NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Vistas Chapter 5 Should Wizard hit Mommy is a detailed account of what you will learn in Class 12 English Vistas Chapter 5 Should Wizard hit Mommy. To successfully pass CBSE Class 12 English exam and get an excellent grade on your report card at the end of it all you need a thorough understanding and comprehension of NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Vistas Chapter 5 Should Wizard hit Mommy which we have made sure covers everything important!
Should Wizard hit Mommy NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 5
Should Wizard hit Mommy NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers
Should Wizard hit Mommy Think as you read
Question 1.
Who is Jo? How does she respond to her father’s story-telling?
Answer:
Jo was a four-year-old, who loved listening to her father’s stories. Jo would be immensely engrossed in the story. She liked the way her father told the story, particularly the dramatisation and the various gestures and voice modulations. The whole story would unfold slowly in front of her and the characters would come alive. She would twitch and twist in delight and feel upset when the character was upset. She loved the predictability in her father’s stories.
Question 2.
What possible plot line could the story continue with?
Answer:
From the perspective of Jo, the story should have ended with a happy note of Roger Skunk getting rid of the foul smell forever and being able to play with all other children. However, from the perspective of Jack, the story may not have such an innocent fairy tale ending. In the process of story telling, it was evident that Jack got nostalgic about his own childhood and his mother. Thus, he brought in his own perspective.
His sense of belongingness to his mother and his experience of dealing with reality resulted in a mature and compromising end, where the reality limited the scope of fiction. As he associated himself with Roger Skunk of his story, he avoided getting into the problematic situation of identity crisis and of blaming his mother.
Question 3.
What do you think was Jo’s problem?
Answer:
Little Jo was accustomed to the happy ending of the stories of Roger, where the wizard . was helpful to him in fulfilling his wish. At the request of Roger Skunk, the wizard had changed his awful smell to that of the roses. Other small animals liked it and played with Roger Skunk happily. She could not digest the ending of the extended story where Roger Skunk’s mother hit the wizard on the head and forced him to change Skunk’s smell to the earlier foul one.
Jo insisted that her father should tell her the same story again the next day with changed ending. She wanted the wizard to hit that unreasonable mommy and leave Roger Skunk emitting the pleasant smell of roses. She could not digest the harsh realities of life.
Should Wizard hit Mommy Reading with Insight
Question 1.
What is the moral issue that the story raises?
Answer:
The moral issue of the story is the conflict between two generations on what is right. It is about whether a child or an adult decides the future of a child. Is it ok for an adult to take all the decisions on behalf of a child or would it kill the curiosity and the will of the child to learn
Question 2.
How does Jo want the story to end and why?
Answer:
In Jack’s story, the protagonist, Roger Skunk, is shown as an obedient child. He meekly goes with his mother to get his previous smell back. This was against his wishes and he would have rather wished the smell of roses, since it would have enabled him to have friends to play with. Jo is a child and from a child’s perspective, playing with friends is very important. Therefore, she wanted it to end with Roger Skunk smelling like roses and being able to play with his friends. She also wanted the wizard to hit the mother.
Question 3.
Why does Jack insist that it was the wizard that was hit and not the mother?
Answer:
Jack has the typical parental attitude. He is of the opinion that the parents know what is the best for their children. He asserts the parental authority to stifle her objections and amendments to the story of the foul smelling Skunk related by him. He defends the attitude of Roger Skunk’s mother. She does not approve of the unnatural, unskunk like smell that Roger has. She calls the sweet smell of the roses an awful smell. Earlier, the little Skunk smelled the way a little Skunk should.
She wants the natural characteristic – the foul smell – restored. He says that she knew what is right. Secondly, the little Skunk loved his mommy more than he loved all the other animals. That is why, he took his mommy to the wizard. She hit the wizard and forced him to change the smell of roses to his earlier bad odour. He is insisting on this ending to emphasise the concern of the parents for children and their role in bringing them up on proper lines.
Question 4.
What makes Jack feel caught in an ugly middle position?
Answer:
Jack could not decide what was right. Do parents have the right to decide about the future of their children? Or should the children be allowed to decide their own career? When his pregnant wife wants his attention and his daughter also wants him, he is torn between the two. He is also torn between the imaginative world (of the various Rogers and their problems; the owl and the wizard) that he has created for his daughter and the real world full of responsibilities.
Question 5.
What is your stance regarding the two endings to the Roger Skunk’s story?
Answer:
In Jack’s story, the protagonist, Roger Skunk, is shown as an obedient young one. He . meekly goes with his mother to get his original smell back. This was against his wishes and he would have rather wished the smell of roses, since it would have enabled him to have friends to play with.
Jo is a child and from a child’s perspective, playing with friends is very important. Therefore, she wanted it to end it with Roger Skunk smelling like roses and being able to play with his friends. She also wanted the wizard to hit the mother.
Jo’s story is more to do with poetic justice, where all wishes are fulfilled and everyone is happy.
Jack’s story talks about how the world is full of individual differences and how important it is to preserve one’s identity. It also shows parents in the limelight rather than the child. Jack’s story stresses on the importance of parents knowing what is good or bad for the child, irrespective of what the child feels. It also looks at the philosophical aspect of accepting life with all its good and bad aspects.
Question 6.
Why is an adult’s perspective on life different from that of a child’s?
Answer:
The story, “Should Wizard Hit Mommy?” written by John Updike, revolves around the conflicting views of a child and a parent on the child’s future. Parents express their own expectations. They desire that their children should grow up as per their expectations. However, children have their own ambitions and aspirations.
Jack used to tell bedtime stories to his little daughter Jo. When she grew a little older, she asked a number of questions. For some time, Jack was not able to invent new stories. Thus, the basic story was the same, but its hero changed. The hero, a small animal known as Roger, meets a wizard. The wizard solved the problem with his magic wand. Roger felt good.
He played along with animals of the woodland. But when his father used to come back, he went back home to have supper with him. Jo feels happy with this ending. Later, her father told the story of a little animal called Roger Skunk. Just like other heroes of his stories, even Skunk has a problem. He used to smell awfully bad. The wizard made him smell like roses, and little animals began to like him and played with him. Jo was again happy. However, Skunk’s mother wanted Skunk to smell as he used to smell.
She took him back to the wizard. The wizard again made Skunk smell as awful as ever. Skunk’s mother was happy. However, Jo was not happy. She desired that wizard should hit the stupid mother. However, Jack defended the mother’s action.The story, thus, tells us the difference in the perspectives of adults and that of children. Adults normally accept things as they exist. They do not have the zeal to change the way they live. But children have ideals, are progressive and they desire to pursue their ideals.
Should Wizard hit Mommy Extra Questions and Answers
Should Wizard hit Mommy Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
Why did Roger Skunk go in search of the wizard?
OR
Why did Roger Skunk go to the wizard?
Answer:
Roger Skunk had no friends to play with, since he smelled very bad. Everybody made fun of him. This upset him. He went to the owl to ask for help, who directed him to the wizard.
Question 2.
How did the Skunk’s mother get Roger Skunk’s old smell back?
Answer:
Roger Skunk’s mother went to the wizard and hit him on his head and asked him to give back Roger Skunk’s smell. The wizard obliged and gave the baby skunk’s smell back.
Question 3.
What help did Roger Skunk get from the wizard?
Answer:
The wizard helped Roger Skunk by casting a spell onhim, which made him smell like roses. This helped Roger Skunk get friends to play with and made him happy.
Question 4.
Why did Jo disapprove of Jack’s ending of the story of Roger Skunk? How did she want it to end?
Answer:
In Jack’s story, the protagonist, Roger Skunk, is shown as an obedient child. He meekly goes with his mother to get his previous smell back. This was against his wishes and he would have rather wished the smell of roses, since it would have enabled him to have friends to play with. Jo is a child and from a child’s perspective, playing with friends is very important. Therefore, she wanted it to end it with Roger Skunk smelling like roses and being able to play with his friends. She also wanted the wizard to hit the mother.
Question 5.
What impression do you form of Jack as a father in the story, ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy?’
Answer:
Jack is portrayed as a loving father, who loves telling stories to his four-year-old daughter, Jo. He brings in the dramatic element in his otherwise lame and boring story by using a lot of gestures and dramatic voices. This thrills his daughter, which eventually thrills him. Everything is fine till one day his daughter starts questioning his stories. She views each statement that her father makes with a critical eye and has a lot of questions. Instead of pacifying her by answering her questions, Jack tried to enforce his views on her. Therefore, we can say that Jack is loving and responsible but slightly an immature father.
Question 6.
Why did Jo think Roger Skunk was better off with the new smell?
Answer:
Jo thought about Roger Skunk and his wish to smell better in order to play with his friends from a child’s perspective. For her, it was important that wishes are fulfilled, and a wish of being able to play was foremost.
Question 7.
Why was Roger Skunk’s mummy angry with him? What did she finally tell him?
Answer:
Roger Skunk’s mother was angry with him since he no longer smelled the way all skunks smelled. Though the other animals felt it to be a stink, for her it was an identity. Finally, she asked Roger Skunk to go along with her to the wizard to revoke the spell.
Question 8.
How did Roger Skunk pay the wizard?
Answer:
Roger Skunk only had four shillings to pay the wizard. The wizard wanted seven shillings. On seeing Roger Skunk’s sad face, the wizard takes pity on him and directs him for the remaining three shillings. Roger Skunk goes in search of them and eventually pays the wizard the money.
Question 9.
What did Jo want Roger Skunk’s mother to be punished for?
Answer:
Jo believed that the mother was insensitive, cruel and unfair. Roger Skunk’s mother didn’t let him retain the smell of roses which he had got from the wizard. It would have helped him make friends.
Question 10.
Which do you think is a better ending of Roger Skunk’s story, Jo’s or her father’s? Why?
Answer:
A better ending of Roger Skunk’s story would have been Jo’s—for Roger Skunk to smell like roses forever. The mother need not have interfered in the matter. Roger Skunk would have, over a period of time, understood himself whether it was right or wrong. I believe that Jo’s idea of the wizard hitting the mother is wrong, just like it was wrong on the part of the mother to hit the wizard.
Question 11.
What was the basic plot of each story told by Jack?
Answer:
The basic plot of the Jack’s story was about a small creature, named Roger, who had a problem and he went to a wise owl to solve it. The owl guided him to a wizard, who found the solution after asking for more money than Roger had but he told Roger where to find the money. All the stories had a happy ending with Roger’s father coming home to Boston.
Question 12.
Having got rid of his stink, what problem did Roger Skunk face?
Answer:
Roger Skunk’s smell of roses was not liked by his mother. She wanted to know who had changed his original smell. She went to the wizard with an umbrella and hit the wizard right over his head. Roger Skunk then was given back his former smell.
Question 13.
What problem did Roger Skunk face when he went to play with his friends? How did he solve it?
Answer:
Roger Skunk smelt so bad that none of the other woodland creatures would play with him. They would make fun of him and call him ‘Roger stinky skunk’ and run away. He would just stand there alone and cry. He went to the owl, sitting on a big tree and was asked to go to the wizard’s house near a river. On his request, his smell was changed into that of roses.
Question 14.
What is mother Skunk’s role in the story?
Answer:
Mother Skunk is there to make Roger realise the importance of originality, individuality and identity. Roger Skunk is not to be ashamed of his natural attributes. She is also a decisive and protective parent, who does not hesitate to hit the wizard on his head for this reason.
Question 15.
Give an example to show that Jo was a sensitive child.
Answer:
When Jo’s father started telling how all the other animals used to tease Roger Skunk and would run away leaving him alone, Jo felt the pain felt by Roger Skunk and became sad and tears rolled down from her eyes.
Question 16.
What story did Jo want to hear the next day and why? What was father’s reaction to it?
Answer:
Jo wanted to listen that wizard hits the mommy straight into the middle of her head because Jo, being a four-year-old girl, always lived in a rose-tinted world. For the wizard, mommy is not a good mommy, who is hitting the wizard for changing his smell. Jack’s reaction was one of the disdains. He was in a dilemma what to do.
Should Wizard hit Mommy Long Answer Questions
Question 1.
Roger Skunk’s mother hit the wizard on his head. Do you think it was right on her part to do so? Should the wizard hit Roger Skunk’s mother?
Answer:
Roger Skunk’s mother was angry at the wizard for changing the smell of her young one. The smell was what made a skunk different from the other animals. In fact, this was what created the individuality which she was so proud of. For her, it was more important to retain that individual characteristic rather than having friends. So when the wizard changed Roger Skunk’s smell into the beautiful smell of roses, it made her very angry. In her anger and without waiting for any justification from her son, she marched towards the wizard’s house, hit him on his head and demanded the young Skunk to be given back its smell.
In my opinion, it was wrong on the part of Roger Skunk’s mother to hit the wizard, since the wizard did not force Roger to change his smell and was in fact abiding by his wishes, trying to make him happy. Instead of checking up on the reason, she went and hit, which I believe was absolutely wrong. She could have instead talked and sorted it out with him.
No, it would be wrong for the wizard to hit Roger Skunk’s mother. First, her actions were a result of her love for her young one. Second, hitting in response would have only made it a bigger issue and then there would have been no end to the whole thing.
Question 2.
Draw the character sketch of Jack.
Answer:
Jack is the protagonist of the story, ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy?’ This story examines the issue of parenting, the adult tendency to suppress the curiosity of a child and the belief that the viewpoint of the adult represents the only valid one. Jack is conscious of his duties as a father and husband. He had been telling stories to his daughter Jo since she was two years old, before her Saturday and evening naps, but now two and a half years later, he was fatigued and confused by her constant questioning, pointing out errors (Roger fish instead of skunk), asking for clarifications and suggesting alternatives. He has the typical parental attitude and opinion that parents know what is best for their children and stifles her objections and amendments shown by his defending the skunk’s mother (and indirectly his own). Jack feels caught in an ugly middle position physically,
emotionally and mentally. He did not like women to take anything for granted, to the extent that he extends the story, changing the ending, giving it the face that he wants to. Jack is someone who is not used to his authority being questioned and so is confused by Jo’s questioning. Though a loving parent, he finds it hard to accept the fact that Jo now has a mind of her own. His insensitivity and impatience comes across in his dealings with his daughter, and the fact that an adult’s viewpoint is different from a child’s perspective.
Question 3.
Why does Jo want that the wizard should hit the mommy? Does her stand reflect a child’s perspective on life? What is your choice?
Answer:
Children look at the world from a different perspective. They look at people and things quite differently than the way adults do. Their perspective on life reflects simplicity and innocence. Jo has deep sympathy for Roger Skunk. Roger’s bad smell kept all little animals away from him. The little Skunk stood alone and wept. The wizard made Roger smell of roses which made him very happy. Other little animals were now attracted towards him. They now played and danced with him.
Jo’s main anger is against the Roger Skunk’s stupid mommy. It was she who forced the wizard to make Roger Skunk smell very bad again. The hero of the story is always a role model for children. The tender-hearted Jo is shocked at the attitude of the ‘stupid’ mommy. She wants Roger’s mommy to be punished. The wizard must hit on her head hard with his magic wand.
I think Roger’s mother doesn’t deserve such a bad punishment. For her, Roger must smell like her young one. She is shocked when he starts smelling of roses. A mother always loves her child. His complexion and smell don’t count for her at all. Her love transcends all such minor things.
Question 4.
Do you think Jack shared an affinity with Roger Skunk? Explain.
Answer:
No, Jack did not share any affinity with Roger Skunk. Jo’s constant question and her non acceptance of Jack’s ending of the story appears to be a threat to his authority. He believes that adults know best! Jack feels threatened by Jo’s attitude and when he finds that she is restless after he has come downstairs, he uses the ultimate weapon of adult authority—does she want him to spank her, he asks.
He is reminded of his own upbringing. He was told that Mother is always right. So, the message is clear—adults know best. He tries to enforce his views on her. He has the typical parental attitude and opinion that parents know what is best for their children and stifles her objections and amendments shown by his defending the Skunk’s mother (and indirectly his own).
Question 5.
What made Jack realise that his custom of telling a story was turning futile?
Answer:
Jack had been telling bedtime stories and Saturday nap time stories since his daughter, Jo was two. Now, she was four. All these years, she never questioned anything and would go off to sleep listening to the story. Through his stories, he also wanted to inculcate his values in her and this included not questioning anything. However, Jo had started questioning everything.
Now, she questioned not only the story but also every statement that her parents made. She had also developed a critical eye for the things. All this made Jack realise that his custom of story-telling was turning futile.
Question 6.
At the end of the story-telling session, why does Jack consider himself ‘caught in an ugly middle position’?
Answer:
Jack was in the habit of telling stories to his child Joanne during the evenings and on Saturday afternoons. The story on that particular day was about Roger Skunk, who is shown to be a meek and obedient child. According to the story, Skunk, who smelt dirty, was transformed by a wizard who makes him smell like roses.
Mother Skunk is livid, she goes to the wizard, slaps him, and orders him to restore the smell of her child. Joanne did not approve of the ending. It was for the first time that she was opposing her father. That is why, Jack considers himself‘caught in an ugly middle position’.
Question 7.
How does Jo show her independent thinking in the story, ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy’?
Answer:
Jo shows her interest in the story right from the beginning. When he selected the ‘Skunk’, she reminded of the creature taught them in the school. She interrupts the normal rhythm of the story asking questions and pacifying her queries. She gives her independent thinking specially when Jo gives the ending to the story.
Being a child of four years old, she thinks that ‘Mommy’ is protective always but when she beats the wizard, who solved the problem of the Skunk by changing him in rose smell, she becomes infuriated and her individual thinking forces her to argue with her father to change the story. Her individuality says that what children demand should be done as children are away from harsh reality. Her independent thinking makes the father disturbed because she lives in a ‘rose-tinted world’. That’s why, she insisted wizard should hit the mommy.
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