Section (C) Literature
(2) Prose
(i) One out of two long-answer-type questions based on the text ( 100-125 words)
(ii) Five short-answer questions based on the lessons.
2x5 = 10 Marks
10 Marks
Lesson .1. The Last Lesson
Author: Alphonse Daudet
Long-answer-type questions:
Q.1 . The people in the story suddenly realize how precious their language is to
them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?
Ans: The story was written in the days of the Franco-Prussian war in which France was
defeated by Prussia. In this story the French districts of Alsace-Lorraine have passed into
Prussian hands. M. Hamel is the teacher of French and a boy, Franz who never serious in
the class of M. Hamel. One day he was late for school. He feared that his teacher would
scold as he was not very sure about participles which the teacher, M. Hamel, is going to
test that day. But finally he decided to go to school. As he entered he saw the crowd has
gathered round the bulletin board. He did not stop there. On arriving at school, he noted
an unusual silence. He entered into the class and was greeted with a strange sight. The
last benches which were always empty were occupied by the village elders who look
grim and solemn. Franz noticed M. Hamel was dressed nicely and asked Franz to sit so
that he could start his lesson. The teacher made a startling announcement that this would
be their last lesson in French as the new teacher would be arriving the following day. He
said, “ The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace
and Lorraine. The new teacher comes tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want
you to be very attentive.” There came a sudden change in the minds of the people and
they developed a new profound love French. Franz was overcome with a feeling of
remorse and regretted for wasting his time in trivial pursuits. He decided to pay attention
to the lesson since school had become very important for him. The people and Franz
himself realized how precious their language is to them. M. Hamel had been teaching in
that school for last forty years. His dedication, devotion, discipline impressed them. He
realizes the real worth of his school and the teacher whom they have all taken for granted
all these years. M. Hamel in his last address told about the importance of French. He
called that it was the most beautiful language in the world. It is the clearest and the most
logical one. M.Hamel was overcome by strong emotions and in large letter he wrote on
the board ‘Viva La France’ – long live France!
Q.2 Franz thinks:’ “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What
could this mean?
Ans: The Alsace and Lorraine districts were under the regime of France. During the
Franco-Prussian war in which France was defeated by Prussia led by Bismarck and both
these districts have passed into Prussian hands. Earlier they were learning their own
language, French. As per new set up, an order was passed that German was to be taught
in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.M. Hamel who had been teaching the French for
the last forty years. In his last lesson he told that from the next day in the schools of both
districts would teach only German instead of French from a new teacher. They won’t be
learning their own most beautiful, clearest and logical language. He told the importance
of their own language, this feeling of M. Hamel aroused their patriotic feelings. There
came a sudden change in Franz. He disliked learning German. He heard and saw the
pigeons. He immediately remarked: “Will they make them sing in German, even the
pigeons?” It is meant that the German can impose German language on the people of
Alsace and Lorraine but they can’t impose this language on the birds etc. They can
enslave the people but have no authority to compel the cooing pigeons.
Short-answer questions :
Q.1.What was Franz expected to be prepared for school that day?
Ans. Franz was expected to be prepared the topic of ‘participles’ for school that day. But
he did not know even the first word about them. So he was under great dread of being
scolded by his teacher, M.Hamel.
Q.2.What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
Ans: Franz noticed that it was all so still, calm and quiet like Sunday morning while on
other days there used to be a great hustle and bustle. The same could be heard out in the
street. The opening and closing of the desks, lesson repeated in unison very loud. But on
that day the school looked so strange.
Q.3. Why was there a crowd in front of the bulletin board set up at the town hall?
Ans: It was set up for all kinds of information and news for the public. For the last two
years, the people received all the bad news from there like the news of the lost battles and
the orders of commanding officer etc. When Franz was passing the Town Hall, he saw a
large crowd in front of the bulletin board reading the news which stated that the German
would be taught in the districts of Alsace and Lorraine.
Q.4.How did the teacher describe the French language?
Or
What was the advice of M. Hamel about the importance of the French language?
Ans: M. Hamel was very dedicated teacher of French language. While teaching his last
lesson, he touched upon many aspects of French. He called it the most clear and logical
language in the world. He urged all to guard it and never to forget it. In case they hold
fast in their language, they had the key to their prison.
Q.5. How did M. Hamel teach his last lesson in the class?
Ans: It was the last day of M. Hamel in school. He was in his fine dress. The villagers
had come there to pay their last respects. M.Hamel taught his lesson on French so
decently that the students realized French is an easy language. At last he became
emotional. He could not speak, he dismissed the school with writing on the blackboard,
“Viva La France.”
Lesson .2. Lost Spring (Stories of Stolen Childhood)
Author: Anees Jung
Long-answer-type questions:
Q.1. Explain the significance of title ‘Lost Spring’.
Ans: In this lesson, the author Anees Jung examines and analyses the grinding poverty
and tradition that condemn children to a life of exploitation. Saheb as a ragpicker whose
parents have left behind a life of abject poverty in Bangladesh. His family, like the many
other families of rag pickers lives in Seemapuri. They live in miserable condition. The
writer is pained to see Saheb, whose name means the ruler of the Earth, lose the spark of
childhood. She then proceeds to tell about Mukesh who does want to be his own master.
Hailing from Firozabad, the centre of India’s bangle making and glass blowing industry,
he has always worked in the glass making factory. His family does not know that it is
illegal for children to work in such close to furnaces with such high temperatures. They
are exposed to various health hazards like losing their eyesight as they work in dark and
dingy cells. The family of bangle maker of Firozabad are so burdened that they have lost
their ability to dream. The writer’s observation is that these poor hopeless people are but
pawn in the games that are played by Sahukars, middlemen, the policemen, the
bureaucrats and the politicians. The title is meaningful as they lost their spring
(childhood). The writer has beautifully essayed the story of stolen childhood with a view
to sensitizing us to the plight of these poor unfortunate children.
Q.2 .Why do children walk barefoot, in cities, or on village roads? Is it a tradition or
something else? What does the author Anees Jung sate about it in her story ‘Lost
Spring’?
Ans: In this story the author analyses the grinding poverty and traditions that condemn
children to a life of exploitation. She has been noticing the group of barefoot rag pickers
children for many months. She asks one why he is not wearing footwear. Another adds if
he gets, he will throw them off. A third boy says that he wants shoes, he has never owned
a pair all his life. Then the author tells a story of a man from Udipi as a young school
boy, every morning on his way to school he would briefly stop at the temple and pray the
goddess for a pair of shoes. When he had finally got a pair of shoes, he prayed, “Let me
never lose them.” When Sahib wears pairs of discarded tennis shoes due to a hole in one
of them, it does not bother him. For one who has walked barefoot even shoes with a hole
is a dream comes true. The reality of life is that there are number of innocent children
who lose the spring (youth) of their lives under the threat of grinding poverty which
exploit them under the demand of nature for satisfying their hunger for their survival. It is
not due to lack of money but a tradition to stay barefoot, is one explanation. This is only
an excuse for the continuing state of poverty which is the cause of the children staying
barefoot in cities or on village roads.
Short-answer questions:
Q.1.Who is Saheb? What is he looking for in the garbage dumps and where has he
come from?
Ans: Saheb is a rag-picker of Seemapuri. The writer encounters him every morning
scrounging for gold in the garbage dumps in her neighbourhood. He hails from Dhaka
and he was migrated from Bangladesh in 1971. His house and fields were destroyed by
storm.
Q.2. Why do these children remain barefoot?
Ans: Throughout the country the author has seen many barefoot rag picker children. On
asking about not wearing chappals, they many excuses. One says that his mother has not
brought them down from the shelf. Another point out that he will throw them if she
brings. The third one replies that it is an excuse. It is not the lack of money.
Q.3. What is the condition of the children working in the glass factory/ furnaces of
Firozabad?
Ans: More than 20,000 children are illegally working in glass blowing factories in
Firoza- bad. They work around furnaces in high temperatures to weld glasses. They work
in dingy cells without light and air. Their eyes are adjusted to the dark than to the light
outside. Many of them become victims of losing their eye-sight before they become
adults. They work all day long.
Q.4. Who is Mukesh? What is his dream?
Ans: He belongs to the family of bangle maker in Firozabad where each family is
engaged in bangle making. They live in half built huts. Mukesh says. ‘I will be a mother
mechanic. I will learn to drive a car.’ Thus he wants to be his own master.
Q.5. ‘Garbage to them is gold.’ Why does the author say to about the rag-pickers?
Ans: More than 10,000 rag-pickers of Seemapuri live in squatters. For them is garbage is
gold and it is wrapped in wonder. For a child, it is their bread. Sometimes a child can find
a silver coin or more in a heap of garbage. For the elders it is a means of survival.
Lesson 3. Deep Water
Author: William Douglas
Long-answer-type questions:
Q.1. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?
Or
“I used every way I knew to overcome this fear.” What was the fear and how
did William Douglas finally overcome it?
Or
A man of courage is also a man of faith. How is this borne out by Douglas
account of his conquest over the fear of water?
Or
At last I felt released.’ Describe the efforts undertaken by Douglas to find
this moment of release.
Ans: The author, William Douglas talks about his fear of water and how he overcomes it.
He reveals how he had feared it ever since he was three or four years old and his father
had taken him to a beach in California. He was terrified of the waves that swept over the
beach and knocked him down leaving him breathless. He decided to learn how to swim at
the YMCA. Pool. Though the sight of the water revived unpleasant memories he was
determined to overcome them and learn to swim. One day, while he was sitting on the
side of the pool, a bigger boy flung him into the deep end of the pool. The author hitting
the bottom and made a jump to the surface., but he sank to the bottom again. He finally
fainted. Then he decided to hire the services of an instructor and master swimming.
Initially, the instructor put a belt round him and the attached rope through a pulley that
run on an overhead cable. Hour after hour, day after day till he began to get back his
confidence. Thus through sheer will power and practice, William overcame his fear of
water and became a swimmer. Though the instructor was satisfied with his progress but
to test whether he had lost all the vestiges of panic and fear, he went up to the Tieton, to
Conrad Meadows. He dived into it and swam across it and was overjoyed to learn that he
had at last conquest his fear of water. This experience is indeed a sign of courage, grit,
patience and determination and a lesson to us that any fear can be overcome provided one
perseveres
Q.2. What was the ‘misadventure’ at the YMCA swimming pool that the writer
William Douglas speaks about?
Ans:The misadventure referred to happened at the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool. The author,
William Douglas had joined the pool to learn to swim. One day he was sitting alone on
the side of the pool. There was no one there. He was afraid of going into the water alone.
So he was waiting for others to come. Suddenly a big boy came in. He picked the writer
up and tossed him into the pool. The writer was frightened but not much. He at once went
to the bottom of the pool. On the way down, he made a plan. He would hit the bottom and
make a big jump to the surface. But he came up very slowly. He could see nothing but
water. He grew panicky. Twice he tried to jump, but the jump made no difference. At last
he stopped all efforts. He relaxed. There was no more panic. Everything blanked out. The
curtain of life fell. But luckily, before he was dead, he was taken out of the pool and
saved.
Short-answer questions:
Q.1.What is the ‘misadventure’ that William Douglas speaks about?
Ans: One day William Douglas was sitting alone on side of the Y.M.C.A pool. He was
waiting for the others to come so that he could start swimming. By chance there came a
big boy. He asked, “ Hi skinny! How’d you like to be ducked”? He picked and tossed and
threw him into the deep end of the pool. He speaks about this misadventure, which
caused a last of trouble to him.
Q.2. How did the drowning experience affect Douglas?
Ans: William Douglas feared water and whenever he went back to the pool, terror seized
him. He avoided water as far as he could. When he tried to enter water, the stark fear
would seize him. His legs became paralysed and icy terror would grab his heart.
Q.3. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?
Ans: He was a man of courage, strong determination. He realized that fear of water has
become his sworn enemy. It was following him everywhere. He decided to get rid of.
Under the e guidance of an expert instructor he learnt swimming and became confident to
face this terror. He dived into the Warm Lake, swam across to the other shore and back.
In this way he conquered his old terror.
Q.4. What does the mother of Douglas say about the YMCA pool?
Ans: He wanted to learn swimming. His mother had advised him against his visit to the
Yakima River since it was treacherous in nature. She considered Y.M.C.A pool as the
safest place because it was 2 or 3 feet at the shallow end and nine feet at the deeper end.
Q.5. How did the instructor make Douglas a perfect swimmer?
Ans: He gave Douglas a practice for five days in a week. In the beginning he put a belt
around him and it was attached to the rope. The rope went through a pulley that ran on an
overhead cable. Each time his old fear returned. It went on for three months. Then he
taught him to put his face under water and exhale. He taught him a raise his nose and
inhale. Thus, piece by piece the instructor built him a swimmer.
Lesson .4.The Rattrap
Author: Selma Lagerlof
Long-answer-type questions:
Q.1. How can we transform and clean an evil doing person. Give examples from the
story ‘Rattrap’.
Or
“The rattrap.” Express the universal theme highlighted by the author in the
story.
Or
How did the line of thought bring a change in the life of the rattrap peddler?
Ans: The author, Selma Lagerlof has highlighted a universal theme in this story. It is that
we can arouse the goodness in the life of a man by love, understanding, sympathy and
respect. Once upon a time there was a man who went around selling self-made small
rattraps of wire. His condition was too miserable to beg and do petty things. One day he
thought that the whole world around him was a big trap. It offered riches, joys , food,
shelter and clothing like a bait offering cheese and pork in a rattrap for the rats. Those
who were tempted to touch the bait, it closed on them bringing an end to everything. One
dark evening he stayed at crofter’s cottage, he was given food and shelter. But the next
morning he stole thirty kronor from there. The he kept on walking all day long on the
same path in the forest. On hearing the sound of hammer strokes, he reached the iron mill
and lay near the surface. The ironmaster mistook him to be his old acquaintance and
invited him for Christmas cheer but he refused. He sent his daughter, Edla who persuaded
him to their house. After him well dressed, the from master found that he mistook him.
So he ordered him to get out at once. The young girl wanted him to stay as they promised
him Christmas cheer. He was treated like real captain with food. In their absence when
they were at the church he left at the church they learnt the rattrap seller had robbed the
old crofter. So they became worried. When they returned they found that the stranger had
taken nothing with him and left behind a Christmas gift for Edla. She found a small
rattrap thirty kronor and a letter in it. The letter stated that she had taken him as if he were
a captain, so he would be nice to her as a captain. It had given him power to cleanse
himself.
Q.2. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human
predicament.
Ans: The author Selma Lagerlof tells a universal theme through all her stories. One can
not imagine how dull and sad a vagabond might be walking slowly along the roads for his
bread. The metaphor of the rattrap struck on one such occasion. He was plodding along
the road, duly lost in his own meditations. The whole world about him- the whole world
with its lands, seas, cities and villages was nothing but a big rattrap. The world had never
existed for any other purpose than to set baits for people to trap them. The world offered
riches, joys, food, shelter and clothing like a bait offering cheese and pork in a rattrap for
the rats. As soon as anyone is tempted and he to touches the bait, it closes on him and
then everything came to an end for him in life. Like the poor rattrap seller, people get
tempted to the pouch baits hung on the window frame, break the window pane and steal
the kronor. For self-temptation people like the peddler don’t want to undeceive others
about themselves. The touching of the bait always makes people realize that they are
caught in the world rattrap now. It is their turn now, they must stop cherish it as their
pastime of thinking about the known who get trapped and others who ware circling
around the trap. They must rise above the baits and shun evil doings like Captain Von
Stahle.
Short-answer questions:
Q.1.What idea suddenly struck in the mind of the rattrap peddler?
Ans: One day the peddler was moving along the road suddenly an idea struck to his
mind. He viewed that the whole world was a big rattrap to trap the people in. It offered,
riches, joys, shelter, food, heat and clothing like the rattrap offered cheese and pork to
tempt to the rats. The world existed only to set baits for the people. Anyone who was
tempted to touch the bait, the rattrap was closed in on him.
Q.2. Who was Crofter and how did he welcome the peddler?
Ans: The Crofter was an old man, who lived alone in his house. One dark evening when
the peddler knocked at the door of the Crofter. He was very hospitable person and offered
him supper and bed to sleep He amused him with the game of ‘mjolis’. He told the fact
that he earned thirty kronor by selling the milk of his cow.
Q.3. How did the peddler rob the crofter?
Ans: The Crofter was living alone in his house. So, he needed someone to talk in his
loneliness. That time the peddler reached at his house. He welcomed him. The crofter had
taken out and stuffed thirty kronor in the presence of the peddler. Both left in the
morning. After half an hour, the peddler returned, smashed the window pane and stole
thirty kronor from the pouch and hung it on its usual place.
Q.4.Why did the peddler accept Edla’s invitation?
Ans: Earlier the ironmaster had tried his best to invite the peddler to his house for
Christmas. He wanted his company but he declined his offer. So the ironmaster sent his
daughter to invite him as she had better power of persuasion. She looked at the peddler
compassionately. Her friendly manners aroused confidence in him. So he accepted her
invitation.
Q.5. When the ironmaster threatened to call the Sherriff. How did the peddler
conduct?
Ans: The peddler defended himself that he was a poor man. He said that the whole world
is nothing but a big rattrap. All the good things that are offered to him were just baits.
The baits were set out to drag a poor man into trouble. In case the Sherriff came to lock
him up, the day was not far when the ironmaster would be trapped himself.
Lesson .5. Indigo
Author: Louis Fischer
Long-answer-type questions:
Q.1.How did the Champaran episode prove to be a turning point in Gandhiji’s life?
Explain with the reference to the text, ‘Indigo’.
Ans: Gandhiji recounts that it was the year 1916, when he was approached by a peasant,
Rajkumar Shukla from Champaran during the annual meeting of the Indian National
Congress in Lucknow. He wished Gandhiji to visit his state and look into the condition of
sharecroppers there. Gandhiji learned that the areas of Champaran districts were divided
into large estates owned by English men and were worked by the Indians worked as their
tenant farmers and they had to pay 15 % of their land. Gandhiji reached their and started
by trying to get together all the facts and met with resistance from the British. After the
investigates by Gandhiji and the lawyers into the grievances of the farmers, it was
decided by the Britishers that 25% of the money would be refunded. Gandhiji accepted
the money offered to the farmer as refund even though he had demanded 50 % and thus
the deadlock was broken. The farmers learnt that they too had rights and they became
courageous. Within a few years the landlords relinquished their claims over the estates,
which reverted back to the farmers.
Now Gandhiji embarked on a programme to reform the economic and cultural
backwardness of the area. He appointed volunteers to teach the villagers. Kasturba taught
the Ashram rules and personal cleanliness and community sanitation. He got a doctor to
volunteer his services for six months to improve the health conditions of the people. They
realized the value of self reliance. Some of Gandhiji’s and lawyer friends thought that it
would be a good idea of Charles Free Andrews, an English pacifist, who was a devoted
follower of Gandhiji and on a farewell visit, should stay and help.Gandhiji strongly
opposed it. If they get an English man on their sides it would show the weakness of their
heart. They must rely on themselves to win the battle. The Champaran episode gave
Gandhiji self confidence, direction and an impetus to launch freedom movement
throughout India. Thus this episode was a turning point in his life as well in India.
Q.2. How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom
movement?
Ans: For the success of any movement, cooperation and participation of all is must. They
make the movement not only a success but also lead to the pinnacle. When the peasants
knew about Gandhiji, they reached Muzzafarpur. Gandhiji was ordered to appear in
Motihari court on the following morning. Then the multitude of peasants blackened the
town of Motihari. They knew that the Gandhiji, who wanted to help them, was in trouble
with the authorities. It was perhaps the first kind of spontaneous demonstration of Indian
against the Britishers. Seeing the situation beyond control, they sought his help to
regulate the unprecedented crowd. The government was baffled. It has such an impact on
the Government that the civil disobedience won for the first time in 1917 in modern
India.
Side by side the Government had to appoint an official inquiry commission to find out
the atrocities done over the peasants. As a result, the owners had to refund the money.
This opened the eyes of all. People from every nook and corner of India participated in
the freedom movement. Women too gave up their homely comforts and worked with
their leader. There were mass movements like freedom struggle, salt movement, quit
India movement, civil disobedience, satyagraha and the boycott of foreign goods, etc.
Ordinary people were there at the back and call of their leader. Consequently, India
became free on 15th August, 1947.
Short-answer questions:
Q.1.Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?
Ans: Rajkumar Shukla is described as being ‘resolute’ because he was fully determined
to take Ganhiji to Bihar. Being an illiterate and poor share-copper from Champaran, he
had come to apprise and complain Gandhiji about the injustice of the land lord system.
He was accompanied Ganhiji everywhere. Gandhiji was very much impressed by his
tenacity and fixed time for Calcutta. Months passed in waiting, Shukla was sitting on his
haunches at the fixed place in Calcutta, till Ganhiji was free. Finally both boarded a train
to Patna.
Q.2. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?
Ans: Ganhiji and Rajkumar Shukla both reached the city of Patna. He led Gandhiji to the
house of Rajendra Prasad. He was out of town. His servants knew Shukla as a poor
sharecropper from Champaran who troubled Prasad to take up the cause of indigo.
Gandhi went there with Shukla for the first time. So they took him to be another peasant.
Q.3. Why did Gandhi had to chide the lawyers of Muzzafarpur?
Or
Why did Gandhi conclude that the lawyers should stop going to the courts?
Ans: During his stay at Muzzafarpur Lawyers told about the cases of poor peasants. They
told about their cases and the size of fee. Gandhi chided them for collecting big fees from
the sharecroppers. He suggested them to stop going to the law courts. He pointed out that
the peasants were poor and fear stricken. It was urgent to make them free from fear.
Q.4. How did the development of German synthetic indigo became a source of great
trouble in Champaran?
Ans: The British planters learnt of the synthetic indigo prepared in Germany. It was
cheaper than the natural indigo. Being unprofitable the landlords wanted to free the
peasants from the 15% agreement. For this they demanded compensation. Some signed
willingly. Those who opposed engaged lawyers and the planters hired thugs. The illegal
and deceitful collection of money started the trouble.
Q.5. How did we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom
movement?
Ans: The success of the battle of Champaran, paved the path of the Indians to participate
in the freedom movement. Women gave up their honestly comforts and worked with their
leader. There were mass movements like freedom struggle, salt movement, Quit India
movement and Satyagraha. These came ordinary people at the back and call of Gandhiji.
Lesson .6. Poets and Pancakes
Author: Asokamitran
Long-answer-type questions:
Q.1. What does Asokamitran’s lesson ‘Poet and Pancakes’ deal with?
Ans: The author, Asokamitran recounts his years spent at the Gemini studios. Gemini
Studios was set up in the year 1940 in Chennai and grew into one of the most influential
film producing organizations of India in the early years of the Indian film making
industry. The studios of film production has never confined its activities within the four
walls of the studios but it also gives a fine glimpse of outside world as well. The
production department has two prominent divisions – the make up department and the
story department. In the make up room there had a team of workers from chief make-up
man to the office boy who stopped the crowd players with lotions and pancakes.
Pancakes were used by the actors and actress. Pancake was the popular brand name there.
There was a strict hierarchy of make up man. The story department had its significant
contribution. There was a legal advisor duly accompanied with an assembly of poets and
writers. They were engaged in creating story, songs, social and other work. In those days,
it was mainly indoor shooting. The Boss had a strict vigil at every aspect. He was
assisted by Kothamanglam Subbu, who was an indispensable person for the studios.
Beside this, the Gemini Studios had become the favourite haunt of the poet and other
visitors because of its decent mess that served coffee till the late at night. The studios
hosted the visit of Moral Re-Armament Army and a poet-cum-editor Stephen Spender.
The MRA was a counter movement to international communism but the people at the
studios were averse in this ideology. The visit of Spender also became an unexplained
mystery for all.
Q.2. Why was Kathamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in the Gemini Studios?
Ans: The Boss of the Gemini Studios was Mr. S.S. Vasan. He founded the Gemini
Studios in 1940. In those days, it was mainly indoor shooting. It had a large team of six
hundred strong workers engaged in the production of the films.Subbu was No.2 at the
Gemini studios. He had the ability to look cheerful at all times. His sense of loyalty made
him use all his creativity to his principal’s advantage. He was a many sided person with a
specific identity in the team. He was the right handman of the Boss and he had himself
indispensable at the Studios. He was tailor-made for the films and whenever the film
producer came out with some difficulty and said, “I do not know how to do this scene.” It
was Subbu that came with so many solutions. In this way film making had become very
easy with the presence of Subbu. He was a man, who gave direction and definition to the
Gemini Studios. He always worked hard for some body. Being loyal to his principal, he
used all his creativity for him. Besides being a poet, he was a Brahmin, comic, admirable
and hospitable. He composed several truly original ‘story poems’ in folk style. Whatever
role he played, he acted better than the main players. Being a charitable man he fed and
supported many people at his residence still he had a few enemies. With the closure of
the story department, Subbu was also out of the Gemini Studio.
Short-answer questions:
Q.1.What is the example of national integration that the author refers to in the
Gemini Studios?
Ans: In the studios the people from different regions and religions working together
presented a glimpse of national integration. The make-up department was first headed by
a Bengali. He was succeeded by a Maharashtrian. He was assisted by a Kannadiga from
Dharwar and Andhra, Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and usual local
Tamils. All this shows that there was a great deal of national integration in the make up
room of the Gemini Studios.
Q.2. What used to be the job of the narrator at the Gemini Studios?
Ans: at the Gemini studios, the author Asokamitran worked in a cubicle having the
French windows on two sides. He was to take up the clippings from the newspapers on a
wide variety of subjects. He was to store them in files. He even had to write out in hand.
He was the most known person there, most of the people at the studios thought that he
was doing next to nothing. Everything in the studio thought of giving him some work to
do.
Q.3. Subbu was a man of charitable nature, but he had his enemies. Give reasons.
Ans: Subbu was a man of charitable nature and anyone who came in his close contact, he
always showered his genuine love and goodness. His house was a permanent residence of
dozens near and dear ones. Being very close to the Boss, people were jealous of him.
Some called him a sycophant for his sweet manners,. He always said nice things about
everything. But the make up department was feeling jealous for this.
Q.4. Why is the Englishman‘s visit referred to as unexplained mystery?
Ans: The Englishman visited Gemini Studios in 1952. Boss welcomed him. The visitor
spoke to the audience but they could not understand what he said. It was because of his
accent and nobody was able to understand English. The English poet must have felt the
imbalance of his talk about the thrills. The purpose of the visit seemed to be lost. That is
why his visit was referred to an unexplained mystery.
Q.5. what does “The God that Failed’ refer to?
Ans: It is the name of book. Six eminent men of letters have contributed their sex
separate essays in the book. In their essays they have described their journey into
communism and their disillusioned return. They worked together but they had to return
disillusioned.
Lesson .7.The Interview
Author: Christopher Silvester
Long-answer-type questions:
Q.1. Describe opinions for and against the interview as are given in the lesson.
Or
Why do the celebrities despise and condemn ‘interview’? Describe their viewpoint.
Ans: An interview is formal meeting, interaction or a kind of discussion with some one.
In other sense it is a kind of conversation which aims at obtaining information. In actual
practice the interview has become an indispensable feature of journalism today. Some
call it a great art. In the same way the celebrities, criminals and victims are interviewed.
In case an incident involves a celebrity, the media immediately rush to him for
interaction. Most often the celebrities do not like to face the interviewer since it is like the
stealing of one’s soul. It even makes them feel that it somehow diminishes them.
In the words of Nobel laureate, V.S. Naipaul, “Some people are wounded buy interviews
and lose a part of them”. They feel a part of their personalities stolen. Lewis Carroll, the
author of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ was said to have had a just horror of the interviewer and
he never consented to be interviewed. Caroline, the wife of Rudyard Kipling, went on
saying that an interview is vile, crime and all offence. No respectable person would ask it,
much less give it. On the other hand H.G. Wells referred it to be an interviewing ordeal.
Nobel laureate Saul Bellow took it like thumb-prints on his windpipe.” Thus most of the
celebrities do not find favour with interview but the interviewer hold a position of great
power and influence.
Q.2. How does Eco find the time to write so much?
Ans: David Lodge was a famous English novelist. He was much amazed how Umberto
Eco could do all the things he did. Mukund Padmanabhan put the same question to Eco
of writing scholarly works and the novels simultaneously. Eco answered very modestly.
Revealing his secret, Eco remarked that he was always doing the same thing. Eco pointed
out that he had some philosophical interests.
Eco tells that’s there are empty spaces in the universe. In the same way there are empty
spaces in the lives of us all. He calls these empty spaces as ‘interstices or intervals. He
explains his style of working in empty spaces through an example. He tells when he waits
for somebody coming from the elevator from first to the third floor, he won’t sit idle. He
would write during his arrival. Till the person arrives, he has already written an article.
Thus by utilizing these empty spaces he finds time to write so much. Mukund is much
amazed at his dexterity.
Short-answer questions:
Q.1.In what way have the interviews become a common place of journalism?
Ans: Over the last 130 years, the interviews have become a commonplace of journalism.
Almost everybody will have read an interview at some point during their life time.
Several thousand celebrities have been interviewed over the years. It is a great
serviceable medium of communication. The interviewer holds position of unprecedented
power and influence.
Q.2.Why does some of the celebrities think the interview as an unwarranted
intrusion into their live?
Or
Why do most celebrities despise being interviewed?
Ans: Most of the celebrities do not like to be interviewed at all. They consider it as an
‘unwarranted intrusion’ into their lives. According to V.S. Naipaul that a man loses a part
of himself during an interview. Rudyard Kipling has more condemnatory attitude about
the interviewer. He called the interview to be immoral, a crime, cowardly or vile.
Q.3. What is the secret of Umberto Eco’s working style?
Ans: He talks there are empty spaces in the lives of us all. He calls these empty spaces as
‘interstices or intervals. He explains his style of working in empty spaces through an
example. He tells when he waits for somebody coming from the elevator from first to the
third floor, he won’t sit idle. He utilises these intervals for his creative work.
Q.4.Did Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?
Ans: In his interview with Mukund, Eco states, “I am a professor who writes on Sundays.
I participate in academic conferences and not at the meeting of pen clubs and writers. I
identify myself with the academic community. I became a novelist only by an accident.”
Q.5. “The Name of the Rose” deals with medieval history. Was it responsible for the
novel’s success?
Ans: Mukund tells Eco that “The Name of the Rose” got a huge success because of its
medieval background. Eco did not seem to agree with it. A lot of books have been written
about the medieval past much before him and they did not get much success. Perhaps his
novel was written at the most appropriate time.
Lesson .8. Going Places
Author: A.R. Barton
Long-answer-type questions:
Q.1. Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends. What were the differences
between them that show up in the story?
Ans: Sophie and Jansie were both classmates and friends. Both were considerate, sensible
and were looming in between the ideas of finding some work after their schooling.
Sophie was a girl of deep imagination and unrealistic dreams. On her way home she told
her classmate Jansie to have a boutique. She will be like Mary Quant and will be having
the most amazing shop this city had ever seen. On the other hand-Jansie was more
practical and a realistic type of girl quite aware about their lower middle class family
background. She asked Sophie to be sensible because the shop work required money and
her father won’t allow this. She knew that both were earmarked for the biscuit factory.
Sophie entertained the idea of being an actress and then dream of becoming a fashion
designer. She was unaware of the reality as to how she would do all these things. Jansie
knew that all those different types of work needed money which was beyond the capacity
of Sophie’s parents. She advised her to be practical. Sophie had no faith in Jansie and
understood her to be ‘nosey’. She would spread all the news in the whole neighbourhood.
So she did not want to tell any of her secret. Thus we can note a lot of difference in their
attitudes towards life and things.
Q.2. How did Sophie’s father react on hearing about Sophie’s meeting Danny
Casey?
Ans: Sophie’s father was a man of gentle and considerate nature.Inspite of his own hardwork he always helped in the chores. When Sophie’s mother Geoff was doing some work
on the motorbike had completed the washing of clothes, he came in and switched on the
television. Then he told his father ‘Sophie met Danny Casey.’ He turned his head and
looked at Sophie. Their father seemed sad and asked if it was true. He did not believe
what he was told. During the conversation she ensured that Danny Casey was going to
buy a shop. Hearing it, her father became rather confused and murmured something. He
aggressively called her telling another of her wild stories. It was at this stage Geoff came
to her help and told their father that she met him in the Royce’s arcade with details. Their
father knew well Geoff would support her. Therefore, he cautioned Sophie that one of
those days she was going to talk herself into a load of trouble. It was a sincere advice
from a father to his daughter not to invite troubles for her because of her fanciful talks.
Short-answer questions:
Q.1. On the news ‘Sophie met Danny Casey’ how did their father react?
Ans: Father looked at Sophie with sadness on their face, he did not believe it. He called it
another of her wild stories. He warned her that those days she would put herself into a lot
of troubles because of her talks.
Q.2. Why was Sophie jealous of Geoff silence?
Ans: Sophie’s brother Geoff was an apprentice mechanic. He was almost grown up yet
he hardly spoke any thing of his own. Words were prized out of his mouth like stones
from the ground. She could only suspect areas of his life which she wanted to hear from
him. So she was jealous of his silence. She took him to be out there in the world, when he
was not speaking.
Q.3. What did Sophie imagine about her meeting with Danny Casey?
Ans: Sophie told that she met Danny Casey at the Royce’s window. She was looking at
the clothes there. He came and stood beside beside her. She spoke to him first and asked
if he was Danny Casey. He confirmed, she asked for an autograph but neither had paper
nor a pen. They talked a bit. He assured for the autograph next week is she cared.
Q.4.Why did not Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?
Ans: Sophie had requested her brother Geoff not to tell anything about her meeting with
Casey. When Jansie asked Sophie about her meeting with Danny. Sophie was much
amazed. She cursed Geoff for it because Jansie was ‘nosey’ and would spread the facts
everywhere in the neighbourhood. In case her father knew about it, there would be a great
row which her mother did not like. She requested Jansie to keep it a secret.
Q.5. What did the two school girls discuss while coming home?
Ans: The two classmates Sophie and Jansie discussed about finding some work after
leaving school. Sophie thought of having her own boutique, or to work in a biscuit
factory. She was a nosey type of girl.