THE LAST LESSON

Q. 1. Describe the background in which 'The Last Lesson' of Alphonse Daudet has
been set. (Imp.)
Ans. 'The Last Lesson' is set in the days of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871).
France was defeated by Prussia (Germany). By an order from Berlin, German language
was imposed on the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine. The lesson describes how
a teacher in Alsace, M. Hamel, reacts to this shocking news. His students and even the
villagers share his views.
Q. 2. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day? Why was
he in great dread of scolding?
Ans. Franz had not prepared his lesson. His teacher, M. Hamel, had said that he would
question the students on participles. But Franz didn't know even the first word about
them. He feared a scolding from M. Hamel. Moreover, he started for school very late.
For a moment he thought of running away and spending the day out of doors.
Q. 3. Why did Franz think of running away and spending the day out of doors?
(Imp.)
Ans. Franz started for school very late. His teacher, M. Hamel had said that he would
question them on 'participles'. Franz knew nothing about them. He feared a scolding
from M. Hamel. He thought of running away from the school and spending the day out
of doors. But he resisted the temptation and hurried off to school.
Q. 4. What was the temptation and how did Franz resist it ?
Ans. M. Hamel was to question the students on participles. Franz knew nothing about
them and feared a scolding. For a moment he was tempted to run away and spend the
day out of doors. The weather was warm. The day was bright. Woods, open fields and
chirping of birds tempted him. But he overcame his temptation and hurried off to
school.
Q. 5. What did Franz see when he passed in front of the town hall on the way
to school ? (Imp.)
Ans. Franz passed the town hall on his way to school. There was a great crowd in
front of the bulletin-board. For the past two years all their bad news had come from
there. The people thronged there to hear the news of last battles or the orders of the
commanding officer. They verified everything from there.
Q. 6. Why was there a crowd in front of the bulletin-board at the town hall ?
(A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Usually there used to be a crowd in front of the bulletin-board at the town hall.
All the bad news had come from there for the last two years. But today another bad
news shocked the residents of the town. An order has come from Berlin. German
language was to be imposed on the people of Alsace and Lorraine. Now only the
German teachers will teach German to the French speaking population.
Q. 7. Describe at least two changes that could be seen in M. Hamel after he came
to know of that order from Berlin.
Ans. M. Hamel was a hard task-master. But the order from Berlin completely changed
him. He didn't rebuke Franz when he entered the classroom quite late. Nor did he
scold him when he got mixed up and confused when it was his turn to recite. His last

act of writing "Vive La France!" on the blackboard revealed his love for France and
French.
Q. 8. How was the scene in the school in the morning of the last lesson different
from that on other days ? (CBSE 2008)
Ans. The scene in the school is different from that on other days. It was the last
lesson in French. German was going to be imposed on them from the next day. Hence,
all students and even the village elders had gathered there. The love for their native
language French dominated all other things.
Q. 9. I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen; ...',
said Franz. How did he enter and what was the reaction of the teacher ?
Ans. Franz was late for school. Usually there was always a great hustle and bustle in
the morning. He had hoped to take advantage of that noise and commotion. He
wanted to get to his desk without being noticed. But that day he had to go in before
everybody. But nothing happened. M. Hamel only asked him very politely to take up
his seat.
Q. 10. What did Franz see through the window when he reached his school ?
Ans. Through the window Franz saw his classmates. They were already in their places.
M. Hamel was tense walking up and down. He had that "terrible" ruler under his arm.
It was all very quietas quiet as Sunday morning. The usual commotion and activities
were absent.
Q. 11. What was the thing that surprised the narrator most? Why was everybody
sad?
Ans. The whole school seemed so strange and silent. But the thing that surprised
Franz most was to see the village people on the back benches. Generally they were
always empty. Everybody sat quietly and looked sad. Everybody was sad to know that
German would be taught in all schools of Alsace.
Q. 12. Why didn't M. Hamel get angry with Franz for being late?
Ans. M. Hamel was much disturbed by the news that came from Berlin. He was
delivering his 'last lesson' in French. So he didn't get angry with Franz for being late.
Rather he said very kindly, "Go to your place, little Franz". He ignored Franz's being
late and went on with his lesson.
Q. 13. How did M. Hamel give the shocking news to the students and the
villagers and with what effect ? (V. Imp.)
Ans. The villagers sat along with the students on the back desks. M. Hamel mounted
on his chair. He spoke in a grave and gentle tone. He made it clear that it was his last
French lesson. An order had come from Berlin. All the schools of Alsace and Lorraine
would teach only German. A new teacher would replace him the next day. The news
left everyone shocked and grieved.
Q. 14. Why had M. Hamel put on his fine Sunday clothes ? Why were the old men
of the village sitting there in the back of the classroom ?
Ans. M. Hamel had put on his fine Sunday clothes to highlight the occasion. The old
men of the village had come there to show their sympathy and respect to the teacher.
It was their way to thank M. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service. They had
also come to show their respect to France and their most beautiful language French.
Q. 15. How did Franz perform when his turn came to recite? How did M. Hamel
react?

Ans. It was Franz's turn to recite. In spite of his best effort, he got mixed up. His
heart was beating and he did not dare to look up. M. Hamel assured in a polite tone
that he would not scold him. He was not the only one who neglected learning French.
Many others in Alsace shared his fate.
Q. 16. "We've all a great deal to reproach ourselves with." Why did M. Hamel
blame the parents and himself too for not showing due attention and care to the
learning of French?
Ans. M. Hamel didn't scold Franz for neglecting the learning of French. Most of the
people of Alsace could neither speak nor write their own language. Their parents
preferred to put them to work on a farm or at the mills. Mr. Hamel didn't even spare
himself. He had often sent his students to water his flowers instead of learning their
lessons.
Q. 17. What did M. Hamel tell the people in the class about French language ?
What did he ask them to do and why ? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Or
How does M. Hamel pay a tribute to the French language ? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. M. Hamel went on to talk of French language. He told that it was the most
beautiful language of the world. It was the clearest and the most logical of all
languages. He asked the people to guard it among themselves and never forget it. As
long as people 'hold fast to the' language' they have the key to freedom.
Q. 18. Why did M. Hamel ask his students and the villagers to guard French among
them ?
Ans. M. Hamel was delivering his last in French to his students. From the next day the
French districts of Alsace would teach German in all schools. M. Hamel was grieved
but quite helpless. He praised French as the most beautiful and logical language in the
world. He urged upon them to guard their beautiful language.
Q. 19. How did the narrator take the last lesson in grammar and with what effect?
(Imp.)
Ans. In the end, M. Hamel opened a grammar book. He read them their last lesson. All
he said 'seemed so easy, so easy !' Franz understood it so well. He had never listened
to his teacher so carefully. It seemed as if M. Hamel wanted to give them all he knew
before going away. He wanted to put it all into their heads at one stroke.
Q. 20. Describe M. Hamel's service to the school in Alsace.
Ans. For forty years M. Hamel had been serving in the same school in Alsace. He
valued French language as the most beautiful language in the world. His students and
even the village elders paid respect to him on the last day. He felt sorry that the
people of Alsace neglected their learning.
Q. 21. What was the parting message of M. Hamel to his students and the village
elders who had gathered in the classroom?
Ans. M. Hamel stood up, very pale, in his chair. He was speaking for the last time. He
tried to speak but couldn't. Something choked him. Then he turned to the blackboard
and wrote as large as he could :
"Vive La France !" (" Long Live France !"). Without a word he made a gesture. All of
them could go. The school was "dismissed".
Q. 22. "The people in the story realise suddenly how precious their language is to
them." How do they realise it and who makes them realise it ? (V. Imp.)

Ans. An order comes from Berlin. The people suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. German is imposed on the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine.
The man who makes them aware of the greatness of their language is M. Hamel. He
arouses their hidden love for their beautiful language.
Q. 23. What happened when the church-clock struck twelve ?
Or
How did M. Hamel say farewell to his students and the village elders?
Ans. The church-clock struck twelve. It was time for the Angelus prayer. At the same
moment the trumpets of the Prussians sounded. Suddenly M. Hamel grew
overemotional. Patriotic feelings overpowered him. He took a piece of chalk and
wrote as large as he could: "Long Live France".
Q. 24. What is Linguistic Chauvinism? How do you classify M. Hamel's love and the
villagers' concern for French?
Ans. 'Linguistic Chauvinism' means carrying pride in one's language too far. But the
love of Hamel and the village elders for French doesn't amount to this. Rather they
are victims of it. German is being imposed on the French speaking people of Alsace.
M. Hamel feels genuinely proud of French language. He urges others never to forget
such a beautiful language.
Q. 25. Justify the title of 'The Last Lesson.' (Imp.)
Ans. The title is self-revealing. It was certainly the last lesson that M. Hamel was
delivering to his students. From the next day German was to be imposed on the
French speaking people of Alsace. M. Hamel was leaving the school for good with a
heavy heart. Even the elders had come to pay respect and listen to the last lesson in
French.
Q. 26. What message does the writer want to convey to the readers through 'The
Last Lesson'?
Ans. Alphonse Daudet has a definite message to convey to his readers. Through M.
Hamel he wants to express pride in one's language. Greatness of French language is
highlighted. The lesson arouses patriotic feelings. It makes the readers aware that
they must keep their language and culture alive at all costs.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. What was the order from Berlin? How did that order affect the people of
Alsace, particularly M. Hamel and his students ?
(V. Imp.)
Ans. A shocking order had come from Berlin. Two French speaking districts of Alsace
and Lorrain were under German occupation. German language was imposed on the
people of Alsace.
The order from Berlin added insult to the injury. It hurt the pride of the
people. M. Hamel, a school teacher, broke this shocking news to his students. He
declared that it was his last lesson in French. He would leave the place for good. A
new master would replace him to teach German. The news aroused patriotic feelings
in students as well as the villagers. The village elders came to the school to listen to
the last lesson in French. He spoke at length about French language. He called French
the most beautiful language in the world. It was the clearest and the most logical
language. He expressed his dismay that the people of Alsace were quite indifferent to
the learning of French. He called upon them to guard it among themselves and never

forget it. Their language was the key to their unity and liberation. Everyone listened
to him with rapt attention and respect.
Q. 2. Draw a character sketch of M. Hamel as it is shown in 'The Last Lesson.' (Imp.)
Ans. In 'The Last Lesson' Alphonse Daudet has presented M. Hamel's character with all
sympathy and respect. He is presented in the mould of a traditional school-master. He
always kept his 'terrible' ruler under his arm. Franz reminds us 'how cranky' M. Hamel
was.
Franz was in great dread of scolding as he had not prepared his lesson on participles.
Mr Hamel was a hard task-master. We see the other side of M. Hamel's character after
the order from Berlin came. He was a transformed person now. He became extra soft
and gentle 'towards his students. He didn't scold Franz for coming late. Nor did he use
his ruler when Franz got mixed up and confused. He declared that it was his last
lesson in French.
M. Hamel was highly respected both by his students and the village elders. He had
completed 40 years in the same school. The village elders came to pay their respect
to such a grand teacher.
M. Hamel loved France and French from the core of his heart. He considered French
as the most beautiful language in the world. He asked the people to guard it among
themselves and never to forget it.
Q. 3. Who was Franz ? What did he think about M. Hamel ? Did he change his views
about M. Hamel ? Illustrate at least two changes that came in Franz towards his
teacher, his school and French.
Ans. Little Franz was a student of a school in Alsace. M. Hamel was his schoolmaster.
Franz was not a brilliant student. He didn't prepare his lesson on participles. When he
was asked to recite, he got mixed up and confused. He was always in dread of the
great ruler that M. Hamel kept under his arm. Franz knew how 'cranky' M. Hamel was.
However, Franz had to change his opinion about M. Hamel. An order had come from
Berlin. German language was imposed on the people in Alsace. When he came to know
that it was the last lesson of Mr. Hamel, his views about him changed. He began to
respect him. He had spent 40 years in the same school. He felt sorry that he had
neglected learning French. He shared M. Hamel's views about French. It was the most
beautiful language in the world. He listened to M. Hamel's last lesson with rapt
attention and respect.
Q. 4. What is 'linguistic chauvinism'? Analyse the order from Berlin in this
light. How do you justify M. Hamel's views about French and the new-found love
of the people towards their language?
Ans. Carrying pride in one's language too far leads to 'linguistic chauvinism'. We can
analyse the order from Berlin in this light. It is nothing but a naked example of
linguistic chauvinism. The imposition of German language over the French speaking
population can't be justified at all. It is the worst kind of colonialism.
M. Hamel's love for French is genuine. The shocking order from Berlin arouses
patriotic feelings in him. He loves French as the most beautiful language in the world.
He calls it the clearest and most logical language too. He regrets that the people of
Alsace have not paid much heed to the learning of this great language. He asks the
people to safeguard it among themselves. It is the key to their unity and freedom.

The people of Alsace, particularly the village elders, suddenly realise how precious
their language is to them. Students like Franz too are not immune to patriotic
feelings. Franz feels sorry for neglecting the learning of French. He hates the idea of
German language being imposed on them. He remarks sarcastically: "Will they make
them sing in German, even the pigeons.

LOST SPRING
Q. 1. What did Saheb's mother say about leaving their home in Dhaka and coming
to Seemapuri ?
Ans. Once Saheb's parents lived in Bangladesh, They lived amidst the green fields of
Dhaka. There were many storms. They swept away their fields and homes. They were
ruined. That's why they had to leave their fields and homes. They came to the big city
and settled down in Seemapuri looking for gold.
Q. 2. Where does the narrator Anees Jung encounter Saheb every morning ? (Imp.)
Ans. The narrator encounters Saheb searching for gold in the garbage dumps of her
neighbourhood. Saheb is one of the army of barefoot boys who can be seen scrounging
'for gold' in the garbage. Most of them are migrants from Bangladesh who settled
down in Seemapuri in 1971.
Q. 3. Give an account of the background of Saheb and the army of barefoot
boys 'scrounging for gold' in the garbage dumps. Why did they migrate to Seemapuri
?
Ans. Saheb belongs to the community of ragpickers. He is one of over 10,000 persons
who are engaged in this 'profession'. They migrated from Bangladesh in 1971. Their
poverty and sufferings forced them to migrate to this place. They have been living in
Seemapuri on the outskirts of Delhi. Saheb doesn't have even a faint memory of his
original home.
Q. 4. Garbage to them is gold. Why does the author say so about the ragpickers ?
(CBSE2008)
Ans. For the ragpickers of Seemapuri, garbage is nothing less than gold. It is their
'daily bread'. For the children it is wrapped in wonder. Sometimes they find a tenrupee note or even a silver coin in a heap of garbage. For the elders it is a means of
survival.
Q. 5. Why is the narrator embarrassed at having made 'a promise that was
not meant'? (Imp.)
Ans. The narrator asks Saheb, a ragpicker of Seemapuri, to "go to school". Saheb
replies that there is no school in the neighbourhood. The narrator asks, half-joking if
he will go when she starts a school. Saheb keeps on asking her : "Is your school ready?"
She feels embarrassed. She made 'a promise that was not meant'.
Q. 6. Saheb's full name is "Saheb-e-Alam". Isn't it ironical ? Justify your answer.
Ans. After months of knowing, the narrator asks Saheb's name. He tells her that he is
called "Saheb-e-Alam". It means 'lord of the universe'. It is quite ironical that this

'Saheb-e-Alam' is a young barefoot ragpicker. He scrounges for gold in the garbage

dumps of Delhi.
Q. 7. Saheb and other ragpickers of his age don't wear shoes or
'chappals'. What explanations does the author give for this ? Which one of these
you show your agreement with ?
Ans. The narrator Anees Jung asks Saheb why he doesn't wear 'chappals'. He simply
answers that his mother didn't buy them. Some say it is not lack of money. There is a
tradition to stay barefoot in villages and slums. This explanation does not hold good.
It seems merely an excuse to 'explain away a perpetual state of poverty'.
Q. 8. Describe the contrast that Anees Jung brings out between Saheb and the son
of the priest.
Ans. The narrator remembers a story of a boy from Udipi. He was the son of a priest.
He would pray for a pair of shoes to the goddess. Young boys like the son of the priest
now wear shoes. But ragpickers of her neighbourhood like Saheb remain shoeless. The
contrast is obvious. It shows two different pictures of the same society.
Q. 9. Seemapuri is 'a place on the periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it,
metaphorically'.Justify this statement describing the colony or settlement of
ragpickers. (V. Imp.)
Ans. Seemapuri is the settlement of over 10,000 ragpickers. They migrated to this
place from Bangladesh in 1971. It is on the periphery of Delhi, yet it is miles away
from it, metaphorically. People live in structures of mud. There is no sewage,
drainage or running water. It is difficult to believe that such a 'little hell' can exist so
near the capital of India.
Q. 10. 'Survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking'. Elucidate. (Imp.)
Ans. Seemapuri, a place on the outskirts of Delhi, is a settlement of ragpickers. Over
10,000 people, mostly migrated from Bangladesh in 1971, are engaged in this job.
Children scrounge for gold in the garbage dumps. Garbage for children is wrapped in
wonder. For elders it is a means of survival. And survival in Seemapuri means ragpicking.
Q. 11. 'Food is more important for survival than an identity for the ragpickers', says
the author. Do you agree ? Why ? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Anees Jung rightly thinks that 'food is more important for survival than an identity for the ragpickers. More than 10,000 ragpickers of Seemapuri have lived these for
more than thirty years without an identity. They had to leave their beautiful land in
search of food. Wherever they find food, they pitch their tents that become transit
homes. And survival in Seemapuri means ragpicking.
Q. 12. Through the years rag-picking has acquired the 'proportions of a fine art'
in Seemapuri.Justify the statement.
Ans. In Seemapuri everyone is a partner in survival and hence, a ragpicker. All have to
work for survival. Actually, they have become professionals. Rag-picking is no more a
dull and dirty job. It has acquired the proportions of a fine art.
Q. 13. Garbage rag-picking means something for parents and the other, quite
different, for their children. How ? Explain.
Ans. For elders rag-picking is a means of survival. It gives them some money for food.
But for children, garbage is wrapped in wonder. They never stop scrounging. There is

always hope of finding more Sometimes a child may find a rupee, even a ten rupee
note or a silver coin in the garbage.
Q. 14. What does Saheb look for in the garbage dumps ? What are the hopes of
other 10,000 ragpickers like Saheb?
Ans. Saheb is a poor ragpicker of Seemapuri. Like other 10,000 children, he also looks
for 'gold' in the garbage. He roams the streets with his friends scanning the garbage
heaps. Sometimes he finds a rupee, even a ten rupee note. If lucky, he can find a
silver coin in a heap of garbage. Garbage is wrapped in wonder for Saheb and other
young ragpickers like him.
Q. 15. How did Saheb get a pair of shoes ? (Imp.)
Ans. One morning the narrator saw Saheb standing by the gate of a club wearing
tennis shoes. Two young men were playing tennis. Saheb too was wearing tennis
shoes. In fact, they were discarded shoes of some rich boy. Perhaps he refused to
wear them because of a hole in one of them. So Saheb got that pair of tennis shoes.
Q. 16. For Saheb, 'even shoes with a hole' is a dream come true. Explain the statement.
Ans. Saheb was a poor ragpicker of Seemapuri. Most of such children remain shoeless.
Their parents can't afford shoes. Saheb got discarded shoes of some rich boy. The rich
boy refused to wear them because of a hole in one of them. For Saheb who had
walked barefoot, even shoes with a hole is a dream come true.
Q. 17. Why did Saheb appear to have lost the carefree look even after getting a
job in a tea stall ?
Ans. Saheb got a job in a tea stall. The narrator saw him carrying a steel canister in
his hand. No doubt, he got 800 rupees and all his meals. But he seemed to have lost
the carefree look. The canister seemed heavier than the plastic bag he used to carry.
The bag was his own. But the canister belonged to his master. Saheb was no longer his
own master.
Q. 18. How does Saheb feel working in a tea stall ? Is he happier there ?
Ans. Saheb now works in a tea stall down the road. He is paid 800 rupees and all his
meals. But even then he doesn't seem to be happy. The steel canister he carries now
is heavier than the plastic bag he used to carry on his shoulders. He was 'no longer his
own master ! He was just a servant.
Q. 19. Describe Mukesh and his background.
Ans. Mukesh belongs to a family of bangle-makers in Firozabad. He doesn't like the
profession. He has other aims and dreams. He wants to be his own master, a motor
mechanic. He is determined to achieve his goal. He lives in a half-built hut. Lanes
stink and are choked with garbage.
Q. 20. Describe the fate of 20,000 child workers who work in the bangleindustry of Firozabad in most hazardous conditions. (Imp.)
Ans. The glass industry in Firozabad employs more than 20,000 children. They work
illegally in the glass furnaces with high temperatures. They work in dingy cells
without air and light. Their eyes are more adjusted to the dark than to the light
outside. Many of these children lose their eyesight before they become adults.
Q. 21. Who was Mukesh ? What was his aim in life ? What did he do to achieve it?
Ans. Young Mukesh belongs to a family of bangle-makers in Firozabad. He doesn't like
the profession of bangle-making. He entertains new dreams. He wants to be his own

master'. He wants to become a motor mechanic. He will go to a garage and learn his
art. He seems to be determined to achieve his modest aim.
Q. 22. What has Mukesh's father achieved after years of hard labour ?
Ans. Mukesh's father started his career as a tailor. But soon he became a banglemaker. Despite long years of hard work, his achievements are quite small. He has
failed to renovate his house. Nor has he been able to send his two sons to school. He
has only managed to teach them what he knows : the art of making bangles.
Q. 23. "It is his karam, his destiny", says Mukesh's grandmother. Why can't they
break their "God-given lineage"?
Ans. Despite long years of hard labour Mukesh's father couldn't renovate his house nor
send his two sons to school. Mukesh's grandmother says that it is in his 'karma' or fate
to suffer in poverty. But still they can't change their "God-given lineage". Born in the
caste of bangle-makers they have learnt nothing else except making bangles.
Q. 24. Describe the kinds of bangles made in Firozabad.
Ans. Firozabad is famous for its bangles. The town produces all the bangles for the
women of India. Bangles of all sizes and colours are made here. One may have sunny
gold or paddy green. There is a choice between royal blue, pink or purple. Every
colour out of the seven colours of the rainbow is available here.
Q. 25. Who is Savita? Does young Savita know the sanctity of bangles she helps
make ? Explain their sanctity for married women.
Ans. No, young Savita doesn't know the sanctity of bangles she helps make. She is still
young to understand their importance to the married women. Bangles symbolise an
Indian woman's 'suhaag'. They stand for auspiciousness in marriage. She will come to
know of it when she becomes a bride.
Q. 26. 'Little has moved with time in Firozabad', says Anees Jung. Why does she say
so ?
(V. Imp.)
Ans. The narrator is making a statement of facts. Actually, 'little has moved with the
time in Firozabad'. The old bangle-making industry goes on as usual. So goes on the
exploitation of bangle-makers with it. More than 20,000 young children work illegally
in glass furnaces with high temperature. The exploitation of the money-lenders, the
middlemen and the police continues unabated.
Q. 27. Which forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry at
Firozabad in poverty ? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. The workers in the bangle industry in Firozabad have fallen into the vicious circle
of middlemen. They don't allow them to organise themselves into a cooperative. The
police always side with the middlemen to haul up the workers. They are beaten and
dragged to jail. Poverty, apathy, greed and injustice conspire to make them
miserable,
Q. 28 "I see two distinct worlds .... ." says Anees Jung. Draw a contrast between the
two. (V. Imp.)Ans. The narrator sees two distinct worlds in Firozabad. The first one is
of the families of the bangle-makers caught in a web of poverty. The other is a vicious
circle of the 'sahukars', the middlemen and the policemen. They ensure that the
exploitation of bangle-makers continues unabated. They never let them organise
themselves into a cooperative.
Q. 29. How is Mukesh different from the others of his family ? Why is the author

cheered when she sees him ? (Imp.)

Ans. Mukesh belongs to a poor family of bangle-makers. But he can dare challenge his
fate. He is determined. He has not let his hopes and dreams die. He wants to be a
motor mechanic. He doesn't dream of flying a machine but a car on the roads of
Firozabad. Anees Jung is quite hopeful of his success.
Q. 30. Justify the title of lesson, 'Lost Spring'. (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. 'Lost Spring' of Anees Jung describes two stories of stolen childhood. Millions of
children in India, instead of spending their days in schools and playgrounds waste
their childhood in ragpicking or hazardous industries. Childhood is the spring of life.
But millions of unfortunate children like Saheb and Mukesh waste this spring either in
the garbage of Seemapuri or in the blast furnaces of Firozabad. Their best part of life,
their childhood is lost to the demands of survival. Hence, the title is quite apt and
logical.

Q. 31. What message does Anees Jung attempt to give in her story 'Lost Spring' ? Is
she successful in her aim ?
Ans. The lesson 'Lost Spring' describes two 'stories of stolen childhood'. The characters
and places are different but the problem is the same. Thousands of Saheb and Mukesh
are condemned to live a life of misery and exploitation. Grinding poverty and
traditions compel children work in most inhuman and hostile conditions. The author
succeeds in highlighting the plight of such unfortunate children.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Describe the life and living of the ragpickers of Seemapuri, including those of
barefoot young scroungers. Why does Anees Jung say that Seemapuri, is a place on
the periphery of Delhi, yet miles away from it, metaphorically ? (V. Imp.)
Ans. Seemapuri is a settlement of more than 10,000 ragpickers. It is a place on the
Periphery of Delhi. Those who live here are squatters who came from Bangladesh in
1971. They live here without an identity and without permits. They do have ration
cards that enable them to vote and buy grain. Food is more important for them than
their identity. Children grow up to become partners in survival. And survival in
Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through the years it has acquired the 'proportions of a
fine art'. An army of barefoot children appear in the morning with their plastic bags
on their shoulders. They disappear by noon. Garbage has a different meaning for
children. For them it is wrapped in 'wonder'. They may find a rupee even a ten rupee
note or a silver coin. There is always hope of finding more.
Seemapuri may be on the periphery of Delhi yet it is miles away from it,
metaphorically. It is a little hell. Ragpickers live in structures of mud. They have roofs
of tin and tarpaulin. There is no sewage, drainage or running water. It is unimaginable
that it is a part of Delhi, the capital of India.
Q. 2. Who is Saheb and what is ironical about his name ? Describe Saheb's life and
the life of the barefoot army of ragpickers in Seemapuri.
Ans. Saheb is one of the army of barefoot ragpickers of Seemapuri. His full name is
"Saheb-e-Alam". It means "lord of the universe". He doesn't know what it means. The
irony is that this lord of universe moves around barefoot scrounging for gold in
garbage dumps.
Saheb and the army of ragpickers lead quite a miserable life. They live among most
unhygienic and unhealthy surroundings. They live in the structures of mud with roofs
of tin and tarpaulin. There is no sewage, no drainage and no running water in their
settlement. They move around picking up rags without shoes. Anees Jung rightly says
that though Seemapuri is on the periphery of Delhi yet it is miles away,
metaphorically. Garbage has a meaning different for children than their parents. For
children, it is wrapped in 'wonder'. They may find a rupee, a ten rupee note or even a
silver coin. They never stop scrounging. There is always hope of finding more. For the
elders it is a means of survival.
Q. 3. Describe Saheb's life-story from a ragpicker to a servant in a tea-stall? Why
couldn't his new job make him happy?
Ans. Saheb was a young ragpicker of Seemapuri. He was one of the army of barefoot
ragpickers. He would carry a plastic bag on his shoulder. He could be seen scrounging
for gold in the garbage dumps. Saheb had left his home long ago. Saheb's family
migrated from Bangladesh in 1971. They settled down in Seemapuri on the outskirts of

Delhi. Saheb's full name is "Saheb-e-Alam". It means "lord of the universe." It is a cruel
irony that this "lord of the universe" moved about the streets picking up rags. And this
'lord' lived in a structure of mud, devoid of sewage and running water. Like other
children of Seemapuri, Saheb too had become a partner in survival. And survival in
Seemapuri means rag-picking. Garbage to Saheb was 'wrapped in wonder.' He would
sometimes find a rupee, even a ten-rupee note or a silver coin in a heap of garbage.
There was always hope of finding more.
Saheb got a new job. Now he was working in a tea stall. He got 800 rupees and all his
meals. But he didn't seem to be very happy. His face had lost the carefree look of
early days, perhaps the canister he was carrying was heavier than the plastic bag.
Perhaps he was more bound or burdened now. The canister belonged to his master.
The bag was his. Now he was no longer his own master.
Q. 4. Describe the bangle-makers of Firozabad. How does the vicious circle of
the 'Sahukars' and the middlemen never allow them to come out of a web of
poverty ?
(Imp.)
Ans. Firozabad is famous for its bangles. Every other family in the town is engaged in
this profession. It is the centre of India's glass blowing industries. They have been
welding glass and making bangles for all the women in India. Bangle-making is not
confined to adults only. Over 20,000 children join their parents in this job. They work
illegally in the glass furnaces with high temperatures. They are exposed to all healthhazards. These factories are in stinking lanes choked with garbage. They work in dingy
rooms with no windows and outlets for fresh air. Their eyes are more adjusted to the
dark than to the light outside. That is why many of them end up losing their eyesight
before they become adults.
Firozabad refuses to move with the times. Bangle-workers have fallen in a web of
poverty. Mind-numbing toil has killed all their dreams and hopes. They can't organise
themselves into a cooperative. They have fallen into a vicious circle of 'sahukars',
middlemen and the police. It seems the bangle-workers of Firozabad are condemned
to poverty and perpetual exploitation.
Q. 5. How is Mukesh different from other children who work in bangle-industry
and also from that of his family ? Why does the author feel cheered when she
looks into Mukesh's eyes ? (Imp.)
Ans. Mukesh belongs to a family of bangle-makers in Firozabad. He shares the same
misery as is faced by 20,000 other child workers engaged in bangle-making. But he
doesn't want to be a bangle-maker. He has other hopes and aspirations. His family has
been in this business for a long time. They live in most pathetic surroundings. They
work in dingy dark rooms without any window or fresh air. They are exposed to all
health hazards. Mind-numbing toil has killed all dreams and hopes of these young
people. But Mukesh is an exception. He is a dreamer. He dares to challenge the 'Godgiven lineage' of his family. He dreams of becoming a motor mechanic.
The author feels cheered up when she sees a spark of hope and determination in
Mukesh's eyes. It is not just an empty dream. Mukesh seems to be determined. He is
prepared to go to a garage and learn his work. He is quite practical and realistic. He
simply dreams of becoming a motor mechanic. He doesn't dream of flying a plane. He
is content to dream only of cars that he sees moving down the roads of his town.

Q. 6. Describe the plight of about 20,000 child-workers who work in furnaces with
high temperature in Firozabad. How are they exposed to the worst health
hazards?
Ans. Firozabad is basically a bangle-town. Every other family in Firozabad is engaged
in bangle-making. Over 20,000 children work illegally in glass furnaces. Bangle-making
is their 'God-given lineage'. They can't dare to change it. Actually, they know nothing
except making bangles. Nobody cares for the law in Firozabad. Employment of
children in glass and bangle-industry continues unabated.
The fate of the children who work in glass furnaces is particularly pathetic. They have
to work in exceptionally high temperatures. The work-places and working culture are
simply killing. They work in dingy dark rooms without windows. There is no provision
of fresh air and light. Actually their eyes are adjusted more to the dark than with the
light outside. The result is disastrous. Many of them end up losing their eyesight
before they become adults. Little do they know about the sanctity of bangles they
make. Mind-numbing toil kills all dreams and hopes of child-workers in Firozabad.

DEEP WATER
Q. 1. What had happened when William Douglas was ten or eleven years old?
Ans. A 'misadventure' happened when William Douglas was ten or eleven years old. He was
alone at the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool. A big bully of a boy tossed him into the deep end of the
pool. He was nearly drowned. He had to undergo a long and intense suffering during those
moments. At last, he found himself lying beside the pool.
Q. 2. Why did the narrator join the Y.M.C.A. pool for swimming ? Why did his mother
warn continually against his going to the Yakima River ?
Ans. William Douglas had decided to learn to swim. His mother continually warned against his
going to the Yakima River for swimming. The river was treacherous. Many persons had drowned
in it. But the Y.M.C.A. pool was safe. It was only two or three feet at the shallow-end and nine
feet at the deeper-end. The slope was also gradual.
Q. 3. How and why did Douglas develop an aversion to the water when he was in it ? (Imp.)
Ans. William Douglas developed aversion to the water at the age of three or four. His father took
him to the beach in California. They stood together in the surf. The waves knocked him down
and swept over him. He was buried in water. His breath was gone and he was frightened. So he
developed an aversion to water.
Q. 4. What was the misadventure and how did it start ? (Imp.)
Ans. The narrator was at the Y.M.C.A. pool. He had decided to learn to swim. Suddenly a strong
built boy of eighteen came. He teased him and finally tossed him into water. Very soon he went
to the bottom. He struggled to come up but couldn't. He felt paralysed and suffocated. He was
nearly drowned.
Q. 5. How and why 'the big bruiser' of a boy of eighteen throw Douglas into the Y.M.C.A.
pool?
Ans. Douglas went to the pool when no one else was there. Then came a 'big bruiser' of a boy.
He was probably eighteen years old. He was quite muscular with strong arms and legs. He had

thick hair on his chest. Without any rhyme and reason the boy yelled "Hi, Skinny ! How'd you
like to be ducked ?" Then he picked Douglas up and tossed him into the deep end.
Q. 6. What did Douglas plan when his feet hit the bottom ?
Ans. Douglas was tossed into the deep end of the pool. At once his feet touched the bottom. He
was frightened but not out of his wits. He planned to make a big jump and come to the surface.
He thought of lying flat on water for some time. Finally he decided to paddle to the edge of the
pool.
Q. 7. Why did Douglas grow panicky ?
(Imp.)
Ans. The pool was nine feet deep. But those nine feet were more like ninety. Before he touched
the bottom his lungs were ready to burst. He gathered all his strength and sprang upwards. He
came up slowly. He saw nothing but water. He was suffocating. He tried to cry but no sound
came out. He felt paralysed and grew panicky.
Q. 8. What was the condition of his body when he was under water in the pool ?
Ans. He felt suffocating under the water. He had swallowed the water and choked. He tried to
bring his legs up. But they became lifeless and paralysed. He had lost all his breath. His lungs
ached and head throbbed. He was getting dizzy. He felt stiff and rigid with fear.
Q, 9 'And then in the midst of the terror came a touch of reason.' What was that and did it
succeed ?
Ans. 'In the midst of the terror came a touch of reason.' He must remember to jump when he hit
the bottom. He jumped with everything he had. But the jump made no difference. Stark terror
took an even deeper hold on him. His arms and legs wouldn't move. He tried to call for help.
Nothing happened.
Q. 10. What happened when 'all efforts ceased ?' (Imp.)
Ans. When Douglas went down a third time, all efforts ceased. Even his legs felt limp. 'A
blackness' swept over his face. It 'wiped out fear.' It wiped out terror. There was no more panic. It
was quiet and peaceful. He crossed to oblivion. When he came to senses, he found himself lying
on his stomach beside the pool.
Q. 11. How and when did he find himself lying beside the pool ?
Ans. William Douglas had tired himself to come up. But he didn't succeed. He found himself in a
hopeless situation. Then all efforts ceased. He felt drowsy and crossed to oblivion. When he
came to senses, he found himself lying on his stomach beside the pool. He was vomiting.
Q. 12. What did the chap that threw Douglas say in the end ?
Ans. Douglas escaped drowning and found himself lying on his stomach beside the pool. The big
bully who had tossed Douglas into the pool was still there. He defended himself by saying that
he was only 'fooling.' His intention was not bad. Someone said, "The kid nearly died."
Q. 13. How did the haunting fear of water ruin his fishing trips and other joys ?
Ans. The fear stayed with William Douglas as the years rolled by. Wherever he went, the
haunting fear of the water followed him. In canoes on Maine Lakes or fishing for salmon and
trout, the terror followed Douglas. It ruined his fishing trips. It deprived him of the joys of
canoeing, boating and swimming.
Q. 14. What did Douglas do to overcome his fear of the water ? Did he get any success ? (V.
Imp.)
Ans. William Douglas used every way to overcome his fear of water but with little success.
It held him firmly in its grip. Finally, one October, he decided to employ an instructor and learn
to swim. He went to a pool and practised five days a week, an hour each day. Douglas did
succeed in his mission. The instructor made him an expert swimmer.

Q. 15. Why did Douglas go to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire ? What did he do
there ? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Douglas was not sure that all the terror of water had left. So he went to Lake Wentworth in
New Hampshire and swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. He swam the crawl,
breast stroke, side stroke and back stroke.
Q. 16. How did the instructor make William Douglas a perfect swimmer ? (Imp.)
Ans. The instructor made Douglas practise five days a week, an hour each day. He put a belt
around Douglas. A rope was attached to the belt. The rope went through a pulley. He was made
to go back and forth across the pool. Then the instructor taught him how to exhale and inhale.
Thus, 'piece by piece' the instructor built Douglas a swimmer.
Q. 17. What special methods did the instructor use to teach Douglas to swim ?
Ans. The instructor made comprehensive efforts to teach Douglas to swim. He put a belt around
him. A rope was attached to the belt. The rope went through a pulley. He held on to the end of the
rope. They went back and forth across the pool. This continued day after day, week after week.
Q. 18. How did William Douglas finally overcome his fear of the water ? (Imp.)
Ans. The instructor had done his job. He made Douglas a perfect swimmer. But still Douglas was
not sure of himself.. So he went to Lake Wentworth and dived off a dock at Triggs Island. He
swam for two hours across the lake. Only once did the terror return. But it fled and he swam on.
At last, he had conquered his fear of water.
Q. 19. "The experience had a deep meaning for me." says William Douglas. Elucidate the
statement.
Ans. The experience had a deeper meaning for Douglas. He was not just describing a horrible
experience. He wanted to leave a definite message. Only those who have undergone such a stark
terror and conquered it, can appreciate it. All obstacles, fears and terrors can be conquered. Only
we must have determination and courage to meet them.
Q. 20. "All we have to fear is fear itself says Roosevelt. Explain the import of the statement.
Or
What is the message of the lesson "Deep water" ? (Imp.)
Ans. In death there is peace. There is terror only in the fear of death. This is the message of the
lesson. Roosevelt had said, "All we have to fear is fear itself." All terrors and fears are
psychological. We can overcome and conquer it. Only we have to be determined. Douglas
conquered the fear of water only by making himself a perfect swimmer.
Q. 21. Douglas says : "The instructor was finished. But I was not finished". Why did he utter
such words ?
Ans. The instructor had done his job. He had made a swimmer out of him. His responsibility was
over. But the narrator was still not satisfied. When he was alone in the pool, the old fear would
return. He was to continue his efforts to be a perfect swimmer. He would continue till he finally
overcame his fear of water.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. l. What was the sense of panic that gripped William O. Douglas ? How did he overcome
that fear ? (V. Imp.)
Ans. William O. Douglas had developed aversion to water when he was just a boy of
three or four. He and his father stood together in the surf. He was knocked down by the waves.
He was frightened and developed a permanent fear for water. This fear revived when he was at
the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool. A big boy of eighteen tossed him into the deep end of the pool. He
soon reached the bottom of the nine feet deep pool. But those nine feet were more like ninety. He

was nearly drowned. He was gripped with terror but still not out of his wits. He planned to jump
up to the surface but without any success. His hands and legs were paralysed and rigid. His lungs
ached and head throbbed. He went down, down endlessly. Then all efforts leased. When he came
to senses, he found himself lying beside the pool, vomiting. William O. Douglas decided to get
an instructor and learn how to swim. He went to a pool and practised five days a week. The
instructor put a belt around Douglas. A long rope was attached to it. He made him go back and
forth across the pool. He made him a perfect swimmer. He was not sure that all his terror had
left. So he went to Lake Wentworth and dived off a dock. He swam two miles across the lake.
Only once did the terror return. But it finally fled and he swam on in Lake Warm freely. He had
conquered his fear of water.
Q. 2. A big boy threw Douglas into the swimming pool. How did this experience affect Douglas
?(CBSE 2008)
Ans. Y.M.C.A. swimming pool always revived unpleasant memories and childish fears in
Douglas. It was here when a big boy threw him into the swimming pool. Actually, he had gone to
the pool when no one else was there. Then came a 'big bruiser' of a boy. He picked Douglas up
and toss him into the deep end. He at once went to the bottom. He made a big jump to come to
the surface. Those nine feet were more than ninety. His lungs were ready to burst. He opened his
eyes and saw nothing but water. He was suffocating. His legs would not come up. They were
paralysed and dead. He screamed but no one heard him. He went down, down endlessly. Then
sheer stark terror paralysed him. Then all his efforts seized. He crossed into oblivion. Later he
found himself lying on his stomach vomiting beside the pool.
This experience had a far reaching effect on Douglas. He never went back to the pool. He feared
water. He tried to avoid it whenever he could. And whenever he went to a pool, the terror that
seized him in the pool would come back. His legs would become paralysed. 'Icy horror' would
grab his heart. This handicap stayed with Douglas for years. It ruined his fishing trips. He lost the
joy of canoeing, boating, and swimming.
Q. 3. What efforts did William O. Douglas make to overcome his fear of water? When and
how did he conquer it ? (Imp.)
Ans. The 'misadventure' that William O. Douglas experienced at the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool
left deep impression on his mind. The fear stayed with him as the years rolled by. Finally, he
decided to get an instructor and learn to swim. He went to a pool and practised five days a week,
an hour a day. The instructor put a belt round him. A rope was attached to the belt. The rope went
through a pulley. He was made to go back and forth across the pool. After three months the
tension began to slack. Then he taught Douglas how to exhale under water and inhale outside it.
Thus, piece by piece, the instructor made him a perfect swimmer.
William O. Douglas was still not sure that all the terror had left him. So he went to Lake
Wentworth and dived off a dock at Triggs Island. He swam two miles across the lake. But still he
had residual doubts. So he dived into Warm Lake and swam across to the other shore and back.
He shouted with joy. At last, he had conquered his fear of water.
Q. 4. How did the swimming instructor 'build a swimmer' out of Douglas?
(CBSE 2008)
Ans. Douglas had an aversion to the water when he was in it from the beginning. It started when
he was three. Once, he was nearly drowned in a pool at the Y.M.C.A. This handicap stayed with
him as the years rolled by. Finally, one October, he decided to get an instructor and learn to
swim. The instructor built a swimmer out of Douglas.
The instructor made Douglas work really very hard. He went to a pool and practised five days a

week, an hour each day. The instructor put a belt around him. A rope was attached to the belt. It
went through a pulley. He held on to the end of the rope. They went back and forth across the
pool week after week. Each time the instructor relaxed his hold on the rope Douglas went under.
Some of the old terror returned. His legs froze. It took three months before the tension began to
slack. The instructor also taught him to put his face under water and exhale. He was then taught
to raise his nose to inhale. He had taught Douglas to kick with his legs. At first his legs refused to
work but finally he could command them. Thus, 'piece by piece, he built a swimmer'. At last, in
April the instructor asked him to dive off and swim the length of the pool. Douglas did. The
instructor's job was done. He had built a swimmer out of Douglas.
Q. 5. What purpose does William O. Douglas have in recounting a childhood experience of
terror and his conquering of it ? What is the deeper or larger meaning that he draws from
this experience ? (Imp. )
Ans. In 'Deep Water' the author William O. Douglas recounts a childhood 'misadventure'. He
describes how he was tossed into the pool by a big boy. He was nearly drowned in the swimming
pool. He was so much frightened and panicked that the fear of water stayed with him for years.
He was transformed into a perfect swimmer by an instructor. And finally, after a lot of swimming
practice, he was able to overcome his fear of water.
'Deep Water' is just not a childhood experience of terror and the conquering of that terror. It has a
deeper and larger meaning. Through his own experience William O. Douglas wants to convey a
definite message. It is the message of hope, struggle and determination. The psychology of fear
is very complex. In death there is peace. There is terror only in the fear of death. Roosevelt had
rightly said "All we have to fear is fear itself. Douglas experienced both the sensation of dying
and the terror that fear of it can produce. The will to live conquers all obstacles. It wins over all
terror and fears.

GOING PLACES
Q. 1. What does Sophie want to do after she passes out of school?
Ans. Sophie wants to have a boutique of her own. She will have the most amazing shop the city
has ever seen. She says if ever she comes into money she will buy a boutique. Besides it she can
be an actress and can run boutique as side business. She doesn't mind becoming a fashion
designer either.
Q. 2. Where was it most likely that Sophie and Jansie would find job after school?
Ans. Sophie and Jansie belonged to lower middle class families. Actually, they belonged to low
income groups. Sophie dreamed of big and beautiful things. She dreamt of things beyond her
reach and means. Jansie was more practical and realistic. She thought that both of them had
already been earmarked to work in a biscuit factory.
Q. 3. What are other dreams of Sophie besides having a boutique?
(Imp.)
Ans. The greatest dream of Sophie is to have a boutique. She wants to have the most amazing
shop this city has ever seen. Her other dream is of being an actress. 'There's real money in that'.
She has another option. She can be a fashion designer. She wants to be 'a bit sophisticated'.
Q. 4. Does Sophie have means to fulfil her dreams? Why does Jansie say: "Soaf, you really
should be sensible" ? (Imp.)

Ans. Sophie is a day-dreamer. She dreams of big and beautiful things. She dreams of having a
boutique, becoming an actress or a fashion designer. She doesn't have means to fulfil her dreams.
All these things need a lot of money and experience. She has neither. Jansie advises her to be
sensible and stop entertaining wild dreams.
Q. 5. Jansie is Sophie's classmate and friend but doesn't entertain any 'wild dreams'
like her. Why ?(Imp.)
Ans. Sophie and Jansie are classmates and friends. But the similarity ends here. They are poles
apart in thinking and temperament. Sophie is a day-dreamer. She dreams of big and beautiful
things beyond her reach. On the other hand, Jansie is realistic and practical. She knows that big
things require big money and experience which they had none.
Q. 6. What Job Geoff is engaged in? Does he entertain wild dreams like his sister?
Ans. Geoff is three years out of school. He is an apprentice mechanic. He has to travel to his
work each day to the far side of the city. He is not a day-dreamer like his sister. Perhaps he
knows his and his family's limitations better than her. He speaks little but listens to her sister's
'wild stories'.
Q. 7. What did Sophie think of Goeff ? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Geoff was almost grown up now. He spoke little. Words had to be prized out of him like
stones out of the ground. Sophie was jealous of his silence. She knew when he was not speaking,
he was away somewhere. He was out in the world in those places she had never been. She
wanted to share her brother's affections.
Q. 8. What does Sophie tell about her supposed meeting with Danny Casey ? How does he
react to it ? (Imp.)
Ans. Sophie tells Geoff that she met Danny Casey. Geoff looks round abruptly and asks
"Where?" She replies that she met him in the arcade. Geoff can't believe her. Geoff is always the
first to share her secrets but it is too much even for him. He finally says, "I don't believe it".
Q. 9. Describe Sophie's father.
Ans. Sophie's father is a typical carefree man of a lower-income family. He loves life, action and
drinking. He lacks sophistication. He is clumsy in habits and behaviour. He has a passion for
football and adores Danny Casey. He understands Sophie quite well and doesn't believe in her
'wild stories'.
Q. 10. Why was Sophie fascinated by Danny Casey? Was it a one-sided affair?
Ans. Young girls of Sophie's age indulge in day-dreaming. She dreamed of big and beautiful
things beyond her reach or means. Her fascination for the Irish genius Casey suited her romantic
disposition. The football icon was young, tall and handsome. Sophie had seen him on T.V. and
also in action once in the field. Naturally, she was fascinated by him.
Q. 11. How does Sophie's father react when Geoff tells him about her meeting with Danny
Casey ? (Imp.)
Ans. Geoff breaks the news to his father that Sophie met the Irish prodigy Danny Casey. Her
father turns his head at her in disbelief. His expression is one of disdain. He completely ignores
the news. He goes on to talk about Tom Finny and Danny Casey. "This is another of your wild
stories" he declares.
Q. 12. "Casey must have strings of girls" warns Geoff. He also says of Casey : "As if he'd ever
show up". Why does Geoff say such things about Casey to Sophie ?
Ans. Geoff knows that Sophie is still quite immature. She is crazy after Danny Casey, the Irish
genius. He tries to convince Sophie that a celebrity like Casey must have many girls running
after him. Sophie protests. Casey will give her his autograph when she meets him next. Geoff

fails to be convinced.
Q. 13. Why does Sophie say : "Promise, Geoff-Dad'l murder me" ? How does Geoff react to
it ?
Ans. Geoff has already broken the news that Sophie met the Irish prodigy, Casey. Her father
doesn't believe her. He only looks at her with disdain. He bluntly asks her to stop her 'wild
stories'. She knows that her father is quite angry. She fears that he may even murder her. Geoff
consoles that his father is not a fool to believe such 'wild stories'.
Q. 14. How does Sophie describe her imagined meeting with Danny Casey to Geoff? (Imp.)
Ans. Sophie tells Geoff that she met Danny Casey in the arcade. It was she who spoke first and
asked if he was Casey. He looked surprised. He was certainly Danny Casey. Before going he
promised to give his autograph if she cared to meet him next week.
Q. 15. Why was the visit of Sophie's father and his family to watch United 'their weekly
pilgrimage'?
(V. Imp.)
Ans. Sophie's father was a football fan. He was taking a lot of interest in the growing career of
the young Irish genius Danny Casey. Geoff too was interested in football. Sophie was mad after
Danny Casey. The celebrity was her personal hero. Watching Casey playing for United was like a
religious or holy weekly ritual.
Q. 16. Why did Sophie curse Geoff ? Why did she say that "it was not a Jansie thing"?
Ans. Sophie knew that her classmate and friend Jansie was 'nosey'. She took especial interest in
knowing new things about others. She came to know of her story of meeting with Danny Casey
through Geoff. She cursed Geoff because Sophie didn't believe Jansie. She could spread the
rumour in the whole neighbourhood.
Q. 17. How did Sophie describe her meeting with Danny Casey ?
Ans. Actually, Sophie saw Casey in person only once and that too in the field. They never met
personally. She told Geoff that she met Casey at the Royce's window for the first time. He came
and stood beside her. She spoke to him first and asked for an autograph. They had neither paper
nor a pen. Casey promised for the autograph if she cared.
Q. 18. How did Jansie react at Sophie's story of her meeting with Danny Casey?
Ans. Jansie was a classmate and friend of Sophie. She knew her quite well. She was also aware
of her day-dreaming habit. She exclaimed: "You never did !" But when Sophie continued telling
her how she asked him for an autograph, she relented a bit. She said, "Jesus, I wish I'd have been
there".
Q. 19. Why did Sophie choose to walk by the canal ? What did she do there?
(V. Imp.)
Ans. Sophie walked by the canal, along a sheltered path. It was far away from the noise and
crowd of the city. It was a place where she had often played when she was a child. There was a
wooden bench beneath a solitary elm tree. Lovers sometimes came there. Here she could dream
of her hero Danny Casey undisturbed.
Q. 20. Sophie would sit for hours wishing Danny would come. What made her sad and
despondent in the end ?
Ans. Sophie would sit down in a wooden bench beneath a solitary elm tree. She imagined Danny
Casey's coming. She could realise the time passing. Pangs of doubt stirred inside her. She would
become sad and despondent. Danny wouldn't come at all. She feared that people would laugh at
the story of her meeting with Casey.
Q. 21. What arguments did Sophie put forth to prove that the Irish genius Casey was
innocent ?

Ans. Sophie's brother Geoff tried to reason with her. He told her that Danny Casey was a
celebrity. He must .have many girls running after him. Sophie opposed him. He didn't have
strings of girls. He himself had told her so. He was not like that. He was quiet and innocent.
Q. 22. Did she ever meet Danny Casey ? When did she actually see Casey in person ? (Imp.)
Ans. Young girl Sophie actually never met Danny Casey. She indulged in wishful thinking and
dreams of meeting him. Her imagined meeting gave her immense pleasure. She saw Danny
Casey in person only once. She went with her family to the stadium to watch the match. She saw
her hero in action there.
Q. 23. "Sophie's dreams and disappointments are all in her mind". Discuss.
(Imp.)
Ans. It is true that Sophie's dreams and disappointments are all in her mind. She is crazy and lets
her loose in Danny Casey's dreams. She imagines her meeting with Casey. She hopes against
hopes. Her day-dreaming leads to despondency. So Sophie's dreams and disappointments are not
real. They are merely the products of her mind.
Q. 24. What was the autograph riddle ? Did Sophie succeed ?
Ans. Sophie indulged in wishful dreams. She described how she met Casey for the first time. She
asked for his autograph. But neither had any paper nor a pen. She couldn't get his autograph.
However, Casey promised to oblige her next time if she cared to meet him.
Q. 25. Who was Danny Casey ? Why were the members of Sophie's family so crazy after
him ?
Ans. Danny Casey was a great promising footballer who played for United. The Irish prodigy
could be seen running, dodging the defenders and the goalkeeper in the field. Sophie's father was
a great fan of Casey. So were Geoff and little Derek. Sophie was always lost in his dreams and
considered him to be her personal hero.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Sophie was an incurable dreamer and escapist having no relation to the realities of life.
She suffers because she dreams. But all her dreams and disappointments are the creations of her
own mind. Give a reasoned answer.
Ans. Sophie is a school going girl. She lives in a dreamy world which has distant relation with
the harsh realities of life. She dreams of big and beautiful things beyond her reach or her means.
She thinks of having a boutique. Then she entertains the idea of being an actress. She can be a
fashion designer too. Here she is poles apart from her classmate and friend Jansie. Jansie is
realistic and practical. She knows that both of them have been earmarked for the biscuit factory.
Sophie's romantic and dreamy disposition leads her to hero-worship. The hero of her dreams is
the young Irish wonder-footballer Danny Casey. She has developed a romantic fascination for
him. Even Geoff cautions her that Casey is a celebrity. Many girls like her must run after him.
But she is an incurable dreamer. She thinks of him all the time. She sits for hours imagining
Danny Casey coming to her. She knows that he will never come. She becomes sad but helpless.
She lives with all her dreams and disappointments. They are not real. They are all the creations
of her mind.
Q. 2. While Sophie has no touch with reality, Jansie's feet are firmly planted on the
ground. Draw a contrast between the two citing examples from the story. (Imp.)
Ans. Sophie and Jansie are class-fellows and friends. They belong to lower middle class families.
Jansie understands her limitations well. She knows that both of them are earmarked for the
biscuit factory. But Sophie is totally blind to the harsh realities of life. She dreams of big and
beautiful things. She wants to have a boutique. She also entertains the idea of becoming an
actress. She loves to be nice, grand and sophisticated. All her dreams are beyond her reach and

resources. Jansie advises her: "Soaf, you really should be sensible". But Sophie refuses to be
sensible. She is nothing more than a romantic dreamer.
Sophie and Jansie are poles apart in thinking and temperament. Sophie is all lost to herself and
her dreamy world. There is only one person who first shares her secrets. He is her elder brother
Geoff. Jansie is 'nosey' and takes interest in knowing new things about others. Sophie knows she
will spread the story in the whole neighbourhood. Sophie is an incurable escapist. She adores the
young Irish footballer Danny Casey. She remains what she always is a dreamer.
Q. 3. Who was Geoff? How did he share Sophie's secrets though he had a temperament and
thinking different from his sister?
Ans. Geoff was Sophie's elder brother. He was three years out of school. He was an apprentice
mechanic. He travelled to his work each day to the far side of the city. He spoke very little.
Words had to be prized out of him. Sophie was jealous of Geoffs silence. Geoff thought her too
young and so never thought it necessary to take her opinion. Geoff never dreamt of big and
beautiful things beyond his reach or means. He was mature enough to understand his limitations
and of his family.
Geoff was always the .first to share Sophie's secrets. He knew that Sophie's story of meeting with
Danny Casey was not true. Still he listened to her. Sophie had confidence in him. Like an elder
brother Geoff tried to reason with Sophie. He warned her that Danny Casey was a celebrity. He
must have many girls like her running after him.
Geoff and Sophie shared a common trait. That was their fascination for the Irish prodigy Danny
Casey. But Sophie entertained romantic fascination of Casey.
Q. 4. Who was Danny Casey? How was his presence felt in Sophie's family and how deeply
was the young girl fascinated by her personal hero? Ans. Danny Casey was a wonder boy of
football. He was an Irish prodigy who had won the hearts of his countless fans. Sophie's family
adored Casey. He played for United. Sophie's father compared him to another great football
player Tom Finny. He wished Danny Casev would "keep his head on his shoulders". Geoff was
sure that he would prove even a better player than Tom Finny.
Sophie's family was obsessed with the Irish genius. They made their weekly pilgrimage on
Saturday to the stadium to watch the game. He scored the second goal. United won by two
nil. Geoff was ecstatic.
Sophie had a romantic fascination for the Irish prodigy. He was more than a footballer for her.
Her young heart throbbed for her hero. She imagined his coming to her. She would sit under an
Elm tree for hours dreaming of him. She knew he would not come. That made her sad. So in her
adoration of Casey, Sophie became a victim of her own dreams and disappointments.
Q. 5. Describe Sophie's father highlighting his passion for football, his strange habits and
his attitude to Sophie.
Ans. Sophie's father is a dominating personality. He is a typical representative of the lower
middle class family. He is poor but somehow manages to pull on with his family. He lacks
refined manners or sophistication. The way he eats the pie exposes his rough eating habits. He
tosses one of little Derek's shoes from his chair on to the sofa. He sits down with a grunt. He
doesn't seem to be much interested in the family. Watching football on the television is his
favourite pastime. He goes to the pub quite often.
Sophie's father has passion for football. He is an old admirer of Tom Finny, a great footballer. He
adores the upcoming young footballer Casey like all his children. He is sure that one day Danny
Casey may prove even better than Finny. He wishes he would "keep his head over his shoulders"
Casey plays for United. So he makes a 'weekly pilgrimage' to watch United and Casey in action.

Sophie's father doesn't seem to be very sympathetic towards his daughter. He often looks at her
in disdain. He ignores her completely. But he understands his daughter well. He doesn't believe
in her meeting with Casey. He considers it another of her "wild stories".

INDIGO
Q. 1. When and where did Gandhi decide "to urge the departure of the British" and
why?
(Imp.)
Ans. The idea that the British must quit India came to Gandhi's mind in 1917. He took
up the cause of the poor peasants in Bihar in 1916. Gandhi later on went to
Champaran to wage a struggle against the cruel British landlords. The Champaran
episode made Gandhi clear that the British must quit India sooner or later.
Q. 2. How did Shukla succeed in persuading Gandhiji to visit Champaran ?
(CBSE 2008)
Or
What made Gandhi to surrender to the wish of Rajkumar Shukla and board a train
to
Patna
in
Bihar
?
(Imp.)
Ans. Rajkumar Shukla wanted Gandhiji to visit Champaran to take up the cause
of sharecroppers there. Gandhiji told Shukla that he had an appointment in Kanpur.
He was also committed to go to other parts of India. Shukla followed Gandhiji to the
ashram. He went to Calcutta when Gandhiji arrived there. Gandhiji was impressed by
his tenacity and story. They boarded the train for Patna.
Q. 3. Why did Rajkumar Shukla want to take Gandhiji to Champaran?
(CBSE 2008)
Ans. Rajkumar Shukla was a poor peasant sharecropper from Champaran in Bihar. He
had come to the Congress session to meet Gandhiji. He wanted Gandhiji to visit
Champaran to see the miserable condition of the peasant sharecroppers at the hands
of the British indigo planters. They were victims of the injustice of the landlord
system in Champaran.
Q. 4. What did the servants at Rajendra Prasad's house take Gandhi to be? Why
was he not allowed to draw water from the well ?
Ans. Shukla led Gandhi to Rajendra Prasad's house in Patna. He was out of town. Dr.
Prasad's servants knew that Shukla was a sharecropper. So they took Gandhi also to be
a poor peasant of a low caste. He was not allowed to draw water from the well
because he could pollute the water.
Q. 5. Why didn't Gandhi go straight to Champaran but stayed first at Muzaffarpur?
Ans. Gandhi thought it advisable to go first to Muzaffarpur. It was en route to
Champaran. He wanted to collect more information about conditions prevailing there.
Therefore, he sent a telegram to Professor J.B. Kripalani. He stayed for two days in

the home of Professor Malkani. Even Muzaffarpur lawyers called on Gandhi to brief
him.
Q. 6. Why did Gandhi chide the lawyers of Muzaffarpur ?
(Imp.)
Ans. Muzaffarpur lawyers called on Gandhi to brief him. They had frequently
represented peasants in courts. Gandhi chided them for collecting big fees from the
poor sharecroppers. When peasants were so poor and crushed, it was inhuman to
charge heavy fees from them.
Q. 7. What was the long-term contract or agreement that English landlords had
made with the sharecroppers of Champaran ? How was it exploitative ?
Ans. Most of the arable land in Champaran district was owned by English landlords.
Indians were only their tenants. Indigo was the main commercial crop. The landlords
compelled all tenants to plant 15% of their land with indigo. This long-term
agreement was enough to twist the arms of the peasants. They had no freedom of
their own.
Q. 8. Why did the indigo planters obtain new agreements from the sharecroppers
to pay them compensation ? Why did many sign willingly ?
(Imp.)
Ans. Germany produced synthetic indigo. Now the plantation of indigo was no more
profitable. The landlords wanted to free the peasants from the 15% agreement. For
this freedom, they demanded compensation from the sharecroppers. Many of them
signed willingly as the previous 15% arrangement was not liked by them.
Q. 9. How did even illiterate sharecroppers see through the trick and fraud of the
English landlords ? Why did they want their money back ?
(Imp.)
Ans. Germany had invented synthetic indigo. Now indigo plantation was no more
profitable. Even the illiterate peasants could see through the trick and game of the
landlords. The landlords demanded compensation for freeing the peasants from the
15% agreement. The peasants refused. Therefore, they were not ready to pay the
compensation and demanded their money back.
Q. 10. What was the outcome of Gandhi's meeting with (i) the secretary of
the British landlords' association (ii) commissioner of Tirhut ?
Ans. Nothing fruitful came out of these meetings, (i) The secretary of the British landlords' association considered Gandhi an outsider. He didn't provide him any
information (ii) The British official commissioner of Tirhut bullied Gandhi. He advised
Gandhi to leave Tirhut at once.
Q. 11. Why did Gandhi go to a nearby village in Champaran ? Why did he
come back without visiting the place ?
Ans. While Gandhi was at Champaran, a report came. A peasant had been maltreated
in a nearby village. Gandhi rode on the back of an elephant to go there. The
superintendent of police asked him to return to the town immediately. Gandhi
complied. Another message was delivered. Gandhi was asked to leave Champaran
immediately.
Q. 12. What was the reaction of the peasants when they heard that Gandhi w in
trouble with the authorities ? How did Gandhi help the authorities ?
Ans. Gandhi received a summon to appear in court. The next day thousands of
peasants had assembled in Motihari. They didn't know much about Gandhi. But they
knew that he had come there only to take up their cause. Thousands of them held a

demonstration. The officials felt powerless. Gandhi helped the authorities to regulate
the crowd.
Q. 13. Why was the government baffled and what could Gandhi prove to them by
the episode at Motihari ? (Imp.)
Ans. There was a spontaneous demonstration of thousands of peasants in Motihari.
The government was baffled. The officials felt helpless. Gandhi was polite and
friendly. He helped them regulate the crowd. Gandhi gave a concrete proof that the
might of the British though dreaded, could be challenged by Indians.
Q. 14. Gandhi was involved in a 'conflict of duties'. What did he decide in the
end and why? (Imp.)
Ans. Gandhi was involved in a 'conflict of duties'. On the one hand, he didn't want to
set a bad example. He didn't want to be a law-breaker. On the other hand, he couldn't
give up the cause of the poor peasants of Champaran. Therefore, he heard the 'voice
of conscience' in the end. He decided to disobey the order.
Q. 15. Why didn't the judge pronounce sentence for several days and allowed
Gandhi to remain at liberty?
Ans. The peasants held a spontaneous demonstration in thousands in Motihari. The
officials felt helpless and the government was baffled. The judge was requested to
postpone the trial. The pressure of the people was mounting. The judge didn't want to
aggravate the situation. He held up the sentence for several days : and finally released
Gandhi without bail.
Q. 16. How could Gandhi persuade the lawyers to follow him into jail ?
Ans. Many prominent lawyers of Bihar came to confer with Gandhi. Gandhi asked what
they would do if he was sentenced to prison. A senior lawyer told frankly that they
would go home. Gandhi asked them about the injustice done to the sharecroppers.
The lawyers felt ashamed. They finally declared that they were ready to'-follow' him
into jail.
Q. 17. "Civil disobedience had triumphed, the first time in modern India". Justify
this statement.(Imp.)
Ans. Gandhi was asked to leave Champaran by an official order. He respected the
lawful authority. But the Voice of conscience' made him disobey the order. Thousands
of peasants, held a huge demonstration. The government was baffled. The officials
felt helpless. Gandhi was released without bail. So civil disobedience had triumphed
for the first time in modern India.
Q. 18. What was the outcome of four protracted interviews that Gandhi had with
the Lieutenant-Governor ?
(Imp.)
Ans. In June, Gandhi was summoned to Sir Edward Gait, the Lieutenant-Governor. He
had four protracted interviews with him. He took up the cause of the sharecroppers of
Champaran with him. As a result, a commission of inquiry was set up to look into the
plight of the indigo sharecroppers. Gandhi was the sole representative of the
peasants.
Q. 19. How was the settlement for compensation reached between the English
planters and the sharecroppers ? Describe Gandhi's role in it.
(Imp.)
Ans. The official enquiry had assembled a mountain of evidence against the English
landlords. They were under pressure to make refunds to the peasants. They thought
Gandhi would press for the full repayment. But he asked only for 50%. The landlords

offered to refund 25% of the money. To their surprise, Gandhi agreed. So the
settlement was adopted unanimously by the commission.
Q. 20. The settlement of 25% refund to the farmers appeared rather small. Why did
Gandhi agree to it and how did events justify his position ?
(Imp.)
Ans. According to the settlement, the planters were to refund 25% of the
compensation money to the peasants. The achievement appeared to be rather small
but events justified his position. But for Gandhi the amount of refund was less
important. More important was the fact that the landlords were forced to surrender
part of their right. So he agreed to the settlement.
Q. 21. What did Gandhi do to remove the cultural and social backwardness in the
Champaran villages ?
Ans. Politics and economic issues were important. But for Gandhi the cultural and
social backwardness in the Champaran villages was a curse. He wanted to do
something about it immediately. Many more volunteers came from other parts of
India. Primary schools were opened in six villages. Kasturbai taught cleanliness and
sanitation. Gandhi got a doctor to volunteer his services for six months.
Q. 22. 'The Champaran episode was a turning point in Gandhi's life? How do
you justify it ?
Ans. The Champaran episode was really a turning point in Gandhi's life. It began not as
an act of defiance. It was an effort to remove the distress of poor peasants. The
success of Champaran justified Gandhi's ways and means. It gave a message. The
Britishers were dreaded and unquestioned but now they could be challenged by the
Indians. The success of Champaran was the success of peaceful Civil Disobedience in
modern India.
Q. 23. 'Gandhi's politics were intertwined with the practical day-to-day problems of
the millions'.Justify this statement with reference to the Champaran
episode. (Imp.)
Ans. The success of Champaran justified Gandhi's style of politics. Civil disobedience
was typical pattern of Gandhian politics. His ways and means were non-violent. His
politics were intertwined with the day-to-day problems of the millions. In Champaran
he identified himself with the lot of poor and exploited peasants.
Q. 24. How did Gandhi teach us a lesson in self-reliance ? Why did he oppose
taking help from C. F. Andrews ?
(V. Imp.)
Ans. Gandhi wanted to mould 'a new free Indian'. He wanted Indians to stand on their
own feet. Some of his followers wanted C.F. Andrews to stay in Champaran and help
them. Gandhi opposed it. He didn't want Indians to take the help of an Englishman in
their struggle for freedom. So he taught a lesson in self-reliance.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. Who was Rajkumar Shukla and why did he meet Gandhi? What made Gandhi
board a train with him to Patna?
(Imp.)
Ans. Rajkumar Shukla was a poor sharecropper from Champaran. He met Gandhi in
Lucknow at the December 1916 annual convention of the Indian National Congress. He
was like any other peasant in India, poor, weak and thin. He had come to the Congress
session to complain about the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar. In Champaran
most of the arable land was owned by English landlords. They forced the Indian
sharecroppers to grow indigo on the land. Somebody had advised him to meet Gandhi.

Gandhi told Shukla that he had appointments in Kanpur. He was also committed to go
to other parts of India. But Shukla was determined. He accompanied Gandhi
everywhere. For weeks, he never left Gandhi's side. He begged Gandhi to fix a date.
Gandhi was impressed by the sharecropper's tenacity and devotion. He asked Shukla
to come to Calcutta and meet him.
Months passed. Gandhi arrived in Calcutta. He waited till Gandhi was free. Now it was
impossible for Gandhi to avoid him. Then the two of them boarded a train for Patna in
Bihar.
Q. 2. Describe the efforts made by R.K. Shukla to persuade Gandhi to go to
Champaran. (A.I.CBSE 2008)
Ans. Gandhiji had gone to the December 1916 Annual Convention of the Indian
National Congress in Lucknow. A peasant came up to see him. He was Rajkumar
Shukla. He looked like any other peasant in India. He was poor and emaciated. He was
from Champaran. The place is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas near Nepal.
Gandhiji had never heard of the place. Shukla apprised Gandhiji about the injustice of
the landlord system in Champaran. Under an ancient agreement, the Champaran
peasants were sharecroppers. Gandhiji told Shukla that he had an appointment in
Kanpur. He was also committed to go to other parts of India. Shukla accompanied
Gandhi everywhere. Gandhiji returned to his ashram near Ahmedabad. Shukla
followed him to the ashram. He begged Gandhiji to fix a date.
Gandhiji was impressed by Shukla's tenacity and honesty. Gandhiji was to be in Calcutta on a particular day. He asked Shukla to come and take him from there. Months
passed. When Gandhiji arrived Calcutta he found Shukla sitting there on his haunches.
He waited till Gandhiji was free. Then both of them boarded a train for Patna in
Bihar. From there Gandhiji went to Muzaffarpur to get complete information about
conditions in Champaran. He met Kriplani and Prof. Malkani there. Then Gandhiji
proceeded to Champaran.
Q. 3. Describe the exploitation of the indigo sharecroppers by English landlords in
Champaran. Did Gandhi help them to get an honourable settlement? (V. Imp.)
Ans. Most of the arable land in Champaran was owned by English landlords. The Indian
tenants worked on the land. The chief commercial crop was indigo. The English
planters compelled all sharecroppers to plant 15% of their holdings with indigo. They
had to surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent to the landlords. This was done by a
long-term contract. Then Germany developed synthetic indigo. The plantation of
natural indigo was no more a profitable business for English landlords. They decided
to free the Indian sharecroppers from the 15% contract. They were to pay
compensation for this freedom. The peasants saw through the trick and fraud of the
landlords. Therefore, they wanted their money back.
Gandhi went to Bihar to take up the cause of poor peasants. There was a huge
demonstration of thousands of peasants the very next day. The government was
baffled. A commission of inquiry was constituted. Gandhi was the sole representative
of the peasants. The landlords agreed to refund the money to the peasants. At last,
they settled for 25%. The amount of refund was less important. The more important
thing was the victory of the peasants and the victory of the Civil Disobedience in
India.

Q. 4. 'Self-reliance, Indian independence and help to sharecroppers were all bound

together', says Louis Fischer about Gandhi. Explain giving examples from the text.
Ans. Self-reliance was one of the virtues that Gandhi valued most. He tried to 'mould
a new free Indian'. He wanted Indians to stand on their own feet and thus make India
free. Some of Gandhiji's followers wanted C.F. Andrews to stay in Champaran and help
them. Gandhi opposed it vehemently. They should rely upon themselves to win the
battle. In this way, Gandhi taught them a lesson in self-reliance.
For the first time Gandhi entertained the idea in 1916 that the Britishers must quit
India. The Champaran episode provided him a great challenge and opportunity.
Actually, it was a turning point in Gandhi's life. Gandhi proved that the Britishers
could be challenged by Indians. The success of Champaran was another stepping stone
to India's freedom.
Gandhi went to Champaran to take up the cause of the sharecroppers. He refused to
teave Champaran when he received an official order to quit the place at once.
Thousands of Peasants held a demonstration. The government was helpless. Gandhi
was released without bail. A commission of inquiry was constituted to look into the
plight of the sharecroppers. At last, English landlords agreed to refund 25% of the
money. Thus Gandhi made English landlord-surrender to the demands of the
sharecroppers.

Q. 5. Describe how Champaran turned out to be a turning point in Gandhi's life.

How did the success of Champaran justify the ways and means adopted by Gandhi
during the Civil Disobedience ?
(V. Imp.)
Ans. Champaran provided a great challenge and opportunity for Gandhi. Most of the
arable land in Champaran belonged to English landlords. Indigo was the main
commercial crop. The planters considered themselves above the law. They forced the
sharecroppers to plant indigo on 15% of their holdings. Then came the news of the
synthetic indigo discovered by Germany. Indigo plantation was no more profitable
now. They decided to free the share croppers from the 15% contract. They demanded
compensation for freeing them. Later on, most of the sharecroppers saw through the
fraud. They demanded their money back.
The advent of Gandhi in Bihar raised a big storm. Thousands of peasants held a
demonstration to protest against the government. The officials were helpless. The
government was baffled. Gandhi's four meetings with the Lieutenant-Governor proved
fruitful. A commission of inquiry was constituted. Finally, a settlement was reached.
The sharecroppers got 25% of their money back.
The success of Champaran was the success of Civil Disobedience in India. Champaran
(Movement) didn't begin as an act of defiance. It was a typical Gandhian movement.
Gandhi proved that however strong the British might be, they could be challenged.
Q. 6. Gandhi never contented himself with large political or economic solutions. He
wanted to do something to improve the cultural and social backwardness in the
Champaran villages. Give a reasoned answer.
Ans. No doubt, large political and economic issues were important. But Gandhi's
approach was comprehensive. It was not enough to fight against the officials and the
government. The equally important task was to do something to improve the cultural
and social backwardness in the Champaran villages. First of all Gandhi stressed on
education. He appealed for teachers. Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh were two
young persons. They and their wives volunteered themselves for the work. Several
more came from Bombay, Poona and other parts of India. Gandhi's son Devdas also
joined them. Kasturbai too came from the ashram. Primary schools were opened in six
villages of Champaran. Kasturbai taught the ashram rules on cleanliness and
sanitation.
Health conditions in the villages were really miserable. Gandhi got a doctor to volunteer his services for six months. To start with, only three medicines were available.
Castor oil, quinine and sulphur ointment. He asked Kasturbai to take up the cause of
women and talk to them about their issues. So Gandhi tried his best to do something
to improve the cultural and social backwardness of the villagers in Champaran.
Q. 7. Describe the trial of Gandhi in Motihari court during the
Champaran movement. When and why did Gandhi declare : "The battle of
Champaran is won" ?
Ans. Gandhi came to Motihari, the capital of Champaran. He had already equipped
himself with the necessary facts and information. Gandhi called on the British
Commissioner. He tried to bully Gandhi and advised him to leave the place at once.
Gandhi did not leave the place. Instead he proceeded to Motihari. A huge crowd
greeted him at the station. He received an official notice to quit Champaran

immediately. Gandhi decided to disobey the order. As a result, he was summoned to

appear in the court the next day.
Gandhi wired a full report to the Viceroy. Thousands of peasants held a spontaneous
demonstration around the courthouse. The government was baffled. Gandhi was in a
'conflict of duties'. He didn't want to be a law breaker but he had a cause before him.
Finally, he heard "the voice of his conscience". He was set free without the bail.
Gandhi asked the prominent lawyers what they would do if he was sent to jail. They
finally decided to accompany Gandhi to jail. This emboldened Gandhi. He declared:
"The battle of Champaran is won". The case against Gandhi was dropped. Thus, civil
disobedience had triumphed for the first time in modern India.
Q. 8. How did Gandhi help the poor in Champaran to achieve freedom from fear ?
What made indigo share-cropping disappear ? (A. I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Gandhiji came to Champaran to fight against the injustice of the landlord system
there. First he went to Muzaffarpur to obtain complete information about the actual
conditions there. He met Kriplani and Prof. Malkani who briefed him on the matter.
Most of the land in Champaran was divided into large estates owned by Englishmen.
They were worked by Indian tenants to grow indigo. The landlords compelled all
tenants to plant 15 per cent of their holding with indigo. They surrendered the entire
harvest as rent. When synthetic indigo was developed in Germany indigo plantation no
longer remained profitable. The landlords released the tenants from 15 per cent
agreement. Thus, indigo sharecropping disappeared. They obtained agreements from
sharecroppers to pay them compensation. Many refused to sign and others wanted
their money back. At this point Gandhiji arrived in Champaran.
A huge crowd welcomed Gandhiji at Champaran. The commissioner advised him to
leave the place. Gandhiji didn't oblige him. He decided to disobey the order. He
received a summon to appear in the court the next day. Thousands of peasants
demonstrated around the court house. It was the beginning of their liberation from
fear of the British. The case against Gandhiji was dropped. Civil disobedience had
triumphed for the first time in India.
Q. 9. How did Gandhi use satyagraha and non-violence at Champaran to
achieve his goal? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. The news of Gandhiji's arrival spread quickly through Muzaffarpur to Champaran.
Sharecroppers from Champaran flocked to see their champion. Here was a man who
had come to fight against the injustice of the landlord system of the British. Gandhiji
met the lawyers of Muzaffarpur and chided them for collecting big fee from the
sharecroppers. The peasants were crushed and fear-stricken. Gandhiji's aim was to
make them free from fear. He collected all the facts and met the commissioner. He
tried to bully Gandhiji and advised him to leave the place. Gandhiji didn't leave.
Gandhiji decided to launch a peaceful 'satyagraha' and non-violent movement. He
proceeded to Motihari where a peasant had been maltreated. Gandhiji met the
leading associates and laid detailed plans for civil disobedience if he was arrested.
Next morning there were spontaneous demonstrations in Motihari. Thousands of
peasants challenged the might of the British. The government was baffled. After
showing early hesitations, the prominent, lawyers declared their unqualified support
to Gandhi. Gandhi's case was dropped. Civil disobedience had triumphed for the first
time in India.

Gandhiji's peaceful non-violent civil disobedience and 'satyagraha' bore the

desired results. A commission of enquiry was constituted. Evidences were against the
landlords. They agreed to refund to the extent of 25 per cent. The amount of the
refund was less important. The more important thing was that the peasants got their
rights and defenders. Within a few years indigo sharecropping disappeared.

THE RATTRAP
Q. 1. What did the peddler sell and how did he make the things ?
Ans. The peddler went around selling small rattraps. They were made of iron wires.
He got the material by begging in the stores or at the big farms. He made them
himself at odd moments. But anyway, he was not doing a good business.
Q. 2. Why did the peddler have to resort to both begging and petty
thievery? (Imp.)
Ans. The peddler went around selling small rattraps of wire. He made them himself.
He got the material by begging in the stores or at the big farms. But even so he didn't
earn much. So he had to resort to both begging and petty thievery to keep body and
soul together.
Q. 3. What kind of life did the peddler lead and why ?
Ans. The business of selling small rattraps was not profitable for the peddler. So he
had to resort to both begging and petty thefts. It kept his body and soul together.
Even so, his clothes were in rags. His cheeks were sunken and he often remained
hungry. Life was quite sad and monotonous.
Q. 4. When did an idea suddenly strike to the peddler and what was it ? Ans. One
day the peddler had been thinking of his rattraps. Suddenly he was struck by an idea.
The whole world appeared to him nothing but a big rattrap. The world simply existed
for one purpose. It was to set baits for people. Once anyone was tempted to touch
the bait, the rattrap was closed in on him.
Q. 5. How does the author employ the metaphor of 'rattrap' effectively in
the story? Explain by giving examples from the text. (V. Imp.)
Ans. The author uses the metaphor of 'rattrap' very often but effectively in the story.
This world is nothing but a big rattrap. It only sets trap for people. Riches or joys are
just baits to tempt the people. The peddler realises that stealing of 30 kronors was
such a bait. Similarly, going to the manor house was like voluntarily entering a lion's
den.
Q. 6. What did the peddler think of the world and its people ?
Ans. The peddler didn't think very kindly of the world and its people. For him the
world was a big rattrap to trap the people in. The world had been very unkind to him.
So it gave him a great pleasure to think ill of it. People keep on circling around the
bait and get caught in.
Q. 7. Why was the old crofter so friendly and relaxed with the peddler ?
Ans. The old crofter was a lonely person without wife or child. He was happy to get
someone to talk to in his loneliness. So he tried to make his guest quite comfortable.

He offered him supper, tobacco and played 'mjolis' with his guest. Even the peddler
didn't expect such a friendly and relaxed reception there.
Q. 8. How was he welcomed by the old crofter ? Did he expect such a hospitality?
(Imp)
Ans. One dark evening, the peddler needed shelter for the night. He knocked the door
of a cottage. He expected 'sour faces' to greet him. But surprisingly he got the
hospitality of an old and lonely crofter. He was happy to get someone to talk to in his
loneliness. The peddler was served supper and played "mjolis" with his host.
Q. 9. What did the old crofter do with the pouch and why ?
Ans. The old crofter took down a leather pouch which hung on a nail in the window
frame. He picked out three wrinkled ten-kronor notes. These he held before the eyes
of his guest knowingly. Then he stuffed them back into the pouch. Perhaps he was
setting a bait for the peddler.
Q. 10. How did the peddler prove false to his host, the old crofter ? Did he let
himself voluntarily swept away by the bait ?
(Imp.)
Ans. Naturally, the peddler played false to his generous host, the crofter. The old man
took three ten kronor notes out of the pouch. He then stuffed them back into the
pouch. He did all in the presence of his guest. Perhaps he was setting a bait. The
vagabond couldn't overcome the temptation and ran away with the money.
Q. 11. Why did the peddler decide to take his way through the forest ?
Ans. The peddler walked along with the stolen money in his pocket. He didn't want to
take any unexpected risk. He dared not continue on the public highway. He must turn
off the road, into the woods. Hence, he took his way through the forest. That could
save him from being chased and caught red-handed.
Q. 12. Why did the peddler recall his thoughts about the world and the
rattrap when he was lost in the big and confusing forest ?
Ans. With the money in his pocket, the peddler decided not to walk on the public
highway. He turned off into big and confusing forest and got lost. Here he thought
about the world and the rattrap. He realised that now his own turn had come. He had
let himself befooled by a bait and had been caught.
Q. 13. How did the peddler come to the forge of the Ramsjo Ironworks ?
Ans. When he found no way out of the forest, the peddler was tired to death. He
thought that his last moment had come. Suddenly he heard the thumping sound of
hammer strokes coming from Ramsjo Ironworks. He gathered all his courage and
dragged himself in that direction.
Q. 14. Describe the activities that the peddler noticed at the Ramsjo
Ironworks. Why didn't the blacksmith stop him from entering the forge ?
Ans. The Ramsjo Ironworks was a large plant. The mastersmith and his helper sat near
the furnace. The big bellows groaned and the burning coal cracked. The fire boy
shovelled charcoal into the furnace. The blacksmith didn't notice the peddler.
Moreover, it was not unusual for poor vagabonds to come to the forge for shelter.
Q. 15. What did the ironmaster say to the peddler when he saw him in the forge ?
Why did he invite him home ?
Ans. The ironmaster saw a man in rags sitting so close to the furnace. He walked close
to him and had a good view of him. The ironmaster mistook him for an old

acquaintance. Perhaps he thought him an old comrade from his regiment. Therefore,
he invited him to come home with him.
Q. 16. Why did the peddler decline to come home with the ironmaster ? (Imp.)
Ans. The ironmaster mistook the peddler as an old acquaintance. He invited him to
come home with him. But the peddler was not amused. He was quite alarmed. He
thought of the thirty kronors. Going up to the manor house was not safe. It was like
throwing himself voluntarily into the lion's den.
Q. 17. The ironmaster assumed that perhaps the peddler felt embarrassed because of
his miserable clothing. Why did he insist on his coming to the manor house?
Ans. The peddler hesitated to come with the ironmaster. Perhaps it was due to his
shabby clothes. Actually, the ironmaster felt lonely. His wife was dead and children
were abroad. Only his eldest daughter lived with him. He wanted the peddler's
company at the Christmas.
Q. 18. Why did the peddler accept Edla Willmansson's invitation of bringing him to
her home?
Ans. The peddler had declined the invitation of the ironmaster to come to his manor
But he bowed to Edla Willmansson's invitation. The girl was highly persuasive. She was
full Of compassion and friendly nature. She appreciated his feelings and assured him of
complete freedom and security.
Q. 19. What doubts did Edla entertain about the peddler when she met him for
the first time at the forge ?
Ans. When Edla met the peddler for the first time, she looked at him compassionately,
she noticed that the man was afraid. Either he had stolen something or else he had
escaped from jail. She also doubted if he was at all an educated person. There was
nothing about him to show that.
Q. 20. Why did the ironmaster send his daughter to the forge ? Did he succeed in
his mission ?(Imp.)
Ans. The ironmaster failed in his mission to take the peddler home. Then he sent his
daughter to the forge. He hoped that she had better powers of persuasion. The girl
looked at him compassionately. She assured him that he would stay at Christmas. He
will have freedom of going away at any time. The girl succeeded in persuading him to
come home.
Q. 21. Describe the hospitality that the peddler enjoyed while at the manor house
of the ironmaster.
Ans. The ironmaster and Miss Edla tried their best to make the peddler comfortable at
their home. He had the satisfaction of serving his old regimental comrade. He ordered
his valet to give his guest a good bath, a haircut and a good shave. Moreover he was
dressed in a good looking suit. He was served Christmas fish and porridge.
Q. 22. How and when did the ironmaster know the truth about the peddler? How
did he react after it ? (Imp.)
Ans. The peddler stood well groomed before the ironmaster in broad daylight.
Everything became clear. But the ironmaster did not seem pleased. The guest was not
an old comrade from the regiment. He felt deceived and cheated. He threatened to
call the sheriff but asked him to go away at once from there.
Q. 23. What did the peddler say in his defence to the ironmaster ? What was the
effect ?

Ans. The peddler defended himself. It was not his fault. He never pretended to be
anything but a poor peddler. He only pleaded and begged to stay in the forge. He was
ready to put on his old rags again and go away.
Q. 24. What did the peddler say when the ironmaster threatened to call the
sheriff?
Ans. The peddler tried to defend himself. He never pretended to be anything but a
poor peddler. Then he used the metaphor of the rattrap. The baits were set out to
drag a poor fellow into trouble. One day the ironmaster would also get caught in the
trap. He meant no harm and cheating to them. He would put on his rags again and go
away.
Q. 25. How did the ironmaster's daughter intercede for the vagabond when her
father had asked him to leave the place at once ? (V. Imp.)
The truth about the peddler was known. The ironmaster asked him to go away from
there at once. But soon his daughter Miss Edla Willmansson interceded for the
stranger. She told her father that the miserable man was welcomed by none.
Moreover, it was unethical to chase away a guest. He had been invited and promised
Christmas cheer.
Q. 26 What was the sensational news that the ironmaster and his daughter heard
at Church ? How did they react on hearing the news?
Ans. At church the ironmaster and his daughter heard a sensational news. One of the
old crofters of the ironworks had been robbed by a man. The thief went around selling
rattraps. The young girl hung her head in disbelief. The ironmaster was worried about
the silver spoons in the cupboard. The peddler might have run away with them.
Q. 27. What did the ironmaster enquire from the valet ? What answer did he get?
Ans. The ironmaster was worried. The peddler must have run away with the silver
spoons in the cupboard. He asked the valet if the stranger was still there. The valet
answered that the fellow had gone. He had not taken anything with him at all. On the
contrary, he had left behind a little Christmas gift for Miss Willmansson.
Q. 28. What did Miss Willmansson find in the package ? Why did she give a little cry
of joy ? (Imp.)
Ans. Miss Willmansson found a rattrap and in it lay three wrinkled ten kroner notes. In
the rattrap lay a letter. It was addressed to her. She was praised for being so nice to
the peddler. Miss Willmansson gave a little cry of joy. The peddler returned 30 kronors
to be given to the rightful owner. She also got a little Christmas present from him.
Q.29. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stable ?
Ans. Miss Willmansson had been so nice to him all day long, as if he were a captain.
He would have been caught in this world's rattrap if he had not been raised to a
captain. That gave power to him to raise himself above petty worldly temptations.
Therefore, he signed himself as Captain von Stahle.
Q. 30. What is the message conveyed by the story ? (Imp.)
Ans. In the story the author Selma Lagerlof conveys a definite message. The story has
a universal appeal. The essential goodness in a human being never dies. It can be
awakened through understanding and love. Miss Edla awakens the basic goodness of
the peddler. He is a transformed noble person in the end.
Q. 31. Justify the title of the story 'The Rattrap".

Ans. Selma Lagerlof gives a very apt and logical title to the story. The metaphor of the
rattrap is very effectively used. The whole world is nothing but a big rattrap. All
riches, joys, food and shelter are just baits. The moment anyone touches the bait, the
rattrap closes in on him. Then everything comes to an end.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q. 1. Give a character sketch of the man with the rattraps or the peddler as
portrayed by Selma Lagerlof in 'The Rattrap'.
(Imp.)
Or
The peddler enjoys the sympathy of readers right from the beginning of the
story. Draw a character sketch of the peddler justifying the sympathy he generates
among the readers.
Ans. Selma Lagerlof draws the character of the peddler with all sympathy and
understanding. Selma wants to give a definite message. The peddler represents some
human weak nesses. Actually, he is the product of circumstances. But he is never
devoid of basic huma goodness. Only it lies in hibernation for some time. The
essential goodness in him is awakened through love and understanding of Miss Edla
Willmansson.
The peddler is so many things, all rolled in one. He is a vagabond cum beggar cum a
petty thief. At moments he can raise himself to a philosopher. He philosophises life
and compares the world to a big rattrap. Finally, he transforms himself into a
'gentleman'.
The peddler is pragmatist. He finds his business not quite profitable. He doesn't mind
resorting to both begging and petty thievery. Nor is he above temptations. He steals
30 kronors of his generous host, the old crofter.
The peddler raises himself above petty worldly temptations in the end. His essential
human qualities raise him to heroic heights. He is witty and humorous. He knows how
to deal with men and tricky situations. He'thanks Miss Edla for her kindness and
hospitality. She gives a little cry of joy when he decides to return 30 kronors to the
rightful owner. She is requested to return the money to its rightful owner, the old
crofter. The readers forgive him for his little human weaknesses. They develop
sympathy and appreciation for him.
Q. 2. Describe Miss Edla Willmansson and her role in awakening the essential
human goodness in the man with the rattraps or the peddler.
Ans. Miss Edla Willmansson is the oldest daughter of the owner of the Ramsjo Ironworks. She is 'not at all pretty'. But she seems to be modest and quite shy. She
possesses all that is good in human nature.
Miss Willmansson's basic human goodness comes to light when she intercedes for the
vagabond. As the truth is known about him, her father threatens to call the sheriff.
But Miss Willmansson insists on keeping the guest with them. She is against chasing
away a person whom they had invited and 'promised Christmas cheer'.
Miss Willmansson has great persuasive powers. Even her father acknowledges it. Her
persuasive powers make the stranger surrender to her wish. She is very sensitive. She
feels Ejected when she hears that the peddler has robbed the old crofter. She gives a
little cry of joy when the peddler proves his honesty and innocence.
Ultimately, it is Miss Willmansson's deep sympathy, kindness and understanding that
awakens essential human goodness in the peddler. He addresses her most respectfully
as 'Honoured and noble Miss" in his letter. He finally thanks her for saving him from
falling into the 'world's rattrap'. He would have fallen in the trap 'if he had not been
raised to captain.'

Q. 3. Attempt a character sketch of the crofter. How did he treat the peddler ?
(A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. The Crofter was a generous host and a good companion. He was an old man without wife or child. He was a lonely man always in search of a good company. He was
happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. Hence, when the peddler knocked
on the door of his cottage to ask shelter for night, he was happy to receive him. The
old man was equally generous with his confidences. In his days of prosperity he had
been a Crofter at Ramsjo Ironworks. Now it was his cow which supported him. He
picked up three ten kronor notes, he received from selling the creamery from the
pouch. He did it in the presence of his guest. He stuffed them back into the pouch. It
proved to be a bait difficult to be resisted by the peddler.
The generous host made every effort to make his guest comfortable. Immediately he
put the porridge pot on the fire and gave him supper. He carved off a big slice from
his tobacco roll and gave it to the guest. Finally, he got out an old pack of cards. He
played 'mjolis' with his guest until bedtime.
Q. 4. How did the peddler betray the confidence reposed in him by the
Crofter in 'The Rattrap'?(CBSE 2008)
Ans. The peddler did betray the confidence reposed in him by the Crofter. He
considered this world nothing but a big rattrap. It sets baits for people. The peddler
unwillingly allowed himself to be tempted to touch the bait. Those thirty kronors
which the Crofter stuffed into the pouch proved to be a bait. He stole the money. By
doing so he committed a breach of trust. It was nothing but simple moral
degeneration.
One dark evening as he was walking along the road, he saw a gray cottage by the
roadside. He knocked on the door to ask shelter for the night. He was well received
there. The owner was an old man without wife or child. He was happy to find a man
to talk to in his loneliness. He served him supper, gave him tobacco and played a
game of cards with him. The old man went to the window and took down a leather
pouch. He counted thirty kronors and put it into the pouch. It provided a big bait. The
peddler was tempted to steal them. In this way, he betrayed the confidence that was
reposed in him by the host.
Q. 5. How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter ? What does his
reaction highlight ? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. The peddler had mixed feelings after robbing the crofter. First he felt quite
pleased as he walked along the road. He had been smart enough to smash a pane and
steal thirty kronors. However, as he was trapped in the forest, his happiness
disappeared. He began to think of the world and the rattrap. Now his own turn had
come. He had let himself befooled by a bait. He had stolen the money of his obliging
host. He had committed a breach. He was trapped in now.
The peddler dared not continue walking on the public highway. He had money in his
pocket. He turned off the road into the woods. During the first hours he had no
difficulty. Later, in the day it became worse. He walked for hours without coming to
the end of the road. There he started philosophising life. He realised that a bait was
thrown to him. The old crofter knowingly stuffed the money in the pouch before the
eyes of his guest. He couldn't resist the temptation and stole the money. He was

trapped in. There seemed no way going out. The thick unending forest closed in upon
him like an impenetrable prison.
Q. 6. Describe the peddler's meeting with the ironmaster. Why did he decline his
invitation ? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. It was by chance that the peddler found himself at the Ramsjo Ironworks. It was
a dark evening before Christmas. The peddler opened the gate and stood close to the
furnace. It was nothing unusual for poor vagabonds to have night shelter in the winter
in front of the fire. The ironmaster noticed the peddler. He walked close up to him
and looked him over very carefully. He mistook him for Captain Stahle, an old
comrade of his regiment. He felt sorry that he had resigned from the regiment long
ago. The ironmaster invited the peddler home as their special guest at Christmas. The
peddler was not amused. He didn't want to be received by the owner like an old
regimental comrade. He looked quite alarmed and declined the invitation.
Going to the manor house appeared like throwing himself Voluntarily into the lion's
den'. He didn't want to go there. He only wanted to spend the night in the forge. He
wanted to sneak away in the morning unnoticed. Then he thought of the thirty
kronors. They were a bait and he couldn't resist the temptation. Now again the bait
had been thrown at him. He has to resist the temptation and decline the invitation.
The ironmaster only assumed that the peddler felt embarrassed because of his
miserable clothing.
Q. 7. Compare and contrast the character of the iron master with that of his
daughter. (CBSE 2008)
Ans. The iron master and his daughter provide quite an interesting comparison and
contrast. They do have some similar traits. But basically they are two opposite and
contrasting characters. The iron master mistook the man with the rattraps to be an
old acquaintance, an old comrade from his regiment. He invited him to his manor
house. He needed some company for Christmas. But the man declined to come. Then
the ironmaster sent his daughter Edla to persuade him. She made him comfortable.
Here, both the father as well as the daughter shared the common trait. They were
both hospitable. But the similarity ends here. Once, the tramp's true identity is
revealed, the iron master grows furious. He even went to the extent of handing him
over to the sheriff. He wanted him to get out of there as fast as he could.
Edla was made up of different stuff. She didn't want to chase away the tramp as they
had already promised him 'Christmas cheer'. At the church they learned that one of
the old crofters had been robbed by a man who went around selling rattraps. He
wondered how many silver spoons the tramp might have stolen from his house. But his
daughter Miss Willmansson was overjoyed to learn that the man had not taken
anything with him at all. On the contrary he had left behind a Christmas present. She
felt honoured and obliged and accepted it pleasure.
Q. 8. The whole world ... was nothing but a big rattrap'. How does the author use
the metaphor of the rattrap in the story ? How does the peddler save himself to
be trapped in the rattrap ? (V. Imp.)
Ans. The sad and monotonous life of the peddler makes him a little philosopher. One
day when he was thinking of his rattraps, suddenly he was struck by an idea. The
whole world is nothing but a big rattrap. It has only one purpose. It just sets baits for
people. The world offers riches, joys, shelter, food and clothing. They are just baits.

As soon as anyone touches the bait, the rattrap closes in on him. Then everything
comes to an end.
The metaphor of the rattrap has been used very effectively. The peddler can't
overcome the temptation of stealing 30 kronors. Again this metaphor comes alive
when the ironmaster invites him to his manor house. The peddler doesn't want to go
to the manor house. It will mean voluntarily throwing himself into the lion's den. Only
he surrenders when he is persuaded by Miss Willmansson to go there.
Finally, the peddler feels himself released from the rattrap. It is due to the deep
sympathy, kindness, love and understanding shown by Miss Willmansson towards him.
He raises himself above petty temptations. He would have been trapped in the world's
rattrap if he had not been raised to a captain. That gave him strength to come out of
that trap.
Q. 9. The story 'The Rattrap' focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond
with others. Justify the statement by giving examples from the text.
Ans. Certainly, Selma Lagerlof focuses on human loneliness in the story 'The Rattrap'.
She also highlights the need to bond with others to overcome loneliness and sadness
of life. All characters and incidents lead to this theme. The story starts with the
peddler. He wanders away lonely from one place to the other selling his small
rattraps. To him the world is very unkind and unsympathetic. Then comes the old
crofter. With no wife and son with him he always feels lonely. The peddler never
expects such a warm reception there. The old man is, however, hungry for human
intercourse. He provides him supper and offers tobacco to smoke. He plays cards with
him until bedtime.
Similarly, the ironmaster feels quite lonely. He is eager to entertain a guest at Christmas. His wife Elizabeth is no more. His sons are abroad. He requests the peddler to
come to the manor house with him. He changes his mind only when he comes to know
the truth about him. Miss Willmansson understands more than anyone the miserable
life of a vagabond. Therefore, she offers him a peaceful and comfortable stay at least
for a day.

Q. 10. Why did the iron master's invitation to the peddler to spend Christmas eve
with him make him think that he was going to fall into a trap ?
Ans. For the peddler the whole world appeared to be a big rattrap. The world existed
only to set baits for people. It offered riches and joys, shelter and food as baits. As
soon as anyone let himself to be tempted to touch the bait, the rattrap closes in on
him. Then everything comes to an end. Similarly, the iron master's invitation to spend
Christmas Eve with him was like a trap. By accepting it, the peddler was going to fall
into the trap. To go up the manor house was like throwing himself voluntarily into the
lion's den. He only wanted to spend the night in the forge. He wanted to sneak away
unnoticed the next day.
The peddler knew that the ironmaster mistook him as an old acquaintance. He might
perhaps throw him a couple of kronor. Therefore, he didn't expose his real identity.
The iron master mistook him for Captain Von Stable. He didn't have any company for
Christmas. No doubt, the peddler flatly refused to go with him. He was restraining
himself from falling into the trap. Only Miss Edla's persuasion moved him. The rat was
in the trap. He was given a good bait. He was given good food and clothes. As the iron
master recognised his true identity, he was trapped in. He realised that 'all the good
things' that were offered to him were nothing but baits. The aim was to get him
caught in the trap.

A THING OF BEAUTY
(A) How is a thing of beauty a joy for ever?
A thing of beauty is a source of constant joy. Its beauty goes on increasing and it will
never pass into nothingness.
(B) What kind of sleep does it provide ?
It provides a sound sleep, full of sweet dreams, health and peaceful breathing.
Questions
Answers
(A) What are we doing every day ?
We are weaving a flowery wreath to bind us to the beauties of this earth.
(B) Describe bad and evil things that we possess in us.
We suffer from disappointment, lack of noble qualities and unhealthy and evil ways.
(C) What removes the pall from our dark spirits and how ?
Some beautiful shape or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from our "
hearts or spirits.
Questions
(A) What sprouts a shady boon for sheep and how ?
Trees old and young sprout to make a green covering. It becomes a shelter for simple
sheep and proves a blessing for them.
(B) Describe the role of daffodils and clear rills in enriching the environment.
Daffodils bloom among the green surroundings. The small streams (rills) with clear
water make a cooling shelter for themselves against the hot season.
(C) What is lovelier than all lovely tales we have heard or read ?

The beauty of daffodils, rills and musk-roses is more enchanting than all lovely stories
that we have heard or read.
(D) What is the source of 'the endless fountain of immortal drink' ?
An endless fountain of nectar that makes us immortal pours into us the heavenly bliss
of nature.
(E) What is the effect of that 'immortal drink' on us ?
That immortal drink that nature's endless fountain pours into our hearts is a source of
immense joy for us.
THINK IT OUT
Answers
1. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Every little or big thing of nature is a thing of beauty and a source of pleasure. The
sun, the moon, trees old and young and daffodil flowers are all things of beauty.
So are small streams with clear water, mass of ferns and the blooming musk-roses.
They are constant sources of joy and pleasure.
2. List the things that cause suffering and pain.
There are many things that cause human suffering and pain. The biggest source of
suffering is our malice and disappointment. The lack of noble qualities is another.
Our unhealthy and evil ways also give birth to so many troubles and sufferings.
They depress our spirits. They are like a pall of sadness over our lives.
3. What does the line, 'Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth',
suggest to you ? (Imp.)
John Keats is a sensuous poet. He is firmly attached to the endless beauty of the
earth. The link of man with nature is constant and unbroken. The things of beauty
are like wreaths of beautiful flowers. We seem to wreathe a flowery band that
keeps us attached to the beauties of this earth.
4. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings ? (Imp.)
So many things bring troubles and sufferings. They depress our spirits. But 'some
shape of beauty' brings love and happiness in spite of such unpleasant things. A
thing of beauty removes away the pall of sadness and sufferings from our lives. It
makes human beings love.
5. Why is 'grandeur' associated with the 'mighty dead' ? (Imp.)
The mighty dead were the people who were powerful and dominating in their own
times. Their achievements made them 'mighty' and great. Their works dazzle our
eyes. We imagine that such mighty dead forefathers will attain more grandeur at
the doomsday. They will be rewarded. Hence grandeur is associated with the
'mighty dead'.
6. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting
impression on us ? (Imp.) .
John Keats makes it clear in the very first line of this excerpt that 'a thing of
beauty is a joy forever'. It is a constant source of joy. Nor does its beauty
decrease. Its loveliness goes on increasing every moment. Its value remains
undiminished. It never passes into nothingness. It always removes the pall of
sadness that covers our dark spirits.
7. What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth ?

John Keats uses various images to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth. The
bounty of the earth is like an endless fountain. This endless fountain of immortal
drink constantly pours from the heaven into our hearts.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever ? (Imp.)
Ans. John Keats, a great Romantic poet, considers that a thing of beauty is a joy
forever. It is a constant source of happiness and pleasure. Its loveliness increases
every moment. A thing of beauty is never devalued. It never passes into nothingness.
Q. 2. How does a thing of beauty keep a bower quiet for us?
Ans. Keats is rich in sensuous imagery. Nature provides us with things of rare beauty. A
pleasant place in the shade under a tree provides us a quiet bower. Similarly, a thing
of beauty transports us to peace and security. We enjoy a sleep full of dreams, health
and peace.
Q. 3. How do we bind us to the earth every morning? (Imp.)
Ans. Like all Romantic poets, Keats stresses the unbreakable bond of man with nature
and the earth. The beauties of the earth fascinate man. Every object of nature is a
source of beauty and happiness. Every day we are weaving a wreath through these
beautiful things. This flowery band binds us with the earth.
Q. 4. What are the things that give sufferings and sadness to man?
Ans. Man, himself, is the root cause of his woes. We suffer from malice and distress.
Unfortunately, we lack human qualities and it makes us inhuman. Our life becomes
gloomy. We cultivate unhealthy and evil ways. All such things bring misery and
sufferings to men.
Q. 5. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings ?
(CBSE2008)
Ans. In spite of all troubles and sufferings human beings love life. The beauties and
blessings of nature move away the 'pall' from our 'dark spirits'. Such things of beauty
are joys forever.
Q. 6. How is the pall of despondence moved away from our dark spirits ? (Imp.)
Ans. Man makes his life miserable by his own nature and actions. He faces miseries
and pains. Amid these miseries and sufferings, a thing of beauty provides a hope to
man. Some shape of beauty works wonders. It removes the pall of despondence and
sadness from our 'dark spirits'.
Q. 7. Name the things of nature that are constant sources of beauty.
Ans. The beauties of nature are endless. The sun, the moon, trees old and young,
beautiful daffodil flowers, green surroundings are some of such beautiful things.
Similarly, small streams of clear water, green ferns and thickets of the forest and
musk-roses are some other things of beauty. All such things of beauty are a constant
source of joy for us.
Q. 8. Why does Keats associate 'grandeur' with 'the mighty dead'? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. The 'mighty dead' were people of great power, authority and grandeur. They were
wealthy, brave and awesome people. They are dead in their grave but still reflect that
grandeur and glory.
Q. 9. What is the source of the 'endless fountain' and what is its effect ?

Ans. The beauties of nature know no limits. Nature is an eternal source of joy to
mankind. A fountain of eternal joy and immortality pours into the heart and soul of
man. It flows and pours right from the heaven's brink.
Q. 10. What is the message that John Keats wants to give through 'A thing
of Beauty' ?
Ans. The very first line of the poem conveys the message of the poet. John Keats was
a worshipper of beauty. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Beauty never fades. Nor is it
devalued. It never passes into nothingness. A thing of beauty removes away the pall of
sadness and sorrows and gives us joy and pleasure.

AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM IN A SLUM

(A) How do the faces of the children of this slum school look like ?
The faces of the children of this slum school look pale. Their unkempt and
uncombed hair look like rootless wild herbs or plants.
(B) Explain 'weighed-down head'.
The burden of misfortunes has depressed and bent down the head.
(C) Who is the unlucky heir and what is he reciting ?
A lean and thin boy having a rat's eyes will inherit twisted bones. He is reciting how
his father developed that knotty disease.
D) Find words from the passage which mean the following:
(i) blowing strongly (ii) undeveloped (Hi} not clear/bright
(i) gusty (ii) stunted (Hi) dim
Questions
(A) Where do you think are these children sitting ?
These children are sitting in the classroom of an elementary school in a slum.
(B) How do the faces and hair of these children look ?
The faces of the children look lifeless like rootless weeds. Their is torn around their
pale faces.
(C) Why is the head of the tall girl weighed-down ?
The head of the tall girl is weighed down as she has no dreams and hopes for
her future.
(D) What do you understand by 'The paper-seeming boy, with rat's eyes'?
'The paper seeming boy' is very weak, lean and thin. His eyes resemble that of a rat
and dominate his bony and frail body.
Answers
(A) Where are donations and Shakespeare's head placed ?
All donations and the pictures of Shakespeare's head are hanging on the sour creamy
walls.
(B) Explain: 'Awarding the world its world'.
The conquerors and dictators award and divide this world according to their whims.
This world is the world of rich and important people.

(C) Which world is of the children in a slum school and which world is not their world
? (C) The world of the rich, of civilized domes, bells and flowers is not the world of
these children. Narrow lanes with foggy skies form the world of these children.
(D) What is the future of these children ?
The future of these slum children is uncertain and bleak.
(E) What do they crave fora narrow street or rivers and capes ?
The children crave for openness. They crave for rivers, capes and the starry sky
They want to get rid of narrow and crowded lanes.
(F) Find words from the passage which mean the following :
(i) unpleasant (ii) cloudy thick air (iii) distant Answers
(i) sour (ii) fog (Hi) far
(A) Why is Shakespeare 'wicked' and the map 'a bad example for these children?
Shakespeare and his works are of no use to them. Nor does the map of the world
concern them. This map doesn't include their world of narrow lanes and holes.
(B) What tempt them and why ?
Ships, sun and love are all such beautiful things. They tempt these children as they
don't possess them.
(C) How do they live in their 'holes'?
They live like rats in their cramped little holes. Fog and darkness dominate their lives.
(D) What blot 'their' maps?
These living hells are the dirty slums. They are blots on the map of the
civilized world. It is the world of the rich and great.
(E) Find words from the passage which mean :
(i) secretly (ii) waste material (lava) (Hi) pieces
(i) slyly (ii) slag (Hi) bits.
(A) How can 'this map' become 'their window'?
This map of the world is shaped and owned by the rich. It must also be thrown open
to the poor and unfortunate children of slums. Only then will it become 'their
window'. They will be able to peep inside it.
(B) What have shut upon their lives like catacombs ?
Their dirty surroundings have blocked their progress and growth. They have been shut
inside them like the underground graves.
(C) Explain : '... till they break the town'.
Till they come out of the dirty surroundings and slums of the town and come in the
open.
(D) What will happen if the children come out of the bonds that bind them ?
Then their world will be extended to the golden sands and azure waves and to
the green fields.
(E) Who create history ?
They create history whose language has the warmth and power of the sun.
(F) Find words from the passage which mean :
(i) close (ii) underground graves (Hi) sky-blue.
(i) shut (ii) catacombs (Hi) azure
TEXT BOOK EXERCISES
Answers

2. What do you think is the colour of 'sour cream'? Why do you think the poet has
used thisexpression to describe the classroom walls?
The colour of 'sour cream' is off-white. The poet has used this expression to suggest
the decaying aspect. Actually the walls symbolise the pathetic conditions of the lives
of these children. However, there is an implied hope in these.
3. The walls of the classroom are decorated with the pictures of 'Shakespeare',
'buildings with domes', 'world maps' and beautiful valleys. How do these contrast with
the world of these children ?
They beautifully contrast with the world of these children. These pictures
mean progress, prosperity and well-being. But the present conditions of these
children is miserable. They are underfed, poor and live in grim poverty.
4. What does the poet want for the children of the slums ? How can their lives be
made to
change ?
The poet wants these children to be removed from their dirty surroundings. New and
open surrounding would provide ideal conditions for their learning. They will then
land in a world full of progress and prosperity. There will be no social injustice.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE
Q. 1. What does the poet wish for the children of the slums ? (A.I. CBSE 2008) Ans.
The poet wishes that the children of slums would come out of their dull, drab and
surrounding. They should share the bright, healthy and spacious surroundings of the
rich and the civilized.
Q. 2. What is the message that Stephen Spender wants to give through
the poem 'An Elementary School Classroom In a Slum' ? (V. Imp.)
Ans. In 'An Elementary School Classroom In a Slum', Stephen Spender deals with the
theme of social injustice and class inequalities. There are two different worlds. Art,
culture and literature have no relevance to slum children. They live in dark, narrow
cramped, holes and lanes. Unless the gap between the two worlds is abridged, there
can't be any real progress or development. The children will have to be made
mentally and physically free to lead happy lives.
Q. 3. Why does Stephen Spender use the images of despair and disease in the first
stanza of the poem, and with what effect ?
Ans. Similes and metaphors are used to describe despair and disease in the first
stanza. He uses them to describe the miserable and pathetic life of the slums. The
slum children have been described as 'the stunted, unlucky heirs of twisted bones'.
They are like 'rootless weeds'. Their faces, are pale and lifeless. The burden of life
makes them sit with their heads 'weighed down'.
Q. 4. This poem was written against the background of the Second World War.
But Spender doesn't describe the lives of generals or heroes but of the poor children
of slums. Why and how does he do so? (Imp.)
Ans. The poem has been written against the background of the Second World War.
Instead of writing about war heroes and generals, Spender highlights the social
injustice. He talks of two worlds. Both of them .are incompatible. There is the world
of the rich. It has nothing to do with the world of narrow lanes and cramped holes.
The other is the world of slum children.

Q. 5. Crushed under poverty, disease and miseries do the little school children of
slums have any dreams or hopes? What are they ? (Imp.)
Ans. The children living in slums have to live in most miserable and sub-human
conditions. The burden of poverty and disease crushes their bodies. They still have
dreams. Their future is foggy and uncertain. They have kept their hopes alive. They
dream of open seas and green fields. They dream of about the games that a squirrel
plays on the trees.
Q. 6. The poet says: 'And yet, for these children, these windows, not this world, are
world'. What is the real world for them and which is not for them ?
Ans. The conquerors and dictators can change the map of the world at will. But
their 'map' and world is not the world of slum children. Their world is the world of
stinking slums. Narrow lanes and dark cramped holes make their world. Their world is
not the world of 'domes', 'bells' and 'flowers'. Their world is the world of poverty and
disease.
Q. 7. 'So blot their maps with slums as big as doom'. Why does the poet express such
an angry protest ? (Imp.)
Ans. The civilized world has drawn its own map. This world has been separated from
the world of slums. The dirty slums with their narrow lanes and cramped holes are
little hells. The poet protests against social injustice and class inequalities. He wants
that the islands of prosperity should be flooded with the stink and dirt of the slums.
Q. 8. What should governors, teachers, inspectors and other important and
powerful persons do to improve the lot of children living in slums? (V. Imp.)
Ans. Two worlds exist. They are quite opposite and incompatible to each other. The
gap between them must be abridged. Governors, teachers and powerful persons can
play an important role in it. They can help in removing social injustice and class
inequalities. They must bring them out of their ugly and dirty surroundings. All good
things of life, the sea, the sun and the fields should be within their easy reach.
Q. 9. 'History is theirs whose language is the sun'. Justify the veracity of this
statement.
Ans. Stephen Spender concludes the poem with a beautiful metaphor. 'History is theirs
whose language is the sun'. This world is not ruled by the dumb and driven people.
Only those who speak with confidence, power and authority are heard and obeyed.
Their language must have the warmth and power of the sun.
Q. 10. Describe the devices used by Stephen Spender in the poem to create the
desired poetic effect.
Ans. In 'An Elementary School Classroom In a Slum' the poet uses modern imagery. He
employs similes, metaphors and contrasts as poetic devices to create the desired
effect. 'Open-handed map' and 'slag-heap' are modern images. They are conveyed
through very effective metaphors. The faces and hair of children in slums are like
'rootless weeds'. Their spectacles are like 'bits (chips) of stones'. The use of similes has
been done judiciously

AUNT JENNIFERS TIGERS

Questions
(A) What are Aunt Jennifer's tigers doing ?
Aunt Jennifer's tigers are jumping across a screen or a wall.
(B) How do they look like ?
They look like shining yellow topaz.
(C) Are they fearless ? Give an example.
Yes, they are. They don't fear the men under the tree.
(D) How do they pace ?
Aunt Jennifer's tigers run with a well groomed, honourable confidence.
Questions
(A) Where were Aunt's fingers fluttering through ?
Aunt Jennifer's fingers were fluttering through her wool.
(B) How was she pulling the needle ?
She was pulling the ivory needle with great difficulty.
(C) What was lying heavy ?
The weight of Uncle's wedding band was lying heavy on her hand.
(D) Where did the wedding band sit upon ?
The wedding band sat heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hands.
Questions
(A) Why are her hands called 'terrified' ?
Her hands are called 'terrified'. The hard and bitter experiences of her married life lie
heavy on her. She can't move her hands freely.
(B) Will they be still ringed with ordeals when she is dead ?
Yes, they will still be ringed with those ordeals even after her death. It seems
that she will get no respite even after her death.
(C) Where did she make the 'tigers' ?
She made the 'tigers' in the panel.
(D) What will happen to her 'tigers' after her death ?
Aunt Jennifer's 'tigers' will go on jumping ahead, proud and unafraid.
Questions
(A) Why are Aunt Jennifer's hands 'terrified' ?
Aunt Jennifer's hands are 'terrified' as the still bear the cruel burdens of her not so
happy wedded life.
(B) What are they still ringed with ?
Her hands are still ringed with the 'massive weight' of her husband's wedding ring.
(C) Where did she make the tigers ?
She makes the tigers in the panel.
(D) What will happen to her tigers after her death ?
The tigers will let loose and be free to prance unafraid in 'sleek' chivalry.
Questions
1. How do 'denizens' and 'chivalric' add to our understanding of the tigers' attitudes ?
(Imp.)
Tigers like all beasts of prey are the 'denizens' of the forest. They live far away from
human settlements. They are called 'chivalric'. This shows the majestic and

honourable position that they occupy in the world of animals. So the use of 'denizens'
and 'chivalric' for tigers add to our understanding of their attitude.
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 ?
Aunt Jennifer's hands are moving through her wool. They are weaving tigers in the
panel. She is finding the needle very hard to pull. The unpleasant and bitter
experiences of her married life lie heavy on her. This makes the pulling of the needle
so hard.
3. What is suggested by the image 'massive weight of uncle's wedding' band ?
(V.
Imp)
Adrienne Rich's 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers' is very rich in imagery. 'Massive weight of
Uncle's wedding' is a suggestive imagery. It is symbolic of the weight of the harsh and
difficult experiences of her married life. The wedding band represents the
unbreakable bond of marriage between the husband and the wife.
4. Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified in the third stanza ?
Aunt Jennifer is referred to as 'terrified hands' in the third stanza. The old unhappy
memories are still fresh in her mind. She had passed through many testing and
horrible times during her married life. Those ordeals crushed and suppressed her. She
fears that such ordeals may crush her even after her death.
5. What are the 'ordeals' Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by, why is it significant that the
poet uses the word 'ringed'? What are the different meanings of the word 'ringed' in
the poem?
(Imp.)
Aunt Jennifer is still mentally surrounded by the ordeals she faced during her married
life. The poem narrates the not so happy experience of married life. The word 'ringed'
is significant. It makes it clear that vicious grip of her unhappy married life is still
holding her tightly. The conventional use stands for the symbol of the sacred bond of
marriage. The other 'figurative' use of the word is as 'encircled'.
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 ? (Imp)
Aunt Jennifer's animals are so different from her own character. They are 'prancing'.
They pace in 'sleek chivalric certainty'. They are symbols of strength, fierceness and
beauty. But the massive weight of the wedding band sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's
hands. Her terrified hands are still ringed by the ordeals that crushed her during her
married life.
7. Interpret the symbols found in this poem.
Adrienne Rich's 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers' is rich in symbolism. 'The massive weight of
wedding band' symbolises ordeals, hardships and worries of married life. 'Terrified
hands', and 'ringed with ordeals'also mean those unpleasant experiences. They cling
to Aunt Jennifer physically and mentally.
8. Do you sympathies with Aunt Jennifer ? What is the attitude of the speaker
towards AuntJennifer ?
Naturally, we sympathise with Aunt Jennifer. She faced many ordeals and hardships
during her married life. The attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer is equally
sympathetic. Through different symbols and suggestive images, the poet describes her
burdensome married life.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How does the poet describe Aunt Jennifer's tigers ? (CBSE 2008)
Ans. The poet describes Aunt Jennifer's tigers as 'bright topaz denizens' of the forest.
They are fearless. They pace in 'sleek' chivalry.
Q. 2. Where are Aunt Jennifer's tigers and how does she create them ?
(Imp.)
Ans. Aunt Jennifer's tigers are her own creations. She works with ivory needles to
make these tigers in the panel. They have all the traits that are found in the
'denizens' of green forests. They are well-built and well groomed. They are chivalric
and full of confidence.
Q. 3. What difficulty does Aunt Jennifer face while making her tigers and why ?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer is making her tigers in the panel. She is using ivory needles and her
fingers are fluttering through her wool. She finds it hard to pull even the ivory needle.
Actually, the Weight of unhappy and unfortunate experiences of her married life sits
heavy on her fingers.
Q. 4. What is the weight that lies heavy on her hand and how is it associate with
her husband ?(Imp)
Ans. Aunt Jennifer can't move even her fingers freely in the wool. Actually, she
has some bitter experiences of her past married life. The memories of her married
life with her husband have been quite unpleasant. The heavy weight of the wedding
band sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand. She finds it difficult even to pull the ivory
needle easily with her weak fingers.
Q. 5. How will Aunt Jennifer's hands look when she is dead ?
Ans. When Aunt Jennifer is dead her hands will look still terrified. Perhaps they had
experienced so much hardships and troubles in the past that their effect has been
imprinted on them. The ordeals that crushed her in her married life had ringed her
hands too.
Q. 6. What will happen to Aunt Jennifer's tigers when she is dead ?
(V. Imp.)
Ans. Aunt Jennifer's tigers will survive her. The tigers in the panel that she made with
her hands will still remain there. They will go on prancing, proud and unafraid. She
will die but her creations survive.
Q. 7. Describe the poetic devices used in the poem.
Ans. Adrianne Rich's 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers' is rich in imagery and symbolism. The
pace of the tigers has been described by the effective use of alliteration'sleek,
chivalric certainty'. 'The massive weight of wedding band' symbolises ordeals and
hardships of Aunt' married life. The metaphors'Terrified hands' and 'ringed with
ordeals' create the desired poetic effect.
Q. 8. Aunt Jennifer's tigers are totally different from her own character. Highlight
this contrast.(Imp)
Ans. Aunt Jennifer's tigers are prancing over a screen. They look 'sleek and
chivalric. They are a picture of strength, beauty and certainty. On the other hand,
Aunt Jennifer is still mentally in the grip of those ordeals and terrors that terrorized
her during her married life. Her weak 'terrified' fingers find even the ivory needle
hard to pull.

KEEPING QUIET
(A) Why does the poet ask us to count twelve?
There are only twelve signs on the clock to measure hours. Therefore, he asks us to
count till the clock measures those hours.
(B) Why does he ask us to keep still?
Too much rush and activity has only brought misfortunes to mankind. Hence, it is
better to be quiet and still.
(C) 'Let's not speak in any language' says Neruda. Why?
The people of the world need excuses to fight among themselves. Let them keep
quiet and not speak in any language. They may not indulge in reasoning, disputes and
quarrels among themselves.
(D) What should we not do for a second?
The poet advises us to cease all activities. Man has used arms only to kill and
destroy others. Therefore, let them not move their arms so much as to harm others.
(A) Name the poem and the poet.
The name of the poem is 'Keeping Quiet'. The poet is Pablo Neruda.
(B) What kind of moment will it be?
It will be a very enticing and beautiful moment.
(C) What will happen if there is no rush or running of engines?
There will be peace all around if there is no rush or the sound of machines and
engines.
(D) How all of us would feel at that time?
All of us will enjoy the sudden strangeness and unusualness of that moment.
(A) Describe the different kinds of war mentioned in the above lines.
Green wars, wars with poisonous gases and wars with the fire are different kinds of
wars that cause destruction.
(B) What kind of victory will it be?
It will be a victory where no survivors will be left to celebrate it.
(C) What should the warmongers do?
Those who have been preparing for wars should put on clean clothes. They should
come out with their brothers. They should walk under the trees leisurely doing
nothing.
Answer
(A) What does the poet not want himself to be ?
(A) The poet doesn't want himself to be confused with advocating total inactivity.
(B) Explain : 'I want no truck with death'.
(B) Total inactivity brings death. The poet has no association with death. Hence, he is
not advocating for death.
(C) What were we not focusing on ?
(C) It would have been better if we had not been focusing all the time on keeping our
lives moving. We should have given ourselves rest sometime.
(D) When can a huge silence do us good ?
(D) When we are threatening ourselves with death, a huge silence can do us a lot of
good.
(A) What can teach us?

The earth can teach a lesson to mankind how to live on it.

(B) What lives alive when everything seems dead?
Only the earth lives alive when everything else appears to be dead.
(C) What does the poet ask us while the counts upto twelve?
The poet asks us to keep quiet while he is counting upto twelve.
1. What will counting upto twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
The poet urges us counting upto twelve and keeping still. Perhaps 'twelve' here represents the twelve hour-marks on the clock. Most of the ills and troubles of the world
were caused because of our rush and hurry. Keeping still will give us the necessary
respite for peace.
2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death ?
No, he doesn't. He makes it very clear that 'stillness' should not be confused an
equated to 'total inactivity'. Total inactivity brings death. But Neruda has 'no true with
death'. His stillness means cessation of hostile and harmful human activities.
3. What is the 'sadness' that the poet refers to in the poem ?
Man's sadness is formed out of his own thinking and actions. This is the tragedy of
man. He understands so much but fails to understand himself and his actions. His rush
and hurry cause troubles. Man is the author of all disasters. Due to his thinking and
actions he is always threatening himself with death.
4. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under
apparent stillness?
The poet doesn't want us to confuse 'stillness' with 'total inactivity'. There can be life
under apparent stillness. The poet invokes the earth as a living symbol to prove his
point. 'When everything seems dead ..... later proves to be alive.' The earth near
attains total inactivity. Nature remains at work even under apparent stillness and it
keeps the earth alive.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Why does Pablo Neruda urge us to keep still ? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Pablo Neruda considers that indecent haste and activities led us to wars,
violence and death. He urges us to keep still to enjoy a few moments of peace, rest
and tranquility.
Q. 2. Why shouldn't we speak in any language and not move our arms so much?
(Imp.)
Ans. People of this world indulge in unnecessary debates and disputes. The poet urges
them to stop speaking in any language. They should speak through their hearts. Men
have moved their arms only to harm others. Therefore, they shouldn't move their
arms so much. They should give them the desired rest.
Q. 3. Why would it be an exotic moment ? (Imp.)
Ans. Unnecessary rush and noise has made living unpleasant and troublesome. The
poet wants that people may stop rushing and running. Even the noise of engines and
machines must stop at once. If it happens, that moment would be an exotic or a
fascinating moment.
Q. 4. What does the poet want to convey by addressing the fishermen and the man
gathering salt?
Ans. Pablo Neruda is against any kind of violence. He calls upon the fishermen that
they shouldn't harm whales living in the cold seas of the polar regions. The poet is

also against any kind of self-torturing. The man who is gathering salt and has hurt his
hands must look after himself. He must take care of his hurt hands.
Q. 5. What does the poet say about different kinds of wars? What alternative does
he suggest?(Imp.)
Ans. The poet wants a total cessation of all kinds of wars. Green wars against the
environment, wars with poisonous gases and fire must stop immediately. Instead of
indulging in wars, the people must come out in their best dresses with their brothers.
They should go out for a walk, enjoying themselves doing nothing.
Q. 6. How is 'stillness' not equal to total inactivity? Why does Neruda say: I want no
truck with death'? . (V. Imp.)
Ans. Pablo Neruda wants to make one thing quite clear. 'Stillness' shouldn't be confused with 'total inactivity'. There can't be anything like 'total inactivity'. Life goes on
as usual. The poet doesn't advocate for total inactivity and has no association with
death.
Q. 7. Why does the poet feel that we should not be so single-minded ?
Ans. Generally people of the world are so single-minded that they want to keep their
lives going. They are over-busy (ever-busy). The poet wishes that they would not be
so much obsessed with remaining always on the move. They must have some rest or
respite. They need peace or silence.
Q. 8. Why do men become sad?
Ans. Men fail to understand themselves. They are always threatening themselves with
death. When they realise this they become sad and helpless. Only a 'huge silence' can
interrupt this sadness and can do good to men.
Q. 9. How might a huge silence interrupt the sadness of men? (Imp.)
Ans. Men are never sure of their actions. Nor do they ever understand themselves.
They face another tragedy. Due to their own actions, they are threatening themselves
with death. This realization makes them helpless and sad. Only a long silence can
interrupt this sadness and do them some good.
Q. 10. How can there be life under apparent stillness? How does the poet
prove it ?
(V. Imp.)
Ans. Neruda doesn't equate stillness with total inactivity. Under this apparent stillness
there is life. We can learn it from the earth. When everything seems dead, the earth
remains still alive. It is never dead. The life on the earth goes on as usual under the
apparent stillness.
Q. 11. Justify the title 'Keeping Quiet'.
Ans. The title of the poem is quite appropriate and logical. The people of the world
are always in rush and hurry. They are overactive and are always on the move. Their
actions and activities have led to untold sufferings and troubles. Keeping quiet will do
them a lot of good. It will give them the much needed time for self-introspection.
Being still and silent will save them from many harmful activities. Moreover, it will
help us in reflecting over the fate of man

MY MOTHER AT SIXITY SIX

Answers
1. What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
The poet sees the pale and corpse-like face of her mother. Her old familiar pain or
the ache returns. Perhaps she has entertained this fear since her childhood. Time
or ageing spares none. They have not spared her mother and may not spare her
too. With ageing, separation and death become unavoidable.
2. Why are the young trees described as 'sprinting'?
It is our common experience. Whenever we travel by a fast-running vehicle, the
standing objects appear to be running fast. The appearance of their fast-racing is
described as 'sprinting'. They provide a stark contrast to the passive old lady sitting
inside the car.
3. Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children 'spilling out of their
homes'?
The contrast enhances the poetic effect. The poet's mother who is sitting beside her
is dozing. Her 'ashen' face looks lifeless and pale like a corpse. She is an image of
ageing, decay and passivity. On the other hand, the children are gay and happy. They
are moving out of their homes in large numbers. Here is an image of happiness and
spontaneous overflow of life.
4. Why has the mother been compared to the 'late winter's moon'?
The simile used here is apt as well as effective. The poet's mother is at sixty-six.
She has shrunk to an 'ashen' face resembling a corpse. She has lost her shine and
strength of her youth. Similarly, the late winter moon looks hazy, obscure, lacking
shine and strength. Hence, the comparison is quite natural and appropriate.
5. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
The old familiar ache or fear of the childhood returns. It provides a stark contrast to
the parting words of assurance and her smiles. The parting words: "See you soon,
Amma" give an assurance of life to an old and weak lady. The mother's 'ashen face'
looks like a corpse. Similarly, her continuous smiling is an attempt to overcome the
ache and fear inside her heart.
VI. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Where is the poet going and who is with her?
Ans. The poet is driving from her parent's home to the Cochin airport. Her mother has
come to see her daughter off. She is sitting beside her and dozing with her mouth
open. The words 'driving' and 'doze' provide a good contrast. They give images of
dynamic activity and passivity respectively.
Q. 2. Why does Kamala Das describe the young trees as sprinting?
(A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Kamla Das is driving from her parent's home to Cochin. From the moving car, the
young trees growing outside appear to be running with the speeding car. Hence, she
describes them as 'sprinting'.
Q. 3. How does the poet's mother look like ? What kind of images has the poet
used to signify her ageing decay ?
(Imp.)

Ans. The poet's mother is at sixty-six. She is sitting beside her. She is dozing as
old people usually do during the journey. She keeps her mouth open. This is also a sign
of old age. Generally old people have to keep their mouth open. Her face looks pale
and faded like ash. Actually, she is an image of death as her 'ashen' face looks like
that of a corpse.
Q. 4. Why does the poet 'put that thought away' and looks outside ?
Ans. The poet's old mother is sitting beside her. She is dozing with her mouth open.
Her face looks pale and faded. She looks lifeless like a corpse. Actually, she gives an
image of passivity, decay and death. The poet needs a distraction, a change. Hence
she looks outside where she gets a picture of life, happiness and activity.
Q. 5. What does the poet see happening outside ?
(Imp.)
Ans. The thought of the ageing mother at sixty-six occupies her mind. Her pale and
ashen corpse-looking face brings to her mind the picture of decay and death. The
poet needs a diversion and looks outside. Outside she watches young trees. They
speed past them and appear as if they are sprinting. Then she sees gay and happy
children making merry as they move out of their homes.
Q. 6. Describe the contrast of the scene inside the car with the activities going on
outside. Describe the use of images that the poet employs to strike that contrast.
(Imp.)
Ans. Inside the car sits an old mother beside the poet. She is at sixty-six and ageing.
She is dozing and lost to herself. She keeps her mouth open. Her 'ashen' face is pale
and lifeless like a corpse. The world outside provides a stark contrast. The 'young'
trees seem to be running past or sprinting. The children are making merry. The image
of the 'dozing' mother is contrasted with the 'spilling' of the children. The 'ashen' and
'corpse-like' face is contrasted with the 'young' trees 'sprinting' outside.
Q. 7. What does the poet do after the security check-up? What does she notice?
Ans. They have to pass through a security check-up at the airport. After it, the poet
stands a few yards away. Before saying parting words, she looks at her mother again.
Her face looks pale and colourless like the late winter's moon. She presents a picture
of ageing and decay.
Q. 8. Why does the poet feel her old familiar ache and what is her childhood fear?
(Imp.)
Ans. The sight of her old mother's corpse-like face arouses 'that old familiar ache' in
her heart. Her childhood fear returns. The fear is that with ageing comes decay and
death. Perhaps she herself may have to face all these things. This idea is quite painful
and fearful to her.
Q. 9. With fear and ache inside her heart and words of assurance on lips and smile on
the face, the poet presents two opposite and contrasting experiences. Why does the
poet put on a smile?
Ans. The 'wan, pale' face of her mother at sixty-six brings an image of decay and
death. Hence, it brings that old familiar ache and fear back. She fears the fate of
man. But she has to put on a brave face. She composes herself and tries to look
normal. She utters the words of assurance that they will meet again soon. She also
tries to hide her ache and fear by smiling continuously.
Q. 10. Describe the poetic devices used by Kamla Das in 'My Mother At Sixty-Six'.

(Imp.)
Ans. Kamala Das's 'My Mother At Sixty-Six' is rich in imagery. The use of simile is very
effective. Her face has been described as 'ashen'. The ashen face is 'like that of a
corpse'. Again the 'wan, pale' face of the mother is compared to 'a late winter's moon'.
The poem excels in contrasts

THE TIGER KING

Q. 1. Who is the Tiger King ?
The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is the Tiger King of the story. He may be identified
as His Highness Jamedar-General, Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari. He is also
called Maharajadhiraja Visva Bhuvana Samrat. He is known as Sir Jilani Jung Jung
Bahadur. Many titles, decorate his name. But this name is often shortened to The
Tiger King.
Q. 2. Why does the Tiger King get this name ?
(V.
Imp.)
Ans. Tigers dominate the life and even death of the king. So he is named thus. The
chief astrologer foretells that he is born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull and the Tiger
are enemies. Therefore, his death will come from the Tiger. Ironically, the king who
killed 99 tigers, his death was caused by a wooden toy tiger.
Q. 3. What was the great miracle that took place? Why did the people
stand stunned?
(Imp.)
Ans. A miracle took place. The ten-day-old Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur spoke clearly and
firmly. Everyone was surprised. The chief astrologer took off his spectacles and gazed
intently at the babe. The infant spoke that "all those who are born will one day have
to die". He asked the chief astrologer to tell him the cause of his death.
Q. 4. What does the chief astrologer tell to be the cause of the Maharaja's death?
(Imp.)
Ans. The royal infant thinks. That "all those who are born will one day have to die".
There is nothing new in it. He wants to know the real cause of his death. The
astrologer tells the royal infant that he is born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull and
the Tiger are enemies. Therefore, his death will "come from the Tiger".
Q. 5. Describe the upbringing of the royal infant. When did he take the reins
of the state in his hands ?
Crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur grew taller and stronger day by day. The boy drank
the milk of an English cow. He was brought up by an English governess. He was
tutored in English by an Englishman. He saw nothing but English films. When he
became twenty years old, the rule of the state came into his hands.
Q.6. What did the Maharaja decide to do when he remembered the astrologer's
predictio?
(Imp.)

Ans. The astrologer revealed that the Maharaja's death would come from a tiger.
Slowly it came to the Maharaja's ears. There were so many forests in the
Pratibandapuram State. They had tigers in them. There was no objection to killing
tigers. The Maharaja started out on a tiger hunt and very soon he killed the first tiger.
Q. 7. How did the Maharaja feel when he killed his first tiger ? What did the State
Astrologer
say
at
that
occasion
?
(Imp.)
Ans. The Maharaja was thrilled 'beyond measure' when he killed his first tiger. He sent
for the State astrologer. He showed him the dead beast and demanded his reaction.
The astrologer replied that he might kill ninety-nine tigers in exactly the same
manner. But he must be very careful with the hundredth tiger.
Q. 8, "What if the hundredth tiger were also killed"? said the Maharaja. What did
the State astrologer say to the king then ?
Ans. The King wanted to know what would happen if he killed even the
hundredth tiger. The Astrologer replied that he would tear up all his books on
astrology. He will set fire to them. He would cut off his tuft, and become an insurance
agent.
Q. 9. Why did the Maharaja ban tiger hunting ? Why was it celebration time
for tigers
in
Pratibandapuram
?
(Imp.)
Ans. The state banned tiger hunting by anyone except the Maharaja. If anyone
even dared to throw a stone at a tiger, all his wealth and property would be
confiscated. The Maharaja didn't want any other person to reduce the limited
population of tigers. It was celebration time for tigers in the state. Tiger hunting was
banned for all except the Maharaja.
Q. 10. What dangers did the Tiger King face during his tiger-hunting ?
Ans. The Maharaja seemed well set to realise his ambition initially. But he had to face
some dangers during his tiger-hunt. There were times when his bullet missed its mark.
Once a tiger leapt upon him. He fought the violent beast with his bare hands. Each
time it was the Maharaja who won.
Q. 11. How was at one time the Maharaja in danger of losing his throne ? (V. Imp.)
Ans. At one time the Maharaja was in danger of losing his throne. A high ranking
British officer visited Pratibandapuram. He was very fond of hunting tigers and being
photographed with them. He was refused permission to hunt tigers in
Pratibandapuram. He had prevented such a high ranking officer from fulfilling his
desire, the Maharaja stood in danger of losing his kingdom itself.
Q. 12. How did the Maharaja manage to retain his kingdom ?
(Imp.)
Ans. The Maharaja had to please the high ranking British officer. Samples of expensive
diamond rings of different designs .were brought from a famous jeweller in Calcutta.
The Maharaja sent all the 50 rings to the British officer's good lady. The lady accepted
the whole lot. The Maharaja lost three lakh of rupees but managed to retain his
kingdom.
Q. 13. What was the unforeseen hurdle that brought the Maharaja's tiger hunts to
a
halt?
(Imp.)
Ans. The Tiger King's tiger-hunts continued to be highly successful. Within ten years

he was able to kill seventy tigers. Then an unforeseen hurdle brought his mission to a
halt. The tiger population became extinct in the forests of Pratibandapuram. No one
knew if they practised birth control or committed harakiri. It brought tiger hunts to a
halt.
Q. 14. How did the Maharaja solve the problem of killing the remaining
thirty tigers? What was his marriage plan ? (Imp)
Ans. The Maharaja asked his dewan to draw up figures of tiger populations in
the different native states. He could marry in a royal family with a large tiger
population. The dewan found out the right girl. The Maharaja killed five or six tigers
each time he visited his father-in-law. Ultimately, he was able to kill 99 tigers in all.
Q. 15. Why and when did the Maharaja's anxiety reach a fever pitch ?
Ans. The Maharaja was able to kill 99 tigers. Just one tiger remained to complete his
tally of a hundred. By this time the tiger farms had run dry even in his father-in-law's
kingdom. It became impossible to locate tigers anywhere. Thus, the king's anxiety
reached a fever pitch.
Q. 16. What was the happy news which dispelled the Maharaja's gloom ?
Ans. Sheep began to disappear frequently from a hillside village. It was not the work
of Khader Mian Saheb and Virasami Naicker who were famous for killing sheep. The
Maharaja announced a three-year exemption from all taxes for that village. The
Maharaja refused to leave the forest until the tiger was found.
Q. 17. Why did the dewan warn the Maharaja not to double the land tax forthwith?
What was the reaction of the Maharaja ?
(Imp.)
Ans. The hundredth tiger was not located. The Maharaja's anger was at its height. He
called the dewan and ordered him to double the land-tax forthwith. The dewan
warned that the people would rise in revolt. Then their state too would fall a prey to
the Indian National Congress. The king didn't relent. He told the dewan that in that
case he might resign from his post.
Q. 18. How did the tiger king celebrate his victory over the killing of the
100th tiger ? (CBSE 2008)
Ans. The Maharaja thought that he had killed the hundredth tiger. He was
overcome with elation. He ordered the tiger to be brought to the capital in grand
procession. The dead tiger was taken in a procession through the town. It was buried
and a tomb was erected over it.
Q. 19. What was the Dewan's tiger like ? How did he take it into the forest ?
(CBSE 2008)
Ans. Dewan's tiger was an old tiger. It was not ferocious and agile. It was passive and
exhausted. He was pushed down to the ground. He wandered into the Maharaja's
presence and stood as if in humble supplication. The tiger was kept hidden in Dewan's
house. At midnight when the town slept in peace, the Dewan and his wife dragged the
tiger into the car drove straight to the forest.
Q. 20. Why did the Dewan decide to give up his own tiger to be killed by
the Maharaja ? (CBSE 2008)
Ans. The Maharaja's anxiety had reached a fever pitch. The hundredth tiger was yet to
be killed. The Dewan could lose his job if he couldn't search the tiger. He had brought
a tiger from the People's Park in Madras and kept hidden in his house. He dragged the
tiger to the forest where the Maharaja was hunting.

Q. 21. Why didn't the hunters tell the King that the tiger was not dead ?
Ans. The Maharaja thought that he had killed the hundredth tiger. He didn't know that
his bullet had missed the mark. The beast was killed not by him but by one of the
hunters. However, they kept it a secret. They feared losing their jobs if the Maharaja
knew the truth.
Q. 22. Why did the shopkeeper charge three hundred rupees from the
Maharaja while the actual price of the wooden tiger was just two annas and a
quarter ?
Ans. The wooden tiger cost only two annas and a quarter. But the shopkeeper feared
to quote such a low price to the Maharaja. He could be punished under the rules of
Emergency. So he presented it as a rare example of craftsmanship. He charged three
hundred rupees as its Price.
Q. 23. How did the hundredth tiger take its revenge upon the Tiger King ? (Imp.)
Ans. The king decided that a wooden toy-tiger was a perfect gift for his son's third
birthday. One day he was playing with that wooden tiger. One of the slivers pierced
the Maharaja's right hand. Infection spread all over the arm. Three surgeons
performed an operation but couldn't save the King. Thus, the hundredth tiger took its
revenge upon the King.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Draw a character-sketch of the Tiger King in your own words. (V. Imp.)
Ans. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, had many titles
and sub-names. But he was popular as the Tiger King. The chief astrologer predicted
that his death would come from a tiger.
Crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur grew taller and stronger day by day. He was brought
up by an English governess. He was tutored in English by an Englishman. When he
grew to twenty he took the reign in his hands.
The Maharaja continued his campaign of tiger-hunting with rare singlemindedness.
Within a span of ten years he killed 70 tigers. It was his master strategy to marry a
girl of a state which had a large tiger population. So he was able to kill 99 tigers in
all.
The Tiger King could pay any price to maintain his kingdom. He had to give a bribe
worth three lakh rupees to a high ranking British official to retain his kingdom.
The Maharaja knew how to take work from his minions. He used the dewan to find out
the suitable girl for his marriage. He could be hot-headed and doubled the tax on the
people. He also threatened the dewan to dismiss him from his service. It is ironical
that the King met his death by a wooden tiger. At last, the hundredth tiger took
revenge upon him.
Q. 2. Why was the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram called the Tiger King ? How did
his campaign of tiger hunting continue ? How was he avenged by the hundredth
tiger ? (Imp.)
Ans. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram came to be known as the Tiger King because
tigers dominated his life since birth. The Maharaja was forced to start the campaign
of killing a hundred tigers in self-defence. The chief astrologer had predicted that his
death would be caused by a tiger. Particularly, he was advised to be careful with the
hundredth tiger. The Maharaja's campaign was a great success. He could kill seventy
tigers in ten years. Then an unseen obstacle brought his campaign to a halt. The tiger

population in the forests of Pratibandapuram became extinct. The Maharaja adopted

a new strategy. The Maharaja married a girl from a state with a large tiger
population. Very soon his tally reached 99, just one short of the required hundred.
Ironically, the Tiger King's death came from the hundredth tiger. It was a toy-tiger
made of wood. He had presented a wooden tiger to his son on his third birthday. One
of the slivers pierced the Maharaja's right hand. Infection spread all over the arm.
Three surgeons operated on him but couldn't save him from dying. At last the
astrologer's prediction came true. The hundredth tiger took its revenge upon the king.
Q. 3. Kalki's 'The Tiger King' is a satire on the pride and unbridled power and rule of
the stubborn Maharaja of Pratibandapuram. Describe the use of dramatic irony
leading to
the
death
of
the
Tiger
King.
(Imp.)
Ans. Kalki's 'The Tiger King' is a satire on the pride and stubbornness of those in power.
The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram tried to belie what was written in his fate. The
chief astrologer had predicted that the cause of his death would be a tiger. Not that
the King didn't try his best to belie the prediction. His campaign of tiger-hunting was
very successful. He was single minded and determined. But the satirical aspect of the
whole story is the King's inability to kill the hundredth tiger. All his strategies and wise
plans worked till he killed 99 tigers. But the hundredth tiger eluded him till his death.
The irony of fate brings quite an unexpected end of the Maharaja. The hero who
killed ninety nine tigers couldn't kill the only one that was left. The last tiger he
thought to be dead survived. The King's bullet had missed its mark. Ironically, the
hundredth tiger which caused his death was not a ferocious beast of blood and flesh.
It was a wooden tiger. One of the slivers of wood pierced his right hand and caused
infection and a suppurating sore. It ultimately led to his death.
Q. 4. Why did the Maharaja's anxiety reach a fever pitch ? What steps were taken
to hunt the hundredth tiger ? Could the King disprove the astrologers ?
Or
How was the hundredth tiger found and hunted down ?
Ans. The Maharaja's anxiety reached a fever pitch. One more tiger was to be killed to
achieve his tally of a hundred. By this time the tiger farms had run dry even in his
father-in-law's kingdom. But soon came the happy news that dispelled his gloom.
There was a possibility of a tiger living in a hillside village. The Maharaja announced a
three-year exemption from all taxes for that village. He set out for hunt at once. The
tiger was not found but the Maharaja refused to leave the forest.
The dewan himself was in danger of losing his job. He got a tiger arranged from the
People's Park in Madras. The tiger was left in the forest where the Maharaja was
hunting. He took a careful aim at the beast. The tiger fell down on the ground in a
heap. Then came the anti-climax. The tiger survived. The Maharaja's bullet missed its
mark.
Unfortunately, the king didn't know that the hundredth tiger was not killed by him. So
the hundredth tiger caused his death. Ironically, the hundredth tiger that caused his
death was not a ferocious beast. The king died of the deadly infection. A wooden toytiger, was the cause of his death.
Q. 5. How did the Tiger King come in the danger of losing his throne and how did
he save his kingdom?

Ans. The state banned tiger hunting by anyone except the king. Once a high ranking
British officer visited Pratibandapuram. He was fond of hunting tigers. He liked to be
photographed with the tigers he had shot. The Maharaja was firm in his resolve. He
refused permission. He was ready to organise any other hunt. The officer could go on
a boar hunt but the tiger hunt was impossible.
The British officer's secretary sent word through the dewan. The Maharaja could do
the actual killing. The officer only wanted to be photographed holding the gun near
the dead tiger. The Maharaja didn't relent. He prevented a British officer from
fulfilling his desire. The Maharaja stood in danger of losing his kingdom itself. He held
deliberations over the issue with the dewan. Samples of expensive diamond rings
were ordered. A famous British company of jewellers in Calcutta sent fifty rings. The
Maharaja sent the whole lot to the British officer's good lady. She was expected to
choose one or two rings. The lady kept all the rings with her. She sent her thanks to
the Maharaja for the gifts. The Maharaja was very happy. Though he had lost three
lakh of rupees, he had managed to retain his kingdom.

THE THIRD LEVEL

Q. 1. What will the President of the New York Central and the New York, Haven
and Hartford railroads swear ? What did the narrator claim ?
Ans. The narrator claimed that he had been on the third level of the Grand Central
Station. But no one was ready to believe him. The Presidents of the New York Central
and Hartford railroads would swear that there were only two levels. The Grand
Central Static didn't have the third level.
Q. 2. Why did the narrator talk to a psychiatrist friend of his and what did he say
about
the
third
level
?
(Imp.)
Ans. No one was ready to believe that there were three levels at Grand Central
Station. The narrator wanted to talk to his psychiatrist friend. He wanted to take his
opinion about it. His friend called it 'a waking dream wish fulfilment'. It was Charley's
attempt to escape from the harsh realities of the modern life.
Q. 3. How did the narrator's psychiatrist friend analyse his claim of being at the
third
level
of
Grand
Central
Station
?
(Imp.)
Ans. The narrator told his psychiatrist friend about the third level at Grand
Central Station. His friend analysed that it was just 'a waking dream wish fulfilment'.
Charley was unhappy. That made his wife almost mad. The modern world is full of
insecurity, fear, war and worry. Charley just wanted to escape from those harsh
realities of life.
Q. 4. What did the narrator's friends say about him ? What did his stamp collecting
point to ?
(Imp.)

Ans. All the narrator's friends agreed that Charley was an escapist. Everything pointed
to it. They claimed that his stamp collecting was a 'temporary refuge from reality'. So
was his claim of having been at the third level of Grand Central Station. He couldn't
face the cruel realities of the modern world. Hence, he found solace in escapism.
Q. 5. What did the narrator say about his escapism from the real world?
Ans. The narrator didn't believe that his being at the third level was mere escapism.
Everybody he knew wanted to escape. But they didn't wander down into any third
level at the Grand Central. One day he took the sub-way from the Grand Central. He
was not trying to escape. He just wanted to get home early.
Q. 6. The narrator thinks that the Grand Central is growing like a tree. What
makes him
think
so
?
Why
has
it
been 'an
exit' ?
(Imp.)
Ans. It is quite easy to be lost at the Grand Central. He has been in and out of it
hundreds of times. He is always bumping into new doorways, stairs and corridors.
Once he got into a tunnel and came out in the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel. So he
thinks that the Grand Central is growing like a tree, pushing out new roots.
Q. 7. How did the narrator get lost when he was heading for the sub-way?
Ans. The narrator turned into Grand Central from Vanderbilt Avenue. He went down
the steps to the first level. Then he walked down to the second level, where the
suburban trains left from. He ducked into an arched doorway heading for the sub-way.
It was here that he got lost.
Q. 8. How did the narrator come out on the third level at Grand Central Station
after he had lost the way ?
Ans. The narrator lost the way when he was heading for the subway. He knew that he
was wrong, but he kept on walking downward. Then he heard the sound of people
talking. The tunnel turned sharp left. He went down a short flight of stairs. He came
out on the third level at Grand Central Station.
Q. 9. Why did Charley rush back from the third level ? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Charlie wanted two tickets to Galesburg. The clerk figured the fare. When he
counted the money the clerk stared at me. "That the money, mister", he said. He
threatened to send him to jail if he tried to deceive him. Charlie glanced at the cash
drawer. The old style money of 1894 was different from the money of the present day.
He rushed back as there was nothing nice about jail, even in 1894.
Q. 10. What did the narrator see unusual at the third level ?
(Imp.)
Ans. The narrator saw many unusual things at Grand Central Station. There were a
few ticket windows and train gates. The information booth in the centre was made of
wood and was old looking. Dim gaslights were flickering. Men wore derby hats and
four-button suits, beards, side-burns and fancy moustaches. There was a very small
Currier and Ives locomotive.
Q. 11. Why did Charley think that Sam had escaped to Galesburg?
(A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Charley's friend Sam disappeared all of a sudden. Nobody knew where. But
Charley could make a guess where he could be. Sam was a city boy and he used to tell
him about Galesburg. He always said that he liked the sound of the place. That night
among his oldest first-day covers he found an envelope. It had been mailed to his

grandfather at his home in Galesburg. The paper inside confirmed that Sam was in
Galesburg. The letter was written by him.
Q. 12. Describe Galesburg Illinois in 1894. Why did the narrator want two
tickets to Galesburg, Illinois?
Ans. Galesburg Illinois was a wonderful town in 1894. It had old frame houses, huge
lawns and tremendous trees. It reflected a world of romance and leisure. Summer
evenings were twice as long. The people sat out on their lawns. The men smoked
cigars and talked quietly. Women sat in leisure waving palm-leaf fans. The narrator
wanted to be back there.
Q. 13. "That ain't money, mister" said the clerk to the narrator. Why did he warn
the narrator
?
(Imp.)
Ans. The narrator wanted two tickets for Galesburg, Illinois. The clerk figured out the
fare. But when he counted the money, the clerk refused to accept it. He nodded at
the (currency notes). He saw the notes in the cash drawer. They were old-style notes.
He didn't pay in the currency notes as they were in circulation in 1894. The clerk
warned Charley as he was trying to cheat him by giving fake notes.
Q. 14. How did the narrator get the old-style currency ? Why couldn't he buy two
tickets for Galesburg in spite of having the currency used in 1894 ?
Ans. The narrator needed the old-style currency to pay for two tickets to Galesburg,
Illinois. Next day, he drew three hundred dollars out of the bank, nearly all he had.
He bought old-style currency at a little premium. But he never again found the
corridor that led to the third level at Grand Central Station.
Q. 15. Why was the narrator's wife Louisa worried ?
Ans. The narrator's wife Louisa was very much worried when he told her the whole
story. He told her how he went to the third level for buying two tickets to Galesburg,
Illinois. She advised him never to look for the third level anymore. She didn't want to
have any trouble for her husband and for herself from any quarter.
Q. 16. What is a first day cover ? Explain. (Imp.)
Ans. When new stamps are issued, stamp collectors buy some stamps. They use those
stamps to mail envelopes to themselves on the very first day of sale. The post mark
proves the date. The envelope is called a first day cover. The envelopes are never
opened. Only blank paper is put in the envelope.
Q. 17. What strange thing was found among the oldest first day covers ? How did it
come there ?
Ans. One night the narrator was looking at his oldest first day covers. He came across
a stamped old envelope. Someone had mailed it to his grandfather at his home in
Galesburg. It had been there since July 18, 1894. The postmark showed it. It had no
business to be there. But there it was. Inside it was a note from Sam. He himself had
found the third level.
Q. 18. How did Charley prepare to go to Galesburg ? Why couldn't he
reach there ? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Charley stood on the third level at Grand Central. He could buy tickets that
would take Louisa and him anywhere in the United States. He wanted two tickets for
Galesburg. The clerk figured the fate and Charley counted out the money. The clerk
warned. "That ain't money, mister", he said. Charley realised that the money he was

giving was different from the old style notes of 1894. The clerk threatened to send
him to jail if he decided to cheat him. So, Charley's attempt to go to Galesburg
couldn't materialise.
Q.
19.
What
was
written
in
Sam's
letter
to
Charley
?
(Imp.)
Ans. Sam wrote a letter to Charley on July 18, 1894. Sam wrote that Charley was right
about the third level. Sam claimed that he himself had been there for two weeks and
had found the third level. It was a romantic world. Some were playing a piano and
others singing 'Seeing Nelly Home'. He exhorted Charley to keep looking till he found
the third level again.
Q. 20. Why couldn't Sam go back to his old business ?
Ans. The narrator found out that Sam bought eight hundred dollars worth of old-style
currency. That money was to set him up in hay feed and grain business. He always
wished to do it. Certainly, he couldn't go back to his old business. At least, not in
Galesburg Illinois, in 1894. Sam was his psychiatrist.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:
Q. 1. What does the third level refer to ? Is it a medium or a way of getting away
from the unpleasant and insecure present forgetting your normal life ? (Imp. )
Ans. Jack Finney's story 'The Third Level' interweaves fantasy and reality. The third
level becomes a medium of escaping from the unpleasant and prosaic present.
Charley wanders into a more romantic world of 1894. The modern world is full of
insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress. So the third level provides a safe route to
escapism.
The narrator talks to his psychiatrist friend, about the third level at Grand Central
Station. The psychiatrist defines it as 'a waking-dream wish fulfilment. He is unhappy.
He fails to come to terms with the modern world of fears and worries. Hence, he just
wants to escape.
The narrator's inclination points to his escapist nature. His stamp collecting, for
example, is a 'temporary refuge from reality'. His grandfather didn't need it as the
things were pretty nice and peaceful in his days. But now he can fly on the wings of
fancy to Galesburg, Illinois of 1894. It is a wonderful town with big old frame houses,
huge lawns and tremendous trees. Sam's letter to Charley corroborates all these
details of that fantastic world.
Q. 2. How did Charley stumble into the third level at Grand Central
Station
? Describe
his
experience
there ?
(Imp.)
Ans. One night last summer he worked late at the office. He was in a hurry to get to
his apartment. So he decided to take the sub-way from Grand Central. He turned into
Grand Central and went down the steps to the first level. He ducked into an arched
doorway. And here he got lost. It is quite easy to get lost here. Sometimes he thinks
that Grand Central is growing like a tree. It is always pushing out new corridors and
staircases. Through the years Grand Central has been an exit a way of escape for
many people.
He started slanting downward. He thought he was wrong but kept on walking.
Then he heard a sort of hollow roar. The tunnel turned sharp left. Then he went down
a short flight of stairs. He came out on the third level at Grand Central Station. It was

a different, old and romantic world. There were fewer ticket windows. They were
made of wood and were old looking. There were open flame gaslights. He saw people
wearing beards, sideburns and fancy moustaches. Then he caught a glimpse of a
locomotive, a very small and old Currier and Ives model. He also saw a 1894 issue of
'The World' newspaper.
Q. 3. Describe Charley. Do you think his being on the third level at Grand Central
Station was a waking-dream wish fulfilment? What did his stamp collecting point
to?
Ans. Charley is just an ordinary 'guy' living in New York. He is thirty-one years old. He
is seen wearing a tan gabardine suit and a straw hat with a fancy band. He has been
on the third level of the Grand Central Station. Nobody would believe him. His
psychiatrist friend considers it 'a waking-dream wish fulfilment'. The reason is quite
obvious. Charley generally remains unhappy. Modern life is full of insecurity, fear, war
and worry. He just wants to escape. It seems that 'the third level' of the Grand Central
is in his head. It is a fantastic world of romance he would like to wander into. It gives
him peace and pleasure to roam about in that world of his fancy and dreams.
Everything about the narrator points to his 'escapist' tendencies. Take, for
example, his stamp collecting hobby. It is nothing but a 'temporary refuge from
reality'. His grandfather didn't need any such thing. Things were 'pretty nice and
peaceful' in his days. Perhaps narrator is under pressure to escape from the harsh
world of reality. He would like to escape to the 1894 world of Galesburg, Illinois. It is
a world of big old frame houses, huge lawns and tremendous trees.
Q. 4. How does Jack Finney interweave fantasy and reality in 'The Third Level' ? Do
you see an intersection of time and space in the story ?
(Imp. )
Ans. In 'The Third Level' the narrator Jack Finney interweaves fantasy and reality. The
narrator is a split personality. He wanders from one world to the other. Sometimes
they overlap each other. On the one hand there is the real world of New York. It is full
of fears, rush, hurry and worries. On the other, there is the world of fantasy and
wishful thinking. It is the world far removed from the cruel realities of modern times.
The narrator Charley escapes into the world of 1894. It is the world of romance,
peace and beauty.
The moment Charley enters the third level, he enters a different world. It is the
world of sideburns, beards and fancy moustaches. The world of open-flame gaslights.
Charley wants to buy two tickets to Galesburg, Illinois. It is a wonderful town of big
old frame houses, huge lawns and tremendous trees. The gap of time from the
contemporary world to the world of 1894 is more than a gap of hundred years. But
fantasy and reality are interwoven in the most natural way in 'The Third Level' by Jack
Finney.

THE ENEMY

Q. 1. Who was Dr. Sadao Hoki and where did he live ?

(Imp.)
Ans. Dr. Sadao was a famous Japanese surgeon. He went to America to study surgery
and medicine. By the time his father died, he had established himself as a surgeon
and scientist. Dr. Sadao Hoki's house was built on the Japanese coast. It was a low,
square stone house above a narrow beach.
Q.
2.
What
was
the
chief
concern
of
Sadao's
father
?
(Imp.)
Ans. The influence of his father was quite dominating on Sadao. His father never
joked or played with him. Sadao's education was his father's chief concern. For this
reason he at 22 was sent to America to study surgery and medicine. By the time his
father died Sadao had established himself as a famous surgeon and scientist.
Q. 3. Why was Dr. Sadao kept in Japan and not sent abroad with the troops ?
Ans. Dr. Sadao was a famous surgeon and a scientist. He was perfecting a major
discovery. It would render wounds entirely clean. There was another reason of
keeping Sadao in Japan. The old general might need an operation. Dr. Sadao's services
were needed at any time. Hence, he was not sent abroad with troops.
Q. 4. Who was Hana and where did Sadao meet her ? How were they married ?
Ans. Hana was a beautiful Japanese. She met Dr. Sadao in America at a professor's
house. But he had waited to fall in love with her until he was sure she was Japanese.
She was pure in her race. Otherwise, his father would not have accepted her in the
family.
Q. 5. What did Hana and Sadao see coming out of the mist ?
Ans. Hana and Sadao were standing outside their house. Both of them saw something
black come out of the mist. It was a man. He seemed to be flung up out of the ocean.
He staggered a few steps. He was crawling. Then he fell on his face and lay there.
Sadao thought him some fisherman having been washed from his boat.
Q. 6. How did Sadao and Hana come to know that the man was an American,
a prisoner of war and an enemy ? (Imp.)
Ans. Sadao and Hana came nearer. They found some stains of blood on sand. The man
was wounded. He turned the man's head and they saw his face. He was a white man.
They read the faint writing on the cap: "U.S. Navy". The man was a prisoner of war.
He was an enemy soldier. Japan was at war with America.
Q. 7. What was the initial reaction of Dr Sadao and Hana on seeing the
wounded man ? (Imp.)
Ans. Sadao saw a gun wound reopened on the right side of his back. "Oh, how he
is bleeding !" cried Hana. Then they thought what they should do with that white
man. Had he not been wounded, they could have put him back in the sea. But now
there was only one thing to be done. They must carry him into the house.
Q. 8. "The kindest thing would be to put him back into the sea". Who says it and
why ? Ans. Dr. Sadao and his wife were in a fix. Dr. Sadao couldn't handover even a
dying enemy to the police. Giving him shelter could lead to their arrest. Hana thought
that the kindest thing would be throwing the man back into the sea. It was the easiest
solution. However, they couldn't do even that.

Q. 9. How did the gardener react when Dr. Sadao told him about the wounded
American soldier ? (CBSE 2008)
Ans. All the servants, including the gardener didn't like Sadao's efforts to save an
American. America was in war with Japan. Tom was their enemy.
Q. 10. What was the reaction of the two servants and Yumi when they were told
about the wounded American ? (Imp.)
Ans. The two servants were frightened at what their master had told them They
thought that their master should not heal the wound of that white man. The white
man must die. If their master healed what the gun and the sea did, they would take
revenge on them. Yumi refused to wash a white man.
Q. 11. Hana told Yumi to wash the soldier. How did Yumi react ? (CBSE 2008)
Ans. Hana realised that at first the soldier must be washed. She told Yumi to fetch hot
water for washing. When she saw the white man she shook with anger. She told Hana
that she had never washed a white man. She would not wash such a dirty man. Hana
cried and commanded her to do as asked. Yumi had a fierce look of resistance and left
the room
Q. 12. How did Hana help Sadao in operating on the wounded prisoner of war ?
Ans. Hana dipped a small clean towel into the steaming hot water. She washed his
face carefully. Sadao came there with his surgeon's emergency bag. She was asked to
give the anaesthetic if needed. The bullet was still there. Sadao proceeded swiftly.
The doctor made a clean and precise incision. The bullet was out.
Q. 13. Why did the servants leave Dr. Sadao's house ? (CBSE 2008)
Ans. Japan was at war with America. Dr Sadao was nursing a wounded American
a prisoner of war. The servants didn't like Dr Sadao's generosity. He was trying to save
a white American. He was giving a new lease of life. They considered Dr Sadao's work
an act of treachery. Hence, their patriotic feelings made them leave Dr Sadao's house.
Q. 14. Why did Hana say: "Why are we different from other Japanese" ? Were they
really different ?
Ans. Hana thought that they were different from other Japanese. They were
confused. Even their servants saw more clearly than what they did.
No doubt both of them considered Americans as their enemies. But they were trained
in a different way. Being a doctor, Sadao couldn't desert even a dying enemy.
Q. 15. How did the General react when Sadao informed him about the prisoner of
war? (Imp.)
Ans. The behaviour of the General was quite surprising. He didn't order the immediate
arrest of the enemy. Nor did he take any action against Dr Sadao who had given
shelter to an American soldier. He only offered to send two private assassins to get
him killed secretly. But he never sent those men.
Q. 16. Did the old General lack national loyalty ? Was it a case of dereliction of
duty? (Imp.)
Ans. The old General didn't take the issue of the prisoner of war very seriously. Being
an experienced general, he should have acted promptly in this matter. The American
soldier should have been arrested at once. America was at war with Japan. Certainly
it was also a case of dereliction of duty on the General's part.
Q. 17. How did Hana behave on seeing the messenger in official uniform ? Why did
he come for ?

Ans. In the afternoon Hana saw a messenger come to the door in official uniform. Her
hands went weak and she could not draw her breath. She ran to Sadao gasping unable
to utter a word. She thought that the man had come to arrest them. She was relieved
to know that he was sent by the General. He was in pain and had sent for Sadao.
Q. 18. "If all the Japs were like you there wouldn't have been a war" said
Tom. Justify his
statement.
(Imp)
Ans. The wounded American soldier was an enemy. In spite of all this Dr Sadao gave
him shelter in his house. He didn't hand him over to the police. He operated on him.
Dr Sadao risked his own life but saved an enemy from dying. Tom was right. If all the
Japanese were like him, there would not have been a war between America and
Japan.
Q. 19. What did Dr Sadao do to help Tom to escape to freedom ?
Ans. Dr Sadao knew that the wounded American sailor could be arrested at anytime.
So he decided to help him in escaping. He decided to give his private boat with food
and clothes in it. He could row it to a little island not far from the coast. Nobody
lived there. In this way, he could escape to freedom.
Q. 20. Why did Dr Sadao help in the escape of the American soldier ? Was it an act
of treachery ? Can you justify his action ?
(Imp.)
Ans. Dr Sadao didn't like white people. But still he gave shelter to a wounded enemy.
He arranged for his escape. Had the young American been healthy, Sadao would have
handed him over to the police. But here was a bleeding and dying man. He was a
doctor and was trained to save even a dying enemy. Therefore, he helped him in his
escape. Human considerations outweighed all other petty things.
Q. 21. What made Dr Sadao sure that the wounded American soldier had escaped
safely in darkness ?
Ans. Dr Sadao had made elaborate arrangements for the safe escape of Tom. He was
made to row to a nearby island. All necessary things were provided to him. He was to
signal two flashes if he ran short of food. When no signal came, Dr Sadao was
convinced that Tom had escaped safely.
Q. 22. Justify the title of the story 'The Enemy.
Ans. Pearl S. Buck has given a suitable title to the story. The title is quite appropriate
and logical. The wounded American prisoner of war is a natural enemy of Dr Sadao
and his wife Hana. They should have handed him over to the police. But human
consideration outweighed all other considerations. His duty as a doctor made Dr
Sadao to save the life of even a dying enemy.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Write a character-sketch of Dr. Sadao as depicted in your lesson, 'The Enemy'.
(A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Dr Sadao Hoki was the only son of his father. He was highly influenced by
his father. His education was his father's only concern. For this reason he had been
sent to America at the age of twenty-two to study surgery and medicine. He married
Hana in America when he became sure she was Japanese. This shows Sadao's love for
Japan.

Dr Sadao was first a doctor and then anything else. He and Hana found a prisoner of
war wounded and bleeding. He at once packed the wound with sea moss. Sadao was
in a dilemma. The wounded man was an American. Japan was at war with America. If
he sheltered a white man he could be arrested. If he handed him over the police, he
would certainly die. All Americans were their enemies. Still he brought the man home,
washed his wounds. He knew that the man would die if he was not operated on.
Dr Sadao and his obedient wife faced the ire and displeasure of their servants. Yumi
didn't want to wash a white man. The old gardener thought that his master must let
the whiteman die. Dr Sadao ignored all these warnings. He heard the call of his
profession and operated on the prisoner of war.
Dr Sadao's heart overflowed with human kindness. Lest Tom be arrested, he made
elaborate arrangements for his escape. He put his boat on the shore with food and
extra clothing. He did all these sacrifices putting himself and his wife at maximum
risk. He could even lose his life for sheltering an enemy and arranging for his escape.
He rose to the occasion and did what only a devoted doctor could have done in the
circumstances.
Q. 2. How did Sadao and Hana see the man crawling on his hands and knees ? Why
did they bring him inside the house ?
(Imp. )
Ans. Sadao and Hana were standing outside their house. Soon they saw something
black coming out of the mists. It was a man flung out of the ocean. The man was on
his knees crawling. Then he lay down there. They thought him to be a fisherman.
Perhaps he had been washed away from his boat. He was a white man. Upon his young
and tortured face was a rough yellow beard. The faint letters on his cap revealed that
he was a sailor of the "U.S. Navy". In short, he was a soldier of a hostile nation. Japan
was at war with America and so he was their enemy.
Dr Sadao and Hana were in a fix. If they sheltered a whiteman in their house, they
could be arrested. If they handed him over to the police, he would certainly die. "The
kindest thing would be to put him back into the sea". If the man were healthy, he
could hand him over to the police without any difficulty. But he was a doctor and he
was trained to save the life of even a dying enemy. So he decided to carry him into
the house and save him from dying.
Q. 3. What conflict did Dr Sadao and his wife Hana face before the
doctor operated on the wounded American soldier ?
(Imp. )
Ans. Dr Sadao and his wife Hana remained in a state of conflict for quite a long time.
They couldn't throw a wounded man again into the sea. If they gave shelter to him in
their house, they could be arrested. Handing him over to the police, would have
meant throwing him into the jaws of death. They were in a state of intense conflict.
Ultimately, the duty of a doctor overpowered all other petty considerations. The
servants revolted at the idea of serving a white man. Hana herself washed the wound.
Dr Sadao had decided to operate on Tom.
Hana obeyed her husband without a word. Hana was to give the anaesthetic if the
patient needed it. The doctor made a clean and precise incision. The bullet was out.
At last, Dr Sadao declared : "This man will live in spite of all". So Dr Sadao saved a
dying man. Love for humanity and the ethics of a doctor won over petty racial
considerations.

Q. 4. Dr Sadao was compelled by his duty as a doctor to save a dying

enemy. What made Hana to sympathise with the American sailor in spite of open
defiance from the servants ? How do you justify the behaviour of the old General ?
Was it human consideration or lack of national loyalty or dereliction of duty ?
Ans. Dr Sadao and Hana both loved their country. They didn't have any liking for the
white people. He considered that Americans suffered from racial prejudice. Both of
them were happy that Japan was fighting against the white people. But Dr Sadao had
been trained as a doctor even to save a dying enemy. Handing him over to the police
would have meant throwing him into the jaws of death. Hence, he put aside all other
considerations and respected the ethics of his profession. Hana was a woman with a
tender heart. She couldn't bear the sight of a wounded and bleeding soldier. Hence,
she herself helped Sadao to carry the wounded man into the house. No doubt, the
behaviour of the old General defies logic. Certainly, he lacks national loyalty. He can
also be accused of dereliction of duty. Being a General, it was his duty to get the
prisoner of war arrested at once.
Q. 5. Why and how did Dr Sadao help the prisoner of war to escape ? Do you find
him guilty of harbouring an enemy ?
(V.
Imp.)
Ans. Dr Sadao had given a new lease of life to the American prisoner of war. He didn't
want to throw him into the jaws of death again. He asked the young soldier to take
his private boat at night. He should row in the cover of darkness to a little deserted
island nearby. The young American could live there until he saw a Korean fishing boat
pass by. Food, bottled water and two quilts were put inside the boat. If the food ran
out, he could signal two flashes.
He was not to signal in darkness because he could be seen. The young American came
down into the darkness of the garden and escaped. The prisoner had gone quite safe.
No, Dr Sadao can't be found guilty of harbouring an enemy. No doubt, the nationals of
countries at war are considered as enemies. But we shouldn't forget that Sadao was a
doctor. And for a doctor saving a dying man is the foremost priority. It doesn't matter
if the dying man is an enemy.

SHOULD WIZARD HIT MOMMY?

Q. 1. Why did the story-telling become a necessary ritual for Jack ?
Ans. Story-telling had become a necessary ritual for Jack. He used to tell stories
mostly in the evenings and for Saturday naps to Jo. This custom was now nearly two
years old. All stories were the product of Jack's mind. Jo responded quite
enthusiastically. In the end, the little girl fell asleep.
Q. 2. 'Each new story was a slight variation of a basic tale'. Highlight the common
features
of
Jack's
stories.
(Imp.)
Ans. Jack's stories were the product of his mind. Each new story was a slight
variation of the basic tale. Each story described a small creature, usually named

Roger. He could be. Roger Fish, Roger Squirrel, Roger Chipmunk or Roger Skunk'.
Every story had a wise old owl and a wizard with a magic wand.
Q. 3. Describe Jack's style of story-telling.
(V.
Imp.)
Ans. Jack had perfected himself as a story teller. He could create new stories to suit
the mood and the occasion. He could create the desired effects to keep the interest
of his daughter Jo intact. For example, the old wizard's voice was one of Jack's own
favourite effects. He did it by shrinking his face and eyes.
Q. 4. Describe Roger Skunk.
Ans. A skunk is a small black and white American animal. Roger Skunk was a little
animal that smelled very badly. His bad smell kept all other little animals away from
him. They never played with him. He stood all alone weeping over his fate.
Q. 5. What was the main problem of Roger Skunk ?
(Imp.)
Ans. Roger Skunk was a little animal. Unfortunately, he smelled very badly. His
offensive foul smell kept all other little animals away from him. He was segregated.
Nobody played with him. He was deeply pained at the indifference of other animals.
Two round tears rolled down from his eyes.
Q. 6. How and why did all other animals tease Roger Skunk ?
(Imp.)
Ans. Roger Skunk smelled very badly. Due to his bad smell no animal came near him.
Whenever he went out, all other tiny animals would cry. "Uh-oh, here comes Roger
Stinky Skunk". They would run away leaving him alone to weep over his fate.
Q. 7. Where did Roger Skunk go first for help ?
Ans. Roger Skunk decided to go first to the wise old owl for help. He walked along
very sadly and came to a very big tree. In the tiptop of the tree lived the wise old
owl. He complained to him that all other little animals ran away from him. He
smelled so bad. The owl thought and thought and at last advised Roger to go and
meet the wizard.
Q. 8. This was a new phase, just this last month, a reality phase. How did Jo behave
in this 'reality phase' ?
Ans. Jo was growing. Now she was no more a patient listener. She would question and
argue quite often. She stopped taking things for granted. It was a reality phase. If
Jack told her that spiders eat bugs, she would ask : "Do they really"? When she was
told that God was in the sky, she would ask : "Is he really" ?
Q. 9. How did Roger Skunk reach the Wizard ?
Ans. The wise owl advised Roger Skunk to meet the wizard. Roger passed through the
deep dark woods and swamps. Then he crossed a little river. At last, he came to a
little white house. He tapped on the door. A tiny bearded little old man came out. He
was the wizard.
Q. 10. What did Roger Skunk say to the wizard ?
(Imp.)
Ans. Roger Skunk told his problem to the wizard. He complained that all little animals
ran away from him because he smelled very badly. He also told the wizard that the
wise old owl had sent him there for his help.
Q. 11. What did the wizard do when Roger begged him for help ?
Ans. The wizard first of all asked Roger not to come too close. He asked Roger Skunk
what he wanted to smell like. Roger wanted to smell like roses. The wizard took his
magic wand and chanted a spell. The whole of the wizard's house was full of roses.

Q. 12. How did Roger Skunk find three more pennies and how did he start smelling
like roses ?
Ans. The wizard demanded seven pennies. Roger had only four with him. The wizard
asked him to go to the end of the lane and turn around three times. He would find
three pennies in the magic well. Roger obeyed. He gave those three pennies to the
wizard. The wizard became very happy and made Roger Skunk smell like roses.
Q. 13. Why was Roger Skunk's 'mommy' angry when she found him smelling like
roses
?
(Imp.)
Ans. Roger Skunk came back home. He was smelling like roses. His mother wondered
what that 'awful' smell was. Roger replied that the wizard made him smell like that.
The mother became very angry. She decided to take him right back to that 'awful'
wizard. She wanted Roger to smell like a skunk.
Q. 14. Why didn't Roger Skunk's mommy like her son smelling like roses ? (Imp.)
Ans. When Roger Skunk came home he was smelling like roses. His mother didn't like
that 'awful' smell. Roger told his mother that all other little animals kept away from
him. He smelled very badly. She didn't care for such things. Roger was a skunk. He
must smell like a skunk and not like roses.
Q. 15. Why did Roger Skunk's mommy go to the wizard and what was the result ?
(Imp.)
Ans. Roger Skunk's mommy was very furious. The wizard had made Roger smell like
roses. She went straight to the wizard. She took an umbrella and hit that wizard right
over his head. The wizard was ready to do what she wanted. Roger Skunk did not
smell of roses any more. He smelled very bad again.
Q. 16. What happened after Roger Skunk smelled very bad again ?
Ans. The wizard made Roger Skunk smell very bad again. The mother was satisfied.
They went home. They heard woo-oo, woooo-oo. It was the sound of the choo-choo
train. It was bringing Daddy Skunk home from Boston. And they had Lima beans and
Pie-Oh-My for dessert. Mommy Skunk hugged Roger with love.
Q. 17. Why wasn't Jo happy with the ending of the story ? How did Jo want
the story
to
end
up
?
(Imp.)
Ans. Jo was unhappy that the hero of the story Roger Skunk was made to smell
very bad again. Roger's mommy wanted it to happen. Jo wanted that the stupid
mommy should have been punished. The wizard should have taken the magic wand
and hit it very hard on her head. Jo wanted her little hero smell of roses.
Q. 18. What is the difference between the original ending and the ending of the
story Jo insists on ?
Ans. In the original story Roger's mommy hits an umbrella right on the head of the
wizard. He acts as she pleases. Roger Skunk starts smelling bad again. Jo wants the
ending of the story the other way. She wants the wizard to hit on the head of the
'stupid mommy'. She wants that the wizard should refuse to make Roger smell bad
again.
Q. 19. The story 'Should Wizard Hit Mommy ?' presents two different perspectives
on life. What is Jo's perspective and how does it differ with Jack's ?
(Imp.)

Ans. The world of adults is the world of harsh realities. Their way of looking at things
and people is also different. The world of adults lacks romance and beauty. Joe's
world is a dreamy world of romance and beauty. She can't afford to see her hero
Roger smelling very bad again. He must smell of roses.
Q. 20. What makes Jack feel caught in an ugly middle position ?
(Imp.)
Ans. Jack finds himself hanging in an ugly middle position. His one leg is in the
fanciful world of Roger Skunk, the wise old owl and the wizard. But he has to face the
harsh realities of life as well. It is the world of day-to-day things that lack romance
and beauty.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Describe Jack's art of story-telling. How does Jack narrate the story 'Should
Wizard
Hit
Mommy
?'
(Imp.)
Ans. Jack seems to have perfected the art of story-telling. Jack has a basic tale. Each
new story is a slight variation of the basic tale. There is a small creature, usually
named Roger in every story. He can be Roger Fish, Roger Squirrel or Rogep Chipmunk.
Then there is a wise old owl and a wizard with a magic wand in every story. Jack
understands the pulse of his little daughter Jo. So he creates special effects to keep
her interest intact. He may imitate the voice of the old wizard. He would narrate the
story in a way that suited the occasion. He is always full of creative enthusiasm.
In this story a new animal is chosen. He is named Roger Skunk. He smells very bad. All
little creatures keep away from him. No one plays with him. Roger goes to the wise
old owl. The owl directs him to the wizard. He tells his tragic story to him. He gives
seven pennies to the wizard. He becomes very happy and makes Roger smell like
roses.
Jack sticks to his version of the story. He makes no change in it as desired by Jo. Jo
wants the 'stupid mommy' to be punished. She made the wizard smell Roger bad
again. Jack doesn't relent and makes no change in the ending.
Q. 2. What was Roger Skunk's problem ? Why did Roger Skunk's mother not like her
son smelling like roses 1 Do you justify her stand ?
(V. Imp.)
Ans. Roger Skunk's main problem was that he smelled very badly. All little
animals kept themselves away from him. None of them would play with him. They
teased him calling 'Stinky Skunk' whenever he happened to come out. The poor little
Roger would stand alone and weep. The wizard listened to his woeful tale and made
him smell like roses. This was the smell that Roger Skunk liked so much. Now the
attitude of all other little animals also chanted. They gathered around him because
he smelled nicely well then. And they played tag, baseball football and hockey
together.
Roger Skunk's mother became furious. She did not like her son smelling of roses. She
found the smell of roses 'awful'. She went right back to that 'awful wizard' and hit him
hard on his head. The wizard made Roger Skunk smell very bad again. This pleased the
mother. She hugged and loved her son. He smelled now like a skunk.
Roger Skunk's mommy was not 'stupid' as Jo would think her to be. For a mother, her
child is always an object of love and affection. A mother doesn't care whether her
child smells of roses or smells so badly. For her the smell of the child is the smell that
she loves and cherishes. Naturally, Roger Skunk's mother was upset when she found

him smelling like roses. She didn't like that 'awful' smell and compelled the wizard to
make Roger smell very bad again. Now Roger smelled like a skunk. He smelled like her
own son now.
Q. 3. Why does Jo want that the wizard should hit the mommy ? Does her stand
reflect a child's perspective on life ? What is your choice ?
(Imp.)
Ans. Children look at this world from a different perspective. They look at people and
things quite differently than what adults do. Their perspective on life reflects
simplicity and innocence. Jo has a deep sympathy for Roger Skunk. Roger's bad smell
kept all little animals away from him. The little Skunk stood alone and wept. The
wizard made Roger smell of roses. He was happy. Other little animals were now
attracted towards him. They now played and danced with him.
Jo's main anger is against the "stupid mommy" of Roger Skunk. It was she who forced
the wizard to make Roger Skunk smell very bad again. The hero of the story is always
a role model for children. The tender-hearted Jo is shocked at the attitude of that
'stupid' mommy. She wants that Roger's mommy must be punished. The wizard must
hit on her head hard with his magic wand.
I think Roger's mother doesn't deserve such a bad punishment. For her Roger must
smell like her son. She is shocked when he starts smelling of roses. A mother always
loves her child. His complexion and smell don't count for her at all. Her love
transcends all such minor things.

ON THE FACE OF IT
Q. 1. Why and how did Derry enter Mr. Lamb's garden ?
Ans. The young man Derry entered Mr. Lamb's garden by climbing over the garden
wall. He thought that it was an empty place. He didn't know there was anybody there.
He didn't come to steal apples or anything. He just wanted to be in a secluded place.
The garden appeared to be quite a suitable place for him.
Q. 2. What was the reaction of Mr. Lamb when he saw Derry entering his garden
after climbing over the garden wall ?
Ans. Mr. Lamb saw Derry entering his garden. Derry was startled. He gave explanation
that he didn't enter to steal anything. Mr. Lamb tried to comfort Derry. Anybody could
enter the garden. He asked him to pick up ripe apples lying in the long grass.
Q. 3. Why does Derry say : " .... I'm not afraid. [Pause] People are afraid of me ?"
Ans. Derry suffers from a complex. Most of the physically impaired persons suffer
from such a complex. He becomes withdrawn and defiant. He has got a burnt face.
People find his face very terrible. They get scared when they look at his horrible face.
So he is not afraid of the people but they are afraid of him.
Q. 4. "What have you changed the subject for ?" says Derry to Mr. Lamb. What does
Derry want Mr. Lamb to do ?
Ans. Derry was telling about his face. People called it a "terrible" and the "ugliest
thing". Mar Lamb starts talking of the crab apples and of making jelly out of them.

Derry gets angry. He thinks perhaps Mr. Lamb doesn't dare to talk about his "ugly" and
"terrible" face. He is only trying to change the unpleasant subject.
Q. 5. Why did Derry come into Mr. Lamb's garden ? Why was he startled ?
(A.I. CBSE 2008}
Ans. Derry told Mr Lamb that he didn't enter the garden to steal anything. He thought
it was an empty place. He didn't know if anybody was living there. He was startled to
find Mr Lamb suddenly coming near and speaking to him. Derry asked in disbelief and
surprise: "What ? ...Who's there ?"
Q. 6. According to Derry, what do people think and say about him ?
(A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Derry thought that people were afraid of his burnt face. It was a terrible thing.
Derry thought that no one would ever kiss him except his mother. When people stared
him, he felt they were afraid of him. This made him withdrawn. He tried to avoid
meeting people. Derry thought he was as ugly as a 'devil' and people thought him so.
Q. 7. How did Derry get his face burnt ?
Ans. One side of Derry's face was totally burnt. Mr Lamb guessed that Derry's face got
burned in a fire. Derry corrected him. He got acid all down on that side of his face.
The acid burned it all the way. It ate his face up.
Q. 8. "I'm interested in anybody. Anything. There is nothing that God made that
doesn't interest me." Do these words truly reflect Mr Lamb's character ?
Ans. Mr Lamb is a man with a positive attitude towards life and people. He is not an
escapist like Derry. He is also a physically disabled person. But the matter ends here
only. He has zest for life. He loves people. He loves growing weeds, collecting honey
and making jelly. He is always interested in anybody and anything.
Q. 9. Why does Mr Lamb have a tin leg ?
Ans. Mr Lamb has a tin leg. One of his legs was blown off in the war. He has to walk on
an artificial tin leg. But Mr Lamb doesn't feel like a physically handicapped person.
Nor does he suffer from an inferiority complex. Children call him "Lamey-Lamb" but
he doesn't mind it.
Q. 10. What was the fate of the man who locked himself up in his room ? Why does
Mr Lamb give this example ?
Ans. There was a man who was afraid of everything. A bus might run over him. A
donkey might kick him to death. So he went into his room. He locked the door and
stayed there. A picture fell off the wall on to his head and killed him. Mr Lamb doesn't
want Derry to alienate himself. It can be dangerous.
Q. 11. "I'm not fond of curtains. Shutting things out." says Mr Lamb. How do
these words reveal Mr Lamb's personality ?
Ans. Mr Lamb's physical disability doesn't crush his openness and large-heartedness.
He is not alienated from the mainstream of life like Derry. On the other hand, he
keeps his house and heart open to people. Anybody can enter his garden. He is not
fond of curtains. He doesn't believe in shutting things out.
Q. 12. Why does Mr Lamb say to Derry that "People are never just... nothing.
Never" ?
Ans. Mr Lamb's message is very clear. Alienation or withdrawal is not the solution.
Derry believes in funning away from people. For him people are just nothing. Mr Lamb

lives among the people. He keeps his heart always open for the people. They are
important and "never just nothing".
Q. 13. What kind of world will it be if all the physically disabled start
living together to avoid people staring at them ?
Ans. Derry believes in withdrawal and escapism. He wants to live where no one may
stare and pass cruel remarks at him. The blind ought to be with the blind people and
the idiot boys with the idiots. Mr Lamb doesn't believe in such a segregation. It will
not be a pleasant and healthy world.
Q. 14. "Once you got home, you'd never let yourself come back." says Mr Lamb to
Derry. Is he right in his assessment ?
Ans. Mr Lamb says that once Derry gets home, he will never let himself come back.
People say but never come back. But Derry says that he will come back. Mr Lamb
should wait for him. Derry does come back. His mother tries to hold him back but he
comes back to Mr Lamb.
Q. 15. Why does Derry's mother warn him not to go to meet Mr Lamb ?
Ans. Derry's mother claims to have heard many things about Mr Lamb. She has been
told and warned by the people. She asks Derry not to go back there. Derry asks her
not to believe all she hears. He is determined to go there.
Q. 16. Why doesn't Derry stay to help Mr. Lamb to get crab-apples ?
(A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Derry can't stay to help Mr Lamb to get crab-apples. He was away from home for
long. His mother must be worried. She wanted to know where he was. His home was
at a distance of three miles across the fields. He was fourteen but still his mother
wanted to know where her son was.
Q. 17. Why does Derry go back to Mr Lamb ?
Ans. Derry is determined to go back to Mr Lamb. Mr Lamb says "things nobody else has
ever said". Moreover, he has promised Mr Lamb to come back to him. He wants to
prove that he has fulfilled his promise. Mr Lamb has given him a new meaning of life.
So he is coming to meet him again.
Q. 18. Has Derry overcome the complex regarding his burnt face ? How ?
Ans. Derry feels bad when people talk about his face. But now Derry is not the same
person. He has overcome his inferiority complex. Nor does he care what he looks like.
It is not important for him now. He is going back to Mr Lamb only to look at things like
him.
Q. 19. Describe the message that the play 'On The Face of It' conveys to the
readers.
Ans. The one-act-play 'On The Face of It' conveys a definite message. Life has to be
lived. We should always be within the mainstream of life. We should not allow
ourselves to be alienated. Nor should we suffer from a complex if we are physically
challenged. We should accept life as it comes.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Both Derry and Mr Lamb suffer physical disabilities but their attitude towards
life and people is totally different. Highlight their contrasting traits in your own
words.
(V. Imp.)

Ans. Derry's main problem is his burnt face. One side of his face was eaten up by acid.
He suffers from a tremendous sense of inferiority complex. He is always conscious
that his face is "bad", "terrible" and "the ugliest thing". People are "afraid" of him. He
tries to escape people. He allows himself to be alienated from the world. On the
other hand, Mr Lamb doesn't allow his physical disability to come in his way. He
accepts life as it comes. He has a positive attitude towards life, things and people. He
doesn't find solace in escapism. Children tease him by calling "Lamey-Lamb" but he
doesn't mind it. One of his legs was blown off in the war. But he is full of life and
enjoys it at his best. He enjoys sitting in the sun, reading books and growing weeds
and flowers.
Derry is withdrawn and defiant. He doesn't trust people. He thinks that no one will
ever love and kiss him except his own mother. He can't stand people staring at him or
passing uncharitable remarks. He is touchy and hyper-sensitive. Mr Lamb is openminded and open-hearted. All are welcome. He loves everybody and everything. He
teaches Derry how to handle people and things.
Q. 2. How did Mr. Lamb's meeting with Derry become a turning point in Derry's life
? (C5S 2008)
Ans. The play 'On the Face of It' features an old man and a small boy. The man is Mr
Lamb and the boy Derry who meets him in the former's garden. Derry is withdrawn
and defiant. He does not like being with people. Once he got acid all down on one
side of his face. The acid burnt it all away. This creates a complex in his mind. He
considers his face as the most terrible thing in the world. When he looks in the mirror
and sees it, he is afraid of himself. He thinks that people are afraid of him. He doesn't
like being near them. No one will ever kiss him. Only his mother kisses him and that
too on the other side of his face. People look at his face and pass uncharitable
remarks. Mr Lamb is a physically challenged man. He has got a tin leg. The real one
got blown off, years back. Children tease him calling "Lamey Lamb". But Mr Lamb
never minds such things. He has a positive attitude towards life. He likes to talk and
have company. He is open and never shuts himself in.
Mr Lamb's meeting with Derry brings a turning point in Derry's life. He gives confidence to Derry. He persuades him that he can get better than rest of the people. He
should stop hating people. Hatred burns oneself away inside. Derry should take life as
it is. This leaves a deep impression on Derry. He comes back to Mr Lamb only to find
him dead. But Mr Lamb brings a change in Derry's life. He develops confidence to face
the world in a more positive way.
Q. 3. Derry is a victim of his own complex. He develops a negative attitude towards
life and people.Do you find some change in him in the end ?
(V. Imp.)
Ans. Derry is a victim of his own inferiority complex. This complex is born out of
a distorted understanding of himself and the world. One side of his face was badly
burnt by acid. When he sees his face in the mirror he gets afraid of himself. Derry
develops a negative attitude towards life. He doesn't fit anywhere. He is withdrawn
and defiant. He avoids people. He can never think that anybody can love and kiss him
except his mother.
Derry's deep complex leads him to total alienation. He is unlike Mr Lamb. Mr Lamb has
a tin leg. But he never allows his disability to sour the joys of his life. Derry makes

himself quite pitiable and miserable. His hyper-sensitivity is like an open wound. He
can't stand people staring at him. Cruel and uncharitable remarks upset the balance
of his mind. Children call Mr Lamb : "Lamey-Lamb" but he doesn't rnind it. Derry has
developed a perverted thinking. He mistrusts the world and its people. We find a
change in Derry in the end. Mr Lamb's ideas leave their imprints on him. He is free
from that diseased complex now.
Q. 4. Generally persons suffering from a physical impairment feel a sense of
alienation and withdraw themselves from the world. But Mr Lamb never allows his
physical disability to sour and spoil the pace and pleasures of his life. Justify the
statement by giving examples from the text.(Imp.)
Ans. Physical impairment causes a deep mental agony. It gives birth to a deep
inferiority complex. The person gets alienated from the mainstream of life. He finds
solace in withdrawal and self-pity. But Mr Lamb is an exception. He has a tin leg. One
of his legs was blown off in the war. He never allows his physical disability to sour and
spoil the pace and pleasures of his life. He accepts life as it comes. He tries to find
and give a definite meaning to it. He always lives for others and among others. Nor
does he become an object of self-pity. He always keeps open his heart for others.
Everyone is welcome. He loves everybody and everything.
Mr Lamb is full of life. He enjoys sitting in the sun and reading books. He grows
plants, flowers and fruit trees. He collects honey and makes jelly from apples.
Children sometimes call him "Lamey-Lamb" but he doesn't mind it. On the other hand,
he plays with them. He gives apples and toffees to them. He gives a new direction
and meaning to Berry's life before his death

MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD
Q. 1. How did the narrator find her new place ?
Ans. The first day of the narrator in the land of apples was a bitter cold one. The snow still
covered the ground; the trees were bare. Noise and other disturbances irritated her sensitive ears.
People muttered in an unknown tongue. Her spirit struggled for peace and freedom.
Q. 2. What did she notice about the Indian girls in the school ?
Ans. The narrator was placed in a line of girls who were marching into the dining room. These
were Indian girls. They were in stiff shoes and closely clinging dresses. Small girls wore sleeved
aprons and shingled hair.
Q. 3. Why did she feel uncomfortable in the dining room ?
Ans. The narrator felt quite uncomfortable in the dining room. A small bell was tapped. She
pulled her chair out and sat on it. She was the only one seated there. A second bell was sounded.
All were seated. A 'paleface woman' watched her keenly. Then everyone started eating. All these
activities confused her. She felt quite uncomfortable and uneasy.
Q. 4. Why was Zitkala-Sa terrified when Judewin told her that her hair would be cut
short ? (A.I. CBSE 2008)

Ans. Judewin had overheard the paleface woman talk about cutting our long, heavy hair. ZitkalaSa was terrified. Their mothers had taught them that only unskilled warriors who were captured
had their hair shingled by the enemy. Among her people short hair was worn by mourners and
shingled hair by cowards.
Q. 5. How did she hide herself ? Did she succeed ?
Ans. The narrator disappeared unnoticed. She came to a large room with three white beds in it.
She crawled under the bed and cuddled herself in the dark corner. From her hiding place she
peered out. She shuddered with fear. She couldn't succeed in hiding herself for long. They
stormed into the room and dragged her out.
Q. 6. How was she forced to part with her long and heavy hair ?
Ans. The narrator was found out. She was dragged out. She resisted by kicking and scratching
wildly. Inspite of herself, she was carried downstairs and tied fast in a chair. The cold blades of
scissors ran across her hair. And so her long and heavy hair was shingled. No one came to her
help. None comforted her.
Q. 7. "Now I was only one of many little animals driven by a herder". Why did the narrator feel
so ?
Ans. The narrator was an American Native Indian. Among her people, young girls wore long and
heavy hair. She wanted to maintain her distinct cultural identity. Her long and beautiful hair was
shingled against her wish. She lost her distinct identity. Now she was one of the little animals
driven by a herder.
Q. 8. When did the narrator experience untouchability ?
Ans. When the narrator was in the third class, she hadn't yet heard people speak only of
untouchability. But the curse of untouchability did exist in the society. She had already seen, felt
and experienced it. There were occasions when she felt humiliated by it.
Q. 9. The distance from the narrator's school to her home could be covered in ten minutes. Why
did she then cover it usually in half an hour to an hour ? What were the things that stopped
her ?
Ans. The narrator took about half an hour to an hour to cover the distance from her school to
home. She used to watch all the fun, entertainment and games on the way. All novelties and
oddities in the streets and shops attracted her attention. Performing monkeys, snake charmers and
sweet stalls attracted and stopped her from going home.
Q. 10. What made the narrator double up and shriek with laughter?
Ans. The narrator stood at threshing floor near her house. Just then, an elder of her street came
along from the bazaar. He was carrying a small packet. It contained vadai or green banana bhajji
in it. He was holding out the packet by its string, without touching it. The manner in which he
was walking made her double up and shriek with laughter.
Q. 11. Why wasn't the narrator's elder brother amused when she told him the story in all
its comic detail ?
Ans. The narrator's elder brother was not amused. He told her that the man was not being funny.
He belonged to a 'low' caste. The people of his community couldn't touch the food packet.
Therefore, he was holding it out by its string. Had he touched it, the landlord would never accept
such a thing.
Q. 12. Why did the narrator feel terribly sad and provoked ?
Ans. The narrator came to know why the elder carried the packet with a string. She didn't want to
laugh any more. She felt terribly sad. She felt so provoked and angry that she wanted to touch

those wretched vadais herself. She felt bad that people had to bow low and work so hard for their
masters.
Q. 13. What did Annan say about his community to the narrator ?
Ans. Annan told the narrator that they belonged to a 'low' caste. The people of his community
were not respected, honoured or given any importance. The members of their community can
attain honour and dignity if they study and prosper. If they become learned, people will come to
them of their own accord.
Q. 14. How was the narrator inspired by the words of her elder brother (Annan) ?
Ans. The narrator was highly inspired by the words of her elder brother. There was only one
hope for the people of her caste. They can attain dignity and honour if they are learned. Then
people will come to them of their own accord. The narrator studied very hard and stood first in
her class. Very soon she made a lot of friends.
Q. 15. What are common features present in both the episodes ?
Ans. 'Memories of Childhood' contains the writings of two women writers. Of 'marginalised
communities'. 'The Cutting of My Long Hair' highlights the racial discrimination, the Native
Indians of America suffer at the hands of the white people. The girl's long and heavy hair is
shingled against her wish. In 'We Too Are Human Beings' the narrator attains equality, dignity
and fights against untouchability.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Both the units of 'Memories of Childhood' present autobiographical episodes from the lives
of two women from 'marginalised communities'. Describe the main issues raised as well as the
common features highlighted in them.
Ans. The lesson 'Memories of Childhood' presents autobiographical episodes from the lives of
two women. They highlight the plight of 'the marginalised communities'. The people of these
communities never receive honour and dignity due to them. In 'The Cutting of My Long Hair'
Bonnin describes how an Indian girl suffered extreme indignities. She tried to maintain her
identity and her distinct culture. She liked to wear, long and thick hair. But the 'paleface woman'
and others dragged her out. They tied her fast in a chair and gnawed off her long hair. In 'We.Too
Are Human Beings' Bama, a Tamil Dalit writer, presents the struggle of a girl of a low caste. The
people of low castes are never respected and honoured. They have to carry a food packet by its
string without touching it. The girl in 'We Too Are Human Beings' struggles, studies hard and
stands first in the class. She attains equality, and honour.
The most common feature of both these episodes is the struggle and fight against racial and
social discrimination. They don't take oppression, exploitation and injustice meekly.
Q. 2. Describe how the narrator in The Cutting of My Long Hair' resists and fights against
the attempt of shingling her long and heavy hair. How is she ultimately made to lose her
distinct cultural identity ?
Ans. The narrator's friend Judewin gave her a terrible warning. She knew a few words of
English. She had overheard the 'paleface woman.' She talked about cutting the long and heavy
hair of Native Indian girls. It was a shocking news. Their mothers had taught them that shingled
hair was worn only by cowards ! Judewin advised her to submit. The narrator had made a
decision. She was not to submit. She was to struggle and fight against that oppression.
The narrator disappeared unnoticed. She crawled under the bed and cuddled herself in the dark
corner. She shuddered with fear whenever she heard footsteps nearby. Voices became louder.
They stormed into the room. She was dragged out. She resisted by kicking and scratching wildly.

She was carried downstairs and tied fast in a chair. Then they gnawed off her long and beautiful
hair. No one came forward to help her. Nor was anybody present there to console her.
Thus, the narrator lost her distinct cultural recognition and identity. Now she was only one of
many little animals driven by a herder.
Q. 3. The narrator in 'We Too Are Human Beings' is amused at the way the elder of her street
carried the food packet by its string without touching it. But the same girl is provoked and
becomes angry when Annan makes her aware of the social inequality and untouchability in the
social system. Describe how the narrator attains honour and dignity inspite of her humble
birth.
Ans. The narrator in 'We Too Are Human Beings' passes through different phases of mental and
physical development. The role of her elder brother (Annan) in shaping her personality can't be
minimized. He inspired her to fight against inequality and untouchability. The narrator saw a
threshing floor set up at one corner of her street. An old man of her street attracted her attention.
The elder came along from the direction of the bazaar. He was a big man carrying a small packet
of food by its string without touching it. She thought it quite funny.
She narrated the incident to her elder brother but he was not amused. The man was not being
funny. He belonged to a 'low caste'. He couldn't touch the food packet. She felt terribly sad. She
felt so much provoked and angry that she wanted to touch those vadais herself straightaway.
Annan described that the people of their caste were not respected and given importance.
Education, learning and prosperity bring honour and dignity. The narrator was inspired by his
words. She studied hard and stood first in the class. Then many friends came to her on their own
accord.
Q. 4. Why was Bama first amused at the scene of the old man carrying a food packet by its
string without touching it ? Why was she filled with anger, dismay and revolt later on ?
Ans. A strange scene amused Bama. A threshing floor had been set up at a corner of her street.
Men were working and the landlord was watching the proceedings. An old man came from the
side of the bazaar. He was carrying a food packet. He was holding it by its string without
touching it. The manner of holding the packet amused Bama.
Bama narrated the whole story to her elder brother. But he was not amused. There was nothing
comic about it. The landlord belonged to a high caste. The old man belonged to a low caste. He
couldn't even touch the food packet. Had he done so, the food could have been polluted.
The landlord would not have accepted it. On hearing this Bama was filled with anger, dismay
and revolt. She felt like touching that packet with her own hands. She believed that all are human
beings. They need not bow low to their masters. Her elder brother told her that the people of their
caste had no respect and dignity. They can earn honour and dignity if they get education and
knowledge. The words of her brother touched her deeply. She worked hard and stood first in the
class. She proved that she was second to none.

EVANS TRIES AN O LEVEL

Q. 1. Who was Evans ? Describe two of his main characteristics.

Ans. James Roderick Evans was 'quite a pleasant sort of chap.' He had no record of
violence. He was one of the stars at the Christmas concert. But he was 'just a
congenital kleptomaniac.' The prison officers called him "Evans the Break." Thrice he
had escaped from prison.
Q. 2. What was the unusual request that the Governor made to the Secretary of
the Examinations Board ?
Ans. The Governor made quite an unusual request to the Secretary of the
Examinations Board. He wanted a prisoner, Evans to be examined in the prison in his
cell. Evans was to appear in O-Level German examination. He was keen to get some
sort of academic qualification. The Board granted permission for conducting the
examination in Evans's prison cell.
Q. 3. Was Evans really interested in getting some sort of academic qualification ?
Give a reasoned answer.
Ans. No, James Roderick Evans was not interested in getting any academic
qualification. 'Evans the Breaker' had made a deliberate plan to escape from the
prison. He was not genuinely interested in O-level German. The German teacher who
came to teach him in the prison was also a part of that plan.
Q. 4. How was it decided to examine Evans and what arrangements were made in
this regard?
Ans. The Board accepted the unusual request of conducting the examination of Evans
in his cell. All necessary documents were to be sent to the prison. A parson from St.
Mary was to invigilate. Senior police officers Jackson and Stephens were not to give
any means of escape to the wily criminal. The Governor coordinated and supervised
all the activities.
Q. 5. What precautions and arrangements were made for the smooth conducting of
the examination and providing Evans with no means of escape ?
Ans. The prison-staff and the Governor made all precautions for the smooth conduct
of the examination. A parson, Mr. McLeery was to invigilate. Stephens and Jackson
were to stand outside the locked cell. Evans's cell was thoroughly searched for two
hours. The Governor himself coordinated and supervised all the activities.
Q. 6. Why did the prison officers call Evans "Evans the Break"?
Ans. Evans was helpless. He was a congenital kleptomaniac. He was often arrested
and sent to prison. But he had perfected the art of escaping from prison. He had
managed to escape prison thrice. So, the prison officers called him "Evans the Break."
Evans was planning for the fourth escape.
Q. 7. What information did the Governor give to the Secretary of Examinations
Board about Evans ?
Ans. The Governor gave quite a satisfactory report about Evans to the Secretary of the
Board. It was stated that Evans had no record of violence. He was quite a 'peasant
sort of chap'. Evans was one of the stars at the Christmas concert. He suffered from a
weakness. He was just a congenital kleptomaniac.
Q. 8. Why did Jackson ask Stephens to take Evans's razor and nail scissors out of
the cell after he finished shaving ?

Ans. The senior prison officer Jackson didn't want to take any chance with 'Evans the
Breaker'. He asked Stephens to take away his razor and nail-scissors after he had
finished shaving. With the razor Evans could cut his throat. He could also use the
razor and the nail-scissors as weapons against the invigilator McLeery.
Q. 9. Who was Reverend Stuart McLeery ? Did he really come to invigilate ?
Ans. Reverend Stuart McLeery was one of the persons at St. Mary Mags. He was to
invigilate during the examination in the prison cell. The man who came to invigilate
was not McLeery. The real McLeery was found securely bound and gagged in his study.
Someone else impersonated McLeery in the prison.
Q. 10. "Beneath all the bluster and the bullshit" a tiny core of compassion was buried
somewhere in Jackson. Justify the statement.
Ans. Jackson was the senior prison officer. He could tolerate no indiscipline in the
prison. He asked Evans to take off his hat. But Evans pleaded that the hat brought him
all sorts of luck in life. The hat was like a "lucky charm" for him. Jackson relented and
allowed Evans to wear his hat on his head.
Q. 11. Jackson found a puzzling thing in McLeery's suitcase. How did McLeery explain
it?
Ans. One of the objects in McLeery's suitcase was puzzling Jackson sorely. There was a
small semi-inflated rubber ring. It was about twelve inches in diameter. McLeery
suffered from hemorrhoids. He needed the rubber ring when he was sitting down for
some length of time.
Q. 12. What were the necessary instructions that McLeery gave to Evans before
the examination started ?
Ans. First of all McLeery asked Evans to behave himself. He asked him to write the
name of the paper, 021-1 in the top left-hand corner. He was also asked to write his
index number-313 and the centre number-271. Thus, began the examination, a little
late at 9.25 a.m.
Q. 13. What was the correction slip ? Why did Evans say later that the correction
slip killed two little birds with a single stone ?
Ans. After the examination started, the Assistant Secretary of the Board spoke to the
Governor. There was a correction slip. They had forgotten to place it in the
examination package. The man impersonating the real McLeery asked Evans to make
the necessary correction. The correction slip killed two little birds with a single stone.
It provided the name of the hotel 'The Golden Lion' for Evans and the exact time the
examination started.
Q. 14. Why was Stephens a little surprised to see a grey regulation blanket draped
round Evans's shoulders ?
Ans. At 10.50 a.m., the Governor got a ring. Evans requested him to put a blanket
around his shoulders. It was a bit cold in the cell. At 10.51 a.m. Stephens was
surprised to see a grey regulation blanket draped round Evans's shoulders. He got
worried and annoyed. He feared that Evans could plan a sudden batman leap to
suffocate McLeery.
Q. 15. At 11.22 a.m. the Governor wanted to speak to Stephens. What was the
message that was conveyed to Stephens ? Was the call fake ?

Ans. At 11.22 a.m. came a call from the Governor. He ordered Stephens to accompany
McLeery to the main prison gates. Stephens was to make absolutely sure that the door
of Evans' cell was locked.
The call was fake. It was a part of Evans's strategy to confuse the already panicky
staff of the prison.
Q. 16. Why is Stephens compared to a woman who would get up twenty times to
check that she had locked the front door ? Why did he rush to the cell ?
Ans. Stephens was to accompany McLeery to the main gate. He was to make sure that
the door was locked on Evans after McLeery had left the cell. Stephens was behaving
like a panicky woman. He would check twenty times that he had locked the door.
Stephens would rush to Evans's cell to make sure that the door was duly locked.
Q. 17. What two strange things could be noticed when McLeery was standing at
the prison gate with Stephens ?
Ans. Stephens accompanied McLeery to main gates of the prison as directed by the
Governor. Two changes could be noticed in McLeery. First, his Scottish accent "seemed
broader than ever". Second, his long black coat was reaching almost to his knees.
Q. 18. Why did Stephens cry when he opened the peep-hole of Evans's cell ?
Ans. Stephens made his way to Evans's cell. He opened the peep-hole once more. He
cried : "Oh, no ! Christ No !" There lay a man with his head smeared in blood in Evans's
chair. For a second, Stephens thought it must be Evans. But soon he realised that the
man was McLeery. He raised an alarm and called for the police.
Q. 19. What did McLeery do when he raised himself from the chair ?
Ans. McLeery slowly raised himself. He was moaning and tried to speak. He assured
that he was all right. He asked to get the police at once. He claimed that he knew
where Evans could be tracked down. He was grasping the German question paper in
his hand.
Q. 20. What clues could the Governor get from the photocopied sheet ?
Ans. McLeery showed a photocopied sheet to the Governor. It had been cleverly superimposed over the last page of the question paper. It read : "From Elsfield Way drive to
... Neugraben". The Governor coded it for Newsbury. Later on, the six figure
reference 313/271 helped him to locate Evans in the middle of Clipping Norton. The
correction slip gave him the name of the hotel 'The Golden Lion' where he was
staying.
Q. 21. Where was McLeeryin the hospital or elsewhere ?
Ans. The Governor asked Carter to take the injured McLeery to a hospital. The injured
McLeery was no one but Evans himself. The Governor rang the Radcliffe hospital only
to find that McLeery was not there. No one seemed to know where he was. He just
vanished. Later on, the real McLeery was found securely bound and gagged in his
study. He had been there since 8.15 a.m. That proved that he didn't visit the prison.
Q. 22. Did McLeery actually go to Evans's cell to invigilate ? Give a reasoned
answer.
Ans. No, McLeery didn't go to invigilate. He couldn't have gone there. He was securely
bound and gagged in his study in Broad Street. He had been there, since 8.15 a.m.
Two men had forcefully bound and gagged him. The man who went to act as the
invigilator had actually impersonated the real McLeery.

Q. 23. Who was the most unexpected man in the world that waited for Evans in his
bedroom at the Golden Lion ?
Ans. Evans was having a nice time and good fun at the Golden Lion hotel. He had a
gentle stroll round the centre of Chipping Norton. He collected keys from the
reception and walked up to his room. When he unlocked the bedroom, he stood
frozen to the spot. Sitting on the narrow bed was the Governor, himself.
Q. 24. How was Evans arrested ?
Ans. Evans was beaten in his own game. He had left clues that helped in his arrest.
The six figure reference 313/271 helped the Governor to find Evans at the Golden
Lion in Chipping Norton. He offered no resistance. He was handcuffed and made to sit
in the police van.
Q. 25. How did the Governor and the staff reach the Golden Lion to arrest Evans ?
Ans. Evans made things easier as he left the question paper behind him in the cell.
After reading that they could come to Chipping Norton. They got the six-figure
reference 313/ 271 as Evans wrote the Index number 313 and centre number 271.
These clues were enough to land them at the Golden Lion in Chipping Norton.
Q. 26. What was the final act of foolishness that led to the escape of Evans and
proved that the Governor was "just another good-for-a-giggle" ?
Ans. Evans was handcuffed and made to sit in the van. The van drove towards
Newbury. There, the hitherto silent prison officer unlocked Evans's handcuffs. It was
the last act of foolishness of the Governor. He didn't identify the van and the driver. If
he had verified their identities, he could have avoided Evans's escape. He was "just
another good-for-a-giggle," Governor."
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. The Governor and his staff did their best not to provide Evans a means of
escape but the wily Evans proved to be more than a match for them. It was he who
had the last laugh. Justify it with a reasoned answer.
Ans. In 'Evans Tries An O-Level' we see a battle of patience and nerves. The Governor
and his staff are outwitted by the wily Evans. In this tug of war, Evans proves to be
the natural winner. He easily slips out of the net that had been laid to arrest him.
All precautions had been taken. No one wanted to take any chance with "Evans the
Breaker". The examination was to be conducted in the cell itself. One of the parsons
Mr McLeery was to invigilate. The senior officer Jackson and Stephens had made all
necessary arrangements. Evans's razor and nail-scissors were also taken away. They
could be used for cutting his throat or injuring McLeery.
But Evans frustrated all their plans. He could hide a false beard, a pair of spectacles,
and some weapon in his cell. Actually, he managed to keep McLeery securely bound
and gagged in his study in Broad Street. He had been there since 8.15 a.m. This meant
that McLeery never went to prison. Secondly, it was Evans who impersonated McLeery
and stayed in the cell. The last act of folly of the Governor was enough to let Evans
slip out of their net.
Q. 2. What lapses on the part of the police and prison authorities helped Evans to
escape from the prison ? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Evans had earned the reputation of being known as "Evans the Break". Thrice had
he escaped from prison. His appearing in O-level German examination in the prison
cell is just to devise a method of his escape. Jackson, the senior prison officer had

spent two hours in Evan's cell the previous evening. He had confidently reported that
there was nothing hidden there. And still Evans somehow managed to conceal a false
beard, a pair of spectacles, a dog collar and the rest of his clerical paraphernalia. All
the prison officers were on the alert. There were two more locked doors between his
cell and the yard. And still he managed to hoodwink the authorities. He proved
smarter outwitted all including the Governor. Certainly, there were lapses on the part
of the police and prison authorities. They helped Evans to escape from the prison.
First lapse on the part of the police and prison authorities was regarding Mr McLeery.
He was to invigilate. They didn't verify his identity. A fake McLeery impersonated the
real McLeery. Actually, Mr McLeery had been bound and gagged in his study since 8.15
a.m. much before the examination started. Had they verified it, the whole plan could
have been exposed. Secondly, Jackson's compassion allowed Evans to wear his hat as
his lucky charm. It was a big lapse on his part. Then again Stephens didn't report
another significant irregularity to the authorities. Evans was allowed to wrap a grey
blanket around him. Similarly, the authorities never knew that the German teacher
was nothing but a close friend of Evans. The last but the most glaring lapse was on the
part of the governor himself. The governor was excited and elated with success. Evans
was rearrested. The silent prison officer who handcuffed the recaptured was actually
Evans's man. So were the two men who accompanied them. The governor was
outwitted again. The recaptured Evans was out of bounds again.
Q. 3. How did the Governor surprise Evans in the bedroom of the Golden Lion ?
Describe the clues on the basis of which the Governor could arrest Evans. How
could Evans be able to have the last laugh proving that the Governor was "just
another good-for-a-giggle ?"
Ans. The Governor realised rather late that the wily Evans had completely outwitted
him and his staff. Two incidents made things quite clear. First, McLeery was not in the
hospital. Actually, he never came there. McLeery was found out. He was securely
bound and gagged in his study. He had been there since 8.15 a.m. Now it became
quite clear that McLeery never visited the prison. It was Evans who impersonated
McLeery and stayed inside the cell. The Governor on the basis of the photocopied
sheet drew some conclusions. The six-figure reference 313/271 indicated the middle
of Chipping Norton. It landed him in the middle of Chipping Norton. Evans came to his
hotel, the Golden Lion. When he unlocked his bedroom he was shocked and surprised.
The Governor was sitting on the bed in the room. Evans didn't resist. He was
handcuffed and made to sit in the prison van.
The last foolish act of the Governor made him a stock of laughter. The arrested
criminal slipped out of his net only due to his negligence. A thorough security check
could have frustrated Evans's plan. Had the vehicle and persons in it been properly
identified, Evans would have been in his cell. The Governor was "just another goodfor-a-giggle."
Q. 4. What were the clues left behind on the question paper? How did Evans
hoodwink all the officials and the Governor? How did they help in arresting Evans ?
Ans. Evans was a master mind who could easily outwit his opponents. Thrice he had
escaped from prison. He had made elaborate plans of his escape for the fourth time
also. His appearing in O-level German examination was just a part of his plan. The
German teacher was also his 'own man'. McLeery, a parson from St. Mary was to act as

an invigilator. But Evans got the real McLeery bound and gagged in his study. Another
person impersonating McLeery was sent to the prison. Actually, he was Evans'man. He
had come there to provide him with necessary information for his escape. He asked
Evans to write his index number 313 and centre number 271. Actually this six
figure reference 313/271 could lead him in the middle of Chipping Norton. The
correction slip killed "two little birds with a single stone". It gave Evans the name of
the hotel The Golden Lion. Evans didn't walk out but impersonating McLeery, he had
stayed in the cell. The 'injured McLeery was Evans himself. Later on, he ran away
from the net of the police. In short, he was able' to hoodwink everyone including the
Governor.
These clues helped the officials and the Governor in arresting Evans. Evans was
shocked to find the Governor sitting in his hotel room. He offered no resistance. He
was arrested and handcuffed.
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