Note: For full explanation of the Chapter refer to the above video.
A. Answer in brief.
1. How did the narrator know that two lions had just passed by? Ans- Thenarrator knew that two lions had just passed by because he saw fresh lion tracks on the dirt road they were using.
2. Why did the narrator move away from the vehicle? Ans- The narrator moved away from the vehicle to follow the tracks and to see them closely along the soft dust of the road.
3. What made the narrator realise that he had been stupid? Ans- The narrator realised that he had been stupid as he kept walking without thinking about how far he was going from the vehicle.
4. Why did the narrator feel naked and cold? Ans- The narrator had seen Martina and her sister ripping other animals to pieces on several occasions. When they were going towards the narrator, he felt naked and cold.
5. Why was the roar that the narrator gave less than threatening? Ans- The roar that the narrator gave was less than threatening because he wanted to control the situation without making the lions angry.
C. Read these lines from the text and answer the questions.
1. On our last drive together, I saw fresh lion tracks on the dirt road we were using.
a. Who does ‘we’ refer to? Ans- The author and his group.
b. What did the narrator do on seeing the ‘fresh lion tracks’? Ans- The narrator stepped out of the vehicle to take a better look on seeing the ‘fresh lion tracks.’
c. Who did the ‘tracks’ belong to? Ans- The ‘tracks’ belonged to the two adult female lions and their cubs.
2. While I suddenly realised how stupid I was, the lions came at me.
a. How had the narrator acted stupidly? Ans- The narrator kept on moving towards the tracks, without thinking about how far he was going from the vehicle.
b. Why did the lions go towards him? Ans- The lions went towards him because they sensed some danger with the presence of the narrator and his group.
c. What did the narrator do to make the lions hesitate? Ans- The narrator managed to roar with menace in it and the lions hesitated and ran away.
1. What was the reaper doing when the speaker first saw her? Ans-The solitary reaper who resides in the Highlands was reaping in the field. She was also singing a song in a sad tone.
2. Why does the speaker seem unsure about whether he wants to stay or move on? Ans- The poet was fascinated by the melodious song of the solitary reaper. The girl was busy in her work and the poet didn’t want to disturb her. That’s why the poet was unsure about whether he wants to stay or move on to his journey.
3. Why does the speaker compare the reaper’s song to that of the nightingale and the cuckoo? Ans- The solitary reaper's song was sweeter than the song sung by the nightingale or the cuckoo bird. The poet compares the solitary reaper's song to that of a nightingale or a cuckoo bird. He says that the solitary reaper’s song is as much welcoming to the heart as that of a nightingale’s song to a weary traveller. He says that it induces as much thrill in the atmosphere as that of a cuckoo bird announcing the arrival of the spring time.
4. Why is the speaker not sure about the theme of the song? What are the alternatives he suggests? Ans- The “solitary Highland Lass” is singing a song in a language that the speaker is not familiar with. It might be in a different language or an unfamiliar regional dialect. This is why the speaker is not sure about the theme of the song. The poet guessed that it might be about some “old, unhappy, far-off things,” or “battles long ago.” It could also be about “some more humble lay” or some day-to-day “familiar matter.” The song may or may not be about the subjects he imagines, but it’s certainly about “some natural sorrow, loss or pain.”
5. I listened, motionless and still; And, as I mounted up the hill, The music in my heart I bore, Long after it was heard no more.
a. How did the speaker feel as he walked away from the scene? Ans- The speaker felt extreme happiness as he walked away from the scene.
b. Did the song affect the speaker greatly? Ans- Yes, the song affected the speaker greatly. By listening to the song of solitary reaper the poet was left spell bound. He was lost in the melodious notes of song. The effect was that even though the poet mounted up the hill but he felt that the song was still echoing in his heart.
B. Think and answer.
1. What does the word ‘melancholy’ tell you about the solitary singer? Ans- The poet refers to the girl's song as a "melancholy strain"; melancholy means sad, and strain is another word for tune or melody, so the poem is referring to the girl's song as a sad song. The poet feels that the girl is probably sad because she is working alone or she is remembering some past events of natural sorrow, loss or pain.
Listen to the complete summary of the poem on my youtube channel.
A. Answer these questions.
Q1. What does the speaker say about the different endings of a story? Ans1. The speaker says that while some stories can fill us with joy and happiness, others can move us to tears. There are still others who relate tales of glory.
Q2. How does the speaker describe a day that does not a have a ‘happy ending’? Ans2. According to the speaker, a day that does not have a happy ending is one in which a person is filled with sadness and sorrow or a day that is cloudy and it rains heavily, which also makes one feel gloomy.
Q3. How, according to the speaker, can a person make their own ‘happy ending’? Ans3. The speaker thinks that each person is responsible for making his / her own happy ending. It is how a person works and what they do that determines their happiness. One can make their own happy ending by being oneself and to smile even when things go wrong. A person can be happy by being true to oneself and having the ability to see the positive side of things even when they face difficulty and problems.
Q4. Explain these: ----
a. ‘just be yourself’ Ans. This phrase means that a person should be oneself. They should not try or pretend to be someone else.
b. ‘things get out of tune’ Ans. This phrase refers to a time when things do not fall into place or are not as expected. It also refers to the problems and difficulties faced by a person.
c. Write in your own words what you think is the theme of the poem.
Ans. The theme of the poem is that we have to find happiness within us. It is not possible to find happiness outside. So it is important to be true to ourselves, work hard and be positive.
Note : For the complete explanation of the chapter refer to the above video.
Lesson - 6 The Village School (New) Word-Meanings
Word
Meaning
1.
drag
to pull
2.
recalls
to bring back to mind
3.
enrol
to register
4.
mock
to make fun
5.
triumph
a great success
A. Answer these questions.
1. For whom did the three girls start a school? Ans- The three girls started school for the children who were deprived of education, the children who had never stepped out of their home or had dropped out of school because of problems at home.
2. What was the biggest challenge the three girls faced? Ans- People of village were not serious about education. The parents did not want their girls to leave their homes. They thought going to school was a waste of time for them as they could do household work during the day.
3. What was their plan to educate the girls of the village? Ans- They started a small tailoring training centre at the school so that the families would let their daughters come there. The trio started teaching them as well along with the tailoring. They said to their parents that tailoring requires some measurements and calculations and for that a basic education is necessary.
4. What did the women of the village learn from the school? Ans- The women of the village learnt to write their names with signatures. Seeds of education sprouted in them.
5. What does the school do for the students instead of giving them degrees? Ans- They gave them good education and help them connect to good schools.
B. Read these lines from the text and answer the questions.
1. “We, the three of us, were the only ones who finished school.”
a. Who said the ‘we three’? Ans- Tabassum, Tarranum and Rubina.
b. Which place is the speaker talking about? Ans- They are talking about their basti (area where people with lower incomes live).
c. Why did the others from that place not go to school? Ans- The people of the village never took education seriously. According to them, education is only a waste of time.
2. “It was very difficult in the beginning”
a. What was difficult in the beginning? Ans- It was difficult in the beginning to make illiterate people literate.
b. How did the girls tackle the difficulty? Ans- The girls went door to door and made the villagers aware of education.
c. Did their efforts get them positive results? Ans- Yes, their efforts got them positive results.
C. Answer in detail.
1. How did the people of the village first react to the school? Did this change later? Ans- People of the village would shout at them and say that they are a bad influence on their girls. They also asked them to leave the public space where they ran their school. These people also used to say that the trio wouldn’t be able to do anything just because they were girls. Later when the girls changed the face of the village, the same people who used to mock them came forward to support them.
2. How would you describe the determination and resilience of Tabassum, Tarranum and Rubina? Ans- It was very difficult for Tabassum, Tarranum and Rubina to change the face of their village in the beginning. The mindset of the people was very rigid and there were only few educated people in the village. But the three girls showed determinationand resilience to make the people of the village aware about the importance of education. The trio didn’t pay attention on the mockery and the insult done by the villagers. They kept on going to achieve their goal of making primary education available to all the people of the village. Their efforts bore fruits of success, as they succeeded in making ninety percent of the villagers educated and helped them to connect to good schools. This shows that with determination and resilience one can do any difficult task.
Q1. Where does the speaker wish to go? Ans1. The speaker wished to go to the sea.
Q2. What does the speaker need when he is at sea? Ans2. When the speaker was at the sea, he needed a tall ship, the North Star, the wheel’s kick, the wind’s song, the white sail’s shaking, a grey mist on the sea’s face and a grey dawn.
Q3. According to the speaker, what are the pleasures of sailing? Ans3.Being a sailor, the speaker enjoyed the loneliness and quiet environment of the sea. In the poem ‘Sea Fever’, Masefield expressed his desire for sailing once again in the quite sea, under the quiet sky. He expressed his desire for the need of a well built ship to sail and a star in the dark sky to act as a guide.
Q4. What sort of a life does the speaker wish to lead at sea? Ans4. The speaker would like to be a wandering gypsy; however he would miss the sea gulls and the white whales and most of all his time spent with his fellow men at the deck, listening to the tales and good and silent sleep which drifts into a sweet dream.
Q5. What does the speaker mean by ‘when the long trick’s over’? Ans5. The last line refers to the sailor wanting to sleep soundly with pleasant dreams at the end of his long shift at the ship. He wished for a quiet sleep and a sweet dream ‘when the long trick's over’. It means that he imagines living a peaceful life after all the struggles of life.
B. Think and answer.
1. Why do you think the line ‘I must go down to the sea again’ is repeated at the beginning of every stanza? Ans- In the poem, ‘Sea Fever’ a theme of longing for freedom and an adventurous ocean is developed. We can see this hope easily in the line “I must go down to the seas again". This line is repeated at the beginning of each stanza and gives immediate sense to the title. The speaker has used this line in all the stanzas to show imagery to compare life to a sea voyage and portray a strong hope for the sea.
2. What is the theme of the poem ‘Sea Fever’? Ans- Wanderlust, adventure, and memories are the major themes of this poem. The speaker hears the calls of nature, an irresistible invitation to exploration, adventure, and jubilant life. He desires to break out of his present situation and return to the adventurous life of the sea.
