JAWAHAR NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA ,PATIALA
INDEX
S.NO
CONTENT
PAGE NO
1
My Mother at sixty-six
2
2
An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum
3
3
Keeping Quiet
4
4
A Thing of Beauty
5
5
A Roadside Stand
6
6
Aunt Jennifer ‘s Tiger
7
7
Article : (A). Need To Protect Our Environment
11
(B). Common Health Hazards
11
(C). The Role Of Media In Our Society
12
(D). Importance of Eco-tourism
12
(E) Crime Against Women
(F) Poem-The Elementary School in a
(PPT) slum
14
15
(G) Poem –Road Side Stand (PPT)
15
(H) Poet & Pan Cakes (Lesson)
15
1
MY MOTHER AT SIXTY-SIX
 Short questions from the poetry section to test the poetry appreciation
Q:-1
How does the poet describe the old age of her mother?
Ans
The poet describes her mother’s age as a late winter’s moon. Her pale, bloodless and
wrinkled
face resembles that of a corpse. She has no vigor and energy left in her.
She looks wan and pale.
Q:-2 What is the significance of the images , ‘sprinting trees ‘ and ‘merry children spilling
out of their homes’ in the poem ‘My mother at Sixty-Six ?
Ans Both sprinting trees and merry children are happy and young .They present a contrast to
the mother’s pain and old age and the poet’s worry and fear. They represent youth, vigor and
spring whereas the mother is old, decaying and frail.
Q:-3
what childhood fear do you think Kamala speaks of?
Ans Perhaps, since her childhood Kamalas had a fear that she would lose her mother in
some way or the other. Now that the mother is sixty –six years old and has a deteriorating
health, the poet’s fear returns.
Ans
Q:-4
How does Kamala Das bid farewell to her mother?
Ans
you
Although, Kamala is distraught with fear at the precarious health of her mother, she does
not reveal her worry and anxiety to her mother. Instead she bids her goodbye with “See
soon Amma” and lots of smiles.
Q:-5
Why could Kamala not express her thought for her mother at the airport?
Kamala did not express her thought because she was over whelmed with worry and pain at the
thought of mother. Moreover, any such expression would have aggravated the mother’s
Condition.
2
 An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum
Q:-1
How does the poet see the children as victims of social injustice?
Ans The poet views these children as victims of social injustice ,for they are deprived of the
bounties of the words .Thus they are the ‘have – not’s ’. Impoverished and undernourished
,they are deprived of the basic necessities of life .Even their rights to educate themselves
and hope for a better future are denied to them . They spend their lives confined within the dark
holes of their slums.
Q:-2
In what way are the slum children unsung fighters?
Ans
The poet has used various image to convey that the slum children are a deprived lot .They are
under– privileged as they are denied basic amenities of food. Shelter and education .Despite
living in
deprivation, these children fight the battle of life courageously. They are the
heroes whose victories are never celebrated .Their lot to slither in dirt and squalor .They have to
make desperate attempts to live on against all odds.
Q:-3
“The world for the slum children is a dark hole”. Comment?
Ans The map of the world which hangs in their classroom is a mockery for the slum children for the
world for the comprises the dark hole of the slums .However they may aspire to stretch out the
boundaries of their world ,life for them remains confined within the four walls of the slums .They may
catch glimpses of the vastness of the outsides worlds from their classroom windows but they may
never becomes a part of this vastness and its beauty .
Q:-4
Why is ‘Shakespeare wicked’ and map a bad example ‘?
Ans The poet feels that the only hope to relief for these children lies in their education .If these
children can be educated they can hope to relieve themselves from the darkness of slum life .But in
the present milieu, education is a mockery in the slum schools .Poor infrastructure and absence of
teaching impossible .Good literature and maps of the world may raise their hopes and aspirations but
probably can never fulfill them.
Q:-5
what does the poet mean by saying,’ let their tongues run naked into books’?
Ans
It is in education that the poet sees hope for the slum children .He strongly feels that the lives of
these children will remain dark, narrow and unfulfilled unless they are educated .So he wants
that education be made available to all .These children can break themselves free from the
shackles of slums only when we let them read voraciously and excel professionally.
Q:-6
‘History is their language is the sun.’ Explain?
3
Ans
One can make a mark in history if only one outshines other. One has to outshine and glow like
the sun .People who have the courage and conviction to break free from the constraints of life
are the ones who create History.’ Great men are not different people , but those who do things
differently ‘holds absolutely true for people who create history with their grit and determination .
 Keeping Quiet
Q:-1What would happen if men on earth did not speak in any language or move their arms so much?
Ans Man’s silence and inactivity will prove to be a boon for mankind .All distinction on the basis of
language and nationality will disappear and man will not involve himself in the rate race if he is silent
and inactive .All unnecessary misunderstanding ,disputes and debates borne out of different language
will come to an end .
Q:-2
What would be an ‘exotic moment ‘for man?
Ans
The poet feels that if man keeps quiet for sometimes and indulges in introspection, doing away
with his progressive attitude, he would experience an exotic moment .In this exotic moments he
will enjoy the bliss of silence away from the din of modern life.
Q:-3 What is the poet trying to convey through the images of the ‘fisherman’ and ‘men gathering’ salt?
Ans
Through these images the poet is highlighting the harm, man is causing to Nature and himself
in his effort to add comforts to his life .The fisherman cause harm to the whales and the men at
sea hurt their hands in their effort to gather salt.
Q:-4
What does the poet mean when he says that a chemical war will result in ‘victory with no
survivors ‘?
Ans
Man today is aware of the fact that if there is a nuclear war there will be no survivors to
celebrate the victory .A nuclear war will result in total destruction and release of toxic gases
eclipsing the sun and destroying the atmosphere .Thus no life will survive such a disaster.
Q:-5
what has man single –mindedly focused himself on?
Ans
The poet feels that man has single – mindedly focused towards advancement and progress .In
doing so, he does not hesitate to indulge in destructive activities.
4
 A Thing Of Beauty
Q:-1
How does beauty leave an indelible imprint on our mind?
Ans Man treasures beautiful thoughts and sights in his mind for they provide him respites and
relaxation in his respite and relaxation in his gloomy days. Beauty thus leaves its imprint in the form of
sweet dreams .The feelings of serenity and positive vibrations it inculcates, soothe and relax the
turbulent mind.
Q:-2
What philosophy of life is highlighted in the poem?
Ans Keats worshipped Beauty both at his sensuous and spiritual level. All his poetry reveals a
yearning for that lofty loveliness which is real and true .His passion for Beauty , however , did
not keep him untouched with the pain and suffering of life which he saw as the central fact of life
.As an escapist ,he found refuge from the pains and suffering of life in Beauty itself . He believes
that beauty ‘moves away the pall from our
dark spirits’, making us love life despite its sorrows and
suffering.
 A Roadside Stand
Q:-1
What was the plea with N turned wrong and S turned wrong?
Ans The folk running the roadside stand, made a plea to the city dwellers to buy their stuff so that
they could also earn some money to improve their lot and standard of living.
Q:-2
What is the ‘Childish longing’ that the poet refers to ? Why is it ‘vain’?
Ans The expression refers to the dreams and desires of the poor rustics .Like innocent children they
dream of a better life which they can enjoy with the help received from the city dwellers .They vainly
long for city folks to stop and pay attention to their needs . It is referred to as vain for their desire
will never be fulfilled this way.
Q:-3 How does the poet express his insufferable pain at the thought of the plight of the rural poor?
Which lines brings out this idea?
Ans The poet is immensely pained at the incessant suffering and miserable plight of the rural poor
.Relating his pain with the suffering of the country folk feels he would experience immense joy and
relief in being to relive these people of their pain and suffering .They need a healing touch as much
as he does.
The following lines bring out this idea
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“I wonder how I should like you to come to me
And offer to put me gently out of my pain.”
Q:-4, Did the city dwellers appreciate the roadside stand?
Ans The city dwellers did not appreciate the roadside stand .They never stopped there for
refreshments .If there anyone stopped there they would be critical of its poor décor .They would also
complain about the signs being wrongly placed there.
Q:-5
What is the complain of the country folk against the party in power?
Ans The party n power promises them a dream would, a luxurious and progressive life. But these tall
promises prove
to be false as they are not fulfilled .The country folk thus complain that they are
deprived of what they had been promised by the people in power .
Q:-6
What empty promises are being made to the country people?
Ans The men in power use the media to give assurances to the innocent country folk that would
soon be pulled out of their poverty .They would be provided better living conditions with theatres and
stores. They can then enjoy a secure life and will not have to worry about themselves any longer .
Q:-7
Give examples of contrast and irony in the poem?
Ans The use of expression ‘greedy good ‘and beneficent beasts of prey ‘beautifully bring out the use
of irony
and contrast by the poet. The men in powers pose to be the benefactors and good –
doers of the poor rural people In reality they are greedy for power and pelf and exploit the rural
masses for their vested interests.
Q:-8
What is the ‘open prayer’ made by the country folk?
Ans The country folk make an open appeal to the city dwellers that should not selfish .They
expectantly pray for the
city cars to stop at their roadside stand and help them lead a better life.
6

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
Q:- 1 What does the ‘wedding band’ symbolize ?
Ans The ‘wedding band ‘ is symbolic here of the oppression of women by customs and law which
imposes slavery in matrimony .Marriage is socially and legally binding on the women and so they allow
themselves to be suppressed in this imposed relationship .
Q:-2
What do ‘tigers’ symbolize in the poem?
Ans ‘Tigers ‘are symbolize of the fear of male domination with which Aunt Jennifer suffers .She
struggles for freedom but in doing so gets further victimized .Her ego-psychology and the prison of
the ideology of the family isolate her in this male dominated world .
Q:-3
What character traits of Aunt Jennifer come to light in the poem?
Ans Aunt Jennifer is portrayed as a terrified person who is victimized by a domineering husband
.She is seen both as a victim and as an oppressor .She is caged in the prison of her ego- psychology
and the ideology of the family .The freedom of spirit ,which is symbolized by the tigers is never
achieved by her even in her art .
Q:-4
Do you view “Aunt Jennifer‘s Tiger” as a tragic poem?
Ans The struggle of the spirit , injustice and oppression , which women have to face many societies
of the worlds even today make the poem a tragic one .But the tragedy here is mystified for we
neither know what terrors Aunt Jennifer had to live with nor why her friends and relatives did not
step in to help if she was so terrified .
Q:-5
Do you think Aunt Jennifer is both a victim and an oppressor? Comment.
Ans
Aunt Jennifer is no doubt a victim as she confined to the prison of her ego-psychology and the
ideology of the family .She is also an oppressor, for she seems to have quietly accepted her
slavery. Though victimized, she finds an outlet in knitting and embroidery
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
COMMON QUESTION ASKED FROM POETRY :POEM & POET
1)
Figure of Speech
In a comparison
between two distinctly
different things
indicated by the word
‘like’ or ‘as’ .
My Mother at sixty- six
(Kamal Das )
The poet’s mother’s face was
“Her face ashen like that pale and grayish. She seemed
of a corpse.”
to have lost all vitality .Such
paleness i.e grayish colors of
the skin usually associated with
a sick or a dead body.
“Her face ashen like that
of a corpse.”
Explain:” wan pale as a
late winter ‘s moon.”
2)
An
Elementary
Classroom in a Slum
EXPLANATION
School
“Like rootless weeds.”
( Stephen spender)
8
Winter symbolizes death. Thus,
the mother’s face is indicative
of her very frail health and
approaching.
The
poet
compares
the
mother’s pale and withered face
with the winter‘s moon. The
moon seems to lose its
brightness in the winter season
as it is veiled behind fog and
mist.
The expression has been used by
Stephen Spender to describe the
coarse .untidy and unkempt hair of
the slum children .the use of ‘rootless
weeds’ suggests that the children lack
proper nutrition.
“Like bottle bits on stones”
Metaphor
The simile graphically describes the
shattered glasses of the spectacles
some slum children have to wear .If
not shattered the glasses are heavily
scratched and chipped.
Quality or action is applied to
another in the from of a
statement of identity instead
of comparison .The words ‘like’
and ‘as’ are not used .The poet
does not say that one object is
like another .He says it is
another
Examples:
It suggests boy’s timidity and anxiety
like a rat and searches for food and
security.
Rat’s eyes
Father’s gnarled disease
The boy’s father suffering from
rheumatism disease that has left has
body crooked .The boy’s life has been
affected by father’s handicap.
Future’s painted with a fog.
Just as fog blurs one’s view in
winters, the slum children’s future is
blurred by hopelessness and lack of
empathy.
Explain: ‘On sour cram walls
donations
The cream walls of the schools
painted with the help of donations
further add to the pale and sad seen
in the poem.
Explain: “Let their tongues run
naked into books.”
3) Keeping Quiet
Explain : ‘Without rush ,
without engines’
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The poet strongly feels that the lives
of these children will be very
miserable and unfulfilled unless they
are educated. Thus he wishes that
these children be exposed to the
world of books .They should be
educated so that they can break
themselves free from the confines of
the slums.
The expressions are symbolic of the
hubbub of the modern life. In the
modern competitive worlds of
advancement, there is a rat –race to
outshine others .Life can be peaceful
only if this thoughtless ‘advancement
‘can be stopped.
( Pablo Neruda)
Explain: “I want no truck with
death.”
Explain :-‘you keep quiet and I
will go’
4) A Thing of
Beauty
( John Keats )
Explain: “Its loveliness
increases.”
 Explain :
‘wreathing a flowery band to
bind us to the earth’
Explain:’with the green worlds
they live in’.
10
The poet does not believe in inactivity
.Life is an ‘on –going process and so
he does not want to associate it with
death .or bring it to a dead-end.
The poet asks men to keep and
experience the ecstatic moments of
silence which create a rejuvenation of
thoughts quietly departs leaving the
mediator in this exotic moments.
Joy multiplies with every beautiful
thought. Likewise the loveliness of a
beautiful thing increases manifold
each time we visualize .It on our mind
screen.
He expresses a similar feeling as he
feels that every morning we weave a
beautiful string of flowers or
memories which help us to support
ourselves on earth and motivate us to
live our life here which would
otherwise have been a pain.
Nature beauty is at its best in the
lush green surrounding of meadows
and pastures which provide the life
support to all plants and animals .No
living creature can be happy away
from nature , and it is in this green
world that they true joy and
happiness of life .
5) A Roadside Stand
Explain:’ greedy good –doers.’
The expression refers to the crooked
politicians who pose as the
benefactors of the masses in the
name of removing their poverty but
are actually greedy for power and
pelf.
( Robert Frost)
6) Aunt Jennifer ‘s Tiger
(Adrienne Rich)
Explain: ‘massive weight of
Uncle’s wedding band.’
The expression is symbolic of male
authority and power .Matrimony
binds the woman physically as well as
mentally .Likewise. Aunt Jennifer is
trapped in gender oppression and
feels herself burdened by the
authority of her husband.
Explain :
“The tiger in the panel …..
Will go on prancing, proud The expression is symbolic of the
dispassionate
and
unconcerned
and unafraid.”
attitude of the male towards the
desire for freedom among women
.Aunt Jennifer dreams of her escape in
her art, but land producing the very
image of her suppression .As an
expression of the spirit Aunt Jennifer‘s
art will survive long after her death,
but the social milieu remains
unaffected, arrogant and ferocious.
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 Environmental pollution today threatens the very existence of mankind, nay the whole world. Unless steps are
taken to check pollution immediately, life will be wiped out from the surface of this planet. Write an article in
about 100-150 words for an environment magazine emphasizing the need of protecting the environment.
 NEED TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT
Today environmental pollution has become a great health hazard so much so that man’s very existence is
threatened .Man’s callous treatment of nature has brought the situation to this pass. Vehicular smoke and smoke
from the factory chimneys has let the air unfit to breathe in. Water too is contaminated. Current global trend in
deforestation along with the increased combustion of fossil fuels has caused the worst damage. Deforestation
reduces the initialization of CO2. Noise pollution has made matters still worse. Thus there is a great need to protect
environment. The first thing that we should do is to start planting trees. Trees check pollution and protect
environment. They provide us with fresh air by absorbing carbon dioxide. They bring rain, prevent soil erosion and
also give us fruit and shelter Thus, ‘tree plantation weeks’ should be observed. Each one of us must plant at least one
tree during these weeks. Deforestation should be stopped and reckless combustion of fuels like wood, coal kerosene
should be controlled. Furthermore, and awareness of the problem must be created through the use of media.
Another possible solution for the depletion of natural resources is the use of biogas technology and solar energy. A
continuous environmental vigilance is of vital importance.
 It’s world’s Health Day .the first aid volunteers of your school are organizing a health awareness drive as a part of
which they are bringing out a wall magazine on some of the Common Health Hazards .As the students in charge of
the group , write the article in about 100-150 words for the magazine .
 COMMON HEALTH
HAZARDS
Modern society faces many common health hazards .Means of comfort and luxury which the modern
man enjoys and regards as necessities of life are themselves health hazards .The cooler which provides the
common man with comfort from the scorching heat of the summer ,is a great health hazard .It produces moisture
which may cause breathing trouble .It can be a breeding place for mosquitoes and many other harmful germs
.Colds and hot drinks which are taken regularly by the modern man pose a threat to health .Smoking and drinking
which have became a fashion with the modern society are also dangerous to health .Environmental pollution is
one of the greatest health hazards .Smoke coming out of factories makes the atmosphere dirty .Besides ,food is
dirty and adulterated .Nothing pure is available .Frequent and free use of insecticides on vegetable and fruit
crops pose the greatest danger to health .The increasing use of synthetic detergents and widespread use of
chemical fertilizers have contaminated water .Eatables exposed to dirty ,dust and files are causing health
problems .It is high time that serious and earnest effort are made to save world from such many other health
hazards .
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 THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN OUR SOCIETY
In the present –day society, one envision a day without radio, television, newspaper and the latest fad of the new
generation, the Internet .All these constitute the media .these are responsible for all the information that we receive on a
day to day basis, news from every nook and corner of the world is available on the mere click of a button.
Today, media’s functions are not just limited to disseminating information and entertaining the masses. It has several
other significant roles to play in our society. Media is referred to as the fourth estate, the first three estates being the
Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. The high level of responsibility implies that the media is answerable to each
and every person who is directly or indirectly affected in any way by the information provided.
Nowadays, the majority of television viewers and Internet users are young. Their tender minds are highly gullible and a
wrong message can do them great harm, even to the extent of setting them up on the wrong path in life. That is why
experts are of the opinion that the control of media in the wrong hands can turn it into a weapon of mass destruction
.Terrorists worldwide are using the media to spread their wrong message and influence youngsters and recruit
susceptible individuals through the Internet .They openly declare war against nation on television pre-recorded tapes.
The above mentioned problems are just the tip of the iceberg .Several such issues haunt and question the very existence
and efficacy of media.
Media can help strengthen and promote our rich culture and traditional. The channel has been airing several educational
programmes for the country‘s illiterates .especially those living in the village. Media can play a substantial role in making
our world more civilized, sophisticated and enlightened. It should not degenerate into something barbaric or monstrous,
but should endorse moral values and ethics, in order that the worlds we live in could be transformed into a better place.
 Write an Article in 150-200 words on the Importance of Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism that involves visiting natural areas -- in the remote wilderness or urban environments. It
improves the well-being of local people It is a travel activity that ensures direct financial support to local people where
tourism activities are being generated and enjoyed. It teaches travelers to respect local cultures of destinations where
travelers are visiting. It supports small stakeholders to ensure that money must not go out from the local economies. It
discourages mass tourism, mass constructions of hotels, tourism resorts and mass activities in fragile areas. For many
countries, ecotourism is not simply a marginal activity to finance protection of the environment, but is a major industry of
the national economy. Ecotourism typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are
the primary attractions.
Ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment and
enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an
integral part of ecotourism is the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic
opportunities for local communities.
The concept of ecotourism is widely misunderstood and frequent malpractice in the realm of Jungle tourism. These
green washing practices, carried out in the name of ecotourism, often consist of placing a hotel in a splendid landscape,
to the detriment of the ecosystem. Ecotourism must above all sensitize people to the beauty and the fragility of nature.
13
Crime against women and Safeguards
Women have been the victim of suppression, torture and exploitation since post Vedic period. After
independence and after a long struggle for her rights, she has got social, economic, political and
religious recognition but despite all these recognitions the sufferings of women on different
grounds still exist. The problem of female feticide, dowry deaths, rape, kidnapping and abduction,
honour killing etc. has increased on a large scale during the last forty years. Besides the above types
of crimes women are also facing eve teasing, molestation, chain snatching, touching and threshing
and bad remarks etc. in their day to day life at the time of passing through markets, going to school,
colleges and in public transport during their travels. The current position of registered crime cases
against women during 2001 to 2007 is 174362. The effects of crime against women on social life are
dreadful and alarming .Family conflicts affect the future life of the small children adversely .The
women become tensed, depressed, and short tempered, frustrated and ill natured.
Volunteer organizations, NGOs and mass media should initiate awareness programs for their
protection. State governments should open more and more educational institutions and provide the
hostel facilities to the working women and the studying girls. Self defense programs should be
launched in all the schools and colleges .Police should keep a strict vigil around schools, colleges,
women hostels and crowded places.
Until and unless the attitude of society is changed towards women the problem of crime against
women cannot be controlled. It is well established fact that our society is a male dominant society
in which women must follow men in all circumstances without asking any questions for them. This
type of attitude needs a change for a healthy wealthy and peaceful life.
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