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Aunt Jennifers TigersAdrienne Rich

Twentieth century poet, critic, scholar and feminist, Adrienne Rich wrote Aunt Jennifers Tigers as a part of her firstbook of poetry A Change of World (1951).

Feminism was making its presence felt in the 1950s fighting for equal voting, legal and social rights for women. Thispoem is Adriennes voice against the emotional and physical brutalities women face as part of their marriagesespecially, in a patriarchal society.

On the surface, this is a simple poem with an uncomplicated rhyme scheme about a woman busy with needlepoint.However, the true meaning emerges when the layers are peeled.

Relevant Background

Adrienne Rich is an American poet who was born in 1929.She was brought up in a well-off family.Adrienne was the elder of two daughters.Her father was a doctor and her mother was a music composer.She grew up in with a Jewish father and a Protestant mother. As a result of this mixed marriage she was used totensions between her parents. While Rich was growing up, she had to put up with moments of tense silence inher household.Rich felt dominated by her fathers strong personality while growing up. It was he who most guided her as ayoung poet. This wasnt always to her liking as he expected her to write her poems his way.When Rich was growing up men dominated and women were expected to become dutiful wives in their adultlives.All these elements may have influenced the picture of marriage Rich drew in this poem. At the heart of the poemis an image of a husband who controls and frightens his wife.Rich wrote a lot of poems based on everyday experience. One topic she often featured was the tension womenfelt due to being dominated by their husbands.In Aunt Jennifers Tigers Rich is mocking the weakness of Aunt Jennifer and the clout and authority of

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Jennifers husband in their marriage.Rich was also fascinated by how people could use a hobby like artwork to create a happier and prettier worldthan their daily life.Rich has been one of Americas most important female poets for the past fifty years.

Summary

This poem of three four-line stanzas imagines a relative whose hobby is needlework.Aunt Jennifer reveals her dreams of a happier life in her needlework.From the titles given to the adults, it seems as if the speaker is a child.In the first stanza the relative, Aunt Jennifer, makes a panel with images of tigers parading proudly across it. Thetigers are free, unlike their maker.Her panel contains animals that are happier and more confident than she is. There is a certainty about them thattheir maker lacks in herself.Aunt Jennifer paints confident, proud tigers. They are assured and confident dwelllers, denizens, of their greenworld. Denizen suggests independent citizen.It would seem that Jennifer is not an independent citizen of her own world. She is instead a wife, weighed downby duties as we learn in the second stanza.Jennifer uses sharp and contrasting colours, sharp yellow against a green background.Her tigers are as bright as topaz, a yellow gem.Her picture contains an image of men under a tree, though the proud tigers show no fear of the men. This ismentioned to show that they differ from Jennifer, who lives in fear of her husband to some extent.The tigers remind the poet of knights, full of courtesty and style. Chivalric men respected their women and actedkindly towards them. Again, this seems to contrast with how Uncle behaved towards Aunt Jennifer accordingto the second stanza.In the second stanza, the poet describes Aunt Jennifers nervous hands struggling to pull the wool with her ivoryneedle. The word fluttering suggests trembling.We get the impression of a frail woman who finds it hard to pull the needle.It is interesting that if her needle is made of ivory it may have come from an elephants tusk. Ivory is a bit liketopaz, a precious material. As ivory involves the killing of elephants for their valuable tusks, it would seem thatJennifer may not care much for tigers in the wild or know much about their reality.Thus, her artwork is unrealistic. Perhaps the poet feels it is a pointless and empty type of art.The poet humorously suggests that Aunt Jennfers fingers find it hard to hold the weight of her wedding ring andthen pull the needle at the same time.The wedding band is another reference to a precious substance, probably gold.By mentioning that it is Uncles wedding band, the poet suggests that Uncle owns Jennifer too and that as afemale she is the property of her husband.The words massive and heavily suggest Aunt Jennifer lives a demanding sort of life in which she has toattend to her husbands needs and fulfil his commands. As a result she is somewhat worn out in her old age.In the third stanza, the poet predicts that, when Aunt Jennifer dies, her hands will look worn from all herneedlework as well as the hard time she has trying to please her husband.Aunt Jennifer is ringed, trapped in her marriage and controlled like an animal. Her husband is her master.Her artwork will live on after her as a reminder of the dreams she never fulfilled.

Themes

1. Marriage is unequal due to male domination/Inequality

The woman at the centre of the poem, Aunt Jennifer, is a nervous and fearful wife. She lacks inner conviction orcertainty, unlike the tigers she portrays. Aunt Jennifer is mastered in her life. She lives a life of inequality. She is sonervous that her fingers flutter through the wool she is using in her tapestry or panel. The poet portrays the marriageof Jennifer as an unhappy one for her. Aunt Jennifer feels the burden of duty and obedience. This is shown by thesymbol of the wedding ring that she wears. It is described as her husbands property: Uncles wedding band. It sitsheavily on her hand because he dominates her life. Her life with her husband is desctibed as a life of ordeals. It is

shown that Jennifer is terrified in her marriage. Her husband may be fiercer to her than the tigers she produces in herartwork. The poem therefore provides a negative picture of marriage. The poem is probably saying that the Uncle orhusband is behaving like a tiger, and the tigers are chivalric like the husband should be. Each world is the reverse ofwhat it should be.

2. The world of art is happier than the real world/Dream versus Reality

Aunt Jennifers hobby is making designs and pictures from wool. Jennifer produces wool tapestries that she places onpanels. The creatures she places there are free and proud, the opposite to herself. She is ringed or mastered inmarriage and therefore she is not free, but controlled. It seems that she creates a happier looking world than the oneshe lives in. She makes precise and brightly coloured pictures like the sharp yellow tigers of the poem, pictured againsta green background. These bright contrasting colours are probably much more vivid than Jennifers everyday world.Her artistic work will live on after she dies, as, according to the poet, her tigers will go on prancing. The figures shecreates are stronger and happier than she is. They are proud and prance about, unlike their creator, who is nervousand fears her husband. The word prance or parade contrasts sharply with fluttering, meaning trembling. The tigersdo not fear the men the aunt places under some trees in her tapestry. Therefore, the imaginary tigers produced by AuntJennifer live a type of proud and free life that she can only dream about. It is a chivalric world, one where gentlementreat women with great respect. Yet this is also a false world, as real tigers live out a battle for survival of the fittest,where the strongest dominate. Perhaps Aunt Jennifer uses art as an escape from her troubles. In her artwork Jennigerimagines the kind of life she would have liked.

Values raised in the poem: Respect for women, equality, equity, gender sensitivity, empathy, feminism, value for art

Style

Form This poem is a formal, structured lyric.Structure It contains three stanzas of four lines eachLanguage Most of the words are short and simple everyday words. The sentences are simple in structure and alltake two lines.Diction The unusual word denizens stands out and it shows how special the tigers are, unlike how AuntJennifer feels about herself. The word chivalric shows that the tigers are proud and charming. It means theytreat women with respect. The repetition of prance [parade] is interesting and emphasises the happy, confidentlife of the tigers.Full Stops and Commas Full stops are placed regularly at the end of every second line. The poem is controlled,just like its subject, Aunt Jennifer.Comparison The tigers are compared to knights from the time of chivalry in the middle ages.Imagery The main images are of Aunt Jennifer as a fearful wife and, secondly, the magnificent tigers shecreates in her panel. Images of precious substances run through the poem: topaz, ivory and the gold ofwedding band.Metaphor The poet compares the yellow stripes of the tigers to a precious stone, topaz.Contrast [difference] The main contrasts are between nervous Aunt Jennifer and her confident tigers. Anothercontrast is between the strong yellow and green colours. The words prancing and fluttering contrast as well.Mood/Atmosphere Fear is the main atmosphere in Aunt Jennifers life of ordeals where her fingers trembleand show terror. An air of freedom and confidence dominates the atmosphere in her artistic creations. The menbeneath the tree create an atmosphere of mystery. The image of Aunt Jennifers corpse from the future is a biteerie or creepy.Hyperbole [Exaggeration] The poet exaggerates the weight of her husbands wedding ring to make a pointabout how dominating he is.Paradox [apparent contradiction] Here a trembling and mastered woman creates free and confident creaturesin her artistic endeavours. Fluttering fingers produce something that has certainty.Tone The tone appears to be positive and cheerful when the poet describes the tigers. See the comment onsibilance below. The tone becomes sad and even creepy at times in describing the life of Aunt Jennifer.Repetition The word prance is repeated to emphasise the pride and freedom of the tigers. Ringed echoeswedding band. There is repetition of various sounds as indicated in the next few bullet points. .

Alliteration [repetition of consonant sounds at the start of nearby words] e.g p in prancing proud emphasisesthe feeling of confidence expressed in the tigers movements.Things to note1) Depiction of a woman trapped in the cultural constraints and responsibilities of marital lifeand oppressive male dominance in a patriarchal society

2) Animal symbolism the animals she sews represent Aunt Jennifers innermost desires to be free, fearless,joyful, graceful, elegant, noble, powerful, assertive and confident.

3) Other symbols Aunt (represents all women caught in poor marriages), wedding band (an instrumentsymbolising constraints and ordeals of a bad marriage), men beneath the tree (predators, the uncle who hasmastered aunt Jennifers spirit), tigers (innermost desires of Aunt Jennifer)

4) Poetic devices Alliteration (fingers flutter), hyperbole (massive weight), personification (ring sits heavilyupon aunts hand, tigers chivalric, denizens), visual imagery (bright topaz, world of green, ivory needle,fluttering fingers, prance, pace, wedding band sits heavily), synecdoche (terrified hands), pun (ringed)

5) Themes ordeals of marriage in a patriarchal society, art as a means of expression and escape

Aunt Jennifers Tigers: An Analysis of Adrienne Richs PoemAdrienne Richs Aunt Jennifer Tigers is a poem that concerns itself mainly with a woman struggling to acceptthe indignities of her daily life while being insatiably focused on attaining some sense of immortality once thatlife ends. Aunt Jennifer must find a way to deal with her unhappy and submissive station in life, and she does soby sewing exciting and memorable works of art. Sewing is her escape and in this case shes escaping to a junglewhere wild animals rule the land and never show fear. The tigers created by Aunt Jennifer are beasts demandingrespect from even their predators. This demand for respect is something that Aunt Jennifer is incapable of doingfor herself. In the meantime, she will deal with her problems by escaping from them.This escape into her art isshown vividly in the opening stanza of the poem where the imagery is vibrant and alive and shows what AuntJennifer is capable of doing; it also provides a glimpse into Aunt Jennifers subconscious in its portrayal ofanimals who dont allow themselves to be victimized by anyone. The tigers are literally prancing across thescreen. The image of something prancing immediately brings to mind a being that is confident and self-assuredand happy; all things that Aunt Jennifer is not. The tigers are not just simply tigers, of course. They are Brighttopaz denizens of a world of green (2). The use of colors implies that Aunt Jennifers tigers and their land aremore vital and enjoy a sense of freedom far greater than she. Yellow connotes the sun and fierce energy, whilegreen reminds one of spring and rebirth. Aunt Jennifer is longing for both energy and rebirth. She cannot find itat home so she goes on journeys into her sewing. The tigers are foreign and that also brings speculation thatAunt Jennifer would like to travel, which is just another form escape. That the tigers sense no fear of thepredatory hunters is key. The assumption here is that Aunt Jennifer is afraid of her own predator: her husband.He has hunted her and captured her and keeps her in a cage from which her only escape is her sewing. Thetigers, on the other hand, do not live in fear. No, rather they pace about as if they were kings of their domain.They are certain of their place in the world and will allow no one or nothing to interfere. The tigers are to AuntJennifer the ultimate creatures of self-actualization. They are exactly what she wishes she could be herself. Andin creating them so resplendently, they will live on long after their creator has passed on.

Aunt Jennifer is doing what she can to cope with an unhappy lifestyle and this melancholy is made apparent inthe second stanza of the poem, which deals in ambiguous images of rapidity and heaviness to symbolize theneed to escape from the stagnancy of her marriage. Aunt Jennifers fingers are fluttering through her wool (5)in the first line of the stanza and this suggests that Aunt Jennifer is trying to sew as fast as her fingers will allow.Complex questions arise from this simple description of Aunt Jennifer sewing. Why does she need to createsomething so fast? Exactly what is she afraid of that would spur her on so? Perhaps her fear is that she will notlive long enough to finish the creation. Perhaps she fears she will be interrupted in the middle of her work. Sheis trying to do it as fast as she can, but then begin the images of weight, of carrying a burden. The fact that theivory needle is hard to pull (6) insinuates that shes been sewing for a long time. In fact, sewing is probablywhat she does most of the day when shes not caring for her husband. The marriage to the speakers Uncle isperhaps Aunt Jennifers greatest weight. After all, The massive weight of Uncles wedding band / Sits heavily

upon Aunt Jennifers hand (7-8). This bulk is probably more emotional and mental than physical. It is doubtfulthat Aunt Jennifers wedding band itself weighs down her hand so much that she cant sew as fast as shed like.The weight is probably one in which her marriage didnt turn out as she planned. Perhaps she wanted childrenand never had any. Certainly no mention is made in the poem of the speaker having cousins. Aunt Jennifersmarriage has most likely turned out to be her biggest disappointment and one that she would probably even liketo escape. And for at least a little while escape she does, right into her sewing.

The final stanza argues for the successful grasping of a sense of immortality so eagerly sought by Aunt Jennifer.This final portion of the poem contains imagery that reflects back on the first two stanzas and completes thethree-tiered approach to the poem as a consideration of the life-spirit of someone who has not led the life theywanted contrasted with the bid for a satisfactory afterlife. The stanza begins with a look forward to when AuntJennifer will no longer be alive and creating her artistic sewing pieces. The first line pointedly shows that AuntJennifer had terrified hands which will lie / Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by (9-10). The lineclearly harkens back to the second stanza and its dealings with the burdens Aunt Jennifer lives under. Whatcould possibly have terrified her hands? And what ordeals was she mastered by? The most obvious answer ismade by connecting the ordeals back with the heavy weight of her wedding band spoken of in the second stanza.Aunt Jennifer is more than likely abused-at least emotionally-by her husband. She is quite literally mastered byher husband. Such is the need for escape into her art. The final two lines of the stanza-and the poem-reflect backon the very opening line. The tigers are still in the panel that she made and they continue to prance, proud andunafraid (12). The tigers that she fought so hard to create despite the overwhelming burden of her life will,indeed, continue to prance forever. By the end of the poem, Aunt Jennifer has fulfilled her need and achievedher own little sense of immortality. Her life was not in vain, she created something out of nothing, somethingthat will live on well after she is dead and buried.

The structure of the play Aunt Jennifers Tigers is built upon the give and take of showing a womans abilityto create an everlasting work of art while dealing with the abject humiliation of a living a life that is built onworries and woe. In three small stanzas of just four lines each, the poem craftily builds toward the welcomeconclusion that no matter how much life has to dish out to a person and bring a person down, each of us can stillachieve some small measure of respect and immortality if we just have the discipline to do what we know wecan do well. If a person can find out what it is that he does well, he can achieve it and create for himselfsomething that will last long after he have created it. Aunt Jennifer successfully beat back the load that she wasforced to carry and created a small wedge of life everlasting for herself.

1. How do denizens and chivalric add to our understanding the tigers attitude?

The tigers embroidered by Aunt Jennifer are free inhabitants of the vibrant green forests, masters of their domain andmovements. They are chivalric- i.e. noble and majestic, pacing powerfully and confidently, fearless of the hunters .They stand in stark contrast to their frail creator who is timid, fearful of her husband, confined and crushed in anoppressive marriage.

2. Why do you think Aunt Jennifers hands are fluttering through her wool in the second stanza? Why isshe finding the needle so hard to pull?

Aunt Jennifer struggles to express her dreams through needlework, but her fingers tremble nervously as she tries topull the light ivory needle because she fears her domineering husband, which has made her physically and emotionallyfrail. She is weighed down by uncles wedding band-a symbol of her suffocating marriage and the compulsionstherein, in a patriarchal society.

3. What is suggested by the image massive weight of Uncles wedding band?

Uncles wedding band is heavy as it is a symbol of bondage, of being crushed in an unhappy marriage. It has kept herencircled and trapped in a burdensome marriage in a patriarchal society- a relationship of subjugation and domination.It has restricted her freedom and eroded her individuality.

4. Of what or whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified in the third stanza?

Even after death, Aunt would carry her fear of her domineering husband as she would yet bear the burden of thewedding band on her finger. The ordeals faced by her in an oppressive marriage would continue to terrify her.

5. What are the ordeals Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by, why is it significant that the poet uses the wordringed? What are the meanings of the word ringed in the poem?

Aunt Jennifers ordeals are those suffered by all women who face physical, mental or emotional trauma at the hands ofinsensitive husbands in a patriarchal society, restricting awomans personal liberty and dignity. The wedding ringhas kept her ringed in i.e. trapped in a gender role a victim of male domination.

6. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character? Whatmight the poet be suggesting through this difference?

The timid and fearful Aunt Jennifer creates an alternative world of free and fearless tigers to express her longing forfreedom, a medium of escape from her grim marriage. The ironical contrast underscores a warning by the poet againstacceptance of subjugation by women as it crushes their dreams, individuality and a full life.

Irony: It is ironical that Aunt Jennifers creations- the tigers will continue to pace and prance freely, while Auntherself will remain terrified even after death, ringed by the ordeals she was controlled by in her married life.

7. Interpret the symbols in the poem

Wedding band- symbol of oppression in an unhappy marriage. Marriage is socially and legally binding, makingwomen silently accept their subjugation and male domination, especially in a patriarchal society. Its weight refers tothe burden of gender expectations. Ringed means encircled or trapped, losing individuality and freedom.

a typical victim of male oppression in an unhappy marriage, who suffers loss of individuality, dignity and personalfreedom silently. She becomes dependent, fearful and frail.

Tigers- symbolize untamed free spirit. Here they are antithesis of their creators personality. The use of coloursimplies that Aunt Jennifers tigers and their land are more vital and enjoy a sense of freedom far greater than her.Yellow (bright topaz) connotes the sun and fierce energy, while green reminds one of spring and vitality.They pace and prance freely, proudly, fearless, confident and majestic in their bearing.

creative expression. The artwork expresses the Aunts suppressed desires and becomes her escape from the oppressivereality of her life.(last stanza) as opposed to Aunt Jennifer. It shows that she has lost her identity completely, thuslost even her name.

Pace and prance are action words. The rhyme mimics the movement of the tigers.

Do you sympathize with Aunt Jennifer? What is the attitude of the speaker towards her?

Aunt Jennifers plight as a victim of gender oppression in an unhappy marriage draws our sympathy. However, thepoet underscores that Aunt by accepting her suffering silently let her life be completely mastered over by her husbandand lost her personal freedom and individuality. Her desires expressed in her art work will remain only a dream unlesswomen like her assert their equal status.

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Deep Water by William O DouglasValues Raised : Determination, optimism, perseverance, diligence, openness to challenges, courage, persistence,endurance etc.

William Douglas, one of the most popular and powerful American Supreme Court Chief Justices in the history, hadan enemy since the childhood. He tried to defeat this enemy in all possible ways. First he tried to overcome this enemyall by himself and later with the help of a trainer. Though he took years to defeat the enemy, finally Douglas killed hisenemy. He was not arrested or sentenced for this murder, not because he himself was the chief justice, but because hismurdered enemy was his fear of water!

Bit/Bits

William Douglas had great passion for water.He longed to learn swimming.When he was three or four years, he was taken to a Beach in California by his father.While surfing on the shore, a huge wave knocked him. He feared water. That was his childhood fear.After some years he longed to swim in the Yakima River but his mother warned against that idea. the yakimariver is treacherous.Then he found the YMCA Pool the safest place for swimming. Its deepest end was six feet deep, the bottom wastiled, the drop towards the deep part was gradual, water was clean and there were other children swimming.He went to the pool and started swimming by imitating other boys.One day, while waiting for the other boys to come, a big boy threw him into the deepest end of the water.Douglas had the courage to face the situation. He went down and down with a hope to reach the bottom to makea big leap upward.Three times he went down and on the third time, he lost consciousness and almost died!Douglas gives a vivid description of death which is peaceful.Douglas body floated on the surface. Someone dragged him out of the water and provided first aid.After this incident, Douglas tried to avoid water and water sports as much as possible.When he grew up, water began to tempt him again.He got a trainer and learnt swimming.After the completion of the training, he went to various rivers, pools, lakes and swam alone and got rid of hisfear.

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Instructor

In October Douglas got an instructor for swimming.In three months, his fear began to fade.Bit by bit he shed his fears.The instructor engaged his feet and hands into swimming.

Getting rid of Fear

After the instructor was done, Douglas started a self training.He went to the following rivers and lakes:

Lake Wentworth (New Hampshire)Triggs IslandsStamp Act IslandTieton Conrad MeadowsConrad Creek Trail Meade GlacierWarm lake

He conquered the fear of water for ever.

Summary

The story, Deep Waters tells us how the writer overcame his fear of water and learned swimming with sheerdetermination and will power. He had developed a terror of water since childhood. When he was three or four yearsold the writer had gone to California with his father. One day on the beach, the waves knocked the child down andswept over him. The child was terrified but the father who knew there was no harm laughed. The experience bred apermanent fear of water in the childs sub-conscious mind. Still another incident, more serious, increased his terror.The writer was trying to learn swimming in the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool in Yakima. One day while he was waitingfor other boys, a big boy suddenly played a dangerous prank and pushed him into the water. The writer was terriblyfrightened. He went down nine feet into the water. His lungs were full of the unreleased air. When he reached thebottom, he jumped upward with all his strength. He came up but very slowly. He tried to catch hold of something likea rope but grasped only at water.He tried to shout but no sound came out. He went down again. His lungs ached, head throbbed and he grew dizzy. Hefelt paralyzed with fear. All his limbs were paralyzed. Only the movement of his heart told him that he was alive.Again he tried to jump up. But this time his limbs would not move at all. He looked for ropes, ladders and water wingsbut all in vain. Then he went down again, the third time. This time all efforts and fear ceased. He was moving towardspeaceful death. The writer was in peace. When he came to consciousness, he found himself lying on the side of thepool with the other boys nearby. The terror that he had experienced in the pool never left him. It haunted him for yearsand years to come. It spoilt many of his expeditions of canoeing, swimming and fishing. It spoilt his pleasures inMaine Lakes, New Hampshire, Deschutes, Columbia and Bumping Lake etc.

But the writer was determined to conquer his terror. He took help of a swimming instructor to learn swimming. Theinstructor taught him various actions necessary in swimming part by part. He put his face under water and exhaled andinhaled raising it above water. He practiced it for several weeks. He had to kick with his legs a few weeks on the sideof the pool. At last he combined all these actions and made the writer swim. He learned swimming but the terrorcontinued. So deep goes our childhood experiences! So fearful is the fear of fear! Whenever he was in water the terrorreturned. Hence forward the writer tried to terrorize terror itself. He tried to face the new challenge. When terror came,he confronted it by asking it sarcastically as to what it can really do to him? He plunged into the water as if to defy thefear. Once he took courage the terror vanquished. He faced the challenge deliberately in various places like the WarmLake. He conquered it at last.The experiences of the writer throw some important lights on certain aspects of life. Experiences of pain or pleasure inchildhood remain in the sub-conscious mind and influence our feelings later too. The fear of water acted on the writerin that way. Even after being an expert in swimming, the writer felt terror. There was no reason at all. Once he tookcourage, the fear vanished. That shows most of our fears are baseless. Fear creates dangers where there is none. Thewriters experiences further confirm the proverbial truth, Where there is a will, there is a way.

How did William Douglas overcome his fear of water?

With an instructor and an overhead cable connected to his waist, Douglas began to learn to swim. He dipped his head,exhaled underwater, inhaled on surface, kicked with legs, and even swam in isolated or treacherous waters toovercome hydrophobia.

Describe the misadventure that made Douglas hydrophobic

Once, a bully pushed Douglas into the deep end of the YMCA pool. Gripped by paralyzing fear, in vain, Douglas triedto spring upwards to the surface twice. He almost lost consciousness before he was saved. This misadventure madeDouglas hydrophobic.

All we have to fear is fear itself. Discuss.

Indeed, William O. Douglas Deep Water justifies President Roosevelts assertion that all we have to fear, is fear itself.

William O. Douglas aversion to water began with his mothers warnings about the Yakima river and a childhood seaholiday where he first experienced the power o water.

The misadventure at the YMCA pool, where a bully pushed Douglas into the water nearly drowning him, turned thefear into a phobia. However Douglas decided to challenge this handicap.

With the help of an instructor, and using a pulley connected by a belt to his waist, Douglas re-learnt how to swim in apool. He learnt to dip his head, exhale underwater and inhale on resurfacing.

Even after the trainer declared success, Douglas tested his skill in treacherous and unfamiliar waters till his phobiavanished completely. Thereafter, William O. Dougla realized that once the fear of fear disappeared, true successawaited.

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each:

How did the anxiety towards water develop in Douglas?

Which misadventure turned Douglas anxiety into a phobia?

How did Douglas challenge his hydrophobia?

Why does Douglas say, But I was not finished?

What opinion of William Douglas do you form from this extract and what values can one learn from him?

Answer the question in 120-150 words: Describe the misadventure that initiated Douglas hydrophobia.

Draw a plot line for the chapter with an exposition, rising action, falling action and resolution

QUESTION BANK

Short answer questions

1. What was the misadventure that William Douglas speaks about?

2. What was the writers first reaction on being flung into the pool?


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Evans tries an O LevelGIST OF THE LESSON Evans a kleptomaniac was imprisoned thrice and all the time escaped from the prison. Now he was in the prison forthe fourth time and all of a sudden developed to appear in O level German Examination which also was an effortto break the prison. The Governor takes utmost care to see that he would not be fooled. Every care was taken to make Evans prepare forthe exam. He was tutored by a German tutor for 6 months. The day before the exam the tutor wishes good luck but makes itclear that he had hardly any chance of getting through. But Evans gives an ironical twist to the tutors observationby saying I may surprise everybody. On the day of the exam Jackson and Stephens visited Evans cell and took away everything that may help him injurehimself. Evans was insisted to take away the hat but he refused saying that it was lucky charm. Evans cell was bugged so that the Governor could himself listen to each and every conversation in the cell. Theinvigilator Rev. S. McLeery too was searched and left him to complete the task. Stephen sitting outside the cell everynow and then peeped into the cell. The exam went on smoothly. Stephen escorted the invigilator to the main gate and looked into Evans cell and foundthe invigilator (actually Evans) wounded, informed the Governor. The latter was to be hospitalized but informed thathe was alright and asked them to follow Evans. Thus he escaped the prison. When the invigilator was not found in the hospital they went to the residence of Rev. S. McLeery only to find himbound and gagged in his study in Broad Street. He has been there, since 8.15 a.m. Now everything was clear to theGovernor. Evan escaped the prison the fourth time. But by taking the hint from the question paper the Governor reached thehotel where Evans was and captured him and came to know how he planned his escape and said that his game wasover. Evans surrenders himself to the Governor. The Governor tells Evan they would meet soon. The moment they are rid of the Governor, the so called prison officer a friend of Evans unlocks the handcuffs andasks the driver to move fast and Evans tells him to turn to Newbury. Evans, thus, has the last laugh.SOLVED QUESTIONSSHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS1. What kind of a person was Evans?Evans was a Kleptomaniac and had broken jail thrice. He was a master planner and was very sociable. He knew howto keep intimate contacts with people. In the words of the Governor, he was a pleasant sort of chap with no record of

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violence.2. Do you think Evans statement, I may surprise everybody, has some special significance?Evans seems to be telling his teacher that he may surprise everybody by doing well in the exam, but in reality it is aforewarning that he is going to jolt everybody by his master minded perfect escape plan.3. Who were the two visitors Evans received in the morning of the day of his exam?The two visitors Mr. Jackson, the senior prison officer of the prisons D Wing man called Stephens, who hadbeen only recently recruited. 4. Why did the Governor instruct Jackson to search McLeery?The Governor asked Jackson to search McLeery, the invigilator, just in case he has brought something unwittinglywhich might prove to be a weapon that Evans could use and try escaping from prison.5 .Why did Evans drape a blanket round his shoulder? What did Stephens think about it?In between intervals of Stephens peeping into the cell, Evans was changing into the Parsons dress to look likeMcLeery. So, in order to conceal his effort to keep them in place, Evans draped a blanket round his shoulder. Stephenswas misled into believing that Evans was feeling cold.7. In spite of strict vigilance, how did Evans friend manage to give the material for disguise in the cell?Despite all vigilance, Evans friend disguised as McLeery, the invigilator, managed to smuggle the disguised materialinto the cell. He came wearing two parsons dresses with black fronts and collars. Apart from it he also brought anextra pair of spectacles.All this was passed on to Evans when Stephens vigilant eyes were away from the peephole.LONG ANSWER QUESTION1. What were the precautions taken for the smooth conduct of the examination?Since Evans had already escaped from the jail on three earlier occasions, there was always a lurking fear that he mightmake another attempt to escape. Therefore all possible precautions were taken to see that the O level Germanexamination arrangedin the prison did not provide him with any means of escape. The Governor personally monitored all securityarrangements and heavily guarded the Recreation Block from where he expected the prisoner to make another break.Evans cell was thoroughly checked by Jackson to ward off the possibility of the presence of an incriminating materialwhich might hamper the smooth conduct of the examination. His nail scissors, nail file and razor were taken away;and to keep a strict watch on the activities of the cell during the examination, the Governor got it bugged. A policeofficer Stephens was posted to keep a constant vigil on his activities. The invigilator, too was frisked to make sure thathe carried no objectionable material with him.(Q.) Attempt a brief character sketch of Evans the Break.

(Ans) Evans the Break comes across to us as a highly clever, manipulative and shrewd individual. A non-violentkleptomaniac by birth, he was a jail-bird having being put in prison several times and escaping as many as three times.He was an amusing chap, good at imitations and a star at the Christmas concert. He had an unkempt physicalappearance but a cheerful smile which he used for the prison officers.A cunning and resourceful person, Evans is ableto use his presence of mind time and again, to his utmost advantage. He makes a request to Mr. Jackson to allow himto put on his bobble hat, but complains to the invigilator against Stephens whose presence disturbs his concentration.He is polite when he makes special requests to shut his convenience or rather when he plans to put his plan into action.He is quick to disguise himself as parson McLeery and spill blood on himself to appear injured. He is a clevermanipulator and uses this quality to win the confidence of the police officers. Evans enjoys the faith, support andactive cooperation of his team of dedicated comrades. They are meticulous in their planning and work out the minutestdetails in order to carry out their plans without any mishap. Even in the worst circumstances, Evans does not lose hiscool. He has the last laugh when he is able to fool the police officers and the Governor and escapes for the fourth time.

(Q.) Who, do you think, has the last laugh- The Governor or Evans? How?

(Ans) It is Evans who has the last laugh in the story. The two persons, i.e. driver and the silent prison officer turn outto be the accomplices of Evans. The Governor became complacent as he thought he had nabbed the prisoner and willsoon put him in prison. But Evans escapes once again.

(Q.) What did Stephens see, when he peeped through the hole of the cell of Evans after leaving McLeery at the main

gate of the prison?(Ans) Stephens thought of looking at Evans once again after leaving McLeery at the main gate. He saw a terrible sight.He saw a man with short hair presumably McLeery in a pool of blood sprawling back in Evans chair.(Q.) How did McLerry want to help the police?(Ans) The injured McLeery said that he knew where Evans was. He wanted to accompany the police in finding Evans.He insisted that he did not need to be hospitalized as he was all right. He showed the question paper to the Governor toimpress upon him that Evans had befooled everybody.Q.) What important clues were hidden in the German Question paper?(Ans) There was a photocopied sheet hidden in the German question paper. It was very cleverly pasted on the lastblank sheet of the question paper. It had instructions written in German. It read: follow the plan. The vital point in timewas three minutes before the end of the examination. He was not to hit the person hard and overdo the scot accent. Hewas to move the Headington round about and then make way to Newbury.(Q.) Where was the real McLeery?(Ans) The real Rev. McLeery was gagged and tied in his room since 8:15 am. The two men visited McLeery in themorning. They gagged him and tied him in his study. Since 8:15 in the morning, the real McLeery had been in his ownhouse. It was Evans accomplice who had come as McLeery to the examination centre.(Q.) What was the significance of the two phone calls the Governor received after a quarter of an hour of the start ofthe examination?(Ans) The first phone call was made by the Assistant Secretary of the Examination Board. It was regarding acorrection slip for the German paper that Evans was writing. The word Golden Lion was to be used in place ofGolden Lowe. The second call came from the Magistrates Court. They needed a prison van and a couple of prisonofficers for a remand case(Q.) How did the prison machinery swing into action? What did they overlook?(Ans) Prison officers started shouting orders as soon as they discovered that Evans had escaped. Sirens were blown.Puzzled prisoners pushed their way along and doors were banged and bolted. Phones were ringing everywhere.Jackson and Stephens supported McLeery on either side and brought him to the prison yard. The identity of the injuredMcLeery remained unchecked.(Q.) What did the Governor think of Evans and his plan after ringing up Detective Chief Inspector Bell?(Ans) The Governor admired clever Evans and his beautifully laid plan. He also commented on Evans carelessness inleaving behind the question paper. He said that all criminals got caught because they left important clues behind. Hewas sure that they would soon be able to catch Evans and put him in prison once again.Q.) What two purposes did the correction slip serve? Which of them did Evans consider more important?(Ans) The correction slip revealed the name of the hotel and its location. He had to go to Golden Lion. It alsocontained the exact time the exam started. For Evans, it was an important thing that the phone rang just before theexam finished. Thus he was able to get the prison officers out of the way for a couple of minutes.(Q.) What did Evans own hair look like? How then did he impersonate McLeery?(Ans) Evans hair was long and wavy while McLeery had closely clipped hair, almost next to the scalp. Jackson hadremoved Evans scissors, so he had to remove his hair off with razor. After that he kept his head covered with a bobblehat to prevent being noticed.(Q.) How did the Governor of Oxford Prison locate the hiding place of Evans?(Ans) The Governor told Evans that he had used the same method as Evans had done. The six figure reference313/271 was formed by two hints- Index number 313 and centre number 271. If one takes an Ordinance Survey Mapfor Oxfords hire, this number lands are bang in the middle of Chipping Norton.(Q.) What request did the Secretary of the Examination Board receive from the Governor of Oxford Prison?(Ans) The Governor of Oxford Prisons request was to create an examination centre in the prison for one candidatenamed James Roderick Evans who wanted to appear in O Level German Examination to be held on June 8.(Q.) What enquiry did the Secretary of the Examination Board make about Evans?(Ans) The Secretary of the Examination wanted cursory details about the examinee regarding his nature. He wanted toknow if Evans was a violent sort of a person. He was told that there was no record of violence.(Q.) Who met Evans on the eve of the examination? What does this brief interview reveal?(Ans) Mr. Jackson and Mr. Stephens visited Evans on the morning of the Examination. They visited him to ensure thathe did not have any weapon with him. Evans was called Evans the Break as he had escaped from Prison three times.(Q.) What puzzled Mr. Jackson about the contents in McLeerys suitcase?(Ans) Jackson saw a smallish semi-inflated rubber ring. Even a young child might have to struggle into it. Jackson

questioned McLeery about it. He replied that he suffered from piles.(Q.) Why did the Governor doubt the phone call from the Examination board for the correction in the paper? What didhe do?(Ans) The Governor doubted the phone call from the Examination board for the correction in the paper because hethought it might be a fake call. He tried to verify the call. He held the incoming call and from the other line called theExamination Board. Since the number was busy he assumed the call was a genuine one.Q.) How did Stephens keep an eye on Evans? What did he notice on looking through the peep-hole in Evans cell?(Ans) Stephens peeped after every one minute. He found Evans sitting with his pen between his lips. He sat staringstraight in front at the door. McLeery sat on his chair reading the Church Times. His right index finger was hookedbeneath the narrow clerical collar. The fingers of the left hand were slowly stroking the short black board.(Q.) What request did Evans make about half an hour before the end of the examination? What did Stephens thinkabout it?(Ans) Evans requested to have a blanket put round his shoulders. A minute later, Stephens was surprised to see a greyblanket draped round Evans shoulders. Stephens was misled into believing that Evans was feeling cold.(Q.) How did Evans manage his final escape?(Ans) Evans was handcuffed and made to sit in the prison van. But the Governor was complacent and it was Evansaccomplices inside the van. As the van turned to the Oxford Road, the silent prison officer who was Evans friendunlocked the handcuffs. Evan suggested that they go towards Newbury. Evans had his final escape.(Q.) Give an account of the blunders committed by the prison authorities which helped Evans in escaping from theprison.(Ans) Prison authorities made many blunders. It was only because of these mistakes that Evans could escape from theprison. The hatching of the escape plan started with the German tutors entry. The German teacher who had beencoming to take Evans classes was Evans accomplice. Everyone assumed that he was a teacher from the technicalcollege. The invigilators identify was also not verified.On the Examination day, Jacksons not getting Evans bobble-hat removed was a blunder. If Stephens had not shifted from the cell, the escape would not have been possible.Jackson should have searched McLeery thoroughly and seen the rubber ring closely. The prison staff blindly believedthat the injured was the invigilator, though it was Evans playing a trick on them. When Evans was arrested, theGovernor was complacent and sent him in a prison van, leaving Evans in the hands of his own accomplices. He thus,lost Evans who made his final escape QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICESHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS1. What different queries does the Secretary of the Examinations Board make from the Governor before conducting theexamination for Evans and why?2. Who do you think made a call regarding a correction in the question paper? What did it really want to convey?3. Who is Carter? What does the Governor want him to go and why?4. How did the Governor manage to reach Evans in the hotel?LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS1. What impression do you form of Evans?2. Comment on the ending of the play Evan Tries An O Level.3. How far do you agree with the observation: He was just another good for a giggle, gullible governor that wasall?4. Do you think the title Evans Tries an O Level is appropriate? Give reasons in support of your answer.

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INDIGO by Louis FischerPOINTS TO REMEMBERRajkumar Shukla- A poor sharecropper from Champaran wishing to meet Gandhiji.

Raj Kumar Shukla- an illiterate but resolute hence followed Gandhiji Lucknow, Cawnpore, Ahemdabad,Calcutta, Patna, Muzzafarpur & then Champaran.Servants at Rajendra Prasads residence thought Gandhiji to be an untouchable.Gandhiji considered as an untouchable because of simple living style and wearing, due to the company ofRajkumar Shukla.Decided to go to Muzzafarpur first to get detailed information about Champaran sharecropper. Sent telegram to J B Kriplani &stayed in Prof Malkani home- a government servant.Indians afraid to show sympathy to the supporters of home rule.The news of Gandhijis arrival spread- sharecroppers gathered in large number to meet their champion.Gandhiji chided the Muzzafarpur lawyer for taking high fee. Champaran district was divided into estate owned by English people, Indians only tenant farmers.Landlords compelled tenants to plant 15% of their land with indigo and surrender their entire harvest as rent.In the meantime Germany had developed synthetic indigo British landlords freed the Indian farmers from the15% arrangement but asked them to pay compensation. Many signed, some resisted engaged lawyers, and landlords hired thugs.Gandhiji reached Champaran- visited the secretary of the British landlord association to get the facts but deniedas he was an outsider.Gandhiji went to the British Official Commissioner who asked him to leave Trihut, Gandhiji disobeyed, went toMotihari the capital of Champaran where a vast multitude greeted him, continued his investigations.Visited maltreated villagers, stopped by the police superintendent but disobeyed the order. Motihari black with peasants spontaneous demonstrations, Gandhiji released without bail Civil Disobediencetriumphed. Gandhiji agreed to 25% refund by the landowners, it symbolized the surrender of the prestige.Gandhiji worked hard towards social economic reforms, elevated their distress aided by his wife, MahadevDesai, Narhari Parikh.Gandhiji taught a lesson of self reliance by not seeking help of an English man Mr. Andrews.

NCERT QUESTIONSSHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

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Q1 Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being resolute?Ans. Rajkumar Shukla ,an illiterate sharecropper, came all the way from Champaran district to Lucknow to inviteGandhi to visit his district. When Gandhi mentioned about his prior engagements to go to Cawnpore and other parts ofIndia, Shukla accompanied him everywhere. He also followed Gandhi to his ashram and stayed there for weeks tillGandhi asked him to meet him at Calcutta. Because of his strong will power and determination, he is described asbeing resolute.Q2.Why do you think the servants thought Gandhiji to be another peasant?Ans. As Gandhi was in the company of Rajkumar Shukla ,a poor yeoman ,the servantsat Rajendra Prasads houseassumed that he was another peasant. Moreover,Gandhis emaciated looks and simplicity could have led to hismistaken identity.Q3.List the places that Gandhi visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.Ans.Between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran ,Gandhi visited Cawnpur ,Calcutta ,Patna andMuzaffarpur.Q4.What did the peasants pay to the British landlords as rent? What did the British now want instead and why? Whatwould be the impact of synthetic indigo on the prices of natural indigo?Ans. The British landlords compelled the peasants to plant 15% of the land with indigo and to surrender the entireharvest as rent. Now that Germany had developed synthetic indigo ,Britishers wanted the tenants to pay themcompensation for being released from 15% agreement.As the demand of the natural indigo would reduce due to the advent of synthetic indigo, its price would go down.Q5.Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 percent refund to the farmers?Gandhi agreed to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers to break the deadlock between the landlords and thetenants. For Gandhi the amount of the refund was less important than the fact that the landlords had been forced toreturn part of the money and with it, part of the peasants prestige. He wanted to establish that the landlords were notlords above law and their rule could be challenged.Q6.How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?The Champaran episode made the peasants aware of their rights and taught them courage. Apart from getting 25percent of their compensation they got back their prestige. Within few years ,the British planters abandoned theirestates , which reverted to the peasants. Indigo sharecropping disappeared.Q 7 How was Gandhi able to influence lawyers? Give instancesGandhi chided the lawyers for charging hefty fee from the peasants to fight their case.Later his words encouraged thelawyers to court arrest in case he was arrested. He also dissuaded them from seeking Charles Andrews assistance intheir battle against the injustice of the Britishers in order to be self reliant.Q8.What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocatesof home rule?Being afraid of inviting the wrath of the Britishers, the average Indian in small localities were reluctant to show anysympathy towards the advocates of home rule.LONG ANSWER QUESTIONSQ 1 Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?Ans. The Champaran episode began as an attempt to alleviate the distress of a large number of poor peasants. But itbecame a turning point in Gandhi life.It build up Gandhi confidence that the British rulers could be made to bend andconcede a popular demand. He declared that British could not order him in his own country.It was during this struggle in 1917 that he decided to urge the departure of the British. When he came to Champaran,he was appalled to see fear stricken peasants and injustice of landlord system in Chamaparan. His readiness to go tojail for the sake of seeking justice instilled courage among ordinary people and motivated the lawyers for court arrest .He led civil disobedience by refusing to leave Champaran even after he got the official notice. Civil disobediencetriumphed for the first time when the case for disregarding the official order against him was dropped. Britishersagreement to pay 25 percent of the compensation made him and the peasants confident. It made the peasants realisethat they had rights and defenders and he established that the authority of the British could be challenged. He taughtthe lawyers a lesson of self reliance by dissuading them from seeking the assistance from an English man, CharlesAndrew.Gandhi never contended himself with larger and political solutions. He also madeendeavour to bring about cultural andsocial upliftment in the village.Q2.How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?The author mentions several ordinary people who contributed to the freedom movement.Rajkumar Shukla was instrumental in arranging Gandhis visit to Champaran.Proffesssor Malkani , despite being a

government servant, harboured Gandhi when he arrived at Muzzafarpur. When the news of Gandhis advent spreadthrough Muzzafarpur and Champaran , Sharecroppers from Champaran began arriving on foot to see theirchampion.Their gathering in huge number at Motihari was the beginning of their freedom from the fear of the British.The lawyers also agreed to court arrest in case Gandhi went to Jail.Gandhi and the lawyers conducted a detailed inquiry into the grievances of the farmers. They prepared cases for aboutten thousand peasants and collected relevant documents.Moreover the masses volunteered to help in bringing cultural and social reforms in the village. The two young men,Mahadev Desai and Narihari Parikh and their views volunteered to work. Several people came from Bombay ,Poonaand other distant parts of the land. Devadas ,Gandhis youngest son arrived from the asharam. Kasturbaitaught ashramrules on personal cleanliness and community sanitation.EXTRA QUESTIONS :SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONSQ1.Why did Rajkumar Shukla go to meet Gandhi? (CBSE 2008)Ans. Rajkumar Shukla came to meet Gandhi at the December1916 Congress Session in Luknow to complain about theinjustice of the landlord system of Bihar and to invite him to visit his district.Q2. What was the conflict of duties in which Gandhi was involved? (Question Bank,NCT)Ans. In court, Gandhi pleaded guilty for having disobeyed the official notice to quit Champaran. He read out astatement claiming he was involved in a conflict of duties. He clarified that he disobeyed not to break law and set abad example but to render thehumanitarian and national services for which he had come to Champaran.Q3.When did Gandhi say The battle of Champaran is won ? (Question Bank ,NCT)Ans. When the lawyers reconsidered their decision about their course of action in case of Gandhis arrest andvolunteered to court arrest for the cause of sharecroppers, Gandhi felt pleased and said The battle of Champaran iswonQ4. Civil disobedience had triumphed the first time in India . How did it happen ?(Question Bank ,NCT)Ans.When Gandhi disobeyed official order to quit Champaran , a case was initiated against him for disregarding theorders. The spontaneous demonstration of thousands of peasants around the courtroom baffled the officials. Notknowing how to handle the case , the judge postponed the judgement for few days. Then finally few days later, the casewas dropped by Lieutenant Governor himself.So civil disobedience triumphed for the first time in India.Q5 What did Gadhiji say to his friends when they suggested that Charles Andrews should be retained for the sake ofthe Champaran movement ? (Question Bank ,NCT)Ans.Gandhi vehemently opposed the lawyers suggestion to seek Andrews assistance and said that taking the supportof an Englishman would reveal the weakness of their hearts. He urged his friends to rely upon themselves to win thebattle.LONG ANSWER QUESTIONSQ1 Justify the appropriateness of the title Indigo to this extract.The title Indigo focuses our attention on the central issue of the chapter exploitation of indigo sharecroppers at thehands of cruel British planters. Britishers compelled them through a long term agreement to plant indigo on 15 percentof their land and surrender the entire harvest as rent. After the development of synthetic indigo by Germany , TheBritish planters extracted money from the peasants as compensation from being released from the 15 percentagreement. The peasants who wanted their money back filed civil suits. Rajkumar Shukla persuaded Gandhi to take upthe case of Indigo sharecroppers.So indigo sharecropping exemplifies the injustice of the Britishers and Indians submission to British authority. Theexploitation of indigo sharecroppers led Gandhi to arrive in Champaran to alleviate their distress. Peasants not only gotback thecompensation but also became courageous and confident. They learnt the lesson of self reliance.The Champaran movement that centred on indigo sharecropping led to social and cultural upliftment of thepeasants.Their education , health and hygiene received due attention.Thus the title Indigo is highly suggestive and appropriate.Q2 How did Gandhi use Satyagraha and non-violence to achieve his goal?Ans. Non violence and satyagraha were the weapons used by Gandhi to secure justice for oppressed peasants ofChamparan. He adopted legal ,moral and democratic path of negotiation.Gandhi refused to leave Tirhut division in which Chamaparan district lay despite being told by the British officialcommissioner to do so. Later he defied the official order to leave Chamaparan for which he received summon toappear in the court. When the British authorities could not regulate the unmanageable crowd at Motihari , he pacifiedthe crowd in polite and friendly way. Thus he gave concrete proof of the power ofsatyagraha and non violence.In the court he clarified that he did not want to set a bad example as a law breaker but intended to render humanitarian

and national service..His convincing argumentation baffled the magistrate who released him without the bail.Later he fought the case of the peasants peacefully by collecting evidences and the documents pertaining to the case.When the Britishers agreed to pay the compensation he peacefully negotiated with the landlords and accepted 25percent of the amount due.So the peasants got a partial refund of the compensation with the use of satyagrahaand nonviolence.Q3. How did Rajkumar Shukla prove to be an important link between Gandhi and his Champaran campaign?Rajkumar shukla was a poor and emaciated sharecropper from Champaran. Though he was poor and illiterate he wasdetermined to oppose the injustice of the British planters. He used to seek legal recourse to get justice and was inconstant touch with Rajendra Prasad ,an eminent lawyer. He came to December 1916 annual convention of the IndianNational Congress party in Lucknow to meet Gandhi as someone had told him that Gandhi Gandhi could give asolution to their problems. He complained about the injustice of landlord system in Bihar and invited Gandhi to visithis district.When Gandhi mentioned about his prior engagements to go to Cawnpore and other parts of India, Shukla showedtremendous patience and perseverance and accompanied him everywhere. He also followed Gandhi to his ashram andstayed there for weeks. Impressed by his determination and tenacity Gandhi promised to meet him atCalcutta on aparticular date. Few months later Shukla arrived at Calcutta and took him to Champaran.So, Rajkuma Shuklas strong will power and painstaking efforts were instrumental in arranging Gandhis visit toChamparan and thus improving the plight of the poor peasants.Short Questions

1. Why did Rajkumar Shukla go to meet Gandhi?( To complain about injustice of the landlord system in Bihar.)(SP)

2. How did Shukla pursue Gandhi to visit Champaran. (2008)

(showed great patience and perseveranceaccompanied Gandhiji wherever he wentwaited for him at Calcuttaimpressed him with his determination)

3. What proves that Gandhiji was an unknown figure in Patna?4. Why was Gandhi not allowed to draw water from the well of Dr. Rajendra Prasads house ?(p-47 ,2nd last para

,last 4 lines But Gandhi was not permitted.)5. Where did Gandhi stay in Muzaffarpur ? How does he comment about it ? ( p-48 ,1st paraGandhi stayed

there...home rule.)6. What was the conflict of duties that Gandhiji underwent ? How did he resolve it ? (p-50 ,7th para Gandhi

protested against the delay )7. . What did Gadhiji say to his friends when they suggested that Charles Andrews should be retained for the sake

of the Champaran movement ? (2009) (p-54 ,3rd last para)

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Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda

About the Poet

Poem by Nobel Prize winner Pablo Neruda, born Neftal Ricardo Reyes Basoaltowho always wrote with green inkwhich according to him, was the colour of hope. Columbian novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez once called him thegreatest poet of the 20th century of any language

Appeals to readers to take some time out of their busy lives for introspection and retrospection. The aim is to return toour routines with renewed vigour and awareness of ourselves and our actions

THEME: In this deceptively simple poem, the poet has emphasized the need to introspect and bring in the spirit ofbrotherhood among the people of the world.

VALUES: Introspection, retrospection, universal brotherhood, sensitivity to the environment, peace, empathy, unityetc.

Analysis of the Poem

Neruda begins by asking everyone to count to twelve and keep still. These twelve seconds would help everyone calmthemselves and relax and be ready to begin introspection or retrospection.

He wants people to break the barriers of communication and speak no language at all for a few minutes.

These moments of silence would be unique and enticing because in our mundane life, we are constantly workingtowards selfish goals and never take the time to reflect.

This sudden silence would give us an opportunity to introspect and unite humanity. We would all perform this activitytogether. Since we would not speak for a while, barriers between communities would break and a sense of brotherhoodwould prevail.

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Man would get an opportunity to realize how he is destroying nature and harming himself in the process. Thefishermen that harm aquatic life would realize how nature brings them a cold reception. The man who gathers salt fromthe sea would realize that nature retaliates by turning his hands rough.

In this silence, futile wars against men and nature would be arrested and a new feeling of unity would be experienced.Those who plan and implement bio warfare and nuclear weaponry should, for once, shed their old attire (professionand preoccupations) and put on clean clothes to walk among their fellow men. They must use this time to truly witnesswhat they would destroy with their attempts to achieve a fruitless victory. Such a win leaves no survivors because evenif they were physically alive, they would be emotionally dead and eventually, mankind will perish. The war will be avictory of scientific knowledge but there will be no survivors left.

The poet does not want his desire for inactivity to be misunderstood as a state of uselessness or death. He knows andaccepts life as it is. He accepts the rush, the noise and even the belligerent attitudes. He says he

does not begrudge death or want anything to do with it. He does not want people to be like dead, doing nothing,forever. All he wants is that everyone should take out just a few moments from their busy lives for themselves and forthe natural world around them.

He feels that if men were not so determined to keep lives moving all the time, the ensuing silence would interruptsadness that has become so much a part of us that we do not even notice it. This sadness comes from not knowingoneself and always trying to achieve everything possible at the earliest, out of an illogical fear of impending death.

He wants men to learn a lesson from the Earth. The Earth appears to be inactive yet it is constantly and selflesslyproductive. The natural world seems omnipresent without being ostentatious and hence, is taken for granted. After thecold inactive unproductive winter, spring arrives with bounty and vivacity. Men too could be productive andprogressive without any aggression, selfishness and the urge for destruction. They could care for nature as it cares forthem. They could, after eons of selfish actions, bring back a degree of nobility, thoughtful attitudes and universalbrotherhood.

Sample Answers: Short Questions

Q.1. What is the sadness referred to in the poem? 2m

Ans.1. The sadness Pablo Neruda refers to in his poem, Keeping Quiet, is that of never being able to understandourselves through introspection. It also arises out of our mad rush to achieve everything quickly due to our constantfear of the brevity of our lives.

Q.2. What is the significance of twelve in the context of this poem? 3m

Ans. 2. Twelve months, twelve zodiac signs, twelve gates of heaven and even the twelve notches on the face of theclock dividing the day into two halves of twelve hours each. Although we do not realize it, the number twelve isassociated with many things in our life.

This poem is a plea for universal brotherhood and peace. At twelve, the hands of the clock, despite their differences,

become one. Even the title of the poem, Keeping Quiet, has twelve letters. Hence, Neruda appeals to the readers totake these symbolic twelve seconds to begin the journey from strife, barriers and destruction to peace, unity andreplenishment.

Reference to Context

(i) Now we will count to twelve

and we will all keep still.

This one time upon the earth,

lets not speak any language,

lets stop for one second,

and not move our arms so much

1. Why does the poet want us to count to twelve? 1m2. What does the poet ask us to do? 1m3. What is the significance of twelve? 2m4. Why does the poet want us not to use our language and our arms? 2m

(ii) It would be an exotic moment

without rush, without engines,

we would all be together

in a sudden strangeness.

1. Which exotic moment does the poet refer to? 1m2. Why does the poet feel that the moment would be exotic? 1m3. What does the poet want us to do away with? 2m4. Justify the statement: We would all be together in a sudden strangeness 2m

(ii) Fishermen in the cold sea

would not harm to the whales

and the man gathering salt

would look at his hurt hands.

1. What would the fisherman not do? 1m2. What would the man gathering salt do? 1m

3. What transformation will these actions bring? 2m4. How does nature respond to mans actions? 2m

(iii) Those who prepare green wars,

wars with gas, wars with fire,

victories with no survivors,

would put on clean clothes

and walk about with their brothers

in the shade, doing nothing.

What are the different kinds of wars mentioned here?

1. What is the poets advice to the warmongers?2. Justify: Victory with no survivors3. What do the clean clothes signify?

(iv) What I want shouldnt be confused

with final inactivity:

Life is what it is about,

I have no truck with death.

1. What does the poet not want from the listener/reader? 1m2. Explain: I have no truck with death 2m

(v) Perhaps the Earth can teach us

as when everything seems dead

and later proves to be alive.

1. What lesson can we learn from Earth? 2m2. The earth is the inactive hub of activity. Discuss. 2m3. What does the word alive imply in this context? 2m

Short answer questions:

Q.1. How can man benefit from being still for a while?

Q.2. Nature has its own ways of retaliation in response to human selfishness. Comment.

Q.3. What do the warmongers do now? What would the poet have them do instead?

Q.4. Why does the poet say that he wants no truck with death?

Q.5. Which victory has no survivors? Which victory would make us alive in every sense of the word?

Q.6. What is the poets message for the reader?

Q.7. How will the silence usher a feeling of brotherhood?

Q.8. Identify the poetic devices used in the poem.

Q.9. Discuss the lesson one may learn from Earth.

Q.10. The poem is deceptively simple and carries a poignant message. Discuss.

Short answer questions

1.What will counting upto twelve and keeping still help us achieve?

2.Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?

3.What is the sadness that the poet refers to in the poem?

4.Central idea of the poem.

BROAD QUESTIONS

1) Why does the poet count up to 12? What is the significance of 12?

2) What are the Environmental issues mentioned in the poem?

3) How is the idea of universal brotherhood brought out in the poem?

4) Silence can be very eloquent sometimes. Mention when is silence preferred to language?

5) The poem begins with Now we will count and ends with Now Ill count and you keep quiet. What doesthe shift in the pronoun signify?

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MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD

GIST OF THE LESSON

PART I

The first part deals with the account of Simmons, An American Indian, who fought against the prejudices of thesociety against American Indians.She describes her experiences on her first day at the Carlisle Indian School.The customs and rules of the place were strange and new to her.She was forced to wear clothes that were considered undignified in her cultureAt breakfast, she was embarrassed as she did not know the routine of the place.When she comes to know that they were planning to cut her hair, she protests by hiding under the bed, eventhough she knew it was futile. In her culture, it was the cowards whose hair was shingled.She felt like an animal driven by a herder.

PART II

The second part is an excerpt from the autobiography Karukku by Bama a Tamil Dalit.She was in her third grade when she becomes aware of the indignities that the lower caste people face.She happens to see an elderly person from her community abase himself in front of a higher caste person as hewas not supposed to touch the food that he was ordered to fetch for the landlord.Later, her brother explains to her that the incident was not at all funny as she initially thought, but very pathetic.The people from the lower caste were treated as untouchables.

She was deeply saddened and decided to study hard to overcome discrimination

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NCERT QUESTIONS

Q.1. The two accounts that you read above are based in two distant cultures. What is the commonality of theme foundin both of them?

The unit presents autobiographical episodes of the lives of two women from marginalized communities who look backon their childhood , and reflect on their relationship with the mainstream culture.

Both

-victims of prejudice ,oppression

-experienced indignation ,sadness and outrage

-Affected by their unpleasant experience of childhood

-Fought against the injustice

-Both use the power of pen to fight oppression

Q3 . Bamas experience is that of a victim of the caste system. What kind of discrimination does Zitkala-sasexperience depict? What are their responses to their respective situations?

Ans. Zitkala Sa : victim of racial discrimination / cultural invasion

The lesson presents a good account of two different girls living at distant places. Both the women belong to themarginalized communities. Zitkala-Sa was a Native American. She was taken away from her mother forcibly becausethe white people wanted the native Indians to adopt their culture. Zitkala revolted the way the Indian girls were forcedto wear dresses in an immodest way. She was shocked to know that that the school authorities were going to cut herlong hair because in her community shingled hair were worn only by cowards. She hid herself under a bed in a largeroom. But when she was caught , she resisted by kicking and scratching.. But she could do nothing when they took herbravely, tied in a chair and cut off her hair. But her spirit could not be suppressed.

On the other hand, Bama was a low caste girl. She saw the upper caste people showing discrimination against lowercaste people. They could not touch food and other items of the upper caste people. They had to work for them and bowtheir heads. Her spirit too revolted against this injustice. She felt terribly sad and agitated. She could not understandthis human treatment since all are human beings. She wanted honour for all. Her brother Annan told her that she coulddo away with these indignities if she worked hard. Bama studied hard and stood first in her class. Many people becameher friends.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q.1. I felt like sinking to the floor ! Who felt so and why?

Ans. Zitkala-sa felt so when on her first day in Carlisle Indian School her blanket was rudely stripped off hershoulders. She felt exposed, as if her very identity had been snatched away so cruelly

Q2 How were the Indian girls dressed?(p-94,2nd para These were Indianhair)

Q3 What embarrassing situation arose when Zitkala-sa sat on hearing the first bell?

Q4.What information did Judewin give Zitkala-sa? (p-95 ,para-2 ,But this eating)

Q5What were the indignities that the new girls were subjected to at Carlisle Indian School?

(The girls were scrutinized thoroughly and supervised by a grey-haired woman. They were made to wear tight fittingimmodest clothes and stiff shoes. During breakfast a systematic and regimental discipline was observed. The girls withlong hair had to get them shingled and they had to submit to the authorities who were strong, unfeeling and cruel)

Q6 Why was Zitkala-Sa terrified when Judewin told her that her hair would be cut short?

Q7 Why does the author feel that she has been deprived of freedom in the hostel?

(Moccasins not allowed in the hostel, strict discipline ,long hair- cut, loss of freedom)

Q8..Interpret Judewins personality on the basis of her comment We have to submit, because they are strong .

(Hints : Judewins character submissive , cowardly, realistic)

Q9. Why was the girl, Zitkala tied to a chair in Memories of Childhood?

Ans: Zitkala Sa tells about her first day in school. She had long hair. According to the culture of the whites theywanted to cut her long hair. But she refused to obey their decision. She was dragged out and tied fast with a chair forcutting her hair. She resisted but all in vain.

Q10. What did Zitkala-Sa feel when her long hair was cut?

( felt indignant / anguished / lost her spirit / looked for comforting / felt

like an animal driven by a herder / felt helpless like a puppet 2 marks)

Q11*. What indignities did Zitkala-sa have to suffer after she was separated from her mother? (p-96 ,2nd para)

Q12.What does Bama say about untouchability at the onset of the story? (p-96 ,3rd para When i was studying)

Q13.What was the incident that made Bama laugh as well as feel so provoked and angry?

Ans. Bama saw an elderly man of her street carrying a packet of Vadais by the strings and walking gingerly, holdingthe parcel away from his body. Bama found his manner of carrying the parcel very funny. But her brother explains toher the higher caste people believed that if the lower caste people touched the parcel it would be polluted. Thats whythe elder was carrying it in that manner. This provokes and angers Bama.

Q.14. Who was Annan? Why was he not amused by Bamas story?

Ans. Annan was Bamas elder brother. Bamas story didnt amuse him because he knew the elderly man of their streetwas carrying a packet of food in the odd manner because they were untouchables and if the food came in contact withtheir body it would become polluted and unfit for consumption by his upper caste master.

Q15How did Bama react when she came to know why the elderly man was carrying the packet? (p-99 ,1st &2nd para)

Q16 What did the author (Bama) think of upper caste people in? Why they didnt treat them human beings?

( Bama thought that upper class people thought so much of themselves they had wealth-didnt mean lose all humanfeelings)

Q17 Why did Landlords man asked Bamas brother ,on which street id he live? What was the significance?

Q18. What advice did Annan offer Bama?

( advised her to work hard / study with care and make progress to throw

away indignities / if you are ahead in your lesson, people will come to you 2 marks)

Q19What impact did Annans advice have on Bama and with what effect? (p-99 ,last para,p-100 )

LONG QUESTIONS

Q1 Seeds of rebellion are sown early in life injustice even cant escape the eyes of child. Justify the statementwith reference to the lesson and Memories of childhood.

Ans. The lesson Memories of Childhood is an amalgamation of two autobiographical episodes. One by AmericanIndian woman and second by a Tamil Dalit writer. Both stories highlight the womens oppression, class barriers,racialism, discrimination and exploitation that tend to pull them down. Both the stories advocate the statement thatseeds of rebellion are sown early in life.

In The Cutting of my long hair the feeling of breaking free and gaining freedom are seen in the girl. Zitkala-Sa, inthe very first line reports that her first day in school was bitter-cold. For her, it not only describes the weather, butalso represents the atmosphere of the boarding school. Though she was a child but she could observe the overlydisciplined students of the school and and its unfriendly staff. She faced indignity & oppression since she had left hermother. She is not ready to get her hair cut, to lose her & identity. She fights till the end but is helpless as sheoverpowered.

Also in We Too Are Human Beings, when Bama was in class 3rd, no had talked to her about untouchability but stillshe had experienced it and could notice the difference between landlords and Dalits.The little girl was amused to see

how the old man was holding the packet but when she came to discover the truth, she is extremely upset & citizens theway of the rich. Through her struggle & hard work she stands first & wins many friends. Thus we can see that thoughthe children are small & innocent but they cannot tolerate injustice if they are taught early in their life.

Q2 Describe Zitkala-Sas ordeal in school on her first day.

(Hints : explanation of two incidents , first in the dining room and second the hair cutting episode)

Q3 It took almost an hour for Bama to reach back home from school. Why?

OR

What were the novelties and oddities in the bazaar which entertained Bama?

Ans. Bama was a young playful girl studying in class three. Her school was at a distance of ten minutes from her homebut she normally took at least thirty minutes to traverse this distance.

The bazaar on the way was full of novelties and oddities for her-the performing monkey, the snake kept by the snakecharmer in its box, the cyclist who had not got off his bike for three days, the spinning wheels, the Maariyaata temple,the pongal offerings being cooked in front of the temple; the various food stalls in front of the temple, the differenthues of the street light and the narikkuravan hunter gypsy with its wild lemur in cages. A different kind ofperformance on stage such as a street play, a puppet show, a magic show or speeches by budding politicians alsocaught her attention. Even the way the waiters cooled the coffee at the coffee clubs or the way people cut onions heldthe little girl spell-bound. The fruit growing on a tree as well as the seasonal fruits being sold held her captive.

Hence we see that before Bama was rudely oriented to the unfortunate reality of her caste she was an innocent childbuoyed by the simple sights of life.

Q4 How does Memories of Childhood. Bring out the plight of marginalized communities in India?

HINTS: the text experiences of two small girls from marginalized communitiesforced to accept the rules laid bypeople of so called high casteboth humiliated and tortured for being from low castethrows light on how they hadto sacrifice their self right to self esteem and were subjected to unbearable humiliationcharacters symbolize communitiespersonal experiences universalized compels the reader to think how humane is the human world.

Q5 Zitkala-sa did not tamely surrender but put up a brave fight. How did she show her resistance to the cutting of herhair?

Q6 The cutting of my hair shows insensitivity of the mainstream culture towards marginalized communities. Discuss

Q7. What was Bamas initial reaction to the incident on the street? How did her reaction change later on?


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MY MOTHER AT SIXTY SIX by KAMALA DASSummary: The poets driving from her parents home to Cochin by car, her mother by her sidesleeping open mouthed verypale, colorless and frail like a dead body indicating that her end was near.

The poet looks at her and feels intense pain and agony to realize that soon death will cast her mother from her.

Tries to divert her mind, looks outside at the young trees and happy children bursting out of their homes in a playfulmood (a contrasting image)

After the security check at the airport looked again at her mothers facepale and cold.

Familiar ache My childhood fear the poet has always had a very intimate and close relationship with her motherand she has always felt the fear of being separated from her mother hence it is familiar.

The poet reassures her mother that they will meet again.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. Driving from my parents home to Cochin last FridayMorning, I saw my mother, beside me, doze,open mouthed, her face ashen like thatOf a corpse and realized with painThat she thought away.

a) Where was the poet coming from? Where was she going?The poet had gone to her parents home to visit them. She was now going to Cochin airport.

b) How does the poet describe her mother?The poet describes her mother as old, pale, cold and senile. As she dozed off beside her, the mother looked almost likea corpse, for her face was colorless and seemed to have lost the fervor of life.

d) Who does she refer to in the last line? What thoughts had she driven away?

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She here refers to the poet. The thought of her mothers approaching death which she wanted to put it away.

2. and looked but soonput that thought away, and looked out at youngtrees sprinting, the merry children spillingout of their homes.

a) What was the poet looking at? What did she notice?The poet was looking at her mother. She noticed the mothers ashen and almost lifeless face distraught with pain.

b) What thought did she try to drive away?She tried to drive away the thought of her mothers approaching death.

c) Why did the poet start looking out? What does her gesture suggest?The poet started looking out of the window because she wanted to drive away the pain and agony she experienced onseeing her aged mother. She wanted to drive away her helplessness in the wake of her mothers ageing andapproaching death.

d) What did the poet see from the window of the car?The poet saw young trees running past her car and merry children sprinting out of their homes to play.

e) What did the images of young trees and merry children symbolize?Trees and children symbolize the spring of life, its strength, vigour and happiness which contrasts with the lifelessnessand helplessness that sets in with age.

3. but after the airportssecurity check, standing a few yardsaway, I looked again at her, wan, paleas a late winters moon

a) Where was the poet standing?The poet was at the Cochin airport waiting to board the plane after the security check.

b) Who does her here to? How did she look like?Her here refers to the poets mother.

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