VELAMMAL VIDYALAYA ANNEXURE

CLASS XII –ENGLISH CORE

FLAMINGO (POETRY)

My Mother At Sixty-six
Short Answer Type
Question 1.
What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet her mother might not live long with her. Therefore, feels ?
Answer:
The poet feels that her mother has grown so old that she couldnt grow older. She means to say that her mother
might not live long with her. Therefore, the poet feels pain and ache,

Question 2.
Why are the young trees described as sprinting’?
Answer:
The young trees are described as sprinting since the car is moving fast in the forward direction. The trees appear
to move in the backward direction. In fact it is the car that moves not the trees.

Question 3.
Why has the poet brought in the image of the children ‘spilling out of their homes’?
Answer:
The image of children spilling out of their homes has been brought to show the contrast between the old age and
the childhood. In childhood, one is full of energy. In one’s old age the person becomes pale and lifeless.

Question 4.
Why has the mother been compared to the Tate winter’s moon’?
Answer:
Winter is considered as the season of death and life lessness. All the activities come to a standstill. The old age
is often compared with the winter season. A person in old age looks as pale as a late winter’s moon. Therefore
the poet has compared her mother to the late winter’s moon.

Question 5.
What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify ?
Answer:
The parting words of the poet were, ‘See you soon, Amma.’ And then she smiled and smiled only. These words
show that the poet do feel for her mother but she could not express her feelings properly in words. Her smile
signifies that she wants to hide her feelings for her mother under the garb of artificial smile.

Question 6.
Having looked at her mother the poet looked at her mother, why does Kamala Das look at the children ?
Answer:
The poet is full of pain and ache when she looks at her ageing mother. She has grown so old that she might not
grow older. This means her days on this earth are numbered. The poet looks at the children outside to divert her
attention from the sad thoughts she has about her old mother.

Question 7.
What was Kamala Das’s childhood fear ?
Answer:
In her childhood, the poet’s heart was filled with fear whenever her mother was not with her. The poet now feels
similar kind of fear since she senses that her mother has grown very old and perhaps she might not live long.

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Question 8.
In the last line of the poem, ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’, why does the poet use the word ‘smile’repeatedly ?
Answer:
The repetition of the smile indicates that the poet does feel for her mother, but she is unable to ex-press her
feelings openly. She tries to hide her true feelings under the garb of repeated smile.

Question 9.
How does Kamala Das try to put away the thoughts of her ageing mother ?
Answer:
When the poet sees her ageing mother, she becomes full of pain and agony. She thinks that her mother might
not live long. To put away the thoughts of her ageing mother, the poet starts looking out of the car. She starts
looking at the children rushing out of their homes and the trees that appear to sprinting.

Question 10.
What were the poet’s feelings at the airport ? How did she hide them ?
Answer:
The poet would become afraid when she did not find her mother with her. Her childhood’s fear now again, came
to surface when she reached the airport. But she only said, ‘See you soon, Amma.’ And the poet could do
nothing but smile and smile. The poet wants to convey the idea that the young ones do feel for their elders but
they couldn’t express their feelings.

Question 11.
What were Kamala Das’s fears as a child ? Why do they surface when she is going to the airport ?
Answer:
In her childhood, the poet would become afraid when she could not find her mother with her. During her drive to
the airport, the poet looked at her mother. The mother looked quite old and her face was white as a corpse. She
felt that her mother was going to leave her for ever. In this way, the poet’s childhood fear surfaced when she was
going to the airport.

Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Ageing is a natural process; have you ever thought what our elderly parents expect from us ?
Answer:
Ageing is a natural process. When the person be-comes old he becomes weak, he needs support .both
emotional and physical. Thus, it becomes our duty to provide our old parents the love-, emotional support and
respect they deserve. Our parents usually give us their best period of life to bring us up. Therefore it becomes
our moral duty to reciprocate the same when they become old.

But unfortunately, due to rank materialism and nuclear family system the old people are treated as an
unnecessary commodity. They are harassed and sometimes even beaten up. Many a time the old people are
sent to old age homes, where they lack emotional support which the family can provide. It is very shameful for
the younger generation. Our parents do not deserve such shabby treatment in their old age.

Question 2.
Write in brief the summary of the poem.
Answer:
One Friday morning the poet was driving in her car to the Cochin Airport from her parent’s home. Her old mother
was sitting beside her. She had a glance at her mother. Her heart was full of pain to realize that her mother had
grown very old. The poet’s mother was dozing, her mouth was opened and her face was as white as of a dead
body. The poet realised

Stanza For Comprehension

Stanza 1

Driving from my parent’s

home to Cochin last Friday
morning, I saw my mother,
beside me,
doze, open mouthed, her face
ashen like that
of a corpse and realized with pain

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that she was as old as she
looked…

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) Where was the poet driving to- ?
(c) Who was sitting beside her ?
(d) What did the poet realise with pain ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘My Mother at Sixty-six’ and its poet is Kamala Das.
(b) She was driving to Cochin.
(c) Her mother was sitting beside her.
(d) She realised with pain that her mother had grown very old.

Stanza 2

… saw my mother,
beside me,
doze, open mouthed, her face
ashen like that
of a corpse and realized with pain

Questions
(a) Who is T ?
(b) What did ‘I’ realized with pain ?
(c) Why was the realization painful ?
(d) Identify and name the figure of speech used in these lines.
Answers
(a) The word T in these lines refers to the poet or the narrator.
(b) She realized with pain that her mother had grown very old and she might not live long.
(c) The realization was painful because the poet felt that she had to bear the separation from her mother soon.
(d) The figure of speech used here is simile … ashen like that of a corpse.

Stanza 3

Put that thought away, and

looked out at young trees
sprinting, the merry children
spilling
out of their homes, but
after the airport’s
security check, standing
a few yards away,I
looked again at her,
wan, pale
as a late winter’s moon.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) Which thought did the poet put away ?
(c) What do the ‘sprinting trees’ signify ?
(d) What are ‘the merry children spilling out of their homes’ symbolic of ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘My Mother at Sixty-six’ and its poet is Kamala Das.
(b) The thought that her mother had grown very old and might not live long.
(c) The ‘sprinting trees’ signify the childhood and youth.
(d) They are symbolic of carefree childhood.

Stanza 4

and felt that old

familiar ache, my
childhood’s fear,

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but all I said was,
see you soon,
Amma,
all I did was smile and smile and smile…

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What was the poet’s childhood fear that now troubled her ?
(c) What do the poet’s parting words suggest ?
(d) Why did the poet smile and smile ?
Answers
(a) frie name of the poem is ‘My Mother at Sixty-six’ and its poet is Kamala Das.
(b) When the poet was a child she became frightened when her mother was not with her. Now the same fear
troubled her.
(c) These words show that the poet do love her mother but she couldn’t find appropriate words to express her
love.
(d) The poet could not find any words to express her feelings. Therefore, she did nothing but smile.

Stanza 5

… old
familiar ache,
my childhood’s fear,
but all I said was,
see you soon,
Amma,
All I did was smile and smile and smile…

Questions
(a) What does the phrase, ‘familiar ache’ mean ?
(b) What was the poet’s childhood fear ?
(c) What do the first two lines tell us about the poet’s feeling for her mother ?
(d) What does the repeated use of the word ‘smile’ mean ?
Answers
(a) This was the pain and agony that the poet often felt that one or the other day she had to suffer due to the
separation from her mother.
(b) In her childhood, the poet’s heart was filled with fear whenever her mother was not with her.
(c) The first two lines tell us that the poet was deeply attached with her mother. Whenever she was not with her,
her heart was filled with fear.
(d) It signifies that the poet tried to hide her true feelings under the garb of false smile.

Keeping Quiet
Short Answer Type
Question 1.
What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve ?
Answer:
Counting upto twelve and keeping still gives us time to introspect ourselves. In this way, we can recuperate our
energy and restart our activities with fresh energy and zeal.

Question 2.
Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death ?
Answer:
No, the poet does not advocate total inactivity and death. He only wants us to keep quiet for a few seconds and
suspend all our activities for a few seconds. In this way we can introspect our¬selves and restart our activities
with fresh energy and zeal.

Question 3.
What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
Answer:

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When people don’t introspect themselves they fail to understand themselves, then ‘sadness’ arises. The poet
wants that people should overcome this sadness by introspecting themselves.

Question 4.
What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness ?
Answer:
In this poem, the poet uses the symbol of the earth to say that there can be life under apparent stillness. He says
that the earth appears to be dead in the winter season. But when the spring season comes it becomes alive with
all its new plants. It never takes rest.

Question 5.
How would keeping quiet affect the life in and around the sea ?
Answer:
It will affect the life in and around the sea in two ways. The fishermen will stop fishing for some time. It will help
the number of the fish to recuperate. The man gathering salt will get some time to see his hurt hands get healed.

Question 6.
‘Life is what at is about;How is keeping quiet related to life ?
Answer:
Keeping quiet is related to life not death. The poet says that by keeping quiet we get some time to introspect
ourselves. Keeping quiet helps us to recuperate our energy. In this way we can start our activities with fresh zeal
and energy.

Question 7.
Why does one feel ‘a sudden strangeness’ on counting to twelve and keeping quiet ?
Answer:
When we keep quiet for some time and suspend all our activities for some time, we feel a sort of strangeness.
The reason is that we are always surrounded by the noise of machines, etc. When there is no sound, we feel a
sort of strangeness.

Question 8.
How will ‘keeping quiet’ protect our environment ?
Answer:
Keeping quiet helps us to stop wars. In this way it helps to prevent destruction of environment due to wars. Also,
it prevents deforestation. In this way, we can say that keeping quiet is the only way to prevent our environment
from all types of pollution.

Question 9.
What does the poet want us to tell ?
Answer:
The poet wants us to tell that by keeping quiet and remaining still for few moments, we will be able to do our work
in a more effective way. We can analyse our past actions and not repeat our past, mistakes.

Question 10.
What does the poet mean by saying ‘victory with no survivors’ ?
Answer:
According to the poet the wars cause a lot of destruction. A lot of people die from both the sides. Therefore, no
one can claim that their side has won, since the so called victor also has to face a lot of causalities.

Question 11.
What are the different types of wars mentioned in the poem ?
Or
What is Neruda’s attitude towards these wars?
Answer:
The poet says that there are green wars. He means t to say that the people who destroy forests also wage a war
against their own coming generations. There are wars with fire, chemical weapons and poisonous gases. The
wars bring so much destruction that no side could be called victorious. The poet wants that all these wars should
be stopped. These wars bring nothing but destruction.

Question 12.
How does the earth teach us that there is activity even in apparent stillness ?
Answer:

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We think that earth is dead as it remains still. But many changes are taking place under the surface of the earth.
A seed that seems dead germinates under the earth and a new life springs from it.

Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Write in brief the summary of the poem.
Answer:
The poet wants everyone to count up to twelve in their mind. He wants every one of us to be calm and still. The
poet wants that one should not talk in any language. He means to say that every person of the world should be
quiet for few seconds. There would not be any rush. There would not be the jarring sounds of machines. The
poet wants that the fishermen should not hunt whales in the sea. He also wants that the persons who gather salt
should suspend their activities for a few seconds.

The poet says that the people who destroy forests also wage a war against their own coming generations. There
are wars with fire, chemical weapons and poisonous gases. The was bring so much destruction that no side
could be called victorious. The poet knows that the soldiers have to follow the orders. He implores them to leave
the army and instead of uniforms wear clean clothes. They should walk with their civilian brothers and suspend
their all war-related activities and walk idly under the shade.

The poet wants that we should not be self-centred. The poet says that the people are rushing to complete their
tasks. But he says that by keeping quiet for a few seconds, they can understand the true purpose of life. The poet
wants that we should not be self-centred. The poet says that the people are rushing to complete their tasks. The
poet says that by keeping quiet for a few seconds they can understand the true purpose of life. The poet says
that the earth can provide us all type of guidance.

He says that it appears dead and lifeless in winter. But when the summer season comes everything again comes
to life. Similarly, after taking a short pause we can restart our activities in a new way. Therefore, the poet asks the
people to take a pause, count to twelve and walks out of the scene.

Question 2.
Write the central idea of the poem.
Answer:
In this poem, the poet tells us about the value of quiet introspection. He wants us to keep quiet for twelve
seconds and stop every movement of the body. He implores the fishermen not to harm the whales. He also
wants the man gathering salt to stop his activities for a few minutes, since he has hurt his hands. The poet says
that wars are useless.

These wars leave no survivors. However the poet doesn’t advocate total inactivity. He says that something that
appears to be dead now later proves to be alive. Total inactivity is death, the poet just wants us to suspend our
activities for a few seconds.

Stanza For Comprehension

Stanza 1

Now we will count to twelve

and we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the Earth
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
And not move our arms so much.

Questions
(a) What is the significance of the number ‘twelve’ ?
(b) Which two activities does the poet want us to stop ?
(c) What does the poet mean by ‘let’s not speak in any language’ ?
(d) Describe the pun on the word ‘arms’.
Answers
(a) There are twelve hours on the face of the clock and also there are twelve months in a year. The poet also
refers to the number twelve. He wants us to suspend our activities for twelve seconds.
(b) The poet wants us to stop talking and moving our arms.
(c) The poet wants us to give a universal message. He wants that all the people of the world irrespective of their

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nationality should suspend their activities for a few seconds. Not to use any organ to communicate.
(d) The poet has used the word arms for two purposes. He wants us to keep still for a few seconds and not move
our arms. The second meaning of the word arms is weapons. The poet wants us to stop the use of arms against
anyone.

Stanza 2

It would be an eicotic moment

without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales.
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) Which moment has been referred to here and how it will be significant ?
(c) How would we feel during that moment ?
(d) What does the poet want from the fishermen ? Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the name of the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b) The moment of quiet introspection has been referred here. It is significant in the sense that it brings all of us
together and we have a feeling of oneness.
(c) We would feel all together and have a feeling of sudden strangeness.
(d) The poet wants that the fishermen should not kill whales for sometime.

Stanza 3

Those who prepare green wars,

wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers –
in the shade, doing nothing.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What does the poet mean by green wars ?
(c) What types of wars does the poet mention ?
(d) What does the poet want from the lovers of the war ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b) It means the war against the environment or defores-tation.
(c) The poet mentions green wars, wars with gas and wars with fire.
(d) He wants them to wear clean clothes and walk lei-surely with their brothers.

Stanza 4

What I want should not be confused

with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What should not be confused with total inactivity ?
(c) What does the poet mean by …. I want no truck with death ?
(d) What is the gist of this stanza ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the name of the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b) Keeping quiet and remaining still should not be con-fused with total inactivity.
(c) The poet wants to say that stillness and quietness is not death. He wants to restart his activities again after

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introspection of a few seconds.
(d) In this stanza the poet says that quietness is not death. Rather it helps us to restart our activities in a fresh
way.

Stanza 5

If we were not so single-minded

about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing, perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.

Questions
(a) Whom does ‘we’ refer to in the above lines ?
(b) Why does the poet want us to ‘do nothing1 for once ?
(c) What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem ?
(d) How can a huge silence do good to us ?
Answers
(a) ‘We’ in this stanza refers to the human beings who are self-centred and who only think about themselves.
(b) By doing nothing for once, we can have ample time to introspect ourselves and analyse our actions.
(c) When people don’t introspect themselves, they fail to understand themselves, then ‘sadness’ arises.
(d) Huge silence helps in analysing ourselves. In this way, we can introspect ourselves.

Stanza 6

Perhaps the Earth can teach us

as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.

Questions
(a) What does the earth teach us ?
(b) Why does the poet count up to twelve ?
(c) What will keeping quiet help us achieve ?
(d) How does the earth teach us that there is activity even in apparent stillness ?
Answers
(a) The earth teaches us that there is life in what we think that is dead.
(b) The poet wants to introspect by counting twelve.
(c) Keeping quiet help us to recuperate our energy. In this way, we can start our activities with fresh zeal and
energy.
(d) We think that the earth is dead as it remains still But many changes are kept taking under the surface of the
earth. A seed that seems dead germinates under the earth and a new life springs from it. The earth always
seems in motion.

A Thing of Beauty
Short Answer Type
Question 1.
List Hie things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Answer:
The sun, the moon, the trees, daffodils, simple sheep, clear rills, the mid forest brake, musk roses and the mighty
dead are some of the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.

Question 2.
List the things that cause suffering and pain.
Answer:
The things that cause suffering and pain are gloomy days. There is general depression among human beings.
There is lack of noble nature. But without the beautiful things, our lives on this earth would have become
impossible.

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Question 3.
What does the line, ‘Therefore, are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth’ suggest to you?
Answer:
There is so much disappointment and sadness on this earth. There is lack of noble souls. But we are still living
on this earth. The poet says that our existence on the earth is possible only due to some things of beauty.

Question 4.
What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings ?
Answer:
On this earth, man’s life is full of depression and disappointment. There is general lack of truly noble people. The
shroud of disappointment is spread over human souls. But a thing of beauty makes human beings love life in
spite of trouble and sufferings.

Question 5.
Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’ ?
Answer:
‘Mighty dead’ are those people who sacrificed their lives for the sake of general good of mankind. Now they are
lying in their graves. The poet says that on the day of judgement, they will be rewarded by God Himself for their
noble deeds. It is this grandeur or dignity that is associated with ’mighty dead’.

Question 6.
Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting impression on us ?
Answer:
As the title of the poem suggests that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. The poet says that a thing of beauty
leaves a lasting impression on our minds. It never passes into nothingness. Whenever we are sad or
disappointed, it is a thing of beauty that gives us some sort of joy.

Question 7.
What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth ?
Answer:
The poet says that there are a number of things that make the earth beautiful. These things are like a fountain of
immortal drink which is pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.

Question 8.
Mention any four things of beauty that add joy to our life.
Answer:
The things of beauty that add joy to our life are the sun, the moon, the trees, daffodils, simple sheep, clear rills,
the mid forest brake, musk roses and the mighty dead.

Question 9.
Mention any two things which cause pain and suffering.
Answer:
The things that cause suffering and pain are gloomy days. There is general depression among human beings.
There is lack of noble nature. But for the beautiful things, our lives on this earth would have become impossible.

Question 10.
Which objects of nature does Keats mention as a thing of beauty ?
Answer:
The things of nature that Keats mentions as things of beauty are the sun, the moon, trees, simple sheep, flowers
like daffodils, clear rills and musk roses.

Question 11.
What does a thing of beauty do for us ?
Answer:
It is only because of things of beauty that we are able to live on this earth. Otherwise there is so much grief on
this earth that it would have become impossible without things of beauty.

Question 12.
How do beautiful things help us to live life ?
Answer:
The poet says that there is so much pain and suffering on this earth. There is air of general disappointment. The
poet says it is only because of things of beauty that we can live on this earth. Otherwise the life on this earth
would have become impossible.

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Question 13.
What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he call its drink immortal ?
Answer:
Keats considers all things of beauty,an endless fountain of immortality. The poet says that there is so much
despondence and grief on this earth that but without a thing of beauty our stay on this earth would have become
impossible.

Question 14.
According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits ? How is it removed?
Answer:
Keats says that there is general grief on this earth. Man’s life is full of disappointment and sadness. It appears as
if a shroud of disappointment is spread over our dark spirits. It is only some or the other things of beauty that
removes this pall of despondence.

Question 15.
How can ‘mighty dead’ be things of beauty ?
Answer:
The ‘mighty dead’ are those people who lay their lives for the betterment of mankind. We read their stories and it
gives us immense joy. The poet says that these mighty dead be rewarded by God Himself on the day of
judgement.

Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Write in brief the summary of this poem.
Answer:
The poet says that it is some thing of beauty that provides joy forever. Then poet lists some things that are
source of beauty. He says the sun, the moon, beautiful flowers, young trees and simple sheep are all things of
beauty. The poet says that there is so much grief on this earth that the life would become impossible without any
thing of beauty. It is something or the other thing of beauty that binds us to the earth.

Then the poet describes about the mighty dead of this earth. These people have laid down their lives for the sake
of mankind. The poet says that they will get their due reward on the day of judgement. The poet compares the
things of beauty with a fountain pouring out immortal drink from the brink of heaven.

Question 2.
Write in brief the central idea of the poem.
Answer:
In this poem, the poet says that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. He compares a thing of beauty with a bower,
where we can enjoy sweet sleep. Then the poet mentions many things of beauty. He says that there is so much
grief and sadness on this earth that we can sustain our life only because of the things of beauty.

He compares the things of beauty with ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink pouring unto us from the heaven’s
brink’. In this way the poet underlines the fact that we should preserve and take care of the things of beauty.
They are joy not for ourselves but also for our coming generations.

Stanza For Comprehension

Stanza 1

Its loveliness increases, it will never

Pass into nothingness: but will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

Questions
(a) Whose loveliness will keep on increasing ?
(b) Identify the phrase which says that ‘it is immortal’.
(c) What is a bower ?
(d) Why do we need sweet dreams, health and quiet breathing in our lives ?
Answers
(a) The loveliness of things of beauty will keep on increasing.
(b) The phrase that says it is immortal is … never passes into nothingness.

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(c) It is a quiet and shady place.
(d) We need all these things so that we can enjoy the things of beauty.

Stanza 2

Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing

A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What is the flowery band that binds us to the earth ?
(c) What does the poet mean by ‘spite of despondence’ ?
(d) What message is conveyed through these lines ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty and its poet is John Keats.
(b) The flowery band here means things of beauty. It is only because of the things of beauty that we can continue
to live on this earth.
(c) It means a lot of disappointment and sadness on the
earth.
(d) The message conveyed through these lines is that it is only because of things of beauty that we are able to
live on this earth. Otherwise there is so much grief on this earth that it would have become impossible without
things of beauty.

Stanza 3

Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways

Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What is meant by ‘o’er darkened ways’ ?
(c) What does some shape of beauty do ?
(d) What idea is conveyed by these lines ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and its poet is John Keats.
(b) The o’er darkened ways’ means the mysterious things that human beings fail to understand.
(c) It removes the shroud of sadness from our spirit.
(d) The poet means to say that only the things of beauty make our life possible on this earth.

Stanza 4

And such too is the grandeur of the dooms

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

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What have we imagined for the mighty dead ?
(c) Who are these mighty dead ?
(d) What lovely tales does the poet talk of ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is A Thing of Beauty’ and its poet is John Keats.
(b) We have imagined that mighty dead would get due reward of their deeds on the day of judgement.
(c) These mighty deads are those persons who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of mankind.
(d) The poet talks of the tales of the bravery of the mighty dead.

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 A Roadside Stand
Short Answer Type
Question 1.
The city folk who drove through the countryside hardly paid any heed to the roadside stand or to the people who
ran it. If at all they did, it was to complain, which lines bring this out? What was their complaint about?
Answer:
Lines which bring this are :
“The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead, or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts; At having the
landscape marred with the artless paint; Of signs that with N turned wrong and sturned wrong…” Their complaint
was that the wrongly made signs had spoiled the natural beauty.

Question 2.
What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
Answer:
The plea of roadside stand sellers was the ignorance by the vehicles.They pleaed that nobody stopped there to
buy their products.

Question 3.
The government and other social service agencies appear to help the poor rural people, but actually do them no
good. Pick out the words and phrases that the poet uses to show their double standards.
Answer:
The words/phrases expressing their double standards are :

 pitiful kin
 mercifully gathered
 they won’t have to think for themselves anymore.

Question 4.
What is the ‘Childish longing’ that the poet refers to? Why is it vain?
Answer:
‘Childish longing’ seems through the desire of the poor farmer who sits near the open window all day and prays
for the stopping of any car.

Question 5.
Which lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the throught of the plight of the rural people?
Answer:
The lines about the insufferable pain that the poet feels are :
“Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear the thought of so much Childish longing in vain, the sadness that lurks
near the open window there.” “I can’t help owning the great relief it would be to put these people at one stroke out
of their pain.”

Question 6.
Where was a little new shed situated ?
Answer:
Out of the little old house in front at the edge of the road, was the place where ‘a little new shed’ was situated.

Question 7.
What is the demand of the roadside stand ?
Answer:
The roadside stand pleaded not for a dole of bread but demands for some of the money, some cash which
supports cities from sinking and withering faint.

Question 8.
What attitude does the polished traffic show ?
Answer:
The polished traffic passes with a mind ahead and does of pay little bit attention towards the roadside stands.

Question 9.
What is sold by the roadside stand sellers ?

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Answer:
They sell wild berries in wooden quarts and crook necked golden squash with silver warts.

Question 10.
What is the complaint of the poet ?
Answer:
The complaint of the poet is about the city’s money which he also wants to feel in hand and to expand their life’s
standard.

Question 11.
What is in the news ?
Answer:
The news is about the settlement of the farmers mercifully near to the theatre and the store where they won’t
have to think for themselves any-more.

Question 12.
What is the Childish longing of the poet ?
Answer:
The poet childishly longs for the betterment and growth of those unfortunate people but these desires and
expectations would never be fulfilled by the greedy good-doers.

Question 13.
Why those cars are named as ‘selfish’ ?
Answer:
Cars (vehicles) continuously pass through that road but out of those thousand of cars, not a single stop there
even to inquire about the prices of the products of the farmers.

Question 14.
Why do the cars stop there occasionally?
Answer:
Cars stop at roadside stand occasionally to ask about the route’s destination or for demanding the fuel (gas) for
their vehicles.

Question 15.
How does the poet feel himself helpless?
Answer:
The poet finally concludes that he is totally helpless to remove the pain of the farmers. He can’t put those people
out of their pain at one stroke.

Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Write in brief the summary of the poem.
Answer:
Poet, Robert Frost experienced the pain of the poor formers who established their little shedded stalls to sell
various products grown or manufactured by them but the poet observed that out of thousands of the visitors and
vehicles, nobody is interested in their offerings. On the other hand, the selfish travellers criticized their
presentations and passed throughly proudly.

Poet is hurt by their behaviour and attitude and has a complaint for their survival as they too want to be the part
of the flow of economy; presently mainly run by the city dwellers only. They too have the right to live comfortably
like their ideals. But they are always used for the self motives of the greedy good-doers. They enforce their
benefits over the poor farmers, misguide them and destroy their ancient

culture and way of living by lullying them. They just want to grasp their fields and houses. Poet is tired and finds
his expectations failed, too much disappointed by the financial condition and struggle V of the distressed
peasants who for whole day sit, pray and wait for the cars to stop at least to inquire or to buy but the self-centred
egoistic persons use the empty place to turn their vehicles or sometimes stop to ask about the path or fuel.

Anger of farmers is natural, they reply and ask’ irritatingly for the common sense of the proudy persons. Poet
realizes that no miracle can be seen and he is unable to console the poverty-stricken farmers and it’s impossible

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to extricate the villagers out of their pain at one stroke. He realizes, when finds himself sensible, that his call is
futile, to help them and no one is ready to help them.

Question 2.
Have you ever stopped at a roadside stand ? What have you observed ?
Answer:
Yes, I’ve stopped at a roadside stand on a highway twice or thrice and found that the villagers have too much
expectations from us, who pass from those roads. They work hard for whole day and whole family members of
them sit there to sell fresh vegetables, fruits, juices and other products.

Very few of us actually purchase something but only use them for general queries like asking about road map,
gas or petrol for our vehicles or many a times to use that broad empty space to turn our vehicles. I also observed
that those farmers are pitiful and facing very miserable condition and fighting for their existence and survival.

Those merciful poor farmers should be helped and treated like the human beings and dwellers of cities. They
should not be cheated and used for the introversion purposes. They also contribute to the growth and economy
of the country as they grow crops for whole mankind.

Stanza For Comprehension

Stanza 1

The little old house was out with a little new shed
In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,
A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,
It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,
But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports
The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.

Questions

(a) Why was the new shed put up by the villagers ?

(b) Why the word ‘pathetically1 was used ?
(c) What would not be fair and why ?
(d) How cash supports the cities ?
Answers
(a) The new shed was put up by the villagers to earn some money by selling their products.
(b) Word ‘pathetically’ was used to show the miserable and pitiful condition of the farmers.
(c) To say for a ‘dole of bread’ would not be fair because those farmers have their self-respect and they do not
need begging.
(d) Cash escapes the cities from sinking and withering faint.

Stanza 2

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts
At having the landscape marred with the artless paint
Of signs that with N turned wrong and sturned wrong
Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,
Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,
Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,

Questions
(a) What does ‘the polished traffic’ mean ?
(b) How the landscape was marred ?
(c) What was sold there at roadside stands ?
(d) What is meant by ‘out of sorts’ ?
Answers
(a) The polished traffic means the glossy, dexterous and proudy traffic.
(b) The landscape was marred with the artless paint of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong.
(c) Wild berries in wooden quarts and crook-necked golden squash with silver warts are sold there.
(d) ‘Out of sorts’ means complaining, bad-tempered or unhappy.

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Stanza 3

You have the money, but if you want to be mean,

Why keep your money (his crossly) and go along.
The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint
So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid :
Here far from the city we make our roadside stand
And ask for some city money to feel in hand
To try if it will not make our being expand,
And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise
That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.

Questions
(a) How are the city dwellers proved to be mean ?
(b) Where have they made their roadside stands ?
(c) Why do the farmers need some city money to feel in hand ?
(d) What is the promise of the ruling party ?
Answers
(a) City dwellers have enough money but they go along without spending it.
(b) ‘They have made their roadside stands far from the city.
(c) The farmers need some city money to feel in hand to make their being expand and to live life like their
ideals/heroes.
(d) The party in power promises to give them a comfortable and luxury life without worry and economic problem.

Stanza 4

It is in the news that all these pitiful kin

Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in
To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,
Where they won’t have to think for themselves any more,
While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,
Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits
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.

Questions
(a) What is in the news?
(b) What, according to the greedy good-doers, is the benefit of the farmers?
(c) ‘Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits’, explain.
(d) How their sleeping would be destroyed?
Answers
(a) It is in the news that all these pitiful kin are to be brought out and gathered mercifully, these farmers would be
settled in the villages near the theatre and the store.
(b) The farmers won’t have to think for themselves any-more.
(c) Aborie mentioned line means : Capturing the lives of the farmers by enforcing their own benefits; using them
for purposes.
(d) By teaching them how to sleep, their ancient way of sleeping would be destroyed.

Stanza 5

Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear

The thought of so much childish longing in vain,
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;
And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas
They couldn’t (this crossly); thy had none, didn’t it seel

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Questions
(a) What can be hardly borne by the poet?
(b) What do they wait for?
(c) How cars are selfish?
(d) What is the reply of the farmers at last?
Answers
(a) The poet can hardly bear the thought of so much childish longing in vain: expectations that would never be
fulfilled.
(b) They (farmers) wait for the squeal Of brakes, the sound of a stopping car; actually they wait for the real
customers.
(c) Cars are said to be selfish because nobody stops there to buy anything but to inquire only or to plow up the
grass by turning their heavy vehicles.
(d) The farmers angrily reply that they have nothing as per their demand, do they not see whatever they are
selling.

Stanza 6

No, in country money, the country scale of gain,

The requisite lift of spirit has never been found,
Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,
I can’t help owning the great relief it would be
To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.
And then next day as I come back into the sane,
I wondor how I should like you to come to me
And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

Questions
(a) What is not found in country money?
(b) Who complains and why?
(c) How poet finds himself helpless?
(d) Why was poet wondeored?
Answers
(a) The requisite lift of spirit is never found in country money, at the country scale of gain.
(b) The voice (villagers) of the country complains because no relief is given to them from the government or
greedy good-doers.
(c) The poet finds himself helpless as he is unable to put those people out of their pain at one stroke.
(d) The poet was wondeored because he was expecting them to come to him and put him gently out of his pain.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

Short Answer Type
Question 1.
How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes ?
Answer:
Tigers are the denizens of the world of green. The . tiger is considered very brave and courageous animal. They
are not afraid of anyone.

Question 2.
Why do you think Aunt Jennifer’s hands are ‘fluttering through her wool’ in the second stanza ? Why is she
finding the needle so hard to pull ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer has become so old that it appears that her fingers are trembling through wool. She has become so
weak that she even finds the needle hard to pull. The poet means to say that unending household chores have
made aunt very weak.

Question 3.
What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ ?
Answer:
The poet says that Uncle’s wedding band lies very heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand. She has to work endlessly
from morning till night and also have to bear Uncle’s tyranny. Aunt Jennifer has to slavishly follow all the orders of
uncle.

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Question 4.
Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with in the third stanza ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is terrified of endless household chores and Uncle in the third stanza. She thinks that even after her
death she will not be free from these household chores.

Question 5.
What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by, why is it significant that the poet uses the word ‘ringed’ ?
What are the meanings of the word ‘ringed’ in the poem ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by household chores. These chores are no less than ordeals for her be-cause
willingly or unwillingly she has to do them. The word ‘ringed’ has been used to convey that Aunt Jennifer is so
surrounded by her ordeals that she can never think to come out of them.

Question 6.
Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character ? What might the
poet be suggesting, through this difference ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is old and submissive woman. But the tigers she is embroidering on the panel appear to be bold
and chivalric. The suggestion given here is that women give birth to men but the same men tyrannise women
when they grow up.

Question 7.
Interpret the symbols found in this poem.
Answer:
The poet has used the symbol of tigers in this poem. The tigers represent creative energy of women. The tigers
also represent the male-dominant society. The poet wants to say that the women give birth to men, but the same
men tyrannise women when they grow up.

Question 8.
Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer ? What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer ?
Answer:
Yes, we do sympathise with Aunt Jennifer. Aunt Jennifer symbolises particular housewife. She has to do all the
household chores without any respite. Her husband is very cruel and often tyrannises her. The poet says that
perhaps Aunt Jennifer will have to continue with her household chores even after death.

Question 9.
For Aunt Jennifer what do the tigers symbolise ?
Answer:
The tigers symbolise creative energy of women. The tigers also represent the male-dominant society. The poet
wants to say that the women give birth to men, but the same men tyrannise women when they grow up.

Question 10.
What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer has embroidered tigers on a panel. These tigers represent not only women’s creativity but also
tyranny of men towards women. It will continue even after the death of Aunt Jennifer. Therefore her tigers will
also keep prancing on the panel.

Question 11.
Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer has been tyrannised by her husband all her life. Her husband has become a picture of terror for
her. She is in fact venting out all her inner feelings by embroidering tigers on the panel. In the form of tigers she
has in fact embroidered the fearful face of her husband.

Question 12.
Aunt Jennifer’s efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment.
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer embroidered tigers on the screen. These tigers are symbol of her husband, whom she is very
afraid. She thinks that by embroidering tigers she will get a sort of relief from her fear. But it proves quite futile.
The poet says that even after her death, the fear of her husband’s tyranny will keep on haunting Aunt Jennifer.

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Question 13.
Why does Aunt Jennifer create animals that are so different from her own character ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is old and submissive woman. But the tigers she is embroidering on the panel appear to be bold
and chivalric. The suggestion given here is that women give birth to men but the same men tyrannise women
when they grow up.

Question 14.
What picture of male chauvinism (tyranny) do we find in the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ ?
Answer:
Ours is a male-dominated society. Aunt Jennifer is a typical housewife. She has to follow her husband’s orders
slavishly. Her husband tyrannises her and she has accepted her fate submissively. In fact this poem reflects a
true picture of male chauvinism.

Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Write in brief the summary of the poem.
Answer:
The poet refers to an old woman, Aunt Jennifer. She has embroidered some tigers on a screen. These tigers are
jumping across the screen. The poet says that these tigers appear so real as if they were actually the inhabitants
of the jungle. Some men are shown beneath the tree. But these tigers are fear¬less. They are not afraid of these
men. Aunt Jennifer has become so old that it appears that her fin¬gers are trembling through wool. She has
become so weak that she even finds the needle hard to pull.

The poet says that the uncle wedding band lies very heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand. The poet means to say
here that Aunt Jennifer has to slavishly follow all the orders of uncle. Aunt Jennifer is terrified of endless
household chores and Uncle. She thinks that even after her death she will not be free from these household
chores.

Question 2.
Write in brief the central idea of the poem.
Answer:
In this poem the poet narrates the tale of an old woman Aunt Jennifer. She is a typical housewife. She is
embroidering tigers on a frame. Aunt Jenni-fer has suffered all her life because of male-dominance. The tigers
she is embroidering are in fact symbol of her husband. They can also be seen as a symbol of a woman’s creative
energy. The women give birth to men and the same men tyrannise women when they grow up. The poet says
that Aunt is crushed due to male chauvinism and it appears she won’t be free from the bondage of her household
chores even after her death.

Stanza For Comprehension

Stanza 1

Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,

Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

Questions
(a) Why are the tigers called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers ?
(b) How are they described here ?
(c) How are they different from Aunt Jennifer ?
(d) What does the word, ‘chivalric’ mean ?
Answers
(a) Aunt Jennifer has embroidered the tigers on a screen, therefore they are called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers.
(b) These tigers are of bright yellow colour; they are in-habitants of the forests.
(c) Aunt Jennifer is a very submissive and timid woman. On the other hand the tigers are shown very brave and
full of energy.
(d) It means ‘confident and brave’.

Stanza 2

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Aunt Jennifer’s finger fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.

Questions
(a) What is Aunt Jennifer doing with her wool ?
(b) Why does she find it difficult to pull the ivory needle ?
(c) What does ‘wedding band’ stand for ?
(d) Describe the irony in the third line.
Answers
(a) She is embroidering beautiful tigers with her wool. Aunt Jennifer is finding hard to pull her needle because her
hands have become very weak.
(b) Wedding band in these lines stands for the marital duties that every woman has to perform.
(c) They never get any respite and they have to do household chores from early morning till late night.
(d) The wedding is generally considered union of two souls and blessed by God Himself. But ironically in this
poem, the wedding is considered as a painful experience of Aunt Jennifer.

Stanza 3

When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie

Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What was Aunt mastered by ?
(c) What will her terrified hands be ringed with ?
(d) What will happen to tigers after Aunt Jennifer’s death ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ and the name of the.poet is Adrienne Rich.
(b) Aunt was mastered by her ordeals.
(c) Her terrified hands will be ringed with ordeals.
(d) The tigers will keep on prancing on the screen even after Aunt Jennifer’s death.

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