Class XII-CBSE-NCERT-ENGLISH CORE

The Poet: Robert Frost (1874-1963), a highly acclaimed American poet, wrote about characters, people and landscapes. His poems are concerned with human tragedies and fears, his reaction to the complexities of life and his ultimate acceptance of his burdens. In this poem, he presents the lives of poor deprived people with pitiless clarity and with the deepest sympathy and humanity.

Theme: Lives of poor and deprived people of villages neglected/ignored by the fast-moving and non-caring city people. Portrays the poet’s deep sympathies and feelings of humanity towards the poor rural people.

Story: The poem deals with lives of poor and deprived rural people. The poet also shows a sharp contrast between the struggling life of the rural poor and the affluent life of the urban rich. The city folk don’t even bother to think about the difficult condition of the life of roadside stand people. The city people don’t think about the hardships (for want of money/a little bit of cash) these roadside people have to go through in order to sell their goods. These poor rural people have nothing to do other than wait for the passers-by to stop and buy from them. If at all a car stops nearby, it stops for knowing about directions or to make complain about something. The poet feels deep sense of sympathy for these poor and deprived people.

There has been an extension of a little new shed in front by the occupants of the little old house. This extension is in front at the edge of the road where the vehicles pass. The roadside house-owners want to implore the passing urban passengers to purchase something from them so that they could get some cash to tide over their difficulties. These poor, deprived people have a huge need for some money/a little bit of cash.

Unfortunately, the traffic keeps on going past them ignoring them totally as if their mind was ahead of all these. If by chance the traffic does stop, it comes with a feeling of disappointment for the rural poor. There is an offer of wild berries for sale in wooden boxes/baskets. This place offers a peaceful, natural stay for those who can afford it. Though the urban rich have money, they hold on to it in a very cross way without spending any of it with the rural poor. The poet feels angry at this selfish attitude of the ‘polished traffic’.

The poet shows more concern for the sadness of the poor roadside shed owners than he does for the beautiful scenery. He believes that these people have a longing/need to handle some city money. This small/little money can reduce their sufferings as one watches happening in movies. The political party, enjoying power, is the one that deprives them of the comforts of a happy life.

The poet mentions the piece of news which points out the relocation of the poor villagers to the vicinity of theatres and stores. There were high-sounding promises made to ensure good care for the rural poor. But, the govt. authorities became/turned negligent of such promises. The poet feels anger at this behaviour and calls them ‘greedy good-doers’ (though called good-doers, they are actually greedy). He calls them ‘beasts of prey’ (who prey on those for whose safety they have been employed/deployed) who indulge in exploitation of poor villagers.

The villagers pay a heavy price as they lose their land in the process. The authorities have succeeded in fooling these simple villagers. They promise them a better life and good sleep. But, authorities are the ones who sleep peacefully while making the lives of villagers miserable. Work during the day and sleep at night was the norm in ancient times. However, there has been a reversal of this norm as the villagers are now not able to sleep at night. Their peace has been snatched away.

The poet expresses distress when he explains the endless wait of poor shed owners for buyers/customers. There is a pall of sadness all over the place. Sometimes a car stops by but that is for enquiring about the farmer’s price or for making use of the open space in the backyard. In between, a car stops for a gallon of gas which is not sold by these poor rural people. With grief, the poor rural people ask, ‘Didn’t it see?’ The urban rich didn’t even bother to see, before asking, whether these roadside stand people sell gas or not. They appear to be so insensitive, so disconnected, so uncaring. This demonstrates the deep/heightened sense of alienation/disconnect between the urban and the rural life.

The poet regrets that money is not in sufficient quantity as required in the countryside. Further, some amount of money can raise the spirits of the rural poor whereas a lack of it dampens their spirit. The villagers have a tendency to express their grievance about a life which is faced with a lack of money almost all the time. The poet becomes emotional and thinks over their pain. He wants to change their lives at one stroke but comes back to his senses and realises that it may not be an easy task to achieve.

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WORD/PHRASE MEANING

Pathetic : causing feelings of pity or sadness, distressingly inadequate

Pled : past tense of plead: ask urgently or with deep feeling, give as an excuse, (law) declare oneself to be guilty or innocent of a charge made against one

Dole : money received from the state while unemployed, (foll by out) distribute in small quantities

Wither : wilt or dry up

Marred : spoiled or impaired

Quarts : boxes or baskets, bottles or containers

Crook-necked : with a curved neck

Squash : marrow-like vegetable, a kind of vegetable (gourd)

Wart : protuberance on surface of plant/skin of animal, etc

Crossly : angrily, in an annoyed way

Swarm : (of a place) be crowded or overrun, large crowd, move in a swarm

Lurk : lie hidden or move stealthily, esp. for sinister purposes, be latent

Squeal : long shrill cry or sound, make or utter a squeal

Plow : plough

THINK IT OUT

1. The following lines bring this out: (i) In front of the edge of the road where the traffic sped. (ii) The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead. (iii) You have the money, but if you want to be mean, Why keep your money (this crossly) and go along. (iv) The sadness that lurks near the open window there, That waits all day in almost open prayer For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car, Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass, just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are. And one did stop, but only to plow up grass in using the yard to back and turn around; and another to ask the way to where it was bound.

2. The plea of the folk, who had put up the roadside stand, was for some customers to stop by and buy something from them. People from the city used to pass through without stopping and, hence, the rural folk set up the roadside stand to attract/invite their attention and do some business with them.

3. The words and phrases that the poet uses to show the double standards of the Govt. and other social service agencies are: (i) And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise That the party in power is said to be keeping from us. (ii) That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits, And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day, Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.

4. The poet refers to ‘childish longing’ which means: Longing of the rural people that some day at least some of the large number of city people passing through their area will halt even for a few moments to inquire about a farmer’s miserable life. It is ‘vain’ because their hope of getting some help or a little money remains unfulfilled.

5. The following lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the thought of the plight of the rural poor: (i) You have the money, but if you want to be mean, Why keep your money (this crossly) and go along. (ii) The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complain So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid. (iii) The sadness that lurks near the open window there, That waits all day in almost open prayer For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car.

The Poet: John Keats (1795-1821) was a British romantic poet (Romanticism: a movement in the arts and literature which originated in the late 18^th century, emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity and the primacy of the individual). The poet’s secret, his power to sway and delight the readers, lies primarily in his gift for perceiving the world and living his moods and aspirations in terms of language. John Keats stressed that man’s quest for happiness and fulfilment is thwarted (prevented from taking place) by the sorrow and corruption inherent (existing as an essential characteristic) in human nature. His works are marked with rich imagery and melodic beauty. Keats lost his father at the age of 9 and lost his mother when he was 15 years of age.

Theme: This poem, published in 1818, is based on a Greek legend in which Endymion (a beautiful young shepherd and poet who lived on Mount Latmos), had a vision of Cynthia (the Moon Goddess). The enchanted youth resolved to seek her out and so wandered away through the forest and down under the sea.

Story: The poet turned the story of Endymion, a mythical shepherd, into an allegory (a narrative in which abstract ideas are represented by people) of the romantic longing to overcome the boundaries of ordinary human experience. Endymion realises that ultimate identification with transcendence (rising above the universe) is to be achieved through humble acceptance of human limitations and of the misery built into man’s condition.

The poem is a revolution against the conventional reality. According to Keats, there is a difference between an ordinary entity and an object of beauty. The effects of an ordinary object are momentary to our senses, they don’t remain long in our minds and fade away with the passing time. But on the other hand, the effects of the things of beauty (beautiful things like bower, sleep full of sweet dreams, health, quiet breathing, flowery band, noble natures, the sun, the moon, trees old and young, sprouting of a shady boon, simple sheep, daffodils, green world, clear rills, cooling covert, mid forest brake, musk-rose, grandeur of the dooms, mighty dead, lovely tales, endless fountain of immortal drink) permanently charm our senses, they don’t fade away with the passage of time and they stay in our senses for long periods of time. No time and space can put an end to the long-lasting and soothing effects of the beauty of things of beauty.

The setting of the poem starts by a portrait of countryside scene of trees, rivers, shepherds and sheep. The poem tells us about how nature and its wonder captivate us and take away all the sorrow that surrounds us from time to time. This poem is based on the Greek mythology of Endymion, the shepherd dearly loved by the moon goddess Selene. The poem associates Endymion’s unique romantic passion with a universal expedition for a self-destroying state of grace in which he might attain a heavenly private concord (state of peaceful agreement, harmony) with all creations.

A beautiful thing (like bower, sleep full of sweet dreams, health, quiet breathing, flowery band, noble natures, the sun, the moon, trees old and young, sprouting of a shady boon, simple sheep, daffodils, green world, clear rills, cooling covert, mid forest brake, musk-rose, grandeur of the dooms, mighty dead, lovely tales, endless fountain of immortal drink) is a source of eternal joy. Its attractiveness grows with the passage of time and its impact never fades away. It is as pleasant as a cool, quiet bower or sound sleep with sweet dreams, or robust health and mental peace. It provides the beholder (person who looks at somebody/something) with a haven (place of safety) of tranquillity and solace.

Our attachments to the earthly things (things of beauty) are like a flowery wreath which bind us/keep us attached to the earth.

The whole lot in this world has beauty, and good looks lie in the eyes of the beholder (person who looks at somebody/something). We are the one who aren’t attentive and are continuously running in our life. Only if we become more alert and enduring, then we will be able to see beauty everywhere around us.

Keats devoted his short life to the perfection of poetry marked with vivid imagery, great sensuous appeal and an attempt to express a philosophy through classical legend.

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WORD/PHRASE MEANING

Spite desire to offend or annoy someone

Nothingness the absence or cessation of life or existence, worthlessness, insignificance

Bower a pleasant shady place under trees or climbing plants in a garden or wood, shade or enclose (a place or person)

Morrow the following day, the time following an event, the near future

Wreath a circle of flowers, leaves or stems fastened in a ring and used for decoration or for laying on a gravel, a curl or ring of smoke or cloud

Spite of despondence the Earth minus the beautiful things is a despondent, spiteful place thriving in callous insensitive dearth and is harsh towards human beings. Every day human beings face gloomy days packed with/full of unhealthy spite and darkness. However, in spite of all this, a thing of beauty helps remove the dark cloud that burdens our souls.

Inhuman dearth of

noble natures The world lacks men of noble nature or qualities. There are few people who are noble in character, most of the people are self-centred and pursue evil ways.

Gloomy days dark, depressing, dim, rainy days

Over-darkened ways Evil or unhealthy and darkening or wrong ways that human beings adopt to fulfil their low/lowly desires or goals

Pall a cloud. The various objects of beauty around us remove the pall from our dark spirits. Things of beauty have the power to make us happy.

Dark spirits the soul where lie our dark/evil emotions and character

Sprouting to develop suddenly in large numbers

Rills streams of running water

Cooling covert covert (not openly known/displayed) that gives us cooling sensation, soothes us

Mid forest brake enormous forest. Against the hot season, mid forest brake. Mid forest brake is made rich by the blooming of beautiful musk-roses

Musk-rose a rambling rose with large white musk-scented flowers

Grandeur of the dooms a reference to our mighty and dead

Mighty dead Ancestors who have formed beautiful objects for us. On the other hand, the ‘endless fountain’ is the endless joy provided to us by abundance of nature-nectar pouring on us.

Immortal drink It gives us immense joy, a joy that is everlasting, one that will never come to an end. The immortal drink that nature’s endless fountain pours on us gives us immense joy and pleasure.

Heaven’s brink the door of God’s home

Bounty something given or occurring in generous amounts

THINK IT OUT

1. Things of beauty mentioned in the poem: bower, sleep full of sweet dreams, health, quiet breathing, flowery band, noble natures, the sun, the moon, trees old and young, sprouting of a shady boon, simple sheep, daffodils, green world, clear rills, cooling covert, mid forest brake, musk-rose, grandeur of the dooms, mighty dead, lovely tales, endless fountain of immortal drink.

2. The things that cause suffering and pain: spite of despondence, inhuman dearth of noble natures, gloomy days, unhealthy & over-darkened ways, pall, dark spirits, hot season.

3. The line, ‘Therefore we are wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth’ means: The flowery band of things of beauty keeps us tied/attached to earth. Human beings always look forward to living life because of the presence of beautiful things.

4. Beautiful things/things of beauty (like bower, sleep full of sweet dreams, health, quiet breathing, flowery band, noble natures, the sun, the moon, trees old and young, sprouting of a shady boon, simple sheep, daffodils, green world, clear rills, cooling covert, mid forest brake, musk-rose, grandeur of the dooms, mighty dead, lovely tales, endless fountain of immortal drink) make human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings.

5. ‘Grandeur’ is associated with ‘mighty dead’ because splendour of the great deeds of the mighty dead inspires us through their saga. The legends and stories of martyrs (the mighty dead) enthuses us.

6. No. We don’t experience things of beauty only for short moments. Beautiful things/things of beauty leave a long-lasting impression on us. We remember good things for a very long time.

7. The poet uses the image of ‘’endless fountain of immortal drink pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink’’ to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth.

The Poet: Stephen Spender (1909-1995), an English poet and essayist, took a keen interest (after leaving University College, Oxford without taking a degree) in politics and declared himself to be a socialist and pacifist. In ‘An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum’, published in 1964, he has concentrated on themes of ‘social injustice’ and ‘class inequalities’.

Theme: ‘Social injustice’ and ‘class inequalities’. The poet wishes better life/education for the children of the slums.

Story: In this poem, the poet gives a vivid narration of an elementary school classroom in a slum. It shows sharp contrast between the slum-children who suffer very high level of deprivation/discrimination and those outside the slums. It also exhibits the poet’s heartfelt wish for change in the lives of the slum-children by way of imparting them education.

The poet starts with showing the slum-children as ‘rootless weeds’ (as if they are underfed, malnourished, short of energy/strength). A tall girl is shown with her weighed-down head and it represents weight of poverty, malnutrition and deprivation. A boy has been explained as a paper-seeming boy to convey the idea of his thinness due to malnutrition and hunger, his eyes having been compared with that of a rat in the sense that the boy’s eyes (like those of a rat) are always looking for something to eat. The boy is stunted (not grown properly due to malnutrition), has been unlucky to inherit (from his father/forefathers) twisted bones and looks as if he was reciting/representing his father’s disease of twisted bones which has been inherited by this boy. As his eyes are dreaming of something better/something pleasant of outside the slums, he is distracted in his studies.

The walls of the classroom, having become dirty over a period of time and not having been re-painted, wear the unpleasant colour of sour cream. Various pictures, received in donation, are hanging on the wall. One of the pictures is of William Shakespeare. The poet has brought in the image of civilized dome riding all cities which is cloudless at dawn. It illustrates that the architecture of civilisations are structures present in all the cities which makes a separate world out of the already existing world and relegates some (like these slum-children). The poet, then, mentions Tyrolese valley. It is a flowery valley, with pleasant natural sound comparable to a bell. Belled, flowery, Tyrolese valley refers to natural beauty which the slum-children are deprived of. Tyrol valley is a high ice-free valley in Victoria Land, Austria. Then, the poet brings in the image of open-handed map (It represents a random, infinite map. It does not endear to any particular place but is a general one. For children, these maps serve as windows to the outside world within which their future is uncertain.) awarding the world its world. Because people in the outside world (the powerful, the influential) are the ones who have the opportunities. These children are limited to the slum. Their world is so limited that they can only hope to see the rest of the world through a life of crime. The children can’t afford to dream of the outside world. Despite that, these windows are their world as they are at least able to see something better, and imagine thereafter, outside these windows. The future of slum-children is mentioned as painted with a fog, meaning unclear, uncertain, bleak future. Their street is mentioned as a narrow street sealed in with a lead sky. It represents limitations to their prospects in life in their narrow street despite clear and bright sky (representing bright future) above. These slum-children are far from the beauty of nature and the pictures on the wall have no meaning (are meaningless) for the slum-children as their future is uncertain/bleak.

Shakespeare is mentioned as ‘wicked’ as he is misleading those naive (innocent and gullible) children through his words portraying ships, sun and love which is not only unreal for the slum-children, but it has also got a negative impact on their minds. Such things would instigate them to steal or take unfair means as they desperately make attempts to escape from their cramped holes. Then, the poet brings in the image of open-handed map which has been mentioned as a bad example. It represents a random, infinite map. It does not endear to any particular place but is a general one. For children, these maps serve as windows to the outside world within which their future is uncertain. The children can’t afford to dream of the outside world as depicted in this open-handed map. Due to extreme poverty, deprivation and discrimination, slum-children are mentioned as cunningly/deceitfully sleeping in their dingy (dull and drab), congested shacks from the time of fog to the night which seems to be never-ending. Their small shacks (homes) are filled to capacity. They have adapted themselves to live in these conditions. They sleep on waste material. They are so malnourished, thin that their bones peep out of their skins. Since they are extremely poor, they can’t afford to have their own spectacles and, hence, use spectacles discarded (with broken/mended glasses and frames) by the rich. It represents that as you can’t have a better life being a slum-child, you can’t have a better view with broken glasses of your spectacles. Slum-children pass (rather than live) all their life in foggy slum, representing uncertain, obscure future. The maps of the slum-children appear to be blotted (disfigured) with slums as big as doom. It represents that slums don’t have any bright future and they are destined to a life of doom.

The poet thinks that unless the governor, inspector, visitor (the people who matter and who could contribute in effecting a change) treat this map as their own windows through which they themselves can see, and unless the windows that shut upon the lives of the slum-children as catacombs are broken, and unless the children are exposed to the natural beauty like that of green fields, and unless they make the world of the slum-children run brightly on gold sands, and unless they expose the slum-children to the advantages of education, the life of the slum-children can’t be changed and they can never be free from the shackles of poverty, illiteracy, deprivation and discrimination. The poet lastly says that though we know that the world is governed by the rich, the dictators and the powerful people, but there are people (other people also) who create their history through their own language, ideas and views. They influence the public through the warmth of their speech and ideas. So, their language must contain the warmth and strength of the sun to create history. And, all this is possible only when slum-children are exposed to education.

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Word/Phrase Meaning

Essayist : a person who writes essays, esp. as a literary genre

Socialist : the set of beliefs that states that all people are equal and should share equally in a country’s money or the political systems

based on these beliefs

Pacifist : someone who opposes war or violence as a means of settling disputes

Social injustice : a situation when some unfair practice is being carried in the society. Whatever unjust is happening is usually against the law

Class inequalities : e.g., inequalities between owners of the means of production and who sell their labour to the owners of the means of production

Gusty waves : denote a life of privilege and opportunity which is sadly lacking in these poor slum-dwellers’ lives. The prospects for them are grim

Rootless weeds : It is a simile for the children in the slum-school. It is to support the fact of ‘unwantedness’ and ‘not belonging’ to the society

Pallor : pale colouring of the face, esp. because of illness, malnutrition or fear

Weighed-down : to cause to bend down, oppress, depress, overburden, sadden

Paper-seeming boy : The boy is malnourished and is almost as thin as paper

Rat’s eyes : eyes compared to those of rats to highlight that his hunger has made them shrewd and he is constantly in search of food

Stunted : to stop something/somebody growing or developing properly

Unlucky heir : unlucky descendant

Twisted bones : The boy has an inherited disability. Was short and bony

Recite : to say aloud a piece of writing, esp. a poem or a list, from memory

Gnarled disease : of twisted bones (inherited disability), diseased body, knotty, misshapen, rugged and roughened as from old age or work

Dim : not bright or easy to see, not clear, not very clever, stupid

Unnoted : not noticed or remarked upon, unobserved, disregarded

Tree room : a structure (such as a playhouse) built among the branches of a tree. Used for recreation, workspace, habitation, observation

Sour cream walls : metaphor : sour cream is stale cream and so it tastes sour. It is spoilt and useless. Similarity is drawn between ‘sour cream’ and ‘walls’. The walls are dirty and their colour has turned yellow

Donations : money, etc, given to a person/organisation such as a charity, in order to help people/animals in need. A free contribution : gift, subscription, offering

Civilized dome : The architecture of civilisations are structures present in all the cities which makes a separate world out of the already existing world and relegates some to the peripheries of this constructed world. The slum-children are the ones who are pushed out of this constructed world because they don’t serve any purpose for the big movers and shakers of the world

Belled : provide with bell or bells. Make a ringing sound like that of a bell. Spread outward like the lip of a bell. Anything in the form of a bell

Flowery : covered/decorated with flowers. Using long/difficult words when they are not necessary. Having a floral design. Smelling of flowers.

Tyrolese valley : It is a flowery valley, with pleasant natural sound comparable to a bell. Belled, flowery, Tyrolese valley refers to natural beauty which the slum-children are deprived of. Tyrol valley is a high ice-free valley in Victoria Land, Austria

Open-handed map : represents a random, infinite map. It does not endear to any particular place but is a general one. For children, these maps serve as windows to the outside world within which their future is uncertain. The children can’t afford to dream of the outside world

Awarding the world its world : Because people in the outside world are the ones who have the opportunities. These children are limited to the slum. Their world is so limited that they can only hope to see the rest of the world through a life of crime

Future’s painted with a fog : The life of slum-children is full of darkness and hopelessness because of extreme poverty. Their future is foggy, unwelcoming and monotonous. The situation of slums is so pathetic that children staying there don’t get a chance to breathe in the fresh open air also

A narrow street sealed in with a lead sky : narrow street : metaphor : their future is limited. It indicates sealed with a grey-coloured sky. Slum-children have a dark future as their options in life are highly limited and are covered with dismay

Capes : a piece of high land that sticks out into the sea

Stars of words : These pictures on the wall have no meaning (are meaningless) for the slum-children as their future is uncertain/bleak

Shakespeare is wicked : as he is misleading those naive (innocent and gullible) children through his words portraying ships, sun and love which is not only unreal for them, but it has a negative impact on their minds. This would instigate them to steal or take unfair means as they desperately make attempts to escape from their cramped holes

The map a bad example : It is an item of temptation for deprived, hungry slum-children. It may mislead them to steal or take to unfair means

Slyly : in a cunning or deceitful or manipulative manner. In a way that suggests some secret knowledge that may be harmful or embarrassing, knowingly

Cramped holes : slum-children live in dingy dull and drab), congested shacks. Their small homes are filled to capacity. They have adapted themselves to live in these conditions

Slag heap : a hill made of slag (waste left after metal is smelted), a hill made from waste material. Refers to bodies of these children

Skins peeped through by bones : because they are malnourished, their bones are peeping through their skins

Spectacles of steel : poverty-stricken life of slum-children as they don’t have enough money to buy their own spectacles and, therefore, they survive on spectacles (mostly with broken lenses/broken frames) donated by the rich

Bottle bits on stones : lenses (broken lenses) have been repaired. Similarly, their dreams have also been broken by the harsh reality of their lives

Blot : a spot of something. A thing that spoils your happiness or other people’s opinion of you

Doom : death or a terrible event in the future which you can’t avoid, death, destruction, etc

Catacombs : a series of underground chambers or passages used for burying dead people, esp. in ancient times. That shut upon slum-children’s lives like catacombs

Azure : used to describe things that are bright blue, like colour of a clear sky

Run naked into books the white and green leaves open : Poet feels that the lives of slum-children will continue to be very miserable and unfulfilled unless they are educated. He wishes that these children be exposed to the world of books. They should be educated so that they can break themselves free from the confines of the slums

History theirs whose language is the sun : All we know that the world is governed by the rich, the dictators and the powerful people. But there are people (other people also) who create their history through their own language, ideas and views. They influence the public through warmth of speech and ideas. So, their language must contain the warmth and strength of the sun to create history

THINK IT OUT

1. (a) (i)

(b) (ii)

(c) (i)

(d) (iii)

(e) (ii)

2. The colour of ‘Sour cream’ is a mix of yellow and white (towards the white from the yellow). The poet has used this expression (as a metaphor) to describe the classroom walls as the walls are dirty and their colour has turned yellow. As people don’t like ‘sour cream’ so has turned the colour of the dirty classroom walls which people don’t like.

3. These have been used by the poet with a certain purpose: to describe the slum-children’s deprivation, to create a sharp contrast between what is lying inside the slums/slum-classroom and the outside world. Shakespeare is wicked: as he is misleading those naive (innocent and gullible) children through his words portraying ships, sun and love which is not only unreal for them, but it has a negative impact on their minds. This would instigate them to steal or take unfair means as they desperately make attempts to escape from their cramped holes. Civilized dome: The architecture of civilisations are structures present in all the cities which makes a separate world out of the already existing world and relegates some to the peripheries of this constructed world. The slum-children are the ones who are pushed out of this constructed world because they don’t serve any purpose for the big movers and shakers of the world. Open-handed map: represents a random, infinite map. It does not endear to any particular place but is a general one. For children, these maps serve as windows to the outside world within which their future is uncertain. The children can’t afford to dream of the outside world. Tyrolese valley: It is a flowery valley, with pleasant natural sound comparable to a bell. Belled, flowery, Tyrolese valley refers to natural beauty which the slum-children are deprived of. Tyrol valley is a high ice-free valley in Victoria Land, Austria.

The poet wants better life/education for the children of the slums. Their lives can be made to change if these children are exposed to the world of books. They should be educated so that they can break themselves free from the confines of the slums.

The Poet: Adrianne Rich (1929-2012) was widely known for her involvement in contemporary women’s movement as a poet and theorist. A strong resistance to racism (meaning: hostile attitude or behaviour to members of other races, based on a belief in the innate superiority of one’s own race) and militarism (meaning: belief in the use of military force and methods) echoes through her works. The poet’s increasing commitment to the women’s movement and a lesbian/feminist aesthetic influenced much of her work. She was credited with bringing ‘the oppression of women and lesbians to the forefront of poetic discourse’. Perhaps the most prominent contribution of Rich can be seen through her works alone. She has written several pieces that tackle the rights of women in society. Her poems are famous for their feminist elements. Her works demonstrate that she has an in-depth perspective of feminism and society and her works on feminism are revolutionary. Her views on equality and the need for women to maximise their potential can be seen as progressive during her time. For Rich, society as a whole is founded on patriarchy and as such it limits the rights of women. For equality to be achieved between the sexes, the prevailing notions will have to be readjusted to fit the female perspective. Rich’s early poetic influence stemmed from her father who encouraged her to read but also to write her own poetry. Her interest in literature started within her father’s library where she read the work of writers such as Ibsen, Arnold, Blake, Keats, Rossetti, Tennyson. This poem addresses the constraints of married life a woman experiences.

Theme: This poem was written in 1951. The poet is illustrating her feminist (meaning: advocate of equal rights for women) concerns. In the world dominated by male, a woman of her time was supposed to be a dutiful and subordinate housewife. This poem, through the world of Aunt Jennifer, tells us about her inner desire to free herself from the shackles of a heavy marriage (meaning: marriage which has caused her pain, agony) and also from a patriarchal society. Her wish to live a free, fearless life is indicated by her choice of design – tigers. Probably, her ordeal will end upon her death. But still, even after her death, the ring shall remain on her hand, i.e., her husband’s rule/mastery over her is not yet over. After her death, her desire for freedom and fearlessness shall remain alive in these tigers which she has embroidered.

Story: The poet expresses the inner feelings of a woman, i.e., Aunt Jennifer. The Aunt is embroidering a motif consisting of energetic, fearless, proud-looking tigers moving freely/royally around the bright greenery. She is living a life of subordination/submissiveness to her husband’s commands. Her actions are dominated by him and she fears him all through. This pattern (of her embroidery on the screen) of the free and fearless tigers reflects her inner desire to live a free and fearless life. The tigers are graceful, elegant, proud-looking and bright.

Aunt Jennifer’s fingers tremble as she embroiders. She has turned old but still fears her husband. She doesn’t enjoy the freedom to do anything as per her wish. She is scared doing the embroidery too and fears her husband’s wrath when he sees her engaged in embroidery. Almost anything she does, he will be rough, cruel to her. Since the day she got married, she has been fulfilling all the demands of her commanding husband. The wedding ring on her hand is a constant reminder that she belongs to her husband. The burden of the demanding marriage has exhausted her. Her husband is like her ‘master’. The torment will not end until her death.

Even after her death, the ring will remain on her hand and she will never be free symbolising that her ordeals may never come to an end as her master (meaning: husband) has no mercy, sympathy, love, affection for her. On the other hand, the tigers that she is embroidering will continue to move around freely forever. Her desire of freedom and fearlessness will live on through her tigers embroidered on the screen.

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WORD/PHRASE MEANING

Aunt Jennifer’s tigers : poem about an oppressed woman who escapes into an alternative world of embroidery and sewing, despite a heavy marriage to a terrifying man. She herself likes to be like one of those tigers-free, brave, proud, without any limitations

Prance : to move about with quick, high steps, often because you feel proud or pleased with yourself, with more movement than necessary, with exaggerated movements

Screen : the glass surface of a TV/computer where the picture/information appears. A flat vertical surface that is used for dividing a room or keeping somebody/something out of sight

Bright topaz denizens : topaz is a gemstone-bright yellow. The tigers are bright, crystalline animals that prance around their ‘world of green’. Evokes an image that these regal/royal tigers are unafraid of other beings in the jungle. Here, bright signifies their powerful and radiant persona

Denizen : a person, animal, plant that lives, grows or is often found in a particular place

A world of green : presumably a jungle

Men beneath the tree : The tigers don’t fear men beneath the tree because (a) they possess chivalric certainty, (b) they look powerful in the panel and (c) they are unreal

Pace : to walk up and down in the same area many times, esp. because you are nervous or angry

Sleek : elegant, smooth and shiny because it is healthy

Chivalric certainty : The tigers are so brave that they pace in chivalric certainty (all those things that a true knight represents:- loyalty, courtesy and bravery), ‘gentleman’s grace’

Flutter : to move or make something move quickly and lightly, esp. through the air. The state of being confused, nervous or excited. Quick, light movement

Ivory needle : is characteristic of hunting of elephants for their tusks. This is all symbolic of male dominance that has such a deep impact within the meaning of this poem

Ringed : marked with or encircled by a ring or rings. A token on marriage, engagement, authority. Surround (somebody/something) esp. for protection and containment

Ordeal : a very unpleasant, painful or difficult experience

She was mastered by : a person with the ability or power to use, control or dispose of something. An owner of a slave, animal

Tigers in the panel : Poet has knitted/embroidered images of tigers on the panel. They are not living or real tigers. The images of tigers are created by Aunt Jennifer on the panel with her own hands

THINK IT OUT

1. ‘Denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes in the following way: ‘Denizens’ symbolises the tiger’s ‘living, growing in a particular place’ and in this case it is the panel on which the image of tigers has been embroidered by Aunt Jennifer. ‘Chivalric’ has been used for ‘chivalric certainty’ in respect of pace (walking up and down by the tigers in the same area many times as if they were nervous or angry) Chivalric certainty symbolises that the tigers are so brave that they pace like true knights representing loyalty, courtesy and bravery. It symbolises their free spirit.

2. I think that Aunt Jennifer’s hands are ‘fluttering through her wool’ in the second stanza because her fingers are finding it hard to pull even the smooth ivory needle. She is finding the needle so hard to pull because of the massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band sitting heavily upon her hand symbolising a heavy (painful, difficult) marriage.

3. ‘Massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ suggests a heavy (painful, difficult) marriage. She has felt tormented all through her married life and can’t get rid of this massive weight.

4. In the third stanza, Aunt Jennifer is terrified when she thinks that even when she is dead, her terrified hands will lie still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by. She thinks that even upon her death, she will not be in a position to get rid of the difficult, painful experience of a heavy marriage she had all through her married life.

5. Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by the following ordeals: (i) In a typically patriarchal society, she fears her husband, (ii) All through her married life, she has felt painful, tormented by her husband, (iii) Even the thought of arrival of her husband, makes her tremble and her fingers start fluttering out of fear, (iv) She has found the marital ring (torments of her married life) to be so heavy that she is of the view that she may not get rid of this heavy weight even upon her death. The poet uses the word ‘ringed’ to symbolise ‘the tight/suffocating grip of the tormented married life on her’, ‘her inability to escape the torments of her heavy marriage’. The meanings of the word ‘ringed’ in the poem are: (i) encircled by a ring, (ii) a token on marriage/engagement/authority, (iii) surround somebody, esp. for containment.

6. Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character because she wanted to convey her inner desire to free herself from the shackles of a heavy marriage (marriage which has caused her pain, agony) and also from a patriarchal society. Her wish to live a free, fearless life is indicated by her choice of design – tigers. Through this difference, the poet might be suggesting the stark difference between ‘how much restricted, tormented, dominated, unhappy her married life had become on account of her heavy marriage’ and ‘what free, fearless life she wished to live for herself’.

7. The following are the interpretation of symbols found in the poem: (i) Tigers: representing free will, fearlessness, freedom of movement, bravery, confidence. (ii) Massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’: bitter, painful experience of her married life. (iii) Screen: the range over which creative faculty of a woman works. (iv) fingers fluttering: out of a sense of fear of her husband, her fingers are shaking.

8. I fully sympathise with Aunt Jennifer. In view of the sufferings arising out of married life of Aunt Jennifer, the speaker’s attitude towards her is of sympathy.

The Author: William O. Douglas (1898-1980), born in Main (Minnesota), graduated in English and Economics and spent two years teaching high school in Yakima. He got tired of this and decided to pursue a legal career. He met Franklin D. Roosevelt, became an adviser and friend to the US President, and was a leading advocate of individual rights. This excerpt is taken from ‘Of Men and Mountains’ written by William O. Douglas. It reveals how as a young boy William O. Douglas nearly drowned in a swimming pool. In this essay, he talks about his fear of water and how he finally overcame it.

Theme: A real-life personal account of experiencing fear and the steps taken to overcome it.

Sub-theme: Psychological analysis of fear.

Story: As the title suggests, this essay narrates how the writer was terrorised in his early childhood (when he was three or four years old) by the overpowering force of water when waves knocked him down, swept over him, buried him in water and his breath was gone under the strong force of water. This feeling of childhood terror lasted for around six or seven years before he decided to get over it by learning how to swim.

When he was ten or eleven years old, he decided to learn how to swim. The Yakima river was treacherous and his mother advised him against it. Regular warnings from his mother regarding each drowning in the treacherous Yakima river kept fresh in his mind the details of each drowning in the river. So, he went for Y.M.C.A. swimming pool which he considered was safe (only two or three feet deep at the shallow end and nine feet deep at the other end).

He started learning swimming at Y.M.C.A. swimming pool. But each time he got into water, the childhood fear of drowning used to return and haunt him.

After a few days, he went to the pool when no one else was there. Everything was quiet and he was sitting beside the pool. Suddenly a big bruiser of a boy, probably eighteen years of age with good physique, picked him up and tossed him into the deep end of the water. He landed in sitting position as he was picked up from beside the pool. Then, he made one attempt after another, still another to come up, swim and be safe ashore but all his attempts failed as he was yet to learn swimming. Certain times, the more attempts he made to come up, the more he appeared to be going down in deep water.

After several failed attempts, he had a near-death experience where efforts ceased, he relaxed, his legs felt limp, a blackness swept over his brain, it wiped out fear/terror/panic from his mind, it was quiet and peaceful, there was nothing to be afraid of, it felt nice to be drowsy/to go to sleep/no need to jump/too tired to jump/it was nice to be carried gently/to float along in space/he felt tender arms around him/tender arms like that of Mother’s/he felt that now he must go to sleep. He crossed to oblivion and the curtain of life fell.

When he gained his senses, he found himself lying beside the pool and vomiting. The boy who had thrown him into water was apologetic saying that he was only fooling.

This incident, alongwith the childhood fear of drowning, made things worse for the author as he was very frequently haunted by the fear of drowning. This handicap (frequent haunting of the fear of drowning) stayed with him for several years. It ruined his fishing trips; deprived him of the joy of canoeing, boating and swimming.

Finally, one October month, he decided to get an instructor and learn to swim. Now, he was learning under the guidance/supervision of an instructor who made him try a particular kind of step several times. Then, another particular kind of step another several times. With continuous and multiple sessions of practice, he gradually started getting to learn how to swim and simultaneously he also started getting rid of the haunting fear of drowning. Thus, piece by piece, the instructor built a swimmer and the instructor’s work was over.

The author, in order to fully overcome the haunting fear of drowning, swam across various rivers, lakes (including even those which were considered dangerous) challenging their treacherousness and finally got rid of the fear.

SALIENT TRAITS OF THE PERSONALITY OF THE AUTHOR EVIDENCING HIS GRIT, DETERMINATION, STRONG WILL, PERSEVERANCE

1.Though the author had experienced the overpowering force of water when waves knocked him down, swept over him, buried him in water and his breath was gone under the strong force of water at the age of three or four years, at the age of ten or eleven years he decided to get over it by learning how to swim.

2.Though he hated walking naked and show his skinny legs, he subdued his pride and did it.

3.His introduction to Y.M.C.A. pool (which he considered safe and where he went to learn swimming) revived unpleasant memories and stirred childhood fears of drowning which he went through when he was three or four years old. But, he gathered confidence in a little while.

4.Though he had a near-death experience when a big bruiser of a boy picked him up and tossed him into the deep end of Y.M.C.A. pool (where water was around nine feet deep), he started all over again after a few years with an instructor.

5.He learnt swimming and, then, tried almost all treacherous rivers, lakes, cliffs to overcome his fear totally.

6. Several times the childhood fear returned, but he had decided to overcome it and he did it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Word/phrase Meaning

Treacherous : dangerous, although seeming safe

Misadventure : an unfortunate incident, a mishap

Subdued my pride : repressed, controlled my pride

Bob to the surface like a cork : to float or show the characteristics of buoyancy

Flailed at the surface : moved energetically in an uncontrolled way

Curtain of life fell : to indicate that life has ended or near-death experience

Water wings : inflated floats fixed to the arms of someone learning to swim to give increased buoyancy

Aversion : a strong feeling of not liking somebody/something

Stirred : to move or make somebody/something move slightly

Paddled : to walk in water that is not very deep

Aping : copying somebody else

Timid : easily frightened, shy, nervous

Bruiser : a person who is tough, aggressive, enjoys a fight or argument

Rippling : moving in small waves

Ducked : to push somebody’s head under water for a short time, esp. when playing

Tossed : throw something lightly, carelessly

Summoned : to find strength, courage or some other quality that you need though it is difficult to do so

Tinge : a small amount of colour or a feeling

Suffocating : feeling uncomfortable, unable to breathe

Yell : to shout very loudly, often because you are angry, excited or in pain

Throbbed : to make a strong regular movement or noises, to beat strongly

Dizzy : feeling as if everything is turning around and that you might fall

Sheer : nothing other than

Stark : unpleasant and impossible to avoid

Pounding : to hit something hard many times making a lot of noise

Great charge of electricity : electric charge is felt when one gets a shock

Shook : to disturb or upset something/somebody

Trembled : to shake out of cold, fear, etc

Fright : sudden feeling of fear or shock

Awful : very bad or unpleasant

Oblivion : a state in which you don’t realise what is happening around you esp. because you are unconscious/asleep

Chap : a man or boy (informal)

Haunting : having a quality that stays in your mind

Cascade : a small waterfall/series of small waterfalls

Tieton : a city in Yakima county of the USA

Bumping river : in Washington in the USA

Warm lake of the great rocks : in the USA

Icy horror : sense of horror that makes you cold, numb, frozen with fright

Handicap : something that makes doing something more difficult, a disadvantage

Canoes : a light narrow boat for one or two people

Bass fishing : fishing of a large-mouthed fish

Trout : a type of fish which lives in rivers and that we eat

Deschutes : river in the USA

Metolius in Oregon : a city in Oregon, the USA

Columbia : a river in the north-west of North America

Crawl stroke : arms are moved alternately overhead accompanied by a flutter kick

Tiny vestiges : a small part of something that is left after the rest of it has gone

Frown : to show you are angry, serious, etc, by making lines appear on forehead

Lake Wentworth : lake in the USA

Dock : an area of a port where ships stop to be loaded, repaired, etc

Miniature : a small copy of something which is much larger

Doug Corpron : Swimmer. Used to swim across from one shore to the other and back. The writer imitated to overcome fear of water

Trails : a track sign or smell that is left behind and that you follow when you are hunting somebody/something

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Q : What is the ‘misadventure’ that William Douglas speaks about?

A : William Douglas speaks about ‘misadventure’ which took place when after a few days of having started learning to swim at Y.M.C.A. pool, he went to the pool when no one else was there. Everything was quiet and he was sitting beside the pool. Suddenly a big bruiser of a boy, probably eighteen years of age with good physique, picked him up and tossed him into the deep end of the water. He landed in sitting position as he was picked up from beside the pool. Then, he made one attempt after another, still another to come up, swim and be safe ashore but all his attempts failed as he was yet to learn swimming. Certain times, the more attempts he made to come up, the more he appeared to be going down in deep water.

After several failed attempts, he had a near-death experience where efforts ceased, he relaxed, his legs felt limp, a blackness swept over his brain, it wiped out fear/terror/panic from his mind, it was quiet and peaceful, there was nothing to be afraid of, it felt nice to be drowsy/to go to sleep/no need to jump/too tired to jump/it was nice to be carried gently/to float along in space/he felt tender arms around him/tender arms like that of Mother’s/he felt that now he must go to sleep. He crossed to oblivion and the curtain of life fell.

When he gained his senses, he found himself lying beside the pool and vomiting. The boy who had thrown him into water was apologetic saying that he was only fooling. This ‘misadventure, had brought him almost face-face with death.

Q : What were the series of emotions and fears that Douglas experienced when he was thrown into the pool? What plans did he make to come to the surface?

A : After a few days of having started learning to swim at Y.M.C.A. pool, he went to the pool when no one else was there. Everything was quiet and he was sitting beside the pool. Suddenly a big bruiser of a boy, probably eighteen years of age with good physique, picked him up and tossed him into the deep end of the water. He landed in sitting position as he was picked up from beside the pool, swallowed water, and went at once to the bottom. He was frightened, but not yet frightened out of his wits.

On the way down he planned to make a big jump, when his feet hit the bottom, come to the surface, lie flat on it, and paddle to the edge of the pool. Then, he made one attempt after another, still another to come up, swim and be safe ashore but all his attempts failed as he was yet to learn swimming. Certain times, the more attempts he made to come up, the more he appeared to be going down in deep water. After several failed attempts, he had a near-death experience where efforts ceased, he relaxed, his legs felt limp, a blackness swept over his brain, it wiped out fear/terror/panic from his mind, it was quiet and peaceful, there was nothing to be afraid of, it felt nice to be drowsy/to go to sleep/no need to jump/too tired to jump/it was nice to be carried gently/to float along in space/he felt tender arms around him/tender arms like that of Mother’s/he felt that now he must go to sleep. He crossed to oblivion and the curtain of life fell.

Q : How did this experience affect him?

A : This experience, alongwith the childhood fear of drowning, made things worse for the author as he was very frequently haunted by the fear of drowning. This handicap (frequent haunting of the fear of drowning) stayed with him for several years. It ruined his fishing trips; deprived him of the joy of canoeing, boating and swimming.

Finally, one October month, he decided to get an instructor and learn to swim in order to overcome this fear of drowning. This experience emboldened his spirit and made him more resolute in his strong desire to learn swimming and overcome the fear of water.

Q : Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?

A : The incident of his being tossed into deep water, alongwith the childhood fear of drowning, made things worse for the author as he was very frequently haunted by the fear of drowning. This handicap (frequent haunting of the fear of drowning) stayed with him for several years. It ruined his fishing trips; deprived him of the joy of canoeing, boating and swimming.

In order to regain his fishing trips, canoeing, boating and swimming (which he used to love deeply), he decided to get over fear of water by learning swimming through the assistance of an instructor.

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

A : Finally, one October month, Douglas decided to get an instructor and learn to swim. Now, he was learning under the guidance/supervision of an instructor who made him try a particular kind of step several times. Then, another particular kind of step another several times. With continuous and multiple sessions of practice, he gradually started getting to learn how to swim and simultaneously he also started getting rid of the haunting fear of water/drowning. The instructor made him do all those things, which he used to fear earlier, several times each session day. Thus, piece by piece, the instructor ‘built a swimmer’ out of Douglas.

Q. How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?

A. After the instructor’s job was of training him was finished, Douglas, in order to conquer the old terror totally, swam through several rivers, lakes (including several of those which were considered dangerous). While swimming through these dangerous rivers, lakes, he used to challenge them to terrorise him. And, this way he made sure that he conquered the old terror completely.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

1.Douglas presents a very realistic example of the sense of panic that gripped him as he almost drowned. By virtue of being a first-hand narrative, it is very close to what anyone else would feel/undergo in real-life situation. It’s evident in : After several failed attempts, he had a near-death experience where efforts ceased, he relaxed, his legs felt limp, a blackness swept over his brain, it wiped out fear/terror/panic from his mind, it was quiet and peaceful, there was nothing to be afraid of, it felt nice to be drowsy/to go to sleep/no need to jump/too tired to jump/it was nice to be carried gently/to float along in space/he felt tender arms around him/tender arms like that of Mother’s/he felt that now he must go to sleep. He crossed to oblivion and the curtain of life fell.

When he gained his senses, he found himself lying beside the pool and vomiting. The boy who had thrown him into water was apologetic saying that he was only fooling.

2. The incident of his being tossed into deep water, alongwith the childhood fear of drowning, made things worse for the author as he was very frequently haunted by the fear of drowning. This handicap (frequent haunting of the fear of drowning) stayed with him for several years. It ruined his fishing trips; deprived him of the joy of canoeing, boating and swimming.

Finally, one October month, he decided to get an instructor and learn to swim. Now, he was learning under the guidance/supervision of an instructor who made him try a particular kind of step several times. Then, another particular kind of step another several times. With continuous and multiple sessions of practice, he gradually started getting to learn how to swim and simultaneously he also started getting rid of the haunting fear of drowning. Thus, piece by piece, the instructor built a swimmer and the instructor’s work was over.

The author, in order to fully overcome the haunting fear of drowning, swam across various rivers, lakes (including even those which were considered dangerous) challenging their treacherousness and finally got rid of the fear.

3.Anybody would like to recount a near-death experience of the childhood in later stages of life. It sends a strong message across that one should never fear and never give up. One should never continue to live in fear. The larger meaning drawn from this experience is well reflected in the author saying ‘There is terror only in the fear of death’. He also mentions Roosevelt having once said ‘All we have to fear is fear itself’.

The Author: A. R. Barton, a modern writer, lives in Zurich and writes in English. In ‘Going Places’, the author explores the theme of adolescent fantasising and hero-worship.

Theme: Adolescent hero-worship and fantasising.

Sub-theme: Relationships -family, friends.

Story: ‘Going Places’ is a story depicting a young girl Sophie whose mind is full of hero-worship and fantasising. She gets into hero-worship and fantasising for anyone/everyone whose appearance, character, behaviour creates some sort of mystery/awe in her young impressionable (easily impressed or influenced) mind. Though several young ones could suffer from this, it may be the degree (to which they suffer) which may matter more in their future development. Too much of hero-worship and fantasising could jeopardise normal development of a young boy/girl. Within reasonable limits, it could propel young minds to aspire to do/achieve something better in life. Young minds, if not properly guided, may not be in a position to differentiate between aspiration (strong desire or aim) and fantasy (far-fetched notion, imagination unrestricted by reality, daydream). Sophie is found to be deep in hero-worship and fantasising whereas Jansie is far more matured and realistic. Jansie discourages her from having such dreams as Jansie fully understands the socio-economic circumstances of Sophie’s family.

There could be several reasons, including familial, social, economic circumstances, for a young & impressionable mind to get into hero-worship and fantasising. Poverty, scarcity, deprivation, disappointments could further aggravate the young mind in this direction.

In her hero-worship and fantasising, Sophie even cooks up stories which her experienced father doesn’t believe and even warns her that she may get herself into lot of trouble by talking her fantasies. But she is smart enough to convince Geoff, her brother, and take him on her side.

When a young mind gets into the state in which Sophie finds herself, reason is blurred to a large extent and you think to be seeing what you haven’t actually been seeing. It blurs the common-sensical thinking.

Though she belongs to a family with moderate socio-economic circumstances (where her father hasn’t even been able to own a decent house despite having worked hard for a long time in his life), she gets into hero-worship of Danny Casey, a star player of United. In her act of fantasising, she even wavers as is evidenced from her talking of the options of starting a boutique (which requires lot of money to start and she doesn’t have that), becoming a manager (factories don’t make a person manager directly), to be like Mary Quaint (English fashion designer and fashion icon), becoming an actress.

Finally, when she realises that Danny Casey hasn’t come despite her having waited for him, she now gets troubled with the thought that when she gets home, she will have to tell them that Danny Casey didn’t turn up. This also causes lot of unnecessary disturbance and embarrassment in her mind making her further distressed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Word/phrase Meaning

Incongruity : being inappropriate, being out of place

Prodigy : person with some marvellous talent, wonderful thing

Chuffed : very pleased

Solitary elm : tree with serrated leaves

Arcade : covered passageway lined with shops, set of arches and their supporting columns

Amber : clear yellowish fossil resin, brownish-yellow

Wharf : platform at a harbour for loading and unloading ships

Pangs of doubt : sudden sharp feeling of pain or sadness

Q. Where was it most likely that the two girls would find work after school?

A. It was most likely that the two girls would find work in a biscuit factory after school.

Q. What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie discourage her from having such dreams?

A. Sophie was dreaming of the following options : starting a boutique, becoming a manager in a factory, to be like Mary Quaint (English fashion designer and fashion icon), becoming an actress. Jansie discourages her from having such dreams as Jansie fully understands socio-economic circumstances of Sophie’s family.

Q. Why did Sophie wriggle when Geoff told her father that she had met Danny Casey?

A. Sophie wriggled when Geoff told her father that she had met Danny Casey because : (i) she knew that her father won’t believe her story and (ii) she wanted her father to believe her by showing her reaction on Geoff’s disclosing this to her father.

Q. Does Geoff believe what Sophie says about her meeting with Danny Casey?

A. Initially, Geoff doesn’t believe Sophie telling him about her meeting with Danny Casey. But, Sophie’s persistence and Sophie’s behaviour through which she displayed to Geoff that it was always he who first shared her secrets made him believe her.

Q. Does her father believe her story?

A. No. Her father doesn’t believe her story as evidenced in his saying ‘This another of your wild stories?’ He further tells her ‘One of these days you’re going to talk yourself into a load of trouble.’

Q. How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in her fantasy of her future?

A. Sophie liked her brother Geoff more than any other person because she, by virtue of her hero-worship and fantasising, (i) found him travelling to his work each day to the far side of the city, (ii) she suspected areas of his life about which she knew nothing and about which he never spoke, (iii) Geoff spoke little and she was jealous of his silence. Whenever Geoff was not speaking, Sophie thought as though he was away somewhere, out there in the world in those places which she had never seen. All this is due to her hero-worship and fantasising. Any small event, or even seemingly non-event, could induce her into fantasising. From her perspective, he symbolised something mysterious/full of awe. Whenever Geoff was not speaking, Sophie thought as though he was away somewhere, out there in the world in those places which she had never seen. Whether they were only the outlying districts of the city, or places beyond in the surrounding country-who knew? - they attained a special fascination for her simply because they were unknown to her and remained out of her reach. (iv) Sophie also fantasised that perhaps there were other people, exotic, interesting people of whom Geoff never spoke-it was possible, though he was quiet and didn’t make new friends easily. She longed to know them. She wished she could be admitted more deeply into her brother’s affections and that someday he might take her with him. This was the way Sophie included her brother Geoff in her fantasy of her future.

Q. Which country did Danny Casey play for?

A. Danny Casey played for Ireland.

Q. Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?

A. Sophie didn’t want Jansie to know about her story with Danny since Sophie thought that if you tell Jansie something like that, the whole neighbourhood would get to know of it. Sophie thought Jansie won’t be able to keep it to herself.

Q. Did Sophie really meet Danny Casey?

A. Sophie didn’t meet Danny Casey as she told Geoff of her having met him in the arcade.

Q. Which was the only occasion when she got to see Danny Casey in person?

A. The only occasion when she got to see Danny Casey in person was when the family made weekly pilgrimage on Saturday to watch United.

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UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

1. There are a lot of differences between Sophie and Jansie and a few differences that show up in the story are : Jansie appears to be far more realistic and matured as compared to Sophie who is deep in hero-worship and fantasising (which is found in several young boys/girls of her age). When Sophie says she thinks of starting a boutique, Jansie says that it needs lot of money. When Sophie responds ‘I’ll find it’, Jansie says ‘Take you a long time to save you that much’. Secondly, when Sophie says she will be a manager, then, to begin with. Jansie responds that they wouldn’t make her a manager straight off.

2. Sophie’s father seems to have had a tough and challenging life doing hard work to sustain the family. He has seen the world and is an experienced man. He also knows the hero-worship and fantasising that a young person may go through. The same is reflected when he responds to Sophie’s statement of her having met Danny Casey as ‘This another of your wild stories?’

3. Sophie liked her brother Geoff more than any other person because she, by virtue of her hero-worship and fantasising, (i) found him travelling to his work each day to the far side of the city, (ii) she suspected areas of his life about which she knew nothing and about which he never spoke, (iii) Geoff spoke little and she was jealous of his silence. Whenever Geoff was not speaking, Sophie thought as though he was away somewhere, out there in the world in those places which she had never seen. All this is due to her hero-worship and fantasising. Any small event, or even seemingly non-event, could induce her into fantasising. From her perspective, he symbolised something mysterious/full of awe. Whenever Geoff was not speaking, Sophie thought as though he was away somewhere, out there in the world in those places which she had never seen. Whether they were only the outlying districts of the city, or places beyond in the surrounding country-who knew? - they attained a special fascination for her simply because they were unknown to her and remained out of her reach.

4. Sophie belonged to modest socio-economic background as is evidenced in the following indicators of financial status of her family : (i) Jansie knew that they were earmarked for the biscuit factory after completion of school, (ii) Sophie says ‘If ever I come into money I’ll buy a boutique.’ Sophie’s father says ‘Huh-if you ever come into money…if you ever come into money you’ll buy us a blessed decent house to live in, thank you very much.’ Her father’s face is still grimy and sweat-marked from the day. Sophie’s mother’s back is stooped (crooked back) due to long years of hard work. The windows are blacked, the small room is steamy from the stove, cluttered with the heavy breathing man, dirty washing piled up in the corner. Seeing all this, Sophie felt a tightening in her throat since her young mind (which was full of hero-worship, fantasising and far away from the grim realities of life) didn’t like all this discouraging sight.

The Author: Louis Fischer (1896-1970), born in Philadelphia, served as a volunteer in the British Army (1918-1920). He was a journalist and wrote for The New York Times, The Saturday Review and for European and Asian publications. The following (Indigo) is an excerpt from his book-The Life of Mahatma Gandhi.

Theme: The leadership shown by Gandhi to secure justice for oppressed people through convincing arguments and negotiation skills.

Sub-theme: Contributions made by unknown Indians to the freedom struggle.

Story: ‘Indigo’ focusses on (i) the hardships/oppression suffered by the poor peasants, sharecroppers of Champaran at the hands of the mighty British, (ii) resoluteness of Rajkumar Shukla, a poor/less literate sharecropper who compelled Gandhi to come to Champaran, (iii) methods of convincing argumentation and negotiation employed by Mahatma Gandhi in dealing with the British concerning critical issues of the Indians as well as the British, (iv) rampant and acute poverty, caste system, prevalence of diseases, lack of cleanliness/health/hygiene in Bihar those days, (v) various Indian sections of society and furthering the cause of the British in India against the good of the Indians, (vi) how Gandhi’s strong belief in Satyagraha, non-violence, truthfulness and being on the side of the justice made him a leader of the masses and (vii) how truth finally triumphs.

Despite suffering immensely at the hands of the British, poor peasants/sharecroppers from Champaran had no mass leader who could lead them. Though the land (for a mass protest against the injustices of the mighty British) was fertile, the leader who could lead them was missing. Finally, the mass leader dawned in the form of Mahatma Gandhi and series of direct conflicts of the impoverished peasants started with the mighty British. Gandhi had all the qualities, including charisma, of a mass leader and after being with him for some time, people of Champaran realised their own strengths and importance of home rule as was evidenced in Gandhi’s statement that the British could not order him in his own country.

Though Gandhi appears to be defying law on several occasions, the apparent defiance is mainly on account of his not giving in to the British rule as he is a strong advocate of home rule and strongly against any foreign rule. He can’t see his countrymen suffering immensely at the hands of a foreign occupier. And, hence, he talks about ‘’conflict of duties’’. On the one hand, he doesn’t want to set a bad example (for others to follow which will be grossly wrong) as a lawbreaker; on the other hand, he is bound to render the ‘humanitarian and national service’ (as he had come to save very large number of peasants/sharecroppers from the unjust/inhumane oppression of the British and he wanted to be on the side of his poor, innocent countrymen) for which he had come.

Gandhi’s character, conduct, behaviour, non-violence, truthfulness, Satyagraha, high sense of selflessness, determination, fearlessness, methods of peaceful protests made the mighty British establishment to give in on several occasions.

Finally, it became extremely cumbersome for the British to continue to oppress the peasants, sharecroppers as they (peasants, sharecroppers) realised their strength and importance of home rule. All this resulted in the British planters abandoning their estates, which reverted to the peasants. And, indigo sharecropping (through which the peasants, sharecroppers were severely oppressed by the British) disappeared.

SALIENT TRAITS OF THE PERSONALITY OF MAHATMA GANDHI

He is considerate, compassionate, caring, believes in simplicity, non-violence. He has got very strong belief in the power of truthfulness, power of the people. He is against all kinds of exploitation and injustice. He is a strong advocate of home rule. He is courageous and sticks to the side of the truth. His simplicity, truthfulness, selflessness, courage, determination make him a leader of the masses. His heart pains to see his countrymen suffering at the hands of the foreign ruler.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Word/phrase Meaning

Urge the departure : insist on the going away of the British from India

Harbour a man like me : give shelter to an advocate (strong supporter) of home-rule

Conflict of duties : on one hand, not to set a bad example as a lawbreaker; on the other hand, to render the ‘’humanitarian and national service’’ for which he had come

Seek a prop : try to find support or assistance

Sevagram : a village in Maharashtra. It was the place of Gandhi Ashram and his residence from 1936 to 1948

Peasant : a person who owns or rents a small piece of land on which he grows food and keeps animals to feed his family

Recount : to tell a story or describe an event

Emaciated : extremely thin and weak because of illness, lack of food

Sharecropper : a tenant farmer who gives a part of each crop as rent

Resolute : having or showing great determination

Cawnpore : now Kanpur (in Uttar Pradesh)

Ashram : Sabarmati Ashram (Ahmedabad, Gujarat)

Tenacity : the determination to continue what you are doing

Haunches : a person’s bottom and the tops of his legs

Yeoman : a farmer who owned the land on which he worked

Lest : otherwise, for fear that

Impart : to pass information, knowledge, etc, to others

Tagore’s Shantiniketan school : in Bengal

Advocates of home-rule : to were in favour of home-rule

Advent : the fact of somebody/something arriving

Crushed : to press somebody/something hard so that he is broken, damaged, injured

Fear-stricken : overcome with (full of) fear, panic

Arable : (in farming) connected with growing crops for sale

Irksome : annoying, irritating

Thug : a violent person who may harm other people

Bully : a person who uses his strength or power to hurt or frighten people who are weaker

Multitude : a very large number of people or things

Maltreat : to treat a person/animal in a cruel/unkind way

Complied : to obey an order or request

Summons : an order to appear in a Court of Law

Viceroy : a ruler exercising authority in a colony on behalf of a sovereign

Spontaneous : done or happening suddenly, not planned

Dreaded : feared, afraid

Baffled : completely unable to understand or explain something

Prosecutor : a public official who charges somebody with a crime and tries to show that he is guiltyin a Court of Law

Pleading guilty : to admit responsibility, to confess

Conscience : the part of your mind that tells you if what you are doing is right or wrong

Recess : a short break during a trial in a Court of Law

Confer : to discuss something with somebody before making a decision

Upshot : the final result, esp. of a conversation or an event

Adjoining : next to, nearest to OR joined to something

Desertion : the act of leaving someone behind in a difficult situation

Civil Disobedience : protest by a large group of people against particular laws, taxes or policies of the Govt.

Far-flung : widely distributed

Grievances : something that you think is unfair and that you want to complain or protest

Deposition : a formal written statement made or used in a Court of Law

Throbbed : to make strong regular movement or noise, to beat strongly

Vehement : showing very strong

Protracted : lasting for a long time OR longer than expected or usual

Entreaty : an earnest or humble request

Unlettered : poorly educated or illiterate

Deceit : dishonest behaviour, trying to make somebody believe something which is not true

Extorted : to get something by using threat, violence

Adamant : very sure, refusing to change your mind

Missionary : a person who is sent to a foreign country to teach about Christian religion

Deadlock : a situation in which two sides can’t reach an agreement

Coated tongue : due to debris, bacteria and dead cells

Defiance : open refusal to obey somebody/something

Alleviate : to make something less strong or bad

Abstractions : the quality of dealing with ideas rather than events

Pacifist : someone who opposes war or violence as a means of settling disputes

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Q : 1.a.

A. Rajkumar Shukla was a sharecropper.

Q : 1.b.

A. Rajkumar Shukla was poor.

Q. 2.

A. Rajkumar Shukla is described as being ‘resolute’ as he kept on following (from sometime in December 1916 to the middle of April 1917) Mahatma Gandhi everywhere (from Lucknow to Cawnpore to various other parts of India) and finally succeeded in his sincere effort to invite Mahatma Gandhi to Champaran. Rajkumar Shukla didn’t give up his effort and continued pursuing his goal of inviting Mahatma Gandhi to Champaran and finally succeeded.

Q. 3.

A. The servants of Rajendra Prasad (who was then a lawyer, later became President of the Congress Party and still later he became the President of India) thought Gandhi to be another peasant because of his (i) accompanying Rajkumar Shukla a poor yeoman who used to pester their master to help the indigo sharecroppers, (ii) very simple/minimal clothes and (iii) humble nature.

1. Between his first meeting with Shukla at Lucknow and his arrival at Champaran, Gandhi visited Cawnpore, other parts of India, Ahmedabad and Calcutta.

2. The landlords compelled all tenants to plant three twentieth or 15% of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent. This was done by long-term contract. Then, the landlords learned that Germany had developed synthetic indigo (and they knew that now they could procure synthetic indigo from Germany in lieu of natural/farm-grown indigo from India). They, thereupon, obtained agreements from the sharecroppers to pay them compensation for being released from the abovementioned 15% arrangement. All these agreements were executed as the sharecroppers were not literate enough and the British used their cruel might over the poor sharecroppers to achieve their exploitative objectives. Since synthetic indigo came up as a substitute of natural indigo, the impact of synthetic indigo on the prices of natural indigo would be that the prices of natural indigo would crash resulting in further decline in the already poor financial position of the sharecroppers.

1.Gandhi’s method of working reflecting his ideas of Satyagraha and Non-Violence : (a) Gandhi called on the British official commissioner of the Tirhut division in which the Champaran district lay. The Commissioner proceeded to bully him and advised him to leave Tirhut. Gandhi didn’t leave and stuck to his resolve of supporting the right/just cause of the sharecroppers. (b) A report came that a peasant had been maltreated in a nearby village. Gandhi started out on the back of an elephant. The police commissioner’s messenger brought a message ordering him to return to town. Gandhi complied. Gandhi was served with an official notice to quit Champaran which he duly acknowledged. But, he refused to follow the order. He, then, received summons. People, in very large numbers, gathered and were agitated that a person who came to help them is being harassed by the British. With Gandhi’s influence, they remained quiet and peaceful. (c) Rather than indulging into violence, he encouraged people to stage/hold peaceful protests against the injustice done to them.

1. Gandhi agreed to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers against his earlier demand of 50%. Gandhi explained that the amount of the refund was less important than the fact that the landlords (who used to exploit sharecroppers) had been obliged to surrender part of the money and, with it, part of their prestige also. Therefore, as far as the peasants were concerned, the planters had earlier behaved as lords above the law. Now the peasants saw that they had rights and defenders. The peasants had learned courage which was earlier absent in them. This 25% episode also reflects Gandhi’s negotiation skills. On the face of it, it appears that he lost. But he has won a battle which will have long-lasting positive impact on the life of a very large number of poor and oppressed peasants.

2. This (the above) episode changed the plight (bad condition) of the peasants as within a few years the British planters abandoned their estates, which reverted to the peasants, indigo sharecropping (which was very exploitative, punishing and not profit-making to the peasants) disappeared.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

1. Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning-point in his life. He said that in Champaran what he did was a very ordinary thing. He said that he declared that the British could not order him in his own country. In Champaran, this message had got across to each and every individual and all of them were up against the unfairness, injustice, cruelty of the British rule.

2. Gandhi was able to influence lawyers as is evident from a few instances – (a) When Gandhi knew about hefty fees of lawyers, he chided the lawyers for collecting big fee from the poor peasants. He said that he had come to the conclusion that the peasants should stop going to law courts as taking such cases to the courts does little good (does little help) to the poor peasants. He also said that where the peasants are so crushed and fear-stricken, law courts are useless (as they cost lot of money to the poor peasants and do little good to them). Gandhi said that the real relief for the peasants is to be free from fear. (b) When Gandhi was ordered to leave Champaran, he refused to leave citing ‘conflict of duties’ and Gandhi asked the penalty due. (c) When Gandhi was asked to furnish bail for 120 minutes of recess during the court hours by the Magistrate, he refused. The judge released him without bail.

3. In smaller localities, the Indians were afraid to show sympathy for advocates of home rule as they feared consequences from the British officials.

4. Ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement is obvious from : (a) An ordinary sharecropper like Rajkumar Shukla having followed Gandhi for around four months (to wherever Gandhi went) in order to persuade him to come to Champaran and see the plight of peasants. (b) At midnight of 15.04.1917, Gandhi arrived at Muzaffarpur and he was welcomed with a large body of students. (c) When the news of Gandhi’s arrival at Muzaffarpur spread, sharecroppers from Champaran started arriving on foot and also by conveyance. (d) Muzaffarpur lawyers called on Gandhi to brief him. (e) Wherever Gandhi went, he was followed by large number of people who wanted to contribute in their own way. (f) Very large number of people reposed faith in Gandhi’s idea of Satyagraha, non-violence, home rule and followed him.

THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT

1.Though the condition of the poor has largely improved after independence, there are numerous instances, on a day-to-day basis, which evidence that the poor of India are not yet totally free from fear after independence.

2.The qualities of a good leader : truth in words and deeds, self-sacrificing, fighting for the just cause of others, caring, compassionate.

The Author: Anees Jung (1964) was born in Rourkela (Odisha), spent her childhood and adolescence in Hyderabad. She was educated at Hyderabad and also in the USA. Her parents were writers. She began her career as a writer in India, has been an editor and columnist for major newspapers in India and abroad. In ‘Lost Spring’, she has analysed the grinding poverty and traditions which condemn these ragpicker/slum children to a life of sheer exploitation.

Theme: The plight of street children forced into labour very early in life and denied the opportunity of schooling.

Story: The title itself immensely suggests (a) loss of fruitful/formative years of life when new ideas, new aspirations & dreams take shape and (b) stolen childhood (stolen mainly by those who are entrusted with ensuring the safety, security and growth/development )of a child’s childhood like parents, our social, economic & political system.

It’s a moving narrative of how very young street children are forced into manual labour (most of which are dangerous for their health & well-being) depriving them of even basic schooling, killing their sense of imagination/initiative/drive and, as a result, binding them to lifelong poverty, illiteracy, scarcity, deprivation, injustice as previously faced by their fathers/forefathers. And, this vicious cycle, once started, perpetually/endlessly goes on duly supported by two major factors : (1) the web of poverty, burdened by the stigma of caste system in which they are born and are kept bound to the type of work that their fathers/forefathers used to follow as a means of survival and (2) the vicious circle created by the collusion of the sahukars, the middlemen, the policemen, the keepers of law, the bureaucrats and the politicians. Together, they have imposed the baggage on the child that he can’t put down. Lifelong, they are inflicted with Poverty, Apathy, Greed and Injustice (PAGI) which wouldn’t allow them to emerge out of their ‘perpetual state of poverty’.

PAGI :

Poverty : inflicted due to lack of resources, education, opportunities and a suitable support system from society/Govt.

Apathy : of bureaucracy which is, actually, there to serve the people.

Greed : of sahukars, middlemen who can go to any extent to satisfy their greed and are, actually, never satisfied.

Injustice : meted out at the hands of policemen, keepers of law, politicians who actually need to ensure justice.

The author narrates a street child who says that sometimes he finds a one-rupee coin in the garbage.

The author narrates meeting a street child named ‘Saheb-e-Alam’ (this name meaning ‘Lord of the Universe’), who alongwith other street children (who all are ragpickers) keeps on roaming the streets as they have nothing else to do, nowhere else to go, nor do they go to school as there is no school in their neighbourhood. Most of them are barefoot (as they can’t afford slippers due to poverty) and they scrounge the garbage dumps to find something/anything that may be of some/any use/help to them, e.g., even a one-rupee coin. Saheb’s parents, like several others, were forced to leave Dhaka (in Bangladesh) due to extreme poverty (also caused by many storms that swept away their fields and homes) and in search of livelihood. When the author asks whether he will attend school if she starts one and the boy says ‘Yes’ with a broad smile. He is willing to go to school but it is not available in the neighbourhood and due to extreme poverty he can’t afford to go to a distant school. But the author is quick to realise her mistake in having made the hollow/false promise of starting a school and feels embarrassed. When the author asks why they are not wearing chappals, they respond with one excuse or another as their sense of pride will not allow them to confess that it is out of extreme poverty that they can’t afford to buy chappals. But, one of them says ‘I want shoes’. They want shoes, but it is beyond their reach due to poverty. Another explanation/excuse given for not wearing chappals is tradition.

The author recollects a story from Udipi. In the story, a young boy, while going to school past an old temple where his father was a priest, would briefly stop and pray for a pair of shoes. Several years later, this young boy becomes priest of the temple and his (this priest’s) child has no dearth of shoes. So, even in this case of the priest it has taken almost a generation to fulfil wish for an ordinary/basic thing like a pair of shoes. But many others like the ragpickers in the author’s neighbourhood continue to remain shoeless.

The author’s acquaintance with the barefoot ragpickers leads her to Seemapuri, a place at the outskirts of Delhi yet miles away from the prosperity/comforts/conveniences of Delhi. Around 10,000 ragpickers (most of them came here from Bangladesh way back in 1971) live in the wilderness of Seemapuri in structures of mud, with roof of tin and tarpaulin, devoid of basics like sewage/drainage/running water. Though they have lived here since 1971 with ration cards that get their names on voters’ lists and enable them to buy grain, they are without an identity and without permits. (So, the political system uses them for votes, but doesn’t provide them with identity/permits). For such poor people, food is more important for survival than an identity. The ragpickers have arrived here with the hope of finding food and feeding their families. Children, with their support to parents, even through their meagre earnings from ragpicking at a very young age, become partners in survival.

For the elders, garbage is a means of survival. For children (who are far more curious by nature), garbage has a meaning different from what it means to their parents. This curious nature of theirs should have been utilised better, if they got an opportunity to go to school instead of ragpicking.

Author sees Saheb watching (from outside the fence) two young well-off men dressed in white playing tennis. (Here, fence represents divide, exclusion and deprivation. The white dress is in sharp contrast to the dirty/torn cloth that Saheb would be wearing and shows very high level of inequality). The tennis game that he is watching is out of his reach.

Then, Saheb starts working at a tea stall and is paid Rs.800 per month and all his meals. He is carrying a steel canister of the tea stall owner. To the author, it seems that the canister of the tea stall owner is heavier than the plastic bag of his own that Saheb used to carry. It compares Saheb’s earlier freedom (he was free to do whatever he wanted to do) to current lack of freedom (now he needs to do what the tea stall owner wants him to do). So, it seems that Saheb has lost his carefree look and earlier freedom.

The author narrates another young boy, from a bangle-maker's family, who says that he wants to drive a car.

The author talks about Mukesh, belonging to a bangle-maker’s family in Firozabad, who insists on being his own master and of becoming a motor mechanic. Currently, he doesn’t know how to drive a car but he has aspirations to learn to drive a car. But, his dream seems like a mirage among the dust of streets of Firozabad, famous for its bangles. In Firozabad, almost half of the houses are engaged in glass-blowing industry where families have spent generations working around furnaces, welding glass, making bangles for all the women in the land. Those working in bangle-making don’t even know that employing/using child labour in the glass furnaces with high temperatures, in dingy cells without air and light is illegal. They also don’t know that the law, if enforced, could get Mukesh and all those 20,000 children out of the hot furnaces where they do hard work during daylight hours, often losing the brightness of their eyes/eyesight. The area where they live is marked with stinking lanes choked with garbage, homes that remain hovels with crumbling walls, wobbly doors, no windows, crowded with families of humans and animals co-existing in a primeval state. (It reflects extreme poverty, helplessness, deprivation, misery, ignominy and utter neglect in which they are forced to live by their poor circumstances. It also reflects complete lack/absence of a fair and just support system from the society/the Govt, despite all of them being an integral part of our society).

When the author comes to Mukesh’s house (with a wobbly iron door, half-built shack and thatched with dead grass), she finds a frail (physically weak) woman who is his elder brother’s wife and takes care of the entire family in domestic chores. As per the custom, she needs to withdraw when a senior member comes and also needs to bring her veil closer to her face. Mukesh’s father (an impoverished bangle maker), despite working hard for major part of his life, couldn’t even build a decent house. All he could do was pass on bangle-making art to his children.

Mukesh’s grandmother blames ‘destiny’ for their not having done better. She thinks that their circumstances are due to god-given lineage and can’t be broken. Mukesh’s grandfather went blind with the dust from polishing the glass of bangles.

Most of the houses/yards/streets of Firozabad are full of shining bangles of all bright colours but there is no brightness/colour of prosperity/convenience/comfort in the lives of those engaged in bangle-making. They don’t have even basic amenities to lead a life with dignity. Since they (the young ones with their parents) work long hours in dark hutments, next to lines of flames of flickering oil lamps welding pieces of coloured glass into circles of bangles, their eyes are more adjusted to the dark than to the light outside. That is why they often end up losing their eyesight before they become adults.

In Savita’s case, Savita solders pieces of glass with an elderly woman and her hands move mechanically like the tongs of a machine. Though this old woman still has bangles on her wrist, she has no light in her eyes as she has lost her eyesight in bangle-making. Despite all this, the old woman hasn’t enjoyed even one full meal in her entire lifetime. This is the level of abject poverty that they face. Her husband, an old man, says that he knows nothing except bangles and that all he has done in his life is making a house for the family to live in. It may be the case that many others haven’t achieved even this.

In respect of their miserable circumstances, whatever is uttered by the elderly is echoed by the young ones. (It means three things : 1. That the young ones haven’t made efforts to come out of it OR that the efforts of the young ones to come out of such situation have failed and that they have given up on trying further. 2. Their miserable circumstances have continued to remain unchanged. 3.Mind-numbing hard work has killed all sense of initiative, drive and the ability to dream).

For improving their circumstances, they have no co-operative, no leader, and they are not organised. They fear that getting organised will mean that they are daring and daring is not part of their growing up process.

Listening to them, the author sees two distinct worlds : one of the family, caught in a web of poverty, burdened by the stigma of caste in which they are born; the other a vicious circle of the sahukars, the middlemen, the policemen, the keepers of law, the bureaucrats and the politicians. Together, they have imposed baggage on the child and the child can’t put down that baggage. Before the child is aware of the baggage, he accepts it as naturally as his father/forefathers had accepted.

Mukesh has limited his ambition to becoming a car mechanic because he has seen cars on the streets of Firozabad. When the author asks him ‘Do you also dream of flying a plane?’ He says ‘No’. It appears to the author that Mukesh feels embarrassment but not regret. The author writes that few planes fly over Firozabad. And, we can deduce that Mukesh’s ambition may be limited due to his not having seen many planes flying.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Word/phrase Meaning

adolescence : between child and adult. Between 13 & 17 years of age

Excerpt : a short piece taken from a book, film, music

Grinding : to press & break something into very small pieces

Tradition : a custom, belief or way of doing something

Condemn : to say strongly that you think somebody/something is very bad or wrong

Exploitation : use of something in order to get an advantage

Looking for : search, pay attention to, to discover

Perpetual state of poverty : endless state of poverty, as if it will never end

Slog their daylight hours : struggle continuously during daytime

Dark hutments : dark huts

Roof over his head : shelter

Imposed the baggage on the child : the burden/load imposed on a young child by (a) caste system and (b) vicious circle created by the collusion of the sahukars, the middlemen, the keepers of law, the policemen, the bureaucrats and the politicians. Very rarely are they able to get rid of such baggage

Scrounging : to search, forage for something in a haphazard/disorganised fashion, hunt for

Mutter : to speak in low, quiet, often angry voice that is difficult to hear

Glibly : smooth & slippery

Hollow : with a hole/empty space inside

Bleak : bad, not encouraging/hopeful

Roam : to walk or travel with no particular plan/aim

Shuffle : to walk by sliding your feet instead of lifting them off the ground

Desolation : loneliness

Periphery : the outer edge of particular area

Metaphorically : a word/phrase used in an imaginative way to show that somebody/something has same quality as another.

Squatters : person living in an empty building without the owner’s permission

Wilderness : a large area of land that has never been used, an uncultivated/uninhabitated/inhospitable region

Devoid : not having a particular quality, without something

Aching stomach : aching out of hunger

Tattered : old & torn, in bad condition

Transit : going through a place on way to somewhere else

Hum : to make a continuous low voice, sing with lips closed

Discard : to throw something away as it is not useful

Canister : a small round metal container

Looms : if an unwanted/unpleasant event looms, it seems likely to happen soon and causes worry

Mirage : an image you think you see in very hot weather (e.g., water in a desert) but which doesn’t really exist

Furnace : a large, very hot enclosed fire that is used for melting metal, burning rubbish, etc

Dingy : dirty & dark

Slog : to work hard for a long period at something difficult or boring

Beam : to smile happily

Stinking : to have a very strong & unpleasant smell

Hovels : a house/room that isn’t fit to live in because it is dirty or in very bad condition

Wobbly : tending to move unsteadily from side to side

Primeval : from the earliest period of the history of the world, very ancient

Shack : a small building, usually made of wood or metal, that hasn’t been built well

Thatched : having a roof made of dried grass

Sizzling : to make the sound of food frying in hot fat

Platter : a large plate used to serve food

Frail : weak, not healthy

Veil : a piece of thin material for covering the head & face of a woman

Impoverish : to make somebody/something poor or lower in quality

Karam (destiny) : the things that happen to you in your life, esp. things that you can’t control

God-given lineage : direct descent from an ancestor

Mounds : a large pile of earth/stones, a small hill

Unkempt : not well cared for, not tidy

Shanty : a small simple hut made of wood, metal, etc, esp. on the edge of a big city

Drab : not interesting or attractive

Tongs : a tool that looks like a pair of scissors but that you use for holding or picking things up

Sanctity : the quality of being important enough to make it worth protecting & preserving

Dawn : to become clear (to somebody)

Reaped : earned, deserved, gained, got in turn

Echo : to be repeated, to repeat what somebody has said, done or thought

Lament : a complaint, a passionate expression of grief or sorrow

Spiral : show a continuous & dramatic increase

Poverty to apathy to greed and to injustice : vicious circle created by the collusion of the sahukars, the middlemen, the keepers of law, the policemen, the bureaucrats and the politicians

Stigma of caste : bad & often unfair feelings that people in general have about a particular illness, way of behaving, etc

Murmur : to say something in a low, quiet voice

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Q : What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?

A : Saheb is looking in the garbage dumps for something/anything that can be of some/any use for him/his family, may be even a one rupee coin. He is at Seemapuri which is at the outskirts of Delhi. His parents, alongwith several others, came here from Bangladesh in 1971 after their fields and homes were devastated by storms and they had nothing to survive on.

Q : What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?

A : When the author asks the barefoot street children (ragpickers) why they are not wearing chappals, they come out with one or the other explanation/excuse (one of them says ‘My mother didn’t bring them down from the shelf’. Another says ‘Even if she did, he will throw them off’). The author has seen children walking barefoot in cities, on village roads. It is not lack of money but a tradition to stay barefoot, is one explanation. The author really wonders if this is only an excuse to explain away a perpetual (never ending) state of poverty.

Q : Is Saheb happy working at the tea stall? Explain.

A : Saheb has started working at a tea stall and is paid Rs.800 per month and all his meals. Now, he carries a steel canister of the tea stall owner. It seems that the canister of the tea stall owner is heavier than the plastic bag of his own that Saheb used to carry. It compares Saheb’s earlier freedom (he was free to do whatever he wanted to do) to current lack of freedom (now he needs to do what the tea stall owner wants him to do). So, it seems that Saheb has lost his earlier freedom, his carefree look and isn’t as happy as he used to be before.

Q : What makes the city of Firozabad famous?

A : The city of Firozabad is famous for bangle-making. In Firozabad, almost half of the houses are engaged in glass-blowing industry where families have spent generations working around furnaces, welding glass, making bangles for all the women in the land.

Q : Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.

A : In Firozabad, almost half of the houses are engaged in glass-blowing industry where families have spent generations working around furnaces, welding glass, making bangles for all the women in the land. Those working in bangle-making work with hot furnaces where they do hard work during daylight hours, often losing the brightness of their eyes/eyesight. People go blind with the dust from polishing the glass of bangles. They don’t have even basic amenities to lead a life with dignity. Since they (the young ones with their parents) work long hours in dark hutments, next to lines of flames of flickering oil lamps welding pieces of coloured glass into circles of bangles, their eyes are more adjusted to the dark than to the light outside. That is why they often end up losing their eyesight before they become adults.

Q. How is Mukesh’s attitude to his situation different from that of his family?

A. Mukesh’s family appears to have accepted their miserable circumstances as their Karam/Destiny/god-given lineage. But, Mukesh aspires to become a car mechanic. Though he doesn’t know how to drive a car, he says that he will learn to drive one. He doesn’t appear to be ready to surrender meekly to his circumstances as was done by his father/forefathers. In this way, his attitude to his situation is different from the attitude of his family.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

1. (a) Lack of employment opportunities in villages, (b) lack of good facilities of hospitals, schools, colleges, etc. in villages, (c) people aspire to lead better quality of life in cities.

2. Yes. Though the author asked Saheb whether he would attend school if she started one, she immediately realised her mistake of having made a false/hollow promise which was not meant to be fulfilled.

3. The author sees two forces conspiring to keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty : (i) of the family, caught in a web of poverty, burdened by the stigma of caste in which they are born; (ii) a vicious circle of the sahukars, the middlemen, the policemen, the keepers of law, the bureaucrats and the politicians. Together, these two forces have colluded and imposed baggage on the young child and the child can’t put down that baggage. Before the child is aware of the baggage, he accepts it as naturally as his father/forefathers had accepted.

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

1.Mukesh can realise his dream by continuing to believe in himself, in his Karma/deeds, by learning how to drive a car. He needs to stick to what he has thought to do.

2. In Firozabad, almost half of the houses are engaged in glass-blowing industry where families have spent generations working around furnaces, welding glass, making bangles for all the women in the land. Those working in bangle-making work with hot furnaces where they do hard work during daylight hours, often losing the brightness of their eyes/eyesight. People go blind with the dust from polishing the glass of bangles. They don’t have even basic amenities to lead a life with dignity. Since they (the young ones with their parents) work long hours in dark hutments, next to lines of flames of flickering oil lamps welding pieces of coloured glass into circles of bangles, their eyes are more adjusted to the dark than to the light outside. That is why they often end up losing their eyesight before they become adults.

3.Child labour can be eliminated by (a) ensuring 100% enrolment & attendance in primary & middle schools, (b) ensuring a good Mid Day Meal each single day of the year, (c) massive awareness campaigns and (d) severe & quick punishment to those who facilitate child labour in any way.

THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE

1.Hyperbole

2.Metaphor

3.Metaphor

4.Contrast

5.Simile

6.Metaphor

7.Contrast

8.Hyperbole

9.Hyperbole

10.Metaphor

11.Contrast

The Author: Asokamitran (1931-2017), a Tamil writer, recounts his years at Gemini Studios in his book ‘My Years with Boss’ which talks of the influence of movies on every aspect of life in India. The Gemini Studios, established in 1940 in Chennai by S.S. Vasan, was one of the most influential film-producing organisations of India. The main duty of Asokamitran was to cut out newspaper clippings on a wide variety of subjects and store them in various files. Although performing an insignificant-looking function, he was the best-informed of all the members of the Gemini Studios family. ‘Poets and Pancakes’ is an excerpt from ‘My Years with Boss’.

Theme: An account of the events and personalities in a film company in the early days of Indian cinema.

Sub-theme: Poets and writers in a typical film company environment.

Story: ‘Poets and Pancakes’ illustrates an account of the events and personalities at the Gemini Studios in the early days of Indian cinema. It shows poets and writers in a film company environment with lot of humour and also in a satirical way.

It starts with how actors and actresses were peppered with pancake, brand name of the make-up material that Gemini Studios bought in truck-loads. How those getting make-up done were put through fiery misery of a large number of mirrors and a number of incandescent lights which, combined together, used to emit painful amount of light and heat. It talks of how it seemed that even those with good faces were put to make-up as to make them look not so good.

Then, it talks of national integration in the sense that people from various parts of the country worked together in one department.

It, then, goes on to talk about the office boy who was responsible for putting make-up on those who played the role of a crowd. The office boy was a frustrated person because (i) he had entered the studios years ago in the hope of becoming a star actor or lyrics writer (since he was a bit of a poet) but ended up working as an office boy, (ii) the office boy thought his great literary talent was being allowed to go waste in a department fit only for barbers and perverts, (iii) the office boy thought that Subbu, the No. 2 at Gemini Studios, couldn’t have had a more encouraging opening in films than the grown-up make-up boy (the office boy) himself had, (iv) the office boy also thought that even in the matter of education, specially formal education, Subbu couldn’t have an appreciable lead over him and (v) the office boy was also of the view that by virtue of being born a Brahmin, Subbu must have had exposure (better exposure as compared to what the office boy had) to more affluent situations and people.

Then, we get to know about Kothamangalam Subbu (called ‘Subbu’). He was No.2 at the Gemini Studios. Subbu was a many-sided genius as is reflected in : (i) He had the ability to look cheerful at all times even after having had a hand in a flop film. (ii) He always had work for somebody (rather than working himself, he was expert in assigning almost all work to others) and he could never do things on his own. (iii) His sense of loyalty made him identify himself with his principal completely and turn his entire creativity to his principal’s advantage. (iv) When the producer found it difficult to do a scene, Subbu would come out with four ways of doing it as if Subbu was tailor-made for films. (v) Subbu was always found with the Boss. He knew how to win favour of his seniors.

We also get to know something about the legal adviser, a lawyer, and an excellent actress. The legal adviser once got into an unwitting act which caused the end of the acting career of this talented actress. The talented actress is shown as extremely temperamental.

Finally, we get to know about the poet from England who was invited at Gemini Studios. No one at the studios could make out for what an English poet was invited as Gemini Studios was engaged in making Tamil films for the simplest sort of people. When the author came across a copy of ‘The Encounter’, he came to know that Stephen Spender was the editor of this magazine.

Years later, the author came across ‘The God That Failed’ (in which six eminent men of letters in six separate essays described ‘their journeys into Communism and their disillusioned return’). This book assumed tremendous significance. For the author, now, the reaction to Stephen Spender at Gemini Studios was no longer a mystery. The author now knew that the Boss of the Gemini Studios may not have much to do with Spender’s poetry, but it wasn’t that the Boss didn’t have to do much with his god that failed. Towards the end, however, we come to know that he was Stephen Spender, an English poet & essayist who concentrated on themes of ‘social injustice’ and ‘class struggle’. Then, the author connected Spender’s invitation at Gemini Studios and also connected it with possible political affiliation of the Boss.

SALIENT TRAITS OF THE PERSONALITY OF THE OFFICE BOY

The office boy was a frustrated person because (i) he had entered the studios years ago in the hope of becoming a star actor or lyrics writer (since he was a bit of a poet) but ended up working as an office boy, (ii) the office boy thought his great literary talent was being allowed to go waste in a department fit only for barbers and perverts, (iii) the office boy thought that Subbu, the No. 2 at Gemini Studios, couldn’t have had a more encouraging opening in films than the grown-up make-up boy (the office boy) had, (iv) the office boy also thought that even in the matter of education, specially formal education, Subbu couldn’t have an appreciable lead over him and (v) the office boy was also of the view that by virtue of being born a Brahmin, Subbu must have had exposure (better exposure as compared to what the office boy had) to more affluent situations and people.

SALIENT TRAITS OF THE PERSONALITY OF SUBBU

Subbu was a many-sided genius as reflected in : (i) He had the ability to look cheerful at all times even after having had a hand in a flop film. (ii) He always had work for somebody (rather than working himself, he was expert in assigning almost all work to others) and he could never do things on his own. (iii) His sense of loyalty made him identify himself with his principal completely and turn his entire creativity to his principal’s advantage. (iv) When the producer found it difficult to do a scene, Subbu would come out with four ways of doing it as if Subbu was tailor-made for films. (v) Subbu was always found with the Boss. He knew how to win favour of his seniors.

Blew over : when an argument blows over, it becomes gradually less important until it ends and is forgotten

Catapult : to launch an object with great force. Moves rapidly into a better position

Played into their hands : you play into someone’s hands, you do what they want you to do which places you in their power

Heard a bell ringing : when people see signs that something bad has started/is going to start

Was struck dumb : you are so surprised that you can’t say anything

A coat of mail : a jacket covered with/composed of metal rings or plates, serving as armour

The favourite haunt : a place habitually frequented

Robert Clive’s stables : means his group of people

Fiery misery : what you feel when you are having heavy make up done on your face under very bright/hot lights

French windows : a pair of glass doors which you go through into a garden or onto a balcony

Pervert : (of a person or their actions) characterised by sexually abnormal and unacceptable practices or tendencies

Epic : a long poem, typically derived from ancient oral tradition, an exceptionally long and arduous task or activity

Ignominy : public shame or disgrace

Refrain : part of a song/poem that is repeated

Diction : the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing

Deftly : in a way that is neatly skilful and quick in movement

Improvident : not having or showing foresight, spendthrift or thoughtless

Demeanour : outward behaviour or bearing

Sycophant : a person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage

Incriminating : making someone appear guilty of a crime or wrongdoing

Tirade : a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation

Unwittingly : without being aware, unintentionally

Cold logic : logic that fails to consider human factors such as culture, language, personality, emotion

Radiated : emit (energy, esp. light or heat) in the form of rays or waves

Filial : relating to or due from a son or daughter

Conjugal : relating to marriage or the relationship between a married couple

Compunction : a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad

Trapeze : a horizontal bar hanging by two ropes and free to swing, used by acrobats in a circus

Homilies : a religious discourse which is intended primarily for spiritual edification rather than doctrinal instruction

Surmise : suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it

Peppered : sprinkled, cover or fill with a liberal amount of scattered items

Bafflement : the condition of being completely unable to understand or explain something

Incongruity : incompatibility

Drudge : a person made to do hard menial or dull work

Manuscript : a book, document, piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed

Literati : well-educated people who are interested in literature

Disillusioned : disappointed in someone or something that one discovers to be less good than one had believed

Hazy : clouded over or covered by mist or haze, something unclear, vague

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Q : What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up?

A. By ‘the fiery misery’ the writer means the difficult/uneasy position to which various actors/actresses were put to while getting their make-up from the make-up man in the make-up room which is described as : The make-up room had the look of a hair-cutting salon with lights at all angles around half a dozen large mirrors. (Due to the half a dozen large mirrors, the impact of incandescent lights at all angles got multiplied manifold causing distress to the eyes). They were all incandescent lights, so you can imagine the fiery misery of those subjected to make-up.

Q : What is the example of national integration that the author refers to?

A. National integration that the author refers to is reflected in : The make-up department was first headed by a Bengali. He 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 there was a great deal of national integration as people from various parts of India worked together as a team.

Q. What work did the ‘office boy’ do in the Gemini Studios? Why did he join the studios? Why was he disappointed?

A. The responsibility of the office boy was to apply the make-up on the players who played the crowd. On the days when there was a crowd-shooting, one could see him mixing his paint in a giant vessel and slapping it on the crowd players. He had joined the studios years ago in the hope of becoming a star actor or lyrics writer (since he was a bit of a poet). The office boy was disappointed because: (i) he had entered the studios years ago in the hope of becoming a star actor or lyrics writer (since he was a bit of a poet) but ended up working as an office boy, (ii) the office boy thought his great literary talent was being allowed to go waste in a department fit only for barbers and perverts, (iii) the office boy thought that Subbu, the No. 2 at Gemini Studios, couldn’t have had a more encouraging opening in films than the grown-up make-up boy (the office boy) had, (iv) the office boy also thought that even in the matter of education, specially formal education, Subbu couldn’t have an appreciable lead over him and (v) the office boy was also of the view that by virtue of being born a Brahmin, Subbu must have had exposure (better exposure as compared to what the office boy had) to more affluent situations and people.

Q. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios?

A. The duty of the author in Gemini Studios was to cut out newspaper clippings on a wide variety of subjects and store them in files. Many of these, he had to write down by hand. Seeing him sitting at his desk tearing up newspaper day in and day out, to most people it appeared that he was doing next to nothing.

Q. Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on?

A. The office boy was frustrated because (i) he had entered the studios years ago in the hope of becoming a star actor or lyrics writer (since he was a bit of a poet) but ended up working as an office boy, (ii) the office boy thought his great literary talent was being allowed to go waste in a department fit only for barbers and perverts, (iii) the office boy thought that Subbu, the No. 2 at Gemini Studios, couldn’t have had a more encouraging opening in films than the grown-up make-up boy (the office boy) had, (iv) the office boy also thought that even in the matter of education, specially formal education, Subbu couldn’t have an appreciable lead over him and (v) the office boy was also of the view that by virtue of being born a Brahmin, Subbu must have had exposure (better exposure as compared to what the office boy had) to more affluent situations and people. These were the major reasons the office boy was frustrated. He showed his anger towards Subbu blaming all his troubles on Subbu.

Q. Who was Subbu’s principal?

A. The Boss was Subbu’s principal.

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

A. Subbu was a many-sided genius as reflected in : (i) He had the ability to look cheerful at all times even after having had a hand in a flop film. (ii) He always had work for somebody (rather than working himself, he was expert in assigning almost all work to others) and he could never do things on his own. (iii) His sense of loyalty made him identify himself with his principal completely and turn his entire creativity to his principal’s advantage. (iv) When the producer found it difficult to do a scene, Subbu would come out with four ways of doing it as if Subbu was tailor-made for films.

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

A. The legal adviser, a lawyer, was referred to as the opposite by others because (i) he had unwittingly/unintentionally brought about the sad end to the acting career of an extremely talented actress and (ii) he used to wear pants and a tie and sometimes a coat that looked like a coat of mail when all others in the Department used to wear a kind of uniform-khadi dhoti and white khadi shirt.

Q. What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios?

A. While every other member of the Department wore a kind of uniform-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 coat of mail. Often he looked alone and helpless-a man of cold logic in a crowd of dreamers-a neutral man in an assembly of Gandhiites and khadiites. Thus, the lawyer stood out from others at Gemini Studios.

Q. Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations?

A. Though most of the people at Gemini Studios wore khadi and worshipped Gandhiji, they had not the faintest appreciation/affiliation for political thought of any kind.

Q. Why was the Moral Rearmament Army (MRA) welcomed at the studios?

A. The Moral Rearmament Army (MRA) was welcomed at the studios because (i) they presented two plays (Jotham Valley, The Forgotten Factor) in a most professional manner and (ii) Mr S. S. Vasan, founder of Gemini Studios, simply played into the hands of Moral Rearmament Army (MRA) which the author some years later learnt that MRA was a kind of counter-movement to international communism.

Q. Name one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA.

A. Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA as reflected in : (i) The Gemini family of six hundred persons saw the plays over and over again. (ii) The message of the plays were usually plain and simple homilies, but the sets and costumes were first-rate.

Q. Who was The Boss of Gemini Studios?

A. Mr S. S. Vasan, the founder, was the Boss of Gemini Studios.

Q. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios?

A. There was lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios as no one knew what he was talking about and his accent defeated any attempt (on the part of the Gemini staff) to understand what he was saying.

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

A. At that point of time, nobody could understand who he was and for what purpose he was invited. They also couldn’t understand what an English poet was doing in a film studio which makes Tamil films for the simplest sort of people. Hence, the Englishman’s visit is referred to as an unexplained mystery.

Q. Who was the English visitor to the studios?

A. The author later found out that the English visitor was Stephen Spender, an English poet, essayist who concentrated on themes of ‘social injustice’ and ‘class struggle’.

Q. How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was?

A. The author found copies of ‘The Encounter’ and when he read the editor’s name, he discovered who the English visitor to the studios was. It was Stephen Spender.

Q. What does ‘The God that Failed’ refer to?

A. ‘The God that Failed’ refers to six separate essays, written by six eminent men of letters, that described ‘their journeys into Communism and their disillusioned return’.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

1. The office boy’s frustration and his anger directed towards Subbu. Subbu’s apparent resemblance to a sycophant. Extremely talented actress being extremely temperamental. The legal adviser being unwitting in his act of recording the blowing over on the sets of the actress.

2. Because he was able to help the producer with several options/alternatives whenever the producer was stuck up. Further, though Subbu was grouped under a department called the Story Department comprising a lawyer and an assembly of writers and poets, he always with the Boss.

3. No one knew what the English poet was talking about. Further, his accent defeated any attempt to understand what he was saying.

4. The author’s literary inclinations are evident from his following statement : ‘The great prose-writers of the world may not admit it, but my conviction grows stronger day after day that prose-writing is not and can’t be the true pursuit of a genius. It’s for the patient, persistent, persevering drudge with a heart so shrunken that nothing can break it; rejection slips don’t mean a thing to him; he at once sets about making a fresh copy of the long prose piece and sends it on to another editor enclosing postage for the return of the manuscript’.

The Author: Christopher Silvester (1959), a student of history at Cambridge, became a reporter for ‘Private Eye’ for ten years and has written features for ‘Vanity Fair’. Following is an excerpt from his introduction to the Penguin Book of Interviews, An Anthology from 1859 to the Present Day.

Theme: Interview as a communication genre.

Sub-theme: An excerpt from an interview with an author.

Story: ‘The Interview’ depicts interview as a communication genre and is an excerpt from an interview held by Mukund Padmanabhan (the interviewer) with an author (Umberto Eco, the celebrity/interviewee). This excerpt illustrates how an interview adds to our understanding of the celebrity/interviewee, the interviewer and the field of the celebrity/interviewee. It also helps us understand the personal opinion of the celebrity/interviewee, the conversation itself and also the pattern of the interview. Interview, as a communication genre, is a very good and effective information gathering technique.

Interview, as a communication genre, started around 150 years ago from today and has become a commonplace of journalism. Thousands of celebrities have since been interviewed by thousands of journalists, each having his/her own functions, methods and merits in the process of conducting the interview. Some might view it (interview), in its highest form, as a source of truth, and, in its practice, an art. Others, usually celebrities see themselves as its victims and might, therefore, despise the interview as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives, or feel that it somehow diminishes them, and may even go to the extent of thinking of losing a part of themselves through interviews. To some celebrities, interviews may cause horror of lionising them. Others may have a condemnatory attitude towards the interviewer. Still others may consider an interview as a crime, an offence against their personality, as an assault, and even think that it merits punishment. Such celebrities even consider it cowardly and vile and may even go to the extent of saying ‘No respectable man would ask it (ask for an interview), much less give it (would rather not give an interview).’ H. G. Wells referred to an interview as ‘the interviewing ordeal’. Another celebrity described interview as being like thumbprints on his windpipe (as if he was being strangulated and was gasping for breath). Most of the demonization of interview, as a communication genre, by the celebrities arises out of their concerns for protection of their privacy. Many of the celebrities feel it as an intrusion to their privacy and encroachment on their personal life which is so very dear to them. Firm/credible assurances of protection of their privacy may change their overall negative view of interview and may help them come out in a better way.

Despite all these drawbacks (supposed by many celebrities), interview is a supremely serviceable medium of communication. Denis Brian has written ‘These days, more than at any other time, our most vivid impressions of our contemporaries are through interviews. Almost everything of moment reaches us through one man asking questions of another. Because of this, the interviewer holds a position of unprecedented power and influence.’

Then, we are put through a beautiful and enlightening interview conducted by Mukund Padmanabhan/the interviewer of Umberto Eco (the celebrity author/the interviewee). This interview shows how effective/informative/purpose-fulfilling interview is as a communication genre.

Good interviews bring out the best in the interviewer, the celebrity/the interviewee and prove to be a great source of information/knowledge for the readers.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Word/phrase Meaning

Horror of being lionised : feeling of horror suffered by the celebrity/interviewee at the thought of being treated/considered as a lion by the interviewer during an interview

Repel : drive back, ward off, be repulsive/distasteful to, resist mixing with, push away from itself

Condemn : blame, castigate, criticize, damn, decry, denounce, deplore, deprecate

Vile : disgusting, depraved, abominably bad

Perpetrate : commit

Ordeal : severe trial, painful/horrific experience

Thumbprints on his windpipe: feeling as if you are being strangulated and gasping for breath

Contemporary : belonging to same time, of same age, modern in style or design, contemporary person/thing

Unprecedented : having no precedent, unparalleled

Formidable : inspiring awe, respect, or dread, difficult to deal with

Medieval : of Middle Ages

Interstice : gap, chink, crevice

Personalise : identify as belonging to particular person (depersonalise is antonym of personalise)

Dissertation : detailed discourse, esp. as submitted for academic degree

Hypothesis : supposition made as basis for reasoning, etc.

Seminal : providing basis for future development, of seed, semen, or reproduction, germinal

Semiotics : the study of signs

Trash : worthless or waste stuff, rubbish, nonsense, worthless person, wreck, vandalize, junk, litter

Cathedral : principal church of diocese

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UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

1. From the interview that he gave to Mukund Padmanabhan, it appears that Umberto Eco likes being interviewed. At more than one occasion, Umberto Eco added to what the interviewer had asked/intended to ask. The responses are elaborate and it appears that he is enjoying the interview. The same is evident when he corrects the interviewer from the author having written ’at least more than 20 books of non-fiction’ to ’over 40’. Further, he explains very much in detail when he says ‘Journalists are puzzled. And sometimes publishers. And this is because journalists and publishers believe that people like trash (like to read trash) and don’t like difficult reading experiences.’

2. Eco finds the time to write so much because (i) he has some philosophical interests and he follows those interests through his academic work and novels, (ii) of his strong belief in empty spaces, interstices, and makes best use of them, (iii) he writes novels on Sundays and (iv) he saves his precious time by sticking to the academic community (to which he thinks he belongs) and saves his time by not participating in the meetings of Pen Clubs and writers.

3. The following are distinctive points about Eco’s academic writing style as evidenced in his works : (i) his ideas on semiotics (the study of signs), (ii) his style of literary interpretation, (iii) medieval aesthetics, (iv) his academic work and novels reflect his philosophical interests, (v) his non-fictional writing has a certain playful and personal quality of his own, (vi) his essays always have a narrative aspect as he writes his scholarly books by telling the story of his research.

4. No. Umberto Eco considers himself an academic scholar first. The same is evident from what he tells the interviewer: ‘Because I consider myself a university professor who writes novels on Sundays. It’s not a joke. I participate in academic conferences and not meetings of Pen Clubs and writers. I identify myself with the academic community.’

5. The main reason for the huge success of the novel ‘The Name of the Rose’ are the kinds of readers who don’t want easy experiences. Or at least don’t want easy experiences all the time. These kinds of readers (who don’t want easy experiences Or at least don’t want easy experiences all the time) are like people who enjoy light things/entertainment/reading, but not all day. Further, Eco is also of the view that timing of the book/release of the book would have been one of the important factors in its huge success.

The Author: Alphonse Daudet (1840-97) was a French novelist and short-story writer. This piece of prose is set in the days of Franco-Prussian (1870-71) war in which France (led by Napoleon III) was defeated by Prussia (led by Otto Van Bismarck). Prussia, then, consisted of Germany, Poland and parts of Austria. French districts of Alsace and Lorraine have passed into the Prussian hands.

Theme: The pain that is inflicted on the people of a territory by its conquerors by taking away the right to study/ speak their own/local language.

Story: It’s a beautiful narration of how people of a particular geography feel when they are deprived of the use of their mother tongue/owns language. It starts with narrating Franz, a little boy, who has started for school (though unwillingly as it’s a sunny, warm day and he very much likes spending the day out of doors enjoying various beauties of nature rather than going to school and being scolded by M. Hamel, who teaches French language, for not having readied himself for questions on participles) very late. On the way, he finds a crowd in front of the bulletin board. This is the same bulletin board which has given all kinds of bad news (like news about battle lost by France, the notice for draft/compulsory enrolment and induction into military service, other orders of the Commanding Officer) over the last two years. Since he is in a hurry to go to school and since he is a child (he can’t penetrate through the crowd), he continues for school. But, he keeps on thinking about what could be the information on the bulletin board? On the way, he meets the blacksmith who tells him not to hurry and that he will reach school well in time.

The boy notices that usually when school began there was a lot of noise made by students coming, taking their seats, opening/closing of drawers, loud repeating of lessons together, rapping of the teacher’s great ruler on the table. But, that day it was all very quiet and as quiet as a Sunday morning when the school is closed. He had thought of depending on such loud noise to enter the class (without inviting the attention of the teacher) and take his seat. From the window, he saw that his classmates were already in place and M. Hamel was walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler. So, the boy had to open the door and go in before everybody in the classroom. He felt embarrassed, frightened and he blushed. Against the boy’s expectations, M. Hamel told him very kindly to go and take his seat quickly and that they were going to start without him. When Franz sat down, he saw that the teacher had put on his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt, and the little black silk cap, all embroidered and this was the dress M. Hamel used to wear on inspection days or prize days. He was surprised to see that the classroom was unusually full and the benches in the back side were full of the village people of all sorts like old Hauser, the former Mayor, the former Postmaster and several others. Everybody looked sad and quiet. Generally, these back benches used to remain empty as fewer people used to attend the class for learning French language, their mother tongue, as many of them were not serious about this. The next words of M. Hamel appeared to be a thunderclap to Franz ‘’My children, this is the last lesson I shall give you. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master comes tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive’’. (M. Hamel had been teaching French language there for the last 40 years).

Now, Franz realised what was written on the bulletin board when he was coming to school. He started thinking that this was the last lesson in French and he hardly knew how to write in French. He felt very sorry for not having learnt his French lessons in time and having wasted his valuable time and opportunity in collecting birds’ eggs, going sliding on the Saar river. Till a little time ago, the books that seemed heavy and also a nuisance to him, now appeared to be his good, old friends and which he couldn’t give up now. Franz forgot all bad notions (he had made in respect of M. Hamel’s ruler and his cranky nature) about M. Hamel when he thought that M. Hamel was going away and now he will never be able to see him again. Now, Franz also realised why M. Hamel had put on his fine Sunday clothes and also why the old men of the village were sitting there in the back of the classroom. All this was, because all of them were feeling sorry for not having learnt French language in time, for having wasted opportunities of learning something new, for their procrastination (pushing today’s things for tomorrow), for their not having valued the importance of theirown language, for having given priority to several other things which were not equally important, for not having valued the contribution/faithful service of M. Hamel who had been teaching there for the last 40 years, for having wasted their precious time.

While Franz was thinking over all this, his name was called to recite participles. Now, he realised that he would have given everything of his for being able to recite participles very loud and clear and without a mistake. (But, lost opportunities can never be regained. One may, however, be able to get another opportunity). But, he found M. Hamel to be kind who said that he won’t scold little Franz and that he (Franz) himself must feel bad enough. (Here, he indicates towards self-reproach). Then, M Hamel went on to say that every day they have said to themselves that they have got plenty of time and that they will learn it tomorrow. He further says that now they can see where they’ve come out. He feels this (procrastination) to be the great trouble with Alsace; she puts off learning till tomorrow. (Here, he indicates towards procrastinating nature of people of Alsace). Now those fellows out there will have the right to tell us that how is it that; we pretend to be Frenchmen, and yet we can neither speak nor write our own language?’ (Here, he indicates towards insult at the hands of the conquerors for not having learnt own language). M Hamel then says that he (Franz) is not the worst, poor little Franz. All of us have all a great deal to reproach ourselves with.’ (Here, he indicates towards self-reproach on the part of all of them). M. Hamel, then, goes on to say how everybody has contributed in forming this bad position : (a) students by not being serious about learning, (b) parents have preferred their children earning a little money rather than going to school to learn, (c) M. Hamel himself : by sending students to water his flowers instead of learning their lessons, by going for fishing, by giving students holidays.

Then, M. Hamel kept on counting all good qualities (like the most beautiful language in the world, the clearest, the most logical) of the French language. He also said to guard it amongst themselves and never forget it as it works like the key to prison when people are enslaved. It showed his deep love, affection and respect for his mother tongue. At this time, Franz was listening carefully and everything that M. Hamel said was very clear to him as never before. To Franz, it appeared that M. Hamel wanted to teach them all he had.

When Franz was thinking all this, pigeons cooed very low on the roof and he thought whether the Germans will make them sing in German, even the pigeons? (It reflects two things : (1) The love for French language, Franz’s mother tongue, has arisen in his mind. (2) It indicates towards ‘Linguistic Chauvinism’-it’s the belief or idea that my language is superior to that of others.)

Now, Franz realised how M. Hamel would have contributed over the last 40 years teaching French in the same place. And, how M. Hamel’s heart would have broken to leave all this as they have to leave the country the next day. But, M. Hamel retained his courage and listened to every lesson. Then, he had a lesson in history and after that the babies were learning their lessons. When the time was up, M. Hamel stood up, very pale and controlling his overflowing emotions, wrote on the blackboard ‘’Vive La France’’ (Long live France, expression used in French to show patriotism) and then he said ‘’School is dismissed-you may go’’.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Word/phrase Meaning

in great dread of : in great fear of, afraid of

In unison : together, in one voice, as somebody else

Counted on : to depend on somebody/something

A great bustle : to move in a busy, noisy, excited way

Thumbed at the edges : blunt(ed) edges, not so sharp edges

Reproach ourselves with : to blame ourselves with

Bub : an aggressive or rude way of addressing a boy/man

Out of breath : gasping for air, typically after running

Commotion : great noise or excitement

Blushed : to become red in the face because you are embarrassed or feel guilty

Frilled : a gathered, pleated edging used on clothing

Solemn : very serious, not happy or smiling

Thunderclap : a loud crash made by thunder

Saar : a river about 245 km long, rising in north east France and flowing north & north west to the Moselle river in the West Germany

Nuisance : a person, thing or situation that annoys or causes trouble

Cranky : strange, eccentric, unusual

Recite : to say aloud a piece of writing, esp. a poem or a list, from memory

Dreadful : very bad or unpleasant

Bah : an expression of contempt or disagreement

Hold fast to : remain tightly secured. Continue to believe in or adhere to an idea or principle

Beetles : an insect, often large, shiny and black, with a hard case on its back

Fish-hook : a piece of metal for catching hold of things

Fancy : to like the idea of having/doing something, to want something or to want to do something

Hopvine : the twining stem of the hop plant. Hops are the flowers of the hop plant

Twine : strong thread/string consisting of two or more strands of hemp or cotton twisted together

Angelus : a Roman Catholic devotion commemorating the incarnation of Jesus and including the Hail Mary, said at morning, noon and sunset

Trumpets : a metal/brass musical instrument you play by blowing into it

Gesture : a movement of the hand, head, etc., that expresses something

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Q : What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?

A : Franz was expected to be prepared with participles that day.

Q : What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?

A : Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the street, the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated together, very loud, with their hands over their ears to understand better, and the teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table. But today it was all so still. Franz had counted on the commotion to get to him desk without being seen. But that day everything was as quiet as on a Sunday morning. On the back benches, which used to remain empty, he found many villagers sitting down quietly and looking sad. M. Hamel was wearing a dress which he used to wear on inspection days or prize days. The whole school seemed so strange and solemn.

Q : What had been put on the bulletin-board?

A : After knowing from M. Hamel in the class that today was the last lesson in French as order had been received from Berlin to start teaching German from tomorrow, he recollected that this was the news on the bulletin-board which had attracted a big crowd while he was coming to school.

Q : What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?

A : The class was unusually quiet. M. Hamel was wearing the dress which he usually wore on inspection days and prize days. On the back benches, which used to remain empty, he found many villagers sitting down quietly and looking sad. Everybody in the class looked quiet and sad. They had been informed that as per order from Berlin only German language will be taught from tomorrow, today being the last day for teaching French.

Q : How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and school change?

A : Before today, Franz didn’t use to like his studies and M. Hamel, who was his teacher. Main reason being he didn’t have much interest in studies as he liked outside activities more. Further, he couldn’t be regular in school as sometimes he was sent for petty work by his parents, at other times by M. Hamel to water his flowers and at still other times he used to get a day off whenever M. Hamel went fishing. So, study in school wasn’t a regular, interesting and serious business for Franz.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

1. As per the order received from Berlin, from tomorrow only German language will be taught in Alsace, Lorraine, today being the last day for teaching of French. Suddenly, people realised the importance of their French language and the pain of losing it. Class was unusually quiet. M. Hamel, this being his last day, was wearing the attire which he usually wore on inspection days and prize days. On the back benches, which generally remained vacant, other villagers were sitting quietly and looking sad. The whole school seemed so strange and solemn. Listening to the chirping of pigeons, the writer writes whether the Germans will tell pigeons also to talk in German? The villagers sitting at the back seemed to be sad about not having learnt more when the time was there for them to learn. This happens due to attachment to our own language which binds a nation. This also happens due to the sense of patriotism among citizens.

2. It reflects a sense of resentment, resignation on the part of all those who missed the opportunity of learning their own language and deep love, attachment for our own language. It also shows some sort of anger towards the Germans who have imposed their language on Alsace, Lorraine of France.

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

2.The members of the linguistic minority (a) hold fast to their language, (b) remain very closely associated in their group, (c) form local, small societies, associations of people speaking/interested in their language and (d) do everything possible to preserve, protect and promote their language with joint, concerted efforts.

3.Yes. It is possible to carry pride too far in one’s language, if one is fond of one’s own language at the cost of others.

Linguistic Chauvinism: It is the belief or idea that my language is superior to that of others.

WORKING WITH WORDS

1.

Word Origin

Tycoon Taikun (Great lord) : Japanese

Barbecue Barbacoa : Spanish

Zero Sifr (cipher) : Arabic

Tulip Dulband/turban : Persian

Veranda Varanda/railing : Portuguese

Ski Skith : Old Norse

Logo Logogram : English

Robot Robota : Czech

Trek Trek/trekken : South Africa/Dutch

Bandicoot Pandikokku : Telugu

2. (a) : (ii)

(b) : (i)

(c) : (ii)

(d) : (b)

NOTICING FORM

I started for school very late that morning and was in great dread of a scolding, especially because M. Hamel had said that he would question us on participles, and I did not know the first word about them.

I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen; but, of course, that day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning.

Everybody looked sad; and Hauser had brought an old primer, thumbed at the edges, and he held it open on his knees with great spectacles lying across the pages.

It was in honour of this last lesson that he had put on his fine Sunday clothes, and now I understood why the old men of the village were sitting there in the back of the room.

It was because they were sorry, too, that they had not gone to school more.

THINGS TO DO

1. (a) Linguistic human rights : Individual linguistic rights. They evolve from general human rights, in particular non-discrimination, freedom of expression, right to private life, the rights of members of a linguistic minority to use their language with other members of their community.

(b) Article 29 of the Constitution of India gives the religious and linguistic minorities right to establish and manage educational institutions of their own. The minorities have been given unrestricted rights to promote and preserve their own culture.

The Author: Selma Lagerlof (1858-1940) was a Swedish write whose stories have been translated into many languages. A universal theme runs through all of them-a belief that the essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through understanding and love.

Theme: The trap of material benefit that most human beings are quite often prone to fall into.

Sub-theme: The human tendency to redeem oneself from dishonest ways.

Story: It’s a very interesting story with philosophical message in it. It starts with narrating a rattrap seller, who moved around places like a vagabond selling rattraps made from the material he got by begging in stores or at the big farms. Since his business was not profitable, he sometimes resorted to begging and at other times even petty thievery in order to survive.

One such day, he was plodding along the road and was immersed in his own thoughts. While thinking of his rattraps, he was suddenly struck by the idea that the whole world about him was nothing but a big rattrap with people being offered riches, joys, shelter, food, heat & clothing as baits to lure them. The world had not been kind to him and he derived some sort of joy out of this feeling that everybody was either in the rattrap or getting lured into it.

One dark evening he was trudging along the road when he noticed some light in a house, went there and sought shelter. The owner of the house, a crofter, was a nice-hearted, innocent and generous man leading a life of loneliness without wife and child. The crofter was happy to find company to talk to and, in his innocence, shared details of money that he was having and showed it to the peddler, then kept it at the same place (from where he had picked it up) in the presence of the peddler. Next morning, the peddler, when the crofter was away, stole the money from his house and left. Since he had stolen money, he avoided public highway and took to the woods. But he got lost in the woods and after some time found that he was near the same place from where he had started. All at once he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. He thought that this time he himself had got caught into the rattrap by way of stealing crofter’s money. He also thought that now he will never be able to escape. Since he felt tired, he lied down and heard a thumping sound as from an ironworks. He went in that direction and came to Ramsjo Ironworks, entered it, sought refuge and was granted the same by the blacksmith in an indifferent way. He lied down close to the furnace. Ramsjo Ironworks was owned by a prominent ironmaster who was quality-conscious and used to take frequent rounds of the factory. At that time he happened to come in and noticed the vagabond lying very close to the furnace, went near him and suddenly addressed him as an old acquaintance, Captain von Stahle, from his earlier regiment. The peddler, confused, chose not to prove him wrong, just assented to the ironmaster’s observation of his poor circumstances. The ironmaster urged him to be his guest on the Christmas eve (which was very close) but the peddler didn’t agree being fully aware of the fact that (a) he had stolen money from the crofter’s house and (b) the ironmaster had mistaken him for Captain von Stahle, an old acquaintance. The peddler didn’t want to get into any trouble. He just needed food & shelter to pass the night. All entreaties of the ironmaster failed and he left. Now, the peddler had stretched himself on the floor with his hat pulled down over his eyes. Then, the ironmaster’s daughter arrived to urge him to be their guest. As soon as the young girl (daughter of the ironmaster) lifted his hat, he jumped up abruptly and seemed to be quite frightened. This sense of fright in the peddler made Edla think ‘Either he has stolen something or else he has escaped from jail’. Noticing her compassionate, friendly and caring behaviour, he agreed to be their guest and went with her. After some time, the valet had bathed him, cut his hair, shaved him. And now the peddler was standing before the ironmaster and Edla truly clean and well-dressed. He was dressed in a good-looking suit of clothes which belonged to the ironmaster. He wore a white shirt, a starched collar and whole shoes. But although his guest was now so well groomed, the ironmaster didn’t seem pleased. He looked at him with puckered brow, and it was easy for the ironmaster to understand that when he had seen the strange fellow in the uncertain reflection from the furnace he might have made a mistake, but that now, when he stood there in broad daylight, it was impossible to mistake him for an old acquaintance. So, it was at this point that the ironmaster realised his mistake. Feeling displeased, he asked the peddler to go away from his house to which the peddler answered in a very philosophical manner. The peddler told the ironmaster that it wasn’t his fault, he had never pretended to be anything other than a poor trader, and that he had pleaded and begged to be allowed to stay in the forge. He further said that no harm has been done and at worst he can put on his rags again and go away. Then he said that the whole world is nothing but a rattrap where good things are offered to people as baits to trap them.

Edla intervened and wanted him to stay back as he was invited by them. She felt compassion for a person like him who was always on the move with no fixed shelter, disliked by almost everybody and she wanted to be of some help to him, may be even for a day in a year. He stayed, ate, took rest, once again ate, took rest. Next day the father and the daughter went to the church leaving him asleep. At the church the news of theft by a rattrap seller at crofter’s house was broken to them and they rushed back to their house thinking that by this time their stranger guest would have committed theft at their house. But the peddler had already left without taking anything of theirs with him. On the contrary, he had left behind a little package for Edla which she was to be kind enough to accept as a Christmas present. The package included a rattrap, thirty kronor to be returned to the crofter and a letter addressed to Edla. She was full of joy to see the package and after reading the letter as she knew that the peddler was a changed man (changed for the better) now. Edla’s compassionate, caring and friendly nature and the confidence reposed in him by her made the peddler change his ways. He couldn’t fail her. And, he had a change of heart.

SALIENT TRAITS OF THE PERSONALITY OF THE RATTRAP SELLER

The rattrap seller is a nice-hearted person. It is only due to poor circumstances that he sells rattraps, sometimes gets into begging and at still other times indulges in petty thievery. But he does all this only for survival.

We come across various circumstances where such persons are almost always disliked by others and are always hungry for love, compassion, care, friendliness.

Given an opportunity, goodness in such persons is awakened by the goodness shown by others.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Word/phrase Meaning

keep body, soul together : to be able to pay for your food, clothing, shelter, to survive, manage to live

Hunger gleamed in his eyes : feeling so hungry that the expression shows on one’s face

Plods along the road : to walk slowly and in a heavy or tired way. Plod through the rain

Unwonted joy : something unusual or out of the ordinary

Impenetrable prison : impossible, very difficult to get through

Nodded a haughty consent : indifferent agreement

Eased his way : moved himself slowly & carefully

Fallen into a line of thought : agreement of thoughts

Things have gone downhill : to decline or grow worse and worse

Ragamuffin : a person in rags

Peddler : person travels from place to place trying to sell small objects

Intruder : a person enters a place without permission, secretly

Vagabond : a person without a home or a job

Tramp : a person who has no home or job, moves from one place to another

Resort to : to have recourse for use, help or accomplishing something

Meditations : the act of giving your attentions to only one thing

Cherished pastime : to care for it deeply, to treasure it, like the way you cherish the time you spend with a favourite person you don’t see often

Dreary : dismal, dreary, dark, bleak, gloomy, cheerless

Trudging : to walk with slow, heavy steps as you are tired

Sour face : having a bad-tempered/unpleasant expression

Supper : last meal of the day

Mjolis : a card game of Sweden

Croft : small farm

Crofter : a person who rents and works a small farm

Bossy : liking to give orders to other people, often in an annoying way

Creamery : a factory that produces butter, cheese

Kronor : basic monetary unit of Sweden, Iceland

Incredulous : not willing/able to believe something unbelieving, showing an inability to believe

Got up in good season : early enough, in a timely manner

Pane : a piece of glass in a window, etc

Woods : an area of land covered with trees, a wood is smaller than a forest

Thicket : a dense group of bushes or trees

Gloom : a feeling of being sad and without hope

Despair : the state of having lost all hope

Thumping : (size, degree, quality) very big or great

Staggered : very surprised, to walk with short steps as if you could fall at any moment

Smelter : an installation in factory for smelting a metal from its ore. Heating to very high temperature

Rolling mill : a factory/machine for rolling steel or other metal into sheets

Forge : a place where objects are made by heating & shaping metal

Barge : a long, narrow boat with a flat bottom used for carrying goods or people on a canal/river

Scow : a flat-bottomed boat used for transporting cargoto and from ships in harbour

Crate : a large box in which goods are carried/stored

Pig iron : a form of iron that is not pure

Bellows : a tool used to blow air, esp. into a fire to make it burn better, to make a deep, low sound, like a bull

Groan : to make a deep, sad sound as you are in pain

Maw : the jaws, throat, mouth

Clatter : to make or cause something hard to make a series of short, loud, repeated sounds

Sooty panes : window panes covered, blackened with soot (black powder from chimneys)

Glance : to look quickly at somebody/something

Indifferently : not interested in or caring about somebody/something

Deigned : to do something although you think you are too important to do it

Slouch hat : a hat with a wide flexible brim

Nils Olof : Noble man. Name of the captain was Von Stahle. Nils Olof was a Swedish author

Manor house : a large house in the country that has land around it. The house of the lord

Inconspicuously : not easily noticed

Valet : to work as a servant

Modest : not talking too much about your own abilities, good qualities, etc

Abruptly : sudden and unexpected

Compassion : understanding or pity for somebody who is suffering

Evil foreboding : a feeling that evil is impending or something bad is likely to happen

Queer : strange or unusual

Dissimulate : conceal or disguise (one’s thoughts, feelings or character)

Splendour : very impressive beauty

Sheriff : an officer of the law in a US county

Wretch : a poor, unhappy person

Intercede : intervene on behalf of another

Mumble : to speak quietly without opening mouth properly, so that people can’t hear the words

Parson : a beneficial member of clergy, a rector or a vicar, priest

Christmas fare : range of food on Christmas

Amazement : feeling of great surprise

Dejected : very unhappy, esp. because disappointed

Jagged : rough with sharp points

Predicament : an unpleasant and difficult situation that is hard to get out of

Philosophical : if philosophical, you accept a situation calmly, and without anger, understanding that failure and disappointment are a part of life

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Q : From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?

A : After stealing money from the crofter’s house, he had abandoned the public highway and taken to the woods. In the woods, he kept on walking but later found that he had only been walking in the same part of the forest. All at once he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. He realised that now his own turn had come as he had taken the bait laid at the crofter’s house in the form of thirty kronor.

Q. Why was he amused by this idea?

A : He was amused by this idea thinking that he had let himself be fooled by a bait (thirty kronor) and had been caught. The whole forest, with its trunks and branches, its thickets and fallen logs, closed in upon him like an impenetrable prison from which he could never escape.

Q : Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?

A : No. The peddler did not expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter. Instead of the sour faces which ordinarily met him, the crofter, who was an old man without wife or child, welcomed him in his house.

Q : Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?

A : The crofter was an old man, with no wife or child, living alone. He was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. He was generous with his confidences and hospitality to the peddler.

Q : Why did he show his thirty kronor to the peddler?

A : The crofter was an old man living a solitary and simple life. He was happy to welcome the peddler as he was suffering from an acute sense of loneliness. Since he was generous with his confidences and had an undoubting mind, he showed the peddler his thirty kronor.

Q. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?

A. No. The peddler took undue advantage of the confidence reposed in him by the crofter and stole the crofter’s thirty kronor when there was nobody in the house.

Q. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a trap?

A. Firstly, after stealing money from the crofter’s house, he had abandoned the public highway and taken to the woods. In the woods, he kept on walking but later found that he had only been walking in the same part of the forest. All at once he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. He realised that now his own turn had come as he had taken the bait laid at the crofter’s house in the form of thirty kronor. He was amused by this idea thinking that he had let himself be fooled by a bait (thirty kronor) and had been caught. The whole forest, with its trunks and branches, its thickets and fallen logs, closed in upon him like an impenetrable prison from which he could never escape.

Secondly, while he was riding up to the manor house he had evil forebodings and he thought ‘’Why the devil did I take that fellow’s money?’’ ‘’Now I am sitting in the trap and will never get out of it.’’

Q. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?

A. The ironmaster mistook him for Captain von Stahle, his old acquaintance in the regiment. And, having compassion for the peddler’s (whom he mistook for his old acquaintance in the regiment) poor circumstances spoke kindly to him and invited him home to be his guest on Christmas eve. The ironmaster was a nice-hearted person.

Q. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?

A. The peddler had stolen thirty kronor from the crofter’s house. He was hungry and tired. He just wanted food, rest and shelter. He was still carrying the stolen thirty kronor with him and didn’t want to get into any difficulty. The peddler knew that the moment the crofter reached his home, the matter of theft at his house will be known to several people and they will be looking for a person of his appearance. Therefore, the peddler declined the invitation.

Q. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?

A. The peddler was deeply moved by the compassionate, friendly, caring behaviour of the young girl. Further, she insisted on his staying with them at least for the Christmas eve and assured him that he will be allowed to leave them just as freely as he came. He didn’t sense any danger and also didn’t wish to say ‘No’ to the young girl. The peddler himself was a nice-hearted person from within. It was only due to his poor circumstances that he was selling rattraps, at times begging and at other times indulging in small thievery.

Q. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?

A. After he had declined the invitation of the ironmaster to be his guest on the Christmas eve, the peddler had stretched himself on the floor with his hat pulled down over his eyes. As soon as the young girl (daughter of the ironmaster who had come to invite him to be their guest on the Christmas eve after he had declined her father’s invitation) lifted his hat, he jumped up abruptly and seemed to be quite frightened. This sense of fright in the peddler made Edla think ‘Either he has stolen something or else he has escaped from jail’.

Q. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?

A. The peddler went to the ironmaster’s house at the insistence of Edla, the ironmaster’s daughter. After some time, the valet had bathed him, cut his hair, shaved him. And now the peddler standing before the ironmaster and Edla was truly clean and well-dressed. He was dressed in a good-looking suit of clothes which belonged to the ironmaster. He wore a white shirt, a starched collar and whole shoes. But although his guest was now so well groomed, the ironmaster didn’t seem pleased. He looked at him with puckered brow, and it was easy for the ironmaster to understand that when he had seen the strange fellow in the uncertain reflection from the furnace he might have made a mistake, but that now, when he stood there in broad daylight, it was impossible to mistake him for an old acquaintance. So, it was at this point that the ironmaster realised his mistake.

Q. What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought he was?

A. When it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought he was, the peddler told the ironmaster that it wasn’t his fault, he had never pretended to be anything other than a poor trader, and that he had pleaded and begged to be allowed to stay in the forge. He further said that no harm has been done and at worst he can put on his rags again and go away. Then he said that the whole world is nothing but a rattrap where good things are offered to people as bait to trap them.

Q. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?

A. Edla still entertained the peddler even after she knew the truth about him because (a) Edla herself was a good-hearted person, (b) she felt compassionate seeing the poor circumstances of the peddler, (c) she knew that it was they themselves who had invited the peddler as a guest to their house, (d) she thought that this homeless person is always on the move and disliked by almost everybody. So, why not give him at least one good day in a year on this Christmas eve, (e) Edla seemed to have faith in the belief that the essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through understanding, love and compassion.

Q. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?

A. Edla was happy to see the gift left by the peddler. She knew that the peddler had realised that by stealing thirty kronor from the crofter’s house he himself had fallen into the rattrap. She also knew that the peddler realised that he shouldn’t have stolen this money. The words written by the peddler in the letter suggested that he had made amends and now he won’t indulge into any wrongful acts. Edla was able to bring out the good in the peddler. His leaving behind a rattrap also indicated that now he wasn’t going to fall into any worldly rattraps.

Q. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?

A. Edla’s goodness had awakened the good in the peddler. He decided to prove them correct (by deciding to improve his own conduct, behaviour) in their initial identification of him as Captain von Stahle, a gentleman. Therefore, out of a sense of true pride he signed himself as Captain von Stahle, who was seen with respect by the ironmaster’s family.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

1.Crofter : The peddler seemed incredulous at the openness of the crofter when he showed the peddler his thirty kronor and kept them back in their open/original place before the eyes of the stranger. The peddler thought the crofter a simpleton, fool.

Ironmaster : Though the peddler didn’t dislike the ironmaster’s act of kindness and hospitality, he didn’t want to get into any trouble by accepting his invitation, being his guest and being caught with the stolen thirty kronor.

Ironmaster’s daughter : The peddler could feel the compassionate and friendly nature of Edla. He could feel that she felt sorry for his circumstances. He was assured with her assurances of being their guest only for the Christmas eve and that he will be allowed to leave as freely as he came. He, therefore, couldn’t say ‘No’ to her invitation.

2. Ironmaster : Is an experienced, seasoned man. He may commit a mistake once (when he mistook the peddler for Captain von Stahle at the Ramsjo Ironworks) but is capable of realising his mistake within a very short time (as he immediately does when the peddler appears before him bathed, shaved, well groomed, in his suit).

Ironmaster’s daughter : She has got very accurate sense of intuition (as is reflected in her thinking that either he has stolen something or he has escaped from jail when the peddler is startled when she lifts his hat from his face). Edla still entertained the peddler even after she knew the truth about him because (a) Edla herself was a good-hearted person, (b) she felt compassionate seeing the poor circumstances of the peddler, (c) she knew that it was they themselves who had invited the peddler as a guest to their house, (d) she thought that this homeless person is always on the move and disliked by almost everybody. So, why not give him at least one good day in a year on this Christmas eve, (e) Edla seemed to have faith in the belief that the essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through understanding, love and compassion.

3. The peddler : When he steals from the crofter’s house which the crofter never anticipated. He is startled when Edla lifts hat from his face. He leaves a gift and a letter for Edla which they never expected as they thought he was a thief and a bad person.

Ironmaster : When he goes to the Church with Edla, he leaves the peddler behind at his home knowing full well that he isn’t Captain von Stahle.

Ironmaster’s daughter : Though she has got the intuition that either he has stolen something or he has escaped from jail, she takes him to her home as a guest for the Christmas eve. Though she is fully aware that he is not Captain von Stahle, she insists on his staying for the Christmas eve despite her father telling the peddler to leave his house.

4. Edla’s compassionate, caring and friendly nature and the confidence reposed in him by her made the peddler change his ways. He couldn’t fail her.

5. As is reflected very well in what is said by the peddler to the ironmaster ‘’This whole world is nothing but a big rattrap. All the good things that are offered to you are nothing but cheese rinds and bits of pork, set out to drag a poor fellow into trouble. And if the sheriff comes now and locks me up for this, then you, Mr. Ironmaster, must remember that a day may come when you yourself may want to get a big piece of pork, and then you will get caught in the trap.’’

6. It is mainly by the appearance/gait of the peddler that we get some sense of humour in him. The philosophical theme (The human tendency to redeem oneself from dishonest ways with the help of goodness of others.) lightens the seriousness of the theme of the story and also endears the peddler (The peddler himself was a nice-hearted person from within. It was only due to his poor circumstances that he was selling rattraps, at times begging and at other times indulging in small thievery) to us.

The Poet: Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) was born in Chile and won Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. His poems, full of easily understood images, make them very beautiful. In this poem , he talks about the necessity of quiet introspection and creating a feeling of mutual understanding among human beings.

Theme: Peace, quietness, stillness are essential for ‘calm reflection’ and ‘quiet introspection’. We hear the voice of our conscience in moments of silence/quietude. Keeping quiet could result in (i) avoidance of destructive wars, (ii) universal brotherhood and (iii) alleviating the misery of millions of those who are helpless/poor. Significance of mindfulness, introspection and retrospection.

Story: The poet is convinced that most of human’s ills and miseries are caused by man’s hurry and rush to do things, many a times even without thinking about the consequences. The poet wishes that we may withdraw ourselves from our undesirable actions and keep still for a few moments.

Non-stop activity, unnecessary rush, hurry and noise have made our lives unpleasant, complicated and full of misery, pain and troubles. The poet urges that we must stop rushing, hurrying, worrying and running. Even the noise of engines and machines (wherever working) must stop for once. It is then that all of us will understand, realise and enjoy the sudden strangeness of that quiet, peaceful moment. It will be a unique moment giving us unique experience. In that exotic or fascinating moment, we shall feel totally relaxed, physically as well as mentally.

The poet is against any/all kind of violence. He is also against any/all kind of self-torturing. He wants a total stoppage of wars.

The poet states that people are, generally, single-minded. They want to focus on only one thing and that is to keep their lives going on and on. They are always busy in pursuit of their own desires/aims, many a times quite oblivious of the consequences of their actions. The poet wishes that they wouldn’t be so much absorbed with always remaining/being on the move. They must have some respite or rest. They too need peace, silence, quietude.

Men fail to understand themselves as they don’t pause to think about themselves, their actions. They are always threatening with death. When they realise their failure to understand themselves/their actions, they become sad, and feel helpless.

It is a peace poem.

The poet clarifies his ideas and says further that he doesn’t want that people should be/remain idle. He wants that there should be no war because he doesn’t want to see trucks laden with dead bodies of soldiers and large number of poor people suffering in the aftermath.

The poet talks about the necessity of quiet introspection as it can develop a feeling of mutual understanding amongst us.

This is an anti-war poem. The poet is deeply concerned about violence, cruelty to animals and plight of manual workers.

The poet offers a simple solution to several of our social, political, religious problems. And, the solution is ‘self-introspection’. The second step, in this direction, is that everyone should look within himself/herself and analyse what is wrong and who is the wrong-doer. This will clean every heart and make all people noble/nobler.

The poet strongly advocates the importance of silence/quietude and self-introspection. It can transform not only the life of the individual but also the face of the Earth.

People will, then, lead a hatred-free and calm life, giving a halt to their destructive activities.

Activity is very essence of life. Inactivity is death. But for a fresh, better and useful/more useful activity, a little bit of stillness is essential.

The poet uses the image of the Earth to show how life exists in seemingly (which seems to be) dormant things. After a little quietness and silence, man can resume his activities in a fresh and better manner.

The poem is an appeal to pause and really see that set in a continuous/monotonous flurry of human habit, people are led to blindly perform what is expected of them while sadly not perceiving the impact of their actions on nature and society.

The poet feels that some soul-searching is needed for us to be at peace with ourselves as also with others.

‘Twelve’ in the poem reflects : 12 hours on a clock, 12 months in a year, 12 zodiac signs.

The poet led a life charged with poetic, political activity. He continued a career that integrated private and public concerns and became known as ‘the people’s poet’.

The steps suggested by the poet will lead to attention, unity and universal brotherhood.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Word/phrase Meaning

Keep still : too much activity and rush has only brought misfortunes to mankind. Hence, it is better to be quiet and still

Exotic : unusual or interesting because it comes from a different country or culture

Sudden strangeness : the exotic moments of introspection will build a sudden and strange feeling of ‘universal brotherhood’

Green wars : wars against the environment

To have no truck with : to have no dealings with, to reject, to avoid dealing with, to avoid being associated with

Single-minded : having one clear aim or goal which you are determined to achieve

Interrupt : to say or do something that makes somebody stop what he/she is saying/doing

Introspection : the process of thinking deeply and carefully to examine your own ideas, feelings, etc

Reflection : careful thought about something

Retrospection : an action of looking back on or reviewing past events or situations, esp. those in one’s own life

THINK IT OUT

1. Counting upto twelve and keeping still will help us in achieving the following : (a) When we are still, we can avoid destructive wars and, thereby, prevent harm/injury/death/misery to a very large number of people, many of them being soldiers or poor people, (b) We can introspect over our own past actions and try to make amends, (c) We can feel the sound of our conscience and (d) We can think of spreading unity and brotherhood in our society which we generally fail to do in our rush, hurry.

2. No. The poet doesn’t advocate inactivity and death. The poet believes that activity is life and inactivity is death. He further says that he doesn’t want any truck (association/dealings) with death.

3. The poet refers to the ‘sadness’ of ‘never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death’ in the poem. It arises out of our daily rush, hurry, noise, ill-will in the mind. We are so busy in our daily life that we don’t stop for a moment and quietly introspect what we are doing. And, therefore, we don’t get an opportunity to understand ourselves. Further, with our own actions we cause death, destruction of others. And, similarly the actions of others could cause our death.

4. The poet invokes the following symbol from Nature to say that there can be life under apparent stillness : The poet uses the image of the Earth to show how life exists in seemingly (which seems to be) dormant things. Even those things that appear dormant to us today, show signs of life after some time. The poet says that in a similar way, after a little quietness and silence, man can resume his activities in a fresh and better manner.

The Poet: Kamala Das (1934-2009), born in Kerala, is recognised as one of India’s famous poets and her works are recognized for their originality, versatility and the indigenous flavour. She also wrote under the name of ‘Madhavikutty’. Themes of love, betrayal of love and the resultant anguish run through her poems.

Theme: Ageing is a natural process. Expectation of elderly parents from us.

Story: The poet is at the airport, returning from her parent’s home, to take a flight. It indicates departure and separation which create melancholy. The poet is feeling the pain of separation, leaving her old mother and going away. While travelling to the airport, the poet closely saw her mother who was sitting beside her, was dozing, her mouth was open and her face looked ashen like that of a corpse. The poet realised with deep pain that her mother was as old as she looked to be. In order to ward off unhappy/unwelcome/painful thoughts, she started looking out at ‘sprinting young trees’ which symbolise the rapidly passing years of the life of the poet’s mother who has turned old and weak. She, then, sees merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’ which symbolises energy, life and happiness and is in sharp contrast to the ageing face of the poet’s mother who has become old, weak and frail.

When the poet, after the airport’s security check, was standing a few yards away from her mother, she looked again at her mother’s face which looked wan, pale as a late winter’s moon and felt the old familiar ache arising out of the fear of losing her mother. Due to old age & weak health, her mother had lost her earlier/youthful charm. The poet undergoes the same fear of losing her mother which she used to feel when she was a child.

But the poet struggles with her overflowing emotions, controls them and says ‘See you soon, Amma’. And the poet smiled and smiled and smiled. The poet did all this because (a) she didn’t want to express her feelings of deep pain to her old & weak mother, (b) she wanted her mother to live and wished that they could meet again and (c) the poet wanted to convey a message to her ageing mother that she (the poet) is enjoying her life and similarly her mother should also be happy and enjoy her life. The poet, more than anything else, wanted her mother to be happy and live long. The poet wanted to spread optimism to her ageing mother. The poet wanted to do whatever best she could do for her ageing mother. In old age, what people need most is sympathy, company and support.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Word/phrase Meaning

Malabar : in Kerala

Versatility : ability to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities

Sensitive : showing that you are conscious of and able to understand people’s feelings, problems, etc

Subtleties : the quality or state of being subtle (not very noticeable, using indirect method to achieve something)

Lyrical : like a song or a poem, expressing strong personal feelings

Idiom : an expression whose meaning is different from the meaning of individual words in it

Doze : to sleep lightly and/or for a short time

Ashen like : deathly pale, a face ashen

Corpse : a dead body, esp. of a person

Young trees sprinting : the sprinting of the trees symbolises the rapidly passing years of a human’s life from childhood to old age

Spilling : to come out of a place suddenly and go in different directions, to move out in great numbers

Wan : looking pale and ill or tired

Pale : having skin that is light in colour, often because of fear or illness

Late winter’s moon : to convey the idea of her old age. The winter is a traditional symbol of death and moon, particularly the pale one, is

associated with decay and mood swings

Old familiar ache : Most people would’ve a childhood fear of losing mother, may sound illogical, but it’s the truth. Now, being an adult, the poet faced the same fear that she faced in her childhood as her mother has now turned old, frail, weak

Childhood fear : In her childhood, the poet was insecure about losing her mother, just as all young children often are

Sprint : to run a short distance as fast as you can, shooting out of the ground

Interspersed : to put things at various points in something. Having something in several places among something else

THINK IT OUT

1. When the poet closely saw her mother who was sitting beside her, was dozing, her mouth was open and her face looked ashen like that of a corpse, the poet realised with deep pain that her mother was as old as she looked to be. The poet feels old familiar ache which most people would’ve felt as a childhood fear of losing mother. It may sound illogical, but it’s the truth. Now, being an adult, the poet faced the same fear that she had faced in her childhood as her mother has now turned old, frail, weak.

2. The young trees are described as ‘sprinting’ to symbolise the rapidly passing years of the life of the poet’s mother who has turned old and weak.

3. The poet has brought in the image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’ which symbolises energy, life and happiness and is in sharp contrast to the ageing face of the poet’s mother who has become old, weak and frail.

4. The poet’s mother has been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’ in order to convey the idea of her old age. The winter is a traditional symbol of death and moon, particularly the pale one, is associated with decay and mood swings. As the light of winter’s moon is obstacled by fog and mist, her mother’s old/earlier charm is obstacled by her old age & weak health.

5. The parting words and smile of the poet signify that (a) she didn’t want to express her feelings of pain to her old & weak mother, (b) she wanted her mother to live and wished that they could meet again and (c) the poet wanted to convey a message to her ageing mother that she (the poet) is enjoying her life and similarly her mother should also be happy and enjoy her life. The poet, more than anything else, wanted her mother to be happy and live long. The poet wanted to spread optimism to her mother. The poet wanted to do whatever best she could do for her ageing mother. In old age, what people need most is sympathy, company and support.

SUMMARY

The poet’s subject matter is basically related to the poet’s personality-beautiful, sensitive, bold and tormented. Her writings bring out her true inner feelings.

The poem is based on mother-daughter relationship and the poet shares her feelings for her mother. Mothers are God’s greatest gift to humanity.

Each one of us undergoes the fear of losing our mother. The poet portrays her sudden realisation that her mother has grown old and may pass away anytime. As a child, she couldn’t bear to be separated from her mother even for a few moments. Now, the loss would be permanent as her mother had grown old & weak and was about to die and the poet would lose her forever. The poem shows her feelings of love and attachment. She poet felt pain, sympathy for her old mother. Her mother needed love, affection, care.

In order to come out of the gloom, the poet shifted her glance and looked out of the car’s window. Little children running out of their houses into the playground, symbolised energy/life/happiness, were contrary to the ageing face of her mother. Moon, in winter season, seems to have lost all its brightness/charm/strength.

The poet is so pained that it is natural for her to cry but keeping a brave front she hides her tears and smiles. The poet didn’t express her feelings. She smiled and said ‘See you soon, Amma’ because she wanted that her mother should live and they could meet again. The poet doesn’t want to create a painful scene, by crying, for her mother and conveys her that she is enjoying her life and similarly her mother should also be happy and enjoy her life. She wanted to convey optimism to her old mother.

The poem revolves around the theme of advancing age and the fear that relates to loss and separation arising out of death. It’s a sentimental account of the mother’s approaching end through the eyes of the daughter. This short poem touches upon the theme of the ‘filial bond’ between mother-daughter and is smeared in the backdrop of nostalgia and fear. Nostalgia of the past (time spent with her mother) and fear of the future (life without her mother).