The Letter

Answer the following questions briefly:

Q1. Who was Ali ? Where did he go ?

Ans: Ali was an old coachman who was an expert hunter in his younger days. He went to the post office everyday for the past five years in the hope of receiving his daughter Miriam’s letter. She had married a soldier and had gone to Punjab.

Q2. ‘Ali display’s qualities of love and patience’. Give evidence from the story to support the statement.

Ans: Ali loved his daughter immensely. After she got married and went away, he became very lonely. He gave up hunting went to the post office everyday in anticipation of getting her letter. The bitter cold and the intense heat could not deter him from doing so. The people at the post office ridiculed him but he did not lose his patience and get angry or rebuke them.

Q3. How do you know Ali was a familiar figure at the post office?

Ans: Ali had been going to the post office daily for the last five years. He always occupied a particular seat in a particular corner of the building. The people at the post office had become accustomed to seeing him. They made fun of him and sometimes they called out his name just to see him jump and come to the door. He was a familiar figure at the post office.

Q4. Why did Ali give up hunting?

Ans: After his daughter Miriam got married and went away, Ali became very lonely. He understood the meaning of love and separation. He realized that the whole world is made up of love and the pain of separation is inescapable. From then on he gave up hunting as he could not enjoy the sport. The thought of separating the loved ones by killing animals or their young ones became unbearable.

Q5 What impression do you form of the post master after reading the story ‘The letter’?

Ans: The post master was a pompous government official. He had a face as sad and inexpressive as a pumpkin. An indifferent and insensitive man, he did not empathize with Ali. In fact he was rude to Ali and even called him a pest. It was only after his own daughter fell sick and he did not receive any news of her, he understood Ali’s pain and concern for his daughter. He also realized the true worth of letters. He changed from a haughty man to a loving father.

Q6. The post master says to Ali “What a pest you are, brother !”. Do you agree with the statement? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. No, Ali was not a pest but the postmaster, who was a haughty man did not care to understand the loving heart of a father. He was irritated with Ali because he came to the post office daily and frequently asked for his daughter’s letter. The post master failed to recognize Ali’s love and anxiety for his only daughter.

 Q7 ‘Ali came out very slowly, turning after every few steps to gaze at the post office. His eyes were filled with tears of helplessness, for his patience was exhausted, even though he still had faith’.

Why were Ali’s eyes filled with tears of helplessness? What had exhausted his patience but not his faith?

Ans. Ali knew that his end was near and he would no longer be able to visit the post office to receive his daughter’s letter. The people at the post office did not understand his plight. They ridiculed and rebuked him. He felt helpless and tears filled his eyes. His patience was exhausted yet his love for his daughter gave him faith that she would write to him one day. That is why he gave five gold coins to Lakshmi Das told to deliver his daughter’s letter to his grave.

Q8 ‘The post office, one of the uninteresting buildings in the world, became his place of pilgrimage.’ Who is being referred to here? Why did he come to the post office? Why has the journey been described as pilgrimage?

Ans. Coachman Ali is being referred to here. He comes to the post office everyday in the anticipation of receiving his daughter’s letter. Pilgrimage is a journey taken to a religious place usually in the hope of finding salvation. Ali’s visit to the post office has been described as a pilgrimage because he braved all kinds of weather to come to the post office with the faith that he would receive his daughter’s letter.

Mrs. Packletide's Tiger

Questions and Answers: (4)

 a) Why did Mrs. Packletide wish to kill a tiger?

Ans.- Loona Bimberton a social rival of Mrs. Packletide, had recently been carried 11   miles with an Algerian aviator. This made Mrs. Packletide intensely jealous of her.To   outshine Loona , Mrs Packletide decided to shoot a tiger.

  

b) What made her decide to give a party in Loona Bimberton's honour? What did she intend to give Loona on her birthday? 

Ans- Mrs Packletide’ sole aim of hunting a tiger was to outshine Loona Bimberton and arouse her jealousy. Her plan was to organize a luncheon party and invite Loona as the guest   of honour. She wished to have an edge over Loona. She decided she would present Loona tiger- claw broach on her birthday.

    

 c) How was the tiger shooting arranged? What kind of a tiger was chosen for the purpose?

Ans-Mrs. Packletide, did not want to exert herself or put herself to risk while shooting a tiger. So she offered a reward of one thousand rupees to anyone who would arrange the killing. Fortunately, a village in the neighbourhood  there was a tiger which suited their purpose.The  tiger choose for the purpose was old and weak. Unable to hunt  big beasts it relied on domestic animals to satisfy its hunger.  

d) In what way did the villagers help Mrs Packletide shoot the tiger?

Ans-The villagers were determined to take up the opportunity of earning Rs1000/-.  They posted children on the outskirts of the village to ensure that the tiger did not wander away from there. Cheaper variety of goats were left around to satisfy the  tiger’s hunger. The women while passing through the forest hushed their singing  so as not to disturb the tiger when he was resting. On the day of the shoot, they made arrangements for the tiger shoot.

  

e)  Who was Miss Mebbin? Was she really devoted to Mrs. Packletide? How did she behave during the tiger shooting?

Ans- Lousia Mebbin was a paid companion of Mrs. Packletide. She was not at all devoted to Mrs. Packletide. Being a money minded, stingy and greedy woman, her only concern was money. She was concerned whether the shooting involved danger as she was unwilling to do even a little more work than  what she had been paid for.Since the money for the bait was extra, she wanted Mrs. Packletide  to shoot the tiger before it could harm the bait so that they didn’t have to pay money for the bait.

f) Mrs. Packletide was a good shot. Discuss

Ans- The statement is ironical. Mrs. Packletide’s hunting skills were terrible. It was by chance that she managed to kill the tiger. She shot the goat and the tiger died of a heart failure. She successful in achieving her aim without really shooting the tiger. The villagers in order to get the money connived with the story that she was a good shot.

g) What comment did Miss Mebbin make after Mrs Packletide had fired the shot? Why did Miss Mebbin make this comment? How did Mrs Packletide react to this comment?
Ans.-Miss Mebbin commented that it would be interesting to know the reaction of the people if they came to know the reality behind the tiger shoot. She was an opportunistic , materialistic and a manipulative woman. She was laying ground for blackmailing Mrs. Packletide. She intended to take advantage of the situation. Mrs. Packletide was extremely nervous and anxious. She was afraid that if the real story was revealed, she would have to face embarrassment and insult.

h) How did the villagers react to the tiger's death?

Ans.- The villagers were well aware of the truth behind the shooting of the tiger. But their only concern was to get the Rs 1000/-. They were very happy and excited. There was great rejoicing in the village. The victory was celebrated with thumping of tom-toms. They also happily connived with the story that Mrs. Packletide had shot the tiger.

i) Do you think Mrs. Packletide was able to achieve her heart's desire? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans.-Yes, to a large extent Mrs Packletide was successful in achieving her heart’s desire. She managed to outshine Loona Bimberton and make her jealous. The news of killing the tiger made Mrs. Packletide famous. Her pictures were in the newspaper and magazine. To celebrate her victory she gave a luncheon party and gifted Loona a brooch made of tiger claw. But her pleasure was short lived as she had to pay a heavy price to buy the silence of Miss Mebbin who blackmailed her.

j) How did Miss Mebbin manage to get her week-end cottage? Why did she plant so many  tiger lilies in her garden?
Ans.- Miss Mebbin was an opportunistic, calculative and manipulative woman. She knew the story about the tiger shoot and she took advantage of it. She threatened to reveal the truth and blackmailed Mrs. Packletide into giving her the money to buy her week-end cottage. The tiger lilies she planted were symbolic of the animal because of which she managed to acquire the cottage.

k) "The incidental expenses are so heavy," she confides to inquiring friends. Who is the speaker? What is she referring to here?
  Ans-Mrs. Packletide is the speaker of the above lines. The shooting of the tiger proved to be a very expensive affair for her. Apart from spending Rs 1000/- for the tiger shoot, she had to pay 680 pounds as blackmail money to loona Bimberton. She had no choice because Loona would have revealed the truth of the tiger shoot to everyone and caused great embarrassment to Mrs. Packletide.

5 Discuss the following in detail and write the answers. 

(a) Do you think the tiger shooting organized by the villagers was a serious affair?
     Give reasons for your answer.
  Ans-Tiger shooting arranged by the villagers was a serious affair. The whole village got involved in the process of shooting of the tiger. The villagers were eager to earn the 1000 Rupees. So, every effort was made to ensure that the tiger shoot was a success. Children were posted to guard the forest to ascertain the presence of the tiger in the forest. Food was provided  to the tiger in the form of poor quality goats. The villagers also took care to see that the tiger’s rest was not disturbed. On the day of the shoot they took active part in the shoot.

(c) A person who is vain is full of self importance and can only think of himself/ herself and can go to any lengths to prove his/ her superiority. Do you think Mrs Packletide is vain? Give reasons in support of your answer.

Ans. - Mrs. Packletide is obsessed with Loona  Bimberton. Her whole life seems to revolve around her dislike and jealousy of Loona. She is so vain that is willing to go to any length to outshine her. Just to upstage Loona, she organizes a tiger hunt . She pays Rs 1000/-for it because she wants to shoot a tiger without any risk or exertion. After the expedition she calls the press and ensures that her picture and story appears in the newspapers across the world. She even throws a luncheon party and invites Loona to it. Finally, she even gives in to loona’s blackmail and pays her money so that the truth behind the tiger shoot is not revealed.

The Frog and the Nightingale - Extract based questions and answers

                 Read the following extracts and answer the questions.

1. “Other creatures loathed his voice

                But, alas, they had no other choice”.

a)    Whose voice is talked in the above lines?

            Ans:The frog’s voice is being talked about in the above lines.

b)    Why did the creatures of the bog loathe the voice of the frog?

            Ans: His voice was harsh and unpleasant. It was like a fog horn.

c)    What do you understand by the word loathed?

            Ans: Loathed means hated, strongly disliked

2. “Bravo!” “Too divine!” “Encore!”

a)    Who are the speakers of the above words?

Ans. The speakers of the above words are the creatures of the Bingle Bog.

b)    What is “Encore”?

Ans. To repeat, to sing again.

c)    To whom are these words spoken? Why?

Ans. These words are spoken to the nightingale by the creatures of the bog because

they were captivated by her melodious voice.

3.    “You’ll remain a mere beginner

                    But with me you’ll be winner”.

                   “Dearest frog,” the nightingale breathed:

                   “This is a fairy tale and

                     you’re Mozart in disguise Come to earth before my eyes”

                    “Well, I charge a modest fee”

                    “Oh!” “But it won’t hurt, you’ll see.”

a)    How does the frog plan to make the nightingale a winner?

     Ans. The frog plans to make the nightingale a winner by training her to sing well.

b)    Who was Mozart?

     Ans. Mozart was a famous Austrian composer.

c)    Why does the nightingale compare the frog to Mozart?

     Ans. She compares the frog to Mozart because she wants to flatter him so that he             agrees to train her.

d)    What character traits of the nightingale is evident here?

     Ans. The nightingale is fawning, servile and gullible.

e)    What character traits of the frog are displayed in this stanza?

      Ans. The frog is presumptuous, cunning and money minded.

4.    “And my dear, lay on more trills

                 Audiences enjoy such frills

                 You must make your public happier

                Give them something sharper, snappier

                We must aim for better billings”

(a)  What are the suggestions given by the frog for improvement?

           Ans. The advised the nightingale to sing musical notes repeatedly and something     
            catchy and fast

(b)  What objective is there for the frog in giving the suggestions?

           Ans. The frog wanted that the creatures should come in large numbers to hear  the 

           nightingale’s songs so that he could earn more money.

           (c ) Explain ‘better billings’.

           Ans. ‘Better billings’ means better publicity. 

5.     At a voice so uninspired

                And the ticket office gross

                Crashed and she grew more morose

                For her ears were now addicted

                to applause quite restricted

(a)  Why did the crowd stop listening to the nightingale?

           Ans. The crowd got bored of listening to the stale and listless songs of the                 
           nightingale.

(b)  How did it affect the nightingale?

           Ans. The nightingale became miserable because the audience decreased and there              was no one to applaud and appreciate her singing. 

(c)  The nightingale is a typical artist. What character-traits of her are being reflected here?

           Ans. She is sensitive, perfectionist, loves appreciation and egoistic.

     

6.    Well, poor bird - she should have known.

That your song must be your own

That’s why I sing with panache

            (a) How does the frog express his sympathy?

            Ans: The frog calls her a stupid creature. He also comments that she should have

           had confidence in herself and her song should have been original.

(b)  What character-traits are reflected by the frog’s comments?

            Ans : The frog is heartless, cruel, insensitive and arrogant

           (c )  The meaning of the word  ‘panache’ is …..

            Ans: The meaning of panache is confidence. 

The Frog and the Nightingale

Exercise:3 Answer the following questions briefly.

a. How did the creatures of Bingle bog react to the frog's singing?    

 Answer: The creatures of Bingle Bog hated the loud and unpleasant voice of the frog. They threw sticks and stones at him and insult him but the frog was insensitive and he continued   singing.

b. How did the creatures of Bingle bog react to the nightingale's singing?

  Answer: The creatures of the Bingle Bog were captivated by the melodious voice of the nightingale. They flocked close to the tree to hear her sing. They praised and applauded her and asked her to sing again and again. A water bird was so deeply affected that it wept.

   

c. Which are the different ways in which the frog asserts his importance?

Answer: The frog asserts his importance by being boastful, territorial and authoritative. He tells the

 nightingale that he is the owner of the Sumac tree on which she is singing, pretends to be a great singer and says that he is a reporter of Bog Trumpet. He also claims that she could be  a winner in the field of music if he trains her.

d. Why is the frog's joy both sweet and bitter?

Answer: Frog's joy was sweet because he was earning money by selling tickets to hear the     nightingale sing. His joy was bitter because the nightingale had become famous and  popular and he was jealous of her.

e. Why was the frog angry?

Answer: Due to continuouly practising and singing in bad weather and without any rest, the   nightingale’s songs became very dull, listless and boring . The crowds dwindled and the Frog's earnings decreased. This made him angry.

f. How did the frog become the unrivalled king of the bog again?

Answer: The frog was jealous of the nightingale's success. He cunningly plotted her downfall. He constantly humiliated and insulted the nightingale. He exploited her by making her practice         continuously without any rest. At last in an effort to follow the frog's advice burst a vein and                died, Thus, the frog once again became the unrivalled king of the bog.              

Q1. Inspite of having a melodious voice and being a crowd puller the nightingale turns out to be a             loser and dies. Is she responsible for her own downfall?

Ans: The nightingale  is responsible for her downfall. She has an enchanting voice and she enthralls the creatures of the Bingle Bog with her singing. But she is inexperienced, lacks confidence in herself and is gullible. Being a  poor judge of character, she believes and  trusts a complete stranger without  verifying  his claims. The frog is cunning and manipulative. He cleverly plots her downfall. The nightingale is flattered when  the frog offers to train her. In her ambition to gain success, she allows herself to  be exploited by the frog. She blindly follows his instructions and ultimately dies.

                                                                      OR

 The nightingale was not responsible for her own downfall. She was an innocent and inexperienced bird. The frog was too clever, cunning and manipulative for her. She was unable to judge him. Being simple and straightforward, she believed him. Infact she was flattered that a musician of such repute was paying attention to her music. Being a novice she was easily exploited by the frog which ultimately led to her death.

     

   Q2. ."Now the nightingale, inspired flushed with confidence, and fired with both art and adoration  sang"

           (a) Explain 'art and adoration' (b) What was the outcome of her singing?

 Ans.  (a) The nightingale was elated because the frog, who she thought was a music critic, had                 appreciated her singing. She was also felt confident and very thrilled because she enjoyed                  the adulation of the public when she sang.

         (b) She became a huge success. Creatures from all over came to listen to her singing. The                   frog collected money by selling tickets to her concerts.

.

 Q3. And the foghorn of the frog blared unrivalled through the bog.

       (a). Explain 'foghorn'     (b). Why was he 'unrivalled' now?

Ans.(a) Foghorn is a loud unpleasant noise which warns ships against dangers in the frog. The        unpleasant and harsh voice of the frog is compared to the foghorn.

 (b) The creatures of the Bingle Bog hated the unpleasant voice of the frog. They complained        against him and insulted him. He felt jealous of the nightingale's popularity. He planned and plotted against her. He earned money from her concerts, and finally he managed to  eliminate her. After  the nightingale died, he once becomes the king of the bog.

 

 Q4.   Do you think the nightingale is 'brainless'? Give reasons for your answer.

 Ans. No, I don't think the nightingale is brainless. She was simple, innocent, shy and                   inexperienced. Unable to recognize the true character of the frog, she was easily  befooled by the cunning and shrewd frog. Her only fault was that she lacked confidence in her own talent and blindly followed the frog’s advice in her ambition to  become successful.

Q5.  Bring out the irony in the frog's statement - 'Your song must be your own'.

            

Ans.  Irony is a literary device which means the expression of one's meaning by saying something which is the direct opposite of one's thoughts. Earlier the frog tells the nightingale that she should not boast about her songs being original but later on he contradicts himself. He finds fault in the nightingale by saying: "Your song must be your own,” which is ironical.

Two Gentlemen of Verona

5. What do you understand by the following statements?

(a) "We do many things, sir," Nicola answered seriously. He glanced at us hopefully.

Answer: This statements means that the two boys did many jobs to earn money. They were willing to do even menial work. The boys hoped that the narrator would ask for their services and in return would pay them  good money.

(b) He coloured deeply under his sunburn, then grew pale

Answer: This statement shows the discomfort of the speaker, Nicola. The narrator was surprised to see that boys though the boys worked hard day and night, they lived meagerly. When he questioned Nicola about it, he appeared uncomfortable and embarrassed. Perhaps, he was reminded of his sufferings.

(c) He smiled uncomfortably. "Just plans, sir," he answered in a low voice.

Answer: When the narrator suggested that the boys were saving to emigrate to the States. Nicola replied that, currently they had other plans. His pride would not let him share their sufferings with anyone as they did not want anyone's pity or sympathy.

(d) Yet in both these boyish faces there was a seriousness which was far beyond their years.

Answer: The two boys were only 13 and 12 years yet they looked and behaved in a remarkable manner. They were childish and innocent at the same time they were wise, responsible and had a maturity far beyond their age.

6. Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) Why didn't Luigi, the driver, approve of the two boys?

Answer: Luigi, the driver didn't approve of the shabby appearance of Nicola and Jacopo. They were wearing old and worn out clothes.

(b) Why were the narrator and his companion impressed by the two boys?

Answer: They were very impressed by the boys because they were highly committed and devoted towards work at such a young age. They were ready to do all sorts of odd jobs to earn money. They exhibited dedication, determination and sincerity while working.

(c) Why was the author surprised to see Nicola and Jacopo working as shoeshine boys?

Answer: The narrator was surprised to see Nicola and Jacopo shining shoes because the day before he had seen them selling fruits.

(d) How were the boys useful to the author?

Answer: The boys were useful to the author in many ways. They acted  as guides and showed them the city, helped them in getting a pack of American cigarettes, bought tickets for the opera, told them about good restaurants and ran all their errands.

(e) Why were the boys in the deserted square at night? What character traits do they exhibit?

Answer: The two boys were waiting for the last bus from Padua so that they could sell their remaining newspapers in the bus. It shows that they were hard working, patient, determined and uncomplaining.

(f) The narrator asks the boys, "Must you work so hard? You both look rather tired." The boys reply, "We are not complaining, sir." What do you learn about the boys from their reply?

Answer: When the narrator saw them selling newspapers till midnight, he asked them why they were working so hard because they looked tired. At this, Nicola replied that they were not complaining about it. It means that both the boys had a lot of courage and patience. It also shows their willingness and readiness to work.

(g) When the narrator asks the boys about their plans, they are evasive. Why don't they disclose their problems? 

Answer: The boys don't disclose their problems to the narrator when he asked them about their plans because they did not want to lose their dignity and self-respect by asking anyone for sympathy or any kind of favour.

7. Discuss the following questions and write the answers in your notebook.

(a) Appearances are deceptive. Discuss with reference to the two boys.

Answer

'Appearances are deceptive'. It is very much true in the case of two boys. The two boys Nicola and Jacopo had a shabby appearance. But the maturity on their innocent faces impressed the narrator. He bought fruit from them. In the following days, he discovered that the boys did a lot of other things. They sold newspapers, they shined shoes, acted as tourist guides and ran errands. Despite earning well they lived very meagerly. When the narrator came to know that they worked hard so they could pay for their sister’s treatment, he was surprised and deeply touched. War had destroyed most of their family and yet it had not filled the children with despair. They sacrificed their childhood because they loved their sister immensely and were devoted to her. Behind their shabby appearances were hidden two noble souls whose dedication and selflessness promises a new hope for mankind.

(b) Do you think the boys looked after Lucia willingly? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer: The boys loved their sister immensely. When they realized that she had tuberculosis of the spine, they got her admitted to a good hospital.  The children were small. They could have easily abandoned her or neglected her, but they willingly sacrificed their childhood so that they could get the best possible treatment for her. They slogged and starved  only to provide for medical expenses for Lucia. This couldn't have been done without their will, desire and devotion for their sister.

(c) How does the story 'Two Gentlemen of Verona' promise hope for society?

Answer: Both Nicola and Jacopo show selflessness and dignity in their behaviour. They are deeply devoted to save their sister. They work hard and maintain their self respect even in the most difficult circumstances. In their earnest endeavour they become role models, epitomes of sacrifice who can enlighten the path for rest of the humanity to follow.

As the narrator , write an ariticle on the lesson of love, faith and trust that you have learnt from the two young boys of Verona.
                                           Lesson of Love, Faith and Trust

Adversities are a true test of human character. In the story, war had destroyed the family of the two boys Nicola and Jacopo. They had lost their father and  home. They were thrown out on streets. Somehow they managed to survive. Then,  they discovered that their sister Lucia was inflicted with the tuberculosis of the spine. But they did not lose hope. They admitted her  in a hospital and willingly sacrificed their childhood to pay for her treatment. War had not broken their spirit. The boys worked hard day and night and did all kinds of odd jobs to earn money. They kept their sufferings a secret and  never begged or asked anyone for favours. For them their dignity and self respect were very important. The love and devotion they exhibit for their sister is touching. They had faith that one day their sister would recover. The qualities of courage, determination and selflessness the boys displayed are exemplary.     

Snake

Read the extract and answer the following questions briefly:-

1         1. "But suddenly that part of him that was left behind convulsed in undignified haste.

                 Writhed like lightning and was gone into the black hole,

 a) Why did the snake "convulsed in undignified haste"?

 b) How was the snake's movement in contrast to its earlier movement?

 c) Find the literary device in 'writhed like lightning'.

      2.   I thought how paltry, how mean, how vulgar, what a mean act!

            I despised myself and the voices of my accursed human education.

            And I thought of the albatross

            And I wished he would come back, my snake.

 a) What was the paltry, mean vulgar act of the poet?

 b) What is an albatross and why did he think of it here?

 c) What did the poet do to despise himself?

 d) Write the meaning of the word ‘paltry’

     3.But suddenly that part of him that was left behind

        Convulsed in undignified haste

        Writhed like lighting, and was gone

        Into the black hole, the earth-lipped fissure in the wall-front,

        At which, in the intense still noon, I stared with fascination.

        And immediately, I regretted it.

a   a) Which part of the snake convulsed in undignified haste? Why?

b   b) Why did the poet stare at the snake with fascination?

c   c)  Write the meaning of the word ‘fascination’.

    4. And yet those voices;

      It you were not afraid, you would kill him!

      And truly I was afraid, I was most afraid, But even so, honored still more

     That he should seek my hospitality

      From out the dark door of the secret earth.

a) Do you think that the poet was really afraid of the snake?

b) What made the poet feel honored?

c) Why did the poet call the earth ‘secret’?