposures and

experiences. Complexes and fear ingrained in the mind as a child continue
to stay with him even when he grows up. Therefore by recounting a
childhood experience of terror and his conquering of it, Douglas is giving
us a glimpse of the inner working of his mind. The childhood misadventure
kept alive the icy horror that grabbed his heart for years to come. Even on
growing up he found himself inflicted by the same disability that
handicapped him during his childhood.

His conquering this terror with an adamant determination, undeterred

single-mindedness and relentless efforts, reflects upon the possibility of
man’s conquest over his destiny. The incident stirred in him a sense of
intrepidity and ignited in him a spark of dauntless courage.

The larger meaning that he drew from the incident is that it is not death but
the fear of death that terrorizes us more. Moreover brooding over the past
saps out all the confidence of an individual. Perseverance can help us, not
only take up the challenges of des tiny but also to defeat its nefarious
designs.

_________________________________

Chapter – 4 : THE RATTRAP

By Selma Lagerlof

1 & 2 Brief introduction and Background

The story starts off in Sweden during the industrial revolution. During this time
many iron workers lost their jobs to machines and then many others gained jobs
working in factories. The main character of the story is one of these iron workers
who lost his job to machines. He is now a traveling Rat Trap salesman, this is not
however a good living. One day he decides that life is a giant rat trap and if you
take the bait you are caught. That same night he stays the night at an elderly mans
house, who allows him to stay because he needs shelter.

Geography and culture

Sweden is located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe. The fourth
largest nation in Europe, it can be divided into four geographical regions : the
mountainous area of the north (Norriand), the lake district (svealand), the heavily
forested highlands (Sma land), and the fertile, densely populated plains of the south
(Skane).

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 The note said that he wanted to be nice to her in return as if the was a real
Captain and wanted her to return the money back to the old man on the
roadside.
 He confessed that he made a mistake and got caught in his own rattrap.
 He thanked the daughter for giving him a second chance and helping him
out.
 Thus he behaves like a real Captain at the end and signs himself as Captain
von Stahle saying that the rattrap was a Christmas present from a rat who
would have been caught in this world’s rattrap is be had not been raised to
Captain.

The story has a philosophical bent

 The first being the entire rattrap theory that life is one big rat trap.
 This often does seem to be the case after all, if you take something you want
wrongfully you with usually get trapped in life by your consequences.
 However the tale also says something about second chances, stating that
everyone should get another-chance.

9. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS BRIEFLY.

1. How did the peddler earn his living?

The peddler went around selling small rattraps of wire, which he made
himself from the material he got by begging in the stores or at the big farms.
But even then, the business was not profitable, so he had no option but to beg
and thieve. Despite this, his clothes were in rags, his cheeks were sunken,
and hunger was evident in his eyes. He roamed about like a vagabond all
alone. He led a sad and monotonous life with no one to welcome him.

2. What did the peddler think about the world trapping people?
The peddler, thinking of his rattraps, was struck by the idea that the whole
world was nothing buy a big rattrap. It set baits for people by offering riches
and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing, just as the rattrap offered cheese
and pork, but as soon as anyone let himself be tempted to touch the bait, it
closed in on him and then everything came to an end. Since the world had
never been very kind to him, it gave him unusual joy to think ill of it in this
way.

3. What meditations of the peddler gave him unwonted joy?

The peddler’s life was difficult. His clothes were in rags, his cheeks were
sunken, and hunger was evident in his eyes. Moreover, people shunned him.
So it gave him unusual joy to think ill of the world and viewing it as a rattrap,
baiting people. It become, for him, a treasured pastime to think of people he
knew who had let themselves be caught in the dangerous snare and of others
who were still circling around the bait.

4. What kind of a man was the crofter?

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The crofter was a lonely, old man who was happy to get guests to share his
loneliness. He was a hospitable man who offered porridge, supper and
tobacco to the peddler. Then he played cards until bedtime. He was a trusting
man who showed him his earnings and let him know where his money was
kept. He was liberal with his generosity and was equally open about placing
his trust in people. The peddler, however, betrayed his trust.

5. What did the peddler think about rattraps when he lost his way in the
forest? How was it different from his previous thoughts about rattraps?
At first the peddler thought that the whole world was nothing but a big rattrap.
It baited people but as soon they were tempted, it closed in on them, and then
everything came to an end.
After taking the money in his pocket, the peddler lost his way in the wood.
He felt then that it was his turn to be trapped. He had let himself be fooled
by a bait and had been caught. The whole forest closed in upon him like a
prison from which he could never escape.

6. What made the peddler hopeful of finding someone in the dense forest?
When it become dark the peddler’s gloom and fear increased. He felt that he
was in a rattrap. He felt so gloomy that he sank down on the ground, thinking
that his last moment had come. But just as he put his head on the ground, he
heard a hard thumping sound. He was certain that it was the hammer strokes
from an iron mill. Thus he was sure of people being close by. He mustered
courage and moved in the direction of the sound.

7. What did the peddler see on reaching Ramsjo Ironworks?

The peddler noticed the master smith and his helper sitting in the dark forge
near the furnace waiting for the pig iron that was in the fire to be ready to put
on the anvil. Both of them, as was the custom, wore nothing but a long shirt
and a pair of wooden shoes. Every few minutes one of them got up to stir the
glowing mass with a long iron bar, returning in a few moments, dripping with
perspiration.

8. What was the blacksmith’s reaction to the peddler’s entry into the forge?
The vagabond trailed in the direction of the sound and reached the forge. On
account of all this noise caused by big bellows groaning, burning coal
cracking, clattering of the coal being shoveled into the furnace and the
waterfall outside, the blacksmith did not notice the peddler until he stood
close to the furnace. It was a usual sight as vagabonds often came in to warm
themselves in front of the fire. So he glanced casually and nodded a haughty
consent, permitting the peddler to spend the night.

9. How was the blacksmith’s reaction to the peddler different from that of
the ironmaster?
It was usual for vagabonds to warm themselves in front of the furnace fire.
So the blacksmith glanced casually and nodded a haughty consent permitting

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the peddler to stay. But, when the ironmaster came into the forge, he saw the
tall ragamuffin close to the furnace. Unlike the blacksmiths, who had hardly
looked at the stranger, he walked up to him, looked carefully, then tore off his
hat to get a better view of his face and said, ‘How you do look!’

10. Why did the rattrap peddler not reveal his identity to the ironmaster?
In the forge, while the haughty blacksmith had ignored him, the ironmaster
came up to him and scrutinized him. The man with the rattraps had never
before seen the ironmaster and did not even know what his name was. But he
thought that if the owner of the mill thought that he was an old contact, he
might perhaps give him a couple of kronor. Therefore he did not want to
reveal his identity at once to him.

11. The peddler did not reveal his identity, yet was reluctant to go to the
ironmasters home. Why?
The peddler hoped to get a couple of kronor from the ironmaster who mistook
him to be his old contact. Therefore he did not want to reveal to him his
identity at once. But the idea of going to the manor house and being received
by the owner’s friend did not please him. He felt it would be like throwing
himself voluntarily into the lion’s den. He only wanted a chance to sleep in
the forge and then sneak away as discreetly as possible.

12. How did the ironmaster try to convince the peddler to go home with him?
The ironmaster felt that the peddler was embarrassed because of his miserable
clothing. So he tried to convince him by saying that he did not have such a
fine home that he could not show himself there. He said that his wife
Elizabeth was dead and his sons were abroad, and there was no one at home
except his oldest daughter and himself. They didn’t have any company for
Christmas and would be pleased to have him home.

13. Describe the peddler’s first meeting with Edla Willmansson.

Barely half an hour after the ironmaster left, Edla Willmansson the
ironmaster’s daughter came to persuade the peddler to stay with them for
Christmas. She came followed by a valet, carrying on his arm a big fur coat.
She was not pretty but looked modest and shy. The peddler, at first, seemed
to be quite frightened. She looked compassionate and friendly. The rattrap
peddler felt confidence in her and agreed to go home with her.

14. Why does Edla say to the peddler ‘You may be sure Captain that you will
be allowed to leave us just as freely as you came’?
The peddler was startled by the arrival of the ironmaster’s daughter. He
jumped up abruptly and seemed to be quite frightened. But the daughter, Edla
Willmansson, expressed concern about his having to sleep in an
uncomfortable place. She invited him and looked at him sympathetically.
She was certain that he was afraid and felt he had either stolen something or

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else he had escaped from jail. She assured him that he would be allowed to
leave them after Christmas just as freely as he came.

15. What did the peddler think on his way to the ironmaster’s manor?
Edla invited the peddler in such a friendly manner that the rattrap peddler felt
confidence in her. He followed the young lady out to the carriage but while
he was riding up to the manor house he had evil premonitions. He regretted
taking the crofter’s money. He felt that he was sitting in the trap and would
never get out of it. The rattrap theory that he had propounded seemed to be
coming true for him.

16. What did the ironmaster wish to do for the peddler thinking him to be
his friend?
The ironmaster came into the dining room for breakfast happily thinking of
his old regimental comrade whom he had met by chance. He told his daughter
that their first duty was to see that he was well fed so that he had a little flesh
on his bones. He also wanted to help him get a better job rather than to travel
around the country selling rattraps.

17. What were the two observations that the daughter made about the
peddler that the ironmaster had overlooked?
Unlike her father, Edla was very observant. When she went to the furnace, to
get the peddler home she noticed that the man was afraid. She felt he had
either stolen something or had escaped from jail. She assured him that he
would be allowed to leave whenever he wanted.
Secondly, the felt that it was strange that things had gone downhill with him
so badly. Looking at him she felt that there wasn’t anything about him to
show that he had once been an educated man.

18. What was the ironmaster’s reaction to see the well-groomed peddler?
The valet had helped the peddler dress. He had bathed him, cut his hair, and
shaved him. He was dressed in a good-looking suit of clothes which belonged
to the ironmaster. But although he was well groomed, the ironmaster did not
seem pleased. The previous night when he had seen the strange fellow in the
dim light from the furnace, he had made a mistake, but now in brood daylight,
it was impossible to mistake him for an old contact.

19. What justification did the peddler give on sensing the ironmaster’s fury?
The peddler made no attempt to pretend. He said that it was not his fault. He
had never pretended to be anything but a poor trader and had begged to be
allowed to stay in the forge. Even now he was ready to change back into his
rags and go away. When the ironmaster threatened to turn him over to the
sheriff, the tramp struck the table with his fist. He said that the whole world
was a rattrap. He was in the but the ironmaster too, would one day get
caught in the

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20. What did the peddler explain to the ironmaster about the world being a
rattrap?
The peddler very emphatically told the ironmaster that the whole world was
nothing but a big rattrap. All the good things that were offered were the
cheese rind and bits of pork set out to drag one into trouble. He has in the
rattrap now but if the sheriff put him in prison, then the ironmaster ought to
remember that a day would come when he, too, would want a big piece of
pork, and then would get caught in the trap.

21. How did the daughter defend the peddler?

The ironmaster’s daughter said that she was going to make things good for
the peddler because for the whole year he roamed without being welcome
anywhere. He was forever afraid of being arrested so she wanted him to enjoy
a day of peace with them just one in the whole year. She also felt that it was
their mistake and they ought not to chase away a human being whom they had
asked to come there, and to whom they had promised Christmas cheer.

22. After the confrontation with the ironmaster, how did the peddler spend
the rest of his time in his house?
After the altercation with the ironmaster, the peddler sat and ate quietly. He
wondered why the girl had supported him. After that he only slept. He slept
throught the morning, at noon they woke him for his share of Christmas fare,
after which he slept again. It seemed as if for many years he had not been
able to sleep as quietly and as safely. In the evening, they woke him up again,
but he soon disappeared again to sleep. Two hours later he was awakened;
he ate; went around to each one present and said ‘thank you’ and wished them
a good night.

23. What did Edla say to the peddler that caused him boundless amazement?
When after dinner the peddler went up to Edla to thank her, she gave him to
understand that it was her father who wanted him to keep the suit which he
wore as a Christmas present. She added that if he wanted to spend the next
Christmas Eve in a place where he could rest in peace, he would be welcomed
back again. The man with the rattraps gave no answer but only stared at the
young girl in boundless amazement.

24. What did the ironmaster and Edla learn about the peddler at the church?
How did they react?
At the Christmas service, the ironmaster and Edla got to know that one of the
old crofters of the ironworks had been robbed by a man who went around
selling rattraps. The ironmaster was angry with Edla for letting him into the
house, and felt he might have stolen things from their house as well. Edla just
hung her head in dejection. She was quite embarrassed and hardly knew what
to say.

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25. What reasons does Edla give for allowing the peddler to stay after his
identity is learned? What does she say when he says good night?

Value points (Write the answer)

He walks and walks the whole year, not welcome at a single place, always
afraid of being arrested and cross-examined and that she would want him to
enjoy a day of peace. Invites him again for next year

26. What feelings about the world does the peddler’s “rat-trap” theory
express? What experiences haled him to evolve the theory?

Value Points (Write the answer)

That the world is selfish and cunning, it offers luxuries only to lure people.
He believed in this because earlier he had been a prosperous man but lost
everything and had to live his life in poverty.

27. What made the peddler finally change his ways ?

Due to the trust and compassion shown by the ironmaster’s daughter Edla
Willmansson, the peddler became a changed man. In his the addlar said letter
that read that since she had been so nice to him all day long, he did not want
her to be embarrassed in the Christmas season by a thief. He wanted her to
return the money to the old man on the roadside.. She helped him get power
to clear himself.

28. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake ?

When the ironmaster saw the stranger after he was truly clean and well
dressed, he realized his mistake. The valet had bothed him, cut his hair and
shaved him. He was wearing clothes that belonged to the ironmaster. The
ironmaster looked and frowned as he realized that at the furnace in a dim light
he might have made a mistake, but that now, when the stranger stood there in
broad daylight, it was impossible to mistake him for an old acquaintance.

29. What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not
the person the ironmaster had thought he was ?
When the ironmaster realized his mistake, the tranger made no attempt to hide
or pretend. But he said that it was not his fault as he had never pretended to
be anything but a poor trader. He had pleaded and begged to be allowed to
stay in the forge. But, no his rags again and go away.

30. Whey did Edle still entertain the peddler even after knew the truth about
him ?
Edla still entertained the peddler even after she knew the truth about him as
she had felt so happy when she thought how homelike and Christmassy she
was going to make things for the poor hungry wretch. She said that the whole
year long the peddler roamed without a single place where he was welcome.
Wherever he turned he was chased away. He was forever afraid of being

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arrested and cross-examined. So she wanted him to enjoy a day of peace with
them, just one day in the whole year. She also said that it was their mistake
and they ought not to chase away a human being whom they had invited home
and had promised Christmas cheer.

31. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Edla gave a little cry of joy on seeing the gift as in a small rattrap, lay three
wrinkled ten kronor notes. Her deed of kindness had helped the poor peddler
atone for his sin. He did not want her to be embarrassed at Christmas season
because of a thief. He said that the rattrap was a Christmas present from a rat
who would have been caught in this world’s rattrap if he had not been raised
to a captain’s stature. It was because she had done so that he got the power
to clear himself.

32. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
The peddler signed himself as Captain von Stahle because Edla had treated
him as if he was a captain. He added he was a rat who would have been
caught in this world’s rattrap if he had not been raised to captain, because in
that way he got the power to clear himself.

33. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human
predicament?
The metaphor of rattrap reveals man’s helplessness, restlessness and
powerlessness in the face of situations that pursuit of joys and luxuries land
him in. Just as the bait of cheese and pork tempt and trap a rat, the peddler
yields to his temptations at the crofter’s cottage and then runs like mad to
escape. The only difference is that for the peddler the world is big rattrap.
Though one cannot see the bars and wires, this rattrap ensares individuals like
him so securely that one connote escape at all. All aims and ambitions of
attaining great heights remain unfulfilled and one finds himself incapable of
wriggling out of pettiness and trivialities. Many times, one is not even aware
of having been trapped and thus goes on receding deeper and deeper into the
trap and loses all chances of deliverance.

10 ANSWER IN 120 WORDS (LONG ANSWER)

1. Was the ironmaster a generous man? Why or why not? What other
motivations might he have for his offer of hospitality?
When the ironmaster saw the tall ragamuffin near the furnace in his wet rags,
unlike the blacksmiths who barely looked at him, he walked close up to him
and looked at him very carefully. Suddenly, he seemed delighted and
addressing him as Nils Olof he expressed his surprise at his plight.
(a) He was generous - He mistook him for his old acquaintance, Captain
von Stahle and felt sad looking at his miserable plight. He forced him
to come home and also sent his daughter to get him. Like the
blacksmiths, he too could have been indifferent to the peddler.

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Even at home, he said that after a decent meal, he would see what he
could do for his job. He did not like the idea of him peddling rattraps.
(b) He was not generous – He merely saw an old acquaintance and being
a lonely man whose wife was dead and sons were abroad he invited
the peddler to his house. When he realized at the church that the
peddler was a petty thief, he was angry and worried. He even wanted
to hand him over to the sheriff the moment he realized that he was not
the man he had mistaken him for.

2. What qualities does Edla show by volunteering to go and get the peddler
and by the way she approaches him?
Edla came to get the peddler home because her father had told her that he was
his old associate. So in not more than half an hour she was outside the forge
to welcome the new guest. The father knew his daughter and was confident
of her powers of persuasion.
She was a concerned person, who not only came to get the guest to please her
father but was also sensitive. She got with her a big fur coat anticipating his
need as well as the fact that he would feel more comfortable if he covered his
rags. She was not at all pretty, but looked modest and shy.
She was polite, concerned and gentle. She said she was sorry that the captain
was having a difficult time. But, despite her compassion she noticed that the
man was afraid. She, at once, deduced that either he had stolen something or
had escaped from jail. But she had the concern and maturity to hide her
emotions. Subtly she assured him that he would be ‘allowed to leave them
just as freely as he come’. Her manner was so friendly that the rattrap peddler
felt confidence in her.

3. How do the father’s and daughter’s attitudes toward the peddler differ
before they discover his identity?
The father noticed the peddler and before the rattrap peddler realized it, he
had addressed him as Nils Olof. He was not much concerned with his reaction
or to confirm his identity but continued his talk. He told the peddler that he
should not have resigned from the regiment and invited him home. The
ironmaster thought that the peddler was uncomfortable going to his place
because of the economic disparity between the two.
But then his daughter who came to persuade the rattrap peddler to come home
got a big fur coat. She noticed that the man was afraid and felt that he was
either a thief or a runaway culprit. Despite this, she requested that he stay
with them over Christmas Eve. She was so friendly that the rattrap peddler
agreed. He also accepted the fur coat and wore it over his rags. The next day
the ironmaster said that they ought to ensure that his old friend got a decent
meal.

4. Do you accept the peddler’s argument that the case of mistaken identity
was not his fault?

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It was the peddler’s fault- When the ironmaster addressed him as Nils Olof,
he thought that it was better to let him believer that he was on old
acquaintance. This way he had a chance of the ironmaster giving him a couple
of kronor. Therefore, hoping to get help, he said that he was not doing well
in life. More so when the daughter came to get him, he had a second chance
to clear himself which he didn’t. He was deliberately quiet for some material
gain. In fact, he realized that going to the manor house would be like throwing
himself open to another temptation. Later, when his identity was revealed he
behaved in a righteous fashion.
It was not his fault- He was a poor peddler who struggled to survive despite
his toil he could barely keep his body and soul together. Moreover, he was
merely quiet. He tried to refuse going to the ironmaster’s place many times
but the ironmaster was adamant on taking him home. The ironmaster’s
daughter was able to persuade the rattrap peddler to come home. Being an
ordinary mortal- starved and in rage-he was tempted to spend a comfortable
day.

5. Why is the daughter’s decision to let the peddler stay a turning point in
the story?
The ironmaster’s daughter defended the peddler saying that he ought to stay
with them for a day. She said he walked the whole year long without having
a single place in the country where he was welcome. Hence, she wanted that
he enjoy a day of peace with them. She looked after the stranger as she would
have otherwise. The rattrap peddler did not say a word but ate and slept. She
made him feel like an honoured quest. This touched the peddler’s heart.
The next day, when they returned from the church the attendant told them that
the stranger had left behind a little package as a Christmas present for Miss
Willmansson. It was a small rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes. In
the rattrap lay also a letter addressed to her. It read that since she had been so
nice to him all day long, he did not want her to be embarrassed in this
Christmas season by a thief. He wanted her to return the money to the old
man on the roadside. The rattrap was a Christmas present from a rat who
would have been caught in this world’s rattrap if he had not been treated like
a captain by the lady. She helped him get power to clear himself. The letter
was signed ‘Captain von Stahle’. It was Edla’s decision to let the peddler stay
that transformed him and made him atone for his crime.

6. Does the ‘Rattrap Theory’ of the world make sense to you? What does
this theory reveal about the peddlers view of life?
The ‘Rattrap Theory’ stated that the whole world was a big rattrap. Its sole
purpose was to lay down temptation for people in the form of riches and joys,
shelter and food, heat and clothing lust as a rattrap offered cheese and pork.
The moment a person was lured to reach out to it, the trap closed in on him
and then everything came to an end.

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Yes, the theory makes absolute sense as this is what all the religions of the
world preach - not giving in to temptation. As humans, we have a built-in
fascination with sin. We love to see how close we can get without actively
sinning. And once we have been tempted and have given in to sin, we seem
to be even more susceptible to Satan’s influence.

The peddler, who had been living a deprived existence, derived pleasure in
thinking thus about people. Since they were indifferent to his pain, it was only
human of him to think thus. He could visualize the impending doom.

7. Do you think that one act of kindness can really change a person’s view of
the world? Why/ why not?

Value Points
 Yes, I do agree that one act of kindness can really change a person’s
view of the world.
 This has been exemplified in the chapter by the man selling rattraps.
 In the beginning of the man is dejected and disillusioned because he
could not live a contented life in spite of his doing work to make his
living.
 He had no positive experiences about life and considered the whole
world with its lands and seas, its cities and villages to be a big
rattrap.
 The ironmasters daughter treats him with respect and shows
compassion and understanding towards his condition.
 She does not force herself upon him but tries to persuade him to
spend the Christmas eve with them.
 He reposes trust in her due to her friendliness
 Later she persuades her father not to send the man away when his
identity is revealed as they had invited him and promised him
Christmas cheer.
 She also tells him that he is welcome again next year if he wishes
so.
 This brings about a change in the man and he is reformed.

_______________________________________________________

CHAPTER – 5 : INDIGO
by Louis Fischer
Indigo

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Theme
 Indigo – Deals with a battle between the oppressor and the oppressed- is
an uneven battle.
 The issue of indigo harvesting and the high handed attitude of the
Britishers becomes a road to freedom for the sharecroppers.
 The only way out to win it is to develop qualities like self-reliance, strong-
will, courage.
 Must openly stand up against injustice of any kind and not accept it lying
down.
 Persistence and patience of Gandhiji helps him in procuring justice for the
peasants.
 Talks about the need to fight our own battles in times of adversity instead
of depending on others.
 It is very important to be first free of any kind of fear.
 The account is also a reflection of the efforts made by Gandhiji to improve
the health conditions as well as social and cultural life of the peasants.
 Carries a universal message for all to adapt to.

9. SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS :

1. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?

He was determined to take Gandhi to Champaran to champion the cause of
the poor sharecroppers. When Gandhi said that he had a prior arrangement
to go to Kanpur and to other parts of India, Shukla went everywhere with
him. He also followed Gandhi to his ashram near Ahmedabad and stayed
there for weeks till Gandhi finallyh told him that on a particular date he was
to be in Calcutta. Shukla waited at the appointed spot in Calcutta to take
Gandhi with him. Hence he is described as ‘resolute’.

2. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?

Shukla took Gandhi to the house of Rajendra Prasad who was out of town,
but the servants knew shukla as a poor farmer who was pestering their
master to help the indigo sharecroppers. So, seeing Gandhi with him they
presumed that he was another peasant.

3. List the places that Gandhi visited between his first meeting with
shukla and his arrival at Champaran.
Gandhi met Shukla in Lucknow. From there, Gandhi went to Kanpur and
to other parts of India. Then Gandhi returned to his ashram near
Ahmedabad. Then he went to Calcutta and then Patna in Bihar. Gandhi
then decided to go to Muzzafarpur, which was en route to Champaran and
finally to Champaran.

4. What did the peasants pay the British landlords as rent ? What did the
British now want instead and why ? What would be the impact of
synthetic indigo on the prices of natural indigo ?

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The landlords forced the tenants to plant 15 per cent of their land with indigo
and give up the whole indigo harvest as rent.
The landlords had now learned that Germany had developed synthetic
indigo. Thus, they forced the sharecroppers to sign agremenets to pay them
compensation to be released from the 15 per cent arrangement.
The sharecroppers, who refused, engaged lawyers and to counter them the
landlords hired thugs. But, when the information about synthetic indigo
reached the peasants who had signed, they wanted their money back.

5. The events in this part of the text illustrate Gandhi’s method of

working. Identify some instances of this method and link them to his
ideas of satyagraha and non violence ?
Gandhi visited the secretary of the British landlords association who refused
to give information to an outsider but Gandhi stated emphatically that he
was no outsider.
When the British official commissioner of the Tirhut division asked him to
lease Tirhut, he refused. Even when the messenger served him consequently
sent a telegram to Professor J. B. Jripalani, of the Arts College in
Muzzafarpur, whom he had seen at Tagore’s Shantiniketan School. He
reached Muzzafarpur on 15 April 1917, where Kripalani was waiting at the
station with a large body of students.

6. Why was Gandhi’s stay with Professor Malkani an astonishing

experience ?
Gandhi’s stay for two days in the home of Professor Malkani, a teacher in a
government school was an extraordinary thing in those days. It was highly
unlikely that a government professor would give shelter to a rebel like him
for fear of termination from service by the government. In smaller localities,
the Indians were afraid to show sympathy for advocates of hime rule. In
such a situation for Malkani to house Gandhi was, indeed, commendable.

7. Why did Gandhi decide against taking the cases of the sharecroppers
to the court of law ?
When Gandhi reached Muzzafarpur, the lawyers told him about their cases
and reported the size of the fees they charged the peasants, Gandhi scolded
the lawyers for collecting big fees from the sharecroppers. He said taking
such cases to the courts would do little good. He felt that because the
peasants were so crushed and fear stricken, the law courts were useless. The
real relief to them would be to free them from fear.

8. How was Gandhi’s visit to Champaran viewed by the peasants ?

Though they did not know Gandhi’s record in South Africa, they gathered
in multitudes to see him. These sharecroppers from Champaran began

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arriving on foot and by conveyance to see the man who had come to
champion their cause.

9. What was the problem of the sharecroppers in Champaran ?

Most of the arable land in the Champaran district was divided into large
estates that were owned by Englishmen. Indian tenants worked for them.
The chief commercial crop was indigo. The landlords forced all tenants to
plant 15 per cent of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire
indigo harvest as rent. This was done by a long term contract. With
Germany developing synthetic indigo more complications arose.

10. What according to Gandhiji was more important then getting legal
justice for the peasants in the courts ?

Value Points
 Gandhiji felt that the farmers were so crushed and fear stricken that
just getting legal justice was neither enough nor helpful.
 Legal justice would also bring them limited profits.
 Instead the attitude to tyranny needed to be changed.
 Farmers didn’t have sufficient finances to fight legal battles against
the landlords.
 The best solution was to give them lessons in courage so that they
would fight oppression lifetime and not allow anvone to take
advantage of them.

11. How did the Champaran episode change the plight of the farmers ?

Value Points
 Champaran episode - brought about drastic change in the plight of
peasants.
 Moral victory of farmers over the corrupt landlords.
 Gave freedom from fear of the British landlords to the peasants.
 Made them aware of their rights and of the fact that they had people
to defend them.
 They got a very important lesson in courage and also got 25% of the
compensation money back.
 This was the first step towards their transformation.
 Soon the Britishers left their estates which reverted to the peasants.

12. What message does the Champaran episode carry ?

Value Points
 Justice can be achieved through argumentation and negotiation.
 Oppression needs to be fought against and not taken lying down.
 If we continue to be dominated by the tyranny of the oppressors, we
would never be free.

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 Determination, persistence freedom from fear, self reliance and

independence are qualities that we need to develop.

13. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the
farmers ?
Gandhi felt that money was less important at that stage. What was more
important was that for the first time the landlords had been made to
surrender their self-esteem. Moreover, the peasant realized that they had
rights as citizens and this was their first lesson in courage.

14. It was not easy for Gandhi to get information about the agreement with
the peasants. Why?
To get the facts, Gandhi first visited the secretary of the British Landlords
association, who refused to give information to an ‘outsider’. The British official
commissioner of the Tirhut division, in which the Champaran district lay, bullied
him and advised him to leave Tirhut. Gandhi refused to leave.

15. What was the treatment met ed out to Gandhi in Motihari? What was
the reaction to Gandhi refusing to disobey the order to quit Champaran
?
Gandhi was accompanied by several lawyers to Motihari. There he got
news that a peasant had been maltreated in a nearby village. Gandhi decided
to got and see but on the way the police ordered him to return to town and
Gandhi agreed. Then he was asked to quit Champaran but Gandhi wrote on
it that he would disobey the order.

16. What episode in Patna showed Gandhi the existence of a rigid caste system?
Shukla took Gandhi to Patna. He led him to the house of a lawyer, Rajendra
Prasad who was out of town, but the servants recognized Shukla as a poor
indigo peasant. So they let him and his companion, Gandhi stay on his
premises. They presumed him to be another peasant. They thought Gandhi
was an untouchable so he was not permitted to draw water from the well for
fear that same drops from his bucket may pollute the entire well.
17. When and where did Louis Fisher first meet Gandhi? What did they
talk about ?

Louis Fischer served as a volunteer in the British Army be tween 1918 and
1920. He wrote a book on Gandhi named The Life of Mahatma Gandhi. He
met Gandhi when he first visited him in 1942 at his ashram in Sevagram, in
central India. That was the time when Gandhi told him how he had decided
to urge the departure of the British from India in 1917.

18. Why was Gandhi in Lucknow in 1916? What happened there that was
to change the course of Indian history ?
In December 1916, Gandhi had gone to the annual convention of the Indian
National Congress in Lucknow, where there were 2, 301 delegates and

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many visitors. But what turned out to be even more important was his
meeting with a poor peasant, Rajkumar Shukla from champaran. Shukla
forced Gandhi to visit his hometown which revealed to Gandhi the
miserable plight of the indigo farmers. This later led him to urge the
departure of the British from India in 1917.

19. What was Gandhi’s advice to the lawyers that made them champion
peasants rights ?
The prominent lawyers told Gandhi that they had come to advise and help
him and if he went to jail they would go home. When Gandhi talked to
them about the injustice to the sharecroppers, the lawyers thought, that
Gandhi was a complete stranger, and yet he was prepared to got to prison
for the peasants; if they, on the other hand, being residents of the adjoining
districts and also who claimed to have served these peasants, should go
home, it would be shameful desertion.

20. Why did Gandhiji call on the British official commissioner of the
Tirhut division ? What was the outcome of this meeting ?
The un-cooperative attitude of the secretary of the British landlord’s
association prompted Gandhiji to contact the official commissioner of the
Tirhut division. This meeting, like the meeting with the association
secretary too was of no avail as the authoritative commissioner tried to bully
Gandhiji and advised him to leave Tirhut.

21. Give a brief account of the reception that Gandhiji got in Motihari.
Disregarding Tirhut British official commissioner’s instructions, Gandhiji
proceeded to Champaran’s capital Motihari and started operating from a
house there. People received him enthusiastically.
But he was stopped from visiting a nearby village by the police. He was
driven back and served with an official notice to quit Champaran.

22 How were the Britishers shown that their dreaded and unquestioned
authority could be challenged by the Indians ?
When Gandhiji was summoned to the court for flouting the official orders
to quit Champaran, the peasants in thousands flocked the courtroom to
support Gandhiji. The crowds became unmanageable. This show of strength
and solidarity showed that Indians no longer dreaded the Britishers and they
could challenge their authority.

23 What argument did Gandhiji give for not complying with the official
orders to quit Champaran ?
Gandhiji explained that he had not flouted the official order with the
intention of breaking the law but with the intention of rendering
humanitarian and national service by helping the peasants of Champaran.
He disregarded the order to leave not to show disrespect to lawful authority

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but to obey the higher law of being – the voice of conscience for which he
was ready to accept any legal punishment.

24 What made Mahatma Gandhi declare ‘the battle of Champaran is won

?
When the lawyers reconsidered their decision about their course of action
in the event of Gandhiji’s arrest and volunteered to court arrest for the cause
of the sharecroppers. Gandhiji was very pleased and he expressed his
satisfactory with these words of ‘the battle of Champaran is won’.

25 Why did Gandhiji stay on in Champaran even after the sharecropper’s

problem was solved ?
Having won the peasant’s battle against their English landlords, Gandhiji
got busy with the cultural and social uplift of the poor and backward villages
of Champaran. There was a lot to be done to fight and social uplift of the
poor and backward villages of Champaran. There was a lot to be done to
fight illiteracy, insanitation and ill-health. Therefore, Gandhiji stayed on in
Champaran even after the sharecropper’s problem was solved. He even
sought the help of the volunteers from his ashram and elsewhere.

26 How did Gandhiji keep a distance watch on the Ashram ?

While he was busy in his mission of uplifting the poor and backward
villages of Champaran, Gandhiji kept a long distance watch on the ashram.
He sent regular instructions by mail and asked for financial accounts. He
also gave important instructions on what to do and what not to do. For
example, he ordered the digging of new latrine trenches and filling of the
old ones lest they began to smell bad.

27 Why did Gandhiji oppose the idea of requesting the English pacifist,
Charles Freer Andrews to stay on in Champaran ?
Gandhiji vehemently opposed the lawyers’ move to enlist Charles
Andrews’ help because the was an Englishman saying that this move would
reveal that the lawyers were weak and could not win their battle without the
support of people like Andrews. Moreover, this would prevent them from
being self – reliant.

10. ANSWER IN 100 -125 WORDS

1. How did the peasants learn courage ?

The unfair treatment meted out to the Indian farmers by the British landlords
oppressed them beyond description. The unjust system made them suffer
helplessly in want and poverty. Their ruthless exploitation by the Britishers
had robbed them of their voices. They mutely bore the miseries and
surrendered the fruit of their labour to the landlords unquestioningly. The
few who sought legal support to get justice also drew a blank in the courts.

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Absolutely supped of all fighting spirit they dreaded the Btritishers and
lived pathetic lives, devoid of any hope and aspirations.
Gandhiji’s visit to Champaran proved a turning point in their lives and he
infused in them some confidence. They came out in thousands to greet the
mahatma and support him against the high-handedness of the authorities.
This was the first sign of their liberation from the fear of the Britishers Later
when Gandhiji’s efforts made the landlords partially surrender their
prestige, the farmers learnt that they had rights as well as support of their
people. All this taught them courage which they badly needed to learn.

2. How did civil disobedience triumph ?

On visiting Champaran to look into the grievances of the peasants, Gandhiji
was given a tumultuous welcome by thousands of peasants. This alerted
the authorities. On the first opportunity, as Gandhiji was on his way to a
nearby village from Motihari, he was served an official notice to quit
Champaran immediately. To the great consternation of the authorities
Gandhiji returned the notice with the remark that he would disobey it. This
was the beginning of civil disobedience.
Consequently Gandhiji was ordered to appear in the court the next day. The
crowds of peasants that thronged the court house was unmanageable and the
helpless officials had to seek Gandhiji’s help to regulate the crowds.
Sensing public outrage the magistrate adjourned the court for two hours.
He demanded Gandhiji to furnish a two hour bail which Gandhiji refused to
furnish. Then he released Gandhiji without the bail. Later, not knowing
how to handle it he postponed the judgement for a few days. Then finally
several days later the case was dropped by Lt. Governor himself. Thus the
civil disobedience triumphed.

3. What did Gandhiji take up;on himself after resolving the issue of
refund of compensation deceitfully extorted from the farmers ?
Or
What did Gandhiji do with regard to the cultural and social
backwardness in the Champaran villages ?
Having resolved the compensation issue, Gandhiji focused his attention on
the social and cultural backwardness in the Champaran villages. In
response to his appeal for volunteers, sever al young and enthusiastic people
came forward. Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh along with their wives
came over to help in opening primary schools in six different villages.
Devadas, Gandhiji’s youngest son, as well as Kasturbai, Gandhiji’s wife,
extended a helping hand. The villagers were taught the ashram rules on
personal cleanliness and community sanitation by Kasturbai, Gandhiji also
got the services of a doctor to improve the health conditions. Thus, gandhiji
began the mammoth task of rebuilding the nation.

4. What idea do you get about Gandhiji from the chapter “Indigo” by
Louis Fisher ?

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“Indigo” highlights the sterling traits of Gandhiji’s multi-faceted

personality. He drew crowds, wherever he went. He was so unassuming
that he visited Champaran at the request of a very poor peasant who had
approached him personally. Gandhiji’s comment on the victory of civil
disobedience “What I did was a very ordinary thing” also speaks of his
unpretentiousness.
Another quality that made him so great was that he focused not on the
problem but on the solution. His painstaking efforts coupled with this
attitude helped him change the sharecroppers’ plight. The crushing heap of
evidence, about ten thousand depositions, countless documents that he got
prepared eventually obliged the Britishers to partially refund the peasant’s
money. This shows what a relentless and untiring worker he was.
Intrepid by nature, he got intimidate ed neither by the British officials, nor
by their orders. On being served an official notice, he signed its receipt like
a law abiding citizen but at the same time he added fearlessly that he would
not leave Champaran.
Discreet and judicious as he was, he kept in mind the long term impacts
instead of running after short term gains. Hence he broke the deadlock in
the compensation issue, accepting only 25% refund. He was quite happy to
note that the whole incident had taught the peasants courage.
Gandhiji’s communicative skills and persuasiveness impressed the
Britishers and made the Indian intelligential- the eminent lawyers, agree
with his view point.
Despite all odds, Gandhiji lived life to the full. Having a humanitarian
approach he didn’t mind braving hardships and was prepared to face any
penalty. A self confident man, Gandhiji looked for self-reliance and never
took advantage of his social cont acts. Gandhiji’s approach was a holistic
one. As a result while sorting out the sharecroppers’ compensation issue he
also tried to alleviate their suffering by removing their cultural and social
backwardness.

5. What idea do you form about the Britishers from t he chapter “Indigo”
?
The British imperialists considered themselves to be lords above law. These
mercenaries treat ed the Indian farmers very cruelly and unjustly. They
expoited, oppressed and terrorized the hapless peasants. The Champaran
compensation issue speaks volumes about their unscrupulous, callous and
greedy nature. They extorted compensation from the sharecroppers
knowing fully well that synthetic indigo was no longer commercially viable
and eventually they would have to abandon their estates. Rather than
feeling ashamed of duping the peasants they tried to exert muscle power to
stop the peasants from demanding their money back or from trying to get
legal redressed. Taking undue advantage of their authority, they bullied and
ordered about the Indians in their own country. The landlords were so
shameless and selfish that when they were in trouble themselves, they

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turned to Indians for help. For example, they sought Gandhiji’s help in
regulating the unmanageable crowed outside the court house.
When Gandhiji cornered them by slapping them down with countless
evidence and documents, the British landlords agreed to refund 25% of the
money extorted deceitfully from the gullible peasants. However, all
Britishers were not alike. Britishers like Louis Fischer and Charles Freer
Andrews not only had sympathetic leanings towards the Indians but also
had great respect and admiration for figures like Gandhiji.

6. Who was Rajkumar Shukla ? What idea do you get about him from the
chapt er “Indigo” ?
Rajkumar Shukla was a poor, lowly oppressed sharecropper of Champaran
who like the rest of his brethren was a helpless victim of British
exploitation. However in spite of having been trodden and trampled
mercilessly by the unjust British landlords, Rajkumar Shukla had an inborn
urge not to take things lying down. He tried to seek legal recourse to get
justice and was in constant touch with rajendra Prasad, an eminent lawyer.
Despite his abject misery and poverty, this emaciated peasant, came all the
way from Champaran to see Gandhiji. Such unparalleled determination was
put to further test. When Gandhiji’s preoccupations prevented him from
meeting his request, Shukla’s tenacity made him wait endlessly for
Gandhiji. He shadowed him in his visits to different places. His tenacity
impressed Gandhiji so much that he accompanied him to champaran.
Thus Rajkumar Shukla’s resourcefulness, painstaking efforts and
determination indirectly proved instrumental in getting the sharecroppers a
partial refund of the compensation they had paid to their landlords.
His role behind the curtains cannot be underestimated and no leaves of
history can afford to ignore him whenever a reference is made to
Champaran.

7. Gandhi compromised on the material terms because the peasants had

gained what no money could buy. Explain.
Gandhi was summoned to Sir Edward Gait, the Lieutenant-Governor, with
whom he had four long- drawn-out interviews and an official commission
of inquiry was ordered into the indigo sharecroppers’ situation. The
commission that had Gandhi as the sole representative of the peasants,
gathered a lot of evidence against the big planters, and when they saw this,
they agreed to make refunds to the peasants. The peasants expected
repayment of the money in full but Gandhi asked for only 50 per cent. When
the representative of the planters offered to refund 25 per cent, Gandhi
agreed.
In this settlement Gandhi explained that the amount of the refund was less
important than the fact that the landlords had been forced to surrender part
of the money and, with it, part of their prestige. Therefore, as far as the
peasants were concerned, the planters had behaved as lords above the law.

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Now the peasants saw that they had rights and defenders. They had learned
courage.

8. Cultural and social backwardness of the people was Gandhi’s chief

concern. Explain.
Gandhi was never satisfied with large political or economic solutions. He
wanted to do something about the cultural and social backwardness in the
champaran villages. He appealed for teachers. Mahadev Desai and Narhari
Parikh, two of Gandhi’s disciples, and their wives, volunteered for the work.
Several more cam from Bombay;, Poona and other dist ant part s of the land.
Devadas, Gandhi’s youngest son and Mrs Gandhi arrived from the ashram.
Primary schools were opened in six villages. Kasturba taught the ashram
rules on personal cleanliness and community sanitation. Health conditions
were miserable. Gandhi got a doctor to volunteer his services for six
months. Three medicines were made available, castor oil, quinine and
sulphur ointment.

9. Self-reliance, Indian independence and help to sharecroppers were all

bound together. Justify.
In Champaran the landlords forced all tenants to plant 15 per cent of their
land with indigo and give up the whole indigo harvest as rent. But with
Germany having developed synthetic indigo, they began forcing the
peasants to pay them compensation to be released from the 15 per cent
arrangement. On the other hand when the peasants heard about synthetic
indigo they wanted their money back.
In Champaran, Gandhi was served a notice to quit immediately.But he got
unconditional support from the peasants in Motihari. This was the
beginning of their freedom from fear.The officials felt powerless without
Gandhi’s cooperation. They had to release Gandhi.
But with the assurance of the lawyers that they would follow him into jail,
he felt that the battle of champaran was worn. Gandhi then met the
Lieutenant-Governor and an inquiry was ordered into the indigo
sharecroppers’ situation. The inquiry ordered reimbursement to the
sharecroppers. The peasants expected the refund of the entire surf of money
but Gandhi asked for only 50 per cent and accepted 25 per cent. He
explained that the amount of money was less important than the self-esteem
that the landlords had surrendered. The peasants realized that they had
rights and this was their first lesson in courage. They had declared that the
British could not order them in their own country.

10. Why did Gandhiji’s casual visit to Champaran get extended over a year ?

Value points :-
 A small request by a farmer made Gandhiji go to Champaran to look
into the problems of the oppressed sharecroppers

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 Gandhi became the spokesperson for the indigo sharecroppers and

started a mission to help them.
 Decided to go to Muzaffarpur to get the real and complete picture.
 Looked into each minute detail and gathered information from
lawyers.
 Gathered evidence against the landlords.
 Arrived in champaran at the point when the crooked landlords were
scheming against the poor peasants and making them pay
compensation.
 Attempted to meet secretary of the British landlord’s association and
the British official commissioner of Tirhut division to get their
viewpoint.
 The lackadaisical and non-cooperative attitude of the authorities
delayed matters.
 Was asked to quit Champaran – was summoned to court since he
disobeyed the order.
 Result in spontaneous demonstrations by thousands of farmers.
 Convinced lawyers to support the peasants.
 Determinedly worked from April to June.
 Civil disobedience successful as the Lt Governor ordered the case
to be dropped.
 Since Gandhiji deeply empathized with the sad plight of the farmers,
he persisted in his efforts and continued to make enquiries, collected
depositions.
 After 4 interviews with Gandhiji, the Lt. Governor constituted a
commission of enquiry where the deadlock of the issue of compensation
was broken and the farmers got 25% of their money back.
 Then he started looking after the health conditions and social and
cultural backwardness of the farmers.
 All these activities were very time consuming and so a casual visit
got prolonged into an over one year stay

CHAPTER – 6 : POETS AND PANCAKES

by Asokamitran

1 &2 About the writer and background

The chapter is an excerpt from “My Years with Boss”. Sahitya Academy award
winning Tamil writer Asokmitran worked at the Gemini studios from 1952 to 1966.
The series of articles that make up My Years with Boss are reminiscences of the
writer’s years spent at the studio. It is one of the most unusual books to be written
about the entertainment world and indicates the enormous impact of movies on
virtually every aspect of life in India. The author’s ability to capture the life and
breath of people and events, and his narrative make this a brief but special book of
film history.

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 What was an English poet doing in a film studio which makes Tamil films

Mystery Unraveled

 Years later after retirement from Gemini studios Asokamitran saw a pile of
books at reduced price
 They were special low priced student edition.
 Connected with the 50th anniversary of the Russian Revolution – the God
That failed.
 It was a collection of six seprate essays by six eminent writers about their
journeys into communism and their disillusioned return; Andre Gide,
Richard Wright, Ignazia silone, Arthur Koestler, Louis Fisher and Stephen
spender.
 The name Stephen Spender suddenly assumed great importance as he was
the poet who had visited Gemini Studios.
 It lit up the mystery of Spender’s visit to the studio.
 The Boss of Gemini’s Studios may not have anything to do with his poetry
but certainly had something to do with his god that failed – i.e. communism.

9 SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (30 – 40 WORDS )

1. What is the significance of the words ‘poet’ and ‘pancake’ ?

‘Pancake’ was the brand name of the make-up material that Gemini Studios
bought in large quantities. It was used as a make-up base for the actors
shooting in the studio. Thus this chapter deals with the people working in
Gemini studios, most of them in t he make-up department. The word ‘Poets’
comes from the fact that Gemini Studios was the favourite haunt of poets,
who had influenced the thinking of the employees of the studios. It was
also visited by the English poet Stephen spender.

2. What is the writer’s view about Robert Clive ?

The make-up department of the Gemini Studios was in a building that was
believed to have been Robert Clive’s stables. There were various other
buildings in Madras that were said t o have been his residence. The writer
says that Clive’s stay in India and specifically Madras was for a very short
period, though he married in St. Mary’s Church in Madras. But during this
brief stay, he seemed to have done a lot of moving, besides fighting some
tough battles in far-flung areas of India.

3. What does the writer say about national integration in the studio ?
The writer says that the make –up department did not have people belonging
to the same geographical region. It was first headed by a Bengali who was
succeeded by a Maharashtrian who was assisted by a Dharwar Kannadiga,
an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and the usual
local Tamils. All this shows that people from all over the country worked

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together. So in a light-hearted manner he mentions this as national

integration.

4. Bring out the humour in the job done by the make-up men.
The writer says that the ‘gang’ (not group ) of men from all corners could
transform any decent-looking person into a repulsive crimson coloured
fiend because of the enormous amount of make-up they used on the actor.
The chief make-up man made the chief actors and actresses ugly. According
to the writer, they used ‘truck-loads of pancake’. Other than the pancake,
they used locally manufactured ‘potion and lotions’. He feels with so much
of make-up they looked uglier than in real life. This was required to make
them look acceptable in the movie.

5. What was the hierarchy that was maintained in the make-up

department?
The authoritarian chain of command in the make-up department spelt the
duties of the employees in accordance with their position in the hierarchy.
The chief make-up man did the make up for the main actors and actresses;
his senior assistant worked on the ‘second hero and heroine’, the junior
assistant the ‘main comedian’, and so on. The players who played the crowd
were the responsibility of the office boy, who was the juniormost. Because
the office boy was the juniormost in hierarchy, he was only required when
a crowd scene was to be shot as he applied make-up on the crowd players.

6. Why was the ‘office boy’ disgruntled in the Studios?

The job of the ‘office boy’ was to paint the faces of the crowd on the days
when there was an outdoor shooting. Such occasions in those days were rare
as only five per cent of the film was shot outdoors. Moreover, he wasn’t a
‘boy’ but a man in his early forties, who had joined the studios years ago in
the hope of becoming a star actor or a top screen writer, director or lyrics
writer. He felt that his literary talent was being allowed to go waste in a
department that was suitable only for ‘barbers and perverts’.

7. What was the writer’s job? How was it viewed by the others in the
Studio?
The duty of Asokamitran in the Studios was to cut out relevant newspaper
clippings on a wide variety of subjects and store them in files. People who
saw him at work felt that he was doing next to nothing. They saw him sitting
at his desk tearing up newspapers the whole day long. So anyone, who felt
he should be given some occupation would barge into his cubicle at anytime
and delivered an extended lecture. More often than not it was the ‘boy’ in
the make-up department who pushed his way in to enlighten him on how
his great literary talent was being allowed to go waste in a department fit
only for barbers and prevents.

8. Why was the anger directed at Kothamangalam Subbu?

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According to the writer, whenever people are frustrated, their anger gets
directed towards one person, openly or clandestinely. At Gemini Studios,
this man was Kothamangalam Subbu. He had begun his career as a ‘boy’ in
the make-up department. All were convinced that all their sorrow,
humiliation and neglect were due to him. Subbu was the No.2 at the Studio
and was a generous man. It could have been because he seemed so close
and intimate with the Boss or because his general conduct resembled that of
a flatterer. He was quick to say nice things about everyone.

9. Subbu had made tremendous progress at the Studios. What does the
writer feel about Subbu’s talent?
Subbu began as an office boy and had risen to the position of the No.2 at
Gemini Studios. It was even more commendable in his case as he began his
career at a time when there were no firmly established film producing
companies or studios.
Although he barely had any formal education, Subbu was cut-out for films.
He could be inspired when desired. When asked by the producer, he would
come up with ideas. He gave direction and definition to Gemini Studios. He
was capable of higher forms of poetry but he purposely chose to address it
to the masses. His success in films eclipsed his literary achievements. He
was an amazing actor and whatever role he played, he performed better than
the main players.

10. Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite ?

The lawyer was also officially known as the legal adviser, but everybody
referred to him as the opposite because he did not give legal but illegal and
destructive advice. He married the career of an extremely talented actress.
Once when that actress threw a tantrum on the sets, the lawyer switched on
the recording equipment and when she paused for breath he replayed it. It
was on outburst against the producer. When she heard her voice again she
was struck dumb. A girl from the countryside, she never recovered from
the terror she felt that day.

11. How did the legal adviser look different from the rest in the department
?
While every other member of the Department wore a khadi dhoti with a
slightly oversized and clumsily tailored white khadi shirt, the legal adviser
wore pants and a tie and sometimes a coat that looked like a coa t of mail.
As a consequence, often he looked alone and helpless. He was a man of
logic in a crowd of dreamers a dispassionate man in a group of Gandhites
and khadites. Then the Boss closed down the story Department and this
was perhaps the only instance in all human history when a lawyer lost his
job because the poets were asked to go home.

12. Why was the legal adviser dismissed ?

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The legal adviser was close to the Boss. As a consequence, like others who
were close to the Boss, he was allowed to produce a film. A lot of
investment had gone into the production of this film but not much came of
the firm. The lawyer was a member of the story department. Then one day
the Boss closed down the Story Department and this was perhaps the only
example where a lawyer lost his job because the poets were asked to go
home.

13. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios ?
The writer worked in a cubicle with French windows and thus could be seen
sitting and tearing up newspapers all day. People who saw this felt he was
doing nothing. Hence everyone felt that they could walk in any time and
give him a lecture.

14. Why was the office boy frustrated ? whom did he direct his anger at ?
The office boy was frustrated as despite being a forty year old man he was
just an ‘office boy’. He was certain that all his misery, dishonour and neglect
were due to Kothamangalam Subbu, who was the no.2 at Gemini Studios.
He had also begun as the make –up boy and though he did not have formal
education but by virtue of being born a Brahmin he had exposure to better
situations and people.

15. Who was Subbu’s principal ?

The ‘principal’ means whoever was in command at the time, be it the
producer or the company owner- the chief organizer. Subbu allied himself
with the chief person and gave valid suggestions out of utter loyalty, almost
sycophancy.
Subbu had great sense. He was cut out for films. He could be motivated
when asked. Whenever the principal – the producer –the producer – needed
creative input, Subbu would immediately come out with ideas.

16. Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special

abilities.
(a) He could be motivated when asked. Whenever the producer needed
creative input, Subbu would came up with ideas.
(b) Subbu was also a poet, capable of higher forms of poetry. He
composed several ‘story poems’ and also wrote a novel thillana
Mohanambal.
(c) He was an amazing actor, who was content playing secondary roles
in which he performed better than the main players.
(d) He loved people and his house was a permanent abode for many
relations and acquaintances

17. Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others?

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The legal adviser did not give legal aid but ruined careers. He was referred
to as the opposite because he ruined the career of an extremely talented
actress. When the actress was in one of her temperamental moods she said
things which she would not have in her calmer moments, the lawyer quietly
switched on the recording equipment and then played back the recording.
When she heard her voice she was struck dumb. A girl from the
countryside, she never quite recovered from the terror she felt that day. The
legal adviser had brought about her sad end. Even when he produced a film
with a lot of expenditure not much came of the film.

18. What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios ?
While every member of the Department were a khadi dhoti with a little
oversized and clumsily tailored white khadi shirt, the legal adviser wore
pants and a tie and sometimes a coat that looked like a coat of mail. He
seemed to be a man of calculated thinking in a crowd of dreamers.

19. Did the people at Gemini studious have any particular political
affiliations ?
Most of the p;eople were apolitical but worshipped Gandhiji. They hated
the term ‘Communism’ as to them a communist was a godless man
incapable of love and always out to spread unrest and violence among
innocent and ignorant people. The khadi-clad poets of Gemini studios, too,
felt the same.

20. Why was the Moral Re-armament Army enacted plays.

The moral messages of the plays were plain and simple, but the sets and
costumes were impressive. It was a kind of counter movement to
international communism and they managed to impress important people of
Madras like Mr Vasan.

21. Name one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the
plays staged by MRA.
Madras and the Tamil drama community were terribly impressed and for
some years almost all Tamil plays had a scene of sunrise and sunset in the
manner of Jotham Valley’ with a bare stage, a white background curtain and
a tune played on the flute.

22. What does the writer say about the political leanings of the people at
the Gemini Studio ?
Barring the office boys and a couple of clerks, everybody else at the Studios
radiated leisure and was a lover of poetry. Most of them wore khadi and
warshipped Gandhiji but beyond that they had no political leanings at
Gemini Studios. Since most of the employees were a political and
worshipped Gandhiji, they wore khadi. However, all of them disliked the
term ‘communism’. To them, a Communist was a godless man who had no

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love and could kill his own family. He was always out to cause and spread
unrest and violence among innocent and ignorant people.

23. What impact did Frank Buchman have on the Gemini Studio ?
When Frank Buchman’s Moral Re-Armament army visited Madras it was
given a very warm welcome. They presented two plays in a most
professional manner. Their ‘Jotham Vassey’ and the Forgotten Factor’ ran
several shows and the Gemini family saw the plays and simple, but the sets
and costumes were first – rate. Madras and the Tamil drama community
were so impressed that for some years, almost all Tamil plays had a scene
in the style of ‘Jotham Valley’.

24. What truth about the Moral Re-Armament army disillusioned the
write ?
Initially, when the write saw the play staged by the Moral Re-Armament
army he was impressed by the message of the plays. Their sets and costumes
were first- rate. Infact, Madras and the entire Tamil drama community were
impressed that for some years almost all Tamil plays had a scene in the style
of ‘Jotham Valley’.
Years after the Moral Re-Armament army had come and gone, the write
learnt that it was a kind of counter – movement to international Communism
and the big bosses of Madras like Mr. Vasan had been led into believing
them.

25. Stephen Spender’s visit to the Gemini Studio baffled one and all. Why ?
When the Studio prepared to welcome Stephen Spender, no one knew who
he was. They guessing whether he was a poet or an editor. Certainly, he was
not so well known that his fame had traveled to India from The Manchester
Guardian or the London Times. When he arrived, the Boss introduced him
but the speech was ambiguous. Then the poet spoke which confused the
audience even more. No one knew what he was talking about and his accent
could not be understood. The poet, too, looked equally baffled.

26. How did the writer discover Spender’s identity ?

The writer read an announcement in The Hindu for a short story contest
organized by a British periodical by the name The Encounter. The writer
wanted to get an idea of The Encounter before he sent his manuscript to
England. So he went to the British Council Library and saw copies of The
Encounter almost untouched by readers. He read the editor’s name. it was
Stephen Spender. The name was familiar and he recalled that this was the
man who had visited the Studio.

27. Why did the book, The God Failed assumed great importance for the
writer ?
The write paid fifty paise and bought the book, The God That Failed. It had
six separate essays by six eminent men. They had described their journeys

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into Communism and their disillusioned return. One of them was Stephen
Spender. Just then, the book became very important as this poet had visited
Gemini Studios. The purpose of his visit at once became clear. The Boss of
the Gemini Studios had nothing to do with Spender’s poetry but with
Communism.
The Gemini Studios was set up in 1940 and was one of the most influential
film – producing organizations of India. Its founder was S.S. Vasan, who
was known as the Boss.

28. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and
the people at Gemini Studios ?
The Englishman left the audience dazed and silent as no one knew what he
was talking about. The people in the film studios led lives that least afforded
them the possibility of cultivating a taste for English poetry. The
Englishman talked of the thrills and problems of an English poet. Moreover,
his accent defeated any attempt to understand what he was saying.

29. Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as unexplained mystery ?

None of the employees of the Studio knew the identity of the visitor. He
came and lectured them. The lecture lasted about an hour and it left all of
them confused. They did not understand what was happening. They did not
know what an English poet was doing in a film studio which made Tamil
films for the simplest sort of people who had nothing to do with English
poetry. The poet was equally baffled. He too must have felt the strangeness
of his talk. Hence, his visit remained an unexplained mystery.

30. How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was
?
The Hindu had made an announcement about a short story contest organized
by a British periodical The Encounter. He had never heard of The Encounter
so he went to the British Council Library to find out about it. There he saw
copies of The Encounter where he read the editor’s name; it was the poet
who had visited the Gemini Studios. His name was Stephen Spender.

31. What does The God That Failed refer to ?

The God That Failed had six eminent men about their disillusionment with
Communism. The writers were Andre Gide, Richard Wright, lgnzio Silone,
Arthur Koestler, Louis Fischer and Stephen Spender. The God That Failed
was their disillusionment with Communism which had initially seemed a
promising idea.

10. LONG ANSWER QUESTION (125 – 150 WORDS)

1. Describe the make – up department of Gemini Studiow.

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Value Points
 Once stable of Robert Clive
 Looked like hair cutting salon
 Half dozen mirror, incandescent lights
 Strict hierarchy was maintained in the make up room
 Presented picture of national integration
 Use truck loads of pancakes and locally made potions and lotions
 Office boy mixes his paint in a big vessel, slapping it on the crowed players

2. Highlight the virtues an qualities of Subbu that made him No. 2 in Gemini
Studios.

Value points
 Many sided genius
 Didn’t have much formal education but had exposure to prosperous
situations people
 Sense of loylty made him identify with his Boss, used all creativity and
energy to the advantage of boss.
 Understood all complexities and technicalities of film making
 Charitable and cheerful personality
 Performed better than main players

3. Describe the make – up department in the Gemini Studio.

The make – up department of Gemini Studios was in the upper floor of a
building that was supposed to have been Robert Clive’s stables. The make-
up room had the look of a hair salon with lights at all angles around half a
dozen huge mirrors. They were all glowing lights that made the place so
warm that the person on whom make-up was being done had to undergo a
great deal of inconvenience. The make-up department had people from
various parts of the country, who were adept at painting faces. The chain of
command in the make-up department, distributed the duties of the
employees in accordance with their position in the hierarchy. The chief
make-up man did the make up for the main actors and actresses; his senior
assistant worked on the second hero and heroine, the junior assistant on the
main comedian, and so on. The players who played the crowd were the
responsibility of the office boy, who was the junior most.

4. The ‘office boy’ of the Gemini Studio was not as blessed as Subbu.
Explain.
In the make-up room, as per the hierarchy, the ‘office boy’ was the junior
most and hence was responsible for the make-up of the players who played
the crowd. He wasn’t exactly a ‘boy’; he was in his early forties, and had
entered the studios years ago in the hope of becoming a star actor or a top
screen writer, director or lyrics writer. The ‘boy’ felt that his great literary
talent was being allowed to go waste in a department fit only for barbers
and perverts.

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On the other hand, Subbu had risen to the position of No.2 at Gemini
Studios only by virtue of his being a Brahmin. He had joined the films as a
make-up boy. In fact, he must have had to face more uncertain and difficult
times, because when he began his career, there were no well established
film producing companies or studios.

5. Write a brief character sketch of Kothamangalam Subbu.

Kothamangalam Subbu was universally hated by all in the make-up
department. He had a modest beginning as on office boy and had now
reached to the position of No.2 at Gemini Studios. He was a Brahmin and
hence had contacts with affluent people. He looked cheerful at all times. He
could never do things on his own but his loyalty endeared him to the boss.
His creativity surfaced when commanded. He could come out with various
alternatives for enacting a scene. He gave direction and definition to Gemini
Studios during its golden years. Subbu was also a poet and capable of
complex and higher forms of poetry but he purposely addressed it to the
masses. His success in films overshadowed his literary achievements. He
composed several ‘story poems’ and also wrote a novel Thillana
Mohanambal. He was an amazing actor and performed better than the main
players. He loved people and his house was a permanent residence for
guests. Despite this, he had enemies. It could be because he seemed so close
to the Boss or because he seemed like a sycophant.

6. The Gemini Studio was the haunt of poets and it had its due effect on
the employees of the Studios. Justify.
Gemini Studios was the favourite hand-out place of poets like S.D.S.
Yogiar, Sangu Subramanyam, Krishna Sastry and Harindranath
Chattopadhyaya. The employees were a khadi dhoti with a clumsily tailored
white khadi shirt. It was a crowd of dreamers and an assemble of Gandhiites
and Khadiites. Then, Congress rule meant Prohibition and most employees
worshipped Gandiji but beyond that they had no admiration for political
thought of any kind. They disliked a Communist and to them he was godless
man with no love. He could kill his own parents or his children and he was
always out to cause and spread unrest and violence among innocent and
ignorant people. Such notions which prevailed everywhere else in South
India at that time also, naturally, floated about vaguely among the khadi-
clad poets of Gemini Studios.

7. What was the reaction of Gemini Studios to Frank Buchman’s Moral

Re-Armament army? What was the anti-climax?
Frank Buchman’s Moral Re-Armament army of about two hundred visited
Madras in 1952, and they were giver a warm welcome in the Studios. The
staff of Gemini Studios had a nice time hosting two hundred people of all
hues and sizes of at least twenty nationalities. They presented two plays,
‘Jotham Valley’ and ‘The Forgotten Factor’, in a very professional manner.
The employees of the Studios saw the plays many times. The message of

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the plays was plain but the sets and costumes were excellent. Madras and
the Tamil drama community were so impressed that for years almost all
Tamil plays had a scene in the manner of ‘Jotham Valley’.
Later they learnt that the MRA was a counter – movement to international
Communism and the big bosses of Madras like Mr. Vasan simply played
into their hands.

8. How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet

addressing the audience at Gemini Studios.
Gemini Studios made preparations to welcome an English poet. They knew
nothing about him. The only poets from England they had heard of were
Wordsworth and Tennyson; a few knew of Keats, Shelley and Byron; and
even lesser of Eliot. Then they were informed that he was not a poet but an
editor. But he wasn’t the editor of any of the British publications known at
the Gemini Studios.
Finally, when the gentleman arrived, the face was equally unknown to all
of them. The Boss welcomed him in his speech, yet the audience was at sea.
First, the speech was muffled by the sound of the pedestal fans and second,
it was in the most general terms and was laced with words like ‘freedom’
and ‘democracy’. The poet’s speech was as vague. The audience was quiet.
They could neither understand what he was talking about nor was his accent
comprehensible. It lasted about an hour but left them completely baffled.
The poet looked equally baffled. His visit remained an unexplained
mystery.

9. What do you understand about the author’s literary inclinations from

the account ?
The duty of Asokamitran in Gemini Studios was to cut out newspaper
clipping on a wide variety of subjects and store them in files. Although he
performed an insignificant job he was the most well – informed of all the
members of the Gemini family. Poets like S.D.S. Yogiar, Sangu
Subramanyam, Krishna Sastry and Harindranath Chattopadhyaya used to
sit for long hours in Gemini Studios hence, an intellectual environment
prevailed. The exposure was, however, limited. When the Hindu made an
announcement about a short story contest, the author went to the British
Council Library to find out more about it.
The author’s literary interest is evident from the fact that even when he was
out of Gemini Studios and did not have much money, he noticed on the
footpath new books for fifty paise each. He paid fifty paise and picked up
The God That Failed where one essay was by Stephen Spender. Suddenly,
the book assumed tremendous significance. In a moment, he felt a little
more enlightened.

10. The author has used gentle humour to point out human foibles. Pick
out instances of this to how this serves to make the piece interesting.

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The author has used gentle humour to point out human idiosyncrasies. The
title itself is suggestive of the tone of the piece. ‘Pancake’ was the brand
name of the make – up material that Gemini Studios bought for its actors
and according to him it was bought in truck – loads and the make – up room
of the studio was once Robert Clive’s stable. He goes on to talk of the ‘fiery
misery’ of those wubjected to make – up, under the iridescent lights and the
team of make up artists from all over – ‘gang of nationally integrated make
– up men’ who could turn any decent looking person into a hideous crimson
hued monster.
Similarly, in describing people he exhinits a pronounced sense of humour.
The office ‘boy’ was a man in his early forties whose sole job was to paint
the crowd during outdoor shootings. He had entered the studios years ago
in the hope of becoming a star actor or a top screen writer, director or lyrics
writer. The situation had made him into a poet. Like most people who
thought that the write had no job, the ‘boy’ came to enlighten him with a
long lecture on how great literary talent was being allowed to go waste in
the department fit only for barbers and perverts.

11. Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios ?

The ‘boy’ in the make – up department hated Kothamangalam Subbu who
was considered No. 2 at Gemini Studios. He was next in position to the
Boss. He was given this title as he was not much liked. He had joined as
make – up boy but because he was a Brahmin he had exposure to more
affluent situations and people. He looked cheerful even after having had a
hand in a flop film. He could never do things on his own but because of his
loyalty endeared himself to the Boss. His creativity only surfaced when
asked by the Boss. He was talented, yet had enemies. It could have been
because he seemed so close to the Boss or because his general behaviour
was that of a fklatterer. It could also be because he was ready to say nice
things about everything.
He gave valid suggestions to the producers, coming up with as many as 14
alternatives to do a scene. He gave direction and definition to Gemini
Studios during its golden years. He was also an amazing actor.

12. How did the writer discover Spender’s identity ?

When Gemini Studios prepared to welcome Spender, they did not know the
identity of the visitor. All they knew was that he was a poet from England.
However, he was not one of the poets from England that they had heard of.
Later they heard that he was an editor. But again, he wasn’t the editor of
any of the known British publications. When the gentleman arrived, the
mystery of his identity deepend. He spoke but none understood because of
the British accent.
Much later, when The Encounter, a relatively unknown periodical,
announced a short story contest through The Hindu, the write went to the
British Council Linrary to find out more about the periodical. When he read

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the editor’s name, it sounded familiar. It was the poet who had visited the
Gemini Studios. His name was Stephen Spender.

13. What idea do you get about the narrator from the chapter “Poets and
Pancakes” ?
Asokamitran emerges as a responsible and conscientious man, who kept
himself busy in the studies tearing newspaper clippings day in and day out
without making his work look tideous and tiring. Everybody in the studios
thought him to be doing next to nothing but he never tried to say anything
in his defence. Though he kept himself busy with his work, without poking
his nose into anyone’s affairs he was wide awake and highly observant. He
very well knew what was going on around him. Having a deep
psychological insight into the human mind, he could see through Subbu’s
sycophancy, the lawyer’s smartness and the office boy’s frustration. Fond
of reading, he bought books even when there was paucity of money. His
sense of humour surfaces itself several times in the chapter. The
description of S.S. Vasan’s battling with half a dozen pedestal fans while
reading his welcome.

Chapter – 7: THE INTERVIEW

1 & 2 ABOUT THE AUTHOR & BACKGROUND

 Umberto Eco was born on January 5, 1932 in a small city east of Turin in a town
Alessandra. It is a mountainous area, the people are used to a certain sense of
independence, French rather than the fiery passions of the southern Italians. Eco
often cities his upbringing among this culture as a source of the unique temperament
in his writing: “Certain elements remain as the basis for my world vision: a
skepticism and an aversion to rhetoric. Never to exaggerate, never to make
bombastic assertions”.

 His father, Giulio Eco, an accountant and a veteran of three wars, came from a
family of thirteen children.

The Academic

 Urged by his father to become a lawyer, he entered the University of Turin. But he
abandoned his studies of law; and against his father’s wishes he took up medieval
philosophy and literature, writing his thesis on Thomas Aquinas and earning his
doctorate of philosophy in 1954.

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Yes, public figures are answerable to society. But only if they do not carry out the
responsibilities conferred on them by society. If someone is doing something untoward
and irregular in his public life, the media should chase him and expose any scam. That’s
their job, their moral duty. That’s what democracy is all about. At the same time, what
one does within the four walls of one’s home is entirely one’s own business. The media
has no right to do a sting operation to see his life there.
The media has to ask itself some questions such as: Where does my responsibility
towards the public end and where does irresponsibility begin ?

8. MASTER CARD

PART – I
 Interviews were invented more than a century back
 Many celebrities have been interviewed
 Varying views with regard to the use of interviews
 Many celebrities see it as an unwelcome and an unpleasant interference
 Author then gives varying views of different people about holding an interview.
Lewis Carroll, V.S.Naipaul, Rudyard Kipling, H.G. W.saul Bellow Wells etc.
 Denis Brian opines that these days an interviewer holds a greater power over an
interviewee, novel was a success.

PART - II – Interview of Umberto Eco by Mukund Padmanabhan

 David Lodge, an academician states that he (David) failed to understand how Eco
managed to do so many things
 Eco believed in working in the spare time of his day something that he calls empty
spaces
 Mukund said that everyone did not have the capacity to achieve that
 While talking about his academic style Mukund remarked that unlike the regular
academic style Eco’s non-fictional writings had a certain lighthearted and personal
quality about it.
 At the age of 22 Eco had managed to understand that a thesis should be written in
the form of a story of a reearch.
 It gave him a deep sense of satisfaction to have written narrative pieces.
 Mukund then remarked that people thought of him more as novelist than as an
essayist
 Eco added that he had always thought of himself more as a university professor than
a novelist
 Mukund next questioned him about his novel The Name of the Rose and wanted to
know if Eco was puzzled by the fact that the people had enjoyed reading it
Mukund questioned him about the reason behind the success of his novel. Umberto
added that even he did not know why the

9. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING IN ABOUT 30-40 WORDS.

1 What are the writer’s views about interview as a form of journalism ?

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The writer says that interviews came into being about a little over 130 years ago.
However, now the interview has become a feature of everyday journalism.
Nowadays, everybody who is literate will have read an interview. Thousands of
celebrities have been interviewed and often repeatedly. Hence, because of this
kind of popularity and readership opinions about the functions, methods and
merits of an interview differ considerably. While some call it the highest form of
truth others feel it as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives.

2. What are the two facets of the interview as a form of reporting ?

Because of the popularity and readership of interviews, opinions of the functions,
methods and merits of the interview differ considerably. On the one hand, people
claim that in it is an art. On the other hand, celebrities who see themselves as its
victims hate it. They feel it is an unnecessary invasion into their lives. They also
feel that it somehow diminishes their image. They compare it to a belief in
primitive cultures that stated that taking a photographic portrait was like stealing
the person’s soul.

3. What were Lewis Carroll’s views about an interview ?

Lewis Carroll, the creator of Alice in Wonderland, was said to have had ‘a just
horror of the interviewer’ and the never gave permission to be interviewed. He
felt that interviews glorified people. It was this glorification that made him stay
away from acquaintances, interviewers, and the persistent petitioners for his
autograph. He would afterwards relate the stories of his success in silencing all
such people with much satisfaction and amusement.

4. What was Kipling’s experience about being interviewed ?

Rudyard Kipling had a very disapproving attitude towards the interviewer. His
wife, Caroline wrote in her diary that their day was ruined by two reporters from
Boston. She wrote that her husband felt that interviewing a person was
immoral. I t was as much of a crime as a physical attack and thus deserves as
much punishment. It was cowardly and vile. No respectable man would permit
it. Ironically, Kipling was himself responsible for such an ‘assault’ on Mark
Twain only a few years before he said so.

5. What do the people who advocate an interview say to support it ?

Many people are critical in their opinion of an interview. However, the people
who advocate an interview say that despite the disadvantages of the interview, it
is a very useful medium of communication. Our clearest impressions of our
contemporaries are through interviews. As Denis Brain has written, almost
everything reaches us through one man asking questions of another. Because of
this, the interviewer holds a position of unparalleled power and influence.

6. Who was Umberto Eco ?

Umberto Eco was a professor at the University of Bologna in Italy. He was a
scholar known for his ideas on semiotics, literary interpretation, and medieval

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aesthetics before he turned to writing fiction; essays, children’s books, newspaper

articles etc. In 1980, he got superstardom with the publication of his novel the
Name of the Rose, which sold more than 10 million copies. He considered
himself to be a university professor who wrote only during his free time.

7. What was Umberto Eco’s justification of the fact that he did a lot many things
?
Umberto Eco was a scholar known for his ideas on semiotics, literary
interpretation, and medieval aesthetics before he turned to writing fiction, essays,
children’s books, newspaper articles etc. However, he said that he merely gave
the impression of doing many things. He was essentially doing the same thing.
He pursued his philosophical interests through his academic work and his novels.
Even his books for children were about peace. All his writings had the same set
of ethical and philosophical interests.

8. What, according to Umberto Eco, are the empty spaces ? How did he deal
with them ?
According to Umberto, there are empty spaces in the universe in all the atoms. If
they are removed, the universe will become as small as a fist.
Similarly, we have a lot of empty spaces in our lives called interstices. He
explains it with an example. If a person is waiting for another who is coming up
in an elevator from the first to the third floor, this is an interstice, an empty space.
Eco works in such empty spaces.

9. What was Mukund’s opinion about Eco’s writing style ?

Mukund felt that Eco’s non-fictional writing i.e. his scholarly work had a certain
playful and personal quality about it. It was a marked departure from a regular
academic style which was consistently depersonalized and often dry and boring.
He also felt that this style had an informal approach.

10. What was Eco’s first published work ? Why did he keep to that style ?

When Eco presented his first doctoral dissertation in Italy, a Professor told him
that usually scholars learn a lot of a certain subject, then they make a lot of false
hypotheses, then they correct them and at the end, they put forward t heir
conclusions. But Eco, on the contrary, had recounted the story of his research,
including his trials and errors. The Professor realized that this was the right
approach, and his dissertation was published. Thus, at a young age, he understood
scholarly books should be written that way.

11. How did Eco take to writing novels ?

Eco recalls the moment when he presented his first doctoral dissertation in Italy,
one of the Professors told him that scholars learn a lot of a certain subject, then
they make a lot of false hypotheses, then they correct them and at the end, they
put the conclusions. Unlike them, Eco had told the story of his research including

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his trials and errors. This was what he appreciated. This made Eco understand
that scholarly books should be written by telling the story of the research.
Thus, he began his writing by telling the story of the research, which led to his
essays to have a narrative aspect. Hence, he did not feel the urge to write a novel
and wrote one when he was 50. unlike Roland Barthes who died frustrated
without producing a creative writing piece, Eco started writing novels by accident
and that satisfied his taste for narration.

12 What did Eco say was the reason that made him more famous after the
publication of The Name of the Rose ?
Eco had written more than 40 scholarly works of non-fiction but he got much
more fame after the publication of The Name of the Rose. The Name of the Rose
is a very serious novel. It’s a detective yarn at one level but it also delves into
metaphysics, theology, and medieval history. Yet it enjoyed a huge mass
audience. This is because most people have read only the novels. Novels reach a
much large audience as compared to serious topics such as semiotic.

13 Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar ?

Though as compared to his scholarly works, Umberto Eco’s fiction made him
reach a much larger audience, the professor prefers being referred to as an
academic scholar. He participates in academic conferences and not in writers’
meetings. He identifies himself with the academic community and turns to fiction
only when he is not pursuing some scholarly work.

14 What are the drawbacks of an interview ?

Interview is an encroachment upon an individual’s privacy. Most of the times it
is an ordeal for the celebrity. At times it is condemned for its ‘diminishing effect’:
at times it is dreaded because it ‘lionizes’ the subject. Sometimes it wounds and
at other times it robs one of a part of oneself.

15 Why is interview a supremely serviceable medium of communication despite

its drawbacks?
Despite all its drawbacks, interview is a serviceable medium of communication
as it gives us a peep into the mind of the celebrity. The revelations made through
this medium are truthful, sincere and vivid and they reach us instantly.

16 What are Denis Brian’s views about interviews and the interviewers?
Denis Brian defines interview as a medium that leaves behind the most vivid
impression about the celebrity being interviewed. He holds the interviewer in
high esteem as he sees him holding position of great ‘power and influence’.

17 Umberto Eco’s staggeringly large and wide-ranging work puzzles

everybody. What does the scholar have to say about it?
Very modestly, Umberto Eco says that it is a fallacious impression that he does
many things. Infact he has a few philosophical ideas and he keeps on pursuing

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them in different works. However, he shares the secret of accomplishing so much

of work by revealing that he utilizes time-gaps between different pieces of work.

18 Bring out Umberto Eco’s humility and modesty as evident in “The

Interview”.
In spite of the unparalleled intellectual stardom that Umberto Eco acquired,
he takes success in his stride and talks about his achievements in all
modesty. He attributes the spectacular fame of ‘The Name of the Rose’ to
people’s capability of appreciating difficult reading experiences. Regarding
doing so many things, Eco feels that it is a fallacious impression. In fact,
rather than doing many things he is always pursuing the same philosophic
and ethical ideas in different works and forms.

19 How did Umberto Eco get to adopt an informal approach and a playful
personal style in writing scholarly work?
While presenting his first doctoral dissertation, Eco gave the entire story of
his research including all his trials and errors. One of his professors not
only approved of this style but also published the dissertation as a book.
This encouraged the then 22 years old young Umberto Eco and thus he stuck
to his style ever after.

20 Why did Roland Barthes, a dear friend of Umberto Eco die a frustrated
man? Why did Umberto never feel that frustration?
Roland Barthes was an essayist. His scholarly essays did not satisfy him
fully. He yearned to do some creative writing. Unfortunately, he died
before tasting success into the world of fiction. Umberto Eco, on the other
hand, had no such problem. His scholarly work also had a narrative aspect.
This never let him experience any frustration about not being a creative
writer even when he had not taken to writing fiction.

21 Explain: “I started writing novels by accident”.

Umberto Eco, basically an academic scholar produced ‘staggeringly large
and wide-ranging’ scholarly

22 What would Eco be better known as?

Umberto Eco was a professor at the University of Bologna in Italy. He was
a scholar known for his ideas on semiotics, literary interpretation, and
medieval aesthetics before he turned to writing fiction, essays, children’s
books, newspaper articles etc. In 1980, he got superstardom with the
publication of The Name of the Rose, which sold more than 10 million
copies.

However, he felt he would rather not be known as a novelist. He considered

himself to be a university professor who wrote novels on Sundays. He

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participated in academic conferences and not in the meetings of Pen Clubs

and writers. He identified himself with the academic community.

23 What kind of a novel is The Name of the Rose? What does the writer
say of its popularity?
The Name of the Rose is a very serious novel. It’s a detective story at one
level but it also delves into metaphysics, theology, and medieval history.
He feels that it is a myth that people like trash and not difficult reading
experiences. He feels that he, too, enjoyed easy experiences and watched
television serials such as ‘Miami Vice’ or ‘Emergency Room’. He needed
that as well but did not want to view them all day long.

24 Why is the success of the book the Name of the Rose a mystery?
Eco feels that the huge success of the novel might have to do with the fact
that it dealt with a period of medieval history. But his publisher didn’t
expect to sell more than 3,000 copies in a country where nobody had seen a
cathedral or studied Latin. Moreaver, a lot of book, had been written about
the medieval past far before this work but had not been popular. Eco feels
that had he written the novel ten years earlier or ten years late, perhaps it
wouldn’t have been the same success that it was now.

25. What are the two facets of the interview as a form of reporting?

Value Points for Q2

 Some think of it as a form of truth
 Others call it an art
 Others call it an intrusion on their privacy

10. Answer the following in about 150 words.

1. Interviews as a form of journalism are both loved and hated. Give

reasons.

Ever since its invention, the interview has become a commonplace of

journalism. It is so common that the opinions regarding interview differ
greatly. Some people feel that it is the highest form of journalism while
others feel that it victimizes the interviewee, as it is a needless interference
into their lives. V.S. Naipaul feels that it diminishes the interviewee and
Lewis Carroll never consented to be interviewed. Rudyard Kipling and his
wife, Caroline, felt that it was as much a crime as an assault.

Nevertheless, Kipling had himself interviewed Mark Twain. H.G. Wells

who called it an ‘ordeal’, was himself a frequent interviewee and also
interviewed Joseph Stalin. Saul Bellow, who had consented to be
interviewed on several occasions, once described interviews as tribulation.
Yet despite the drawbacks of the interview, it is a supremely serviceable

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medium of communication. Denis Brian feels that almost everything of

moment reaches us through one man asking questions of another. Hence,
the interviewer holds a position of unprecedented power and influence.

2. Are the different celebrities in “The Interview” justified in condemning

interviews?
Celebrities like V.S. Naipaul, Lewis Carroll, Rudyard Kipling, Saul Bellow
and H. G. Wells have expressed strong dislike for expressed strong dislike
for interviews. They go to the extent of calling them immoral – ‘a crime’,
‘an assault’ and the like. There is no denying the fact that the interviews, in
some way, encroach upon their privacy and at times project them to be
shorter than their stature and at others lionize them. In spite of these
drawbacks, there is no justification in condemning them outright, after all
interviews give us an insight into the personalities of the celebrities. They
bring out truth and they inspire the masses. The fan-following of the
celebrities gets a pleasure and satisfaction in having a glimpse of their
heroes’ inner selves from such close quarters. Interviews leave behind
indelible and vivid impressions and they are undoubtedly a ‘supremely
serviceable medium of communication’ and they don’t deserve to be
condemned altogether.

3. Give a pen portrait of Umberto Eco on the basis of the chapter ‘The
Interview’.
Umberto Eco is a professor at the University of Bologna in Italy, who apart
from being an authority on Semiotics (the study of signs) is a reputed
novelist. His scholarly works comprise academic texts, essays, children’s
books and newspaper articles. The range and volume of his written output
is mind boggling.

In spite of having achieved such intellectual stardom, Eco is a very humble

and modest scholar. Far from boasting and bragging about his
achievements, he brushes aside the compliment and makes himself look
very ordinary.

He shares his experiences with others readily and talks about the utilization
of the ‘interstices’ as the secret of his success. Eco’s arguments are very
logical and a subtle wit and playfulness is evident in his conversation all
through. ‘I am a professor who writes novels on Sundays’ and again ‘I give
impression of doing many things’ are good examples of his spirited style.

4. Though Eco identified himself with academic community, his taste for
narration was there right from the beginning and it sustained itself
throughout Comment.
Despite getting spectacular fame as a novelist, Eco always associated
himself with academic community. His non-fictional work occupied him
for the first fifty years of his life. However right form the beginning, his

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taste for the narrative was evident in his scholarly writings also. When he
submitted his first Doctoral dissertation, his professor was impressed with
his playful and personal style which was far removed from dull, drab and
depersonalized style, invariably followed in the scholarly works. The
narrative aspect of his dissertation was complimented and it was published
too. Ever since that time, Eco always told the details of the story of his
research and his essays made an interesting reading. He wrote his first novel
at the age of about 50. ‘The Name of the Rose’ stormed the world and to
the utter surprise of the publishers and journalists it drew mass audience.
His engrossing narration eventually culminated in his novels.

5. How far does Mukund Padmanabhan impress you as an interviewer.

Do you consider his interview with Umberto Eco a success?
Padmanabhan’s interview with Umberto Eco gives evidence of his
capabilities as a successful interviewer. Neither does he encroach upon his
privacy and embarrass him with personal questions nor does he stand
between the celebrity and the readers. He poses brief, well – worded and
suggestive questions which draw out of the celebrity what all his fans would
like to know. With every question, the interviewer withdraws to the
background leaving the interviewee in the limelight. The questions posed
by him cover all those aspects of his works and personality that interest his
readers. Every question of his draws out an elaborate answer from Umberto
Eco, which apart from being informative is also very inspiration. Nowhere
does the interview appear to be an ordeal for the interviewee. It is short,
crisp and what is more, it sounds very informal.

6. What idea do you form about ‘The Name of the Rose’ from the chapter
“the Interview” ?
It was Umberto Eco’s taste for the narrative that made this academic scholar
produce this fictional work ‘The Name of the Rose’ when he was over 50.
Based on a detective plot, it delves into metaphysics, theology and medieval
history which obviously makes it a difficult reading experience. Hence,
when Eco took the book to the publisher, she liked it but she didn’t expect
it to find much favour with the readers. So, initially, Eco was given an
advance for 3000 copies only. But once the book was out, it stormed the
literary world and surprised everyone. Though, somewhat heavy reading
experience, the book attracted mass audience and Eco came to be known as
a novelist, rather than an academic scholar all over the world. It didn’t
please him much but Eco admits that only his fictional work could have
given him such a large audience.

7. How did Umberto Eco analyse his own writing style ?

Umberto Eco felt that he was an academician who had ethical and
philosophical interests. He pursued them through his writing – academic
work and his novels. His books for children were also about non-violence
and peace. He wrote to eliminate the empty spaces in his life. He began

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writing after his doctoral dissertation was published. Therein he had

recounted the story of his research including his trials and errors. At a young
age he understood scholarly works of non-fiction; among which was a
seminal piece of work on semiotics. He considered himself to be a
university professor who wrote novels on Sundays. He preferred to
participate in academic conference instead of the meetings of Pen Clubs and
writers.

8. How does Eco analyze his writing of his novel The Name of the Rose ?

Eco was happy on his having written novels, which he did accidentally,
unlike Roland Barthes who died a frustrated man because he could not do
so. Novels satisfied Eco’s taste for narration though he did not consider
himself to be a novelist. He considered himself a university professor who
wrote novels on Sundays. But he was aware that by writing novels, he could
reach a larger audience. The Name of the Rose was a very serious novel. It
was a detective story that delved into metaphysics, theology, and medieval
history. It enjoyed a huge mass audience because he believed that people
did like difficult reading experiences. Many people, like him, might enjoy
easy experiences for a while but not all the time. The novel dealt with a
period of medieval while but not all the time. The novel dealt with a period
of medieval history and the publisher didn’t expect to sell so much in a
country where nobody had seen a cathedral or studied Latin. This apart, a
lot of books have been written about the medieval past that didn’t do well.
The success of The Name of the Rose remains a mystery to him.

9. What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style ?

Unberto Eco was a processor at the University of Bolonga. He was very
well reputed as a scholar for his study on semiotics, literary understanding,
and medieval aesthetics. This was much before he was acknowledged as a
novelist. Both his non-fictional writing and his scholarly work had a certain
playful and personal quality about it which was in contrast to the regular
academic style which is depersonalized, often dry and boring. He wrote a
wide range of literature including fiction, academic texts, essays, children’s
books, and newspaper articles. In 1980, his novel, The Name of the Rose,
was published and which sold more than 10 million copies.

Umberto Eco maintained that he had some philosophical interests that he

pursued through his academic work and his novels. His books for children,
too, were about non-violence and peace. He had written five novels against
over 40 scholarly works of non-fiction which included an influential piece
of work on semiotics. He considered himself to be a university professor
who wrote novels only on Sundays. He participated in academic
conferences and identified with academic community.

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10. Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic

scholar ?
Mukund said that Eco was a famous academician but he became even better
renowned after the publication of The Name of the Rose. Although he had
written only give novels as against over 40 scholarly works of non-fiction,
which included an influential piece of work on semiotics, yet he was better
known as a novelist. Umberto Eco considered himself to be a university
professor who wrote novels only on Sundays. He participated in academic
conferences and identified with the academic community and not with the
Pen Clubs and writers. However, he was aware that most people read
novels. He could not expect everyone to be reading books on semiotics.

11. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel, The Name of the
Rose?
Eco began writing narratives at the late age of about 50. This satisfied his
love for narration. He had become even more renowned after the publication
of The Name of the Rose, although he had written five novels against over
40 scholarly works of non fiction.

He said that The Name of the Rose was a serious novel. It was a detective
story at one level but it also dug into metaphysics, theology, and medieval
history. Yet it was enjoyed by a large audience. Umberto Eco wasn’t
surprised but the journalists and some publishers were because they
believed that people did not enjoy difficult reading experiences. Eco felt
that there was a percentage of readers who did not want easy experiences.
Even if they did enjoy reading trash, it was not all the time. Many books
had been written about the medieval past but the reason for the success of
his book was unknown. He felt that perhaps if he had written The Name of
the Rose ten years earlier or ten years later, it wouldn’t have been the some
success.

Chapter – 8 : Going Places

By A. R. Barton

1 & 2. ABOUT THE LESSON AND THOUGHT

This is a story about a teenaged firl, Sophie who like many other girls of her age,
lives in a world of fantasy. She fantasizes about owning a boutique, becoming an
actress and meeting a glamorous football player. Coming to terms with reality is
both disappointing and disillusioning for her.

3. MAIN THEME AND SUMMARY

 Main Theme

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 A manager
 An actress
 Or a fashion designer
- Why unrealistic
 Because of weak socio-economic background
 Does not even have a decent house to live
 Fantasizing in teenagers
- Sophie’s hero is an Irish player Danny Casey
- Dreams of meeting him
- Is so much obsessed with the thought of meeting him-starts
believing she has met him
- At home nobody believes her
- Goes to meet him again But is disappointed
- But is disappointed
- Still imagines meeting him in the arcade

9. SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (ANSWER IN 30 – 40 WORDS) :-

1. Where was it most likely that the two girls would find work after school
and why ?
The two girls were just stepping out of school. They had not acquired any
professional skill as yet. Belonging to the lower middle – class, they neither
had resources nor any back – up to setup their own ventures. Hence, the
biscuit factory was the only most likely place that the two girls could find
work in after school.

2. What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of ? Why does Jansie
discourage her from having such dreams ?
Sophie dreams of stepping out of the confines of her lower middle – class
status. She wishes to buy a boutique, if ever she is able to make big money.
She thinks she could be a manager in some establishment and thus save
money. She even dreams of becoming an actress or a fashion – designer.
Jansie discourages Sophie from having such dreams because they are wild
and can never be realised. Earmarked for a biscuit factory it was senseless
for Sophie to pursue such dreams as they could only lead her astray or fall
into depression.

3. Why did Sophie wriggle when Geoff told her father that she had met
Danny Casey ?
When Geoff shared the incident of Sophie’s encounter with Danny Casey
with her father, she wriggled because she knew it was false. Her father was
realistic to the core and Sophie was certain that he would not believe a word
of this concocted story. To avoid his disdain, she feared she would have to
add more details to make her story convincing.

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4. Does Geoff believe what Sophie says about her meeting with Danny
Casey ?
Geoff does not completely believe in Sophie’s story about her meeting with
Danny Casey, the Irish football prodigy. Although he shares a strong
binding with his sister, who shares all her secrets with him, he cannot draw
himself into believing her story. He dismisses it as the most unlikeliest
thing. He even tries to make Sophie see the reality by telling her that Danny
would never keep his promise of meeting her again to give her the
autograph.

5. Does Sophie’s father believe her story ?

Sophie’s father, who is grounded in reality, has no place for dreams and
fantasies. He does not believe in Sophie’s story at all and dismisses it as
another of her wild concoctions. He shows no inquisitiveness when Geoff
tells him about the meeting and waves it off by saying that he once knew a
man who had known Tom Finney. He even feels such cock and bull stories
would land Sophie in thick soup someday.

6. How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in her fantasy of her future
?
Sophie knows that Geoff is a great fan of Danny Casey. His bedroom walls
are covered with coloured photographs of the player. She cleverly humours
him by not telling her Dad about the secret which she shared only with him.
She tells him about her next meeting with Casey when he had promised to
give her his autograph. She makes her narration seem so realistic that Geoff
is almost drawn into her pipe dream.

7. Describe the meeting between Sophie and Casey in the arcade?

Value Point
- Sophie meets Casey at Royce’s window
- Was looking at clothes
- Sophie speaks first – asks for autograph
- Neither had paper or pen
- Casey promises to give her the autograph next week

8. Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny ?
Sophie did not want Jansie to know about her encounter with Danny
because she knew that Jansie was good at spreading rumours. Telling Jansie
anything was like telling the whole town. She feared her father’s wrath if
her story of closeness with Danny spread in the town. Moreover, she had
made up the story only for her family. She did not mean to draw crowds to
her house with hundreds of queries about this meeting.

9. Did Sophie really meet Danny Casey ?

Or

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Do you think Sophie had actually met Danny Casey at the Royce’s?
Give reasons in support of your answer.
Sophie didn’t really meet the Irish prodigy, Casey at the Royce’s. Her story
is only a part of her fantasy. Being very imaginative she envisions her
meeting with the football star and gives vivid details of this meeting. These
details give her concocted meeting a colour of reality.

10. Which was the only occasion when Sophie got to see Danny Casey in
person ?
The only occasion when Sophie got to see Danny Casey in person was when
she went to watch the match with her family. Sitting among the spectators.
Sophie used to see Danny Casey from a distance. But her fertile mind
cooked up the story of her real encounter with him and she almost met him
in person in her imagination.

11. How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s
father ?
An uncouth but a simple poor man, Sophie’s father faced the hardships of
life without indulging in any self – pity. Very practical and rational, he
didn’t believe a word of his daughter’s wild stories. He made the best of
what life offered him and extracted as much joy out of it as he could by
watching football matches and celebrating victories in the pubs.

12. Why did Sophie dream of having a boutique after leaving school ?
Sophie was struck by the glamorous world like most adolescents are. The
glamour of fashion is beyond the reach of a middle – class girl like Sophie.
So she dreams of having a boutique, for it is the most likely place visited by
celebrities, in order to be a part of this world and to earn big money, Sophie
wanted to have a boutique after leaving school.

13. How does Sophie plan to get the kind of money she wanted for her
boutique?
Or
Sophie knew she would need money for her establishment. What does
she plan to do for it ?
Sophie nurtures her pipe dreams and thinks that she could save the money
for the boutique by becoming a manager. She also toys with the idea of
becoming an actress of a fashion designer. She fails to understand that these
are mere dreams and may never become a reality.

14. How did Sophie’s family react when she announced that if she ever had
money she would buy a boutique ?
Or
Was Sophie’s family happy when she told them of her plan to have a
boutique ? Elucidate.

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When Sophie shared her dream with her family they all quite wrote her off
without paying much attention to her. Her father contradicted her by saying
that if she ever had that kind of money, she’d better buy a decent house for
them. He felt that her doing so would be more practical. Her brother, Derek
mocked her saying that money did not grow on trees. Her mother sighed to
express her helplessness as if she knew it could never be reaised. Thus, none
of her family members encouraged or supported her in her dream.

15. What does Sophie mean when she says ‘words had to be prized out of
him like stones out of the ground’?
Sophie comments upon Geoffs reserved and silent nature. He was a man of
few words and hardly ever spoke voluntarily. Words had to be drawn out
from his mouth, hust precious stones are dug out from ground with great
effort.

16. What did Sophie find most fascinating in her brother Geoff
Sophie was captivated by her brother’s lost and inquisitive eyes. He hardly
ever spoke, but in his silence his eyes seemed to be roving in some distant
recesses of his mind, of which Sophie knew nothing. Sophie was most
fascinated by his evasiveness and wanted to traverse with him in this
enigmatic world.

17. Sophie did not approve of her own world. What kind of a world did she
dream of ?
Sophie felt herself choked and suffocated in her humble set up. She dreamt
of a vast world which was much more sophisticated, romantic and
glamorous than her own. She dreamt of owning the best of the shops in the
city. She visualized herself as an actress of a fashion designer.

18. What did Sophie tell Geoff about her meeting with Danny Casey ? Why
?
Sophie told Geoff that she had met Danny Casey incidentally outside the
Royce’s when she was just looking at some clothes in the window. She
asked him for his autograph but couldn’t get it because none of them had
paper or a pen with them. She shared this incident with Geoff because she
knew it would thrill him and this reticent young man would be awe – struck
and highly impressed.

19. What is referred to as ‘the weekly pilgrimage for the family’? Why ?
The family’s weekly visit to watch United is referred to as the weekly
pilgrimage for the family. The author refers to it as a pilgrimage to highlight
the hero worship of the family. They religiously came to watch the football
match as they were deeply interested in the game and being absolutely
fascinated by Danny Casey, they loved to see him in action. Hence they
went to see him with religious regularity.

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20. What does Sophie mean when she says, ‘this was a Geoff thing not a
Jansie thing’ ?
Sophie had cooked up the incident in order to impress Geoff who was such
a great fan of Casey. The news she knew would thrill and excite this lovable
brother. Moreover, she felt that he would keep her secret. She did not want
Jansie to know about it because this friend of hers was a gossipmonger who
would make a mountain out of the molehill. She wanted Jansie to be the last
one to hear about it.

21. ‘Resignation was no sudden thing’. What is the implication of this

remark in the context of Sophie’s character ?
Sophie knew that she was trying to live a dream which was away from
reality. She still hoped that something might manspire and may be Danny
Casey would come to meet her as she dreamt. When the unexpected did not
happen, she felt sad but she still did not want to give up. She did not want
others to doubt her as they always did. She was still not ready to resign
herself to the harsh reality.

22. What place did Sophie choose to have a date with Danny Casey and
why ?
Sophie chose a childhood favourite haunt to have a date with Danny. The
place was a deserted one which would afford least disturbance to the two of
them. Moreover, the spot had a romance about itself that would make it the
most suitable place for such a meeting.

23. Coming back home from the canal Sophie once again starts picturing
Casey outside Royce’s. What does the indident show about her nature.

Sophie’s picturing Casey outside Royce’s for the second time shows the
poignancy of her imagination. Her fantasizing is so life – like that she
visualizes all the nuances of her hero’s voice and expressions vividly. She
transports herself instaneously, at will to the world of make – believe
without bothering about what others have to say about it.

10. ANSWER IN 120 TO 125 WORDS :-

1 “Sophie’s dreams and disappointment are all in her mind.” Discuss.

Sophie, like most adolescents, loves to fantasize and dream about a world
which is far removed from reality. Day dreaming is the forte of youngsters.
In their mental world they envision for themselves a life which they would
like to lead. Their imagination draws into their lives all those whom they
idolize but can never make them a part of their own life. They laugh; they
cry and live all aspects of life in this dream world.
Sophie also creates a fantastic world of her dreams. Her reality is that she
belongs to a lower middle class family, but in her dreams she wants to break
herself free from this harsh reality. She dreams of having a boutique which

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might never be a reality for her. Her meeting with Danny Casey is also a
figment of her imagination. She feels she has actually met him and waits for
him at her favourite spot for a date, which was also a part of her fantasy.
She struggles between her dreams and her reality. Her disappointment at
Casey’s not coming is agonizing. Her resignation to the reality remains a
part of her thinking, for soon after she starts dreaming of Casey and
visualising him the way she saw him play. Sophie, thus travels in her mental
world from happiness to disappointment, and between her dreams and
reality.

2 ‘It is natural for teenagers to have unrealistic dreams’. On the basis of

your reading of the story comment on the benefits and disadvantages
of such fantasising.
Our dreams are an integral part of our life. Devoid of dreams, life will
become dull, drab and morbid. It is our dreams which remain our motivating
force and goad us to struggle for a better life. Teenage is that phase in one’s
life when one is preparing oneself to meet the challenges of life. Teenagers
are still not acquainted with the harsh realities of life and get entranced by
what the world has to offer them. Much of their dream world is influenced
by movies and media where ‘Cinderella syndrome’ forms the basis of their
creations. The teenagers see ordinary, simple people like them making it
big as rock-stars and actors within a span of three hours. Their dreams
easily draw them into this glamorous world. They idolize their heroes and
think that achieving high in life is not a distant dream. They then start
nurturing unrealistic dreams, like Sophie in the story.
No doubt, it is important for one to dream high. If one doesn’t, one can
never be successful in life. However, dreaming the unachievable can be
damaging for the personality. We hear many cases of youngsters falling
into depression, having suicidal tendencies and many committing suicides
which are a result of unrealistic goals and unrealized dreams. Dreams
certainly are an integral part of our life but if not dealt with adequately, they
may prove to be damaging to our personalities.

3 Sophie and Jansie were class mates and friends. What were the
differences between them that show up in the story?
Sophie and Jansie were class-mates and close friends, but the two were in
sharp contrast in their approach towards life. One was sensible and realistic
while the other escaped to the world of make-believe on the wings of her
imagination. Grounded in her reality, Jansie did not nurture big dreams and
wanted to achieve what was achievable. She accepted what destiny offered
her with a sense of resignation and even wanted her friend to accept the
reality. Sophie, on the other hand glared defiantly right in the eyes of life
and very optimistically aspired to achieve what others considered to be
impossible. This romantic young girl’s fickle-mindedness is laid bare when
she now plans to be an actress and now wants to be a fashion designer.

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Jansie was quite nosey by nature and her habit of gossip-mongering made
Sophie refrain from confiding what she confided in her brother. Sophie was
a very loving sister who wished to be taken in into her brother’s world where
so far she had been denied admission. Afraid of her father, she didn’t talk
to him as uninhibitedly as she talked to Geoff-her brother. She formed her
own opinion about different individuals and she wished to live life
according to her own dreams. Her adolescent fantasisting and hero worship
made her imagine an encounter with the football star, Danny Casey.

4 Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person?
Form her perspective, what did he symbolise?
Sophie liked her brother Geoff more than anyone else in the family because
he was a man of few words. She felt herself comfortable in sharing her
secrets with him, for she knew be would never let her down. He always
listened to her wild stories patiently and never ridiculed her. There was a
mysterious aura around Geoff which also fascinated Sophie a lot. His
closed personality gave him an enigmatic character and Sophie saw him as
a symbol of the world which was drawn away from her. She felt that in his
silence he was traversing a vast world which was unknown to her and
beyond her reach. She longed to delve deep into her brother’s affections.
Wanting him to be a part of her glamorous world, she fantasised riding with
him wearing stylish clothes.

5 What socio-economic background did Sophie belong to? What are the
indicators of her family’s financial status?
Sophie belonged to the lower middle strata of society. Her father worked
hard for his living and his labour reflected on his face which was grimy and
stank of sweat. Her mother was bent, her back gone crooked with the
burden of the household work. Her brother Geoff worked as an apprentice
mechanic. The family lived in a small house which displayed their humble
living with dirty linen piled in one corner and the room smelling of stove.
Her friend Jansie time and again referred to the fact that they were
earmarked for the biscuit factory where they would earn very meager
wages. When Sophie shared her dream of having a boutique with her family,
her down to earth father reminded her that much more than a boutique their
poverty-stricken family needed to have a decent house. All these indicators
go on to prove that the family had a poor financial status.

6 Justify the title of the story “Going Places”.

The story “Going Places” is an exotic journey into the dream world and thus
is aptly titled so. It is only in our dreams that we can switch over from one
thought to another. One can easily travel from Paris to London and home
in the world of our dreams. We may even dream of dining with a celebrity

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or being on top of the world. Most of us can go places only in the world of
our dreams. The reality on the contrary confines us to the walls of our room.
Sophie, who lives in the world of her dreams, finds the reality quite
suffocating. She belongs to a lower middle-class family, but in her dreams
she travels far, imagining herself as the owner of the best boutique in town.
She sometimes sees herself as the manger of some store and at other times,
as an actor or a fashion designer. Her dream-world makes her traverse into
all these aspects of life, which, however, she may never be able to achieve
in reality. It is in her dream world that she visits the Royce’s and meets
Danny Casey, the sensational sports star. She even fixes up a date with him
in her imagination and actually travels to the place and waits for him to
show up. Sophie is seen to be moving rapidly from one dream to another
through the flight of her mind. The title “Going Places” thus suits the story
and the characters most befittingly.

7. The story “Going Places” draws a beautiful contrast between ‘fact’ and
‘fiction’. Comment.
The story “going Places” takes us into the world of dreams which is fictional and
a creation of mind. The fact or the reality, generally stands in sharp contrast to
the dream world. The story beautifully brings out this contrast through Sophie’s
character. In her dreams she is a part of a ‘glamorous world’ but in reality she is
confined to a small room, where a lower middle – class family struggles for
survival.
Sophie creates a fantastic world for herself when she tells her friend that
whenever she has money, she’ll buy a boutique. Her friend Jansie tries to show
her the mirror of her reality, for she knows that such unrealistic dreams can never
be true. But Sophie refuses to accept the reality. She thinks it wouldn’t be all that
difficult to get the kind of money she wants. She dreams of becoming a manager,
or an actress or a fashion designer to earn big money. She dreams of a glamorous
life with the best boutique in town.
Her reality, however, is in sharp contrast to her dreams. Her father, who works
hard for his living is not at all a part of this sophisticated world. Her mother has
to bear the back – breaking burden of household chores. Her brother Geoff works
as an apprentice mechanic. Her realistic world is confined to a small suffocating
room, stinking with stove – smell and littered with dirty linen.
The story thus beautifully brings out that ‘dreams’ and ‘reality’ are poles
apart. It is difficult for the two to meet in life.

8. Would you like to be Sophie a dreamer, or like Jansie – a realistic ?

Give reasons for your answer.

Value points
Like Sophie
- World of fantasy make you realize what you cannot have in reality
- It is way to escape from unpleasant or stressful situations
- Controlled daydreaming fosters imagination, enhances creativity.

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Like Jansie
- Daydreaming shuts one out of reality
- Person becomes absentminded
- One is able to achieve goals only when one lives in reality and
struggles

9. Sophie’s dreams and disappointments are all in her mind. What was
her extent of fantasizing as a teenager ?

Value points
- Sophie – poor, mediocre family
- Aspires to have a boutique; but no means, no resources
- Could become manager or an actress
- She is a day dreamer
- Wants to see the vast would
- Father does not permit
- Dreams of meeting Danny Casey
- Imagines meeting him in the arcade
- Extent of fantasy – feels she has really met him
- Tells her brother who doesn’t believe her
- Father feels it is another of her wild stories.
- She goes again to meet Danny but he doesn’t come
- Imagines meeting him again in the arcade

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