ENGLISH NOTES (WBCHSE)

PROBABLE QUESTIONS FOR CLASS XI

SET-1

KARMA

                                 -Khuswant Singh

1)Who is sir Mohan Lal? Describe the character of him.

   In the story karma by Khuswant singh sir Mohan Lal is an upper class indian who dislikes his native countrymen because of his knowledge of English language and their culture.

                   Sir Mohan is introduced before us when he is in the first class waiting room of the station in his flawless western outfit.He is very cautious of his appearance and he diligently maintains his suit from Savile row with a carnation  in the buttonhole,scented with eau-de-cologne,talcum poweder etc.He scorns at every indian product,He scorns at his native relatives,even at his wife Lachmi.He loves to sip.Scotch, whiskey and ruminate over his glorious life of five years in England.He had adopted the qualities of the upper class like their sang froid, manners, attitude. He likes to show off his love for the British and loves to chat with them.He wants to demand his position by his appearance and Oxford English.At the end of the story, he is rightly treated by the two English soldiers giving him a good lesson to learn.

2)Describe the Character of Lady Lal.

Ans.Lady Lal, Lachmi, the wife of Sir Mohan lal in the story “ Karma” by Khuswant singh, is quite a contrast to her husband.She is typical Indian house wife, a village woman, who finds discomfort in the company of the British and Anglicized Indians.She appears before us in a dirty white saree with a red border.she also has a few gold bangles on her wrist and a diamond nose ring on her nose.She is found munching betel leaves and a gossiping with the bearer of the coolie.Quite unlike her husband she is not proud of her class.She prefers to travel in Zenana-interclass comaprement with others.Inspite of being the wife of such a distinguished, Anglicized person like Sri Lal, she does not hesitate to have her mealconsisting of crammed chapaties and mango pickle sitting on the railway platform.She is gossip loving and she can call a coolie as ‘brother easily’.Her relationship with her husband is that of master and servant, devoid of any emotional bond. Her demand is less and her simplicity prizes her at the end when we find her enjoying an uninterrupted journey leaving her humiliated husband standing on the platform.

3)Justify the title of the Story Karma.

Ans. Title in literature has always been of immense importance as it creates the first impression in the reader’s mind.

          Karma by Khuswant singh is a story of  Sir mohan lal and his wife Lachmi and as they are treated by their fate.In this story Sir Mohan is a blind admirer of British culture and manners.He is even ashamed of his Indian wife who can neither speak English nor can follow British manners.At the end of the story Sir Mohan is found to be pathetically humiliated by two British soldiers with whom he was optimistic of having an impressive conversation.His pride is trode on badly when he is thrown out of the train while his wife Lachmi enjoys her journey in her inter-class Zenana Compartment contentedly without any hindrance.

          In the story Lal’s sin of pride is punished when the two English soldiers call him a ‘nigger’ and throw him out of the first calss compartment.His wife’s Karma, on the other hand prizez her with a comfortable journey. Thus the title sings in perfect tune with the spirit of the story.

4)Comment on the relationship between sir Mohan Lal and his wife.

Ans. In the story “ Karma” by Khuswant singh, sir Mohan Lal is an Anglicized Indian who is very fond of British in his attitude. On  the otherhand his wife Lachmi is a typical Indian village woman, a housewife.

                   They live in the same house but Sir Mohan in the ground floor and lady Lal in the first floor. They travel in the same train but in different compartment.Sir Mohan has no time to spare for his wife. She is alone.Sir Mohan does not even like her to spend time with her native realtives and they do not visit their house.Lachmi can not speak English and she has no knowledge about the English manners.she does not feel comfortable in their company.Consequently Sir Mohan dislikes her.He comes to her once in blue moon. He orders her to do as he likes.She passively follows him, almost unwillingly or without any mental attachment.Obviously , the husband wife relationship is anything but normal.

5)Compare and contrast the character of Sir Mohan Lal and Lady Lal.

Ans. In the story “ Karma” , sir Mohan Lal appears  before us as a dignified gentleman who appears  to be very English in his attitude.He dislikes everything Indian, including his wife Lachmi.He prefers to spend time rather alone ruminating about his five years spent in London.He is very reluctant to spend a word more than necessary to his fellow native people although he is very eager to have an impressive conversation with an Englishman.

                   Lady lal, Lachmi, is on the otherhand a complete contrast to her husband.She prefers to stay with the common people and to have a little gossip with them.She does not hesitate to eat chappattis and mango pickle sitting on a railway platform. When her husband is dressed is costly attire and fragrance, she wears a dirty white saree with red border and a few ornaments like a typical Indian house wife.She calls the bearers or the coolie as ‘brother’ when such people get nothing more than a sneering look from her husband.

                   When sir Mohan Lal represents the Anglicized calss who blindly admires and imitates the British culture, his wife stands for an Ordinary Indian womanfaithful to her culture.

6)Write a short Character Sketch of Sir Mohan Lal from his conversation with himself in front of the mirror.

Ans. Mr. Mohan Lal looked himself in the mirror of a first class waiting room at the railway station and talked to him.The  soliloque revealed his character. He smiled at the mirror with an air of pity and patronage. This is the observation about the indian  things and the Indian.The mirror lost its smoothness and visibility here and there.The Oxford educated high brow Mohan thinks that in India everything is like that old dirty mirror.

                   Then Mr. Mohan lal looked at his own image reflected on the mirror.He liked it with its neatly trimmed moustache, smart, and expensive dress and scent of costly perfume and talcum powder.

                   Actually Mr Mohan lal a pro English arrogant aristrocat who prides himself on his own Anglicized manner, education and affectation.On the other hand he is cynical about his native country en, culture, heritage and lifestyle.

7).How did Sir Mohan Lal feel when he saw two Englishmen coming up to the coupe? Why was he half smiling and half protesting?
Answer:- Sir Mohan Lal felt comfortable when he saw the approaching British soldiers and his heart warmed up at the prospect of a good conversation with them. He thought of welcoming them by talking to the guard though they were entitled to travel only second class. He felt assured that his journey would not be a boring thing after all.
Sir Mohan was half smiling because he wanted to welcome the British soldiers in the coupe and play the gracious host. He wanted to show them his generosity and wanted them to be thankful. He was half protesting because the soldiers did not care for taking his permission and barged inside the first class compartment and spoke ill of Sir Mohan and wanted him out of the train.

KARMA

Short Answer Type Questions:

1.      Comment on the glass of the mirror at a first class waiting room of the railway station?

Ans:     The glass of the mirror was translucent and the red oxide from the back of the mirror had been removed at various places at the first class waiting room of the railway station.

2.      “You are a bit of all right, old chap.”- Who says this? Who is the ‘old chap’?

Ans:     The mirror says this. Sir Mohan Lal is the ‘old chap’.

3.      What did Sir Mohan want to suggest when he waved a good bye to the mirror?

Ans:     Waving a good bye to the mirror suggested Sir. Mohan’s pride and complacency.

4.      What kind of perfume did Sir Mohan use?

Ans:     Sir Mohan used Eau de cologne.

5.      Where did Sir Mohan buy his suit from?

Ans:     Sir Mohan bought his suit from Saville Row.

6.      “There was still time for a quick one.”- What do you mean by the expression ‘quick one’?

Ans:     By the expression ‘quick one’ we mean a quick drink.

7.      Where was Lachmi, Sir Mohan’s wife, sitting?

Ans:     Sir Mohan’s wife Lachmi was sitting on a small grey steel trunk on the platform.

8.      What was Lachmi chewing?

Ans:     Lachmi was chewing a betel leaf.

9.      With what was Lachmi fanning herself?

Ans:     Lachmi was fanning herself with a newspaper.

10.  What was Lachmi’s betel leaf case made of?

Ans:     Lachmi’s betel leaf case was made of silver.

11.  What glistened on the nose of Lachmi?

Ans:     A diamond nose-ring glistened on the nose of Lachmi.

12.  What was Lachmi’s tiffin carrier made of?

Ans:     Lachmi’s tiffin carrier was made of brass.

13.  Where would Lachmi find room as trains were crowded?

Ans:     Lachmi found room in the ladies compartment as trains were crowded.

14.  What was the coolie doing white Lachmi was eating chapattis?

Ans:     While Lachmi was eating chapattis, the coolie was drawing lines in the gravel with his finger.

15.  “Are you travelling alone, sister?”-Who asked and to whom?

Ans:     the coolie asked this to Lachmi.

16.  What was Lachmi fond of?

Ans:     Lachmi was fond of betel leaf and a little gossip.

17.  Where did Sir Mohan Lal live?

Ans:     Sir Mohan Lal lived in a bungalow.

18.  How did Sir Mohan order his wife?

Ans:     Sir Mohan ordered his wife in anglicised Hindustani.

19.  What did the clanging of the bell announce?

Ans:     The clanging of the bell announced that the train was approaching.

20.  How did Lady Lal dry her mouth and hands?

Ans:     Lady Lal dried her mouth and hands with the loose end of her sari.

21.  Why did Lachmi thank God?

Ans:     Lachmi thanked God for favouring her a full meal.      

22.  What do you mean by ‘zenana compartment’?

Ans:     By ‘zenana compartment’ we mean Ladies compartment.

23.  Where was the zenana compartment?

Ans:     The zenana compartment was next to the guard’s van, at the tail end of the train.

24.  What did Lachmi sit gazing idly through the window?

Ans:     Lachmi sat gazing idly the crowed who were knocking and pushing roughly through the window.

25.  What did, according to Sir Mohan, ‘excitement, bustle and hurry’ mean?

Ans:     According to Sir Mohan, ‘excitement, bustle and hurry’ meant bad breeding.

26.  What was the language that Sir Mohan rarely spoke in his day to day life?

Ans:     Sir Mohan rarely spoke Hindustani in his day to day life.

27.  Why did Sir Mohan fancy about his English?

Ans:     Sir Mohan fancied about his English because he was taught in Oxford University.

28.  Why was Sir Mohan optimistic about some English officers on the train?

Ans:     Sir Mohan was optimistic about some English officers on the train because it was a cantonment.

29.  When did Sir Mohan make the name of the English newspaper visible to others?

Ans:     Sir Mohan made the name of the English newspaper visible to others while solving the crossword puzzles.

30.  What did Sir Mohan do when both The Times and the tie failed to attract the attention to anyone?

Ans:     Sir Mohan would ask his bearer to get the Scotch out when both The Times and the tie failed to attract the attention of anyone.

31.  Why would Sir Mohan take out his gold cigarette case filled with English cigarette?

Ans:     Sir Mohan would take out his gold cigarette case filled with English cigarettes to impress the fellow passengers.

32.  Where would Sir Mohan have his dinner during his stay in London?

Ans:     Sir Mohan would have his dinner during his stay in London at the Inns of Court.

33.  Why was Sir Mohan dismayed after getting into the coupe?

Ans:     Sir Mohan was dismayed after getting into the coupe because the coupe was empty.

34.  Why did Sir Mohan’s face show the sign of excitement when he saw two English soldiers?

Ans:     Sir Mohan’s face showed the sign of excitement when he saw two English soldiers because he thought he would have a good chat with them.

35.  “I say, I say, surely,” protested Sir Mohan, - How did Sir Mohan protest?

Ans:     Sir Mohan protested in his Oxford accent.

36.  Who threw Sir Mohan’s suitcase onto the platform?

Ans:     The English soldiers, Bill and Jim threw Sir Mohan’s suitcase onto the platform.

37.  How did Sir Mohan react when the two English soldiers threw Sir Mohan’s luggage out of the train?

Ans:     Sir Mohan got extremely angry when the two English soldiers threw his luggage out of the train.

38.  Who struck Sir Mohan on the face?

Ans:     Jim struck Sir Mohan on the face.

39.  “I’ll have you arrested”- Who said this?

Ans:     Sir Mohan said this.

40.  Where did Sir Mohan land after being thrown away by the soldiers?

Ans:     Sir Mohan landed on his bedding after being thrown away by the soldiers.

41.  “Get the nigger out.”- Who is called ‘nigger’ here?

Ans:     Sir Mohan Lal is called ‘nigger’ here.

Long Answer Type Questions:

1.      What opinion does Sir Mohan hold about himself the reflection of his own image on the mirror?

Ans:     Sir Mohan Lal Stands before the old mirror of his first class waiting room of the railway station. His own image is reflected on the glass. He feels happy to view his image on the glass. This satisfies him. He is perfectly all right, though old. he looks handsome, distinguished. He is still smartly will dressed. In fact, as the reflection on the mirror indicates there is nothing to complain.

2.      Describe Sir Mohan’s dress?

Ans:     Though Sir Mohan is aged, he is still well dressed. In fashion and style, he tries to be thoroughly English. So, his moustache is neatly trimmed, lie an Englishman’s. His decent suit is from Saville Row, with the carnation at the button hole. His smooth tie is Scottish Balliol. He uses other elements to make him fine and attractive-the aroma of eau de cologne, talcum powder, scented soaps, and the like. 

3.      Narrate briefly Sir Mohan Lal’s action and thoughts, as he waited to board the train that had already arrived.

Ans:     The hero of the story ‘Karma’, Sir Mohan Lal, preferred to have ‘ek chota’ drink before boarding the train. He saw the time and sank into a large cane chair and drank at his ease.

            The signal was soon given thereafter. The announcement of the approaching train was made through the clanging of the bell. He disliked any sort of haste, and so he continued to drink. He remembered how he had been admired for speaking like a cultured Englishman. He thought of an impressive conversation with an Englishman. Sir Mohan Lal’s thoughts of his sweet past were disturbed by the information from his bearer of the placement of his luggage in a first class compartment next to the engine. He had to walk to his coupe with orderly English footsteps.

4.      What did Sir Mohan Lal do after the arrival of the train?

Ans:     When the train arrived, Sir Mohan Lal showed no concern. He continued to drink his scotch at ease. The bearer informed him about the installation of his luggage in a first class compartment next to the engine. He had to get up and walk to his compartment, with a studied English gait. He found the compartment empty. He got up and sat down in a corner of his berth. Of course, he opened, as usual, a page of ‘The Times’, already read by him several times. He then surveyed through the open window the thick crowed of passengers on the platform below. 

5.      Narrate briefly the man-handling and humiliation of Sir Mohan Lal by two junior English soldiers.

Ans:     The train began to move. Sir Mohan Lal’s luggage was properly placed in a first class compartment next to the engine. He walked into the compartment and occupied his berth and sat down in a corner and opened ‘The Time’, already read several times. When he saw two English soldiers closely observing compartments for seats, he was quite happy to find at last two Englishmen. He hoped of having an impressive dialogue with them. But the soldiers started a dialogue in a rough manner and ordered him rudely to vacate the coupe as it was reserved for the army. Sir Mohan tried to explain in his Oxford English and finally threatened to have them arrested. One of the rowdy Englishmen gave a sharp blow on Sir Mohan’s face. Being furious, the two soldiers threw him and his luggage out of the train. Then Sir Mohan Lal fell helpless on the bare platform amid his scattered luggage. Speechless and shocked, he stared at the passing train and its red light at the end.

6.      How does Khushwant Singh bring out Sir Mohan’s obsession with English? ‘Or’

How did Sir Mohan feel when he saw two Englishmen coming towards his coupe?

Ans:     In the story ‘Karma’, Khushwant Singh has presented Sir Mohan Lal as a high official extremely proud of his knowledge of English. He had spent five years in England. He rarely spoke his mother tongue Hindustani, and when he did, he Anglicised it. He was fond of conversation, and like a cultured Englishman, he could talk on almost any topic- books, politics, people. While travelling in a train he always carried with him his bottle of whiskey, his English cigarettes and ‘The Times’. He bragged of his association with Oxford colleges, rugby matches and Piccadilly prostitutes and considered Indian life as vulgar and drab. He considered his native wife Lachmi a total mismatch and talked even to her in anglicised Hindustani. During his journey he fancied to get some Englishmen as his fellow passengers so that he could have an impressive conversation with them. While doing only the crossword puzzle, he would fold his newspaper in such a way that its name- ‘The Times’ was visible to others. He fancied his fellow passengers to recognize his? Balliol tie and his English cigarettes. At the Cantonment station he expected to meet some English officers in his coupe. But his day-dream was shattered by two young English soldiers who bought him back to ground reality. They started dialogue in a rough manner and ordered him rudely to vacate the coupe as it was reserved for the army. Sir Mohan tried to explain in his Oxford English and finally threatened to have them attested. Being furious the two soldiers threw him out of the train. The author has thus presented Sir Mohan as a megalomaniac.

7.      Discus how far the title of the story ‘Karma’ is appropriate.

Ans:     The word karma in Hindu theology means good or bad luck, viewed as resulting from one’s actions. In ‘Karma’, Khushwant Singh has shown how a highbrow and snobbish person gets the effect of his own actions. He has presented the character of Sir Mohan Lal in an ironic manner. He was a high official and a barrister. He brags of his association with Oxford colleges, rugby matches and Piccadilly prostitutes and deprecates everything that is Indian. He is proud of his knowledge of English and rarely speaks Hindustani, his mother tongue. His wife is not considered fit to travel with him in his first class coupe as she is native. While travelling in a train Sir Mohan wears his special suit and his Balliol tie and reads The Times to impress others. While travelling in a train he wishes to have some Englishmen as his fellow passengers with a hope of having an impressive dialogue with them. At the Cantonment station he expects to meet some English officers in his coupe. But his day-dream is shattered by two young English soldiers who bring him back to ground reality. They start a dialogue in a rough manner and order him rudely to vacate the coupe as it is reserved for the army. Sir Mohan tries to explain in his Oxford English and finally threatens to have them attested. Being furious, the two soldiers throw him out of the train. The story shows his destiny no doubt ironical, but cruel enough. The title ‘Karmas’ is thus quite significant as it exposes the result of Sir Mohan’s own action. 

LEELA’S FRIEND

Q.What problem was Sivasanker thinking about?
Answer: Sidda was hanging about the gate at a moment when Mr.Sivasanker was standing in the front veranda of his house, brooding over the servant problem.
Q.Why did Sidda tell Leela that he knows the moon?
Answer: Sidda’s company made Leela supremely happy. She flung (=threw) a red ball at him and he flung it back. And then she asked him to throw the ball into the sky. He clutched the ball, closed his eyes for a second and threw the ball up. When the ball came down again, he said that the ball touched the moon and came back. Then he asked to see a little bit of the moon sticking. She keenly examined the ball for traces of the moon and said that she did not see the mark. He told her that he knew the moon because to make her happy.
Q.Describe Leela’s character.
Answer: Leela is five years old cute and sweet girl. She is the only child to her parents. Her mother’s name is Kamala and her father’s name is Sivasanker. She is difficult to manage girl. She likes to listening stories at bed time. Leela is a very good girl. She is interested to play and listening stories. When Sidda came to her home her father called Leela and introduced Sidda to Leela. Leela tested him and told to their parents he is ok. This shows the intelligence and confidence of Leela. Adnd she liked to play with her servant Sidda. If Leela believes any one she is not able to live without seeing them. Parents love Leela very much. Leela believes Sidda more than their parents and spent more time with Sidda. One day Sidda tells to Leela that he saw moon she believed the words by Sidda. The innocent girl believes every word of Sidda. Immediately he expressed her desire to touch the moon. This shows the interest and excitement to learn about new things of Leela. One day she lost her gold chain her mother doubted Sidda as a thief. Leela asked her mother why Sidda was not sleeping inside the house because she does not know that he is a servant. She knows only playing with Sidda and spent time with Sidda. She has not get maturity of mind to know about the people and the society. Basing on these we understand that Leela is innocent and good.
Q.How did Leela try to teach Sidda?
Ans:-Leela used to make Sidda squat on the floor with a pencil between his fingers and a catalogue in front of him. She then used to command him to write and Siidda had to try to copy whatever Leela wrote in the pages. When Sidda would fail to copy Leela’s writings and drawings, Leela would rebuke Sidda and redouble her efforts to teach him. But Sidda, though he had an excellent rapport with the Moon, was incapable of studying and Leela used to keep him there, pinned to his seat, till his still, inflexible wrist cracked. Sidda then used to say that he thought Leela’s mother was calling her to dinner and that would end the school hour.
Q.Describe the character of Sidda.
Ans:-Sidda has been described in the story as a very responsible servant of the Sivasanker household and a reliable and constant companion of Leela. He performed all his duties faithfully and took good care of Leela. He had a great imaginative faculty and from his imagination sprung stories that enthralled Leela. He had great power of convincing little Leela and he made her believe that he had the power to control the moon. He had no interest in studies and never learnt anything that Leela tried to teach him. He also had no idea how to prove his innocence when he was accused of stealing the chain. He remained speechless throughout and fell victim because he belonged to the lower class whose voice is never heard.
Q.Describe the list of the ways in which Sidda’s company made Leela ‘supremely happy’.
OR
Q.Why was Leela so fond of Sidda’s company?
Ans:-Sidda’s stay at Sivasanker’s house turned out to be much enjoyable and invigorating to little Leela. Naturally, the friendship between Sidda and Leela depended. In him Leela found a reliable companion who would be willing to carry out her orders and demands beyond his routine jobs, thereby, Sidda’s company made her supremely happy. On the other hand, Sidda was an imaginative storyteller who could easily touch the imaginative mind of Leela. Sidda showed Leela the tricks regarding the ball and the moon. He motivated her to believe that it touched the moon before coming down and a little bit of the moon stuck to it. Even in the bed time, Sidda had to be ready with a story. He sat down on the floor near the bed and told incomparable stories: of animals in the jungle, of gods in heaven, of magicians who could conjure up golden castles and fill them with little princesses and their pets. In this way Sidda come closer of Leela who perhaps had never received such company and close friendship from her parents.
Q.What duties did Sidda perform at Sivasanker’s house? What was given to Sidda in exchange of his duties? Was he merely a servant?
Ans:-In the short story Leela’s Friend by R.K Narayan, Sidda worked as a servant at Mr. Sivasanker’s house. His duty was to wash clothes, tend the garden, run errands, chop the wood and look after Leela.
In exchange of his work, Sidda was given two meals a day and four rupees a month. He had to sleep outside the house as he was the servant of the house.
There is no denying of the fact that Sidda joined the house as a servant but gradually he became Leela’s favourite friend. Though he was ill treated by Leela’s parents, but Leela always wanted to be in his company.
Q.Describe Leela as a teacher.
OR
Q.How Leela attempts to ‘educate’ him .
Ans:-The small girl Leela had an opportunity to overrule Sidda when she was a teacher. At dusk, she held a class for him. She had a box filled with catalogues, illustrated books and stumps of pencils. It gave her great joy to Sidda. She made him squat on the floor with a pencil between his fingers and a catalogue in front of him. She had another pencil and a catalogue and commanded, ‘Now write.’And he had to try and copy whatever she wrote in the pages of her catalogue. She knew two or three letters of the alphabet and could draw a kind of cat and crow. But none of these could Sidda even remotely copy said, ‘Is this how I have drawn the crow? Is this how I have drawn the B?’ She pitied him and redoubled her efforts to teach him. But that good fellow, though an adept at controlling the moon, was utterly incapable of plying the pencil. Consequently, it looked as though Leela would keep him there pinned to his seat till his stiff, inflexible wrist cracked. To get relief from this pain Sidda would say that her mother was calling her for dinner.’ Leela would drop the pencil and run out of the room, and the school hour would end.
Q.What message is conveyed by Mr. Sivasanker’s final words in the story: ” In any case, we couldn’t have kept a criminal like him in the house”?
Ans:-These last words of Mr Sivasanker exposes the class division of the society and the utter indifference of the higher class towards the feelings and sufferings of the poor people. Though it was proved that Sidda did not steal Leela’s gold chain, Mr Sivasanker did not repent Sidda’s police custody and whatever information the inspector provided him about Sidda’s past became the basis of the understanding of Mr. sivasanker. He was eloquent in saying that a criminal like Sidda could not be kept in the house. The poor, thus, are not given a chance to live properly and honourably by the rich who always tend to pronounce judgement on them.
Q.How did a sweet relationship of love and trust grow between Sidda and Leela? Why was there a breach in the relationship?
Ans:-An extremely sweet relationship grew up between Leela and Sidda. Sidda loved Leela and took very good care of her. In the absence of proper love and care from her parents Leela became entirely dependent on Sidda for almost all her needs ranging from roaming, playing, eating and going to sleep.There was actually no breach of trust between Leela and Sidda. They continued to love and trust each other but their relationship ended as Leela’s parents wrongly framed Sidda on charges of stealing and refused to give him entry in the house for a second time even though his innocence was proved beyond doubt.
Q.What did Leela’s parents think of Sidda after his escape from the house? How did Leela make her mother responsible for the disappearance of Sidda?
Ans:-When Sidda escaped from the house, Leela’s parents thought that Sidda had stolen the chain which Leela wore. They felt that it was the guilt of Sidda which made him run away.
Leela knew that Sidda had not taken the chain. When her mother scolded Sidda and threatened police action against him and Sidda ran away as a consequence, Leela made her mother responsible for this. She told her mother that she was unnecessarily rude towards Sidda and that Sidda was angry because he was not allowed to dine with them and was made to sleep outside. Leela made her mother responsible for creating a division between them and Sidda.
Q.What were the duties of Sidda in the house of Mr. Sivasanker’s?
Ans:-In the family of Mr Sivasanker, Sidda was given two meals a day and four rupees a month and in return he was supposed to wash clothes tend the garden, run errands, chop wood and look after Leela. Looking after Leela meant taking her for a walk, taking her to the market, playing with her, feeding her imagination with wonderful theories, making her eat her food, act as her student, sing songs to her and tell her stories when she went to bed. Sidda was supposed to be her constant companion and if Leela called, he was supposed to leave all other job that he might be doing and run to her and do whatever pleased her.
Q.”Leela’s Friend” is actually the tragedy of Sidda. Discuss.
Ans:-The end of the story “Leela’s Friend” is really tragic. The story is the story of friendship between Leela and Sidda. Sidda has been described as a constant companion on whom the little Leela depended for all her needs. In the course of the story Sidda makes no mistake and does not steal the gold chain. He makes an error of judgement by running away from the household and is thus branded a thief by Mr and Mrs Sivasanker. This brings about his downfall and he again becomes a “nobody” with no one to love and nowhere to find shelter. He, in this way, becomes a real tragic character , though not a super hero like Macbeth or Hamlet.
Q.How did Sidda’s company make Leela extremely happy?
Ans:-Sidda was always ready at the beck and call of Leela and used to give her company whenever Leela desired it. Sidda used to play with Leela, tell her about the moon which had an excellent rapport with him, take her wherever he went, acted as her student so that she could play as a teacher, make her eat her food and sing her to sleep. In this way he kept Leela with him throughout the day and took care of her as her friend, guide and guardian Whatever need an imaginative little girl had, Sidda used to fulfil that with his expertise in dealing with children. For all these reasons, Sidda’s company made Leela extremely happy.

JIMMY VALENTINE

Q.Give an account of Jimmy’s life in Elmore before his real identity was disclosed ?
Ans:-Before his real identity was disclosed ,Jimmy led the life of his dream at Elmore. He settled down there as Ralph D Spenser and set up a flourishing shoe business. He also succeeded in securing the love of Miss Annabel Adams and they got engaged. Even Mr Adams, the typical plodding country banker approved of Jimmy. Though Jimmy continued to live in hotel, he visited the Adams household very often and had become someone who was seen as a member of the family, After his marriage , Jimmy wanted to sell his assets and settle on the western part of the country where he presumed he would not have any old enemy who would like to settle scores with him.
Q.Describe Jimmy’s final meeting with Ben Price. Why did Ben refuse to recognize Jimmy?
Ans:-When Jimmy saved the life of the little girl by cracking open the safe in the bank of Mr Adams, he saw Ben Price standing at the gate. Jimmy knew that he had been exposed and it was clear to everybody that he was after all a burglar. Jimmy felt that the world had come to an end for him. He knew that Ben had come to arrest him and as he was totally frustrated at the turn of events, he smiled at Ben and offered to go with hum as it did not make any difference to him then. At this juncture Ben pretended not to know him at all and reminded him that his buggy was waiting for him.
Ben refused to recognize Jimmy as he was convinced that Jimmy was already a reformed man and did not deserve any more punishment. He did not wish to come between Jimmy and his happy life ahead with Annabel.
Q.What did Jimmy write in his letter to his old friend?
Ans:-In his letter to his old friend, Jimmy wrote that he wanted to meet him at Sullivan’s Place in Little Rock on Wednesday night at nine o’ clock. He wanted to present his old friend Billy his kit of tools which was impossible for anybody else to replicate. He wrote that he had quit his job as a burglar, was boing well in business and was going to marry the finest girl on earth and lead a straight life. He also informed his friend that after his marriage he would sell out and go to the west and settle there with his wife and not commit any crime in his life again. At the end of the letter he again requested Billy to be sure to come and take away his kit from him and end up a few things for him.
Q.Evaluate the character of Jimmy Valentine.
Ans:-In O Henry’s short story “Jimmy Valentine”, the hero Jimmy has been presented in the beginning as a smart burglar who would not touch hard drinks, would mix with the upper class people, and would randomly impersonate. Later Jimmy is transformed and the agent of this transformation is his love Annabel Adams whose strong personality and looks captivate Jimmy. He falls in love and becomes a good man. His goodness goes to the extent of saving the life of a little girl at the cost of his own future with Annabel. Jimmy ,thus, is an
example of a person who is transformed by the power of love. This type of complete transformation is rarely seen. It shows Jimmy’s commitment to his love and his commitment to stick to honesty and goodness after renouncing criminality.

MEETING AT NIGHT

Q.Describe the scene and the journey of the lover as you find it in the poem Meeting at Night.
Answer:-“Meeting at Night” describes the journey of a lover through sea and land to meet his beloved. In the half moon of the night, the sea looks grey while the land looks black. With the yellow moon visible in the sky, which looks large and low, the narrator sails towards the land in a boat. The waves look like flaming ringlets in the moonlight. The narrator secures his boat in the slushy land. Then he walks through the beach which is a mile in length. He also crosses three fields and reaches the farmhouse of his beloved. He reaches the place just to feel the presence of his beloved.
Q.Briefly discuss the images that we find in Browning’s poem “Meeting at Night”.
Answer:-Browning’s poem “Meeting at Night” is loaded with images that enhance the sensuousness of the narrative. The images found in the poem are those of the “grey sea”, ” long black land”, “yellow half moon”, “startled… waves”, “slushy sand”, “warm sea scented beach”, and “three fields” together make the description enchanting, adventurous, passionate, daring and sensuous. These images help Browning to catch the longing desire of the couple to meet one another. The narrator makes a great effort to overcome all the obstacles in the way and is rewarded with a meeting with his beloved. With these images and with the daring effort of the narrator, the poet brings home the truth: Amor Vince Omnia which means love conquers all.
Q.Write a note on the significance of the title of the poem “Meeting at Night”.
Answer:-The poem by Robert Browning is about the secret meeting of the lover and his beloved at midnight. The poem describes the journey of the lover and his desperation to meet his beloved. We are given to understand that the beloved also waits eagerly for the lover and the meeting at night is a moment of fulfilment the wish of both. Though the actual meeting is described in only the last four lines, it has been done so with great mastery of description which makes them intensely passionate and exciting. The joy and excitement of the meeting is represented by the beating of their hearts together. The title, thus, is appropriate and well thought out which points towards the theme and meaning of the poem.
Q.How does the poet describe the sea in the poem “Meeting at Night”? How does the poet describe the night?
Answer:-In the poem “Meeting at Night”, the poet describes the sea as both enchanting and romantic. The sea seems to be grey and the waves are startled at the disturbance made by the boat of the narrator. There is a cove and slushy sand which is followed by a warm sea scented beach.
The night is also enchanting with a yellow half moon which makes the sea look grey and the land look dark. It is the time when there is nobody around and only those who have a mission to accomplish venture out. In the dark night, the blue spurt of a lighted match could be seen clearly which is a symbol that the darkness of the land has ignited the passion of the lovers who meet secretly under the cover of the night.
Q.”As I gain the cove with pushing prow / And quench it’s speed in the slushy sand” What is a cove? What do you mean by ” quench its speed “?
Answer:-Cove may be defined as a sheltered place in the shore. In this poem it signifies that the narrator has reached the shore.
By the expression “quenching it’s speed”, here the poet means the gradual slowing down and eventually stopping of the boat of the lover. The lover, in his mission to meet his beloved has travelled all the way to the shore in his boat and now he pulls the boat in the slushy sand by taking it out of the water. The word “quench” means gratification of the thirst. Taking out the boat from the sea disconnects its from water source. Hence it has been poetically referred to as quenching of speed.

BROTHERHOOD

Q. Analyse the title of the poem ” Brotherhood: Homage to Claudius Ptolemy “.
Ans:-“Brotherhood”, the popular poem by Octavio Paz is about the unique and undeniable relationship that organically binds everything of this Universe. This bondage is created and managed by a superior cosmic force in this geocentric world system. When humans look out in the sky on a starry night, they are made aware of this bondage which makes them feel important as being an inseparable part of the system and they get rid of the feeling of insignificance. It is then that human beings find the worth of their existence and understand that the deep bondage of brotherhood organically binds everything together. The title of the poem thus seems to be appropriate as the poem makes one understand about the close knit relationship that binds everything.
Q. How does the poem ” Brotherhood : Homage to Claudius Ptolemy ” justify the poet’s homage to Ptolemy?
Ans:-Claudius Ptolemy was a Greek astronomer and geographer whose chief astronomical work ” Almagest “, is a mathematical treatise on the apparent motion of stars and planets in a geocentric model which was the model that was followed by the ancient Greeks before the Renaissance. The poem by Octavio Paz aims at searching for rhythmic correspondences in the Universe. In these correspondences the astronomical objects play an important role by fixing the destiny of man. The poem also refers to everything in the Universe as predestined and bound in the bondage of Brotherhood. This is much like the quest of Ptolemy who tried to establish a rhythmic relationship between the astronomical objects . This justifies the poem as Octavio Paz’s homage to Ptolemy.
Q. What is the central idea of the poem ” Brotherhood “?
Ans:-At the beginning the poem ” Brotherhood ” is a reflection on the apparent insignificance of human beings in this vast Universe. Later on the poet understands that the feeling of insignificance is flawed and feels that everything, however insignificant, is a part of the scheme of the cosmic force that commands everything by writing the destiny of all the objects that are a part of the cosmos . This understanding creates a feeling of brotherhood and one understands the importance of one’s existence, whatever the duration may be in comparison to the vast and eternal world. It gives us a feeling that we are all intertwined in history and that our life has a purpose and follow a rhythm set by the guiding cosmic force.

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UPON WESTMISTER BRIDGE

Q.Write a note on the significance of the title of the poem “Upon Westminster Bridge”.
Answer:-” Upon Westminster Bridge” is a poem by Wordsworth where he describes the beauty of the city of London as he observes it from the Westminster Bridge. It is a bright sunny morning which is a rare occasion in the city as its weather is generally cloudy and wet. The poet finds the city bright, beautiful, grand and still quiet under the spell of a slumber. Everything seems to be glittering in the smokeless air. As the city is yet to start its daily activity, the calm in the morning light becomes all the more profound. Wordsworth feels the mighty heart of London and the title is indicative of the time and place when the poet feels so. Thus it is simple and appropriate and clearly informs the reader what the poem is all about.
Q.After reading the poem “Upon Westminster Bridge”, what impression do you have of Wordsworth as a poet of Nature?
Answer:- Wordsworth is widely recognized as a poet of Nature with most of his poems beautifully describing the natural landscape and rustic life. Upon Westminster Bridge is among the rare poems of Wordsworth where he describes the urban cityscape. Here also the poet personifies the city and says it wears the bare morning as a beautiful cloth. He integrates manmade pieces of architecture with Nature by saying all these lie open “unto the fields, and to the sky”, All these glitter naturally in the smokeless air. Wordsworth talks about the river that glides at his own free will. He feels that the city is living. This is much like his feeling about the Daffodils and the Wye landscape. Thus the poem speaks of Nature and Wordsworth’s worship of Nature and supports the fact that he is essentially a poet of Nature.
Q.Write a note on the city of London as Wordsworth describes it in his poem “Upon Westminster Bridge”.
Answer:-Wordsworth, in his poem, has described the profound beauty of London as he saw it from Westminster Bridge in the morning of July 31, 1802 between 5.00AM and 6.oo AM. It was a bright sunny morning which is considered a rarity in London. Calm and quiet the city seemed clothed in the morning beauty. Ships, towers, domes, theatres and temples lay brightly glittering in the smokeless air. The city seemed merged with the adjacent fields and the sky above. Water in the river Thames flowed freely and the poet felt a deep and profound calm. The slumber of the otherwise busy city was an experience for the poet to rejoice. He could feel the mighty heart of the city in deep sleep. In the city “there was something like the purity of one of Nature’s own grand spectacles.
Q.Why does Wordsworth invoke God in his poem? What does he mean by “that mighty heart”?
Answer:-In his poem “Upon Westminster Bridge” Wordsworth invokes God with an exclamation. He seems to thank the Almighty as he has been blessed to observe the exquisite, profound, and tranquil beauty of London which fills his mind with ecstasy.
By “that mighty heart”, Wordsworth personifies the city of London. It is the capital city of the nation and is the epicentre of all its activities. So the city has been metaphorically described as the mighty heart of England. In the poem, “that mighty heart” lies in deep slumber allowing the poet to enjoy the glorious morning beauty of the city without any disturbance.
Q.How is “personification” used to describe the beauty of London in Wordsworth’s poem “Upon Westminster Bridge”?
Answer:-Personification is attribution of human form or other characteristics to anything other than a human being. Wordsworth uses this rhetorical device to describe the beauty of London. He personifies the Sun, the River Thames, the architectural structures and even the entire city of London. The Sun steeps, the River glides, the structures lie still in deep sleep and the City with its mighty heart wears the beauty of the morning like a garment. By personifying the natural objects Wordsworth has not only tried to make his description more lively, but has also tried to establish the deep rooted conviction of his mind: Nature is living and it is the source and manifestation of the beauty that is enjoyed by those who are not dull of soul.
Q.”Earth has not anything to show more fair”—What does the poet mean by this? What is rare and striking about the scene?
Answer:-By this statement that “Earth has not anything to show more fair”, the poet confirms that the beauty of London in a bright sunny morning observed from the Westminster Bridge is the most exquisite thing on earth that one can experience. The poet gets enthralled at the clear panoramic view of the city.
A bright sunny morning is considered a rarity in London as the weather of the city is characterized by cloud, fog and mist. It rains often and visibility is almost always very low. Sometimes,though, the Sun comes out clearly and gives the people an opportunity to rejoice in the sunshine. This sunny and glittering morning when one can see the city merging in the fields in the clear morning light is rare and striking about the scene.

MACBETH

Q. Describe the first meeting of Macbeth with the witches?
Ans:-The witches met Macbeth for the first time in the blasted heath when Macbeth and Banquo were coming back after crushing a rebellion led by the Thane of Cawdor and assisted by the King of Norway . The first witch hailed Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis. The second witch called him the Thane of Cawdor and the third witch hailed him as the future King. Then turning to Banquo, the witches said that Banquo would be lesser than Macbeth yet greater, not so happy yet much happier, and he would be the father of future kings . Macbeth was amazed and puzzled at the prophecies and wondered how he could be the king when Duncan was living and having two sons to succeed him to the throne.
Q. ” Macbeth is more guided by his wife and less by his ambition “–Do you support this statement? Give reasons .
Ans:-Though this is the general perception that Macbeth is more guided by his wife and less by his ambition, we think this statement is far away from the truth . If Macbeth did not have strong ambition within, his wife could not have instigated him to commit the murder of Duncan. In fact, Macbeth was planning so from the moment he was hailed by the witches as the King of Scotland. Later in the play Macbeth kills Banquo, Macduff’s family and other people without any instigation from Lady Macbeth. He is remorseless and remains self assured of his indestructibility. Therefore, though Lady Macbeth was responsible, it was Macbeth’s ambition which guided him throughout.
Q.What role does the witches play in “Macbeth”?
Ans:-The witches play a very important role in “Macbeth”. Had they not been there, perhaps, Macbeth’s ambition of becoming the king would have remained suppressed in his heart. The witches act as a catalyst and increase Macbeth’s desire. It is because of the witches that Macbeth decides so early to plunge into criminality and realize his ambitions. The witches first make Macbeth hope, then give him the confidence only to lead him slowly and steadily towards his tragedy. But the witches cannot be held absolutely responsible for Macbeth’s fall. Unlike Banquo, Macbeth could not show the strength of character and falls prey to the dark desires of his mind.
Q.Describe in detail Macbeth’s experience when he goes to kill Duncan?
Ans:-When Macbeth goes to kill Duncan he experiences some of the most miserable moments of his life. He hallucinates and sees an air drawn dagger which is bloody. When he tries to get hold of the dagger, it vanishes into the air. Then as he murders Duncan, one of the grooms cry out “murder” and both the grooms wake up. They pray together and say “amen”. Macbeth also tries to say “amen”, but words would not come out from him. Then Macbeth hears( because of his heat oppressed brain) someone saying that Macbeth has murdered sleep and as a result Macbeth shall sleep no more. Facing all this nightmares, Macbeth returns to his wife.
Q.Why did Macbeth murder Banquo? How was Banquo murdered?
Ans:-Macbeth murdered Banquo because Macbeth knew that only Banquo was witness to what the witches said and had strong reasons to suspect and investigate Macbeth’s hand in the murder of Duncan. Moreover, Macbeth was also jealous of Banquo as the witches had foretold that many of Banquo’s successors would be kings. So to eliminate that chance, Macbeth wanted to kill Banquo and his son Fleance.
Macbeth invited Banquo to a banquet and hired three murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance on their way to the Banquet. The murderers attacked them but could manage to kill only Banquo while Fleance escaped.
Q.What role did Lady Macbeth play in the murder of Duncan?
Ans:-Lady Macbeth played a very important role in the murder of Duncan. Macbeth had his ambitions but was not bold enough to achieve it by murdering Duncan. Lady Macbeth instigated him and successfully put pressure on him to kill the king. She did it by just using the valour off her tongue. Though she herself failed to stab Duncan as the sleeping old king resembled her dead father, she convinced Macbeth that he should go and do the job instead. They could then easily fix the blame on the grooms. So the planning of the murder and the way it was to be executed had come out from the mind of Lady Macbeth though Macbeth himself remains responsible for his crime.
Q.Narrate the fight between Macbeth and Macduff.
Ans:-Macbeth and Macduff fights each other towards the end of the play when the army of Malcolm, of which Macduff is a part, invades Scotland to dethrone and punish Macbeth. In the battlefield, Macbeth tries to avoid Macduff because of the Apparition’s warning where he was told to be “beware of Macduff”. But Macduff had many scores to settle with him and attacked him. Replying to Macbeth’s assertion, Macduff informs him that he was not of woman born and was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped off. Macbeth then realizes that his end was near but he carries on his fight with Macduff and gets killed in the battlefield in Macduff’s hands.
Q.Narrate the banquet scene in Macbeth. 
Ans:-The Banquet Scene is an important part of the play “Macbeth”. The banquet is hosted by Macbeth to celebrate his accession to the throne. People attending the banquet was supposed to have allegiance for Macbeth. In the meantime Macbeth gets Banquo killed by hired murderers. In the banquet Macbeth complains about the absence of Banquo and questions his friendship. Suddenly Macbeth sees the blood smeared ghost of Banquo starts talking to him. He even challenges the ghost to fight with him. Nobody else sees the ghost, though. Fearing that Macbeth would reveal his crime in front of others, Lady Macbeth immediately orders dispersal of the crowd citing Macbeth’s illness.

ENGLISH  NOTES  FOR CLASS XI

JIMMY VALENTINE

1. Sketch the character of Jimmy Valentine.

>> Jimmy Valentine is the principal character in O. Henry’s ‘Jimmy Valentine’. He was a young and innovative safecracker who had served several prison terms. He has settled at Elmore to have a new life under a new name, Ralph D. Spencer. He starts a shoe-store in the town.

He loves Miss Annabel Adams, the daughter of the owner of the Elmore Bank. He has decided to leave behind his old life of shame and crime and live a moral and honest life. He even decides to give the kit of his rare tools to his friend Mike Dolan.

Ralph cannot but oblige Mr. Adams to join his family with family with the kit of his tools. Mr. Adams proudly exhibits his vault and explains its function. Suddenly the elder grand daughter of Mr. Adams, in a playful mood, pushes his little sister, Agatha inside the vault and closes its heavy door. Mr. Adams does not know how to open the door. So, the little girl is sure to die from suffocation inside the vault. At Miss Annabel’s request, Ralph (Jimmy) cracks the vault and brings out the much frightened little child unharmed. Jimmy walks out without listening to anything to face his hard destiny. Though Ben Price, the Police Chief stands before, he dismisses to have any knowledge of Jimmy Valentine. He turns away from him and leaves the place firmly. The warden’s remark to Jimmy, ‘You’re not a bad fellow at heart’ ironically comes true.

2. “Annabel”, he said, “give me that rose you are wearing, will you?”—Who said this and when? Comment on the significance of the line. What was the reaction of Annabel?

>> Jimmy Valentine alias Ralph D. Spencer said this in O. Henry’s ‘Jimmy Valentine’.

The rose here symbolizes love. Before going to save the trapped Agatha’s life by breaking the vault Jimmy wanted to get Annabel’s love for him protected. Caught between his love for Annabel and the life of a helpless child, Agatha; Jimmy decided to save the child even at the risk of his love. For he knew that the moment his identify will be disclosed he might lose his lady love and his much desired new life of an honest gentleman might be shattered.

Hearing Jimmy’s sudden proposal Annabel was astonished. She could not believe in what she had heard. However in a spell of emotion she unpinned the bud from the bosom of her dress and placed it in Jimmy’s hand.

3. Relate Ralph D. Spencer’s feat in the affair of the bank vault of Mr. Adams.

Or, How did Jimmy save the child trapped in the vault? Why did he do so?

Or, “That child – she can’t stand it long in there” – Why was she in danger? How was she saved?

Or, Write a note on the end of the story.

>> Ralph D. Spencer, the owner of a new shoe-store of Elmore, is actually an expert safe- cracker Jimmy Valentine who has a kit of rare tools for the burglary of bank vaults. He has resolved to leave behind his old life of shame and crime and live a moral and honest life when he has loved Miss Annabel Adams. He even decided to give the kit of his rare tools to his friend Mike Dolan. He is about to go to St. Louis for this purpose.

Just on the eve of his departure, he is summoned by his future father-in-law to accompany his family in the opening of a brand-new bank-vault. Ralph cannot but oblige Mr. Adams. He joins his family with the kit of his tools. Mr. Adams proudly exhibits his vault and explains its function. Suddenly the elder grand daughter of Mr. Adams in a playful mood, pushes his little sister, Agatha inside the vault and closes its heavy door. Mr. Adams does not know how to open the door. So, the little girl is sure to die from suffocation inside the vault. In such a desperate situation Miss Annabel requests Ralph to do something. With rare rapidity, Ralph (Jimmy) cracks the vault and brings out the, much frightened little child unharmed.

Jimmy walks out without listening to anything to face his hard destiny. Though Ben Price, the Police Chief stands before, he dismisses to have any knowledge of Jimmy Valentine. He turns away from him and leaves the place firmly. Jimmy Valentine is allowed to remain in his new name and situation – Ralph D. Spencer.

4. “Mr. Spencer was a success.” – Who is Mr. Spencer? Record briefly his success.

>> Mr. Spencer is the new name of the notorious Jimmy Valentine. He has settled at Elmore to have a new life under a new name, Ralph D. Spencer. He starts a shoe-store in the town.

Mr. Spencer’s shoe-store thrives well. He has also become a popular figure in the town with a number of companions and admires. He loves Miss Annabel Adams, the daughter of the owner of the Elmore Bank. Their courtship proves a success and they are engaged and are going to marry soon.

NOBEL LECTURE

1. “… I feel the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion.” – Discuss.

Or, “And this is what is the greatest destroyer of peace today.” – Explain.

Or, What does Mother propose in her Nobel Lecture to combat the evil of abortion?

>> In her Nobel Lecture, Mother Teresa strongly opposes the evil of abortion. She takes this as the worst form of crime. This results in the killing of a prospective life by the mother herself. She regards this as the greatest destroyer of peace. Mother Teresa thinks abortion as nothing less than homicide. It is just like war against nature. Mother strongly holds that abortion is here a grave threat to peace and love. A baby being slain by its own mother is the worst form of crime. This must not be allowed at any cost.

Mother offers her service in the fight against abortion. She promises shelters and builds homes for those unwanted babies. Her counsel to the virgin mothers is to shun their shame and come forward to enrich the human generation. She assures them of all help and homes for their unwanted children through adoption and other possible means. She advices proper family planning by self-control to have healthy and honourable families.

2. Relate the incident, told by Mother, in her Nobel speech to illustrate the joy of sharing among the poor.

Or, “I had the most extraordinary experience with a Hindu family …” – What is the most extraordinary experience of the Mother?

Or, What message did Mother Teresa want to convey by the incident of sharing the rice between a Hindu family and a Muslim family?

>> Mother Teresa had an experience of a poverty-stricken Hindu family. Once Mother went there with some rice to give the family of eight hungry children. Their eyes were brightened at the sight of the rice.

The mother of the children did something strange. She took the rice from Mother’s hand. Then she divided the same into two parts and went out. She gave one portion of the rice to another family – a Muslim family. That family was equally in distress. Mother felt confused at her conduct. She was sorry that she had not brought sufficient rice for two starving families.

But she learnt a useful lesson of joy and love. That was the lesson of joy in sharing even among the most wretched poor. It was the spirit of love that enabled those poor people to share rice with joy in their hearts.

3. Bring out Mother’s observation on drug-addiction particularly in the West.

>> In her Nobel Lecture, Mother Teresa remarks on drug-addictions. This is a pressing social problem in advanced countries. She takes this as a grave problem and seeks to find out the cause behind this addiction to drugs. According to Mother, isolation from their parents’ can hardly make time to personally attend to their children. They remain too busy to give any time to them. These children are, no doubt, provided with all material needs and comfort. But they miss what they need most, their presents love and affection. The healing touch of love is dear to them, but they do not get the same. So, drugs draw them easily. The situation is unfortunate. It affects

peace in individual life and society. The remedy lies in better family understanding and relationship.

4. “The poor are very wonderful people.” How does Mother Teresa establish this idea in her Nobel Lecture.

Or, “And she died with a smile on her face.” – What is the incident indicated herein?

>> Mother Teresa thinks that the poor people are very wonderful people. She tries to establish this idea by telling her own experiences with them.

One evening her sisters picked up four people from the street. One of them was in a most terrible condition. She asked them to take care of the other three and decided to take care of the fourth who herself was in a critical condition. She did every possible thing. At last with a beautiful smile on her face she took hold of her hand and said “Thank you” and died.

The mother was deeply moved by the way she surrendered herself to death without any complaint of her hunger, or pain, or suffering. She died with a smile on her face, like the man whom Mother and her workers picked up from the drain, half eaten with worms and he was brought to the home. The man made a wonderful statement that he had lived like an animal in the street, but he was going to die like an angel, loved and cared for. It was so wonderful to see the greatness of the man who could speak like that, who could speak like that without blaming anybody, without cursing anybody, without comparing anything.

Thus, according to Mother, both the dying woman and the man showed greatness before embracing death. These poor men are really wonderful

5. Comment on Mother Teresa’s Nobel Lecture.

>> Mother Teresa’s Nobel Lecture is a grand specimen of deliberation by a great personality who dedicated all to the cause of man. Her Nobel lecture contains her message which is of love and service to humanity. The lecture contains her healing touches on diverse problems of the vast human society. Extreme poverty, unhealthy habits, malnutrition, distressing loneliness and the sins of abortions or drug-addictions are haunting life and peace everywhere. The lecture is intended for curing human society of such burning problems. The restoration of peace and love is the main concern of the world. Her language is simple appealing and convincing, her tone sincere and inspiring.   

THE PLACE OF ART IN EDUCATION

Long Answer Type Questions                                                                                    5 Marks

1. “Will art give us a livelihood?” –

How does Nandalal Bose answer this question?

Or, What is the difference between fine art and functional art?

“Will art give us a livelihood?”

>> Nandalal Bose, a renowned and experienced artist and art teacher has answered this question in a straight forward manner. He says that fine art is pure art which exists for its own sake. It has no obligations to life. It liberates our mind from the constraints of sorrows and conflicts of our daily life and gives us aesthetic delight. Functional art on the other hand refers to the utility aspect of art, that is, its influence on life and society. With its magic touch, functional art brings beauty to the objects of our life, and in an indirect way provides us with means of livelihood. Nandalal Bose here warns his readers against the harsh consequences of neglecting art from the sphere of our daily life would be harmful both from the aesthetic point of view and the economic point of view.

2. “There are some amongst us who think that art is the domain for the rich and the pleasure-loving.”—

Explain.

>> Nandalal Bose thinks that the common people generally have an unenthusiastic approach towards art. They think that art is the exclusive domain for the rich and the pleasure loving and the common people have nothing to do with it. They do not realize the fact that the vitality of a work of art lies in its sense of beauty and order, not in its monetary value. For example, a poor and uneducated member of a tribal community keeps his hut neat and clean and arranges his utensils and beds in an orderly fashion, whereas a rich college student keeps his clothes and belongings in a disorderly manner in his hostel rooms. The author is pained to see the widespread disproportion and lack of taste in the present society. He has often seen the educated public display bad photographs side by side with good paintings. He has seen hostel students hang shirts from picture frames and litter cups and combs on the study table. It is often seen that people wear open-breasted jacket with the ‘dhoti’ or high-heeled shoes with the saree. This kind of disproportion in dress and confusion in interior decoration sure signs of our poverty in aesthetic sensibilities. People in general consider the utility aspect of things, not their aesthetic aspect. This is the utility aspect of things which falls in the province of functional art. While fine art like painting, music etc. liberates our mind from the mundane aspects of life, functional art with its magic touch brings beauty to the objects of our daily use and provides us with means of livelihood. So, to banish art from the sphere of our daily life is harmful both from the aesthetic point of view and the economic point of view.

3. What are the roles of language and literature? How are they linked to art?

>> Man has the basic superiority to other creatures. He has a language to speak, to communicate with his fellow beings. This language, again, endows him with the power to create literature, science, philosophy, and so on. He expresses in them, with the aid of his language, what he may feel, think, or do.

The variety in expression need be achieved through art. Indeed, art aids the human power of expression, not only through language, but also through its varied wings of art. These wings are dance, music, painting and the like.

Man is a complex creature. His totality requires the just blending of his various inborn gifts. Thus language and literature go with art.

4. What steps, according to Nandalal Bose, should be adopted to introduce and materialize the idea of art education in India?

Or, “Let us discuss now in a general way the remedy for this.”—Discuss the remedy proposed.

>> Nandalal Bose in his ‘The Place of art in Education’ has expressed his dissatisfaction at the present condition of art education in India. He has suggested the measures to be adopted in the interest of an art-friendly environment in schools and colleges. According to Bose. The roots of art education lie in the observation of nature and the study of art objects under the guidance of expert men. Training in fine and functional art will develop the students’ power of observation and give them better insight into literature, science and philosophy. Good paintings and other specimens of art are to be displayed in the classrooms, libraries and studies of the students. Good books on art with ample illustrations should be made available to them. The students should be introduced to great specimens of art of different countries through films. They should be taken to museums and picture galleries, so that they can acquire first-hand knowledge of different kinds of art. These experiences will help much in arousing their aesthetic vision and strengthening their power of judgement. Seasonal festivals should be organized to bring the students in close contact with the season’s fruits and flowers. Lastly, each school or college should organize an annual art festival in which each student will participate with something he has made with help in arousing the aesthetic sensibilities of the students and live a life of joy and pleasure.

5. How does, according to Nandalal Bose, the lack in the aesthetic sense affect life?

>> The aesthetic sense expresses to the intimate concern for beauty, decency, culture and delicacy. This is required for the total development of man. The lack of aesthetic sense makes a mind narrow and confined when the aesthetic sense is missing, surroundings become wretched. These are all full of dirt and disorder. A filthy state with rubbish and spat betel-juice here and there presents a despicable scene all over. Unfortunately enough the present Indian generation has to learn the values of Indian art and sculpture and painting from foreign masters.

6. What does Nandalal Bose say of museums and picture-galleries in the context of art-education?

>> One of the recommendations of Nandalal Bose, in connection with art-education, is the regular visits to museums and picture galleries by the students of an institution. Of course, they must be accompanied by their qualified teachers. They will thereby have a direct contact with great works of art and painting under the supervision on of the teachers. Their aesthetic vision will be thereby broadened. Their aesthetic sensibility will be awakened, too. They will be true worships of art.

7. What does Nandalal Bose say of the communion of the art-students with Nature?

>> Nandalal Bose in his ‘The Place of Art in Education’ emphasizes the attachment of students with Nature to help art-education. The students should go to the bosom of Nature to hold their seasonal festivals. They are to be in close touches with different natural objects – flowers and fruits etc. They should enjoy the rich fields and lotus ponds in autumn, the carnival of Palash and Shimul flowers in spring. Secondly, they are to enrich their eyes and minds by participating actively in Nature’s own festivals in different seasons. For these seasonal festivals must be organized on special holidays. Aesthetic sense comes upon the students when they get acquainted with Nature.

BROTHERHOOD

ANALYTICAL/DESCRIPTIVE TYPE

1.      Give the substance of the poem, "Brotherhood".

Ans:    Standing under the starry sky, the speaker realizes his/her position on earth. His/her earthly existence is finite and bound by time. Life is very short, but the surrounding universe is enormous like the night sky. Looking up at the night sky, he/she watches the stars that act as our destiny. Intuitively, the speaker realizes that his/her life is likely to be predestined. A this moment of self-realization, a reader of fate spells his/her destiny out.

2.      Write a note on the significance of the title of the poem, "Brotherhood".

Ans:    The word, "Brotherhood" suggests that the poem is about brotherly relationship within a national or religious community sharing a common interest. But in the context of the poem, the title indicates the idea of the relationship that binds everything in the universe organically. The poet or the speaker acknowledges a superior power that controls our existence. Human being can neither explore the truth nor explain the cosmic force because of lack of knowledge. They can only understand that their lives are bound by a cosmic force and are pre-destined. Our life and existence is controlled and regulated by cosmic laws. In this sense, the universe and humanity are intertwined and share a brotherhood. The title focuses on the relationship between different entities that work origanically. So the title is appropriate.

3.      What is the main theme of the poem, "Brotherhood"?

Ans:    The poem, "Brotherhood" focuses on the temporal-existential predicament of man. The poet or the speaker acknowledges a superior power that controls our existence. Life of an individual is finite and bound by time. But the universe that surrounds an individual is enormous like the night-sky. The world of the speaker, like the stars that rhythmically move and shine and write that fate of humanity, is a concert of calls and answers. Reason fails to explain this. But the speaker realise intuitively that his/her life is predestined. By reading the poem, a reader can recreate the world installed by the poem. The reader can decode the truth hidden in rhythmic poetic language of the poem. Thus, the poem highlights the realization that the universe is great in comparison to human existence on earth.

4.      What does the epigram, ‘Unknowing I understand’ mean in the poem, "Brotherhood"?

Ans:    In the poem "Brotherhood", the speaker stands under the starry sky and perceives the vastness of the universe around him. He realises that human life is a finite lapse of time. It is only a point on timeline. Its purpose and destination is determined by the stars. He realises this intuitively. Such is the limitation of his knowledge that he can not explain it logically. By this, the poet means that the truth lies outside the man’s ability to reason. We have little knowledge of the world around us and the cosmic forces that govern our life.

5.      Why does the poet dedicate the poem, "Brotherhood" to Claudius Ptolemy?

Ans:    Through the poem, "Brotherhood", Octavio Paz pays tribute to Claudius Ptolemy, a Greek astronomer and geographer. Ptolemy’s chief astronomical work, Almagest, is a mathematical treatise on the apparent motion of stars and planets in a geocentric model. The Ptolemaic system is based on the concept of a geocentric world system of the ancient Greeks. The dedication, ‘Homage to Claudius Ptolemy’ suggests that the poem is concerned with the search for rhythmic correspondences in the universe. In the poem, the speaker/poet perceives the rhythm in the universe. He realises the existence of cosmic forces governing the human world. At the same time, he also realises that human life is finite and bound by time. This realization of the universe and cosmic forces matches with vision of Ptolemy. So the poet dedicates the poem to Ptolemy.

6.      What is the central idea of the poem, "Brotherhood"?

Ans:    The poem exposes the insignificance of human being in the vast universe as well as the relationship between all entities of the world working organically. There is a cosmic force that binds everything in the universe. Human existence is only the passing of a period of time. Human knowledge cannot explain the cosmic laws that govern human life and activities because human ability to reason has its limitations. But we are all linked together in history. Every life has a purpose. Both the universe and humanity are intertwined. They follow a rhythm.

7.      What is the significance of the stars in the poem, "Brotherhood"?

Ans:    In the poem, "Brotherhood", the poet-speaker, standing under the night-sky, looks up and discovers a vast universe. That twinkling stars strike him with new thought and open up new horizons of realization. His rational knowledge cannot explain the mystery of the universe. But intuitively, he realises the vastness of the universe and his position on earth. The stars, as the thinks, move, shine and determine his fate. These stars represent the4 cosmic force that controls everything.

8.      In the poem, "Brotherhood", what is the poet’s view on the universe around us?

Ans:    Standing under the starry sky, the speaker/poet feels that the night is enormous. The night opens up the universe before him. He wonders at the vastness of the universe and realises his position on earth. He intuitively understands the rhythm of the universe. He realises that the laws of the universe govern our life on earth.

9.      Is the poem, "Brotherhood" a satire upon the boastfulness of modern man? Justify your answer.

Ans:    Modern science and technology has made man the lord of the universe. Endowed with power of technology, modern man boasts of his power. But in "Brotherhood", the poet searches for man’s position in the universe. Standing under the starry sky, he realises that an individual is an insignificant part of the vast universe. He realises that human life is bound by time and space. Thus, the poem becomes a satire upon the boastfulness of modern man.

10.  Can you call the poem, "Brotherhood” a prophetic poem? Give reason in a favour of your opinion.

Ans:    A prophetic poem throws light on the future happenings. It is visionary in its content. "Brotherhood" as a poem shares prophetic qualities. It highlights the brotherly relationship between all entities functioning organically in this universe.

    The poet admits that man has an ephemeral existence in the universe governed by cosmic forces. Looking at the starry night sky, the poet tries to search the truth that is beyond the reach of human knowledge. He feels that the life of human beings is predestined.

He looks into his own future and perceives that even human activities are determined by cosmic forces. At the end of the poem the poet refers to 'someone' who is 'godsent' or a decoder of fate. This seer or prophet can explain our fate. Such prophecy however is related deeply with our alienation. Such despondency is found in the poem, "Brotherhood" as the poet unknowingly understands his future in an alien state. He realises that in this predicament of alienation only humanity and brotherhood can bind us all together and we will then be linked with each other in this world. In this respect the poet himself becomes a visionary individual

1.      Explain the antithesis: ‘…little do I last/and the night is enormous.’

Ans:  Standing under the starry sky, the poet realises how insignificant he is in comparison to the vast universe around him. He realises that his life is only a point on time line. The universe aroundhim, as represented by the night sky is infinite. But his life is a finite lapse of time. The contrast points out that life is finite but the universe is infinite.

The extract ‘little do I last’ means that the poet’s existence on earth is ephemeral. He is only a small part in the stream of history and continuity of time.

            On the other hand, the extract ‘night is enormous’ is antithetical to ‘little do I last.’ The night is the vast canvas of the universe. This reference to time suggests the vastness of the universe in respect of time and space.

DAYBREAK

1.      Give the substance of the poem, "Daybreak".

Ans:     At dawn, a wind rises from the sea and asks the mists to make room for its movement. It greets the ships and urges the mariners to sail in the wake of the day. Then it rushes to distant land and impels all to wake up. One by one, the wind visits the forest, the farms, the fields of corn, the belfry tower and the churchyard. It urges the forest to hang out its leaves. Then it touches the folded wings of the wod-bird and urges it to sing. After that, the wind rushes over to the farms and asks the chanticleer to crow and announce the beginning of a new day. Then it whispers to the fields of corn to bow down to greet the morning. It also urges the belfry tower to ring the morning bell. But it sighs for the dead at the churchyard and asks them to lie quietly. 

2.      Write a note on the significance of the title of the poem, "Daybreak".

Ans:     In the concluding part of “The bells of Sans” Blas, Longfellow writes:

                        Out of the shadow of night

                        The world rolls into light;

                        It is daybreak everywhere.

            This prophetic vision of daybreak is the main theme of the poem, "Daybreak". The night is dark. Out of the darkness of the night, emerges the day. The light of the morning sun brings new hope and refreshes all. The wind is the harbinger of new hope to the world. It wakes up the living world represented by the mariners, the wood-bird and the chanticleer. It urges the belfry tower to ring its bells to announce the beginning of the day. But the wind sighs for the dead and tells them to enjoy eternal sleep. The title of the poem highlights the hour when the wind urges all, except the dead, to wake up with new hope and action. So the title is appropriate.

3.      Give the central idea of the poem, "Daybreak".

Ans:     In the poem "Daybreak", Longfellow wants to see a world throbbing with life and action. He gives the wind the human ability to speak and personifies it. The wind performs the function of an alarm clock here. It announces the beginning of a new day. The dark night is gone. So the wind brings new hope to the living world. It urges all to wake up in action to perform the duties of their earthly existence. It impels the living world to follow the natural course of day and night. But it asks the dead to lie quietly in eternal sleep as they have already completed their earthly duties. Thus, through this wind, Mother Nature touches all corners with the message of a new day.

4.      How does Longfellow personify the wind in the poem; "Daybreak"?

Ans:     In the poem "Daybreak", Longfellow images the wind to be a messenger of Nature. He personifies the wind and gives it the human ability to speak and communicate verbally. Emerging from the sea, it moves and speaks to all it meets. In the sea, it encounters the mists and the mariners. It asks the mists to make room for its movement. It urges the mariners to sail on. On distant land, it impels the forest to hang out its leaves, the birds to sing, the chanticleer to crow, the corn to bow and greet the morning, and the belfry tower to ring its bell to proclaim the hour. But when it blows across the churchyard, its sighs for the dead and asks them to lie quietly. Like human beings, the wind uses different language and tone to wake up different objects of Nature. Thus, the poet personifies the wind.

5.      Whom does the wind visit in the poem, "Daybreak"? What does it say to them?

Ans:     In the poem "Daybreak", the wind at first meets the mists and the mariners of the ship at sea. On land, it visits the forest, the wood-bird, the chanticleer, the fields of corn, the belfry tower, and the dead at the churchyard.

            The wind asks the mists to make room for its movement. It urges the mariners to soil on. Then it hurries on to distant land, crying out for all living beings, to wake up, as a new day is beginning. It impels the forest to hang out its leaves, the wood bird to sing, the chanticleer to crow, the corn to bow and greet the morning and the belfry tower to ring its bell to proclaim the hour. But when it blows across the churchyard, it sighs for the dead and asks them to lie quietly in eternal sleep.

6.      What role does the wind play in the poem, "Daybreak"?

Ans:     In the poem "Daybreak", the wind is the messenger of nature. It can move freely. It can speak like human being. At dawn, t6he wind rises from the sea and there it meets the mists and the mariners of the ship. It asks the mists to make room for its movement and urges the mariners to sail on at daybreak. Then it rushes to a distant land, crying to all living beings to be awake. There it impels the forest to hang out its leaves, the wood-bird to sing, the chanticleer to crow, the corn to bow and greet the morning, and the belfry tower to ring its bell and proclaim the hour. Actually, the wind performs the function of an alarm clock. It announces the beginning of a new day. The dark night is gone. So it brings new hope to the living world. It urges all to wake up in action to perform the duties of their earthly existence. It impels the living world to follow the natural course of day and night.

7.      What picture of dawn does the poem "Daybreak" present?

Ans:     In the poem "Daybreak", Longfellow presents a beautiful picture of dawn. The poet describes the places and objects that the wind visits and records its speech. At dawn, the sea is misty and the mariners are sleep. The land at a distance is also at sleep. The forest too is asleep; the wood-bird is also sleeping with its wings folded. Only the corn stalks stand straight. Silence prevails in the belfry tower and at the churchyard. The only sound that breaks the silence is the call of the wind. The wind urges all, except the dead, to wake up at the advent of a new day. Symbolically, this dawn is the time for preparation for the spiritual awakening of the soul.

8.      Consider Longfellow as a poet of Nature with reference to the poem, "Daybreak".

Ans:     H.W. Longfellow feels a deep empathy with Nature. To him, all objects in Nature have a life. He loves Nature. In the poem, "Daybreak", he presents the wind as the messenger of Nature. It can move freely. The poet personifies the wind, giving it the ability to speak like human being. At dawn, the wind rises from the sea. At sea, the wind meets the mists and the mariners of the ship. It asks the mists to make room for its movement and urges the mariners to sail on at daybreak. Then it rushes to a distant land. There it impels the forest to hang out its leaves, the wood-bird to sing, the chanticleer to crow, the corn to bow and greet the morning and the belfry tower to ring its bell to proclaim the hour. At the cemetery, the wind sighs for the dead and asks them to lie quietly. While tracing the journey of the wind, the poet paints a beautiful picture of Nature at dawn by describing persons, places and natural objects. By doing this, he conveys the message that Nature is inseparable from human existence

12.  In the poem "Daybreak", where did the wind come from and when? Whom did it meet? What sound devices did Longfellow use in the poem?

Ans:     In the poem "Daybreak", the wind came from the sea at dawn.

            The wind met the mists and the mariners of the ship at sea. On land, it visited forests, the wood-bird, the chanticleer, the fields of corn, the belfry tower, and the dead at churchyard.

            In the poem Longfellow used a number of sound devices regulating the human world. The wind whispers, cries, shouts, sighs and speaks like a normal human being. The singing of the bird, the crowing of the chanticleer and the ringing of the bell of the belfry-tower indicate the daybreak.

13.  In the poem "Daybreak", where did the wind rush to from the sea? What did it impel all to do? In the poem "Daybreak", whom did the wind visit at sea? What did it say to them?

Ans:     In the poem "Daybreak", the wind rushed to distant land from the sea.

            It impelled all to wake up since the day was breaking.

            In the poem "Daybreak", the wind visited the mists and the mariners of the ship at sea.

            The wind asked the mists to make room for its movement. It greeted the ships and urged the mariners to sail on in the wake of the day.

14.  In the poem "Daybreak", what did the wind do in the forest? What was the wind’s appeal to the chanticleer in the poem, "Daybreak"? Why did it say so?

Ans:     The wind urged the forest to cry out in joy and hang out its leave in the poem "Daybreak". Then it touched the folded wing of the Longfellow and urged it to wake up and sing.

            In "Daybreak", the wind asked the chanticleer to crow as the day is breaking.

            The loud, clear and stimulating call of the chanticleer is a signal of daybreak. So, the wind asked the chanticleer to crow.

15.  What was the wind’s appeal to fields of corn in the poem, "Daybreak"? Where is the belfry tower normally situated? What was the wind’s appeal to the tower?

Ans:     In "Daybreak", the wind rushed to the fields of corn and softly urged them to greet the approaching morning by bowing down.

            Such towers are normally situated alongside a church, usually forming a part of it.

            The wind appealed to the belfry tower to ring the bell and wake the city up.

16.  “It crossed the churchyard with a sigh…”

Who crossed the churchyard? What did the wind say while crossing the churchyard? Why did it say so?

Ans:     The wind crossed the churchyard in the poem, "Daybreak".

            The wind sighed for the dead buried in the cemetery.

            In the poem, "Daybreak", the wind, while crossing the churchyard, sighed for the dead and asked them to lie in eternal sleep.

            It was not yet time for the dead to wake up. They should lie in eternal sleep in the calmness of grave. It also refers to the belief that the dead buried in the churchyard will rise at the end of time.

OTHELLO

1. Who was Cassio? How was the relationship between Cassio and Othello-Desdemona?

Ans: Michael Cassio was the most trustworthy friend of Othello. He was a young soldier, a Florentine, gay, amorous and of pleasing personality. He was handsome and eloquent. Othello promoted Cassio to the rank of lieutenant.

Cassio was very close common friend of Othello and Desdemona. Othello employed Cassio in his love affair with Desdemona. He would often despute Cassio to go courting for him. Next to Othello, Cassio was the person whom gentle Desdemona loved and trusted. Their marriage did not make any difference in their behavior to Michael Cassio. He frequented Othello’s house. Although Othello was man of serious temper, Cassio and Desdemona would talk and laugh together. Thus, Cassio was a confidant of both Othello and Desdemona.

2. Who was lago? Why did he conspire to take revenge against Othello? What was his plot of revenge against Cassio, Othello, and Desdoma?

Ans: Lago was an old officer in Othello’s forces. He was an extremely careful planner and horribly vindictive thinker. His villainy makes him an interesting character.

While promoting Cassio to the rank of the lieutenant, Othello did not consider lago’s claim for te post. As a result, lago hated Othello for favouring Cassio. So he conspired to take revenge against Othello.

In Cyprus, lago got Cassio drunk and involved in fight. Othello intervened and dismissed Cassio from the post of the lieutenant. This was lago’s first successful artifice. Cassio, his rival, was then out of his place. Lago’s next plan was to take revenge on Othello and Desdemona. On the one hand he advised Cassio to appeal to Desdemona so that she requests Othello for giving back his job. On the other hand he convinced Othello that Desdemona was having an affair with Cassio. Lago justified his claim by saying that he had seen Cassio to use Desdemona’s handkerchief, Othello’s first gift for her. Actually, Emilia, Lago’s wife, stole that handkerchief for her husband. Eventually this handkerchief became the cause of a lot of trouble. Othello killed Desdemona out of suspicion. Thus, lago’s plot of revenge affected all.

3. Explain the significance of the handkerchief to Othello.

Ans: To Othello, the handkerchief is a very significant thing. It was given to him by his dying mother. She instructed him to give it to his wife. This handkerchief is a magical one since it can ensure a happy marriage. The loss of the handkerchief is a loss of love and affection that bound Othello and Desdemona. This belief becomes an obsession with Othello. In Othello’s life the handkerchief, his first gift to Desdemona, is an emblem of their mutual love. When lago claims that he has found Cassio to use this handkerchief, the loss of handkerchief becomes symbolic of a loss of trust. For this, Othello accuses Desdemona of infidelity, vows to kill her, and finally stifles her to death. Thus, the same handkerchief which had brought happiness in Othello’s life, brings disaster in his life.

4. Why did Othello kill himself?

Ans: Othello, the Moor, was a brave soldier, but his mind was rather simple as he could not suspect a person like lago who knew well how to poison one’s mind gradually by way of presenting himself as a confidant. If Othello captived the mind of Desdemona, it was because he could tell the stories of his adventures so eloquently that an innocent lady like Desdemona, who was extremely fond of earliest recollections, battles, and sieges, fell in love with him. It was of course Othello’s bravery and nobility that won her heart. On the contrary, Othello’s love for Desdemona was too profound to be conjectured. But the fact is that Othello failed to retain his belief in Desdemona. When he was instigated by lago constantly, he could not think for a while that the relationship between Desdemona and Cassio was rather simple; for Desdemona never loved Cassio as she loved her husband. They had just the wonderful relaxation of spirit which lago, being cunning and revengeful, exploited. He could do so whenever he realized that Othello’s profound love for his wife might result in unjustifiable jealousy due to the fact that Cassio’s complexion and handsome features might appear superior to the Moor. Othello, being black and Moor, had his inherent weakness which made him oblivious of his valiant qualities for which Desdemona chose him as her husband amidst many suitors of senatorial rank. Thus, unable to cope with his emotional problem, Othello decided to kill Desdemona. He did so; but he came to know immediately, when Cassio was being attacked to be killed, that Desdemona aws

innocent, and that lago’s villainy was the cause of murdering Desdemona. He realized that Desdemona was completely innocent. As Othello loved Desdemona very much, he felt a great

remorse; thus, he had no other way than killing himself to justify his on evil act of murdering his beloved.

5. Discuss in short on the character of Othello.

Ans: Othello is a cultural and racial outsider in Venice. His skills as a soldier is praised all over the country and the Venetian government has an absolute trust on him.

Othello is not good to look at. He is a moor, a dark skinned, man. He did not belong to Desdemona’s clime or complexion. His heroic performance against the Turks endears him to the lady as well as to the nation. He is also a great adventurer and has numerous experiences. His art of story telling must be interesting, otherwise Desdemona would not have been so fascinated to hear the exciting and romantic events of his life.

Othello’s love for Desdemona is pure. It is aptly said that he had loved Desdemona not wisely but too well. He is noble but vulnerable. He is passionate and his gretest flaw is to rely on lago. He easily believes in the words of lago and does not judge the incidents himself. He wonders if Desdemona is cheating him because he is black. He is tormented by jealousy and suffers terribly from the agony of doubt ad fear.

Othello is rash in his actions. His killing of Desdemona is an immediate result of his resentment and anger. Again his remorse is as dreadful as his revenge has been.

That is why he instantly kills himself knowing how innocent and faithful Desdemona has been. Thus it may be said that Othello is easily manipulates but he is an honest man.