Madhavi R

Extra Questions And Answers Of Blue Bead Class 9, 10 ICSE English

English is a difficult subject for many people to learn. Some students may become frustrated and give up, but here’s Extra Questions And Answers Of Blue Bead Class 9,10 ICSE English to help you maintain your momentum! This Extra Questions And Answers Of Blue Bead will provide all necessary information needed in order to study ICSE Class 9, 10 English successfully at home or school; it includes detailed grammar rules with examples that were used during today’s class discussion on the ICSE Board English Exam.

The Extra Questions And Answers Of Blue Bead in English, ICSE Board Class 9, 10 makes it easier to understand the story. Understanding every detail of a story is important for scoring higher on an exam and expert writers have made sure that you know how everything flows together by summarizing perfectly!

1. From where and why did the crocodile come? Why did the crocodile raise his eyes and nostrils out of water?

~ The crocodile had come from the deep black water of the river to glassy shallows of the river to rest.

The crocodile raised his eyes to get a clear sight of the area around the stepping stones and raised his nostrils the water to breathe easily, this enabled him to lay motionless and concealed, in ambush, for a prolonged duration.

2. How old was the crocodile? How did he survive?

~ The crocodile was a hundred years old. He was twice the size of a tall man.

As soon as the crocodile was hatched it was ready to snap at anything he sees or encounters for food and had survived with the help of his brainless craft and ferocity.

3. How big was the crocodile? What posed danger to him when he was young?

~ The crocodile was a hundred years old and was large. It was twice the size of a tall man.

When the crocodile was small it had faced many dangers. The birds of prey and the great carnivorous fishes that eat the baby crocodile posed a danger to him when he was small and young.

4. How can you say that the crocodile was dangerous?

~ The crocodile was very dangerous. It was described as “an antediluvian saurian, a prehistoric juggernaut, ferocious and formidable, a vast force in the water, propelled by the unimaginable and irresistible power of the huge tail”. It says that he was a strong and dangerous animal. He also attacked one of the Gujar women.

5. Describe the appearance of the crocodile.

~ The crocodile with a huge tail was twice the length of a tall man. He was a hundred years old. His colour was blackish-brown on above and yellowy white on underside with a throb in his throat and his mouth was closed and fixed in evil bony. His hide was one inch thick and nothing could pierce it. The crocodile used the power of his huge tail to move in the water.

6. Describe the physical appearance of the Sibia.

~ Sibia was a thin little girl poor girl with a coloured rag, white teeth with her ebony hairs and great eyes, and ber skin of oiled brown cream. She was a happy and immature girl of 12 years. She was barefooted on a cold winter morning and born to toil. In her life, she had never owned anything but a rag. She had not even owned one anna. She used to help her mother and work.

7. Describe her lifestyle. How can you say that she is poor?

~ Sibia worked to earn her livelihood since her childhood. She had husked corn, and gathered sticks, and put dunk to dry, and cooked and weeded, and carried, and fetched water, and cut grass from the hills.
The little girl was very poor. Her financial status was not good. She was dressed in a leather coloured rag. The girl divided the chapati into parts to make chapati seem more. She had never owned anything but a rag. She had divided the rag in two to make it a skirt and sari which shows that she was not having money even to buy clothes.

8. Character sketch of Sibia.

~The little girl the protagonist of the story is an example of a little girl’s adventures journey of shaping her simple dream of a necklace amid the heavy hardships of a poverty-stricken life. Besides being courageous Sibia was also caring about her household chores. Even when she was a toddler she husked corn and gathered sticks. All her work was her companion and her mother’s.

9. Who are the Gujars?

~ As said in the story ‘The blue bead’ Gujars were the people who were born and bred in the country for countless centuries. They earn their living from animals, grass, and trees as they scratched their food together. They stored their substance in large herds and possessed silver jewellery. They were the wanderers of the postal age.

10. Describe the role of the women in the village.

~ In the story ‘the blue bead’ we find that the village women were not restricted to look after the households. Sibia her mother and other residents were found going to the cliffs to get grass from the hills to sell them in the market. The Gujar graziers have also set up their encampment of grass huts near the river.

11. Describe the appearance of the Gujar women.

~ As mentioned in the story the Gujar women wore trousers, tight and wrinkled at the ankles, and In the ear, they would wear large silver rings, made out of melted rupees, and one of them was clinking a stick against the big brass hurrahs in which they fetched water from the river for the camp, to see which one were empty. They used to roll up their skirts to climb the hill to cut grasses.

12. Describe the image of the bazaar.

~ Sibia walked through the forest to the little town at the railhead, to the bazaar in that town. In the bazaar, she noticed milling people, dogs, and monkeys who were full of fleas. Some people were spitting betel juice. She also heard the bell of a sacred bull. There was a sweet honey stall with brilliant collections of honey. It was surrounded by dust and flies. Their smell was superior to those of the cheap cigarettes and drains. She also noticed a cloth stall with various varieties of clothes. It was stacked with varieties of cotton and silk. Other wonders of the bazaar include satin sewn with thread, tin trays of Birmingham, cream silk, and a box whose switch when pressed emerged out a chicken made of wool.

13. What was the Kashmiri merchant selling?

~ In the bazaar the Kashmiri merchant was selling dawn-coloured silks that poured ice cream, a little locked chest with turquoises and opals in it, and a box which when pressed tinkles out a bell and a yellow woollen chicken jumped out from the box.

14. What did Sibia see and hear while passing through the bazaar?

~ While Sibia was passing through the bazaar she saw the milling people, and dogs and monkeys full of fleas, the idling gossiping of the common people, the bargaining, humanity spitting betel juice, she heard the bell of a sacred bull clonking as he lumped along.

15. What was the woman doing? What did she carry?

~ The women of the village rolled their skirts up so that they could jump from stone to stone as they were climbing the hill to reach the grass so that they can cut it. This gave them easy to move.

They were carrying sickles and hay forks with them so that they can visit the grasses on the hill.

16. What were they doing in the hills?

~ The women of the village were not at all restricted. They were climbing the hill to reach the grass so that they can cut it with their sickle and then gather with their hay forks so that they could get it and sell it on the market.

17. Describe the necklace of the woman.

~ Every woman or the other fanaticized of the beautiful necklaces as Sibia did. The women were wearing necklaces made out of all-lal-beiges, the shiny scarlet seeds, black one end, that grew everywhere in the jungle. They wanted to wear several necklaces as they like to hear rattling swish around their neck same as Sibia.

18. What type of ornaments did Sibia wish to wear?

~ Sibia fantasized to wear ornaments that would make a rattling swish around her neck, as she rushed along with lots of necklaces. When she went to the bazaar she fancied the anklets, bangles and nose rings sold at the bazaar. However, her heart was set on colourful glass beads. She wished to wear a new necklace made from those beads.

19. What happened with the woman?

~When the Gujar woman walked onto the stepping stones, the dangerous crocodile on the water lunged at her and hold her leg. The woman screamed, dropped both brass pots with a clatter on the boulder. The Gujar woman recoiled from crocodile but at the same time, she fell on a bone-breaking stone. She clutched one of the timber logs to save herself but was helpless at that moment.

20. Describe how Sibia encounters the crocodile.

~ When Sibia saw the Gujar woman struggling to save herself from the crocodile, she immediately came to rescue her. Sibia could see the face of the crocodile in the water, fastened around her leg, and was tugging to and fro. His eyes rolled on his Sibia. Sibia knew that one slap of his tail could kill the woman. He eventually struck and the water shot up, the rock too jumped under the blow of his tail. She did not hesitate and decide to face him. Sibia ran over and stabbed the crocodile in the eyes with her hayfork which she used to cut the grass. The crocodile reared up in convulsion, disappearing into the water.

21. What happened to the crocodile in conclusion.

~ Sibia ran over and stabbed the crocodile in his eyes with her hayfork, the only weak part of that animal when she found the Gujar woman getting attacked by him. The crocodile reared up in convulsion, disappearing into the water. Sibia had saved the attacked woman from the clutches of the dangerous animal.

22. Why was Sibia overjoyed?

~ Sibia after saving the life of the woman was returning to her home. On her way home, she felt overjoyed, when she saw the blue bead lying on the ground next to her hayfork. It was perfect for her necklace, it was pierced and was ready for use. She was very happy as she always fantasized about such necklaces but she couldn’t afford them.

23. Why was Sibia’s mother worried? What did she tell her?

~ Sibia’s mother was very tensed for her as she had no idea where was the little girl, she was already late. Sibia found a blue bead that was perfect, pierced, and ready to use. Her heart went up in flames of joy. She returned home where her mother was worried about her safety as she was late. On enquiring the reason for being late, Sibia told her that she had found a blue bead for her necklace.

24. Describe the conflict between the human and nature.

~ The major conflict highlighted in the story ‘The Blue bead’ is the conflict between humans and nature. The Gujar woman was attacked by a crocodile, Sibia the brave and courageous little girl saved her life. It tells us how brave and courageous Sibia was and how she found her reward, the blue bead. Crocodiles often attack humans, it’s unlikely to get saved but luckily Sibia was there to save the Gujar woman. It says that besides being friendly nature can also be harmful and dangerous.

25. How can you say that the little girl Sibia was courageous?

~ Sibia had fantasies of stuff like coloured beads to sew various necklaces and bracelets. But her family could not afford to fulfil her wishes as they were really poor. They worked very hard to acquire the basic need of their lives. The only thing Sibia could do was fantasize about having her coloured beads. Despite being in such a poor state, she never gave up on qualities like bravery, courage, and humanity. When the Gujar woman gets attacked by a crocodile, Sibia uses her hayfork to stab the crocodile and save the life of the woman.

26. Comment on the ending of the story.

~ The ending was meticulous, it was the perfect happy ending. The last scene of the story is very touching Sibia gets the reward for her bravery. She exclaims to her mother that she has found a blue bead for her necklace, the only thing she used to fantasize about all day long. The battle that she fought with the crocodile to save the Gujar woman, the bravery, the humanity was the daily heroism, of the jungle life.

27. Describe the moral of the story.

~ The story ‘The Blue Bead’ is about a brave young and poor girl, Sibia, who has saved a Gujar woman’s life. It completely revolves around the moral that good things come through difficult situations like Sibia got what she used to fantasize about all day long as a reward. The proverb ‘where there is a will, there is a way is the very appropriate and relatable one.

28. Is the title of the story ‘The Blue Beed’ appropriate?

~ Yes, the title of the story is quite appropriate.

The title “The Blue Bead” is an effective one as it relates to Sibia and her point of view. It completely revolves around her life and her fantasy. She used to fantasize all day long about the beautiful necklaces as her family couldn’t afford them for her. But lastly, she was rewarded with the perfect pierced necklace which was ready for use, for her bravery.

Questions And Answers

What exactly was the blue bead in the story?

The Blue Bead’ is a story about a brave young girl, Sibia, who has saved a woman’s life. In the process of doing so, she acquires a blue bead, something she had been desiring for quite earnestly

Why are the gujars called Junglis?

They were called junglis because they were born and bred in the forest. For centuries they had been getting their living from animals and from grass trees. They scratched their food together and stored their substance in large herds and silver jewellery.

When was the blue bead written?

The short story “The blue bead” written by Norah Burke in 1953 is all about a twelve-year-old girl; her heroic deed and a simple, innocent wish.

Is blue Bead a true story?

The Blue Bead is a work of famous novelist and non-fiction writer, Norah Burke. It is a story depicting the heroic deed of a twelve-year-old girl named Sibia. She was a simple Indian girl living in poverty.

Why is sibia called a child woman?

Sibia is called a happy immature child-woman at the age of only twelve years just because of her appearance and the burden which she bore to help in household chores.

How long was the crocodile in blue bead?

The crocodile mentioned in the story is quite large. He is twice as large as a tall man scaling over twelve feet.

What did sibia find in the water?

Sibia saw a small blue bead lying by the river, she grabbed it.

What did sibia do when she saw the woman being attacked by the crocodile?

As the lady was attacked by the crocodile, Sibia saw it and jumped into the water with a stone in hand to save the lady. Sibia targeted the eyes of the crocodile and hammered the crocodile with the stone and drive it away leaving the lady.

Who is the antagonist in the blue bead?

Sibia had to face the crocodile who is the antagonist in the story and who is part of nature.

Is the title Blue Bead appropriate?

The title is appropriate because the blue bead is one of the unattainable wonders for her that she manages to attain at the end. She tells her mother that she has found a blue bead of her necklace.

Extra Questions And Answers Of All Summer In A Day – ICSE Class 9, 10 English Literature

English is a difficult subject for many people to learn. Some students may become frustrated and give up, but here’s Extra Questions And Answers Of All Summer In A Day – ICSE Class 9, 10 English Literature to help you maintain your momentum! This Extra Questions And Answers Of All Summer In A Day will provide all necessary information needed in order to study ICSE Class 9, 10 English Literature successfully at home or school; it includes detailed grammar rules with examples that were used during today’s class discussion on the ICSE Board English Exam.

The Extra Questions And Answers Of All Summer In A Day, ICSE Board Class 9, 10 English makes it easier to understand the story. Understanding every detail of a story is important for scoring higher on an exam and expert writers have made sure that you know how everything flows together by summarizing perfectly!

1. Where are the children? What are they doing there?

~ The children are on the planet Venus, where the sun shines for only two hours once every seven years. The story opens on the day that the sun is due to make its appearance once again.

Margot and the other children in her school on Venus are nine years old. They came from Earth to Venus five years ago.

2. To what are the children compared?

~ At the beginning of the story, the small children are first compared to roses and weeds, intermingled, looking out a window. They are anxious for a glimpse at the sun that has not been out on Venus for seven years. They didn’t remember any memories of the sun.

3. How is the weather on Venus? How long it has been the same?

~ Venus has got a very peculiar climate. Every seven years, the sun comes out for just two hours. The rest of the time, it rains—all day long. The planet is covered with thick jungles and unruly weeds, perpetually caught in a cycle of growth and destruction.

It has been the same for the last seven years. The sun comes out only for two hours after every seven years.

4. Why were the children so excited?

~ The children were so excited to see the sun after seven years. The appearance of the sun brings out the worst in the kids. They are very excited because the sun only comes out once every seven years. None remembers the sun except Margot. They have turned to bullying to deal with the situation with Margot.

5. What effect does rain have on Margot?

~ The rains on the planet had an adverse effect on Margot. It had washed out the blue color from her eyes, the yellow from her hair, and the red from her mouth. She looked thin, pale, and sad. The other children looked at her as if she was a ghost. She was completely desolate and sad. She wanted to go back to Earth where the appearance of the sun was very common.

6. Why were the children unable to remember the sun?

~ The other children were unable to remember the sun because the sun had appeared last seven years ago only for two years. From then it was raining continuously. They hardly remember the view of the sun. They were very excited about the appearance of the sun finally after seven years.

7. What did Margot write in her story about the sun? Why was she sad?

~ When the teacher asks the children to write a poem about the sun, Margot writes “I think the sun is a flower, That blooms for just one hour.”

Margot is desolate and unhappy on Venus because she came from Earth and misses the sun. The story takes place on Venus, a planet where it rains almost all of the time. In fact, the sun has not come out in seven years. She wants to see the sun.

8. What disturbed the children at night?

~ The memory of the sun troubled the children’s. They have been raised on Venus and know nothing of life outside the underground complex they live in. The children could hardly remember anything about the sun as the sun had appeared almost seven years ago on Venus.

9. What did the children learn from the class?

~ From the class all day the children’s learned about the sun. They learned about how it resembled a lemon and how hot was the sun as they hardly remember the sun. The sun appeared almost seven years ago only for two hours. The children were also asked to write small stories and essays and poems on the sun.

10. Describe Margot.

~ Margot is depicted as an outsider among the children. Margot was born on Earth, where she had lived until only five years earlier. Margot has memories of the rainless days she experienced back on Earth. Deeply homesick, she is unhappy with life on Venus and desperately wants to return to Earth. Because of this dramatically different background, she has severe difficulties interacting with her peers.

11. Describe the reaction of the other children towards Margot.

~The children were extremely cruel and rude to Margot, they didn’t like her. On the one day the sun went out, Margot was just as excited as the other children. She remembered the sun, but they did not. They became extra angry at her because she said she remembered it. Out of anger, the children decided to lock Margot in the closet, they were behaving immaturely.

12. Why did the children behave in this manner with Margot?

~ The children had a rude attitude towards Margot. The main reason was that she remembered the appearance of the sun as she had lived on Earth but the other children had seen the sun last when they were 2 years old and could not remember how the sun looked.

13. When and why did Margot react?

~ Margot reacted only when they sang about the sun and the summer. Then her lips moved as she watched the drenched windows. Even the mention of the sun made her happy and react in some other way. She was left desolate and sad on the planet Venus.

14. How was Margot different from the other children?

~ Margot is different from the other children because of her looks, her personality. She is a very sensitive girl who seems to have some deep-seated emotional issues. She screamed when the water touched her in the showers, that confirmed to the others how odd she was. She can remember living on Earth where the sun shone often, she finds the constant rain on Venus oppressive, and she seems to be depressed.

15. What rumour was spreading among all?

~ There was a rumour that Margot’s parents were taking her back to Earth next year. It seemed important for Margot to do so as she hated venus and couldn’t live without the sun on venus. The decision to take Margot back to her would mean a loss of thousands of dollars to her family. Because she can remember living on Earth where the sun shone often, she finds the constant rain on Venus oppressive, and she seems to be depressed.

16. What did Margot think?

~ Margot wished if the rumor of sending her back to Earth was real. It seemed important for Margot to do so as she hated venus and couldn’t live without the sun on venus. Because she can remember living on Earth where the sun shone often, she finds the constant rain on Venus oppressive, and she seems to be depressed.

17. Why did the other children hated Margot?

~Despite all those differences, the one thing that seems to set the children against Margot. They have been raised on Venus and know nothing of life outside the underground complex they live in. That Margot remembers seeing the Sun and that she knows about life on Earth first-hand makes the children jealous of her, even though Margot doesn’t act like a know-it-all. Beyond that, the children know that she will have a chance to go back to Earth soon, a chance that evades the others.

18. What was Margot waiting for?

~ Margot was waiting and excited to see the sun once again, to feel its warmth. She was standing near the window, waiting for the sun when a few boys taunt her saying it was all a joke and the sun’s never coming out while some others locked her in a cupboard when the teacher wasn’t present there.

19. Why did the children’s lock Margot in the closet?

~ William locks Margot in the closet because the sun is coming out and he does not want her to see it. The problem between Margot and the other kids is that she is from Earth and they have lived on Venus for all of their lives. They are jealous of Margot because she has seen the sun, and they do not remember the last time it came out when they were toddlers.

20. Why were the children avoiding looking at each other?

~ Margot does remember the sun and so the loss of seeing it for a couple of hours it could be said, is far greater for her. However, having now experienced the sun for a couple of hours while she is locked in the closet, the other children do seem to have some understanding of what they have taken from her and to feel remorse and shame. This is described in the way the children act, looking down, looking away, as they remember where she is and slowly let Margot back out of the closet after the rain begins again. When the sun comes out, the children simply forget about her in all of the excitement. They seem to have intended to pretend to lock her in there so she would miss the sun, but then they actually did it.

21. What is the conflict of the story “All summer in a day”.

~ In the story “All Summer in a Day,” the conflict is person vs. society as one little girl is bullied by her classmates because she has seen the sun before and they haven’t. At first, the conflict revolves around Margot and William. Margot remembers seeing the Sun and that she knows about life on Earth first-hand makes the children jealous of her, even though Margot doesn’t act like a know-it-all.

22. Discuss the theme.

~ The theme of All Summer in a Day is that human nature drives people to be cruel to those who are different and inspire jealousy. In the story, the other children are being cruel to Margot. William locks Margot in the closet because the sun is coming out and he does not want her to see it. Margot remembers seeing the Sun and that she knows about life on Earth first-hand makes the children jealous of her, even though Margot doesn’t act like a know-it-all.

23. What lesson do we get to learn from the story?

~ The story “All in a Summer Day” teaches us that it is a warning that envy can lead to cruelty and that we should embrace other people’s differences. In the story, Margot is depicted as a timid girl, who was born on earth and remembers the sun. Margot remembers seeing the Sun and that she knows about life on Earth first-hand makes the children jealous of her, even though Margot doesn’t act like a know-it-all. William locks Margot in the closet because the sun is coming out and he does not want her to see it. They are jealous of Margot because she has seen the sun, and they do not remember the last time it came out when they were toddlers.

24. Is the title of the story appropriate?

~ Yes, the title of the story is appropriate.

The story literally refers to the day when the sun comes out after seven long years. The children were excited to see the sun appearing after seven years. This is like the whole summer to the people living on Venus. So, it is summer not only in the atmosphere but also in their mind.

25. How does life on earth differ from that of Earth?

~ The most significant difference is that Venus has a climate of perpetual rainfall, the sun could be hardly seen. It rains continuously, as this story opens, the children in the classroom are excited by the knowledge that, for just one brief moment, the sun will be visible in the sky. This is an event so rare that, in a class of nine years old, none of the children save Margot herself has any memory of what the sun actually looks like. The transition of living on this world of perpetual rainfall seems to be at the center of Margot’s difficulties adjusting to life on Venus.

26. Is the story “All summer in a day” a fiction?

~ The short story “All Summer in a Day” tells of a group of children in a school on the planet Venus. It has been raining for seven years, and now the sun is due to shine for a few hours. One of the students, Margot, remembers what the sun was like on Earth and tries to describe it to their classmates. They don’t believe her and cruelly lock her in a closet. She misses the appearance of the sun, although she has craved it more than any of them because she knows what it is like. They don’t remember her until the sun is gone again. They are truly remorseful as they let her out. Although scientific research has updated what we know of Venus, and so the science in this story does not hold up, it is science fiction because it speculates on what was the scientific reality of the time.

27. What does the sun represent all summer in a day?

~ In the story ” All summer in a day” the sun is the most important symbol. It embodies all of nature, and its effects on people demonstrate the inextricable connection between humans and the natural world. The sun appears on Venus after seven years only for two hours. The children could hardly remember anything about the sun and so they were excited to see the sun after long.

Questions And Answers

What is the message of All Summer in a Day?

A message of “All Summer in One Day” is that the root causes of bullying are jealousy and fear. Margot’s classmates are jealous of her and uneasy about her insistence of the existence of a strange (to them) object: the sun.

What happened to Margot in All Summer in a Day?

Tragically, Margot’s selfish, hostile classmates bully her by locking her in a closet while the sun is shining on Venus. Margot misses the rare opportunity to enjoy the brief hour of sunshine and is finally let out of the closet at the end of the story.

What is the irony in All Summer in a Day?

The situational irony in this short story is Margot not being able to see the sun. Margot was the one who had this deep longing for seeing the sun and faith that it would come out. Knowing this we would think she would be the first to see the sun.

What does All Summer in a Day teach us?

The primary message of Ray Bradbury’s “All Summer in a Day” is that those who are different are typically ostracized and singled out among their peers.

How did All Summer in a Day end?

The story “All Summer in a Day” does end on a kind of a cliffhanger. The children let Margot out, and we don’t know what will happen. One possible ending is that the children treat her better, now that they have realized what they did to her.

Why does Margot refuse to shower in the school shower rooms?

Margot absolutely detests the rain and even refuses to take a shower at school. Margot’s refusal to take a shower symbolically represents her negative feelings regarding the rainy planet.

Why did the students lock Margot in the closet?

William locks Margot in the closet because the sun is coming out and he does not want her to see it.

What is the mood at the end of All Summer in a Day?

Ray Bradbury creates a leitmotif that expresses repeatedly the idea of rain with recurring phrases; this repetition generates the major atmospheric effect, or mood, of his story. It is an oppressive mood of grey anxiety and cynicism.

Who has power in All Summer in a Day?

“All Summer in a Day” depicts a world in which the sun, though absent, has tremendous power over people’s lives.

What is the central conflict in All Summer in a Day?

The central conflict of the story is that Margot does not fit in with the other children. The basic situation is that it has been raining on Venus for seven years.

Why did Margot move to Venus?

The colonists may have been motivated by glory, adventure, or financial gain to colonize the distant, rainy planet. The fact that Margot’s parents are willing to return back to earth reveals that the colonists on Venus were not escaping something dangerous or deadly on earth.

The Woman on Platform 8 Textbook Questions And Answers Karnataka Board Class 8 English Prose

English is a difficult subject for many people to learn. Some students may become frustrated and give up, but here’s The Woman on Platform 8 Textbook Questions And Answers Karnataka Board Class 8 English Prose to help you maintain your momentum! This The Woman on Platform 8 Textbook Questions And Answers will provide all necessary information needed in order to study KSEEB Class 8 English successfully at home or school; it includes detailed grammar rules with examples that were used during today’s class discussion on the Karnataka Board English exam.

TheThe Woman on Platform 8 Textbook Questions And Answers in English Chapter 8, Karnataka Board Class 8 makes it easier to understand the story. Understanding every detail of a story is important for scoring higher on an exam and expert writers have made sure that you know how everything flows together by summarizing perfectly!

About the author

Ruskin Bond (born 19 May 1934) is an Indian author of British descent. He lives with his adopted family in Landour, Mussoorie, India. The Indian Council for Child Education has recognised his role in the growth of children’s literature in India. He was awarded the Sahitya Academy Award in 1992 for Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra, his novel in English. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014.

Theme

The Woman on Platform 8 by Ruskin Bond is a story about love and affection that transcends all barriers of kinship. It is narrated in the first person by a schoolboy named Arun. All the events are seen from his point of view.

The story revolves around Arun’s encounter with a stranger – a mysterious woman. The woman in a white saree treats him like a son. She offers him tea and samosa . She helps him feel comfortable. Her dignity and humanity come in sharp contrast with the vanity and arrogance of Satish’s mother. Arun’s calling her ‘mother’ at the time of parting is a sweet gesture of recognition of a loving relationship. As a matter of fact, there is no Platform 8 on the Ambala station.

I. Comprehension

Textbook Questions And Answers

Answer the following in two or three sentences each:

1. Arun was waiting on platform 8 at Ambala station for the Northbound train to go to the boarding school. He was alone because his parents thought he was old enough to travel alone.

2. When the train arrives people rush like a wild crowd to board the train.

3. When Arun heard the voice he looked up at the woman who was standing near him. She was draped in a white saree and was very simple.

4. Arun and the stranger talked very closely. The stranger was dignified and her approach was affectionate and caring that Arun started liking the lady and answered all the questions about him. .

5. Satish’s mother was a large imposing woman. Her attitude and imposing opinions and giving unasked suggestion annoyed Arun.

6. Arun said that he liked strangers because they were more pleasing, unlike Satish mother who was imposing and giving unruly suggestions. The lady though a stranger was affectionate caring and dignified. Hence he said that he liked strangers.

7. Satish and Arun were not happy at the suggestion Satish’s mother gave. Arun instinctively replied that he liked strangers. Satish stood behind his mother grinning at Arun, taking delight in the clash between Arun and his mother.

8. Satish mother gave a bag of fruits and a big box of chocolates a cricket bat and told Satish to share food with Arun. She advised Satish not to put his head out of the window’, not to eat rubbish on the way.

9. Satish’s mother thought that Arun’s mother was not a very capable person because she would have observed the lady speak very little. She did not bring any eatables and did not give any advice to Arun.

10. Arun was very much impressed by the way the lady cared for him. He planted a kiss on the lady’s cheek, shook hand with her and said, goodbye mother.

II. Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow:

1. i. Arun.

ii. It means that the dignified approach of the lady towards Arun made him feel very comfortable.

2. i. The stranger lady clad in a white sari.

ii. The lady did not want Arun to feel embarrassed as his parents had not came to wish him bye.

3. i. Satish’s mother.

ii. Because she seemed to be very suspicious and over cautioned about others.

II. Complete The Following:

1. Arun liked her simplicity, dignified nature, caring and kind nature.

2. Arun dislikes her imposing attitude impatient nature and annoying advice.

IV. Work in pairs and complete the table:

ii. The lady in white sari

Kind, caring, and affectionate

iii. It is such a nuisance having to wait for the train right in the middle of the night

iv. The lady in white sari.

Encouraging and supportive.

v. Arun

Rebellion

vi. Always listen to what your mother tells you

vii. Satish’s mother

Over-protective

viii. Kissed the cheeks of the lady

V. Listening:

Your teacher will read out some words which describe the two women. Listen and write the words under appropriate columns:

Satish’s mother-

imposing, over protective, demanding, impatient, grumling, frustrated, commanding suspicious, complaining.

Stranger –

simple, dignified, soft spoken, kind, considerate, gentle encouraging understanding, supportive, compassionate.

VI. Speaking

The class is divided into four groups. Each group will be given a question. Discuss the question in the group and present it in front of the class:

1. Arun was allowed to travel alone as his parents thought that he was old enough to travel and they wanted him to be self-dependent.

2. The lady had watched Arun sitting alone on the platform at that night, She felt worried for him. She sensed that he would be bored waiting alone. As she was a good-natured woman she would have helped him by talking to him.

3. The stranger mother’ was in white saree maybe because she was a widow, she may be a nun or she loved simple dressing and would have worn white. If we happen to see a person in white during the night we may get scared and would think it to be an evil spirit.

4. I would have ended the storytelling that after the stranger in white saree helped the boy gave him company and see him board the train the ghost disappeared.

VII. The sequence of events has been jumbled up. Rewrite them according to the sequence of the lesson:

1. Now tired of this game and of ambling about the platform, I sat down on my suitcase and gazed dismally across the railway tracks.

2. She drew me out very well, and I had soon forgotten that we were strangers.

3. Satish was standing behind his mother, grinning at me, delighting in my clash with his mother.

4. I looked straight into the eyes of the woman who held my hand, and she smiled in a gentle understanding way.

5. I had already forgiven her for lying; and besides, I had taken an instinctive dislike to Satish’s mother.

6. She told a coolie to look after my suitcase, and then she led me away down the platform.

7. I looked from Satish’s mother to the woman who had given me tea and sweets and then back at Satish’s mother.

8. She stood there on the busy platform; a pale sweet woman in white, and I watched her until she was lost in the milling crowd.

9. She allowed me to share the benefit of her advice, as she probably didn’t think my “mother” a very capable person.

10. We placed ourselves at the open windows, and the two women stood outside on the platform talking up to us.

VII. We use reporting verbs that summarise what was communicated while we change the speech. Some of the verbs which are commonly used are: warn, ask, answer, promise, sympathize, refuse, regret, explain, request, blame, advise, apologize, order, greet, suggest, invite, encourage, say, congratulate, declare, announce, instruct, etc. Write appropriate statements as a response to the questions with the help of the examples and clues given below:

Advice: She advised you to wash your hands before eating.’

regret: The student regretted that he had not committed the mistake

invite: The girl invited you to her house

warm: The mother warmed them not too out of the house at bight

enquire: The stranger enquired where my house was

request: The girl requested me to lend my book to her.

exclaim: The boy exclaimed that he was undone.

IX Read the conversation and complete the following:

1. Ramani: Our new servant has a tendency to steal things.

Somu: Is anything missing?

Ramani: Yes, he has stolen one of our blankets.

Somu: Which one?

Ramani: It’s the one we took from Hotel Palm Beach.

i) Ramani told Somu that their new servant had a tendency to steal things.

ii) Somu asked Ramani if anything was missing.

iii) Ramani answered that he had stolen one of their blankets.

iv) Somu further asked her which one and Ramani replied that it was the one they took from Hotel Palm Beach.

2. Child: I want a balloon, which I can release into the air.

Balloon Man: Which colour balloon do you want?

Child: Which colour balloon will take me up with it?

Balloon Man It is not the colour of the balloon, it is what is inside that makes it go up.

i) he wanted a ballon which he can release into the air.

ii) which colour balloon did he want.

iii) which colour balloon would take him up with that

iv) it was what was inside that made it go up

3. Father: Why were you late from school yesterday?

Ashwin: There was a friendly football match between our school and G.K. Public School.

Father: Why didn’t you inform us earlier?

Ashwin: I rang home but nobody picked up the phone.

i) Why was he late from school the previous day.

ii) There was a friendly football match between their school.

iii) Why he did not inform them earlier.

iv) he rang up home but nobody picked up the phone.

4. Man: You are becoming very lazy these days. Didn’t I ask you to get my breakfast ready by 8 O’clock?

Servant: I’m sorry sir. I got up very late today. That’s why I couldn’t make it on time.

Man: Didn’t you set the alarm before going to sleep?

Servant: Yes, I did sir.

Man: Then, what happened?

Servant: I forgot to wind the clock.

i) he was becoming very lazy those days.

ii) hadn’t he asked him to get his breakfast ready by 8 ‘o’clock?

iii) he had got up late that day and couldn’t make it on time.

iv) had not he set the alarm before going to sleep.

v) he had forgotten to wind the clock.

5. Employer: Why did you leave your earlier job?

Applicant: That didn’t meet my requirements.

Employer: What salary do you expect here?

Applicant: I am expecting ‘ 5000 per month.

Employer: We can pay you just ‘ 3000 per month.

An applicant went for an interview in an office. The employer asked him why he had left his earlier job.

i) the previous job didn’t meet his requirements.

ii) What salary he expected there.

iii) That he was expecting Rs 5000 per month

iv) That they could pay him just 3000 per month.

6. Customer: Please show me a good cap.

Salesman: What type of cap do you want, sir?

Customer: One that covers the face.

Salesman: It won’t be a cap then, it would be a mask.

i) requested him to show a good cap.

ii) What type of cap did he want.

iii) Replied that he wanted the one that covers his face.

iv) told him that what he wanted was a mask, not a cap.

X. Writing:

After Arun reaches his boarding school, he writes a diary entry about his strange encounter with the woman at platform 8 from 5-00 P.M. in the evening to 12-00 midnight. Imagine you are Arun and write the diary page on his behalf in the table given below.

5-00 pm to 7-00 pm Arrived at the station early, paced up and down the railway platform fed broken biscuits to stray dogs. Tired- sat down on my suitcase.

7-00 pm to 9-00 pm Met a strange woman in white saree. She looked kind and gentle. Invited me to have tea and sweets.

9-00 pm to 11-00 pm The strange woman in white talked to me about everything about myself. Met Satish, my school-mate.

11-00 pm to 12-00 pm Satish’s mother /warned me not to talk to strangers. Train arrived at 11:30 pm Boarded the train. Said goodbye to the strange women in white. Kissed her on her cheeks.

XI. Pronunciation:

1. agitated
2. ambling
3. in’ferno
4. se’renity
5. co’mmanded
6. sus’picion
7. im’posing
8. contra’dicted
9. patro’nizing

XII. Grammar:

I. Rewrite the following sentences in the reported speech:

i) He said that Amuda had been dancing.

ii) My servant says that tea is ready.

iii) He explained that he never ate meat.

iv) He said that he had found a flat.

v) She said that they would discuss the matter the next day.

Textbook Questions And Answers Of The Passing Away of Bapu by West Bengal Nayantara Sehgal Class 10 English

You are going to go through Textbook Questions And Answers Of The Passing Away of Bapu by Nayantara Sehgal West Bengal Board Class 10 English. Understanding a text meticulously in its entirety is very important for a learner for scoring better in the West Bengal Board English exam. Experts made ample to ensure a thorough explanation of textbook questions and answers. Let us find Textbook Questions And Answers Of The Passing Away of Bapu by Nayantara Sehgal West Bengal Board Class 10 English.

Unit 1

1. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences :

a)Gandhiji had been shot on his way to

i) the Birla House

ii) the author’s house

iii) a prayer meeting

iv) a family gathering

Answer: i

b) The author came to know about Gandhiji’s death by

i) a letter

ii) a telephone call

iii) a telegram

iv) a public broadcast

Answer:ii

c) When one is faced with the shock of a loved one’s death, one

i) whimpers

ii) claps

iii) laughs

iv) shouts

Answer:i

2. Fill in the chart with information from the text:

a)date on which Gandhiji was shot dead
30th January 1948

b) place where Gandhiji breathed his last
Birla House

c) information given by the broadcast
Bapu was no more

3. State whether the following sentences are true or false. Provide sentences/phrases/words in support of your answer :

a)The author received an urgent telephone call in the morning

–false

Supporting statement : “I was having tea at the evening of 30th January…”

b)People attempted to break into the Birla House.

–true

Supporting statement :”They jostled one another in a stampede to break into the house “.

c) The news of Gandhiji’s death didn’t shock the people.

–false

Shocking statement :”It was the question in many of our hearts as we sat, still shocked and unbelievable. “

Unit-2

4. choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences :

a) Gandhiji’s funeral was to take place

i) on the day of his death

ii) two days after his death

iii) one day after his death

iv) a week after his death

Answer:iii

b) Padmasi was Mrs. Naidu’s

i) niece

ii) sister

iii) friend

iv) daughter

Answer:iv

c) While walking,Bapu used to carry in his hand a/an

i) flag

ii) staff

iii) umbrella

iv) cane

Answer:ii

5.Complete the following sentences with information from the text :

a)It was impossible to move.

–thousands of people wept, trying to touch Bapu’s feet.

b) Padmasi declared that they would walk with Gandhiji in the funeral procession.

–the author was among people for whom walking with Bapu had a special meaning.

c) To walk was often the only way open to the average Indian.

–to walk is to make slow progress.

Unit 3

7. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences :

a)Gandhiji’s ashes were taken to

i) Ahmedabad

ii) Allahabad

iii) Delhi

iv) Benaras

Answer:ii

b) A huge crowd had gathered by the

i) Ganges

ii) Yamuna

iii) Brahmaputra

iv) Narmada

Answer: i

c) Gandhiji awakened people to one another’s

i) indifference

ii) jealousy

iii) suffering

iv) greed

Answer: iii

8. Complete the following sentences with information from the text :

a)People on the special train sang bhajans while going to Allahabad to immerse the last ashes of Gandhiji.

b) The author felt that she had grown up within a magical circle and with Bapu’s sudden demise that circle had vanished.

c) Bapu had passed away but his India would continue to live in his children.

9. Fill in the chart with information from the text :

a) cause: they could feel Gandhiji’s presence amid the flowers and songs

Effect: people did not weep anymore.

b) cause: the magic circle vanished.

Effect: the author felt unprotected.

c) cause: the author’s values were not so week.

Effect: The author felt that she wouldn’t lose courage so easily.

10. Join the following pairs of sentences into single sentences as directed :

a)I saw a snake. I ran away. (use participle)

–Seeing a snake, I ran away.

b) He learns music. He listens to the chords. (use preposition with gerund)

–He learns music by listening to the chords.

c) Gold is a precious metal. It is used to make ornaments. (use noun in apposition)

–Gold, a precious metal, is used to make ornaments.

d) Ramu has some money. He can buy books. (use infinitive)

–Ramu has some money to buy books.

e) The sky was cloudy. We postponed our journey. (use nominative absolute)

–Being cloudy the sky, we postponed our journey.

f) The boy wrote the answer . The answer was incorrect. (use adverbial phrase)

–The boy wrote the answer which was incorrect.

11.Join the following pairs of sentences into single compound sentences as directed:

a)The old man is unwell. He cannot go out. (use illative conjunction)

–The old man is unwell so he cannot go out.

b) He is honest. He is humble. (use cumulative conjunction)

–He is honest as well as humble.

c) Sonali cannot write poetry. She keeps on trying. (use adversative conjunction)

–Sonali cannot write poetry yet she keeps on trying.

d) Study hard. You will not pass the examination. (use alternative conjunction)

–Study hard or else you will not pass the examination.

12.Join the following pairs of sentences into single complex sentences as directed :

a) Rabindranath Tagore is a famous poet. He won the Nobel Prize. (use adjective clause)

–Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize,who is a famous poet.

b) He returned home. Everyone in the family had fallen asleep. (use adverb clause)

–Everyone in the family had fallen asleep when he returned home.

c) The sun rises in the east. Everyone knows it(use noun clause)

–Everyone knows that the sun rises in the east.

13.Join the following sentences into single sentences as directed :

a)It rained hard. The roads were not flooded(compound sentence)

–It rained hard but the roads were not flooded.

b) He completed his work. He took rest. (simple sentence)

–After completing his work ,he took rest.

c) Rahul is a great singer. He can sing different kinds of songs. (complex sentence)

–Being a great singer, Rahul can sing different kinds of songs.

d) The time of departure of the train has changed. Alia knew it. (complex sentence)

–Alia knew about the time of departure of the train which has changed.

e) I do not watch television, I do not listen to the radio. (compound sentence)

— I do not watch television nor listen to the radio.

f) The child was short. The child couldn’t pick the guava from the tree. (simple sentence)

–Being short the child couldn’t pick the guava from the tree.

14. Split the following into two sentences :

a) It rained and i couldn’t leave my room.

— It was raining. I couldn’t leave my room.

b) He thought that he could win the race.

–He could win the race. He thought.

c) Having been informed of the trouble,the principal left for home.

–The principal was informed about the trouble. He left for home .

d) Nazir,who was the captain of the team, scored a century.

–Nazir was the captain of the team. He scored a century .

15. Write a biography of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (within 100words) based on the hints given below:

Born on 11 November 1888— composed poetry in Urdu—- worked as a journalist, protested against British Raj —- enthusiastic supporter of Gandhiji’s ideas— wrote many books —- like ‘India Wins Freedom’, ‘Ghubar -e-khatir’etc.— first Education Minister of India— birthday celebrated as National Education Day— died on 22 February 1958.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a great national hero and played a crucial role in the freedom struggle of India. He was born on November 11, 1888, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. He was also a poet and composed poetry in the Urdu language. Kalam the great patriot also worked as a journalist and protested against British Raj. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Gandhiji’s ideas and he joined the National Congress holding Gandhiji’s hand. He wrote many books and among those, there were famous ones’ like ‘India wins freedom’, ‘Ghubar-e-khatir’. He was also credited with the establishment of the Indian Institutes of Technology and the foundation of the University Grants Commission, an important institution to supervise and advance the higher education in the nation. In India, his birthday is celebrated as National Education Day. This great leader took his last breath on the 22nd of February, 1958

16. Use the following flow-chart to write a paragraph(within 100 words) on how a building is constructed:

drawing of a plan of the building by the architect- getting the plan sanctioned by the corporation or municipal authorities- engaging masons and laborers- starting the construction with bricks, cement and sand- fitting doors and windows- plastering of walls-wiring-electric and water connections- painting-building completed-fit living.

How a building is constructed

Constructing a building is the reason we all are surviving. Every building goes under a lengthy and intellectual process. Many things are required to build a building. Firstly, the architectures need to draw a plan for the building. And the plan gets sanctioned by the corporation or municipal authorities. After the sanctioning, labourers and masons are engaged. They start the construction with bricks, cement and sand fitting doors and windows. After that comes, plastering of walls and wiring for electric appliances. Also, the connection is made for water. The last step is the painting each and every corner of the building. After all these things the building becomes complete and fit for living.

Questions And Answers

What is the source of passing away of Bapu?

The words of Gandhiji’s death spread through Delhi like a flame fanned by wind.

Who wrote the passing away of Bapu?

The Passing Away of Bapu By Nayantara Sehgal.

When Bapu passed away the narrator felt?

The author Nayantara Segal felt shocked and numb and she felt that the magic circle had vanished leaving her unprotected.

Quality By John Galsworthy Full Story ISC English Stories

You are going to go through Quality By John Galsworthy Full Story ISC English Stories. Understanding a text meticulously in its entirety is very important for a learner for scoring better in the ISC English exam. Experts made ample to ensure a thorough explanation of Quality By John Galsworthy Full Story. Let us find Quality By John Galsworthy Full Story ISC English Stories.

I knew him from the days of my extreme youth because he made my father’s boots; inhabiting with his elder brother two little shops let into one, in a small by-street-now no more, but then most fashionably placed in the West End.

That tenement had a certain quiet distinction; there was no sign upon its face that he made for any of the Royal Family—merely his own German name of Gessler Brothers; and in the window a few pairs of boots. I remember that it always troubled me to account for those unvarying boots in the window, for he made only what was ordered, reaching nothing down, and it seemed so inconceivable that what he made could ever have failed to fit. Had he bought them to put there? That, too, seemed inconceivable. He would never have tolerated in his house leather on which he had not worked himself. Besides, they were too beautiful—the pair of pumps, so inexpressibly slim, the patent leathers with cloth tops, making water come into one’s mouth, the tall brown riding boots with marvellous sooty glow, as if, though new, they had been worn a hundred years. Those pairs could only have been made by one who saw before him the Soul of Boot—so truly were they prototypes incarnating the very spirit of all foot-gear. These thoughts, of course, came to me later, though even when I was promoted to him, at the age of perhaps fourteen, some inkling haunted me of the dignity of himself and brother. For to make boots—such boots as he made—seemed to me then, and still seems to me, mysterious and wonderful.

I remember well my shy remark, one day, while stretching out to him my youthful foot:

“Isn’t it awfully hard to do, Mr. Gessler?”

And his answer, given with a sudden smile from out of the sardonic redness of his beard: “Id is an Ardt!”

Himself, he was a little as if made from leather, with his yellow crinkly face, and crinkly reddish hair and beard; and neat folds slanting down his cheeks to the corners of his mouth, and his guttural and one-toned voice; for leather is a sardonic substance, and stiff and slow of purpose. And that was the character of his face, save that his eyes, which were grey-blue, had in them the simple gravity of one secretly possessed by the Ideal. His elder brother was so very like him—though watery, paler in every way, with a great industry—that sometimes in early days I was not quite sure of him until the interview was over. Then I knew that it was he, if the words, “I will ask my brudder,” had not been spoken; and that, if they had, it was his elder brother.

When one grew old and wild and ran up bills, one somehow never ran them up with Gessler Brothers. It would not have seemed becoming to go in there and stretch out one’s foot to that blue iron-spectacled glance, owing him for more than—say—two pairs, just the comfortable reassurance that one was still his client.

For it was not possible to go to him very often—his boots lasted terribly, having something beyond the temporary—some, as it were, essence of boot stitched into them.

One went in, not as into most shops, in the mood of: “Please serve me, and let me go!” but restfully, as one enters a church; and, sitting on the single wooden chair, waited—for there was never anybody there. Soon, over the top edge of that sort of well—rather dark, and smelling soothingly of leather—which formed the shop, there would be seen his face, or that of his elder brother, peering down. A guttural sound, and the tip-tap of bast slippers beating the narrow wooden stairs, and he would stand before one without coat, a little bent, in leather apron, with sleeves turned back, blinking—as if awakened from some dream of boots, or like an owl surprised in daylight and annoyed at this interruption.

And I would say: “How do you do, Mr. Gessler? Could you make me a pair of Russian leather boots?”

Without a word he would leave me, retiring whence he came, or into the other portion of the shop, and I would continue to rest in the wooden chair, inhaling the incense of his trade. Soon he would come back, holding in his thin, veined hand a piece of gold-brown leather. With eyes fixed on it, he would remark: “What a beaudiful biece!” When I, too, had admired it, he would speak again. “When do you wand dem?” And I would answer: “Oh! As soon as you conveniently can.” And he would say: “To-morrow fordnighd?” Or if he were his elder brother: “I will ask my brudder!”

Then I would murmur: “Thank you! Good-morning, Mr. Gessler.” “Goot-morning!” he would reply, still looking at the leather in his hand. And as I moved to the door, I would hear the tip-tap of his bast slippers restoring him, up the stairs, to his dream of boots. But if it were some new kind of foot-gear that he had not yet made me, then indeed he would observe ceremony—divesting me of my boot and holding it long in his hand, looking at it with eyes at once critical and loving, as if recalling the glow with which he had created it, and rebuking the way in which one had disorganized this masterpiece. Then, placing my foot on a piece of paper, he would two or three times tickle the outer edges with a pencil and pass his nervous fingers over my toes, feeling himself into the heart of my requirements.

I cannot forget that day on which I had occasion to say to him; “Mr.

Gessler, that last pair of town walking-boots creaked, you know.”

He looked at me for a time without replying, as if expecting me to withdraw or qualify the statement, then said:

“Id shouldn’d ‘ave greaked.”
“It did, I’m afraid.”
“You goddem wed before dey found demselves?”
“I don’t think so.”
At that he lowered his eyes, as if hunting for memory of those boots, and
I felt sorry I had mentioned this grave thing.
“Zend dem back!” he said; “I will look at dem.”

A feeling of compassion for my creaking boots surged up in me, so well could I imagine the sorrowful long curiosity of regard which he would bend on them.

“Zome boods,” he said slowly, “are bad from birdt. If I can do noding wid dem, I dake dem off your bill.”

Once (once only) I went absent-mindedly into his shop in a pair of boots bought in an emergency at some large firm’s. He took my order without showing me any leather, and I could feel his eyes penetrating the inferior integument of my foot. At last he said:

“Dose are nod my boods.”

The tone was not one of anger, nor of sorrow, not even of contempt, but there was in it something quiet that froze the blood. He put his hand down and pressed a finger on the place where the left boot, endeavouring to be fashionable, was not quite comfortable.

“Id ‘urds you dere,”, he said. “Dose big virms ‘ave no self-respect. Drash!” And then, as if something had given way within him, he spoke long and bitterly. It was the only time I ever heard him discuss the conditions and hardships of his trade.

“Dey get id all,” he said, “dey get id by adverdisement, nod by work. Dey dake it away from us, who lofe our boods. Id gomes to this—bresently I haf no work. Every year id gets less you will see.” And looking at his lined face I saw things I had never noticed before, bitter things and bitter struggle—and what a lot of grey hairs there seemed suddenly in his red beard!

As best I could, I explained the circumstances of the purchase of those ill-omened boots. But his face and voice made so deep impression that during the next few minutes I ordered many pairs. Nemesis fell! They lasted more terribly than ever. And I was not able conscientiously to go to him for nearly two years.

When at last I went I was surprised to find that outside one of the two little windows of his shop another name was painted, also that of a bootmaker-making, of course, for the Royal Family. The old familiar boots, no longer in dignified isolation, were huddled in the single window. Inside, the now contracted well of the one little shop was more scented and darker than ever. And it was longer than usual, too, before a face peered down, and the tip-tap of the bast slippers began. At last he stood before me, and, gazing through those rusty iron spectacles, said:

“Mr.——-, isn’d it?”

“Ah! Mr. Gessler,” I stammered, “but your boots are really too good, you know! See, these are quite decent still!” And I stretched out to him my foot. He looked at it.

“Yes,” he said, “beople do nod wand good hoods, id seems.”

To get away from his reproachful eyes and voice I hastily remarked: “What have you done to your shop?”

He answered quietly: “Id was too exbensif. Do you wand some boods?”

I ordered three pairs, though I had only wanted two, and quickly left. I had, I do not know quite what feeling of being part, in his mind, of a conspiracy against him; or not perhaps so much against him as against his idea of boot. One does not, I suppose, care to feel like that; for it was again many months before my next visit to his shop, paid, I remember, with the feeling: “Oh! well, I can’t leave the old boy—so here goes! Perhaps it’ll be his elder brother!”

For his elder brother, I knew, had not character enough to reproach me, even dumbly.

And, to my relief, in the shop there did appear to be his elder brother, handling a piece of leather.

“I am breddy well,” he said slowly “but my elder brudder is dead.”
And I saw that it was indeed himself—but how aged and wan! And never before had I heard him mention his brother. Much shocked; I murmured: “Oh! I am sorry!”
“Yes,” he answered, “he was a good man, he made a good bood; but he is dead.” And he touched the top of his head, where the hair had suddenly gone as thin as it had been on that of his poor brother, to indicate, I suppose, the cause of death. “He could nod ged over losing de oder shop. Do you wand any hoods?” And he held up the leather in his hand: “Id’s a beaudiful biece.”

I ordered several pairs. It was very long before they came—but they were better than ever. One simply could not wear them out. And soon after that I went abroad.

It was over a year before I was again in London. And the first shop I went to was my old friend’s. I had left a man of sixty, I came back to one of seventy-five, pinched and worn and tremulous, who genuinely, this time, did not at first know me.

“Oh! Mr. Gessler,” I said, sick at heart; “how splendid your boots are! See, I’ve been wearing this pair nearly all the time I’ve been abroad; and they’re not half worn out, are they?”

He looked long at my boots—a pair of Russia leather, and his face seemed to regain steadiness. Putting his hand on my instep, he said:

“Do dey vid you here? I ‘ad drouble wid dat bair, I remember.”
I assured him that they had fitted beautifully.
“Do you wand any boods?” he said. “I can make dem quickly; id is a slack dime.”
I answered: “Please, please! I want boots all round—every kind!”
“I will make a vresh model. Your food must be bigger.” And with utter slowness, he traced round my foot, and felt my toes, only once looking up to say:
“Did I dell you my brudder was dead?”
To watch him was painful, so feeble had he grown; I was glad to get away.

I had given those boots up, when one evening they came. Opening the parcel, I set the four pairs out in a row. Then one by one I tried them on. There was no doubt about it. In shape and fit, in finish and quality of leather, they were the best he had ever made me. And in the mouth of one of the Town walking-boots I found his bill.

The amount was the same as usual, but it gave me quite a shock. He had never before sent it in till quarter day. I flew down-stairs, and wrote a cheque, and posted it at once with my own hand.

A week later, passing the little street, I thought I would go in and tell him how splendidly the new boots fitted. But when I came to where his shop had been, his name was gone. Still there, in the window, were the slim pumps, the patent leathers with cloth tops, the sooty riding boots.

I went in, very much disturbed. In the two little shops—again made into one—was a young man with an English face.
“Mr. Gessler in?” I said.
He gave me a strange, ingratiating look.
“No, sir,” he said, “no. But we can attend to anything with pleasure.
We’ve taken the shop over. You’ve seen our name, no doubt, next door.
We make for some very good people.”
“Yes, Yes,” I said; “but Mr. Gessler?”
“Oh!” he answered; “dead.”
“Dead! But I only received these boots from him last Wednesday week.”
“Ah!” he said; “a shockin’ go. Poor old man starved ‘imself.”
“Good God!”
“Slow starvation, the doctor called it! You see he went to work in such a way! Would keep the shop on; wouldn’t have a soul touch his boots except himself. When he got an order, it took him such a time. People won’t wait. He lost everybody. And there he’d sit, goin’ on and on—I will say that for him not a man in London made a better boot! But look at the competition! He never advertised! Would ‘ave the best leather, too, and do it all ‘imself. Well, there it is. What could you expect with his ideas?”
“But starvation——!”

“That may be a bit flowery, as the sayin’ is—but I know myself he was sittin’ over his boots day and night, to the very last. You see I used to watch him. Never gave ‘imself time to eat; never had a penny in the house. All went in rent and leather. How he lived so long I don’t know. He regular let his fire go out. He was a character. But he made good boots.”

“Yes,” I said, “he made good boots.”

And I turned and went out quickly, for I did not want that youth to know that I could hardly see.

Questions And Answers

What is the central theme of John Galsworthy story Quality?

The main theme is commitment; commitment to one’s work, to one’s passion. Every worker is an artist if he loves his work and is immersed in it.

What is the message of the story Quality?

In Quality by John Galsworthy we have the theme of commitment, determination, loyalty, honesty, dedication and loss.

Which Quality of the Gessler Brothers has been brought out by John Galsworthy in the story Quality?

: The fiction “Quality” by John Galsworthy is a touching and sad story of Gessler brothers and their exceptional honesty, resolution, humility and commitment towards their art of shoemaking.

What is the setting of the story Quality by John Galsworthy?

‘Quality’ written by John Galsworthy in 1912 is about the German shoemakers, Gessler Brothers. The story starts with the description of the boot shop; on top was the name plate ‘Gessler Brothers’ and a few shoes displayed on the window

What is the conflict in quality by John Galsworthy?

The brothers are faced by the competition of the big firm. When they lose one of the two shops, the conflict between the big firm and handicraftsmen is strengthened.

What is the story quality all about?

The story “Quality” is about the commitment of an artist( Shoemaker) towards his art and his ultimate death by starvation. The story also exposes the sad loss of art and quality of work in the world of fashion, pomp and materialism.

Line By Line Analysis Of The Snail By Willian Cooper West Bengal Board Class 10 English

You are going to go through Line By Line Analysis Of The Snail By Willian Cooper West Bengal Board Class 10 English. Understanding a text meticulously in its entirety is very important for a learner for scoring better in the West Bengal Board class 10 English exam. Experts made ample to ensure a thorough line-by-line analysis. Let us find Line By Line Analysis Of The Snail By Willian Cooper West Bengal Board Class 10 English.

The Poem

To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall,
The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall,
As if he grew there, house and all Together.
Within that house secure he hides,
When danger imminent betides
Of storm, or other harm beside Of weather.
Give but his horns the slightest touch,
His self-collecting power is such,
He shrinks into his house, with much Displeasure.
Where’er he dwells, he dwells alone,
Except himself has chattels none,
Well satisfied to be his own Whole treasure.
Thus, hermit-like, his life he leads,
Nor partner of his banquet needs,
And if he meets one, only feeds The faster.
Who seeks him must be worse than blind,
(He and his house are so combin’d)
If, finding it, he fails to find Its master.

Word meanings related to the Poem

• Imminent – overhanging
• Betides – something that is about to happen
• self-collecting – self-possession
• Shrinks – to become smaller
• Displeasure – with much annoyance
• Dwells – to leave or continue in a given conditions
• Chattels – personal belongings
• Treasure – a collection of precious things
• Hermit-like – avoiding the company of other people; solitude
• Banquet – a sumptuous feast especially

About The Poet

Born in 26th November 1731, in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England, William Cowper was one of the famous poets of his time. He started to change the nature of 18th-century poems based on nature by the writing of regular lives and scenes of the English countryside. His father, John Cowper, rector of the St. Peter Church, was also a poet. He was also excelled at the interpretative and translation of Latin and wrote many verses of his own.

Cowper continued his education in Westminster School, after moving from one school to another. He had written numbers of anti-slavery poems. He was a good friend of Newton, who was a devoted anti-slavery campaigner. Cowper got influenced by Newton and wrote one of his famous poems, “ The Negro’s complaint ” ( 1788).

Cowper also wrote several other less well-known poems based on slavery in the 1780s, which attacked the mentality that slavery was economically viable. William Cowper died on April 25, 1800.

Title Of The Poem

In the poem, the port minutely describes the private life of the Snail. The Snail, who is a very small creature, which sticks near to the grass, leaf, walls, or fruits, is well-satisfied with his own wealth, without depending on others. The Snail only relies upon its own energy, will and honesty which make him fearless and to face all hardships. So the title of the poem is appropriate, as the whole poem dwells with the snail and it’s hardships in his life, and also it’s uniqueness in his character.

About The Poem

The poem, The Snail, begins with a simple observation, which turns to a question whenever or not the snail has ‘fury’ before weighing up the whole adventure with a theoretical outline, not a definitive solution. The whole poem is made up of five complete sentences, where each line, slowly flows into the next, where the inflection a mirror of the physical progress is reflected by the snail.

No doubt that the snail is a creature of anti-sensibility, but in the most glamorous sense. It means, the snail is not one of the scrambling crowd, who is fearless to have communication with others by making their way conventionally through life, alone brother in positivity. Instead, the snail is expert in sorting out things. The snail us not homeless; he has his own house to live in, which not only satisfies him but stands as strong supremacy of power. Not being an unsocial kind, the snail is quite energetic in nature. We know that sensibility can represent as ‘for’ or ‘against’ interrogation into the social, as it builds it’s own disaster as early as it finds a solution–which is the same case as that of The Snail in the poem.

The snail is a very tiny creature, who can easily stick with the grass, leaf, fruit or wall. As he grows on his own shell, he does not fear to fall. The poet feels secure, within his own house, from any danger of storm or other harms. He dwells alone always and feels satisfied with the little treasure he belongs. The poet tries to live his life like hermits, who is out of any kinds of needs from any partner, unless he meets someone, just to feed.

Background Of The Poem

The poem, The Snail, was written by Cowper in Norfolk, where he spent his last days after his last displacement from his home.

The poem describes Cowper’s need to generate a personal attractiveness during his time in Norfolk, and the reason for forming this poem, compared to the creation of a protective shell at an endangered stage in Cowper’s work and life as well. The main reason of writing this poem is that, it originates an inner comfort and the feeling of home-like, which cannot be taken away from him. The phrase ‘house and all’ depicts not the temporary places, where the snail affix itself, but the one which is surrounding and is the part of his own body.

The poem, ‘Shrinking Snail ’ by Shakespeare, also events some influence on Cowper’s ‘ The Snail’, indirectly. In the poem, The Snail, the tiny snail is highlighted into such abiding and sympathetic focus, which to ‘extinguish’ takes on the character of the reader.

Line By Line Analysis Of The Poem

Stanza 1

To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall,
The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall,
As if he grew there, house and all Together.
Within that house secure he hides,
When danger imminent betides
Of storm, or other harm besides Of weather.

Here, in the Stanza 1 of the poem, the speaker describes the livelihood of The Snail. The speaker hives a keen observation of the snail as it hunts for food in the dark. As it was raining and also the earth has grasses, which were wet. But the snail, notwithstanding, creates an imaginary luminous path, which stands against the darkened night.

As we know that, a snail is a hermaphrodite animal, with a single muscle, it snails into the dark green night. But he is not alone as there is a human (the speaker) who is watching minutely his actions and thus recording them as inspiration to humankind.

The speaker describes in the poem about the snail, with a few simple but image-rich descriptions, who is out for in search of food. The grass due to heavy rain was wet and heavy and bending over the snail’s head as it snails across the grass.

Stanza 2

Give but his horns the slightest touch,
His self-collecting power is such,
He shrinks into his house, with much Displeasure.
Where’er he dwells, he dwells alone,
Except himself has chattels none,
Well satisfied to be his own
Whole treasure.

The snail has his own horns -tentacles -which are stalks to help the snail to have the sense of sight and taste. For the first time, in the poem, the speaker represents himself as ‘I’, in order to highlight the whole human world with its biddings on knowing and communicating and decreasing.

According to the speaker, it is the energy of snail that must surely carry some sorts of emotions along with the snail. In the fifth line, there is a very unusual question, where the speaker wonders about the snail’s fury. It is quite basic for the speaker’s astonishing question ‘ What is snail’s fury? ’ Do really a snail have fury– all that suppressed dreams implies that there should be somewhat free space.

Rather, this question implies human traits onto the impulsive snail. ‘Fury’ is an emotion, which only humans can feel.

The stalks on the snail’s head are being described as the ‘horns’ in the first line of the second stanza. The snail’s stalks are barely stirring or moving when he moves for his ‘hunt’. The speaker, sometimes, wonders and thus comes to somewhat conclusion that there must be something which drives the snail to move forward. But, being a human being to observe, he is saturating a non-human creature i.e., The Snail, with some human characteristics.

Stanza 3

Thus, hermit-like, his life he leads,
Nor partner of his banquet needs,
And if he meets one, only feeds The faster.
Who seeks him must be worse than blind,
(He and his house are so combin’d)
If, finding it, he fails to find
Its master.

All the previous observations and ideas which glows, into the final sentence, refer to the enjambment between these stanzas.The speaker now gets into an imagination about what he would have made of the broken white trail, if he had not seen the snail and his movements, before.

All the admiration, that devoted motion onwards, has disappeared somehow, by leaving only the dry sludge. Whereas, the speaker, who wants to understand every single desire of that of the snail, knows the isolation of the two worlds, –one that of the hermaphrodite creature and another, that of the human beings.

The speaker shows empathy for that small, humble animal, but also a strong desire to know, how this small snail carries around in such a way, throughout the world. The speaker’s initial impartiality gradually changes into puzzlement and admiration.

Here, in this stanza, the speaker represents a hypothetical scenario. The speaker describes the snail as a loner and who likes to be itself. The snail loves to lead a life like a hermit blissfully. The one who tries to long for the snail must be worse than a blind.

Here, the speaker explains, how the snail leads its life. Despite having no friends, family, and dear ones, the snail has only food to eat, that also when he gets some. It carries its life, like that of the hermits by staying its whole life inside its hard shell, which is also it’s home. But, rather than human beings, the snail wouldn’t be able to see his family or anything, except darkness, in his house.

Structure Of The Poem

This poem consists of three equal stanzas, and each stanza bearing three complete lined, of totalling 18 lines throughout the poem. The three-stanza poem is being separated into sets of six lines, known as sestets. Though these sestets do not follow a specific rhyme scheme Or metrical pattern, the lines are almost similar in length and the number of the syllabus are also present in each.

There is no fix rhyming scheme in this poem as such, but some lines are connected through para-rhyme i.e., aaab, cxcb, dddb, eeeb, cccb, fffb.

for example, “wall”, “fall”, “all”, “together”.

Also Punctuations, here and there, causes the reader to pause, again and again, which signifies just as that of the snail might do, in its real life.

Literary Devices In The Poem

Considering ‘The Snail’, by William Cowper, the poem contains the following poetic devices:–

Alliteration
The occurrence of the same letters or sound at the beginning of adjacent or consonant sounds in successive syllables.
Categories of alliteration assimilated in this poem include,

The snail sticks close;
nor fear to fall;
If finding it, he fails to find;

Imagery
As a literary device, imagery consists of explanative language and also uses symbolism to the work. It draws on the five senses, – sight, sound, taste, smell, touch.
for example,

touch: Give but his horns the slightest touch;
taste: his banquet needs,… .. … only feeds;
sight: must be worse than blind;
touch: the snail sticks close…

Metaphor
A figure of speech, in which a phrase o a word used to an object or action, to which it is not literally applicable.
he and his house are so combined;

Simile
It is a common poetic device, where the subject is being described by comparing it to another object or subject, using ‘as’, or ‘like’, in the poem.
such as,

Hermit-like;

The Theme Of The Poem

A lesson about Life

Through this poem, the poet wants to bring out the lesson about human life or the statement about human nature. By choosing the displacement of ‘The Snail’, the Cowper highlights on the physical world, where the slow alterations of shape parallel the sensuality of being a human being, understanding the body as it is habituated to its the environment. Cowper, in this poem, takes us into the private world of a snail, where the snail is seemed to lead a self-sufficient life.
Honesty can also be another habitude component of the life of the snail. He is well-satisfied with his own treasures and does not urge for more.

Being fearless

In the poem, it is being reflected that The Snail never fears for anything whatever the situation is. He is having his self-esteem and courage to face all the hardships that come to his life, slowly. He can give his best to protect himself from any kind of danger or in order to run long, to get his food in order to survive. The poem, ‘ The Snail ’ by William Cowper is a free-verse poem, which consists of three equal stanzas, of totalling 18lines, where each line consists of 7 syllables.

Free Verse poem

The poem, ‘ The Snail ’ by William Cowper is a free-verse poem, which consists of three equal stanzas, of totalling 18 lines, where each line consists of 7 syllables. There is no fix rhyming scheme in this poem as such, but some lines are connected through para-rhyme —

1. wall/fall…
2. hides/besides…
3. touch/such…
4. alone/none…
5. leads/needs…
6. blind/find…
7. together/displeasure…

Critical Analysis Of Madonna Mia By Oscar Wilde

You are going to go through Critical Analysis Of Madonna Mia By Oscar Wilde. Understanding a text meticulously in its entirety is very important for a learner for scoring better in the exam. Experts made ample to ensure a thorough critical analysis of Madonna Mia. Let us find a Critical Analysis Of Madonna Mia By Oscar Wilde.

About the Poet

Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde was born on 16th October 1854 in Dublin, Ireland. He was born to Lady Jane Wilde and William Wilde, an Anglo- Irish couple. He was a poet and a playwright. Wilde got baptised in an Anglican church. He is known for his poems and epigrams. Wilde could fluently speak German and French. He studied in Trinity College, Dublin and then in Oxford. Wilde was an excellent student.

After university, he lectured on “English Renaissance in Art” and interior decoration as well. his most famous creation is the novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” published in 1891 in a book form. Oscar Wilde was deeply influenced by Catholicism.

Wilde had also worked as a journalist and had a theatrical career as well. He got married to Constance Lloyd in 1884.

He was an important part of the Aesthetic movement and the Decadent movement. Some of his most significant creations are “A House of Pomegranates” (1891), “Poems” (1881), “Ravenna” (1878), “The Sphinx” (1894), “A Woman of No Importance” (1893), “Intentions” (1891), “The Ballad of Reading Gaol” (1898), “An Ideal Husband” (1895), “De Profundis” (1897), “The Importance of Being Earnest” (1895), “The Happy Prince and other stories” (1888) and a lot more.

Wilde passed away at the age of 46 in Paris on November 30, 1900.

About the Poem

‘Madonna Mia’ in Italian means ‘Oh god!’ or ‘Oh Mary!’ to be specific. This poem was penned down in order to praise The Virgin Mary. It was first published in the college magazine of Trinity College called Kottabos and the title was “Wasted Days”. In 1881, this sonnet was rewritten and was included in Wilde’s collection of poetry called “Poems”. The gender of the main subject of the poem was also changed. “Wasted Days” had an aesthetic angle to it, whereas, “Madonna Mia’ has a predominant religious touch to it. It is neither a Petrarchan sonnet nor a Shakespearian sonnet. It is atypical sonnet.

Structure of the Poem

A lily-girl, not made for this world’s pain,
With brown, soft hair close braided by her ears,
And longing eyes half veiled by slumberous tears
Like bluest water seen through mists of rain:
Pale cheeks whereon no love hath left its stain,
Red underlip drawn in for fear of love,
And white throat, whiter than the silvered dove,
Through whose wan marble creeps one purple vein.
Yet, though my lips shall praise her without cease,
Even to kiss her feet I am not bold,
Being o’ershadowed by the wings of awe,
Like Dante, when he stood with Beatrice
Beneath the flaming Lion’s breast, and saw
The seventh Crystal, and the Stair of Gold.

“Madonna Mia” is an Italian sonnet. Being a typical Italian sonnet, it is divided into two sections: an octave and a sestet. Each verse line contains ten syllables. The rhyming scheme goes as follows: abba acca def dfe.

Despite being an Italian sonnet, the poem has a simple language and there is no use of inversion or abuse of other literary devices.

Line by line analysis of the Poem

Lines 1-8:

“A lily-girl, not made for this world’s pain,
With brown, soft hair close braided by her ears,
And longing eyes half veiled by slumberous tears
Like bluest water seen through mists of rain:
Pale cheeks whereon no love hath left its stain,
Red underlip drawn in for fear of love,
And white throat, whiter than the silvered dove,
Through whose wan marble creeps one purple vein.”

The octet consists of the description that the poet has given, in order to explain the purity and sanctity of the Virgin Mary. In the first line, the poet has compared her to a lily to explain how delicate and beautiful she is. She is so gentle that she did not deserve the world’s pain. Her hair is soft and brown and is tied into braids. She had faced to much pain that her eyes are heavy after shedding tears. This pain includes the pain that she felt when Jesus was crucified. Her cheeks are pale and unstained. This is a metaphorical reference to virginal purity. She had her lower lip drawn in, because she feared love or any kind of affectionate touch. Her fair skin had been compared to marble. One could easily see her purple veins peeping beneath her marble-like fair skin. ‘Purple’ and ‘fair skin’ are often indications to royalty and upper class. According to the poet, the Virgin Mary was beautiful, pure and royal.

Lines 9-14:

“Yet, though my lips shall praise her without cease,
Even to kiss her feet I am not bold,
Being o’ershadowed by the wings of awe,
Like Dante, when he stood with Beatrice
Beneath the flaming Lion’s breast, and saw
The seventh Crystal, and the Stair of Gold.”

In this part of the poem, the attention was shifted from the deity (The Virgin Mary) to the worshipper (the poet himself). These six lines constitute a sestet. In the ninth line, the poet says that he can keep praising The Virgin Mary constantly without any pause. The poet is not even bold enough to kiss her feet out of admiration, because he is awed by her beauty and poise. Beatrice was the muse of the Italian poet Dante and his inspiration to write “The Divine Comedy”. The poet was as awestruck by her as Dante was when he saw the stairs to heaven. This part of the poem shows how religiously influenced the poet had been while writing the poem.

Figures of Speech Used in the Poem

1. Consonance
Consonance is a figure of speech in which similar consonants are used in neighbouring words with different vowel sounds.
“And white throat, whiter than the silvered dove”
“And white throat, whiter than the silvered dove”

2. Alliteration
This is a figure of speech where closely associated words or corresponding words begin with the same alphabet in a sentence.
“And white throat, whiter than the silvered dove”

3. Simile
In this figure of speech, a comparison is made with the usage of any comparing words (“like”, “as”, “then”).
“And longing eyes half veiled by slumberous tears
Like bluest water seen through mists of rain”
“And white throat, whiter than the silvered dove”
“Like Dante, when he stood with Beatrice”

4. Metaphor
In this figure of speech, a comparison is made without the usage of any comparing words.
“A lily-girl, not made for this world’s pain,”
Here a comparison is made between The Virgin Mary and a lily on the basis of their beauty and delicate nature.

“Through whose wan marble creeps one purple vein.”
Virgin Mary’s white complexion is compared to marble.

5. Transferred epithet
In this poetic device, human emotion is associated with a non-living object after getting displaced from the person.
“And longing eyes half veiled by slumberous tears”
The tears are no ‘slumberous’ here, the poet wanted to convey that Virgin mary is ‘slumberous’ or tired from shedding tears.

Important Word Meanings

• Slumberous: Heavy with drowsiness
• Awe: Admiration.
• Wan: Pale.
• Flaming: Fiery.
• Cease: End.

The Theme Of The Poem

At the beginning of the poem, it might seem that the poet is describing the beauty and aesthetics of a general woman. However, the title of the poem depicts that the woman is not an ordinary woman but The Virgin Mary. Madonna was another name of Mary. The poet wanted to make a point that Mary is afraid to love or be touched by a man. This is because in Christianity, it is believed that Mary was impregnated by the Holy Spirit and not by Joseph. She maintained her purity by never indulging in sexual practices. Her cheeks were never stained, this indicates her virginal purity. The poet admired The Virgin Mary by bringing the reference to ‘The Divine Comedy’ written by Italian poet Dante Alighieri. There is an evident presence of class consciousness in the sonnet. The whiteness of the skin had been equated to a higher class, especially in the Victorian era. Also, the colour ‘purple’ was equated with royalty and sophistication. The poem is predominantly religious in nature and is filled with praises of The Virgin Mary

The Merchant of Venice ICSE Class 10 Act 1 Scene 1

English is a difficult subject for many people to learn. Some students may become frustrated and give up, but here’s The Merchant of Venice ICSE Class 10 Act 1 Scene 1 to help you maintain your momentum! This The Merchant of Venice Act 1 Scene 1 will provide all necessary information needed in order to study ICSE Class 10 English successfully at home or school; it includes detailed grammar rules with examples that were used during today’s class discussion on the ICSE Board English Exam.

The Merchant of Venice ICSE Class 10 Act 1 Scene 1 in English, ICSE Board Class 10 makes it easier to understand the story. Understanding every detail of a story is important for scoring higher on an exam and expert writers have made sure that you know how everything flows together by summarizing perfectly!

Scene I. Venice. A street.

Enter Antonio, Salarino And Salanio

Antonio

In sooth, I know not why I am so sad:
It wearies me; you say it wearies you;
But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,
What stuff ’tis made of, whereof it is born,
I am to learn;
And such a want-wit sadness makes of me,
That I have much ado to know myself.

Salarino

Your mind is tossing on the ocean;
There, where your argosies with portly sail,
Like signiors and rich burghers on the flood,
Or, as it were, the pageants of the sea,
Do overpeer the petty traffickers,
That curtsy to them, do them reverence,
As they fly by them with their woven wings.

Salanio

Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth,
The better part of my affections would
Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still
Plucking the grass, to know where sits the wind,
Peering in maps for ports and piers and roads;
And every object that might make me fear
Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt
Would make me sad.

Salarino

My wind cooling my broth
Would blow me to an ague, when I thought
What harm a wind too great at sea might do.
I should not see the sandy hour-glass run,
But I should think of shallows and of flats,
And see my wealthy Andrew dock’d in sand,
Vailing her high-top lower than her ribs
To kiss her burial. Should I go to church
And see the holy edifice of stone,
And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks,
Which touching but my gentle vessel’s side,
Would scatter all her spices on the stream,
Enrobe the roaring waters with my silks,
And, in a word, but even now worth this,
And now worth nothing? Shall I have the thought
To think on this, and shall I lack the thought
That such a thing bechanced would make me sad?
But tell not me; I know, Antonio
Is sad to think upon his merchandise.

Antonio

Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it,
My ventures are not in one bottom trusted,
Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate
Upon the fortune of this present year:
Therefore my merchandise makes me not sad.

Salarino

Why, then you are in love.

Antonio

Fie, fie!

Salarino

Not in love neither? Then let us say you are sad,
Because you are not merry: and ’twere as easy
For you to laugh and leap and say you are merry,
Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed Janus,
Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time:
Some that will evermore peep through their eyes
And laugh like parrots at a bag-piper,
And other of such vinegar aspect
That they’ll not show their teeth in way of smile,
Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.

Enter Bassinio, Lorenzo, And Gratiano

Salanio

Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman,
Gratiano and Lorenzo. Fare ye well:
We leave you now with better company.

Salarino

I would have stay’d till I had made you merry,
If worthier friends had not prevented me.

Antonio

Your worth is very dear in my regard.
I take it, your own business calls on you
And you embrace the occasion to depart.

Salarino

Good morrow, my good lords.

Bassinio

Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? say, when?
You grow exceeding strange: must it be so?

Salarino

We’ll make our leisures to attend on yours.
Exeunt Salarino and Salanio

Lorenzo

My Lord Bassanio, since you have found Antonio,
We two will leave you: but at dinner-time,
I pray you, have in mind where we must meet.

Bassinio

I will not fail you.

Gratiano

You look not well, Signior Antonio;
You have too much respect upon the world:
They lose it that do buy it with much care:
Believe me, you are marvellously changed.

Antonio

I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano;
A stage where every man must play a part,
And mine a sad one.

Gratiano

Let me play the fool:
With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come,
And let my liver rather heat with wine
Than my heart cool with mortifying groans.
Why should a man, whose blood is warm within,
Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster?
Sleep when he wakes and creep into the jaundice
By being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio–
I love thee, and it is my love that speaks–
There are a sort of men whose visages
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond,
And do a wilful stillness entertain,
With purpose to be dress’d in an opinion
Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit,
As who should say ‘I am Sir Oracle,
And when I ope my lips let no dog bark!’
O my Antonio, I do know of these
That therefore only are reputed wise
For saying nothing; when, I am very sure,
If they should speak, would almost damn those ears,
Which, hearing them, would call their brothers fools.
I’ll tell thee more of this another time:
But fish not, with this melancholy bait,
For this fool gudgeon, this opinion.
Come, good Lorenzo. Fare ye well awhile:
I’ll end my exhortation after dinner.

Lorenzo

Well, we will leave you then till dinner-time:
I must be one of these same dumb wise men,
For Gratiano never lets me speak.

Gratiano

Well, keep me company but two years moe,
Thou shalt not know the sound of thine own tongue.

Antonio

Farewell: I’ll grow a talker for this gear.

Gratiano

Thanks, i’ faith, for silence is only commendable
In a neat’s tongue dried and a maid not vendible.

Exeunt Gratiano and Lorenzo

Antonio

Is that any thing now?

Bassinio

Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more
than any man in all Venice. His reasons are as two
grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff: you
shall seek all day ere you find them, and when you
have them, they are not worth the search.

Antonio

Well, tell me now what lady is the same
To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage,
That you to-day promised to tell me of?

Bassinio

‘Tis not unknown to you, Antonio,
How much I have disabled mine estate,
By something showing a more swelling port
Than my faint means would grant continuance:
Nor do I now make moan to be abridged
From such a noble rate; but my chief care
Is to come fairly off from the great debts
Wherein my time something too prodigal
Hath left me gaged. To you, Antonio,
I owe the most, in money and in love,
And from your love I have a warranty
To unburden all my plots and purposes
How to get clear of all the debts I owe.

Antonio

I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it;
And if it stand, as you yourself still do,
Within the eye of honour, be assured,
My purse, my person, my extremest means,
Lie all unlock’d to your occasions.

Bassinio

In my school-days, when I had lost one shaft,
I shot his fellow of the self-same flight
The self-same way with more advised watch,
To find the other forth, and by adventuring both
I oft found both: I urge this childhood proof,
Because what follows is pure innocence.
I owe you much, and, like a wilful youth,
That which I owe is lost; but if you please
To shoot another arrow that self way
Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt,
As I will watch the aim, or to find both
Or bring your latter hazard back again
And thankfully rest debtor for the first.

Antonio

You know me well, and herein spend but time
To wind about my love with circumstance;
And out of doubt you do me now more wrong
In making question of my uttermost
Than if you had made waste of all I have:
Then do but say to me what I should do
That in your knowledge may by me be done,
And I am prest unto it: therefore, speak.

Bassinio

In Belmont is a lady richly left;
And she is fair, and, fairer than that word,
Of wondrous virtues: sometimes from her eyes
I did receive fair speechless messages:
Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued
To Cato’s daughter, Brutus’ Portia:
Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth,
For the four winds blow in from every coast
Renowned suitors, and her sunny locks
Hang on her temples like a golden fleece;
Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos’ strand,
And many Jasons come in quest of her.
O my Antonio, had I but the means
To hold a rival place with one of them,
I have a mind presages me such thrift,
That I should questionless be fortunate!

Antonio

Thou know’st that all my fortunes are at sea;
Neither have I money nor commodity
To raise a present sum: therefore go forth;
Try what my credit can in Venice do:
That shall be rack’d, even to the uttermost,
To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia.
Go, presently inquire, and so will I,
Where money is, and I no question make
To have it of my trust or for my sake.

Scene II: Belmont. A room in Portia’s house.

Enter Portia And Nerissa

Portia

By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of
this great world.

Nerissa

You would be, sweet madam, if your miseries were in
the same abundance as your good fortunes are: and
yet, for aught I see, they are as sick that surfeit
with too much as they that starve with nothing. It
is no mean happiness therefore, to be seated in the
mean: superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but
competency lives longer.

Portia

Good sentences and well pronounced.

Nerissa

They would be better, if well followed.

Portia

If to do were as easy as to know what were good to
do, chapels had been churches and poor men’s
cottages princes’ palaces. It is a good divine that
follows his own instructions: I can easier teach
twenty what were good to be done, than be one of the
twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain may
devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps
o’er a cold decree: such a hare is madness the
youth, to skip o’er the meshes of good counsel the
cripple. But this reasoning is not in the fashion to
choose me a husband. O me, the word ‘choose!’ I may
neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I
dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed
by the will of a dead father. Is it not hard,
Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none?

Nerissa

Your father was ever virtuous; and holy men at their
death have good inspirations: therefore the lottery,
that he hath devised in these three chests of gold,
silver and lead, whereof who chooses his meaning
chooses you, will, no doubt, never be chosen by any
rightly but one who shall rightly love. But what
warmth is there in your affection towards any of
these princely suitors that are already come?

Portia

I pray thee, over-name them; and as thou namest
them, I will describe them; and, according to my
description, level at my affection.

Nerissa

First, there is the Neapolitan prince.

Portia

Ay, that’s a colt indeed, for he doth nothing but
talk of his horse; and he makes it a great
appropriation to his own good parts, that he can
shoe him himself. I am much afeard my lady his
mother played false with a smith.

Nerissa

Then there is the County Palatine.

Portia

He doth nothing but frown, as who should say ‘If you
will not have me, choose:’ he hears merry tales and
smiles not: I fear he will prove the weeping
philosopher when he grows old, being so full of
unmannerly sadness in his youth. I had rather be
married to a death’s-head with a bone in his mouth
than to either of these. God defend me from these
two!

Nerissa

How say you by the French lord, Monsieur Le Bon?

Portia

God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man.
In truth, I know it is a sin to be a mocker: but,
he! why, he hath a horse better than the
Neapolitan’s, a better bad habit of frowning than
the Count Palatine; he is every man in no man; if a
throstle sing, he falls straight a capering: he will
fence with his own shadow: if I should marry him, I
should marry twenty husbands. If he would despise me
I would forgive him, for if he love me to madness, I
shall never requite him.

Nerissa

What say you, then, to Falconbridge, the young baron
of England?

Portia

You know I say nothing to him, for he understands
not me, nor I him: he hath neither Latin, French,
nor Italian, and you will come into the court and
swear that I have a poor pennyworth in the English.
He is a proper man’s picture, but, alas, who can
converse with a dumb-show? How oddly he is suited!
I think he bought his doublet in Italy, his round
hose in France, his bonnet in Germany and his
behavior every where.

Nerissa

What think you of the Scottish lord, his neighbour?

Portia

That he hath a neighbourly charity in him, for he
borrowed a box of the ear of the Englishman and
swore he would pay him again when he was able: I
think the Frenchman became his surety and sealed
under for another.

Nerissa

How like you the young German, the Duke of Saxony’s nephew?

Portia

Very vilely in the morning, when he is sober, and
most vilely in the afternoon, when he is drunk: when
he is best, he is a little worse than a man, and
when he is worst, he is little better than a beast:
and the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I shall
make shift to go without him.

Nerissa

If he should offer to choose, and choose the right
casket, you should refuse to perform your father’s
will, if you should refuse to accept him.

Portia

Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee, set a
deep glass of rhenish wine on the contrary casket,
for if the devil be within and that temptation
without, I know he will choose it. I will do any
thing, Nerissa, ere I’ll be married to a sponge.

Nerissa

You need not fear, lady, the having any of these
lords: they have acquainted me with their
determinations; which is, indeed, to return to their
home and to trouble you with no more suit, unless
you may be won by some other sort than your father’s
imposition depending on the caskets.

Portia

If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as
chaste as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner
of my father’s will. I am glad this parcel of wooers
are so reasonable, for there is not one among them
but I dote on his very absence, and I pray God grant
them a fair departure.

Nerissa

Do you not remember, lady, in your father’s time, a
Venetian, a scholar and a soldier, that came hither
in company of the Marquis of Montferrat?

Portia

Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, he was so called.

Nerissa

True, madam: he, of all the men that ever my foolish
eyes looked upon, was the best deserving a fair lady.

Portia

I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of
thy praise.

Enter a Serving-man

How now! what news?

Servant

The four strangers seek for you, madam, to take
their leave: and there is a forerunner come from a
fifth, the Prince of Morocco, who brings word the
prince his master will be here to-night.

Portia

If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good a
heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I should
be glad of his approach: if he have the condition
of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had
rather he should shrive me than wive me. Come,
Nerissa. Sirrah, go before.
Whiles we shut the gates
upon one wooer, another knocks at the door.

Questions And Answers

What happens in Act 1 of The Merchant of Venice?

The play opens with Antonio, a Venetian merchant, sharing with his friends Salerio and Solanio that he feels ‘sad’, but does not know why. His friends suggest that he is either worried about his ships, which are ‘tossing on the ocean’ and full of valuable goods, or that he is ‘in love’.

Where does the Act 1 Scene 1 take place in Merchant of Venice?

Antonio (a Venetian merchant) is hanging out with his friends Salerio and Solanio on a street in Venice.

What is the theme of Act 1 in The Merchant of Venice?

Revenge, justice and forgiveness and the possibility of mercy as a response to injustice. Some related scenes: Act 1 Scene 3: Bassanio asks to borrow three thousand ducats from Shylock, Shylock reminds him and Antonio of past mistreatment and Antonio agrees to the bond.

Who is sad in the beginning of the Act 1 Scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice?

In scene 1, his friends, Salanio and Salarino, indicate that he is depressed and angry due to the business of his ships which seems to be going down the drain. Antonio is shown as a filthy rich merchant. He has invested a lot of money on ships and all of them are currently in the sea.

Why does Shylock hate Antonio?

Shylock hates Antonio because Antonio has the privilege of being a wealthy Venetian who charges no interest on his loans, and he also hates Antonio for being a Christian. Antonio not only loans money interest-free to many, he has also covered the loans of Shylock’s victims without charging them interest to repay him.

What is the most important scene in The Merchant of Venice?

1. Antonio offers to act as Bassanio’s guarantor (Act 1, Scene 1) Antonio, a prosperous Venetian merchant, is unable to explain his sadness to his friends, who suggest he must have business or love worries. When Bassanio arrives with Lorenzo and Gratiano, he asks his close friend Antonio to lend him some more money.

What is the most striking theme in Act 1 Scene 1 Merchant of Venice?

Friendship. The theme of friendship drives most of the action in The Merchant of Venice. Bassanio needs money and turns to Antonio, who has already offered him substantial financial support in the past.

Why is Antonio so sad at the first scene?

Some commentators have suggested that Antonio’s sadness probably stems from the fact that he realizes that he will soon lose the company of his best friend and companion, Bassanio, to that of a seemingly beautiful and wealthy young maiden, Portia with whom Bassanio has become infatuated.

Is Antonio a wealthy merchant?

Antonio certainly gives the appearance of being a wealthy man. He’s a successful merchant with a large fleet of ships engaging in profitable trade throughout the world. He clearly has money to spare, as he often helps people out financially when they’ve fallen on hard times.

Does Shylock deserve to be punished?

his daughter betrayed him and he lost most of his wealth. moreover, he was made to convert to Christianity. though his intentions to kill antonio were wrong, his reasons to loath him were justified. the punishment he got was more of a triumph of the christians over the jews which was a a very inhuman thing to do.

Textbook Questions And Answers Of Before The Match Chapter 3 Karnataka Board Class 8 English Prose

You are going to go through Textbook Questions And Answers Of Before The Match Chapter 3 Karnataka Board Class 8 English Prose. Understanding a text meticulously in its entirety is very important for a learner for scoring better in the Karnataka board class 8 English exam. Experts made ample to ensure a thorough critical and line-by-line analysis. Let us find Textbook Questions And Answers Of Before The Match Chapter 3 Karnataka Board Class 8 English Prose.

About the author

Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami, commonly known as R. K. Narayan, was an Indian writer known for his work set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. He was a leading author of early Indian literature in English along with Mulk Raj Anand and Raja Rao.

Theme of Before The Match

The major theme running through the story is that one needs not to lie about there problem if there’s a genuine problem it might be solved. When Swami states that delirium must be something like a stomach ache, the doctor has a hearty laugh.

The doctor then tells Swami that he wouldn’t be able to give the certificate. When Swami earnestly requests him to help him out, the doctor promises to speak to the headmaster and convince him to allow Swami to go for practice. Swami is greatly relieved and he leaves the place thanking the doctor for being kind to him. Thus, being true about a problem helps sometimes.

Textbook Answers OF Before The Match

A. Answer the following questions in a sentence or two each:

1.Name the teams that are to play the cricket match in the lesson.

MCC, Malgudi Cricket Club, and another local youth team called the YMU, Young Men’s Union are to play the cricket match.

2. Who were the prominent players in the MCC team?

Rajam, Mani and Swami were the prominent players in the MCC team.

3. Who was the “Tate” of the team? Why was he called so?

Swami is compared to Tate as he is a bowler. Tate refers to the best bowler of the time, Maurice Tate, the English cricketer.

4. Why could Swami not attend the practice in the evenings?

Every evening there was Drill Class, Scouting and some school activity or other.

5. What was Swami’s excuse for exempting him from drill for a week?

Swami claimed to be unwell to escape the drill class. He said that he had the problem of delirium.

6. What did Swami request the doctor to give him?

Swami requested the doctor to give him a Medical Certificate stating that he was unwell and should be exempted from drill classes in the evening.

B. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. “There was only one who caused him the deepest anxiety day and night.”

Question 1

i. Who caused Rajam the deepest anxiety?

-Swami caused Rajam the deepest anxiety as he could not attend cricket practice sessions in the evenings.

ii. Why was this so?

Every evening Swami had Drill Class or Scouting or some other school activity that was compulsory.

2. “Just seven days before the match, Swaminathan realized that his evenings were more precious than ever.”

i. What is the match referred to here?

The match between MCC, Malgudi Cricket Club, and another local youth team called the YMU, Young Men’s Union.

ii. Why were the evenings more precious than ever?

There was just one week left for the match and hence every evening was precious.

3. “But contrary to the custom, he had not taken off his coat and cap.”

i. Why did Swami not take off his coat and cap?

He wanted to seek permission from the Drill Master to be exempted from drill practice. So he did not take off his coat and cap.

ii. What happened soon after?

The Drill Master did not agree to exempt Swami and ordered him to remove his coat and cap and get ready for drill. But Swami kept dogging him and told him that the previous night he was delirious. Though the Drill Master did not believe him, he let him go.

4. “Well, I could do it. But is there anything wrong with you?”

i. Who is speaking to Swami in these lines?

The doctor is speaking to Swami.

ii. Was there anything really wrong with Swami?

No. Swami, in fact, was in the pink of health.

iii. What is the real purpose of Swami’s visit?

Swami’s real purpose is to get a fake medical certificate so that his Head Master would exempt him from the compulsory classes in the evenings. Swami could then go for his cricket practice sessions.

5. “I can’t give you the certificate. But I shall talk to your Head Master about you and request him to let you off after four-thirty.”

i. Why does the doctor refuse to give a certificate?

The doctor refuses to give a certificate saying that he would be prosecuted if he gave Swami a false Medical Certificate.

ii. What does he offer to do instead?

The doctor offers to speak to the Head Master and request him to let Swami off after four-thirty.

iii. Do you think the doctor was kind to Swami?

In the extract, the doctor seems to be a righteous and kind man. He does not agree to give a fake certificate as nothing is actually wrong with Swami. But when Swami explains to him how important it is for him to attend the practice sessions in the evening, the doctor promises to speak to the Head Master and request him to exempt Swami from the drill session.

C. Answer the following questions in about six or eight sentences each:

1. How did Swami manage to get the permission of the drillmaster?

Swami has missed many practice sessions of the cricket match and there is only one more week for the match against YMU Cricket Team. Rajam has already given a stern warning to Swami. Hence Swami is determined to miss his Drill Class in school.

He knows that his Drill Master will not let him go easily. So, he pretends to be ill. When the Drill Master refuses to let him off, he keeps following him making the same request. Finally, the Drill Master, who is annoyed, asks him what his problem is. Swami claims to be suffering from delirium.

He says that he was unable to sleep even a wink the previous night. He adds that his doctor had advised him not to attend Drill for a week. After all this, the Drill Master permits Swami to skip the Drill Session adding that he didn’t believe a word of what Swami said. Thus we see that against all odds Swami manages to get the permission of the Drill Master to skip drill.

2. What was Swami’s plan to get an exemption from drill for a week?

Swami knew that if he had to be exempted from drill for a whole week, his pretence of illness alone wouldn’t suffice. He knew that he needed more authentic proof of his illness. That is why he decides to go to a doctor before going to school to get a medical certificate. With the doctor, however, he is honest. He tells him about the cricket match and the need to get time for practice sessions. He hopes that the doctor would understand his predicament and give him a false medical certificate.

3. How did the doctor promise to help Swami?

On coming to know from Swaminathan that he wants the doctor to give him a certificate stating that he should be exempted from evening classes, the doctor wants to know whether there is any real problem with Swaminathan. The doctor is greatly amused when Swaminathan tells him that he has been suffering from delirium.

However, from Swami’s explanation that delirium was some kind of stomach ache, the doctor realises that Swami has a total misunderstanding of the term. On examining Swami, the doctor also comes to know that Swami is in the pink of health. Hence the doctor refuses to give him a Medical Certificate stating that he would be prosecuted if he did so. However, he wishes Swami well and offers to speak to the Head Master about Swami’s inability to attend the compulsory sessions in the evenings.

A paragraph outline.

Complete the following paragraphs with the help of the clues given below

Keywords: palace, soldiers, fond of, storehouse, to eat, demanded, summoned, devised, noticed, investigation, keep watch, honey, stole, thief, stand, detect, lifted up, observed, identify.
Linkers: who, and, so, as soon as, thus.

1. There lived a king by name Krishna and Queen Radha lived in a very big _________ with hundreds of servants and ______. Both the King _________the Queen were _______ honey. They built a separate storeroom to store a few tins of _______. The king appointed twelve guards to round the clock.

Ans-a – palace, b – soldiers, c – and, d – fond of, e – honey, f – keep watch.

2. One of the guards wanted __________ some of the royal honey _________. he made a secret entry to the ________ of honey and ______ a few tins of honey. The queen came to know of the theft in the palace and ________ her beloved husband to punish the __________.

Ans-a – to eat, b – So, c – storehouse, d stole, e – demanded, f – thief.

3. In the morning, the next day, the king ______ all the guards at once and ordered them to ________ in a line. The king _______a plan to __________ the guard who had stolen the honey. He told them in a polite tone that he ___________ a pinch of honey on the beard of one of the guards. _________ the king uttered these words, one of the guards _________ his hand to wipe his beard. The king ________ this act and he told the guard that he was the culprit ________. the king was able to ___________ the thief without any _________

Ans-a – summoned, b – stand, c – devised, d – identity, e – noticed, f -As soon as, g – lifted up, h – observed, i – Thus, j – detect, k – investigation.

A. Four alternatives are given for each of the following questions/ incomplete statements. Choose the most appropriate alternative.

Question 1.

Which of the following is not an attempt on Swami’s part to skip drill?

A) He requests his Drill Master to leave him early.

B) He meets his family doctor for a Medical Certificate.

C) He asks Rajam to speak to the Head Master.

D) None of the above.

Answer:

C) He asks Rajam to speak to the Head Master.

Question 2.

The extract ‘Before the Match’ is from the novel

A) Malgudi Days

B) Swami and Friends

C) Malgudi Cricket Club

D) Swami and Rajam

Answer:

B) Swami and Friends

Question 3. Delirium is

A) Stomach ache

B) Head ache

C) Back ache

D) None of the above

Answer: D) None of the above

Question 4. The actual meaning of‘ delirium’is-

A) A disturbed state of mind

B) Stomach ache

C) Hallucination

D) None of the above

Answer: A) A disturbed state of mind

Question 5. The boys name their cricket team MCC based on

A) Marylebone Cricket Club

B) Mexican Cricket Club

C) Mauritius Cricket Club

D) Melbourne Cricket Club

Answer: A) Marylebone Cricket Club

B. Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

1. “I am great & il to you for your suggestion”.

Question a. Who is the speaker?

Answer: Swaminathan

Question b. Who was he grateful to?

Answer: Rajam the captain of the team.

Question c. Why does he say so?

Answer: Because Rajam suggested that Swami get the permission of his headmaster.

2. “I don’t believe a word. Get out.”

Question a. Who is the speaker here?

Answer: The Drill Master

Question b. What word did he not believe?

Answer: Swami said that the doctor has asked him not to attend Drill for a week as Swami was delirious. The drillmaster did not believe this word.

Question c. Was there truth in Swami’s reason?

Answer: No Swami was lying

3. “Boy did you say delirium?”

Question a. Who is the boy here?

Answer: Swaminathan

Question b. Who is the speaker?

Answer: The doctor Dr. T. Kesavan

Question c. What does delirium mean?

Answer: Delirium means a state of excitement when one cannot think or speak clearly, usually caused by fever.

4. “I wish you all success. Don’t worry.”

Question a. Who is the speaker here?

Answer: The doctor

Question b. Why did he wish him success?

Answer: Because Swami was going to play the cricket match.

5. “That will do, you are very kind to me”!

Question a. Who is the speaker here?

Answer: Swaminathan

Question b. Who was king to him?

Answer: The doctor

Question c. How was he kind to him?

Answer: The doctor said that he would talk to Swami’s headmaster regarding exemption from drill classes in the evening.

Questions And Answers

What is the match referred to here before the match?

The match was between MCC, Malgudi Cricket Club, and another local youth team called the YMU, Young Men’s Union.

What was the plead of Rajan to Swami in lesson before the match?

Rajam pleads Swamy to spare at least an hour in the evening for the practice and Rajam suggests Swamy tell his headmaster regarding this Swamy disagrees to his suggestion. Rajam wants Swamy to have good practice, that he would never see Swamy’s face again if he keeps any batsman standing for more than five minutes.

Why did Swaminathan not attend drill and scouting classes?

Answer: Swami could not attend the practice in the evenings because he had to attend Drill class, scouting and others periods. The excuse Swami gave for exempting him from drill for a week was that he was delirious and the doctor has asked him not to attend Drill class.

What was the name given to Swaminathan after he bowled out rajam?

The ball hit the wall right under the charcoal mark. Rajam was bowled out with the very first ball! There was a great shout of joy. The players pressed round Swaminathan to shake him and pat him on the back, he was given on the very spot the tide, ‘Tate’.

Why did Swaminathan carry cricket score in his head?

Swaminathan tried to carry cricket scores in his head because his friend did so. He wanted to show that he enjoyed cricket like his friend. … He collected the pictures because he wanted to be like Rajam and prove that he was interested in cricket.

Who told Swami the truth about the match?

Rajam tells Swami that he has seen their cricket opponents practising and that Swami must not miss the match. On the spot, Swami decides not to tell Rajam that he is running away but instead plans to leave for two days without telling anyone and return for the match.23-Jul-2018

Who secretly admired Rajam?

Mani agrees that he would also be glad to be friends, and the two drop their weapons. Swami, having secretly admired Rajam, is delighted at the turn of events, and the new friends sit by the river eating cookies that Rajam brought to share.

The World Is Mine Poem By Joy Lovelet Crawford – Line By Line Analysis Maharashtra Board Class 10

You are going to go through The World Is Mine Poem By Joy Lovelet Crawford – Line By Line Analysis Class 10. Understanding a text meticulously in its entirety is very important for a learner for scoring better in the Maharashtra board class 10 English exam. Experts made ample to ensure a thorough critical and line-by-line analysis. Let us find The World Is Mine Poem By Joy Lovelet Crawford – Line By Line Analysis Class 10.

About The Poet

Joy Lovelet Crawford was a poet, an artist, an essayist, etc. He was born in New York City.

She writes lyrical poems. She is exploring a freestyle rhythmic poem which maximum of the user calls ‘rap’. Her maximum poems have gained critical acclaim.

The poems such as – My Mother,” “I Sing The Blues For You Today”, ” Tupelo Honey” etc. Her poems are often based on her experiences. The word ‘Bluetry’ was to describe her artform.

She taught youth literacy classes for young ones. She’s a member of writers and poet and has also worked for many magazines.

Joy Lovelet Crawford wrote her first poem when she was four years old. After dropping high school, he again started education in New York and completed a BA from Columbia University.

She kept writing. Joy continued her studies in New York. The poet completed her BA course at Columbia University. She kept writing. The poet continued her studies and got her post-graduate Masters of Science in Social Work degree from Columbia University.

She also earned her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from City College. The poet appears on a radio show and continues writing. She was also featured on television.

Joy’s few famous works are:-

One More Pill To Help Me Chill So I Don’t Kill Anyone, Tupelo Honey’, In A Little Café, Asheville Poetry Review, etc. and many more poetries.

In prose, she wrote Menopause on Online Wings Magazine, False Pride a short story, etc.

About The Poem

The poem “The world is mine” is written by Joy Lovelet where she tries to portray a lesson to her readers that we should be happy with what we have.

Each and everyone in this world is blessed with happiness, so instead of whine, we should feel blessed for what we have.

No one is perfect, each and everyone has got their flaws so instead of dominating with the negativity, let’s be happy seeing the positive side.

Here in the poem, the poet keeps complaining about every small thing but later understood the value when she sees others suffering. She found a blind shopkeeper, who was charming by look.

What would he do by his looks? He had lost his vision. So he couldn’t see anything, still kept smiling. He was so happy when she kindly talked to her. The small boy who had lost his ability to hear lost his family.

The lady who was prettiest enough but was lame. After witnessing others being happy in what they have, she understood the actual value of things. The body completely goes with the title of the poem; it’s apt.

The poet passes an excellent moral to the readers through the poem.

Structure Of The Poem

The poet uses a different rhyming scheme in all the four stanzas:-

Today, upon a bus, I saw a very beautiful woman,
And wished I were as beautiful.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and wore a crutch.
But as she passed, she passed a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two legs; the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy,
The lad who sold it had such charm,
I talked with him, and he seemed so glad,
If I were late, it’d do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me,
“I thank you, you’ve been so kind.
It’s nice to talk with folks like you.
You see,” he said, “I’m blind.”
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two eyes; the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street,
I saw a child I knew.
He stood and watched the others play,
but he did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment, and then I said,
“Why don’t you join them, dear?”
He looked ahead without a word,
I forgot he couldn’t hear.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine,
I have two ears; the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I’d go,
With eyes to see the sunset’s glow,
With ears to hear what I’d know.
With loving family & friends to enjoy life
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine,
I’ve been blessed; indeed, the world is mine.

aabcc, abbccdd, aabbcc, aaabb. The number of lines is not the same; it varies in each stanza. The poet uses a different figure of speech to explain appropriates appropriately.

The poem describes that God blesses each one of us, and we should be happy with what we get.

Analysis Of The Poem

First Stanza 

Today, upon a bus, I saw a very beautiful woman,
And wished I were as beautiful.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and wore a crutch.
But as she passed, she passed a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two legs; the world is mine.

In the very first stanza, the poet says that he saw a beautiful woman on a bus and complained to god if he too was beautiful like her. As the lovely lady rose up to leave, he saw that she walked clumsily.

She was not stable, was a bit lame. The woman still didn’t complain; she kept a happy face and smiled.
After witnessing that the poet was extraordinarily sorry and asked God to forgive him for complaining. He was also thankful to God for giving him two legs to walk.

Second Stanza 

I stopped to buy some candy,
The lad who sold it had such charm,
I talked with him, and he seemed so glad,
If I were late, it’d do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me,
“I thank you, you’ve been so kind.
It’s nice to talk with folks like you.
You see,” he said, “I’m blind.”
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two eyes; the world is mine.

In the second stanza, the poet says that when he stopped in a shop to buy candy, he found the shopkeeper to be charming. As he talked to him, the boy was so happy.

He thanked him for being kind to him as most of the people don’t even bother to speak to him when they observe that he is blind.

The poet became emotional that he asked sorry and requested God to forgive him if he complains. He again thanks God for giving him two eyes; he was at least able to see.

Third Stanza

Later while walking down the street,
I saw a child I knew.
He stood and watched the others play,
but he did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment, and then I said,
“Why don’t you join them, dear?”
He looked ahead without a word,
I forgot he couldn’t hear.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine,
I have two ears; the world is mine.

While walking through the road, the poet found a child who was standing alone and watching a few others playing. As the poet asked him to go and join, the boy didn’t respond.

He then realized that the boy was deaf. He suddenly recalled that a long time back, there was a baby alone who had no family, no friends. They both were the same child.
He again, thank god for whatever he had; and he was thankful that he had two perfect ears to hear. He also asks God to forgive him for complaining always.

Fourth Stanza

With feet to take me where I’d go,
With eyes to see the sunset’s glow,
With ears to hear what I’d know.
With loving family & friends to enjoy life
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine,
I’ve been blessed; indeed, the world is mine.

The poet understood that we should be happy with what we have. It delighted him that he has eyes to see, legs to walk correctly, ears to hear.

And he was pleased that he was not alone; he had family, friends to talk to. He felt blessed for everything he had.

Literary Device

Alliteration
Alliteration refers to the use of two or more words that begin with the same sound close to one another.

Family and friends

Inversion:-
the action of inverting something or the state of being inverted

Today, upon a bus, I saw a very beautiful girl.

Onomatopoeia
the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.

O’ God, forgive me when I whine.

Apostrophe
a punctuation mark (‘) used to indicate either possession.

O God, forgive me when I whine.

Interrogation
verbal questioning of someone.

I stopped a moment; then I said why don’t you join the others dearly.”

Imagery
visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work.

I saw a lovely girl with silken hair. And I saw her hobble down the aisle.
I saw a child with eyes of blue.

Enjambment
the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza.

World is mine

The Theme Of The Poem

The theme of the poem “The World Is Mine” is Worth of life or worth of the things we have.

We should be happy with what we have. And we should learn to value things and not just keep crying for everything.

We r blessed and lucky with the things we have got.

In the poem, the poet Lovelet understands the value of her life, the thing she got when she saw others suffering from a smile on their face.

She got emotional to see a pretty lady on the bus who was lame had no balance, couldn’t walk properly, still gave a lovely smile to all. The poet was complaining to god if she too would have been pretty like her bit later asked sorry to god for her wine.

She was sorry for the charming shopkeeper who had lost his eyesight, for the small boy who had no family, no friends, and had also lost the ability to hear. The poet had pity, and she understood the value of things she got.

She felt to be blessed with eyes, legs, family, friends, etc. The poet learned to value things.

 

Critical Analysis Of Meeting At Night By Robert Browning West Bengal Board Class 11 English

You are going to go through Critical Analysis Of Meeting At Night By Robert Browning West Bengal Board Class 11 English. Understanding a text meticulously in its entirety is very important for a learner for scoring better in the West Bengal Board Class 11 English exam. Experts made ample to ensure a thorough critical and line-by-line analysis. Let us find Critical Analysis Of Meeting At Night By Robert Browning West Bengal Board Class 11 English.

About the Poet

Robert Browning was an English writer and writer whose dominance of the emotional discourse made him one of the chief Victorian artists. Conceived on May 7, 1812, his sonnets are known for their incongruity, portrayal, dull humour, social editorial, authentic settings, and testing jargon and punctuation.

Carmelizing’s initial vocation started promisingly, however, crumbled. The long sonnets Pauline (1833) and Paracelsus (1835) got some praise, yet in 1840 the troublesome Sordello, which was viewed as wilfully dark, brought his verse into offensiveness. His notoriety took over 10 years to recuperate, during which time he moved away from the Shelleyan types of his initial period and built up closer to home style.

In 1846 Browning wedded the more established writer Elizabeth Barrett and went to live in Italy. When of her demise in 1861 he had distributed the urgent assortment Men and Women (1855). The assortment Dramatis Personae (1864) and the book-length epic sonnet The Ring and the Book (1868-1869) followed and made him a main British artist. He kept on composing productively, yet his notoriety today lays generally on the verse he wrote in this centre period.

When Browning passed on in 1889, he was viewed as a sage and logician artist who through his composing had made commitments to Victorian social and political talk. Abnormally for an artist, social orders for the investigation of his work framed while he was as yet alive. Such Browning Societies stayed regular in Britain and the United States until the mid-twentieth century.

Robert Browning was conceived in Walworth in the ward of Camberwell, Surrey, which presently shapes part of the Borough of Southwark in south London. He was submerged on 14 June 1812, at Lock’s Fields Independent Chapel, York Street, Walworth, the main child of Sarah Anna (née Wiedemann) and Robert Browning. His dad was a generously compensated assistant for the Bank of England, winning about £150 every year. Cooking’s fatherly granddad was a slave proprietor in Saint Kitts, West Indies, however, Browning’s dad was an abolitionist. Sautéing’s dad had been sent toward the West Indies to deal with a sugar ranch, in any case, because of a slave revolt there, had come back to England. Carmelizing’s mom was the little girl of a German shipowner who had settled in Dundee in Scotland, and his Scottish spouse. Searing had one sister, Sarianna. Sautéing’s fatherly grandma, Margaret Tittle, who had acquired an estate in St Kitts, was reputed (inside the family) to have a blended race lineage, including some Jamaican blood, however, creator Julia Markus recommends she was Kittitian as opposed to Jamaican. By 12, Browning had composed a book of verse which he later pulverized when no distributor could be found. Subsequent to being at a couple of tuition-based schools, and indicating an insuperable abhorrence of school life, he was instructed at home by a guide by means of the assets of his dad’s broad library. By 14 he was familiar with French, Greek, Italian and Latin. He turned into an extraordinary admirer of the Romantic writers, particularly Shelley. Following the point of reference of Shelley, Browning turned into a nonbeliever and vegan. At 16, he examined Greek at University College London yet left after his first year. His folks’ steadfast zealous confidence forestalled his learning at either Oxford or Cambridge University, both at that point open just to individuals from the Church of England. The poet had acquired considerable melodic capacity through his mom and made game plans out of different tunes. He denied a conventional profession and disregarded his folks’ criticisms, devoting himself to verse. the poet remained at home until the age of 34, monetarily subject to his family until his marriage. His dad supported the distribution of his child’s sonnets.

In March 1833, “Pauline, a Fragment of a Confession” was distributed secretly by Saunders and Otley to the detriment of the creator, Robert Browning, who got the cash from his auntie, Mrs Silverthorne. It is a long sonnet formed in reverence to Shelley and some degree in his style. n 1834, he went with the Chevalier George de Benkhausen, the Russian representative general, on a short visit to St Petersburg and started Paracelsus, which was distributed in 1835. The subject of the sixteenth-century intellectual and chemist was most likely recommended to him by the Comte Amédée de Ripart-Monclar, to whom it was committed. Because of his new contacts, he met Macready, who welcomed him to compose a play. Strafford was performed multiple times. Cooking at that point composed two different plays, one of which was not performed, while the other fizzled, Browning, having dropped out with Macready.

In 1838, he visited Italy searching for the foundation for Sordello, a long sonnet in courageous couplets, introduced as the fanciful life story of the Mantuan versifier talked about by Dante in the Divine Comedy, Canto 6 of Purgatory, set against a foundation of scorn and struggle during the Guelph-Ghibelline wars. This was distributed in 1840 and met with across the board mocking, picking up him the notoriety of wanton imprudence and lack of definition. Tennyson remarked that he just comprehended the first and last lines and Carlyle composed that his significant other had perused the sonnet and couldn’t tell whether Sordello was a man, a city or a book.

Cooking’s notoriety started to make a fractional recuperation with the distribution, 1841–1846, of Bells and Pomegranates, a progression of eight leaflets, initially proposed just to incorporate his plays. Luckily for Browning’s profession, his distributor, Moxon, convinced him to incorporate some “sensational verses”, some of which had just shown up in periodicals.

In 1845, Browning met the writer Elizabeth Barrett, six years his senior, who lived as a semi-invalid in her dad’s home in Wimpole Street, London. They started consistently relating and continuously a sentiment created between them, prompting their marriage and excursion to Italy (for Elizabeth’s wellbeing) on 12 September 1846. The marriage was at first a mystery since Elizabeth’s tyrannical dad objected to marriage for any of his youngsters. Mr Barrett excluded Elizabeth, as he accomplished for every one of his youngsters who wedded: “The Mrs Sautéing of well-known creative mind was a sweet, blameless young lady who endured unlimited brutalities on account of an overbearing father yet who regardless had the favourable luck to begin to look all starry eyed at a running and attractive writer named Robert Browning.” At her better half’s demand, the second version of Elizabeth’s Poems incorporated her adoration pieces. The book expanded her prevalence and high basic respect, establishing her situation as a famous Victorian artist. Upon William Wordsworth’s demise in 1850, she was a genuine competitor to become Poet Laureate, the position, in the long run, going to Tennyson.

In Florence, likely from right off the bat in 1853, Browning dealt with the sonnets that in the end included his two-volume Men and Women, for which he is presently well known,[15] despite the fact that in 1855 when they were distributed, they had generally little effect.

In 1861, Elizabeth passed on in Florence. Among those whom he discovered supporting in that period [ was the writer and artist Isa Blagden, with whom he and his significant other had a voluminous correspondence. The next year Browning came back to London, taking Pen with him, who by then was 12 years of age. They made their home in 17 Warwick Crescent, Maida Vale. It was just when he turned out to be a piece of the London scholarly scene—but while paying successive visits to Italy (however never again to Florence)— that his notoriety began to take off.

In 1868, following five years’ work he finished and distributed the long clear section sonnet The Ring and the Book. In light of a tangled homicide case from 1690s Rome, the sonnet is made out of 12 books: basically, 10 extensive emotional speeches described by different characters in the story, indicating their individual points of view on occasions, bookended by a presentation and end by Browning himself. Long even by all accounts (more than 20,000 lines), The Ring and the Book was his most eager task and is apparently his most noteworthy work; it has been known as a masterpiece of emotional verse. Distributed in four sections from November 1868 to February 1869, the sonnet was a triumph both financially and basically, lastly presented to Browning the fame he had looked for almost 40 years. The Robert Browning Society was shaped in 1881 and his work was perceived as having a place inside the British artistic ordinance.

Sautéing kicked the bucket on December 12, 1889, at his child’s home Ca’ Rezzonico in Venice on 12 December 1889. He was covered in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey; his grave presently lies quickly neighbouring that of Alfred Tennyson.

About the Poem

“Meeting at Night” is a sonnet by Victorian writer Robert Browning, which follows the excursion of its speaker to a gathering with a darling. The sonnet (like others of the 1845 assortment) was composed during the romance time of Browning with his future spouse Elizabeth Barrett. Kennedy and Hair depict the sonnet as the “most erotic sonnet” he had reviewed to that time. The sonnet made by Robert Browning is essentially centering in the need of a direness and want for a sweetheart to meet the dearest. This sonnet uncovers that arriving at our objective is significant however what is more significant for us is to appreciate the excursion. The sonnet centers around the speaker’s expectation of the gathering and the phases of his excursion.

Background of the Poem

The sonnet by Robert Browning was initially highlighted in Dramatic Romances and Lyrics, which was distributed in 1845. Notwithstanding, the sonnet, at the hour of its distribution, was isolated in two areas, “day” and “night”, that was later isolated into two unique sonnets: Parting at Morning and Meeting at Night. The sonnet essentially intends to catch the imperativeness and energy of sentimental love, particularly when that adoration is in its beginning phases. On an exacting level, the sonnet recounts the account of the speaker’s long and covert excursion through a baffling beach front scene.

Structure of the Poem

Stanza I

The grey sea and the long black land;
And the yellow half-moon large and low;
And the startled little waves that leap
In fiery ringlets from their sleep,
As I gain the cove with pushing prow,
And quench its speed i’ the slushy sand.

Stanza 2

Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach;
Three fields to cross till a farm appears;
A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch
And blue spurt of a lighted match,
And a voice less loud, thro’ its joys and fears,
Than the two hearts beating each to each!

The poem is written in two stanzas of six lines each. The rhyme scheme of the poem has an unusual mirror-image structure, ABCCBA.

There are a few literary devices in the poem Meeting at night by Robert Browning. These include:

Alliteration – In literature, alliteration is the conspicuous repetition of identical initial consonant sounds in successive or closely associated syllables within a group of words, even those spelt differently.

• the long black land (Line 1)
• large and low (Line 2)
• little waves that leap (Line 3)
• pushing prow (Line 5)
• speed i’ the slushy sand (Line 6)
• less loud (Line 11)
• each to each (Line 12)

Assonance – Assonance is a resemblance in the sounds of words/syllables either between their vowels or between their consonants. However, assonance between consonants is generally called consonance in American usage.

• black land (Line 1)
• sea-scented beach (Line 7)
• beating each to each (Line 12)

Caesura – A caesura is a pause in a line of poetry that is formed by the rhythms of natural speech rather than by metrics.
And a voice less loud, thro’ its joys and fears (Line 11)

Enjambment – In poetry, enjambment is incomplete syntax at the end of a line; the meaning runs over from one poetic line to the next, without terminal punctuation. Lines without enjambment are end-stopped.
And the startled little waves that leap

In fiery ringlets from their sleep, (Line 3 & 4)

Internal rhyme – Internal rhyme is rhyme that occurs within a single line of verse, or between internal phrases across multiple lines.

• Large
• Startled
• Sea
• Leap
• Sleep
• speed

The theme of the Poem

The sonnet both declares and questions that energetic feeling, particularly love, isn’t just amazing yet in addition suffering and crucial. The speaker contends for the intensity of affection by demanding his capacity to overcome every one of that isolates him from his sweetheart. Time, separation, and even the sweethearts’ “delights and fears” can’t hinder him and are not significant once the two are together. Showing trademark Victorian confidence, the speaker accepts immovably in his capacity to accomplish his objectives and finishes the sonnet at the exact second when he has done as such.

Line by line Analysis

Stanza 1

The grey sea and the long black land;
And the yellow half-moon large and low;
And the startled little waves that leap
In fiery ringlets from their sleep,
As I gain the cove with pushing prow,
And quench its speed i’ the slushy sand.

The underlying six lines with conflicting contrasts like sea land, dim dull yellow and so forth., makes for a passionate scene in which to put the lone speaker, male or female, as they enter the channel and make for the shore. This is a sensual hold back, the language reflecting the resources of sight, sound and contact, the long and short vowels set to improve the chance of the rhythms of the sea and the enthusiastic substance. Note how the rhymes get together in the point of convergence of the section, by then move away like a wave obscuring. The speaker is crossing water, heading for a delta and viewing the movement of the vessel, with its ‘pushing for’. The fundamental words set everything up, the reiterated and a badge of how easily overlooked details create and up before finally the groundbreaking strategy gets clear. There’s an individual touch, the important individual speaker appearing in line 5 to avow that the vessel has landed and crashed into the sensitive shoreline. This is an aware advancement ahead, the depiction from lines 1 – 4 perhaps the speaker delineating the scene to legitimize being there.

Stanza 2

Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach;
Three fields to cross till a farm appears;
A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch
And blue spurt of a lighted match,
And a voice less loud, thro’ its joys and fears,
Than the two hearts beating each to each!

The peruse now isn’t sure if the speaker is male or female yet we can expect it is a male (however Browning the extent that we know never unequivocally admitted to being the speaker of this sonnet) who is presently strolling over the seashore, through fields, towards a ranch. From the title, we realize a gathering is to occur however what kind of meeting is impossible to say. There is pressure, toward the finish of line 8, immediately disseminated as the match is lit (for a light?) and the two individuals meet in a most energized way. The vagueness is most grounded here toward the end in light of the fact that the peruse isn’t exactly sure who will be who – is the farmhouse previously involved by the other individual, the female sweetheart? Is the tap at the window from within or outside? Who strikes the match and why? In the event that the speaker can hear the scratch that must mean he’s entirely near the activity. What is sure is that two individuals meet, at long last, and their meeting up is an association of the heart, image of adoration, more remarkable than the voice.

Word Meanings

1. Startled – Sudden shock.
2. Leap – Jump.
3. Fiery – Burning.
4. Cove – A small sheltered bay.
5. Prow – The pointed part of an object.
6. Quench – Satisfy.
7. Slushy – Consisting of, or covered with slush
8. Pane – A single sheet of glass.
9. Scratch – A mark on the surface with a pointed object.
10. Spurt – Move with sudden gush or speed.

Questions And Answers

What is the main idea of Meeting at Night by Robert Browning?

The main theme of this poem is the urgency and desire for the lover to meet the beloved. This poem also shows the dichotomy between the beauty of art and the action of life;you cannot enjoy both nature and go on with life at the same time, it is either one or the other.

What is being described in the poem Meeting at Night?

As the title suggests, “Meeting at Night” describes the speaker’s nighttime journey to meet his lover. The poem focuses on the speaker’s anticipation of the meeting and the stages of his journey.

What beats and how in the poem Meeting at Night?

“Meeting at Night” is written in a very loose version of iambic tetrameter. This means that, theoretically, each line should contain four (tetra-) iambs (a type of beat that consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable – da DUM).

How do the two hearts meet in the poem Meeting at Night?

The ‘tap at the window pane’ and the ‘quick sharp scratch’ suggests the excitement and eagerness of the two lovers meeting at night. The ‘blue spurt’ of a lighted match finally suggests the culmination of the lover’s journey and the joy and excitement of the meeting.

What makes the little waves startled in meeting at night

The waves startle because of the approaching boat which, according to the poet, wakes them up from their sleep.

What is the rhyme scheme of the poem meeting at night?

The rhyme scheme of the poem has an unusual mirror-image structure, ABCCBA. This tends to emphasise the couplet rhyme in the middle of each stanza. The lines involved are heavily involved in sound symbolism, each representing a significant moment in the poem.

What does crossing three fields symbolize in the poem meeting at night?

The title emphasises the sense of secrecy. The lover overcomes all obstacles to meet his beloved. He sails on a boat then walks a mile on the beach,crosses three fields until he reaches a farmhouse where his beloved stays. … The title thus connects both the secrecy, joy and urgency of the lovers meeting at night.