SECTION-B
1. LINES WRITTEN IN EARLY SPRING (WILLIAM WORDSWORTH)
TEXTUAL QUESTIONS & STANZA FOR COMPREHENSION
Q1. The poet describes a bitter-sweet moment. Why is the moment ‘bitter-sweet’?
Ans. The poet describes the moment as bitter-sweet because pleasant and sad thoughts occupy the poet’s mind at the same time.
Q2. Write a few lines about the simplicity of the language used in the poem?
Ans. The poet has used rather simple language to express his views regarding nature. His language is crystal clear and simple to understand.
Q3. What abilities, according to the poet, does nature have?
Ans. According to the poet, nature is a storehouse of beauty, glamour, sweetness, and charm. The sights and sounds of nature are pleasing to the human soul. Nature is always full of variety of life.
Q4. What does the poet lament about?
Ans. The poet laments about the sorrowful state of nature that has resulted owing to man’s greed.
Q5. How does the poet glorify nature?
Ans. The poet glorifies nature by praising its virtues. It has cures for all human worries and troubles.
Q6. Give an example of personification of nature in the poem?
Ans. Personification is a common figure of speech by which animals, abstract ideas, or inanimate things are referred to as if they were human. The poet personifies nature in this poem. He says: ‘To her fair works did Nature link...’
Read the stanzas and answer the questions below:
To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.
Q1. What are the fair works of Nature referred to in this stanza?
Ans. All flora and fauna and beauty of natural objects are the fair works of nature.
Q2. Name the poem and the poet?
Ans. These lines have been taken from the poem ‘Lines Written in Early Spring’ written by ‘William Wordsworth’.
Q3. Why is the poet grieved?
Ans. The poet is grieved because man has mishandled nature and thus created a chaos around.
Q4. List two pairs of rhyming words used by the poet in this passage?
Ans. Rhyming words are: link-think, ran-man. Rhyme Scheme is abab.
Q5. What does “What man has made of man” mean?
Ans. It means that man’s alienation from nature is the main reason of his troubles and worries. Man has been responsible for the troubles of mankind.
CENTRAL IDEA OF THE POEM
Q. Write the central idea of the poem ‘Lines Written in Early Spring’.
The poem conveys the idea that man's alienation from nature is the main cause of his agony and distress. Man’s madness for material things is playing havoc with his peace of mind. He should stop exploiting nature and develop a friendly relationship with it in order to regain his lost happiness. Only nature can help him come out of his self-created chaos.
2. MOTHER’S DAY (SHIV K. KUMAR)
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
Q1. What is the significance of ‘Chinese house of dreams’?
Ans. ‘The Chinese house of dreams’ means a world of imagination. The poet wants to convey that Indian people do not show their gratitude to their mothers in imaginary and fake words.
Q2. In what way is ‘my mother’ more demanding?
Ans. ‘My Mother’ here means an Indian mother. In India, we worship our mother like a goddess every day. She wants her children to touch her feet and seek her blessings before starting their new day.
Q3. What, according to the poet, amounts to desecrating a mother?
Ans. Offering one’s mother a bouquet of flowers and some verses just once a year amounts to desecrating her.
Q4. How often does the poet invoke his deity?
Ans. The poet’s deity is his mother and he invokes his deity sometimes twice a day.
Q5. Write a short note on “how we Indians celebrate mother’s day”
Ans. In India, mothers are held in high esteem. They are adored like a goddess. It is in keeping with this tradition that India has been symbolized as mother India. We Indians believe that mother is a blessing for life. She brought us into this world, so we owe our whole life to her. Then how can we dedicate just one day of the year? In fact, each day of the year is mother’s day for us. And we celebrate it by paying obeisance to our mother at sunrise daily. We touch her feet and with her blessing start our new day. However, the modern ‘Mothers’ Day’ has been adopted in India also. It is celebrated on the second Sunday of May every year.
Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow:
My mother is an invocation and an obeisance at each sunrise,
Like a devotee throwing a handful of yellow rice to the birds.
Holding a daughter against my old bosom just once a year is desecrating it.
Q1. What does ‘my mother’ demand?
Ans. Here ‘My mother’ refers to Indian Mother. Indian Mother wants her son to touch her feet with respect at sunrise every day.
Q2. List the two things mentioned in the poem that we are supposed to do at sunrise.
Ans. Each sunrise we are supposed to touch our mother’s feet. Secondly, we should throw a handful of yellow rice to the birds.
Q3. Name the figure of speech in –
(a) "Like a devotee throwing a handful of yellow rice to the birds."
Ans. Simile
(b) "I invoke my deity …"
Ans. Metaphor
(c) "Bouquet and verse like a Chinese house of dreams."
Ans. Simile
(d) "…… Hear ancestral voices in a wind’s howl."
Ans. Metaphor
Q4. Write a short note on the idea contained in the lines “Holding a ………….. is desecrating
Ans. The idea contained in this line is that dedicating just one day once a year to our mother is nothing but treating her with disrespect.
CENTRAL IDEA OF THE POEM
Q. Write the central idea of the poem ‘Mother’s Day’.
The poem conveys the idea that mother has immense significance in our lives. Dedicating just one day in the whole year to recognize her importance in our lives is injustice to her. We owe our life to her, and we always need her blessings. Hence, we should not indulge in any pompous celebration to please her. Rather, we should honor and respect our mothers by serving them every day. So, dedicating a single day to her once a year is an insult.
SECTION-B
3. UPAGUPTA (RABINDRANATH TAGORE)
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. What was her way and what was his way?
Ans. "Her" way led to prostitution and "his" way led to asceticism that has nothing to do with physical pleasures.
Q2. How does the poet describe the dancing girl?
Ans. According to the poet, the dancing girl was young and beautiful. She was all decorated with shining jewels. She was drunk with the wine of her youth.
Q3. Why was the woman hurriedly removed from the town?
Ans. The woman was struck with a fatal disease. There were sores all over her body. It was an infectious disease that could pass easily from person to person. So, to save others from this disease, she was hurriedly removed from the town.
Q4. What is the significance of the line "The time ……….. am here."
Ans. In her youth, the woman had invited the ascetic to visit her. But he had refused, saying that he would visit her when the right time came for it. Now, when she was in sore need, everybody had deserted her. That is why the ascetic said, "The time, at last, has come to visit you."
Q5. Name the figure of speech used in the lines
a) “Suddenly the black night showed its teeth in a flash of lightning.” → Personification
b) “……… a light from a woman’s lamp fell on his forgiving eyes.” → Alliteration
c) “spotted with sores of small-pox.” → Alliteration
Q6. Which lines in the poem prove that it was a dark night when Upagupta lay asleep?
Ans. The following lines prove that it was a dark night when Upagupta lay asleep—
"Lamps were all out, doors were all shut,
Stars were all hidden by the murky sky of August."
Q7. How did the ascetic help the woman?
Ans. The ascetic sat down by her side. He took her head on his knees. He put water on her lips and applied balm to her body.
Q8. List the things the ascetic did to lessen the woman's suffering.
Ans. The ascetic sat by her side, took her head on his knees, moistened her lips with water, and smeared her body with sandal balm.
CENTRAL IDEA OF THE POEM
Q. Write the central idea of the poem ‘Upagupta’.
This poem brings out the strong character of a great Buddhist monk named Upagupta. He was an ascetic in the real sense. He was forgiving by nature. He had wonderful self-control. He was full of the milk of human kindness. He felt no hesitation in nursing the woman who was struck with a horrible disease. This poem is, in fact, a great tribute to Upagupta.
4. THE LITTLE BLACK BOY (WILLIAM BLAKE)
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. When will the black cloud vanish?
Ans. When our souls have learned to bear the warmth of love, the clouds of our black bodies will vanish.
Q2. What does the rising sun give us?
Ans. The rising sun gives us heat and light.
Q3. Do you think that the poem is about a child’s acceptance of suffering and injustice? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans. The child does not accept suffering and injustice. He simply wants to end it through love. He wants to win the English boy’s heart with love and be his friend.
Q4. What happens when our souls learn to bear the heat?
Ans. When our souls have learned to bear the heat of love, the clouds of our black bodies will vanish. In other words, we shall not be with our black bodies. Then we shall hear God’s voice.
Q5. What are the black bodies compared to?
Ans. The black bodies are compared to clouds or shady groves that hide the light of the sun.
Q6. Why does the black child think that the English child is an angel?
Ans. The English child is white as an angel. That is why the black child thinks that the English child is an angel.
Q7. What does the black boy want to do for the white boy?
Ans. He wants to win the white boy’s heart with love and be his friend.
Q8. Name the figure of speech used in the lines
a) “White as an angel is the English child” → Simile
b) “And round my golden tent like lambs rejoice.” → Simile
c) “And these black bodies and this sun-burnt face Is but a cloud…” → Metaphor
Q9. What will God’s voice tell the black boy and his mother to do?
Ans. God’s voice will say to them: "Come out from the grove of your black bodies. You are my love and my care. You shall come with me to my golden tent and play joyfully round it like little lambs."
Q10. Match the words given in column A with their comparisons given in column B:
| A | B |
|---|---|
| Angel | Black body |
| East | Innocent child |
| Sun-burnt face | The English Child |
| Cloud | God’s home |
| Lamb | Shady grove |
Ans: Angel = The English child, East = God’s home, Sun-burnt face = Black body, Cloud = Shady grove, Lamb = Innocent child.
CENTRAL IDEA OF THE POEM
Q. Write the central idea of the poem ‘The Little Black Boy’.
This poem gives the idea that identity is only temporary. Blackness or whiteness are just "clouds" that people are wearing during earthly life. Racial or color differences disappear in heaven, where the two boys will finally become free and equal. God gives warmth of his love to all creatures without any discrimination.
3. UPAGUPTA (RABINDRANATH TAGORE)
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. What was her way and what was his way?
Ans. "Her" way led to prostitution and "his" way led to asceticism that has nothing to do with physical pleasures.
Q2. How does the poet describe the dancing girl?
Ans. According to the poet, the dancing girl was young and beautiful. She was all decorated with shining jewels. She was drunk with the wine of her youth.
Q3. Why was the woman hurriedly removed from the town?
Ans. The woman was struck with a fatal disease. There were sores all over her body. It was an infectious disease that could pass easily from person to person. So, to save others from this disease, she was hurriedly removed from the town.
Q4. What is the significance of the line "The time ……….. am here."
Ans. In her youth, the woman had invited the ascetic to visit her. But he had refused, saying that he would visit her when the right time came for it. Now, when she was in sore need, everybody had deserted her. That is why the ascetic said, "The time, at last, has come to visit you."
Q5. Name the figure of speech used in the lines
a) “Suddenly the black night showed its teeth in a flash of lightning.” → Personification
b) “……… a light from a woman’s lamp fell on his forgiving eyes.” → Alliteration
c) “spotted with sores of small-pox.” → Alliteration
Q6. Which lines in the poem prove that it was a dark night when Upagupta lay asleep?
Ans. The following lines prove that it was a dark night when Upagupta lay asleep—
"Lamps were all out, doors were all shut,
Stars were all hidden by the murky sky of August."
Q7. How did the ascetic help the woman?
Ans. The ascetic sat down by her side. He took her head on his knees. He put water on her lips and applied balm to her body.
Q8. List the things the ascetic did to lessen the woman's suffering.
Ans. The ascetic sat by her side, took her head on his knees, moistened her lips with water, and smeared her body with sandal balm.
CENTRAL IDEA OF THE POEM
Q. Write the central idea of the poem ‘Upagupta’.
This poem brings out the strong character of a great Buddhist monk named Upagupta. He was an ascetic in the real sense. He was forgiving by nature. He had wonderful self-control. He was full of the milk of human kindness. He felt no hesitation in nursing the woman who was struck with a horrible disease. This poem is, in fact, a great tribute to Upagupta.
4. THE LITTLE BLACK BOY (WILLIAM BLAKE)
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. When will the black cloud vanish?
Ans. When our souls have learned to bear the warmth of love, the clouds of our black bodies will vanish.
Q2. What does the rising sun give us?
Ans. The rising sun gives us heat and light.
Q3. Do you think that the poem is about a child’s acceptance of suffering and injustice? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans. The child does not accept suffering and injustice. He simply wants to end it through love. He wants to win the English boy’s heart with love and be his friend.
Q4. What happens when our souls learn to bear the heat?
Ans. When our souls have learned to bear the heat of love, the clouds of our black bodies will vanish. In other words, we shall not be with our black bodies. Then we shall hear God’s voice.
Q5. What are the black bodies compared to?
Ans. The black bodies are compared to clouds or shady groves that hide the light of the sun.
Q6. Why does the black child think that the English child is an angel?
Ans. The English child is white as an angel. That is why the black child thinks that the English child is an angel.
Q7. What does the black boy want to do for the white boy?
Ans. He wants to win the white boy’s heart with love and be his friend.
Q8. Name the figure of speech used in the lines
a) “White as an angel is the English child” → Simile
b) “And round my golden tent like lambs rejoice.” → Simile
c) “And these black bodies and this sun-burnt face Is but a cloud…” → Metaphor
Q9. What will God’s voice tell the black boy and his mother to do?
Ans. God’s voice will say to them: "Come out from the grove of your black bodies. You are my love and my care. You shall come with me to my golden tent and play joyfully round it like little lambs."
Q10. Match the words given in column A with their comparisons given in column B:
| A | B |
|---|---|
| Angel | Black body |
| East | Innocent child |
| Sun-burnt face | The English Child |
| Cloud | God’s home |
| Lamb | Shady grove |
Ans: Angel = The English child, East = God’s home, Sun-burnt face = Black body, Cloud = Shady grove, Lamb = Innocent child.
CENTRAL IDEA OF THE POEM
Q. Write the central idea of the poem ‘The Little Black Boy’.
This poem gives the idea that identity is only temporary. Blackness or whiteness are just "clouds" that people are wearing during earthly life. Racial or color differences disappear in heaven, where the two boys will finally become free and equal. God gives warmth of his love to all creatures without any discrimination.
CONFESSIONS OF A BORN SPECTATOR (OGDEN NASH)
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
- Why does he call his spirit bashful?
Ans. The poet calls his spirit bashful because he feels shy about taking part in any game. - What is the poet glad about?
Ans. The poet is glad that he is neither an athlete nor a player. Nor is any of them like him. - List the things that the poet is ready to do for the athletes.
Ans. The poet is ready to drink to the health of the athletes. He can dine with them. He can do anything for them. However, he cannot compete with them. - Write a few lines on the struggle between the poet's ego and prudence.
Ans. The poet loves to watch the heroic deeds of athletes, but his prudence tells him that if the game turns rough, he can be injured and disabled. He is glad that in the struggle between his ego and prudence, his prudence wins over ego. - The poet admires the athletes. Give reasons for this admiration.
Ans. The poet admires the athletes for their heroic deeds. He admires them for their fighting spirit and strong determination.
EXTRACT-BASED QUESTIONS
Look at the following lines taken from the poem:
"Buy tickets worth their weight in radium."
- Select the correct meaning of this line from the given statements:
(a) The poet gives radium to buy tickets.
(b) The poet would pay anything for buying tickets to watch the games.
Ans. (b) The poet would pay anything for buying tickets to watch the games.
Now look at these lines:
"I'm glad that when my struggle
Twixt prudence and ego, prudence wins."
- Write a short note on the poet’s struggle.
Ans. The poet watches the heroic deeds of the athletes. Sometimes he wishes to be in place of some player. His ego urges him to perform similar acts. Then struggle between his ego and prudence begins. His prudence finally wins. - These two lines contain the theme of the poem. Explain.
Ans. Man’s ego urges him to do what he likes. His prudence asks him to do what is right. - What is he glad about?
Ans. He is glad about the victory of prudence over ego. - The poet’s ego urges him to show some heroism on the playfield. How often does he show it?
Ans. He never shows any heroism on the playfield. He wants to remain a spectator always. - Do you think he wants to show his heroism?
Ans. No, he does not want to show his heroism.
Look at the following lines taken from the poem:
"My limp and bashful spirit feeds
On other people's heroic deeds."
- What does the poet mean to convey in these lines? Select the proper options:
(a) He is not sure of his own capabilities to perform such deeds.
(b) He does not like to perform heroic deeds.
(c) He is scared of getting hurt while performing such deeds.
Ans. (a) He is not sure of his own capabilities to perform such deeds.
CENTRAL IDEA OF THE POEM
Q. Write the central idea of the poem ‘Confessions of a Born Spectator’.
Ans. In the poem "Confessions of a Born Spectator", the poet calls himself a born spectator. He makes fun of athletes. But the fun is light-hearted. He loves to watch the players in different contests. But he never thinks of taking to sports himself. He does not want to have his bones broken and his body injured. He is content with being a spectator—"that you’re not I am not you."
6. A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER (JOHN KEATS)
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
- Where do the musk roses bloom?
Ans. The musk roses bloom in the middle of the forest. - What, according to the poet, keeps us attached to this earth?
Ans. The beautiful things like natural sights, plants, birds, etc., keep us attached to this earth. - How does eternal beauty help us to cheer up our spirits or clear our despondence?
Ans. Eternal beauty cheers up our spirits and removes sadness. When we look at a beautiful thing, we forget our worries. - How is beauty the source of nectar (immortal drink)?
Ans. The idea of beauty never dies. It is immortal. Its impact never fades. - Why does the poet think that a thing of beauty is a source of eternal joy?
Ans. Because the loveliness of a beautiful thing never dies. Its appeal never fades away. - Apart from nature, which other objects are mentioned in the poem as sources of beauty?
Ans. The works of literature, such as plays and tales, are also things of beauty. - Name some objects of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Ans. The objects of nature like the sun, the moon, the shady trees, the daffodils, and the flowery bushes are beautiful.
EXTRACT-BASED QUESTIONS
Read the following lines and answer the questions given below:
"Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils."
- Name the heavenly bodies mentioned in the above lines.
Ans. The sun and the moon are the heavenly bodies mentioned in the above lines. - What moves away the pall from our dark spirits?
Ans. Some shape of beauty moves away the pall from our dark spirits. - List the two rhyming words in the passage.
Ans. Keep–sleep, Moon–Boon, Drink–Brink. (Note: The extract only contains Moon-Boon, Keep and Drink are not in this extract.) - Why does the poet think that the trees, sheep, and daffodils can cheer up our gloomy spirit?
Ans. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. And these are beautiful things. Thus, these can cheer up our gloomy spirits. - Do you think only daffodils can cheer our spirit up, or can other flowers also do the same? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans. All flowers are beautiful, like daffodils. So, they can also cheer up our souls.
CENTRAL IDEA OF THE POEM
Q. Write the central idea of the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty Is a Joy Forever’.
Ans. A Thing of Beauty Is a Joy Forever is a beautiful poem written by John Keats. This poem gives us a beautiful message about life. He says that a thing of beauty is a joy forever because the loveliness of a beautiful thing never dies. Its appeal never fades away. A thing of beauty moves away the pall from our dark spirits.
