1. ‘छोटा मेरा खेत’ कविता में कवि ने खेत को रस का अक्षय पात्र क्यों कहा है?

उत्तर-

कवि ने खेत को रस का अक्षय पात्र इसलिए कहा है क्योंकि अक्षय पात्र में रस कभी खत्म नहीं होता। उसके रस को जितना बाँटा जाता है, उतना ही वह भरता जाता है। खेत की फसल कट जाती है, परंतु वह हर वर्ष फिर उग आती है। कविता का रस भी चिरकाल तक आनंद देता है। यह सृजन-कर्म की शाश्वतता को दर्शाता है।

2. ‘छोटा मेरा खेत’ कविता का रूपक स्पष्ट कीजिए? 

उत्तर-

इस कविता में कवि ने कवि-कर्म को कृषि के कार्य के समान बताया है। जिस तरह कृषक खेत में बीज बोता है, फिर वह बीज अंकुरित, पल्लवित होकर पौधा बनता है तथा फिर वह परिपक्व होकर जनता का पेट भरता है। उसी तरह भावनात्मक आँधी के कारण किसी क्षण एक रचना, विचार तथा अभिव्यक्ति का बीज बोया जाता है। यह विचार कल्पना का सहारा लेकर विकसित होता है तथा रचना का रूप ग्रहण कर लेता है। इस रचना के रस का आस्वादन अनंतकाल तक लिया जा सकता है। साहित्य का रस कभी समाप्त नहीं होता।

3. कवि को खेत का रूपक अपनाने की ज़रूरत क्यों पड़ी?

उत्तर-

कवि का उद्देश्य कवि कर्म को महत्ता देना है। वह कहता है कि काव्य रचना बेहद कठिन कार्य है। बहुत चिंतन के बाद कोई विचार उत्पन्न होता है तथा कल्पना के सहारे उसे विकसित किया जाता है। इसी प्रकार खेती में बीज बोने से लेकर फसल की कटाई तक बहुत परिश्रम किया जाता है। इसलिए कवि को खेत का रूपक अपनाने की जरूरत पड़ी।

4. ‘छोटा मेरा खेत’ कविता का उद्देश्य बताइए।

उत्तर-

कवि ने रूपक के माध्यम से कवि कर्म को कृषक के समान बताया है। किसान अपने खेत में बीज बोता है, वह बीज अंकुरित होकर पौधा बनता है तथा पकने पर उससे फल मिलता है जिससे लोगों की भूख मिटती है। इसी तरह कवि ने कागज को अपना खेत माना है। इस खेत में भावों की आँधी से कोई बीज बोया जाता है। फिर वह कल्पना के सहारे विकसित होता है। शब्दों के अंकुर निकलते ही रचना स्वरूप ग्रहण करने लगती है तथा इससे अलौकिक रस उत्पन्न होता है। यह रस अनंतकाल तक पाठकों को अपने में डुबोए रखता है। कवि ने कवि-कर्म को कृषि-कर्म से समान बताया है क्योंकि कृषि कर्म का उत्पाद निश्चित समय तक रस देता है, परंतु कवि कर्म का उत्पाद अनंतकाल तक रस प्रदान करता है।

5. कविता लुटने पर भी क्यों नहीं मिटती या खत्म होती?

उत्तर-

यहाँ लुटने से आशय बाँटने से है। कविता का आस्वादन अनेक पाठक करते हैं। इसके बावजूद यह खत्म नहीं होती क्योंकि कविता जितने अधिक लोगों तक पहुँचती है उतना ही अधिक उस पर चिंतन किया जाता है। वह शाश्वत हो जाती है।

6. ‘अंधड़’ से क्या तात्पर्य है?

उत्तर-

अंधड़ भावनात्मक आवेग है। काव्य-रचना अचानक किसी प्रेरणा से होती है। कवि के मन में भावनाएँ होती हैं। जिस भी विचार का आवेग अधिक होता है, उसी विचार की रचना अपना स्वरूप ग्रहण करती है।

7. ‘बीज गल गया’ से क्या तात्पर्य है?

उत्तर-

इसका अर्थ यह है कि जब तक कवि के मन में कविता का मूल भाव पूर्णतया समा नहीं जाता, तब तक वह निजता (अहं) से मुक्त नहीं हो सकता। कविता तभी सफल मानी जाती है, जब वह समग्र मानव जाति की भावना को व्यक्त करती है। कविता को सार्वजनिक बनाने के लिए कवि का अहं नष्ट होना आवश्यक है।

बगुलों के पंख (अति महत्त्वपूर्ण प्रश्न)

8. ‘बगुलों के पंख’ कविता का प्रतिपाद्य बताइए।

उत्तर-

यह सुंदर दृश्य कविता है। कवि आकाश में उड़ते हुए बगुलों की पंक्ति को देखकर तरह-तरह की कल्पनाएँ करता है। ये बगुले कजरारे बादलों के ऊपर तैरती साँझ की सफेद काया के समान लगते हैं। कवि को यह दृश्य अत्यंत सुंदर लगता है। वह इस दृश्य में भटककर रह जाता है। एक तरफ वह इस सौंदर्य से बचना चाहता है तथा दूसरी तरफ वह इसमें बँधकर रहना चाहता है।

9. पाँती-बँधी से कवि का आशय स्पष्ट कीजिए।

उत्तर-

इसका अर्थ है-एकता। जिस प्रकार ऊँचे आकाश में बगुले पंक्ति बाँधकर एक साथ चलते हैं। उसी प्रकार मनुष्यों को एकता के साथ रहना चाहिए। एक होकर चलने से मनुष्य अद्भुत विकास करेगा तथा उसे किसी का भय भी नहीं रहेगा।

Usha Important Question Answer | Class 12 Usha Question Answer

1. सूर्योदय से पहले आकाश में क्या-क्या परिवर्तन होते हैं? ‘उषा’ कविता के आधार पर बताइए। [CBSE Sample Paper; 2007. (Foreign), 2009]

अथवा

‘उषा’ कविता के आधार पर सूर्योदय से ठीक पहले के प्राकृतिक दृश्यों का चित्रण कीजिए।

उत्तर- सूर्योदय से पहले आकाश का रंग शंख जैसा नीला था, उसके बाद आकाश राख से लीपे चौके जैसा हो गया। सुबह की नमी के कारण वह गीला प्रतीत होता है। सूर्य की प्रारंभिक किरणों से आकाश ऐसा लगा मानो काली सिल पर थोड़ा लाल केसर डालकर उसे धो दिया गया हो या फिर काली स्लेट पर लाल खड़िया मिट्टी मल दी गई हो। सूर्योदय के समय सूर्य का प्रतिबिंब ऐसा लगता है जैसे नीले स्वच्छ जल में किसी गोरी युवती का प्रतिबिंब झिलमिला रहा हो।

2. ‘उषा’ कविता के आधार पर उस जादू को स्पष्ट कीजिए जो सूर्योदय के साथ टूट जाता है। [CBSE (Outside), 2009, 2010]

उत्तर- सूर्योदय से पूर्व उषा का दृश्य अत्यंत आकर्षक होता है। भोर के समय सूर्य की किरणें जादू के समान लगती हैं। इस समय आकाश का सौंदर्य क्षण-क्षण में परिवर्तित होता रहता है। यह उषा का जादू है। नीले आकाश का शंख-सा पवित्र होना, काली सिल पर केसर डालकर धोना, काली स्लेट पर लाल खड़िया मल देना, नीले जल में गोरी नायिका का झिलमिलाता प्रतिबिंब आदि दृश्य उषा के जादू के समान लगते हैं। सूर्योदय होने के साथ ही ये दृश्य समाप्त हो ज़ाते हैं।

3. ‘स्लेट पर या लाल खड़िया चाक मल दी हो किसी ने।‘ -इसका आशय स्पष्ट कीजिए।

उत्तर- कवि कहता है कि सुबह के समय अँधेरा होने के कारण आकाश स्लेट के समान लगता है। उस समय सूर्य की लालिमा-युक्त किरणों से ऐसा लगता है जैसे किसी ने काली स्लेट पर लाल खड़िया मिट्टी मल दिया हो। कवि आकाश में उभरे लाल-लाल धब्बों के बारे में बताना चाहता है।

4. भोर के नभ को ‘राख से लीपा गीला चौका ‘ की संज्ञा दी गई है। क्यों ?

उत्तर- कवि कहता है कि भोर के समय ओस के कारण आकाश नमीयुक्त व धुंधला होता है। राख से लिपा हुआ चौका भी मटमैले रंग का होता है। दोनों का रंग लगभग एक जैसा होने के कारण कवि ने भोर के नभ को ‘राख से लीपा, गीला चौका’ की संज्ञा दी है। दूसरे, चौके को लीपे जाने से वह स्वच्छ हो जाता है। इसी तरह भोर का नभ भी पवित्र होता है।

5. ‘उषा’ कविता में प्रातःकालीन आकाश की पवित्रता, निर्मलता व उज्ज्वलता से संबंधित पंक्तियों को बताइए।

उत्तर- पवित्रता- राख से लीपा हुआ चौका।

निर्मलता- बहुत काली सिल जरा से केसर से/कि जैसे धुल गई हो।

उज्ज्वलता- नीले जल में या किसी की

गौर झिलमिल देह

जैसे हिल रही हो।

6. सिल और स्लेट का उदाहारण देकर कवि ने आकाश के रंग के बारे में क्या कहा है ?

उत्तर- कवि ने सिल और स्लेट के रंग की समानता आकाश के रंग से की है। भोर के समय आकाश का रंग गहरा नीला-काला होता है और उसमें थोड़ी-थोड़ी सूर्योदय की लालिमा मिली हुई होती है।

7. ‘उषा’ कविता में भोर के नभ की तुलना किससे की गई हैं और क्यों? [CBSE (Delhi), 2015]

उत्तर- ‘उषा’ कविता में प्रात:कालीन नभ की तुलना राख से लीपे गए गीले चौके से की गई है। इस समय आकाश नम एवं धुंधला होता है। इसका रंग राख से लिपे चूल्हे जैसा मटमैला होता है। जिस प्रकार चूल्हा-चौका सूखकर साफ़ हो जाता है उसी प्रकार कुछ देर बाद आकाश भी स्वच्छ एवं निर्मल हो जाता है।

Kavitavali Important Questions | Lakshman Murcha aur Ram ka Vilap Important Question

1. ‘लक्ष्मण-मूर्च्छा और राम का विलाप’ काव्यांश के आधार पर बेचैन राम की दशा को अपने शब्दों में प्रस्तुत कीजिए।
                                         अथवा
‘लक्ष्मण-मूर्च्छा और राम का विलाप’ कविता का प्रतिपाद्य स्पष्ट कीजिए। 

उत्तर-

लक्ष्मण को मूर्छित देखकर राम भाव विहवल हो उठते हैं। वे आम व्यक्ति की तरह विलाप करने लगते हैं। वे लक्ष्मण को अपने साथ लाने के निर्णय पर भी पछताते हैं। वे लक्ष्मण के गुणों को याद करके रोते हैं। वे कहते हैं कि पुत्र, नारी, धन, परिवार आदि तो संसार में बार-बार मिल जाते हैं, किंतु लक्ष्मण जैसा भाई दुबारा नहीं मिल सकता। लक्ष्मण के बिना वे स्वयं को पंख कटे पक्षी के समान असहाय, मणिरहित साँप के समान तेजरहित तथा सूँडरहित हाथी के समान असक्षम मानते हैं। वे इस चिंता में थे कि अयोध्या में सुमित्रा माँ को क्या जवाब देंगे तथा लोगों का उपहास कैसे सुनेंगे कि पत्नी के लिए भाई को खो दिया।

2. बेकारी की समस्या तुलसी के जमाने में भी थी, उस बेकारी का वर्णन तुलसी के कवित्त के आधार पर कीजिए।
                                                अथवा
तुलसी ने अपने युग की जिस दुर्दशा का चित्रण किया है, उसका वर्णन अपने शब्दों में कीजिए।

उत्तर-

तुलसीदास के युग में जनसामान्य के पास आजीविका के साधन नहीं थे। किसान की खेती चौपट रहती थी। भिखारी को भीख नहीं मिलती थी। दान कार्य भी बंद ही था। व्यापारी का व्यापार ठप था। नौकरी भी लोगों को नहीं मिलती थी। चारों तरफ बेरोजगारी थी। लोगों को समझ में नहीं आता था कि वे कहाँ जाएँ क्या करें? 

3. तुलसी के समय के समाज के बारे में बताइए।

उत्तर-

तुलसीदास के समय का समाज मध्ययुगीन विचारधारा का था। उस समय बेरोजगारी थी तथा आम व्यक्ति की हालत दयनीय थी। समाज में कोई नियम-कानून नहीं था। व्यक्ति अपनी भूख शांत करने के लिए गलत कार्य भी करते थे। धार्मिक कट्टरता व्याप्त थी। जाति व संप्रदाय के बंधन कठोर थे। नारी की दशा हीन थी। उसकी हानि को विशेष नहीं माना जाता था।

4. तुलसी युग की आर्थिक स्थिति का अपने शब्दों में वर्णन कजिए।

उत्तर-

तुलसी के समय आर्थिक दशा खराब थी। किसान के पास खेती न थी, व्यापारी के पास व्यापार नहीं था। यहाँ तक कि भिखारी को भीख भी नहीं मिलती थी। लोग यही सोचते रहते थे कि क्या करें, कहाँ जाएँ? वे धन-प्राप्ति के उपायों के बारे में सोचते थे। वे अपनी संतानों तक को बेच देते थे। भुखमरी का साम्राज्य फैला हुआ था।

लक्ष्मण-मूर्च्छा और राम का विलाप (अति महत्त्वपूर्ण प्रश्न)

5. लक्ष्मण के मूर्छित होने पर राम क्या सोचने लगे?

उत्तर-

लक्ष्मण शक्तिबाण लगने से मूर्छित हो गए। यह देखकर राम भावुक हो गए तथा सोचने लगे कि पत्नी के बाद अब भाई को खोने जा रहे हैं। केवल एक स्त्री के कारण मेरा भाई आज मृत्यु की गोद में जा रहा है। यदि स्त्री खो जाए तो कोई बड़ी हानि नहीं होगी, परंतु भाई के खो जाने का कलंक जीवनभर मेरे माथे पर रहेगा। वे सामाजिक अपयश से घबरा रहे थे।

6. क्या तुलसी युग की समस्याएँ वर्तमान समाज में भी विद्यमान हैं? अपने शब्दों में लिखिए।

उत्तर-

तुलसी ने लगभग 500 वर्ष पहले जो कुछ कहा था, वह आज भी प्रासंगिक है। उन्होंने अपने समय की मूल्यहीनता, नारी की स्थिति, आर्थिक दुरवस्था का चित्रण किया है। इनमें अधिकतर समस्याएँ आज भी विद्यमान हैं। आज भी लोग जीवन निर्वाह के लिए गलत-सही कार्य करते हैं। नारी के प्रति नकारात्मक सोच आज भी विद्यमान है। अभी भी जाति व धर्म के नाम पर भेदभाव होता है। इसके विपरीत, कृषि, वाणिज्य, रोजगार की स्थिति आदि में बहुत बदलाव आया है। इसके बाद भी तुलसी युग की अनेक समस्याएँ आज भी हमारे समाज में विद्यमान हैं।

7. कुंभकरण ने रावण को किस सच्चाई का आइना दिखाया?

उत्तर-

कुंभकरण रावण का भाई था। वह लंबे समय तक सोता रहता था। उसका शरीर विशाल था। देखने में ऐसा लगता था मानो काल आकर बैठ गया हो। वह मुँहफट तथा स्पष्ट वक्ता था। वह रावण से पूछता है कि तुम्हारे मुँह क्यों सूखे हुए हैं? रावण की बात सुनने पर वह रावण को फटकार लगाता है तथा उसे कहता है कि अब तुम्हें कोई नहीं बचा सकता। इस प्रकार उसने रावण को उसके विनाश संबंधी सच्चाई का आईना दिखाया।

Rubaiya Class 12 Important Questions | Gazal Class 12 Important Questions

रुबाइयाँ (अति महत्त्वपूर्ण प्रश्न)

प्रश्न 1:‘रुबाइयाँ’ के आधार पर घर-आँगन में दीवाली और राखी के दृश्य-बिंब को अपने शब्दों में समझाइए।

उत्तर –

कवि दीपावली के त्योहार के बारे में बताते हुए कहता है कि इस अवसर पर घर में पुताई की जाती है तथा उसे सजाया जाता है। घरों में मिठाई के नाम पर चीनी के बने खिलौने आते हैं। रोशनी भी की जाती है। बच्चे के छोटे-से घर में दिए के जलाने से माँ के मुखड़े की चमक में नयी आभा आ जाती है। रक्षाबंधन का त्योहार सावन के महीने में आता है। इस त्योहार पर आकाश में हल्की घटाएँ छाई होती हैं। राखी के लच्छे भी बिजली की तरह चमकते हुए प्रतीत होते हैं।

प्रश्न 2:
फिराक की गजल में प्रकृति को किस तरह चित्रित किया गया है?

उत्तर =

फिराक की गजल के प्रथम दो शेर प्रकृति वर्णन को ही समर्पित हैं। प्रथम शेर में कलियों के खिलने की प्रक्रिया का भावपूर्ण वर्णन है। कवि इस शेर को नव रसों से आरंभ करता है। हर कोमल गाँठ के खुल जाने में कलियों का खिलना और दूसरा प्रतीकात्मक अर्थ भी है कि सब बंधनों से मुक्त हो जाना, संबंध सुधर जाना। इसके बाद कवि कलियों के खिलने से रंग और सुगंध के फैल जाने की बात करता है। पाठक के समक्ष एक बिंब उभरता है। वह सौंदर्य और सुगंध दोनों को महसूस करता है।

प्रश्न 3:
‘फिराक’ की रुबाइयों में उभरे घरेलू जीवन के बिबों का सौंदर्य स्पष्ट कीजिए।

उत्तर –

‘फिराक’ की रुबाइयों में घरेलू जीवन का चित्रण हुआ है। इन्होंने कई बिंब उकेरे हैं। एक बिंब में माँ छोटे बच्चे को अपने हाथ में झुला रही है। बच्चे की तुलना चाँद से की गई है। दूसरे बिंब में माँ बच्चे को नहलाकर कपड़े पहनाती है तथा बच्चा उसे प्यार से देखता है। तीसरे बिंब में बच्चे द्वारा चाँद लेने की जिद करना तथा माँ द्वारा दर्पण में चाँद को दिखाना घरेलू जीवन के बिम्बों का अद्भुत वर्णन है।

ग़ज़ल (अति महत्त्वपूर्ण प्रश्न)

प्रश्न 4:
पाठ्यपुस्तक में संकलित फिराक गोरखपुरी की गजल का केंद्रीय भाव लिखिए।

उत्तर –

फिराक गोरखपुरी ने ‘गजल’ में दर्द व कसक का वर्णन किया है। उसने बताया है कि लोगों ने उसे सदा ताने दिए हैं। उसकी किस्मत हमेशा उसे दगा देती रही। दुनिया में केवल गम ही था जो उसके पास रहा। उसे लगता है जैसे रात के सन्नाटे में कोई बोल रहा है। इश्क के बारे में शायर का कहना है कि इश्क वही पा सकता है जो अपना सब कुछ दाँव पर लगा दे। कवि की गजलों पर मीर की गजलों का प्रभाव है। यह गज़ल इस तरह बोलती है जिसमें दर्द भी है एक शायर की ठसक भी है और साथ ही है काव्यशिल्प की वह ऊँचाई, जो गजल की विशेषता मानी जाती है।

प्रश्न 5:
फिराक की रुबाई में भाषा के विलक्षण प्रयोग किए गए हैं-स्पष्ट करें।

उत्तर =

कवि की भाषा उर्दू है, परंतु उन्होंने हिंदी व लोकभाषा का भी प्रयोग किया है। उनकी रचनाओं में हिंदी, उर्दू व लोकभाषा के अनूठे गठबंधन के विलक्षण प्रयोग हैं जिसे गाँधी जी हिंदुस्तानी के रूप में पल्लवित करना चाहते थे। ये विलक्षण प्रयोग हैं-लोका देना, घुटनियों में लेकर कपड़े पिन्हाना, गेसुओं में कंघी करना, रूपवती मुखड़ा, नर्म दमक, जिदयाया बालक रस की पुतली। माँ हाथ में आईना देकर बच्चे को बहला रही है।

प्रश्न 1:’आत्मपरिचय’ कविता में कवि हरिवंश राय बच्चन ने अपने व्यक्तित्व के किन पक्षों को उभारा है?

उत्तर –

‘आत्मपरिचय’ कविता में कवि हरिवंश राय बच्चन ने अपने व्यक्तित्व के निम्नलिखित पक्षों को उभारा है-

1. कवि अपने जीवन में मिली आशा-निराशाओं से संतुष्ट है।

2. वह (कवि) अपनी धुन में मस्त रहने वाला व्यक्ति है।

3. कवि संसार को मिथ्या समझते हुए हानि-लाभ, यश अपयश, सुख दुख को समान समझता है।

4. कवि संतोषी प्रवृत्ति का है। वह वाणी के माध्यम से अपना आक्रोश प्रकट करता है।

प्रश्न 2:’आत्मपरिचय’ कविता पर प्रतिपाद्य लिखिए।

उत्तर –

‘आत्मपरिचय’ कविता के रचयिता का मानना है कि स्वयं को जानना दुनिया को जानने से ज्यादा कठिन है। समाज से व्यक्ति का नाता खट्टा-मीठा तो होता ही है। संसार से पूरी तरह निरपेक्ष रहना संभव नहीं। दुनिया अपने व्यंग्य बाण तथा शासन-प्रशासन से चाहे जितना कष्ट दे, पर दुनिया से कटकर मनुष्य रह भी नहीं पाता। वह अपना परिचय देते हुए लगातार दुनिया से अपने दुविधात्मक और द्वंद्वात्मक संबंधों का मर्म उद्घाटित करता चलता है। वह पूरी कविता का सार एक पंक्ति में कह देता है कि दुनिया से मेरा संबंध प्रीतिकलह का है, मेरा जीवन विरुद्धों का सामंजस्य है।

प्रश्न 3:’दिन जल्दी-जल्दी ढलता है।’ कविता का उद्देश्य बताइए।

उत्तर –

यह गीत प्रसिद्ध कवि हरिवंश राय बच्चन की कृति ‘निशा निमंत्रण’ से उद्धरित है। इस गीत में कवि प्रकृति की दैनिक परिवर्तनशीलता के संदर्भ में प्राणी वर्ग के धड़कते हृदय को सुनने की काव्यात्मक कोशिश को व्यक्त करता है। किसी प्रिय आलंबन या विषय से भावी साक्षात्कार का आश्वासन ही हमारे प्रयास के पगों की गति में चंचलता यानी तेजी भर सकता है। इससे हम शिथिलता और फिर जड़ता को प्राप्त होने से बच जाते हैं। यह गीत इस बड़े सत्य के साथ समय के गुजरते जाने के एहसास में लक्ष्य प्राप्ति के लिए कुछ कर गुजरने का जज्बा भी लिए हुए है।

प्रश्न 4:’आत्मपरिचय’ कविता को दृष्टि में रखते हुए कवि के कथ्य को अपने शब्दों में प्रस्तुत कीजिए।

उत्तर –

‘आत्मपरिचय’ कविता में कवि कहता है कि यद्यपि वह सांसारिक कठिनाइयों से जूझ रहा है, फिर भी वह इस जीवन से प्यार करता है। वह अपनी आशाओं और निराशाओं से संतुष्ट है। वह संसार से मिले प्रेम व स्नेह की परवाह नहीं करता, क्योंकि संसार उन्हीं लोगों की जयकार करता है जो उसकी इच्छानुसार व्यवहार करते हैं। वह अपनी धुन में रहने वाला व्यक्ति है। कवि संतोषी प्रवृत्ति का है। वह अपनी वाणी के जरिये अपना आक्रोश व्यक्त करता है। उसकी व्यथा शब्दों के माध्यम से प्रकट होती है तो संसार उसे गाना मानता है। वह संसार को अपने गीतों के माध्यम से प्रसन्न करने का प्रयास करता है। कवि सभी को सामंजस्य बनाए रखने के लिए कहता है।

प्रश्न : 5कौन सा विचार दिन ढलने के बाद लौट रहे पंथी के कदमों को धीमा कर देता हैं? बच्चन के गीत के आधार पर उत्तर दीजिए।

उत्तर –

कवि एकाकी जीवन व्यतीत कर रहा है। शाम के समय उसके मन में विचार उठता है कि उसके आने के इंतजार में व्याकुल होने वाला कोई नहीं है। अतः वह किसके लिए तेजी से घर जाने की कोशिश करे। शाम होते ही रात हो जाएगी और कवि की विरह-व्यथा बढ़ने से उसका हृदय बेचैन हो जाएगा। इस प्रकार के विचार आते ही दिन ढलने के बाद लौट रहे पंथी के कदम धीमे हो जाते हैं।

प्रश्न 6:यदि मंजिल दूर हो तो लोगों की वहाँ पहुँचने की मानसिकता कैसी होती हैं?

उत्तर –

मंजिल दूर होने पर लोगों में उदासीनता का भाव आ जाता है। कभी-कभी उनके मन में निराशा भी आ जाती है। मंजिल की दूरी के कारण कुछ लोग घबराकर प्रयास करना छोड़ देते हैं। कुछ व्यर्थ के तर्क वितर्क में उलझकर रह जाते हैं। मनुष्य आशा व निराशा के बीच झूलता रहता है।

प्रश्न 7:कवि को संसार अपूर्ण क्यों लगता है?

उत्तर –

कवि भावनाओं को प्रमुखता देता है। वह सांसारिक बंधनों को नहीं मानता। वह वर्तमान संसार को उसकी शुष्कता एवं नीरसता के कारण नापसंद करता है। वह बार-बार अपनी कल्पना का संसार बनाता है तथा प्रेम में बाधक बनने पर उन्हें मिटा देता है। वह प्रेम को सम्मान देने वाले संसार की रचना करना चाहता है।

प्रश्न 8:‘दिन जल्दी जल्दी ढलता है’ कविता का प्रतिपाद्य स्पष्ट कीजिए।

उत्तर =

‘दिन जल्दी जल्दी ढलता है’ कविता प्रेम की महत्ता पर प्रकाश डालती है। प्रेम की तरंग ही मानव के जीवन में उमंग और भावना की हिलोर पैदा करती है। प्रेम के कारण ही मनुष्य को लगता है कि दिन जल्दी-जल्दी बीता जा रहा है। इससे अपने प्रियजनों से मिलने की उमंग से कदमों में तेजी आती है तथा पक्षियों के पंखों में तेजी और गति आ जाती है। यदि जीवन में प्रेम हो तो शिथिलता आ जाती है।

Memories of Childhood Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Vistas

Memories of Childhood Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

The Cutting of My Long Hair

Question 1.
What does this chapter tell us about the weather in the land of apples on the very first day?
Answer:
Zitkala-Sa unfolds that the first day in the land of apples was a bitter cold one; for the snow still covered the ground, and the trees were bare.

Question 2.
How were the Indian girls dressed? Why did Zitkala feel sinking in the floor?
Answer:
The Indian girls were in stiff shoes and closely clinging dresses. The small girls wore sleeved aprons and singled hair. It appeared very immodest to Zitkala. She felt sinking in the floor because her blanket had been stripped off from her shoulders.

Question 3.
Who was Judewin? What did she tell Zitkala?
Answer:
Judewin was a friend of Zitkala. She knew a little English. She had overheard the white woman saying that they would shingle Zitkala’s long, heavy hair. She said that Zitkala had to submit to them.

Question 4.
What had Zitkala’s mother told her about the tradition regarding hair in their tribe?
Answer:
Zitkala’s mother had told her that only unskilled warriors who were captured had their hair shingled by the enemy. Among her tribe, short hair were worn by mourners and shingled hair by cowards.

Question 5.
Where did Zitkala hide herself to save her hair?
Answer:
Zitkala hid herself in a big room. The windows were covered with dark green curtains, which made the room very dim. No one was there in the room. She crawled under a bed and huddled herself in the dark corner.

Question 6.
How were Zitkala-Sa’s long hair shingled?
Answer:
Women and girls entered the room where Zitkala-Sa was hiding. She was dragged out. She resisted and cried aloud. They tied her fast in a chair. She was shaking her head all the while until she felt the cold blades of the scissors against her neck. Thus her hair were shingled.

Question 7.
At the dining table why did Zitkala-Sa begin to cry when others start eating?
Answer:
At the dining table all the others started eating us¬ing knife and fork. But Zitkala began to cry. She found eating by formula a very hard trial for her.

Question 8
How did Zitkala-Sa’s first day in the land of apples begin?
Answer:
The first day in the land of apples was very cold. Zitkala saw. that the Indian people were bearing tight clinging clothes which appeared very immodest to her. At the dining table, she began crying since she could not eat with knife and fork. And in the end her hair were shingled.

We Too are Human Beings

Question 9.
How long would it take Bama to reach her home?
Answer:
It was actually possible to walk the distance in ten minutes from Bama’s school to her home. But, usu¬ally it would take her thirty minutes at the very least to reach home. Many interesting things would tether her feet to the ground.

Question 10.
What did she see one day when she came from school?
Answer:
One day, when she came to her street she saw at the opposite corner a threshing floor had been set up, and the landlord watched the proceedings, seated on a piece of sacking spread over a stone ledge. The people of her community were hard at work, driving cattle in pairs, round and round to tread out the grain from the straw.

Question 11.
What scene made Bama laugh loudly?
Answer:
Bama saw an elder of her street came along from the direction of the bazaar. He was carrying a small packet in his hands. Bama guessed there was something like vadais in the packet. Bama wanted to laugh loudly when she saw this. He was holding out the packet by its string, without touching it. She thought that in this manner, the packet could be undone and all the contents would fall out.

Question 12.
When Bama did come to know about the social discrimination towards her community?
Answer:
Bama came to know about it when she was just a school going girl. She saw an elder of their commu¬nity carrying a packet of vadais from its string. She thought that in this manner, the packet could be un done and the whole contents would be spilt out. But her brother told her that the reason for that was that the person for whom that snacks brought belonged to high caste and he thought that the very touch of any from their community would pollute him.

Question 13.
What advise did Annan give to Bama?
Answer:
Annan advised Bama that she should study with care and learn all. Then the people would come to her of their own accord and attach themselves to her. These words of Annan made a deep impression on her.

Question 14.
Why did the landlord’s man ask Bama’s brother on which street he lived? What was the significance?
Answer:
The people of the community to which Bama be longed were segregated and lived in a particular street. The landlord’s man wanted to ascertain the caste of Bama’s brother. Therefore he asked him on which street he lived.

Memories of Childhood Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Explain in detail Zitkala’s experience at the land of apples?
Answer:
It was bitterly cold on the first day at the land of apples. A large bell rang for breakfast. There was annoying clatter of shoes on the floor. An elderly white woman came up after them. She saw Indian (Native-Americans) girls in stiff shoes and closely clinging dresses. It appeared quite immodest to her. While the boys entered from the other door.

They all were marched for the breakfast.A small bell was tapped and all the students drew a chair from under the table. Zitkala thought they were perhaps going to sit. She also sat down but she found that the others were standing murmuring a sort of small prayer. Zitkala-Sa also stood up.

But then she found that the others had sit in their seats. Then she heard a voice of a man. Every one picked up their knife and fork and began eating. But Zitkala found this eating by formula very difficult. But this was not the hardest trial for her. Her hair were shingled and she felt herself like an animal in a herd.

Question 2.
Reproduce briefly in your own words Zitkala- Sa’s experience in the dining room.
Answer:
The tables and chairs were arranged in the dining room. A small bell was tapped, and each of the students drew a chair from under the table. Zitkala also pulled out the chair and sat down. But she noticed that all others were standing but she was sitting. She began to rise up, but soon the second bell was tapped. All were seated at last.

She heard a man’s voice at one end of the hall, and she looked around to see him. But all the others hung their heads over the plates. The man ceased his mutterings, and then the third bell was tapped. Every one picked up their knife and fork and began eating. But Zitkala started crying instead. This eating by formula proved too hard a trial for her.

Question 3.
What did Zitkala do to prevent her hair? How did her efforts prove futile?
Answer:
Zitkala decided that she would not let her hair shingled. She watched her chance and when no one noticed, she disappeared. She hid herself in a big room. The windows were covered with dark green curtains, which made the room very dim. No one was there in the room. She crawled under a bed and hid herself in the dark comer.

From her hiding place she heard footsteps nearby. In the hall some voices were calling her name. Even her friend Judewin was searching for her. The sounds came nearer and nearer. Women and girls entered the room. She was dragged out. She resisted and cried aloud. They tied her fast in a chair. She was shaking her head all the while until she felt the cold blades of the scissors against her neck. Thus her hair were shingled.

Question 4.
How long did Bama take to reach home from school and why? Write briefly what she did on her way?
Answer:
It was actually possible to walk the distance in ten minutes. But usually it would take her thirty minutes at the very least to reach home. Many interesting things would tether her feet to the ground. There could be a performing monkey. There could be a snake charmer with his snake kept in a basket. There could be a cyclist who had not got off cycle for three days.

She would watch the huge bell hanging at the temple. She would watch the Pongal offerings being cooked. Then there could be some entertainments going on the way-a street play, a puppet show or a magic show. These were the things that stopped her at many points in her way.

Question 5.
When did Bama come to know about the social discrimination towards her community?
Answer:
Bama found that the manner in which the elder of her community carrying snacks was funny. He was holding out the packet by its string, without touching it. She thought that in this manner the packet could be undone and all the contents fall out. But her brother told her that there was nothing funny about it.

The people of upper caste thought that the very touch of the people of their community would pollute them. It was then that Bama came to know about the social discrimination towards her community. This thought filled her with rage. She thought that why their people should run petty errands for the upper caste people. They should just take their wages and that was all.

Question 6.
The two accounts that you read above are based in two distant cultures. What is the commonality of theme found in both of them?
Answer:
The first account refers to a Native American girl, Zitkala-Sa. The European settlers, there are prejudiced against the native people. For them Native Americans are no better than enemies. They shingled Zitkala’s hair much against her wish. They did not care to respect their culture. The second account is of Bama. She belonged to a downtrodden community. The people of upper caste looked at them with hatred. They thought that the very touch of the people of her community would pollute them. Thus we can see that Zitkala and Bama belonged to different cultures and communities. Yet the theme of both the accounts is same that people of downtrodden communities are treated like animals and racial prejudice is there in almost every part of the world.

Question 7.
It may take a long time for oppression to be resisted, but the seeds of rebellion are sowed early in life. Do you agree that injustice in any form cannot escape being noticed even by children?
Answer:
Elders of downtrodden communities become used to oppression. They consider it a part of their destiny and thus do not protest against any oppression. But the minds of children are very impressionable. They understand every oppression or humiliation. They generally rebel against any oppression.

They feel quite disturbed when they see injustice being done to someone. When they grow up, they try their best to root out all the traditions that consider them to inferior beings. Thus, we can say that the seeds of rebellion are sowed early in life.

Question 8.
Bama’s experience is that of a victim of the caste system. What kind of discrimination does ZitkalaSa’s experience depict? What are their responses to their respective situations?
Answer:
Zitkala-Sa was a Native American. The European settlers have great prejudice against the Native Americans. They consider them inferior beings. They have no respect for their traditions. That was why

Zitkala’s long was shingled. On the other hand, Bama belongs to a downtrodden community. The people of high caste consider them inferior beings. They think that the very touch of theirs would pollute them. Both Zitkala and Bama reacted to their respective situation in their own way.

Zitkala hid herself in a room to prevent her hair from being shingled. But she was found out and her hair were shingled. When Bama came to know the humiliation of an elder of their street’ she was filled with anger. She studied very hard so that the others realise her worth and come to her as friends.

Evans Tries an O-level Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Vistas

Evans Tries an O-level Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
When did the Governor rang up the Secretary of Examination Board and why?
Answer:
It was in early March when the Governor of Oxford , Prison rang up the Secretary of Examination Board that their one of the prisoners Evans wanted to take an O-Level examination in German.

Question 2.
What was Evans known as by the prison officers? What did the Governor decide?
Answer:
The prison officers used to call Evans – Evans the Break. Thrice he had escaped from the prison already. But this time the Governor decided that he would see everything personally.

Question 3.
Who were Jackson and Stephens?
Answer:
Jackson was the senior prison officer on D wing. Stephens was also an officer at the Oxford Prison. He was recently recruited to the profession. How-ever, they both proved good for nothing and used to jump into conclusion very soon without doing any investigation.

Question 4.
What were the contents of the small suitcase that McLeery carried?
Answer:
The suitcase that McLeery carried had a yellow invigilation paper, a sealed envelope containing the question paper, a copy of the Bible, the newspaper ‘The Church Times’, a paper knife and a small inflated rubber ring. McLerry said that he was suffering from piles and he needed it if he had to sit for some length of time.

Question 5.
Do you think Evans was really keen to get some sort of academic qualification?
Answer:
No, Evans was not at all keen to get any academic qualification. He pretended to take an O-level examination to escape from the prison. The German teacher, the invigilator, someone at the Examination Board and a fake prison officer were all part of his plan.

Question 6.
When did the Assistant Secretary, Examination Board ring up the Governor and why?
Answer:
At 9.40 a.m. the Assistant Secretary of the Examination Board rang up the Governor to say that there was a correction slip which some fool had forgotten to place in the examination package.

Question 7.
What did Jackson ask Stephens to take away from Evans’ cell and why?
Answer:
Stephens was asked to take away Evans’ razor which he was going to shave and also his nail file. In fact they didn’t want to leave anything with which Evans could do any mischief.

Question 8.
How did the Governor react to the two phone calls he received in quick succession?
Answer:
The Governor received two phone calls in quick succession in the morning. One was from the Examination Board informing him about the correction slip. The second call was from the magistrate’s court asking for the prison van. In fact, both the calls were hoax and part of Evans’ escape plan.

Question 9.
Who was Reverend Stuart McLeery?
Answer:
Reverend Stuart McLeery was a parson. He was appointed by the Examination Board to act as an invigilator for the exam to be conducted in the prison. But in fact the person who came there to invigilate was one of Evans’ accomplices. The real McLeery had been kept tied in his room.

Question 10.
How did the Governor, Oxford Prison describe Evans to the Secretary Examinations Board?
Answer:
The Governor said that Evans was quite a pleasant sort of chap. He had no record of violence. He was one of the stars at the Christmas concert. But he was just a congenital kleptomaniac.

Question 11.
What seating arrangements were made in Evans’ cell for the examination?
Answer:
Two square tables were placed opposite to each other in the cell. One of the tables was placed nearer the cell door. Then Stephens brought two hard chairs. He placed them in front of each table.

Question 12.
What would Stephens see whenever he peeped from the peephole?
Answer:
Whenever Stephens saw through the peephole he found that the scene was much or less the same. Evans, his pen between his lips, sat staring straight in front of him towards the door. And opposite him, McLeery seated slightly askew from the table.

Question 13.
What was the scene at the D-wing when Stephens went there after McLeery had left?
Answer:
When Stephens re-entered D Wing, walked to Evans’ cell and opened the peephole, he saw a man was fallen back in Evans’ chair. A grey blanket was slipping from his shoulders and his closely cropped hair were covered with fierce red blood.

Question 14.
What did Evans tell the Governor about the blood on his head?
Answer:
The Governor asked Evans how he got that blood to pour over his head. At this Evans replied that it was a pig’s blood that the person disguised as McLeery brought with him in a little rubber ring. They had got to mix with trisodium citrate to stop it clotting.

Question 15.
What kind of a person was Evans?
Answer:
Evans was quite a pleasant sort of fellow. There was no record of violence against him. At prison, he was one of the stars at Christmas concert. But he was a kleptomaniac. The police would often arrest him. But he was very clever. He always managed to escape from prison. Therefore the prison officers would call him ‘Evans the Break’.

Question 16.
Did the exam go as scheduled?
Answer:
The exam did not go as scheduled. The exam was scheduled to start at 9.15 a.m. Stephens took some time to frisk McLeery. When the exam was just going to begin, Evans objected Stephens’ presence there in his cells. The Governor asked Stephens to come out of the prison. At last the exam started at 9.25.

Question 17.
Did the clues left behind on the question pa¬per put Evans back in prison again?
Answer:
The injured McLerry said he knew where Evans had gone. He pointed towards the question paper. A photocopied sheet had been carefully and cleverly superimposed over the last but blank page. McLeery said that Evans had gone to Elsfield Way. But the person impersonating McLeery was in fact Evans himself. The clues left on the question paper were to misguide the police.

Question 18.
Where did Evans go?
Answer:
Evans went to a hotel named Golden Lion at Chipping Norton.

Question 19.
Did the injured McLeery help the prison officers to track Evans?
Answer:
The person who pretended to be injured was not McLeery. He was Evans himself. Actually he produced some such clues which were to put the police on the wrong track. Thus, he did not help the prison officers to track Evans.

Question 20.
While we condemn the crime, we are sympa-thetic to the criminal. Is this the reason why prison staff develop a soft corner for those is custody?
Answer:
It is commonly said that we should hate the crime and not the criminal. One may become criminal due to some compulsion. The best way to remove crime from the society is to reform criminals. Harsh punishment often makes the convicts hardened criminals. When a criminal is sent to prison, the prison staff treat him as a human being. The crime committed by him generally becomes a thing of the past. Therefore the prison staff develop a soft corner for those in custody.

Question 21.
Do you agree that between crime and punishment it is mainly a battle of wits?
Answer:
Yes, it is certainly a battle of wits between crime and punishment. The criminals generally prove too smart for the police officers. They generally guess what the next step of the police would be. The same thing happens in the present story. Evans very easily be fools the entire prison staff from the beginning to the end. He escapes under the very nose of the Governor.

Evans Tries an O-level Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1
Who checked McLeery’s suitcase and why? What things had McLeery brought with him?
Answer:
Mcleery’s suitcase was opened by Jackson. The prison people did not have any doubt on McLeery but they thought that innocently he might have brought something which Evans could use to hold him as a hostage. Jackson picked up each envelope in turn, carefully passed his palms along the surfaces and seemed satisfied.

But one of the objects puzzled him the most. It was an inflated ring of about twelve inches circumference. At this, McLeery explained that he was suffering from haemorrhoids and he needed it when he had to sit for some time.

Besides that there were a sealed question-paper envelope, a yellow invigilation form, a special authentication card from the Examination Board, a paper- knife, a Bible and a copy of‘The Church Times’. Jackson took the paperknife from there.

Question 2.
Describe the precautions taken by the prison officers to prevent Evans from escaping?
Answer:
All the measures were taken to prevent Evans from escaping. The governor decided to inspect all the arrangements. The examination was conducted in the prisoner’s cell. It was locked from outside with a heavy lock. A device was placed so that the conversation could be heard. All the objectionable objects of Evans were taken away. Even the invigilator was frisked.

His paper knife was taken away by Jackson. There was a peephole in the door of the cell and Stephens was asked to peep through it every minute. The prison staff wanted to take no chance with Evans. But Evans proved too smart for them. In spite of all these arrangements he managed to escape.

Question 3.
Where did the Governor find Evans? How was he able to locate that place?
Answer:
After a gentle stroll round the centre of Chipping Norton, Evans decided to return to the hotel. He collected his keys from the receptionist and went up the stairs to his room. He unlocked the door and closed it quietly behind him. But he was frozen to the spot when he saw on the bed the very last man in the world he had wanted to see.

That man was the Governor.Evans asked him how he, came to know that he would be in the Golden Lion Hotel. The Governor told him with the help of the correction slip. Then Evans wanted to know how he came to know about the location of the hotel since there would be thousands of the same name. At this, the Governor said that from the Index number 313; centre number 271. When took an Ordnance Survey Map for Oxfordshire, he found the place was in the centre of Chipping Norton.

Question 4.
How far was Stephens helpful for Evans’ escape?
Answer:
Stephens was a newly recruited officer in the prison. He was very particular about showing his efficiency ” in front of the higher authorities. He was especially glad that he was in charge of Evans’ examination. However he forget that to handle such a criminal like Evans could he risky for a novice like him. Evans complained of Stephens’ breathing and got him naturally out of the cell. Once out of the cell, Stephens kept peeping into the cell but soon fed up with.

To show that he was very confident and efficient, he left the cell door to come after short intervals. The short intervals soon became longer and very longer giving time for Evans to dress himself up inside the cell. Stephens was taken to the highest joy when he received the fake call from the Governor to take the invigilator out of the prison. He in his pride took the invigilator out of the prison and made way for Evans’ escape in a wonderful way.

Question 5.
Write a brief character-sketch of the Governor?
Answer:
The Governor was a dutiful officer. He took all precautions for the smooth conduct of the examination. But he was a bit too over-confident. No doubt that the Governor knew a little German and he deduced that Evans tactful be at a hotel Golden Lion. And from the index number and centre number he was able to find out that the hotel would be located at the centre of Chippping Norton.

But instead of going there with full police force he went there alone. He had already seen that Evans had been fooling them since morning. He handed him over to the prison officer whom he had never seen before. It did not occur to him that the prison officer could also be one of Evans accomplices.

And that was exactly the case. As a result, Evans was able to escape once again. So we can say that he was just a good-for-a-giggle, gullible person.

Question 6.
What were the precautions taken for the smooth conduct of the examination?
Answer:
All precautions were taken for the smooth conduct of the examination. The Governor decided to keep a close eye over the whole affair. The examination was conducted in the cell of the prisoner. The door of the cell was locked. The cell was thoroughly searched before the day of examination.

Evans’ nail file, razor and any other thing that could help in his escape was removed from there. The prison officers put a device over the door of the cell so that the Governor could hear all the conversation going during the examination.

Even the invigilator McLeery was thoroughly frisked before the start of the ex¬amination. Stephens was posted outside the cell. He was asked to peep through the peephole to see that everything was going smoothly. However all this arrangements proved futile and Evans managed to escape from prison.

Question 7.
Did the Governor and his staff finally heave a sigh of relief ?
Answer:
The Governor and his staff had a sigh of relief for a few minutes only. After Stephens had escorted McLeery out of the prison gates, he decided to have a look at Evans. He found that a man badly wounded was sitting in Evans chair. He immediately concluded that Evans had run away after hitting McLeery on . his head. He raised alarm and panic spread everywhere.

The wounded McLeery said that he knew where Evans had gone. But the person who pretended to be wounded was not McLeery. He was Evans himself. Actually he produced some such clues which were to put the police on the wrong track. The prison officers thinking him to be McLeeiy provided him ambulance. Thus Evans again escaped from the prison. Thus, there was no relief for the Governor but only trouble.

Question 8.
Reflecting on the story, what did you feel about Evans’ having the last laugh?
Answer:
‘Having the last laugh’ means to have a final victory over one’s rival. By taking the hint from the question paper, the Governor reached the hotel where Evans was and captured him and came to know how he planned his escape and said that his game was over.

Evans surrendered himself to the Governor. The Governor told Evans that they would meet soon. But Evans still had a last card in his ‘ sleeve.The moment the Governor was away, the so called ‘ prison officer-a friend of Evans-unlocked the handcuffs and asked the driver to move fast and Evans told him to turn to Newbury. Evans, thus, has the last laugh.

Question 9.
When Stephens comes back to the cell he jumps to a conclusion and the whole machinery blindly goes by his assumption without even checking the identity of the injured ‘McLeery’. Does this show how hasty conjectures can prevent one from seeing the obvious? How is the criminal able to predict such negligence?
Answer:
Evans was a smart criminal. He had beforehand assessed the weaknesses of the jail officers successfully. Stephens was a new recruit to the prison set up. When he saw the injured McLeery in the cell he at once jumped to the conclusion that Evans had escaped from the prison. He did not even check who he really was and neither did anyone else. It did not occur to anyone to question how there could there be two persons one in the cell and the other who had been escorted out by Stephens.

It was for this very reason that friends of Evans, who, posing as the Governor on the phone, have directed Stephens that he himself should escort the parson out, when the exam is finished. The Governor and his officers, lead Evans out of the prison. The question paper is left behind to mislead the Governor. This shows that Evans type criminals had enough time to study the behaviour patterns of the jail officers and plan their strategy well.

Question 10.
What could the Governor have done to securely bring back Evans to prison when he caught him at the Golden Lion? Does that final act of foolishness really prove that ‘he was just another good-for-a giggle, gullible Governor that was all’?
Answer:
No doubt that the Governor knew a little German and he deduced that Evans could be at a hotel Golden Lion. And from the index number and centre number he was able to find out that the hotel would be located at the centre of Chippping Norton. But instead of going there with full police force, he went there alone. He had already seen that Evans had been fooling them since morning.

He handed him over to the prison officer whom he had never seen before. It did not occur to him that the prison officer could also be one of Evans accomplices. And that was exactly the case. As a result, Evans was able to escape once again. Thus this final act of foolishness of the Governor proved that he was just a good-for- a-giggle, gullible person.

On the Face of It – Important Questions

Important Question and Answers

Q. In what sense is the friendship between Mr. Lamb and Derry fruitful?

Ans. Mr. Lamb helped Derry overcome his sense of inferiority. He advised him not to pay too much attention to what others thought about him; to celebrate life and its wonders. Mr. Lamb brought about a positive change in Derry’s attitude.

Q. Why did Mr. Lamb help Derry?

Ans.

Q. If you were to give a different ending to the story, “On The Face of It” how would you end it?

Ans. Mr. Lamb helped Derry because he too was handicapped, therefore he understood how Derry felt. Also, he was concerned about Derry’s negative attitude towards life. Mr. Lamb wanted to save the little boy from the habit of self-pitying.

Q. How does Mr. Lamb keep himself busy when it is a bit cool?

Ans. The play is quite sad and open ended. According to me, the play should have ended on a positive note, giving the reader a sense of hope. I feel, even if Mr. Lamb dies in the end, Derry would show some positive changes in his character. He would not remain his old withdrawn and defiant self. Instead, he would become as cheerful, open and friendly as Mr. Lamb.

Q. What peculiar things does Derry notice about the old man, Mr. Lamb?

Ans. When it is a bit cool, Mr. Lamb likes to keep himself busy by breaking crab apples and making jelly from them. He enjoys the humming of bees in his garden while he sat in the sun reading books.

Q. Why does Derry’s mother not want him to go back to visit Mr. Lamb?

Ans. Derry notices that Mr. Lamb always leaves the gates open for anybody and everybody so as to welcome strangers. Derry is amazed that unlike others old Mr. Lamb treated him with utmost kindness, that he is not repulsed by Derry’s scarred face. Derry also finds it peculiar that Mr. Lamb lives in a huge house with a huge garden but without curtains.

Q. Why did Derry insist that he would go back to Mr. Lamb?

Ans. Derry’s mother does not want him to go back to visit Mr. Lamb because she has not heard good things about him and hence, she does not have positive views about him. She thinks that Mr. Lamb is not a nice man and forbids Derry to get acquainted with him or even see him.

Q. How did Derry’s handicap damage his life?

Ans. Derry insisted that he would go back to Mr. Lamb because it was for the first time that Derry felt comfortable and happy in someone’s presence. That someone was Mr. Lamb. While Derry was jovial with Mr. Lamb, Derry completely forgot about his burnt face. He felt that he too could live an independent life for he had all his faculty intact. Therefore, even though his mother forbade him from meeting Mr. Lamb, Derry insisted on going; he did not want to lose his new found companion.

Q. What benefits did Derry reap from his association with Mr. Lamb?

Ans. Fourteen years old Derry had half a burnt face, which resulted in poor self image. He became conscious of people’s stares and their comments hurt him. This made him avoid people. Eventually, he become introvert. Thus, Derry’s handicap damaged his life.

Q. Both Derry and Lamb are physically impaired and lonely. It is the responsibility of society to understand and support people with infirmities so that they do not suffer from a sense of alienation. As a responsible citizen, write in about 100 words what you would do to bring about a change in the lives of such people.

Ans. Derry is a withdrawn and defiant boy. He does not like to be around people because they look at his face and pass uncharitable remarks. Once, one side of his face got burnt by acid, which left a scar on his face. This created a complex in his mind. He thinks that people are afraid of him. Mr. Lamb is a physically challenged man, one of whose leg is made of tin. Mr. Lamb is a complete contrast to Derry when it comes to his attitude and outlook towards life. He is an optimist who does not allow trivial teasing and name calling do not bother him. In fact, he likes having company. Mr. Lamb is not repulsed by Derry’s scarred face. Neither he is angry nor put off by the boy’s rudeness. Instead, Mr. Lamb understands Derry’s anguish and tries to make him realise that being handicapped is not a drawback. His meeting with Mr. Lamb becomes a turning point in Derry’s life because Derry is ready to overcome his obstacles and face the world. He finds courage and strength to get what he wants.

Q. “Things that matter. Things nobody else has ever said. Things I want to think about.” What are the ‘things’ that Derry is referring to? How did Derry’s chance meeting with Mr. Lamb prove meaningful for him?

Ans.

Q. Derry sneaked into Mr. Lamb’s garden and it became a turning point in his life. Comment. OR What change took place in Derry when he met Mr. Lamb? OR How did Mr. Lamb’s meeting with Derry become a turning point in Derry’s life?

Ans.

Q. Both Derry and Lamb are victims of physical impairment, yet each has a different attitude from the other. Comment.

Ans

Q. Derry and Mr. Lamb both are victims of physical impairment, but their attitudes towards life are completely different. Elaborate.

Ans. Derry is an angry, withdrawn and defiant young boy. One side of his face was burnt because of which he lacked self-confidence. He was lonely because he had no friends. People either feared him, found him disgusting to look at, treated him with pity or made fun of him. Derry had alienated himself from the society completely. One day, Derry sneaked into Mr. Lamb’s garden and it became a turning point in his life. One of Mr. Lamb’s leg was made out of tin. Due to his physical impairment, he could not move around much. As a result, Mr. Lamb too was isolated from the rest; children called him lameyLamb. However, it did not affect him. Instead, he always kept the gates of his garden open. Seeing Derry suffer so much at such a young age Mr. Lamb struck up a conversation with him, spending time with Mr. Lamb made Derry look at the world and love and admire everything he saw and heard. Mr. Lamb encouraged Derry to make friends and not be bothered by their comments. He told the boy not to hate people. Mr. Lamb’s life and attitude inspired Derry quite a lot. In spite of his handicap, Mr. Lamb lived an independent and happy life seeing his positive approach to life, Derry decides to get rid of the habit of self-pity and face the world boldly with his newly gained self-confidence.

Q. Both Derry and Lamb are victims of physical impairment, but much more painful for them is the feeling of loneliness. Comment. OR The lesson, ‘On the Face of It’, is an apt depiction of the loneliness and sense of alienation experienced by people on account of a disability. Explain.

Ans. Mr. Lamb and Derry have different sorts of physical disability. While Mr. Lamb has a tin leg, one side of Derry’s face was burnt by acid and now is scarred. Both Derry and Mr. Lamb are victims of physical impairment, but much more painful for them is the feeling of loneliness. Both suffer alienation from the society. Derry feels that he is feared rather than accepted by the society because of his scarred face. Mr. Lamb also has to face name calling-‘Lamey-Lamb’ although it does not bother him much. Loneliness has caused constant pain for both Derry and Mr. Lamb. They both crave for friends, but neither of them have it. However, while his isolation makes Derry a bitter person, Mr. Lamb has a positive outlook and believes that being a handicap is not a drawback. Both expect that the society would neither treat them differently, as freaks, nor with pity. They want to be treated with empathy as equals.

Q. What is the bond that unites the two- the old Mr. Lamb and Derry, the small boy? How does the old man inspire the small boy?

Ans. Mr. Lamb turned Derry into a confident boy from a complex one. Both were physically handicapped but with different perspectives towards life. In the beginning Derry was a defiant and withdrawn boy who hated meeting people. Their stares, jibes and pity made him frustrated. He suffered a lot due to his burnt face and had a pessimistic approach to life. Mr. Lamb transformed his vision of life and suggested to live it on his own terms. Mr. Lamb discussed his own situation with Derry to make him understand that he should be open-minded. He told him that God has made all the things and one should not keep oneself in a room forever. He also kept his garden gate open and welcomed all. Moreover, Derry could open up the layers of his heart and complexes in front of Mr. Lamb, which unburdened his heart. He got a new ray of hope in his life. He also taught Derry to use whatever God had given to him. The lesson of Mr. Lamb could not be ignored by Derry. He was disheartened to find about his death. To meet Mr. Lamb, defying his mother and his return to Lamb’s garden shows his appreciation for living life as shown by Lamb. He learnt the lesson of optimism.

Q. How did Mr. Lamb try to give courage and confidence to Derry?

Ans. When Mr. Lamb found Derry in his garden, he did not make him go away. Instead, Mr. Lamb welcomed Derry in a cheerful way accepting him as he was. Although Derry behaved rudely with him, he remained calm and cordial as if Derry’s bad temper and defiance did not bother him at all. Derry was always angry and bitter because one side of his face was burnt. His face seemed to scare everybody. He withdrew himself from the society because of which he lacked courage and self confidence. Mr. Lamb’s behaviour towards Derry was completely different from others. He told Derry that it’s important to see how one is inside than how one looks on the outside. He inspired Derry with love for life and told him one cannot go through life being scared and alienated. Mr. Lamb asked Derry to enjoy simple joys of everyday living with people around and nature, ignoring the unpleasant. He initiated courage and confidence in Derry by telling him not to brood over limitations but count his blessings.

Should Wizard Hit Mommy? – Important Questions

Important Question and Answer

Q. How was the skunk’s story different from the other stories narrated by Jack?

Ans. The skunk’s story was different from the other stories narrated by Jack because other stories ended on a happy note. The wizard always resolved the problem by the end of the story, which appealed a lot to Jo. However, Roger Skunk’s story had a twisted ending. In this story, the wizard was unable to help Roger Skunk because mother skunk interfered in the Previous Years’ CBSE Board Questions Answers process. Jo had not so much interrupted the narration earlier or challenged Jack’s authority. It was also the only story, the ending of which was unacceptable to Jo. But above all, unlike any of Jack’s stories, the ending of this story remained unresolved.

Q. Why did Roger Skunk go to see the old owl?

Ans. Roger Skunk went to see the old owl because he was upset that all the other animals refused to come near him or play with him because of his bad smell. Roger needed advice on how to get rid of his stink.

Q. How does Jo want the story to end?

Ans. Jo wants Roger Skunk to smell like roses and not have the skunk’s foul smell. She also wants the wizard to take revenge on the mother by hitting her.

Q. Why does Jack insist that it was the wizard that was hit and not the mother?

Ans. Jack insists that it was the wizard that was hit and not the mother because he wanted to teach a moral lesson to Jo that parents know what is best for their children. Jack also wanted, Jo to understand that one should be content with the way one is born and not change just because the society does not accept him/her the way he/she is.

Q. What did Jo want the wizard to do when Mommy Skunk approached him?

Ans. As the end of the story did not appeal to Jo, she wanted the wizard to hit Mommy Skunk and make Roger Skunk continue to smell like roses. It is evident that the story violated Jo’s sense of fairness for why should Roger Skunk not smell of roses and thus, have more friends.

Q Why does Jo insist that her father should tell her the story with a different ending? OR Why did Jo think Roger Skunk was better off with the new smell?

Ans. Jo was not convinced that the little animals eventually got used to the way the little skunk was and smelt. Moreover, Jo felt that Mommy Skunk was being unfair to Roger Skunk by not allowing wizard to make him smell like roses. She wanted Roger Skunk to be accepted by his peers and thus, be happy.

Q. How did the wizard help Roger Skunk?

Ans. Roger skunk was very unhappy because he smelt bad and had no friends. The wizard made his foul smell go away with the magic spell, gave him the beautiful smell of roses and helped him have many friends.

Q. What part of the story did Jack himself enjoy the most and why?

Ans. The part of the story, which Jack himself enjoyed the most was where Roger goes to the wizard’s house. Jack imitated the wizard’s voice. He felt being an old man suited him. He mixed his own childhood humiliations and experiences with the narration of the story. Jack enjoyed doing so because he liked seeing his daughter holding on to his words, liked seeing her apprehensive and expecting something unexpected. Jack enjoyed the fact that Jo loved the stories narrated by him.

Q. Why was Roger Skunk’s mommy angry with him? What did she finally tell him?

Ans. Roger Skunk’s mommy was angry with him because he had let the wizard change his original bad smell to that of fragrance of roses. Finally she told him that she found the smell of roses on him awful because skunks were supposed to smell the way they actually smell.

Q. How did Jo want the wizard to behave when Mommy Skunk approached him?

Ans. When Mommy Skunk approached the wizard, Jo wanted him to hit her back just as she had hit him on the head with her umbrella and not change Roger Skunk back.

Q. Which do you think is a better ending of Roger Skunk’s story, Jo’s or her father’s? Why?

Ans. In Jack’s version of the Roger Skunk story, the wizard uses reverse magic on Roger so as to give him back his original stink because mother Skunk hit him with her umbrella. From an adult’s perspective, Jack’s version of the story aims at teaching two important lessons acceptance of oneself and that parents are the best judge. However, Jo suggests an alternate ending to the story because she does not agree with Jack’s ending. Jo wants a happy ending. She feels sorry for Roger Skunk and wants him to smell like roses so that Roger Skunk can play with other animals. This shows that peer acceptance is quite important for children. It also shows that the sense of freedom of choice develops at an early age. Therefore, from a child’s perspective, Jo’s version of ending the Roger Skunk’s story is also relevant.

Q. How did Jo want the Roger Skunk story to end?

Ans. Jo wanted the story to have a happy ending i.e., Roger Skunk to smell like roses forever. Also, Jo wanted the wizard to hit mother skunk back because she had no right to interfere in the matter.

Q. Why did Roger Skunk go to the owl? What advice did he get?

Ans. Roger Skunk went to see the old owl as he was upset that all the other animals refused to come near him or play with him because of his bad smell. Roger needed advice on how to get rid of his stink. The wise Owl advised Roger Skunk to go the wizard to get his problem solved.

Q. Why does Jo call the Skunk’s Mommy stupid?

Ans. Jo calls the skunk’s mommy stupid because mommy had hit the wizard and made him give Roger Skunk his real stink back. Jo thought Mommy Skunk was so stupid that she did not understand Roger Skunk’s problem.

Q. How does the story, ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy’ bear testimony to the fact that the frustrations faced by adults and their personal experiences often intrude upon their interaction with their children? Elaborate. OR At the end of the storytelling session, why does Jack consider himself ‘caught in an ugly middle position’?

Ans. Jack feels that he has been caught in an ugly middle position physically, emotionally as well as mentally. He was conscious of his duties as a father and as a husband. His efforts to make Jo fall asleep proved quite fatiguing. She kept on interrupting him, asking for clarifications, pointing errors and suggesting alternatives. Jo’s non-acceptance of the ending of the story is considered an act of defiance by Jack. He is quite taken aback by Jo’s behaviour and the things she said. On the other hand, learning that his pregnant wife, Clare, needs his help in the household chores, he is in a hurry to end the story. However, being a loving father, he gives into Jo’s demands and extends the story. The result of the extension to the story proves unfruitful and unpleasant for Jack and Clare. Being waiting for her husband to come down and help her with painting of the woodwork, Clare complains that he had told a long story. Jack feels utter weariness and trapped in a cage. He is overcome with a sense of detachment and frustration being caught in the ugly middle position.

Q. How did Jo want the Roger Skunk story to end? Why?

Ans. In Jack’s version of the story, Roger Skunk’s mommy hits the wizard on his head with her umbrella, and told him to cast a reverse spell on Roger skunk and give him his original smell back. However, Jo did not agree with this ending and suggested an alternate end for the story. According to her, the wizard should have hit mommy back and not change Roger Skunk. To Jo, the wizard was a good person who helps ‘Roger skunk’ when he was in trouble and seeking a way out. Witnessing Mommy Skunk’s actions, Jo felt that ‘stupid Mommy’ should have been punished for her unkind behaviour towards the kind wizard. She believed that Mommy Skunk was imposing her will both on Roger Skunk and the wizard without considering her son’s fear of not getting accepted by his peers. Jo also thought that Roger Skunk should be allowed to choose his own life even if it meant to get rid of the stink.

Q. In case of a difference of opinion it is generally the adult who has his way. Comment on how Jack justifies the mother skunk’s action?

Ans. It is evident from the story that in case of difference of opinion, it is generally adult who has his or her way. In Roger skunk’s story, Mommy skunk is furious at the wizard for making Roger smell of roses. She is not ready to consider that little Roger may not feel comfortable in his original smell. She marches off to the wizard and hits him hard on his head with her umbrella for changing the way Roger smelt. Jack justifies Mommy skunk’s action even though Jo disagrees with the story’s ending and wants to change it. She suggests that wizard should hit Mommy back, that would be a fair ending. However, Jack says that Mommy skunk is right on her part. In fact, parents are always right. Jack tries to reason with Jo by saying that Roger skunk’s mother really loved him and wanted to bring him up with real values. Mommy skunk knew what’s best for her son, unlike Roger who was too young to understand what is right or wrong for him. By justifying Mommy skunk’s action, Jackson wants to make Jo understand that adults are experienced therefore, children should respect and listen to their parents.

Journey to the end of the Earth – Important Questions

Important Question and Answers

Q. What is ‘Students on Ice?

Ans. ‘Students on Ice’ is an educational expedition to Antarctica. It takes high school students to show them the terrifying impacts of human activities in Antarctica so that, the students will realise that the end of the earth is quite near and therefore something should be done to save the planet.

Q. Why did Geoff Green decide to take high school students to Antarctica?

Ans. Geoff Green didn’t find any good in taking curious celebrities to Antarctica until he thought of taking high school students. He believed that the high school students are the real future policy makers of the earth and the young enthusiasm in them would easily understand the seriousness of the threat that poses the earth by visiting Antarctica and they would act their bit to save the planet from further deterioration.

Q. Why is Students on Ice programme a success?

Ans. When one stands in the midst of the calving ice-sheets, retreating glaciers and melting icebergs, one realises that the threats to the earth are real. It is different and way more pragmatic from talking about Antarctica from the comfort zones of our warm countries and therefore being in Antarctica is a shocking realisation.

Q. Why are the youngsters called the future policy makers of the earth?

Ans. The youngsters according to Geoff Green are the future policy-makers because it is them who will bring substantial changes as they grow up. More than that, the more educated youth of today is the hope for the earth as many students are more informed and more aware of the weakening strength of the planet.

Q. How do geological phenomena help us to know about the history of humankind?

Ans. Geological phenomena certainly helps us to know about the history of humankind. A giant southern supercontinent- Gondwana did exist 650 million years ago. The climate was much warmer. It had a huge variety of flora and fauna. Gondwana thrived for 500 million years. Finally, it broke in to separate countries as they exist today. It was the stage when dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of mammals started.

Q. What are the indications for the future of humankind?

Ans. Rapid human population growth and limited resources exert pressure on land. Burning of fossil fuels has only helped in increasing the average global temperature. Melting of ice-caps, depletion of the ozone layer and global warming are the real and immediate dangers for mankind. They will affect the lives of all the marine animals and the birds of the region.

Q. How is the study of Antarctica useful to us?

Ans. The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica. Therefore, the study of Antarctica shows that India and Antarctica were part of a supercontinent named Gondwana. This supercontinent existed 650 million years ago. The climate of Gondwana was much warmer. It fostered a huge variety of flora and fauna. Then about 150 million years ago, dinosaurs were wiped out. The age of mammals started. Gondwana was forced to separate into countries. The globe was shaped much as we know it today. A cold circumpolar current was created. It made Antarctica frigid.

Q. What lessons can be learnt from an expedition to Antarctica?

Ans. While in Antarctica, one can witness the icesheets breaking, water level rising, seals taking sun bath on the icefloes. One can also walk on the thin layers of ice and feel the life under ones feet. One can see icebergs as big as a small country. And earlier these ice sheets were many times bigger than their present size. One can see a green patch of phytoplankton – a microscopic grass that feeds the entire marine life. Lastly, if one can get a chance to dig a bit, one can be lucky to see the fossils of half a million years old animals, plants and birds that got killed in the previous ice-age. This way one can learn the lesson of the slow impending death of the planet earth and therefore take some constructive actions to save it from its doom.