Class 10th

The Tale of Custard the Dragon important Questions and Answers

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1: ‘Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears’. Identify two poetic devices used in the above line.

Answer: (i) As brave as a barrel – Simile
(ii) Brave as a barrel full of bears – Alliteration

Question 2: Why did Belinda cry for help? Who came to her help?

Answer: Belinda cried for help because she was afraid of the pirate. The custard came to her help.

Question 3: How did Belinda’s pets, other than Custard, face the pirate?

Answer: All the animals other than the dragon used to boast about their bravery and made the fun of the dragon. But when the pirate entered the house, all got scared and ran away and disappeared except Custard, the dragon.

Question 4: How did each of Belinda’s pets react at the sight of the pirate?

Answer: Each of Belinda’s pets ran away and hid. They were scared at the sight of the pirate.

Question 5: Give a brief description of the pirate in the poem, ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’.

Answer: The pirate entered from the window. He had pistols in his left and right hand. He held a bright cutlass in his teeth. His beard was black and one leg was wood.

Question 6: Who all lived in a white house with Belinda?

Answer: Belinda lived in a white house with Ink – a black kitten, Blink – a grey mouse, Mustard – a yellow dog, Custard – a dragon and a red wagon.

Question 7: Why did everyone make fun of the dragon?

Answer: Everyone in the house used to laugh at the dragon because he always cried for a safe cage, whereas others used to boast about their bravery.

Question 8: How did they say their admiration for the dragon after the death of the pirate?

Answer: They became very happy. Belinda embraced him. Mustard licked him. Ink and
Blink jumped round surrounding him. They expressed their joy in this way. No one
mourned for the pirate.

Question 9: What did they say about their bravery after the pirate’s death?

Answer: Mustard said that he would have been twice as brave if he had not got nervous. Ink and Blink said that they had been three times as brave as he. But Custard said that he agreed with them. He said that they were braver than him.

Question 10: Who among them was actually brave? How did he show his bravery?

Answer: Custard, the dragon, was the only one who was actually brave. The others were all cowards. They disappeared when they saw the pirate. But the dragon-faced him bravely and swallowed him up.

Question 11: How is ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ a ballad?

Answer: A ballad is a poem that tells a story. The theme of a ballad is an adventure, bravery, romance, etc. Then it is highly musical due to its rhyme scheme. This poem has these qualities. But it is a parody of a ballad. The poet shows these qualities in a humorous way.

Question 12: What were the pet names of Belinda’s animals?

Answer: The little black kitten was called Ink. She gave the name Blink to the little grey mouse. The little yellow dog’s pet name was Mustard. The dragon was given the pet name Custard.

Question 13: How does the poet describe Belinda and her animals’ bravery? How was Custard different from them?

Answer: The poet says that Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears. Ink and Blink followed lions down the stairs. Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage. But Custard was a coward. He kept crying for a nice safe cage.

Question 14: How did the animals make fun of the dragon?

Answer: They laughed at the dragon. Belinda teased the dragon. She tickled him very hard. Ink, Blink and Mustard called him Percival. They sat in the red wagon and laughed at the cowardly dragon.

Question 15: Belinda and the other animals have been described as brave. But on seeing the pirate, they behaved in a cowardly way. How did they react?

Answer: Belinda turned pale with fear. She cried for help. Mustard ran barking fearfully. Ink went to the bottom of the house. The little mouse ran into his hole in no time.

Question 16: How did Custard prove to be brave when the pirate came?

Answer: Custard, the dragon, jumped and snorted like an engine. He struck the pirate with his tail like iron. There were different sounds of clatter, clank and jangle. He attacked the pirate as a robin attacks a worm.

Question 17: How did the pirate react when the dragon attacked him?

Answer: The pirate looked at the dragon with an open-mouth. He swallowed some liquor from his pocket flagon. He fired two bullets. But they did not hit the dragon. The dragon attacked him and swallowed him.

Question 18: Where did Belinda live? Which animals lived with her?

Answer: Belinda lived in a little white house. Some animals also lived with her. They were: a little black kitten, a little grey mouse, a little yellow dog and little pet dragon.

Long Questions and Answers

Question 1: Why do you think Custard, the dragon was called a coward? How was Custard able to save all his housemates from the pirate? What values should Belinda have possessed, so that Custard too could have been among her favourites?

Answer: The dragon appeared to be a coward as he always cried for a safe cage, so he was called a cowardly dragon. Later, when the pirate entered the house with pistols in his left and right hand, everyone was scared and ran away and disappeared, except Custard who faced him boldly and attacked him, hit him hard with his forceful tail and gobbled every bit of him. Belinda should have been nice to him. She should have made him feel comfortable and safe in the house, instead of laughing and making fun of him with other pets. Belinda should have been protective towards him.

Question 2: Describe the fight between the dragon and the pirate.

Answer: The dragon had big sharp teeth, and spikes on top of him and scales underneath, but everyone laughed at him as he always cried for a safe cage, whereas everyone boasted about their bravery. But when the pirate entered, all were scared and ran away, except Custard who faced him boldly, attacked him, hit him hard with his forceful tail and gobbled every bit of him. All of them later felt obliged to Custard for saving their lives.

Fog important Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Questions

1. According to the poet, what is the fog like?
Answer: According to the poet, the fog is like a cat.

2. How does the fog come?
Answer: The fog comes slowly and silently.

3. What is the fog compared to?
Answer: The fog is compared to a cat.

4. What does the fog look over ?
Answer: The fog looks over the harbour and the city.

5. How does the poet make the fog like a living creature?
Answer: The poet makes the fog like a living creature by comparing it to a cat.

6. How does the fog move on?
Answer: The fog moves on slowly.

7. How does the poet describes the fog’s movements?
Answer: The poet describes the fog as a cat. Like a cat, the fog comes silently and slowly. It is sitting on its haunches. And then it moves on.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. The poet actually says that the fog is like a cat”, With reference to the poem, ‘Fog’ explain this statement.
Or
Think of any other animal that can best replace the cat in the poem, ‘Fog’. Write a few lines that would tell us about the resemblance of Fog with that animal.

Answer: The fog is compared to a cat. He says a cat does not make a sound when it walks so also is the fog. But its presence is apparent. Its ‘Silence’ is very much like that of a cat moving on its little feet. The way the fog sits is very much like a cat sitting on its haunches, looking here and there.

2. How does the poet make the fog like a living creature?

Answer: The poet describes the fog as a cat. He does so through a metaphor. The fog is the cat itself. As a cat jumps and lights on its soft silently, the fog also comes down noiselessly. Then it moves on like a cat.

3. How is the fog like a cat? What three things suggest it?

Answer: Three things suggest that the fog is like a cat. Like a cat, the fog comes silently. The fog is looking over the harbour and the city like a cat does so sitting on its haunches. Thirdly, it moves as the cat moves.

4. How does the poet employ the double imagery of the fog and the cat?

Answer: The poetic device of metaphor is very effectively used in the poem. The fog is converted into a cat and the cat is morphed back into the fog. The silent arrival of the fog is like a little cat. The fog stays there sitting like the cat on its haunches.

5. Describe the similarities that have been mentioned in the poem between the fog and a cat.

Answer: It is a dual image that changes and merges again in the original. The fog changes into a cat and the cat changes into the fog. Both of them come silently unseen and suddenly. Both engulf everything underneath them. The fog engulfs everything, the harbour and the city in its fold. The fog sits silently as a cat sits on its haunches. Then it disappears and moves ahead.

6. Which aspect of nature Carl Sand-burg presents in the poem ‘Fog’?

Answer: The poet presents nature in its raw and natural state. The fog comes as if from nowhere. It comes suddenly and silently like a little cat. The fog’s power is overwhelming. It engulfs everything, the city and the harbour in its all-embracing fold. Then following the law of change, it disappears, no one knows where.

7. Does the poet actually say that the fog is like a cat? Then how do we know that the fog is like a cat?

Answer: The poet compares fog to a cat. A cat comes without making any noise and goes away. In the same way, the fog comes and spreads slowly and silently over harbour and city.

8. What three things tell us that the fog is like a cat?

Answer: (i) The fog comes slowly and silently like a cat.
(ii) The cat sits on its haunches for some time looking around and then moves away as it came.
(iii) Similarly, the fog spreads over the harbour and city for some time. Finally, it moves away like a cat.

9. The fog comes on like cat feet. How does the poet compare the fog with a cat? What poetic device is used here?

Answer: The cat comes silently and slowly. In the same way, the fog also comes slowly and silently. The poetic device used here is personification. The fog has been personified.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. What metaphor has the poet used in the poem ‘Fog’? Do you think it is appropriate?

Answer: In the poem Tog’, Carl Sandburg has metaphorically compared the fog to a cat. The first strange thing about the metaphor is the comparison of a phenomenon with a living animal. Perhaps the poet wants to emphasize the silent nature and mysterious ways of the fog, so he has compared the fog to a cat. A cat does not make a sound when it walks. So also is the fog, but its presence is apparent. Its “silence” is very much like that of a cat moving on its little feet.

Then the fog stays in its place looking over the harbour and city which creates a hazy atmosphere all around. The way it sits is very much like a cat sitting on its haunches, looking here and there before it makes a move. This is as if the fog remains a silent spectator of the happenings in the city. Whatever the purpose may be, both the fog as well as a cat make their impression and make their presence felt. The comparison of the fog to a cat seems very appropriate because, reading the poem, one feels that truly, the fog approaches stealthily, just like a cat.

2. How does Carl Sandburg describe the arrival, stay and departure of fog through the image of a metaphorical cat?

Answer: The poet employs a double image. The fog is converted into a cat and the cat morphs back into the fog. The arrival of the fog is silent and sudden. It comes as if from nowhere. Its arrival is like a small cat. It sits and stays for a while. It engulfs everything in its all-embracing fold. It spreads its fold everywhere from the harbour to the city. It sits silently as a cat sits on its haunches. The fog stays but not for long. A cat never stays at one place for a long time. So, the fog moves ahead no one knows where. Carl Sandburg describes the raw aspect of nature, the all-embracing and prevailing fog. Its silent power is felt everywhere from the harbour to the city.

The Trees important Questions and Answers

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1: What is the central idea of the poem, ‘The Trees’?

Answer: The central idea of the poem is the conflict between man and nature. A plant is brought inside the house when it is a sapling. But as it grows into a tree, it gets suffocated with the limited space available. So it departs to feel free. The tree is thus, moving out to occupy the now empty forest, made so by man’s indiscriminate felling of trees. Humans must understand the negative impact of their actions on nature and mend their ways before it is too late.

Question 2: Where are the trees at present? What do their roots, and leaves do?

Answer: At present, the trees are in the house. The roots try to free themselves from the cracks of the veranda floor, and the leaves make efforts to move towards the glass, perhaps in search of light. The small branches become stiff as they try to pull themselves towards the light.

Question 3: Why is the description of the moon different in the beginning and at the end of the third stanza?

Answer: At the beginning of the third stanza, the poet says that one can see the whole moon shining in the open sky, but in the end, the moon seems to be broken like a mirror and its pieces shine in the crown of the tallest oak tree. The change is caused by the shifting of the trees outside.

Question 4: Justify the revolt of the trees and state two values which the man should possess to stop the revolt.

Answer: The trees inside the house get suffocated as they grow. They try to free themselves from the cracks of the veranda floor and the leaves stretch out as if to move towards the glass. They are justified in their revolt. Men should learn the importance of trees.

Question 5: How does the poet describe the night? How does she feel?

Answer: It is night time. The night is fresh. In the open sky, the full moon is shining. The poet feels the smell of leaves and lichen reaching inside the room. Her head is full of whispers. But she thinks that the next day these whispers will be silent.

Question 6: What is the theme of the poem, ‘The Trees’?

Answer: The theme of the poem is the disappearance of trees. This poem also brings out the idea of conflict between man and nature. Man is doing more and more harm to nature. Nature is getting angry. Man’s existence on this planet is in danger. Thus, it becomes the foremost duty of every citizen to work for the protection of the environment.

Question 7: Why are the trees described in the first stanza not useful for birds or insects?

Answer: The trees described in the first stanza are either decorative plants kept inside a house, or they are shown only in a painting or picture. Therefore, they are not useful for birds or insects. Birds cannot sit on their branches. Insects cannot hide in them.

Question 8: What happens to the roots and leaves of these trees at night?

Answer: The roots of these trees are engaged into the cracks of the veranda floor. At night, these roots try to free themselves from the cracks. The leaves try to move towards the glass. Twigs become harden and the boughs try to expand under the roof.

Question 9: How does the poet describe the growth of the trees inside the house?

Answer: These trees grow in pots and pans. So their roots feel cramped. These roots try to free themselves from the cracks of the veranda floor. The leaves need light. So they move towards the glass. The twigs are stiff and the boughs are like the newly discharged patients coming out of clinic doors.

Question 10: Why does the poet use the metaphor of newly discharged patients?

Answer: A patient feels depressed in a hospital. As soon as he recovers, he is eager to leave the hospital. He rushes towards the clinic doors. In the same way, the plants in the pots feel suffocated. They are deprived of adequate light. So they stretch themselves towards the glass door, in the hope of finding the light.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1: ‘Departure is painful’. So is the departure of the trees for the poet. What will happen after their departure?

Answer: Just like the departure of someone close to us is painful, so also is the departure of a tree. When they are planted as a sapling, they look nice and enhance the beauty of our surroundings. But as they grow and spread out their branches, they look wild and require more space for their growth. The roots create cracks in the floor and the leaves stretch out as if to move towards the glass, perhaps in need of sunlight. The soft twigs become strong and stiff. So the trees need to be removed from the house. No more do the leaves cover the sky, but the trees breathe and they are welcomed by the wind. The moon resembles a broken mirror, reflecting off the leaves. The poet reveals that she will feel lonely after the trees’ departure.

Question 2: How does the poem ‘The Trees’ make a strong plea against deforestation?

Answer: The poem, ‘The Trees’ sends home a strong message against deforestation. It highlights the importance of trees when the poet says that without trees there will be no shadow, no forest, no place for birds to sit, no place for insects to hide. As a sapling, the plant adds to the beauty of the surroundings when it spreads its branches, leaves and roots around. It gets the suit house. Thus, in the poem, the trees are welcomed by the strong winds and the moon. The poet does not want to mention the departure of the forests as she feels guilty for merely looking silently at them as they depart. This way, she subtly points out the thanklessness of man towards forests.

Question 3: Explain the phrase “the forest that was empty all these days”. After reading the poem, for whom do you think are the forests needed? Imagine yourself like a tree in a forest.

Answer: In the poem, ‘The Trees’ poet Adrienne Rich subtly drives home the message about the importance of trees. Without trees, the birds would not have a place to sit, insects will have no place to hide and the sun would not bury its feet in shadow. As saplings, we enjoy the beauty of plants as they adorn the surroundings. But slowly, the tree spreads its roots, its branches and leaves, and seems to yearn to go outside where it can live and grow without any restrictions. No more does the tree look attractive indoors. The trees are however welcomed into nature by strong winds and the moon. The poet hereby emphasises that trees need to be kept alive, but should not be ‘imprisoned’ inside the house as they look more beautiful, and tend to thrive outdoors that is where trees belong.

Animals important Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Questions

Question 1: Why does the poet show a preference for living with the animals?

Answer: The poet says that it is better to live with animals as they show tokens of goodness. They are peaceful, self-contained and happy. Animals show innate goodness which is lacked in human beings. Animals do not grumble about their lives or cry over their sins.

Question 2: What is the relevance of ‘tokens’ in the poem, ‘Animals’? Who brings them to the poet?

Answer: Animals show tokens of goodness. They are self-contained, peaceful, thankful and happy creatures. Animals are not unhappy and indeed, bring out tokens of man’s good nature, lost long ago. Animals do not grumble about their lives.

Question 3: What is the central idea of the poem, ‘Animals’?

Answer: The central idea of the poem is the difference between human beings and animals. While they both were initially similar in their innate goodness, the man had lost it over the years, while animals remain the same. They show these tokens of goodness – peaceful, self-containment and happiness, and compel the poet to contemplate on man’s lost goodness.

Question 4: How are animals better than humans, according to the poet?

Answer: According to the poet, the animals are more humane than humans. They have no such bad qualities as humans have. In their world, all are happy, equal and content. They show their relations to the poet and he accepts them.

Question 5: What is the theme of the poem, ‘Animals’?

Answer: The theme of the poem is the superiority of animals’ life over to human beings. The poet, Whitman, compares animals with human beings. He finds animals far better than human beings. The poet finds the reasons for human suffering. Human beings are always dissatisfied. All their actions are with a selfish motive. But animals are far-far away from these bad qualities. So the poet wishes to turn and live with the animals.

Question 6: Why does the poet want to live with animals?

Answer: The poet thinks that animals are very peaceful and self-confident. They do not complain about their condition. They don’t weep for their sins. That is why, he wants to live with the animals.

Question 7: What is the difference between animals and humans regarding their attitude to their condition, sins and God?

Answer: Human beings cry about their condition. They lie awake at night in the dark and weep for their sins. They make the poet sick by discussing their duty about God. But animals do not do any of these things. That is why, the poet likes them.

Question 8: How are animals different from humans about owning things or kneeling to one another?

Answer: Human beings are mad about possessing things. But animals do not care for possession. It is madness only for humans. Animals do not kneel to others as humans do. For them, all are equal.

Long Answers Type Questions

Question 1: “Human beings are called the most civilised species in the entire world. But sometimes they lack the values which are better exhibited by the animals”. Elucidate the statement with reference to the poem, ‘Animals’.

Answer: Human beings are called the most civilised species in the entire world. But sometimes, they lack the values which are better exhibited by the animals. Human beings lack the qualities of being respectable, happy, contented and peace-loving which is still reflected in animals. Animals do not grumble about their lives, lie awake at night, cry over their sins or discuss their duty towards God as humans do. Animals do not have a mania for “owning things”, nor do they kneel before others like humans. Moreover, the tokens of goodness, love, respect and happiness have been dropped by human beings.

Question 2: The poem, ‘Animals’ tells us that civilisation has made humans false to their own true nature. Which values will help you revive your basic nature?

Answer: In the race of human civilisation, humans have lost their own nature. The men have dropped their innate goodness over the years. They have become selfish, jealous, restless, unhappy, cribbing and grumbling creatures. They grumble about their lives, lie awake at night, cry over their sins and discuss their duty towards God.

In a race to earn more luxuries and comfort, they have lost their sound sleep. They have become unhappy and most of the time unable to enjoy even small joys and happiness in life. On the contrary, animals are peaceful, self-contained, thankful and happy creatures. They are not unhappy and indeed bring out tokens of man’s good nature lost long ago, when he possessed qualities like love, respect, contentment and happiness.

Question 3: How is the poem ‘Animals’, a contrast between humans and animals?

Answer: Humans can be described as selfish, jealous, restless, unhappy, cribbing, and grumbling creatures. In contrast, animals are peaceful, self-contained, thankful and happy creatures. They do not grumble about their lives, lie awake at night, cry over their sins or discuss their duty towards God as humans do. Also, they don’t have a mania for “owning things; nor do they kneel before others. Animals, on the whole, are not unhappy and indeed bring out tokens of man’s good nature lost long ago, when he possessed qualities like love, respect, contentment and happiness.

Question 4: “The more I know of humans, the more I love my pet”. With reference to the poem, ‘Animals’, elaborate the statement.

Answer: Whenever the poet thinks about animals, he has a feeling of being one among them. The lost human qualities of being respectable, happy, contented, and peace-loving could be still found reflected in animals. They don’t whine about their condition; nor do they cry for their sins. They don’t make others sick by discussing their duty to God, are not dissatisfied nor have the craze to own things. They may not be respectable, but they definitely do not kneel before others or be unhappy as a whole.

For the poet, they bring the tokens of human qualities like love, respect, contentment and happiness, which they themselves exhibit plainly. He thinks that perhaps the animals possessed these qualities naturally. The poet also wonders whether these tokens could have been negligently dropped by humans long ago. Whatever the case may be, while thinking about the overwhelming negativity of human beings, anyone may start loving his pet the more.

Amanda! important Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Questions

1. What does the speaker ask Amanda not to do to her nails?
Answer: The speaker asks Amanda not to bite her nails.

2. What should Amanda not to do to her soldiers?
Answer: She should not hunch her soldiers.

3. How should Amanda sit?
Answer: She should sit straight.

4. What does Amanda wish to do in the sea?
Answer: She wishes to drift blissfully with the soft-moving waves of the sea.

5. What was Amanda to finish?
Answer: She was to finish her homework.

6. Has Amanda cleaned her shoes?
Answer: No, she has not cleaned her shoes.

7. If Amanda is an orphan, what will she do?
Answer: She will roam about in the streets.

8. How is silence described?
Answer: Silence is described as golden.

9. What is Amanda prohibited to eat?
Answer: She is prohibited to eat chocolate.

10. Why should Amanda not eat chocolate?
Answer: She should not eat chocolate as it causes acne.

11. Who was Rapunzel?
Answer: Rapunzel was fair with very long hair.

12.What did Rapunzel do with her long hair?
Answer: She let her hair fall down from the castle for her lover to climb upholding them.

13. Who is the mermaid in ‘Amanda’, what does ‘she’ wish to do?
Answer: The mermaid is Amanda herself; as imagined by Amanda. She wishes to drift blissfully on a dreamy, emerald sea, without anyone else accompanying her.

14. What is the theme of the poem — ‘Amanda’?
Answer: Too many instructions and too much control are resented by children. They get bored and fed up. Then, they listen to their parents half-heartedly and indulge in daydreaming.

15. Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda!
Remember your acne, Amanda!
Why is Amanda asked not to eat chocolate?

Answer: Amanda already suffers from acne, a skin disease. If she eats chocolate it will aggravate her problem further. That is why she is asked not to eat chocolate.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What is the role/ importance of punctuation marks in language? Why has the poet used the exclamation mark after Amanda? Comment on the title of the poem.

Answer: (i) Punctuation is an important part of grammar. It is used to create sense, clarity and stress in sentences. It is used to structure and organise our writing.
(ii) The exclamation mark is used after Amanda! to show the mother’s surprise on seeing Amanda. Amanda is a sulky and moody girl which upsets the mother.

2. Is the purpose of someone constantly giving instructions to Amanda being fulfilled? Explain.

Answer: No, Amanda sulks and becomes moody when her mother gives her too many instructions. She does not listen to her mother and didn’t care to follow them but she can’t dare to ignore them either so, she sulks. Parents in their endeavour to make their children well-behaved, give them too many instructions.

3. Amanda imagines herself to be Rapunzel, yet would not like to do what all she did. Identify and state the reasons for her decision.

Answer: Amanda wants to be Rapunzel to live a peaceful life in a tower, where no one gives any instruction and she doesn’t have to do any work. But she doesn’t want to escape with a prince like Rapunzel. She never wants to escape and leave such a peaceful atmosphere, with no instruction and no work to do.

4. What message does the poet want to give through the poem — ‘Amanda’?

Answer: The poet wants to convey that parents in their endeavour to make their children well-behaved, mannerly having good habits, give them too many instructions or nag (always finding fault) them. They should adopt positive measures, acceptable to children. Otherwise, they will stop listening to them and indulge in daydreaming as Amanda did.

5. Who was Amanda? What idea do you form her through the poem?

Answer: Amanda was a little school going, girl. She seems to love fairy tales, stories like Rapunzel and mermaids. She does not like too many instructions or nagging which make her sulk and become moody. Then she does not listen to her mother attentively and starts daydreaming.

6. Why does she dream to be an orphan?

Answer: She thinks orphans lead a carefree life. There is no one to pester them with instructions. They can wander in a street and make patterns in the soft dust with their bare feet. They don’t have to clean the shoes or room or do the homework.

7. Amanda imagines herself to be Rapunzel, yet would not like to do what all she did. Identify and state the reasons for her decision.

Answer: Amanda says it. In the story, Rapunzel lets down her long, beautiful hair to escape with the prince. But Amanda is fascinated by Rapunzel’s life in the tower. She never wants to escape and leave such a peaceful atmosphere, with no instruction and no work to do.

8. What made Amanda sulk and become moody?

Answer: Amanda sulks and becomes moody when her mother gives her too many instructions. She does not want to follow them but she can’t dare to ignore them either, so she sulks.

9. How does Amanda is seen behaving when the poem starts? What does the speaker ask her not to do?

Answer: When the poem beings, we find that Amanda is biting her nails. She is hunching her shoulders. She is sitting in a slouching posture. That is why the speaker asks her to behave normally. He asks her not to bite her nails and hunch her shoulders. She should sit up straight.

10. In her day-dreaming, Amanda reaches the sea. What does she imagine herself to be?

Answer: Amanda finds that the sea is relaxed and peaceful. She is the only creature in the sea. She imagines herself to be a mermaid. She is happy. She is drifting on the waves blissfully.

11. What three things the speaker ask Amanda to do which she has not done?

Answer: The speaker asks Amanda to finish her homework. Then he asks her if she has cleaned up her room. Finally, he finds that her shoes are not clean even though he had asked her to clean them.

12. How does Amanda describe her life as an orphan?

Answer: Amanda says that she is an orphan. She is free and roams the street. There is soft dust in the street under her feet. She walks silently and creates patterns on the soft dust with her bare feet. She thinks that silence is golden and freedom is sweet.

13. Why is Amanda forbidden to eat chocolate? How does Amanda behave when she is addressed by the speaker?

Answer: The speaker asks Amanda not to eat chocolate. It is because she has had acne already. Eating chocolate might create more pimples. Amanda listens to the speaker without raising her face.

14. What does Amanda say, ‘I am Rapunzel’? What does she promise not to do?

Answer: Rapunzel was a beautiful girl with long hair. She was locked up in a tower by a witch. In her imagination, Amanda thinks herself to be like Rapunzel who led a peaceful life. She promises never to let down her bright hair.

15. What does the speaker tell Amanda in the end? What is the speaker afraid of?

Answer: The speaker thinks that Amanda is sulking and moody. He thinks that Amanda is always moody. He asks her not to sulk because he is afraid that people will think that he is nagging Amanda.

16. What is the central idea of the poem?

Answer: The central idea of the poem is that children love freedom. They do not want any restrictions on their activities. Secondly, they have a dream world of their own. They like to spend most of their time in that dream world. But the elders are always destroying that dream world by ordering them around.

17. Do you think that Amanda doesn’t like to be controlled and instructed not to do one thing or the other? Give a reasoned answer.

Answer: Amanda loves her freedom. She doesn’t want it to be curtailed. She wants to lead her own kind of life. If she is asked what to do and what not, she feels that her freedom is curtailed. She doesn’t bother to answer her mother when she goes on instructing her what to do and what not.

18. List the things which Amanda’s mother doesn’t want her to do.

Answer: Her mother doesn’t want her to hunch her shoulders and bend her body down. She stops her from eating chocolates as it would not be good for her pimpled face. She wants her to stop sulking as others would think that she is being nagged by her mother.

19. Why does Amanda want to be a mermaid?

Answer:  Amanda is an escapist. She imagines herself to be a mermaid. She wants to live on an island where she is the only inhabitant. She loves freedom. She loves drifting blissfully like a mermaid on that lonely island.

20. Why does Amanda want to be an orphan?

Answer: Amanda values freedom more than anything in her life. She feels suffocated at home as she is constantly nagged by her mother there. She wants to be an orphan. Like an orphan, she likes to wander about the streets freely with bare feet.

21. Why does Amanda want to be Rapunzel?

Answer: Amanda is an escapist. She imagines herself as a fairy-like Rapunzel. She wants to live happily in her lonely tower far from the maddening crowd of the world. Like Rapunzel, she wants to take care of her beautiful golden hair.

22. Why does Amanda’s mother ask her to stop sulking?

Answer: Amanda’s mother thinks that she is moody as her mood is always shifting. If she puts on an unhappy appearance, others will blame her mother. They will think that she is being constantly nagged by her mother.

23. What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid?

Answer: Amanda is a little girl. She, in fact, is a symbol of every child who is instructed by the parents to do or not to do this or that. If she were a mermaid she would blissfully drift in the sea.

24. What does Amanda yearn for?

Answer: Amanda is a little girl. She is asked to do or not to do this and that. She is nagged at by her parents. So Amanda yearns for freedom. She wants to lead a life without any restrictions.

25. What is the fear of the speaker that is explained in the last stanza?

Answer: In the last stanza, the speaker advises Amanda not to remain moody and sulking. The reason behind this is that she does not want to expose it before others. Otherwise, people will think that she was teased by the speaker. It was her fear.

The Ball Poem important Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Questions

1. What has the boy lost in the water?
Answer: He has lost his ball in the water of the sea.

2. Where did the ball land finally?
Answer: The ball landed finally in the water.

3. What was the reaction of the boy at the loss of his ball? 
Answer: The boy was sad and troubled at the loss of his ball.

4. Where was the boy staring down?
Answer: The boy was staring down the harbour where his ball had gone.

5. What does ‘in the world of possessions’ means? 
Answer: It means the world of materialistic things.

6. Do you think the boy has lost something earlier?
Answer: Yes, he has lost something earlier.

7. What lesson does the boy learn? 
Answer: He learns the lesson that gains and losses are part and parcel of life.

8. Why is money called external? 
Answer: Money is called external because we can replace the lost things with its help.

9. Why are the boy’s eyes desperate? 
Answer: His eyes are desperate because he has lost his ball.

10. Who is the poet of the poem ‘The Ball Poem’?
Answer: John Berryman.

11. What is the boy learning from the loss of the ball?
Answer: The boy is learning the nature of loss in this materialistic world. He has learnt that loss is part and parcel of human life.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Express your views on the title of the poem, ‘The Ball Poem’.

Answer: When one reads the title ‘The Ball Poem’, one assumes that the poem may be a light-hearted one but perhaps about the joys of childhood. We must not feel disheartened, dejected and desperate but try to stand up and bear the loss through self-understanding.

2. Express your views on the title of the poem, ‘The Ball Poem’.

Answer: When one reads the title ‘The Ball Poem’, one assumes that the poem may be a light-hearted one, perhaps about the joys of childhood. However, as the reader reads the poem, the seriousness of the topic comes forth, as does the title’s appropriateness.

3. What is the theme of the poem —’The Ball Poem’?

Answer: In this world sometimes we lose things which we love and are attached to. We must not feel disheartened, dejected and desperate but try to stand up and bear the loss through self-understanding as the boy who lost the ball he loved was trying to learn.

4. A ball is an easily available, inexpensive thing. Then, why is the boy so sad to lose it?

Answer: No doubt the ball is an easily available and inexpensive item but the ball, the boy has lost is valuable for him. His memories of younger days are associated with it because he had been playing with it for a long time. It was not an ordinary but a special ball for him. No other ball could take its place. So, he is sad to lose it.

5. What shows that the ball was valuable for the boy?

Answer: The ball was valuable for the boy is obvious (clear) from the way he reacts after losing it He was shocked, remained fixed, trembled with grief staring at the place where the ball had fallen. All this shows that he loved the ball and it was valuable for him.

6. ‘He senses first responsibility’—what responsibility is referred to here?

Answer: The responsibility referred to here is how to stand up or bear the loss through self-understanding and trying to console oneself on his own as the boy who lost his ball was trying to do.

7. Why did the poet not console the boy?

Answer: The poet did not console the boy for two reasons—One, the boy was too shocked and grief-stricken to listen to any sense. Second, the poet also observed that the boy was trying to stand up or bear the loss on his own through self-understanding which is much more reflective and lasting. The poet’s or anybody else’s consoling would not be that effective.

8. ‘ ……starting, down/All his young days into the harbour where/His ball went’… Do you think the boy has had the ball for a long time? Is it linked to memories of days when he played with it?

Answer: Yes, I think the boy had that ball for a long time. The expression—`all his young days into the harbour’ suggests this. It is linked with old memories when he used to play with it, that is why he is so upset about losing it.

9. Do you think the boy has lost anything earlier? Pick out the words that suggest the answer

Answer: I don’t think the boy has lost anything earlier. The first loss is shocking and full of grief—the line—An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy’ reflects it. Also in the `senses first responsibility’—the word first shows that it was his first loss.

10. What does the poet notice at the beginning of the poem?

Answer: The poet sees a boy playing near a harbour with a ball. The poet saw his ball bouncing. It bounced and fell into the water of the harbour. The boy lost his ball. He became very sad.

11. What was the effect of the loss of ball on the bay? 

Answer: The poet sees the boy whose ball has fallen into the harbour. He describes the effect of the loss on the boy. The boy is shaken with grief. He trembles and stares down the harbour. His past days come alive in his mind. 

12. Why does the poet decide not to give money to the boy or he buy another ball for him?

Answer: The poet says that he will not intrude upon the boy because he must learn to tolerate loss. The poet emphasises this loss. He thinks that money cannot compensate for the sense of loss. So he doesn’t give the boy money or buy another ball for him.

13. Explain the line, “And no one buys a ball back. Money is external”. 

Answer: This line means that no one can buy something that is lost forever. No one can buy the boy that very ball which he has lost. Money is an external thing. It is a medium of possessing things. But even money cannot compensate for the sense of loss suffered by a person.

14. Why does the poet say, “Balls will be lost always”? 
Answer: Hem balls are the symbol of man’s possessions. We love our things. Some things are dearer to us than the others. But nothing is permanent in life. We may lose our dear things. Then we suffer from a sense of loss. This is experienced by everyone in life. That is why, the poet says, “Balls will be lost always”.

15. What is the main idea of the poem?

Answer: The main idea of the poem is ‘the sense of loss in life’. The loss is a fact of life. The sooner man learns to tolerate it the better it is. When we lose something for the first time, we feel very sad. But later we learn to live with our loss. In this poem, the boy loses his ball. He is very sad. The poet can buy him another hall. But he does not want to do so. He wants the boy must learn the bitter truth of life that everyone can suffer the loss of something dear.

16. How did the poet witness the whole scene of the boy losing his ball?

Answer: The poet saw the boy playing with his ball. While he was playing with it, the ball bounced down the street ‘merrily’. And then the most unexpected thing happened. Rolling down the street and after taking a few bounces, finally, the ball fell down in the water of the harbour below.

17. How did the boy react after his ball fell into the water of the harbour?

Answer: The falling of the ball in the water was quite sudden. Actually, it was an unexpected loss. The boy was completely shaken but couldn’t even move a step. He stood there fixed to the ground like a statue. He constantly continued staring at the point where his ball fell into the harbour. It seemed as if he was thinking of his childhood days which had disappeared forever like the lost ball.

18. Does the lost ball stand for the metaphor of the boy’s lost childhood? How? 

Answer: The boy has lost his ball. It has fallen down into the harbour. It will not be found back again. However, through the metaphor of the lost ball, the poet wants to highlight a bigger loss. It is the loss of his childhood. Like the lost ball, the childhood days which he cherishes still now, have been lost forever. This makes the loss inconsolable.

19.  Why does the poet say: ‘No use to say ‘O there are other balls’?

Answer: The loss of the ball looks like an ordinary incident. It seems that the boy should not make such a fuss over it. Boys usually lose such balls and again buy new ones as they are not very costly. But the boy seems to be inconsolable over the loss. No money can buy the same ball that he has lost forever. Similarly, no wealth can buy back the childhood that he has lost forever.

20. Why doesn’t the poet want to intrude on ‘him’? What does he consider the safest course?

Answer: The poet doesn’t want to intrude on the inconsolable boy. There is no gain in telling him that the ball he has lost costs almost nothing. He can buy a new ball easily in a dime. Instead of sermonising, the poet leaves it on the boy to develop a new sense of responsibility. It will help him in bearing the loss.

21. What is the general rule of this ‘world of possessions’? Why is money ‘external’?

Answer: Getting and losing is a natural cycle. Many more boys before him bought and lost their balls. This process will go on forever. However, no amount of money can buy back the same ball that has been lost forever. Money is external and has its own limitations. Wealth can’t compensate such emotional losses such as the loss of one’s childhood days.

22. How is the boy learning the ‘epistemology of loss’ from the loss of his ball? What he has to learn?

Answer: The boy has to understand the nature of the loss. He has to understand what it means to lose something. Gain and loss are the two sides of the same coin. The boy has to learn how to move forward forgetting everything about the losses he has suffered in the past.

23. How can the boy stand up again? What every man must know one day? 

Answer: The boy has to understand the epistemology of loss — the knowledge and nature of the loss. This is not the problem of the boy alone. Everyone has to know it sooner or later that it is useless to weep over the loss of our dearest childhood days. One should move ahead forgetting all such losses. Life has to be lived only by moving ahead in it.

24. What is the message that John Berryman gives to the readers in ‘The Ball poem’?

Answer: In ‘The Ball Poem’ John Berryman gives a very positive message. Gain and loss, getting and losing are the essentials in the cycle of life. One should learn epistemology or the knowledge and nature of the loss. Our childhood with all its attachments and sweet memories has gone forever never to come back again. We should not weep over the losses that we have suffered. Let us learn to live and moving ahead in life forgetting all inconsolable losses.

25. Why does the poet not offer to buy the boy another ball?

Answer: The poet does not offer to buy the boy another ball because the new ball would not console him. The reason is that he had a great attachment to the lost ball. ‘He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes’.

How to Tell Wild Animals important Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Questions

1. Where are the Asian Lions found?
Answer: The Asian Lions are found in the eastern countries of the world.

2. How does the Asian Lion look?
Answer: The Asian Lion is a large and yellow-coloured animal.

3. What is the special feature of the Bengal Tiger?
Answer: He has black stripes on his yellow body.

4. How is the Bengal Tiger described?
Answer: He is described as a noble wild beast.

5. How is the leopard’s skin?
Answer: The leopard has spots on his skin.

6. How does a leopard behave when he meets a person?
Answer: When a leopard meets a person he jumps on him at once.

7. Which animal can we meet in our yard?
Answer: We can meet the bear in our yard.

8. What does the bear do on meeting a person?
Answer: The bear hugs the person very hard when he meets one.

9. What is the special feature of the Hyena?
Answer: The Hyena always comes with merry smiles.

10. What is the special feature of the crocodile?
Answer: The crocodile weeps while eating its prey.

11. What two things does a Chameleon not have?
Answer: A Chameleon does not have ears and wings.

12. Where is the Chameleon generally found?
Answer: It is generally found in the trees.

13. What do you learn about the leopard from this poem?

Answer: The poem tells us that a leopard has spots on his skin. As soon as he sees someone he leaps over him at once and starts eating. He is so terrifying and powerful.

14. Peppered spots, tawny beast and noble wild beasts live in the jungles along with some others. Name them.
Answer: The leopard, the lion and the Bengal Tiger live along with the bear, hyenas, crocodiles and chameleons.

15. Name the different animals and birds found in the jungles of the east.
Answer: Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Bear, Hyena, Crocodiles and Chameleons.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. How does one identify a chameleon?

Answer: A chameleon resembles a lizard and is a small, wingless, fearless creature. The poet says that when there is nothing visible on the tree, there is the chameleon camouflaged with the tree.

2. What is the famous saying associated with crocodiles and what does it mean?

Answer: The famous saying associated with crocodiles is that of ‘shedding crocodile tears’. It actually means tears or expressions of sorrow that are insincere, and are said to be so named from a belief that crocodiles wept while devouring their prey.

3. What is the theme of the poem — ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’?

Answer: The theme of the poem is to create humour. The poet creates humour by suggesting dangerous ways of identifying wild animals. You can identify most of the beasts while they are attacking you. Instead of shouting for help or trying to protect yourself, you are busy identifying the attacker—the idea creates humour.

4. What does the poet say about the Asian Lion in this poem?

Answer: The poet says that the Asian Lion is a large beast. He is brownish-yellow in colour. He is found in forests of the eastern countries of the world. His roar is very loud and terrifying.

5. How does the Bengal Tiger look? What is so distinct about a hint?

Answer: The poet says that the Bengal Tiger roams in the forest and look noble. His skin is yellow and there are black stripes on it. As soon as the Bengal Tiger notices someone he tries to eat him.

6. How does the poet describe the bear?

Answer: The poet suggests that the bear can enter a human colony also. That is why you can encounter a bear even in your yard. As soon as the bear comes near a human being, he embraces him. This embrace appears loving. But in fact, it can be fatal.

7. Why does the poet say that a bear’s ‘hug’ may confuse a novice?

Answer: It is the tendency of a bear to kill his victim by embracing him. He hugs the victim so tight that he usually dies. But a novice who does not know the ways of bears may misunderstand his hug. He may think that it is a loving embrace.

8. What does the poet say about the crocodile and the hyena?

Answer: The poet describes the crocodile and the hyena humorously. The hyena seems to be laughing. In fact, it does not laugh. Only its face appears so. On the other hand, the crocodile has tears in his eyes when It eats its victim. it appears as if he is shedding tears at the death of his victim. But this is not so.

9. How will you recognise the Bengal Tiger?

Answer: He is a very grand and impressive animal. His hide is yellowish. There are black stripes all over his body. He is very agile. The moment he notices someone, he will simply eat away that creature at once. If any animal fulfils all these traits, he must be the Bengal Tiger.

10. How will you recognise the leopard?

Answer: The leopard is very agile and is always ready to pounce upon its prey. His hide is spotted all over with dark spots. If he sees you, he will pounce upon you. There will be no use of crying with pain. He will show no mercy and jump at you once again.

11.  How will you recognise a bear from other animals?

Answer:  If you are walking around your courtyard, you can meet a creature there. If he hugs you very hard, then, be sure he is the bear. His embrace is very hard and tight. If you have any doubt about it, he will give you just one more caress.

12. Can a novice distinguish among wild animals? How can hyenas be distinguished from crocodiles?

Answer:  It is very difficult for a novice to distinguish among wild animals. He can be easily confused. But it is very easy to distinguish between crocodiles and hyenas. Hyenas come with merry smiles. Crocodiles can be recognised by the tears in their eyes.

13. How will you recognise a chameleon?

Answer: A chameleon is a small creature. It looks like a lizard in appearance. It is strange that he doesn’t have any ears. Nor does he have a single wing. If you see such a creature sitting on a Tree, be sure he is a chameleon.

14. What does the bear do?

Answer: According to the poet, the bear embraces the human being tight. The description of the bear has been presented in a humorous style. The bear comes near a human being and embraces very hard. He hugs very tightly.

15. What humorous descriptions do you find in the poem?

Answer: We find some humorous descriptions about the animals in the poem. The poet has created it by the selection of words and his pattern of explaining. As the Bengal tiger is described noble, the bear hugs and the hyena smiles.

16. How would you recognise the Asian Lion?

Answer: He is found in the jungles of the eastern regions. He is a large and powerful animal. He is yellow-brownish in colour. He roars so loudly that the roar is enough to terrorise a person to death. If any animal has all these traits, he must be the Asian Lion.

Long Answer Type Questions

1.’Many animals can be identified according to the poets’ suggestion. Name the animals. Which ones would you like to identify? Are there any lessons for us from this poem?

Answer: The poet has listed down the ways of identifying seven animals in the poem, viz., and the lion, the Bengal Tiger, the leopard, the bear, the hyena, crocodiles and chameleons. As for me, I would like to identify the bear, the Bengal Tiger and the leopard. However, putting my life on the line just to identify the tiger and the leopard doesn’t seem worth the risk! So if I see a noble beast with black stripes on yellow, I’II knows the tiger, and the peppered spots will reveal the leopard. The bear hug, I wouldn’t mind! The poetess, using humour, seems to warn readers against venturing too close to these animals.

2. The poet has successfully used humour to be able to ‘tell’ or identify ‘Wild Animals’. How do you think we need lots of it in our daily life?

Answer: Humour is the fuel of life. Without it, it would become difficult to continue living. Today, the life of the common man is typically mired in stress, tension, problems and sadness. It is amazing how the smallest problems may take on epic proportions for a common person. In such a situation, it becomes necessary to have a little humour in life. It gives us the much-needed respite from our monotonous routine and helps us face life more positively. Thus, the poetess’ successful use of humour helps livin our minds and brings a smile on our faces.

3. Every animal is unique and has some special characteristics. What tricks does the poet adopt in distinguishing various wild animals?

Answer: No doubt, every animal is unique. Every wild animal has his own special trait, colour, size and characteristics. The Asian Lion is found in the jungles of the eastern regions. It is a huge and mighty creature with brownish hide. His roar is enough to terrorise a person to death. The Bengal Tiger is a ‘noble’ and impressive wild animals. He has yellowish hide and black stripes all over it. The Leopard has dark spots all over his body. He is very agile. The moment he sees its prey, he pounces upon it without showing any mercy. The bear is known by his strong and tight hug. It becomes rather difficult for a novice to distinguish among wild animals. However, hyenas and crocodiles can be easily recognised. Hyenas come smiling merrily while crocodiles appear to be weeping. The chameleon is a small creature like a lizard. He has no ears and doesn’t have even a single wing. You can find him sitting on a tree.

A Tiger in the Zoo important Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Questions

1. How does the tiger feel in the cage?
Answer: In the cage, he is in an angry mood.

2.How does the tiger walk in the cage?
Answer: In the cage, he walks with pride.

3. How should the tiger walk through the grass?
Answer: He should walk with ease through the grass.

4. Where should the tiger hide to himself?
Answer: The tiger should hide in the shadow.

5. Who passes near the water hole?
Answer: The fat deer pass near the water hole.

6. Where is the tiger’s strength locked?
Answer: His strength is locked behind the bars

7. How does the caged tiger react to the visitors?
Answer: He ignores the visitors.

8. What sound does the tiger near at night?
Answer: The tiger hears the sound of the patrolling cars at night.

9. How do the eyes of the tiger look?
Answer: His eyes look brilliant.

10. At what does the tiger look at?
Answer: At night the tiger looks at the stars.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What do you understand by `His strength behind bars’? What kind of a cage is he locked in?

Answer: The tiger is wretched in its cage. His power is confined behind the bars. He was locked in a small cage where he is devoid of freedom. He feels unhappy, frustrated, restless and angry.

2. Is it safe to allow tigers to live in their natural habitat these days?

Answer: Although it is ideal for tigers to live in the wild, today, it will mean certain death for them. Fast diminishing jungles and danger posed by poachers have pushed tigers to the brink of extinction, making their natural home unsafe.

3. The tiger in the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ has some obvious limitations, describe them in contrast to its natural habitat.

Answer: The tiger in the zoo was confined to a small space. He was angry that he couldn’t be free to move, hunt and do what he pleased forced to be a showpiece; and the cage’s bars obstructed his view of the starry night. This was all unlike his natural habitat where he hunted fiercely and slept fitfully.

4. What is the theme of the poem?
Or
What message does the poet want to convey through the poem—Tiger in the Zoo’?

Answer: The poet wants to convey that it is cruel to keep wild animals in small enclosures of the zoo, away from their natural habitat. They feel angry, helpless and unhappy and remember their life and environment in the forest.

5. Why do you think the tiger was stalking in the cage? What does it show?

Answer: I think the tiger was feeling restless and uneasy in that small cage. He seems to be frustrated and helpless as he could not come out of the cage in the open and enjoy his freedom. He did not want to be a mere showpiece and a source of entertainment for human beings.

6. Describe the movement of the tiger in the cage and in the wild.
Or
What difference do you find in the mood of a tiger when he is in a zoo and when he is in a forest?

Answer: In the zoo, in his small cage and devoid of freedom, the tiger feels unhappy rather frustrated, restless and angry. In the forest, he enjoys moving majestically wherever he wants, terrorizes the villagers by displaying his sharp teeth and claws. He is happy in the forest, enjoying his liberty and surroundings, but not in the zoo.

7. What does the poet say about a tiger in his natural surroundings?

Answer: The poet says that the tiger should be in the jungle. It is his natural habitat. In the jungle, he moves in the long grass near a water hole. He hides in shadow to hunt the deer for his food.

8. Where is the strength of the tiger and how does he treat the visitors?

Answer: The tiger is imprisoned in a cage. So his strength is behind the bars. He paces to-and-fro the length of the cage. Visitors come to his cage. But he ignores those visitors.

9. How does the tiger terrify the villagers?

Answer: The tiger prowls around the houses of the villagers. He terrifies them by snarling at them. Their houses are situated near the jungle. He terrifies the villagers by baring his fangs and showing his long claws.

10. How does the tiger behave at night?

Answer: At night the tiger feels lonely. He hears the sound of the patrolling cars. He looks through the bars at the shining stars. His eyes are also shining.

11. How does the poet contrast the tiger in the cage with a tiger in the forest?

Answer: The poet says that the caged tiger is imprisoned. He is not free. He is angry. On the other hand the tiger in the jungle is free. He walks in the tall grass and hunts the deer that pass near the water hole.

12. How does the tiger walk in the cage?

Answer: The tiger walks in the cage in a proud manner. He walks quietly. But his eyes show that he is very angry at having been imprisoned in a cage. But he can’t do anything for his freedom.

13. How does the tiger stalk in the cage?

Answer: The tiger is not in his natural habitat—the jungle. the lie is locked in a cage made up of cement and concrete. He keeps on stalking inside his cage from one side to the other. He is walking in a quiet rage with his heels which are padded like velvet.

14. How does the tiger prepare himself for hunting when he is in his natural habitat — the jungle

Answer: The mighty tiger roams freely in his natural habitat – the wilds. He knows how to ambush his prey. He waits for his prey lurking unseen in the shadow of trees. He slides through the long grass quite unnoticed. He comes to the water hole where he can find his favourite prey – plump deer.

15. How does the tiger terrorise the villagers? Does he have any intention of killing them?

Answer: Sometimes, the tiger roams around freely and comes near the edge of the jungle. He comes very near to the houses of the villagers which are situated on the outskirts of the jungle. Roaming there, he opens out his white sharp teeth and paws to terrorise the villagers. He has no intention of killing them as he never attacks until he is provoked to do so.

16. How does the tiger feel locked in the concrete cell of the zoo? Why does he ignore the visitors

Answer: The tiger is basically an animal of the wilds. He is’ a denizen of the forest. Being locked in a concrete cell of the zoo, he feels quite helpless. His immense strength is of no use to him as he is put behind the bars. He only stalks the length of his cage. He ignores the visitors who came to see him after buying their tickets. He doesn’t want to present himself as an object of entertaining others.

17. What does the tiger do at night? What does he feel when he stares at the brilliant stars in the sky?

Answer: The patrolling cars move around and the tiger hears their sound late at night. He is locked in a cage but stares at the brilliant stars shining in the vast and open sky. The vast open sky and the brilliant stars only intensify the feeling of helplessness that he feels inside the cage.

18. Freedom can’t be bargained at any cost. What message does Leslie Norris give to the readers in ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’?

Answer: Not only humans but animals too cherish freedom. Freedom can’t be bargained. In this case, a tiger may be well-fed and protected. However, the curtailment of his freedom keeps him in ‘quiet rage’. He resents being behind the bars. He is a different animal when he is in his natural habitat, the jungle. He roams around the water hole and ambushes his favourite plump deer.

19. He hears the last voice at night, The patrolling cars, Who hears the last voice and of what?

Answer: The tiger hears the last voice Le, the sound of the patrolling cars at night. He is imprisoned in a cage at the zoo. The patrolling cars are making a round of the zoo to see that everything is alright.

20. And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
Why are the eyes brilliant? What is common between the eyes and the stars?

Answer: The tiger’s eyes shine brightly in the darkness of night. The stars are also shining in the sky. The common thing between the tiger’s eyes and the stars is that both are brilliant.

21. What message do you get from this poem?

Answer: From this poem, we come to know that animals like to live freely in the forest. The animals do not want to live in the zoo. Their life is pitiable in it.

22. Baring his white fangs, his claws
Terrorising the village.
Who bares his fangs and how does he terrorise the village?

Answer: The tiger bares his white fangs. He terrorises the people of the village because he keeps snarling around houses.

Fire and Ice important Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Questions

1. What is ‘fire’ a symbol of?
Answer: ‘Fire is a symbol of lust and endless desires.

2.What is ‘Ice’ a symbol of?
Answer: ‘ice is a symbol of hatred.

3. What will fire do to the world?
Answer: Fire will put the world to an end.

4. What will the world end in?
Answer: The world will end in the fire as well as ice.

5. Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire?
Answer: The poet holds with those who favour fire because the lust for material things is increasing quickly.

6. Why do some people say that the world will end in ice?
Answer: They say so because hatred among people is increasing fast.

7. Who is the poet of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?
Answer: Robert Frost.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What do you think would be enough to destroy the world? Can Fire and Ice contribute to it?

Answer: Our desires and hatred would be enough to destroy the world. According to the poet, `fire’ represents ‘desire’ and `ice’ represents `hatred’. Desires like fire spread rapidly and engulf one’s whole life. Similarly, ‘hatred’ fills life with poison.

2. What is the underlying idea of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Answer: The poet equates fire with `desire’ and ice with ‘hatred’. Both of these are growing with enormous speed. If we don’t check them from growing, the world will perish. So we must restrain our desires and love our fellow-beings.

3. Which two ideas about how the world will end have been mentioned in the poem? Which idea does the poet support more?

Answer: The two ideas mentioned are that the world will end in fire or in ice. Though the poet thinks both are great for destruction, yet he seems to favour the idea of the destruction of the world in a fire a little more than in ice.

4. What does ‘fire’ and ice’ stand for and what is the general opinion regarding the world?
Or
According to the poet, what does ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ represent? Do you agree with him?

Answer: According to the poet, ‘fire’ represents desire and ‘ice’ represents hatred. I do agree with the poet. Desires like fire spread rapidly and engulf one’s whole life. Similarly ‘hatred’ fills the whole life with poison. It makes one hard-hearted and cruel.

5. What do people think about the ending of the world? What does the poet think?

Answer: Some people think that someday the world will end in fire. On the other hand. some people say. that it will end in ice. The poet has tasted both the fire and the ice. He thinks that the world will end in fire. Here fire stands for the tire of desire.

6. How will the world end twice?

Answer: The poet says that both fire and ice are destructive. Here fire stands for the heat of desire and ice stands for hatred He thinks that our violent desires will end the world. If it survives, it will be ruined by hatred.

7. What is the main idea of the poem?

Answer: The main idea of the poem is that there are violent passions in the world. They are destructive. But mare distinctive Mail those violent desires is the hatred between man and man. The poet thinks that one day this hatred will destroy the world. 

8. Will this world come to an end? What does the poet say in this regard?

Answer: Everything that has a beginning or origin, does have an end. It is an eternal law of nature. The existing world will come to an end, someday. The poet believed many people believe that either ‘fire’ or ‘ice’ will be the cause of the end of the world.

9. What do people think about the end of the world? Who does the poet side with and why?

Answer: People are divided over the cause of the end of this world. Some people think that ‘fire’ symbolised by unbridled passions, desires and fury will destroy this world. Others believe that ‘ice’ symbolised by cold reasoning, indifference and hatred will be the cause of destruction. The poet sides with those who believe that ‘fire’ or unbridled passions and desires will result in the destruction of the world.

10. Why does the poet say, ‘I’ve tasted of desire/I hold with those who favour fire?

Answer: The poet is familiar with the fire of passions and desires in love. He knows it quite well that are uncontrolled desires, passions and fury lead to our destruction. Similarly, he sides with those people who believe that ‘fire’ symbolised by unbridled passions and desires with be the real cause of the end of the world.

11. What will be the cause of the end of the world if it has to perish twice?

Answer: This world is not eternal. Its end is certain. The poet sides with those people who think that ‘fire’ will cause the end of the existing world. But if this world has to perish twice the ‘ice’ is as strong to bring the end of the world as ‘fire’ is. Icy reasoning devoid of human love and sympathy and hatred is sufficient to bring an end of this world.

12. How does the poet ‘know enough of hate’? Where will this ‘hate’ lead to?

Answer: ‘Icy’ or cold reasoning can lead to rigidity, indifference and insensitiveness. This can take away all warmth of human feelings, love and sympathy. The result can be disastrous. ‘Hatred’ born out of cold and ‘Icy’ reasoning can lead to the destruction of the world.

13. How will ‘ice’ be as ‘great’ and ‘suffice’ for causing the end of this existing world? Do you agree with the poet?

Answer: There is no need for ‘fire’ to destroy the world. Even ‘ice’ is sufficient and ‘strong’ enough to cause the destruction of this world. If this world has to ‘perish twice’, then there is no need for fire to destroy it twice. ‘Ice’ is as ‘strong’ and ‘great’ a cause that can cause the end of this world.

14. What is the message of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Answer: The metaphors of ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ are used very effectively to convey a definite message to the readers. ‘Fire’ here stands for our unbridled, uncontrolled and unchecked passions, desires, lust and fury. Such passions are disastrous for human beings. Similarly cold reasoning devoid of all human warmth, love, sympathy will bring insensitivity, cruelty and rigidity. This hatred will lead to the end of this world.

15. From when I have tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire?

Answer: The poet sides with those who believe that the world will be destroyed by fire. ‘Fire’ is a symbol of desire. The poet has already experienced desire. On the basis of his experience, he knows that excessive desire will destroy the world. That is why he holds with those who favour fire.

16. But if it has to perish twice
I think I know enough of hate.
What does ‘it’ refer to? How will it perish twice?

Answer: ‘It’ here refers to the world. The poet says that people hold different opinions about the end of the world. Some say ‘fire’, which stands for ‘desire’, will destroy the world. Secondly, ‘ice’, which stands for ‘hatred’ can also destroy the world.

17. To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
In the poem what does ‘ice’ stand for? How is it sufficient to bring destruction?

Answer: ‘Ice’ stands for ‘hatred’. Hatred may be religious, communal or of any other type. According to the poet, there is enough hatred in the world which will destroy the external, physical world one day.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. How does the poem depicts the two contrasting ideas— ‘Fire’ and ‘Ice’? Can hatred destroy us and the world? Explain bringing out values which can make this world a better place to live in.

Answer: (i) In this poem, Robert Frost refers to two contrasting ideas—Fire and Ice as predictions of how the world will end. According to him, some people say that the world will end in a fire while some others hold that this will end in ice. The poet equates desire with fire and hatred with ice. Both the desire and hatred are growing with such a rapid speed that the world will come to an end either of the ways.
(ii) Yes, hatred can destroy us and the world. Intolerance in behaviour creates hatred that leads to fury and cruelty. One becomes hard-hearted and insensitive to the feelings of others.
(iii) Love, brotherhood, tolerance, peace, contentment, sensitivity, benevolence, generosity among people can make this world a better place to live in.

2. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help in bringing out the contrasting ideas in the poem?

Answer: The rhyme scheme of the poem in the first stanza is a, b; a band in the second stanza it is – a, b, a, b, a.
The lines ending with the same rhythm have the same idea but the line that ends with a different note has the contrasting idea. In the first stanza, the first, third and fourth lines end with the words fire, desire, fire – same rhythm but the second line ends with the word ‘ice’, a different note, also it contrasts with ‘fire’.
Thus the poet has brought out the contrasting ideas in the poem by using different rhythms.

3. There are many ideas about how this world will come to an ‘end’. What are they? Do you agree with the poet and his understanding of the poet and his understanding of the issue in this regard?

Answer: Almost all think that this world will end at one time or the other. It is true that everything that has a beginning or origin will come to an end too. There are many ideas about how this world will come to an end. Some think that ‘fire’ will be the cause of the ‘end’ of the world. Others believe that ‘ice’ will bring the end of the world. Both of these ideas have their valid reasons. The poet sides and stands with those who believe that ‘fire’ will be the cause of the ‘end’.

The poet is well aware of how the ‘fire’ of unbridled passions, desires, lust, and fury can lead to the destruction of humanity and the world. But the other view is equally convincing. Cold and ‘icy’ reasoning can create insensitivity, rigidity, frigidity, and indifference in man. Ultimately, it breeds ‘hatred’ and contempt. This kind of ‘icy’ reasoning which is devoid of all human warmth, sympathy, love, and understanding will only bring destruction and death of this world.
I believe that both ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ have strong potentialities to bring disasters and destruction to the world.

Dust of Snow important Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Questions

1. Where was the crow sitting
Answer: The crow was sitting in a hemlock tree.

2. What did the crow shakedown on the poet?
Answer: He shook down snow on the poet.

3. In what mood was the poet before falling of snow on him
Answer: He was in an unpleasant mood.

4. What type of plant is ‘a hemlock tree’?
Answer: It is a poisonous plant with small white flowers.

5. What fell on the poet from the hemlock tree?
Answer: Sonic dust of snow fell on the poet from the hemlock tree.

6. How did the dust of snow affect the poet?
Answer: It changed the poet’s mood.

7. Who is the poet of the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?
Answer: The poet of this poem is ‘Robert Frost’.

8. What did the poet think of the day before the fall of the dust of snow on him?
Answer: The poet thought unhappiness of the day before the fall of the dust of snow on him. But after the incident, he started to look at the surroundings.

9. What is the dust of snow?
Answer: The dust of snow is snowflakes or small and soft particles of snow that settles down on the various objects on the earth during the snowfall.

10. What is a hemlock tree?
Answer: A hemlock tree is a poisonous tree with white flowers. It stands for sorrow. The dust of snow had covered this tree.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. How has the poet observed nature in the poem ‘Dust of Snow’

Answer: The poet has observed nature as a positive medium of change for him. The poet had been the sorrowful and depressive mood in the poem. But then the way a crow shook snow dust off, it changed his mood. Nature gave him the inspiration to behave in a positive manner.

2. What is the underlying message for us in our hectic life with reference to the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’?
Or
What is the central idea of the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?
Or
What does the poet want to convey through the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?

Answer: In the poem ‘Dust of Snow’, the poet wants to convey that sometimes certain moments or actions which are simple have larger significance. They can change the mood or life of a person. The way a crow shakes down dust of snow on the poet inspires and gives him the idea to shake off his depressive thoughts, become cheerful and do something useful.

3. What side of nature do ‘crow’ and ‘hemlock’ represent?

Answer: ‘Crow’ is a black, harsh-voiced bird and ‘hemlock’ is a tree with poisonous bitter fruit. Both are not beautiful. They represent the dark, depressive, sorrowful and bitter side of nature.

4.Why does the poet use such poetically uncommon bird and tree? What does it reflect?

Answer: The poet seems to be in a depressed and sorrowful mood. In such a mood, one cannot think of a sweet and beautiful side of nature. The harsh, bitter and poisonous images come to his mind. That is why he uses an uncommon, harsh, ugly crow and poisonous tree like hemlock.

5. Justify the role of the crow in the poem “Dust of Snow” in changing the poet’s mood.

Answer: I think, ‘the way snow dust was shaken off’ changed his mood. Perhaps it gave the poet inspiration/idea to behave in the same manner—shake off his depressive thoughts and revive his cheerful mood.

6. What mood of the poet is reflected in the poem? How does it reflect?

Answer: The sorrowful and depressive mood of the poet is reflected in the poem. The use of the bird ‘crow’, which is ugly and harsh, and hemlock tree, which is a poisonous plant, reflects the poet’s mood.

7. What did the poet think of the day before the dust of snow fell on him?

Answer: Before the fall of the dust of snow, the poet thought that his day was ruined. He was in a bad mood. But then use of snow fell on him. It signalled something good and joyful. His mood changed.

8. Write a note on the setting of the poem.

Answer: The poem presents a perfect setting. There are four elements in the poem. All these four elements match one another. The snow stands for depression. The hemlock tree is a symbol of sadness. The crow considered ominous. The poet’s mood was also sad. But suddenly the way in which the crow shook the hemlock tree and falling off the dust of snow. change the poet’s mood.

9. Where was the poet and what happened to him?

Answer: there was snow everywhere. The poet was under a hemlock tree. The tree was covered with snow Suddenly a crow shook the tree The dust of snow fell on the poet. It changed his mood.

10. The flow was the poet’s mood? What brought a sudden change in it?

Answer: The poet was in a bad mood. He considered that his day was ruined. But the crow shook the tree. The dust of snow fell on him. His mood changed. The rest of the day was saved for him.

11. How did the poet feel before the ‘change of mood’? Why did he feel so?

Answer: The poet was in a very depressed and hopeless mood. The day offered no relief, comfort or happiness for the poet. He felt that the whole day had been wasted for nothing. Perhaps his dull and depressive mood led him to such a conclusion.

12. Do you think that the poet presents a very bright or cheerful side of nature in the poem? Give a reasoned answer.

Answer: No, Robert Frost has presented nature in it’s elemental and raw form. It is quite dull and depressive wintry day. The fall of fine dust of snow does bring a sudden change in the mood of the poet. It refreshes his spirits and brings cheerfulness to his depressed spirits and mood.

13. Describe the scene of falling off the dust I snow. What impact does it have on the poet?

Answer: It is a dull and depressing day of the winter. Snow is falling. The fine dust of snow has accumulated on the top of the trees. Nature seems to be in its elemental and raw state. However, the full of fine dust of snow brings a sudden change in the mood of the poet. His depressive spirits are uplifted and his mood becomes cheerful.

14. ‘The Crow’ and the ‘hemlock tree’ are generally considered to be inauspicious and ominous symbols. Does the poet use them so?

Answer: ‘The Crow’ and ‘the hemlock tree’, no doubt, don’t represent cheerfulness or brightness. Both of them are generally considered to be inauspicious. But ‘the crow’ in the poem causes the dust of snowfall on the poet. This leads to the sudden change of mood in the poet. The feeling of cheerfulness replaces the feeling of regret. Similarly, the hemlock tree is the tree under which the poet is standing and experiencing the change of his mood.

15. Why does the poet say that he had `saved some part of a day I (he) had rued’?

Answer: The whole day had been rather gloomy, dull and hopeless. The poet had a feeling that the whole day would go waste. However, the falling of fine dust of snow on him suddenly changes his mood. It cheered his depressed spirits. He felt as if he had saved some part of the day.

16. What is the message that Robert Frost wants to convey to the readers in the poem ‘Dust of snow’?

Answer: Robert Frost gives quite a positive message to the readers. Depression and hopelessness do cloud our hearts, spirits and moods. However, there is a silver-lining beyond every cloud. The poet had given up all hopes and declared that the whole day would go waste. Suddenly, the falling of fine dust of snow on him brings a sudden change in his mood. Cheerfulness replaces the feeling of regret.

17. What happened when the dust of snow fell on Robert Frost?

Answer: Robert Frost was unhappy. He was deep down in his heart due to some personal reasons. When the dust of snow fell on him, his mental state had changed. Now he looked at the surroundings.