CHRIST KING HR. SEC.

SCHOOL KOHIMA
CLASS - 11
ENGLISH
Chapter - 1
Thank You, M’am
Exercises
A. Answer these questions in 30-40 worth. (factual and inferential questions)
1. What did she boy try to stench?
Ans:- The boy tried to snatch a large purse from a woman who was large. The purse contained everything in it
except hammer and nails. It had a long strap and she was carrying it with its strap slung across her shoulder.

2. Why was he not successful in his attempt?

Ans:- In his attempt to snatch the nurse from the wanton, the strap broke with the single tug the boy gave it from
behind. But the purse was too heavy for hint. His weight and the purse combined caused him to lose his
balance and he fell on his back on the sidewalk with his legs up. That is why he was not successful in his
attempt.

3. What did the woman do in response?

Ans:- The woman simply turned around and kicked the boy right square in his blues jeaned sitter. Then she
reached down, picked him up by his shirt front and shook him until his teeth rattled.

4. Why did the boy not run away when the woman finally let go of his neck?
Ans:- The boy did not run away when the woman finally let go of his neck because he began to understand that
the woman had no intention to take him to jail and he was shown a motherly affection by her.

5. Why was the boy trying to steal?

Ans:- The boy wanted a pair of blue suede shoes. But he had no money. He had nobody at home to buy him the
pair of shoes he wanted. That is why the boy was trying to steal.

6. Why did the woman stop watching the boy once she was inside the room?
Ans:- The woman, by that time was able to build a trust on the boy. Her treatment of the boy in her house was
that the boy had no reason to mistrust her. This natural feeling the woman must have is the reason why she
stopped watching the boy once she was inside the room.

7. What did the woman give the boy to eat? What does this tell you about her financial situation?
Ans:- The woman gave the boy lima beans, ham, a cocoa made out of canned milk and a piece often-cent cake.
The type of food that she had with the boy tells us that she was not earning much. She was doing her job in a
hotel beauty shop.

8. Do you think the boy was worse off than the woman? Sups port your answer with two examples from
the story.
Ans:- I don't. The woman too had been bad off in her past days when she was his age. For example:
A) When she was young, there were times when she wanted things but she could not get them.
B) She too had done things which she found it impossible to tell the boy or even to God.

9. Did the boy ever see the woman again? Do you think she still impacted his life?
Ans:- The boy never saw the woman again.
The woman would have touched the boy's life for good. The boy's inability to express himself at the time
of parting with the woman and his repeated expression of gratitude speaks volume for his possible change in
his outlook.
10. Is the story always serious? Pick out two places where the tone of the writer is humorous.
Ans:- The story is mostly of a serious nature. Some parts do contain humor. For example, the very opening
sentence of the story is humorous. It says she was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it
but hammer and nails. Another example for humour is the lady's assertion that she would not take him jail
with the face he had before it was washed.

B. Think and answer in 100-150 words. (Global comprehension)

1. What message does the story have for the reader?

Ans:- 'Thank you M'am' written by Langston Hughes tells us a story about an encounter between a teenage boy
and an older woman. This story conveys the message that one's living condition must not be a reason to
claim to be dishonest, or to stoop to do any heinous action. In this story the boy Roger is worse off than the
woman Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. When she was young she was equally worse off. But their
outlook varies. While Roger tries to snatch a pocket book to fulfill his want, Mrs. Jones asserts that in her
such a situation , in spite of the similar circum- stances of poverty, she didn't snatch's people's pocketbooks.
The story as it progresses unravels Mrs. Jones attempts to cone Vince the boy of his grave mistake by
treating him with her motherly affection which leaves the boy trusting in what she tells him. In that case the
story gives a reader the message that in order to correct somebody the use of understanding is much better
than the use of punitive measures.

2. Do you think Roger expected the lady to behave as she did? Give examples to support your answer.
Ans:- Roger, one of the two characters in the story 'Thank You', M'am' is initially portrayed as indulging in a
devilish act of snatching a women's pocket book in order to buy a pair of blue suede shoes. His attempt fails
when the woman, Mrs. Jones, catches hold of him. The boy never expected the lady to behave as she did
because her words were intimidatory. That is why the boy struggled to free himself from the lady forcing her
to put a half-nelson about his neck. Once in her house the boy searched for some possibility to run away by
looking at the woman and the door in turn. The boy also asked the lady whether she was going to take him to
the jail. These are the examples to show that Roger did not expect the lady to behave as she did.

3. What do you think may have happened if the boy had tried to run away?
Ans:- One possibility is that if the boy had tried to run away, Mrs. Jones would have swung into action. She
would lock Roger up and teach him lessons on good conduct. The other possibility is that if he really
succeeded in running away, he would remain unchanged and attempt more robbery. He would continue to
disturb the society with his devilish actions. And one day or the other day he would be caught and booked to
be sent to jail. In case of release, he would be always on the run.

4. Why do you think the older woman treated the boy as she did? Do you think she ever intended to take
him to jail?
Ans:- The older Woman, Mrs. Jones, caught hold of the boy, Roger when he tried to snatch her purse. She kicked
him Right Square in his blue-jeaned sitter. She held him by his shirt front and shook him until his teeth
rattled. She dragged him along the street to her house. On further questioning, the boy revealed that he had
no-body at home. He tried to snatch her pocket purse because he wanted to buy a pair of blue suede shoes.
By that time Mrs. Jones had developed a motherly affection for the boy. It didn't take much time for her to
see the boy's life of poverty because she herself had been through such a situation when she was young as a
boy. Though she had not resorted to a devilish action as done by the boy, she was empathetic enough to
understand the boy's situation. That is why the older woman treated the boy as she did. I don't think she ever
intended to take him to jail. She must have been fully aware that such a step would not transform him, but his
jail term would further worsen his approach to life.
 Chapter 2
No Men Are Foreign

A. Read the lines from the poem and answer the questions. (factual and inferential questions)

9. Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes Like
ours; What does the poet mean by the word 'strange'?
Ans:- By the word strange, the poet means uncommon, not same or hard to understand

b. Which uniforms does the poet refer to here?

Ans:- The uniforms the poet refers to here is uniforms worn by soldiers.

c. What is meant by the words 'a single body breathes'?

Ans:- 'A single body breathes' means a person of same physical nature as anywhere lives and only the uniform is
different.

C) Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read A labour not different from our own. a. Which
lines are being spoken of?
Ans:-The lines here spoken of are the marks in the hands caused by callousness of hard work.

b. What do we read in these lines?

Ans:-In these lines we read the message that men everywhere work hard for their living. Everybody works the
same way in spite of all regional differences.

c. Why is their labour not different from ours?

Ans:-Their labour is not different from ours because their hands work the same way as ours do for the livelihood.

3. Remember, we who take arms against each other.

It is the human earth that we defile. Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence of air that is everywhere our
own,

10. What does the poet mean by the phrase 'take arms'?
Ans:-The phrase 'take arras' means fight.

11. How do we defile the earth and outrage the air?

Ans:-We defile the earth and outrage the air with the hells of fire and dust caused by the wars.
12. Explain 'hells of fire and dust'.
Ans:-When a war breaks out the gun shots and cannons create a hellish atmosphere with fire and dust.

B. Think and answer in about 150 words. (Global comprehension)

1. What do you think are the moral and the message of the poem?
Ans:-The poem 'No Men are Foreign' written by James Falconer Kirkup is a condemnation of wars which are
caused by earthly disparities and delimitations. The boundaries make people aliens in
spite of all their physical and emotional sameness. The poet brings out this aspect of human beings in order
to question the reason for wars which harbor hatred and widen the gap among the people caused by
geographical or racial differences. In this context the poet reminds us of the fact that the life of the unit
formed soldiers is similar to one another with regard to their needs, nature of activities and the exposure to
consequences of wars. When the poet progresses in his condemnation on wars, he pro-poses a means for
conquest and that is love. He is of the opinion that love can win any strength. Since, no men are foreign,
the war victims are like our own brothers and so their killing brings no gain but losses. In short what the
poet wants to convey through this poem is the message of universal brotherhood and the moral
degeneration caused by wars.
2. Remember; no men are foreign, and no countries strange-Do you agree with this statement? Give
reasons.
Ans:-Yes, I do. This statement is doubtlessly proven with many sup-porting examples cited by the poet. It is
absolutely true that life is common everywhere. Our physical features and needs and emo-tional responses
are all similar. It is illogical to call the people of other countries, foreigners because there is nothing foreign
in them as they all have the same kind of body which sustains our life. The earth we live in is not a
different one. They have eyes like ours with which they see and sleep as we do. In every land love is the
most powerful weapon. When a war breaks out every-body affected by it suffers for want of peace and
food. The im-pact of wars in the form of sufferings is same everywhere despite regional or continental
disparities. For a living, everybody has to work in all nations. As such, we should agree with the poet's
notion that 'no men are foreign and no countries strange'.
3. The poet tries to make us understand that the differences in people are superficial. Substantiate with
examples.
Ans:-The poet tries to make us understand that the differences in people are superficial by giving us a number
of examples like uniforms, geographical barriers, wars for want of territorial conquests and the countries
which are termed as foreign for the simple reason that they are scattered in different continents. The poet
asserts the fact that the soldiers who fight are different only in uniforms. Except this superficial difference
does not make people different. Beneath all uniforms the physical formation of man is same everywhere.
Our brothers - the soldiers of other countries -walk on the same earth. When we die, we are all buried in
the same earth. Like us, they know the importance of the heat of the sun, the life giving oxygen and life
sustaining water.
When there is peace, we have all food but when there are wars, we all starve. War is like a long winter.
They do the same manual labour as we do and which we can identify from the callousness they have in
their hands just as we have in our own hands. They have the same physical and emotional aspects as we
have. In short, it is proved beyond doubt that life is common everywhere and there is no power which
cannot be conquered by love.
4. Who tells us to 'hate our brothers'? Why do 'they' do this? How do we lose? What 'can be won by
love' instead?
Ans:-The vested interested rulers in whose command soldiers have to fight tell us to 'hate our brothers'. They do
this for their personal gain making soldiers scapegoats. When we hate our brothers, it is ourselves that we
lose. Hatred begets hatred. It is not a solution. Love is the strongest weapon. There is no strength which
cannot be won by love.

Chapter - 3
The Malefactor
C. Read the lines and answer the questions. (factual, inferential and multiple-choice questions)
3. ‘... Ivan Akinfov, the railroad watchman, found you
1. Whom did Akinfov find and when did he find the person?
Ans:- Akinfov found a tiny, very thin little peasant named Denis Grigoryev. He found Denis Grigoryev when
he was patrolling the railway track on the seventh of July.
2. What was the person doing when he was found?
Ans:- He was unscrewing one of the nuts that fasten the rails to the ties when Akinfov found him.
3. Who says these words and what is his role in the matter?
Ans:- The magistrate says these words. His role in the matter is questioning the accused, Denis Grigoryev and
as per the answer he decides his involvement in the crime.
4. 'What a fool he is pretending to be!
Who says these words? Who is being spoken about?
Ans:- The magistrate says these words. Denis Grigoryev is being spoken about.
 Was the person in question pretending to be a fool or was he really a fool? Substantiate your answer.
Ans:- The person in question Denis Grigoryev was really a fool. His words that he had unscrewed the nuts to
make sinkers as if there was nothing wrong in it and he also left some nuts unscrewed for the train to run
are really some kind of foolish assertion.
5. 'One ought to judge first and drag afterwards.'
Who says these words to whom?
Ans:- Denis Grigoryev, the peasant, says these words to the magistrate.
In what context does he say these words?
Ans:- He says this on angered by the railroad watchman Ivan Akinfov action of grabbing him by the coat collar
and dragging him away notwithstanding his ignorance of being a peasant in contrast to the magistrates
education and his knowledge on matters in this regard.
6. 'Can I go?' What do these words say about Denis?
Denis thought he was innocent.
Denis did not think the interview with the magistrate was important.
Denis was in a hurry to go home.
Ans:- b. Denis did not think the interview with the magistrate was important.

4. Answer these questions in 30-40 words. (factual and inferential questions)

Why was Denis Grigoryev standing in front of the examining magistrate?
Ans:- While patrolling the track Ivan Akinfov, the railroad watchman, found Denis Grigoryev, at the one
hundred and forty-first mile unscrewing one of the nuts that fastened the rails to the ties. The watchman
grabbed him and dragged away and produced before the magistrate. Now was standing in front of the
examining magistrate to answer the question whether the charge leveled against was true or not.

Of what use were the nuts to the peasants of Klimov?

Ans:- The peasants of Klimov used nuts to make sinkers for their fishing lines. The nuts were the most
convenient things used as weight in order to sink to the bottom when they baited their hook with a shiner or
a roach. Nuts were better than any other sinkers be-cause they were heavy and have a hole in them.

List the seven kinds of fish named in the story. Was there any' real relevance of fishing to the
conversation?
Ans:- The seven kinds of named in the story are roach, bass, pike, eels, garfish, gudgeons and perch. As far as
Denis was concerned, he had to talk about the fish and fishing in order to justify his stand with regard to
the use of sinkers made with the nuts unscrewed from the rails. This is because the nuts were the most
convenient things used to make weights and without which the fish mentioned above could not be caught.
So there was a real relevance of fishing to the conversation for connecting with the purpose of stealing
nuts.
Did the peasants know what might have happened if the nuts were taken?
Ans:- The peasants were uneducated to think the serious consequences of unscrewing nuts from the rails. This
can be understood from Denis argument that they did not unscrew all the nuts but left some. Also,
unscrewing nuts were not like taking away a railway or putting a log across the track which might derail a
train. They had been committing this crime for a number of years, but did not see an accident. Therefore
they did not know what might have happened if the nuts were taken.
How do we know that it was not the first time a nut had been taken from the tracks? Ans:- The words
of Denis speak volumes for the fact that it was not the first time that a nut had been taken from the tracks.
He said that the whole village had been unscrewing nuts for many years. When Denis house was searched
a nut was found lying under a little red chest. But Denis claimed that it had been given to him by Ignashka,
the son of a one-eyed Simon. Then he admitted that the nut that was in the sleigh was unscrewed by him
along with Mitrofan who made fishing nets and sold them. Mitrofan needed a dozen nuts to every net.
 What does the magistrate say had happened as a result of the nuts being removed? Does Denis
understand the implications of the magistrate's comment?
Ans :- As a result of the nuts being removed a train ran off the track a year ago. No, Denis doesn't understand
the implications of the magistrate comment. When the magistrate explains the tragedy that might happen
due to removal of nuts, Denis defends himself foolishly saying that they did not unscrew all the nuts, but
always left some so that no accident would happen. When he was pointed out about an accident, he
digressed saying that the magistrate knew those things because he was educated.
Why do you think Denis tells the magistrate the details of the other nuts? Does this prove his honesty
or his ignorance of the serious nature of his crime?
Ans:- I think that Denis tells the magistrate the details of the other nuts because he wants to convince him that
they needed nuts necessarily and so far in their knowledge no rail accident happened owing to their
unscrewing of nuts.
This proves both his honesty and the ignorance of the serious nature of his crime.
Did Denis expect to be punished? Substantiate your answer with examples.
Ans:- Denis did not expect to be punished. When he finished his talking about the reason for unscrewing nuts
and how he used it for making sinkers, he expressed his wish to go. He asked the magistrate whether he
could go. When the magistrate told him that he would be arrested and sent to jail, Denis said that he had no
time, he had to go to the fair to collect the three roubles that one Gregory owed him for fallow. These
words are examples to show that he did not expect to be punished.
C. Think and answer in 100-150 words. (Global comprehension)
1. Describe the character and appearance of Denis Grigoryev. Was he really a malefactor? Justify.
Ans:- Denis Grigoryev was a tiny and very thin little peasant. Fie were a striped shirt and patched trousers. His
beard was shaggy and face was pock-marked. His eyes were scarcely visible under their bushy;
overhanging brows which gave him a harsh and forbidding expression, to which a mane of matted,
unkempt hair added a spider-like ferocity. He was barefoot, Denis is a simpleton. He is not aware of the
threat to people's life that unscrewing nuts from the rails could cause. He is more concerned about personal
gains and defends himself of his crime by finding refuge in his lack of education. In that case, he is a
pretender to certain extend. He is selfish as well as harmful in his intentions, though he resorts to it
unknowingly. To sum up, we can say that he is ready a fool strengthened by his stubbornness.
2. Do you think the magistrate's sentence was too harsh, or did Denis Grigoryev deserve it? Answer
with reasons.
Ans:- I don't think the magistrate is sentence was too harsh. When we consider the seriousness of the crime he
had committed though he was a simpleton, he deserved it. The charge leveled against him by the
magistrate was that he had unscrewed one of the nuts that fastened the rails to the ties and that was found
by Ivan Akinov, the railroad watchman. Denis was then produced before the magistrate for cross-
questioning. Knowingly or unknowingly, he was found unserious about the consequences of his reckless
action. He answers the magistrates questions defiantly. When the magistrate asked him why he needed the
nut, he gave a long lecture on why the peasants of Klimov unscrewed railroad nuts giving out a list of the
names of fishes and how the weights made with the nuts suit to their fishing activities disregarding the
magistrate's intervention to stop talking about the fishes. He gives a contemptuous reply to the magistrate's
question whether he needed the nut for using as a weight. When the magistrate pointed out the possible
railroad accident and killing of people in the tragedy, he defended himself saying that they always left
some nuts unscrewed for safety. He also pretended lack of education for his wrong doing. As such Denis
Grigoryev certainly described a prison life.
3. What was Article 1081 of the Code? What was the difference in the magistrate's understanding of
the article and the peasant's understanding?
Ans:- Article 1081 is a penal code. According to it, "Whoever intentionally commits an act of injury to a
railroad, whereby an accident might result to the trains, and who knows that such an accident might result
shall be severely punished." And the sentence is exile and hard labour. But Denis understanding of the
article was different. He said that such things as the Article 1081 were not meant for uneducated or
illiterate people. He thought that Article had something to do with catching fish with or without a sinker.
He thought that such a law would be forbidding the catching of fish using a sinker which they used to
make with railroad nuts.

4. Does the story make you feel that the poor do not get justice? Justify with reasons.
Ans:- It is not that the poor do not get justice. But the problem lies in the fact that the government mechanism
or the judiciary utterly fails to make its provisions and executions understand the illiterate. Laws are
common for everybody. But only the educated class are aware of their system of functioning. Due to the
ignorance, the poor and the uneducated people are unaware of the court's terms and conditions.
Consequently, they walk directly into the trouble by violating the rules of the country in their at-tempt to
earn their living, to make sure that everybody gets equal justice the judiciary should carry out awareness
campaigns in simple, practical common man's language. Otherwise the poor fall victim to penal codes and
they are denied justice.

D. Give the meanings of these words from the story and make sentences with them. (words in context)
1. shaggy - rough haired

An Indian hermit usually has a shaggy beard.

2. Unkempt - uncombed

The teacher scolded John for his unkempt hair.

3. Heathen - a person regarded as lacking moral principles My

new neighbour seems to be a heathen.

4. smirked - put on a silly smile

When he was pointed out his mistakes he smirked at me.

5. commits - do a crime or a blunder

As long as he remains a part of that gang he commits unpardonable crimes.

6. ignorance - lack of knowledge

He feigned ignorance when he was caught for theft.

E. Think and discuss.

(extension of the theme)

1. Discuss in a group what should have been done with Denis Grigoryev.
Ans:- Denis is a simple minded and uneducated man who is not aware of the threat to people's life that
unscrewing the nuts from the rails could cause. He is incapable of understanding that accident does not
give a signal before it occurs. So I think we should adopt same strategy to convince him of the gravity of
the situation which may cost the lives of the innocent. What do you say Mr. John and Miss Tania about it?
"See Mr. Thomas, if I were responsible for communicating with Grigorieff, I would cite incidents which
have occurred because of the unscrewing nuts from the rails". "You are correct Miss Tania." "On my part I
would try to make him under-stand how many people had died same years before in a similar situation in
Siberia. "Ok, then, Mr. John, perhaps, if he were shown some video clips of train accidents he could have
been made understand everything.

2. Work in pairs and write an imaginary description of the magistrate. Remember that he is the
antithesis of the peasant.
Ans:- The magistrate in the beginning appear to be a wise man as every magistrate ought to be. He makes a
calm and careful approach to the peasant's crime. Initially, he takes cognizance of the peasant's simple
mindedness and ignorance of the seriousness of the situation. But gradually the magistrates patience wears
out. The patience of a wise man changes to the irritability of an ordinary man. The magistrates ignorance of
fish rod weight is as pitiable as Denis ignorance about railway rules. In this case Denis outwits the
magistrate inspite of his learning. At last the magistrate piqued by Denis foolish rhetoric, behaves
arrogantly and without a second thought sends him to jail.

Chapter 4
If
A. Read the lines from the poem and answer the questions.

(factual and inferential questions)

13. If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too;

What is meant by the phrase 'make allowance'?

Ans: - 'Make allowance for' means take into consideration.

Explain the lines in your own words.

Ans: - The poet in these lines says that one must have confidence in oneself But this confidence should not lead
to over confidence. One must consider other's criticism as well.

14. If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two imposters just the same; If you can
bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Why does the poet call Triumph and Disaster imposters?

Ans:- The poet calls' Triumph' and 'Disaster' as imposters because both these conditions are not permanent.
They change on ac-count of 'Triumph' which means success one may become too proud and invite others
jealousy and enmity. On the other hand 'Disaster' which means misfortune may dishearten one terribly,
losing all hope in life. In this way they mislead us.

Why does he think both should be treated the same?

Ans:- He thinks that both should be treated the same because they are like the imposters who mislead us.
Success and failure are part of our life. Maintenance of the stability of our mind is possible if we treat both
these same.

Explain the last two lines in your own words.

Ans:- An ideal man does not lose his patience to hear how other falsify his truth. He knows that dishonest
people do so in order to trap fools who are credulous.

15. And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;

What is referred to as "em'?

Ans:- 'em (them) refers to all the things you have saved or achieved by your life long hard work.'
D. Why does one need to 'stoop and build 'em'?

Ans:- One needs to 'stop and build 'em' because as long as one lives one should be perseverant, one should keep
rebuilding what one loses and this gives life meaning and keeps mind hopeful.

E. Why are the tools 'worn-out'?

Ans:- The tools are 'worn-out' because their continuous use left them no more in good conditions. Here 'tools' is
metamorphic ally used for the physical state of a man.

7. If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds'
worth of distance run,

Why should 'all men' count, but 'none' too much?

Ans:- 'All men count' but 'none' too much because giving importance to some particular group would lead to
partiality resulting in resentments. All are equally important for an ideal man.

Why has the minute been called 'unforgiving'?

Ans:- The minute has been called 'unforgiving' because one cannot get it back once it has gone.

Explain the last line in your own words.

Ans:- The last line 'with sixty seconds' worth of distance run means to say that one minute constituted by six
seconds can make much difference in the process of achievement. Every second and minute is important.

5. Think and answer in about 150 words.

(Global comprehension)
 What are the characteristics of a 'Man' in the poem?

Ans:- The characteristics of a 'Man' in the poem is given in the form of a number of conditions of qualities. A man
who possesses the qualities mentioned in the poem is a true man. According to the poet, an ideal man keeps
composure among the fault finding people. He has confidence in himself even when others doubt him. He
doesn't lie and hate others even if he is lied about or hated. He has patience, strong will and determination. He
doesn't show off his greatness or act to be wiser than others. He treats success and misfortune equally. He has
the strong will power to persevere, at the same time, strives to make up for the losses without complaining. He
maintains good relationship with every-one and gives room for others' criticism, He treats everybody equally
and never indulges in hating others. He spends his time productively and works towards achieving his goals.
All these characteristics make a man the master of the world. Moreover, he becomes the true man.

D. Do you agree that it is necessary to have all these qualities? Which ones seem unnecessary or
impossible?
Ans:- Infact it is necessary to have all these qualities. The poet men-tions a number of characteristics that will
help a man to become a true man. But certain qualities mentioned in the poem art woo difficult to be
developed or even if we have them, we tend to shed them because of the circumstances and people around
us. There are people who are determined to tarnish the image of a good person and so the man who desires
to be a true man may find himself in situations in which he may adopt wrong ways of such people. For
exam the poet says that to be a true man one should give equal importance to all or to be impartial. But it is
a proven fact that no man with total impartiality could live in this world.

E. Why does the poet emphasise the need to keep one's 'virtue' with 'crowds', and 'common touch' with
kings?
Ans:- In the 'IF' the poet Rudyard Kipling gives a list a qualities as the characteristics of a man to be acclaimed
as the real man. Two of the many qualities he lists out are the need to keep one's 'virtue' with the crowds and
'common touch' with the kings. A person who usually talks to a crowd must be a leader or someone the
crowd trust and listens. The trust is betrayed if one talks and leads with the untruth and the misguiding
rhetoric. In that case a day is not far when one will be discarded by the people. Such a person cannot claim a
permanent place in the mind of people. So he must keep his virtue when he talks to the crowd. The 'common
touch' refers to the good qualities of an ordinary, simple person like humility, friendliness, etc. it is generally
ob-served that one who keeps company with people of high status like the kings forget the path they came
through and become snobbish and proud on account of their proximity with the ruling class. They keep at
arms length those who are lay men. But pride is self-destructive. So one must be humble and friendly even
when one is in the company of the kings.

F. Life is a gamble. Substantiate the statement with instances from the poem.
Ans:- In the poem 'IF' the lines "If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-
and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings" say that life is a gamble. A day will come when all
the things we have built up in our life collapse. But we must restart to get back what is lost. In this not like a
gamble. There is a saying "Don't cry over the spilt milk." The poet says we will face losses, but don't
complain. We must use all our winnings in a gamble. In case of loss, start again. But never complain about
the loss, because there is no use, it is part of the life. Just as gambles profit and lose in their play, we come
across gain and loss in the course of our life. Hence life is a gamble.

C. Make sentences with the synonyms of these words. (synonyms)

doubt master aim stoop foes

Ans:-

doubt – suspect

Please don't suspect me.

master - ruler

If you do a business, you can be your own master.

aim - intention

His aim was to tarnish my image.

stoop bend

He is too lazy to stoop, and pick even a pin from the floor.

foes - enemies

John's foes are waiting for a chance to trap him.

B Study the definitions of some figures of speech, and then identify the figure of speech used in the following
lines. (poetic devices)

A metaphor is a comparison between two I unlikely things, without using 'like' or 'as'. In
personification, an animal, thing or idea is given human attributes.

F. If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

Ans:- Personification.

G. If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two imposters just the same;
Ans:- Personification.

H. Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

Ans:- Personification.

I. If you can make one heap of all your winnings

Ans:- Metaphor.

J. If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Ans:- Metaphor.

K. Or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch,

Ans:- Metaphor.

L. And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;

Ans:- Metaphor

M. If you can fill the unforgiving minute

Ans:- Personification.
 Chapter 5
The Diamond Maker
A. Read the lines and answer the questions. (factual, inferential and multiple-choice questions)
D) I felt I was committed to the price of a bed and breakfast if I answered him.

Who says these words, and who is he talking about?

Ans:-The narrator says these words. He is talking about the diamond maker.

What was it in the appearance of the other person that gave this impression? Ans:-The other person had
a pinched and pale expression. The coat collar turned up and pinned round the throat marked his status in life
as sharply as a uniform. This appearance of the other person give this impression to the narrator.

E) I put the question of purchase on one side.

What was being discussed for purchase?
Ans:-A diamond, the other man was trying to sell was being discussed for purchase.

Why did the speaker put aside the 'question of purchase'?

Ans:-The speaker put aside the 'question of purchase' because he be-came skeptical about the authenticity of the
diamond. He thought that such a stone could not be seen mentioned in any book on gems. He also
remembered the stories of contraband and light fingered kaffirs at the cape to desist himself from buying that
diamond. That is why he put aside the question of purchase.

F) ‘It might take all the thought and energies of a man for ten years, or twenty years, but, even if it did,
the game was still worth the candle'?
What is meant by 'the game was worth the candle'?
Ans:- 'The game was worth the candle' means the risk he had taken in his research to make the diamond would not
go in vain. The long time and money he spent to make the diamond would finally bring him lots of money.

In what context does the speaker say these words?

Ans:-The speaker says these words when he was on the verge of a total frustration brought about by the large
amount of time he spent by giving his whole life from the age of seventeen to thirty-two, and still readying
himself to go further for getting the final result of diamond deal.

Given the circumstances, was his belief justified?

Ans:- Yes, his belief is justified. Since he has already spent a longtime in his pursuit for making an artificial
diamond, he has every rea-son to wait for more period of time for his achievement. He ex-pects millions to
make out of the diamond making.

F. Answer these questions in 30-40 words. (factual and inferential questions)

Why did the narrator decide to speak to the stranger?
Ans:-The narrator decided to speak to the stranger because he just wanted a reasonable conversation that would
keep him from bore-dom. The narrator expected him to start him a conservation that would interest him.
Some business had detained him in Chancery lane and he was not inclined to indulge himself in any kind of
entertainment.
 What were the two features of the brown pebble that made the narrator think it might be a diamond?
Name the other substance he thought it might be.
Ans:- The two features of the brown pebble that made the narrator think it might be a diamond were, it was like
an uncut diamond of the darker sort, though far too large, being almost as big as the top of the narrator's. The
other feature was that it had the form of a regular octahedron, with the curved faces peculiar to the most
precious diamonds.
The other substance he thought it might be was the Behemoth of diamonds.

What was the theory behind making diamonds? How many years had the diamond maker spent on
this?
Ans:-The theory was that diamonds are to be made by throwing carbon out of combination in suitable flux and
under a suitable pressure; the carbon crystallises out as small diamonds. The diamond maker began to work
at the conditions of diamond making when he was seventeen. He was still working at it at the age of thirty-
two. That means he had worked almost fifteen years.

Why did the man have to keep his research a secret?

Ans:-The man had to keep his research a secret because if he let out what he was doing to make diamonds, it might
stimulate interest in other men to start with the same theory of making diamonds. In that case there would be
a competition and he was not such a genius as to be sure that he would be the first to discover it. Moreover, it
was important that if he really meant to make a pile, people should not know it was an artificial process and
capable of turning out diamonds by ton.

What were the difficulties the diamond maker had to undergo in following his ambition? Ans:- In
following his ambition of making diamonds, the man had to undergo a number of difficulties. Firstly, he had
to work all alone so that he might keep his research a secret. Then the pan city of resources. His resources
began to out forcing him to conduct his experiments in a wretched unfurnished room in Kentish town, where
he had to sleep on a straw mattress on the floor among all his apparatus. To earn a little money to keep the
things going, he had to give a lot of time and labour.

Why did the man have to leave his room in a hurry?

Ans:- The diamond maker had to leave his room in a hurry because his research on making diamond had been
leaked to the police, he would have been considered as an anarchist.

Why was the diamond maker unable to sell his diamonds?

Ans:- The diamond maker was unable to sell his diamonds because nobody believed that he had made the
diamond. They all thought that he had stolen it. If he went in to some respectable jewelers, they would ask
him to wait and call the police. If he found out a receiver of stolen goods, the latter would take the one he
gave him for seeing and blackmail him threatening that if asked for it back, he would prosecute him.

5. Think and answer in 100-150 words. (global comprehension)

Write a note on the characters of the narrator and the diamond maker. List the points of difference.
Ans:-The narrator is a very reasonable person. His conversation with the diamond maker unravels that his thoughts
are different from the diamond maker. His contrasting thoughts shows that he does not make random
selections or random decisions. His central examination of the diamond shows that he is a learned man. He is
also a man of sympathy which always give him a hard time to decide what to believe, principle and fact or
his emotion to be sympathetic despite what he perceives. This is evident through-out his conversation and
even after that. The diamond maker, on the other hand, is a very determined person who gives his life in
order to make his research successful. He is too humble to pro-claim himself to be genius, in spite of his
discover. In spite of being a learned man, he is in poverty. Luck does not favour him. His is a life of misery.
He suffers for what sacrifices he makes. His struggle in the story shows his patience and determination. An
instance in the story, when he tells the narrator that he would return his money in many folds, shows his kind
and generous nature.
 What was the irony of the diamond maker's life? Do you think he deserved the unhappy circumstances
he was in?
Ans:-The diamond maker is able to make diamond one of the most valuable stones in the world but he cannot have
money sufficient enough to buy a meal or have a shelter. His is moving about with several hundred thousand
pounds-worth of diamonds round his neck. But has no money to buy food or shelter. I don't think he deserved
the unhappy circumstances he was. His great efforts, perseverance and an unusual but worthy discovery
should have brought him great fortune.

G. Give the meanings of these words from the story and make sentences with them.
(words in context)

5. detained - delay
The late arrival of Dimapur- Guwahati Express detained me in Guwahati until 10 o'clock.

6. refined - polished
Dr. T. Ao was a retained gentleman.

7. tremulousness-quivering
She was timid and I could see tremulousness in her stretched hands.

8. octahedron- eight -faced solid figure.

Mrs. Rita were a ring stuck with an octahedron.

9. urchin- a mischievous child.

It is very difficult for the teachers to control the urchin.

10. ingenious monomaniac - a person who is clever but obsessed in one idea or interest. My cousin
is an ingenious monomaniac engaged in software development.

Chapter 6
Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man?

A. Read the lines from the poem and answer the questions.
1. Men are so honest so thoroughly square; Eternally noble, historically fair.
a. Point out the irony in these words.
Ans:-The irony is that history is filled with men who were badly known for their dishonesty and being infamous. In
the society if examples are given for all kinds of crimes, the names of men overtake the women's.

b. Give opposites of all the describing words in these lines.

Ans:-Honest- dishonest Thoroughly- barely Eternally- transiently Historically-
unhistorical.

B. One man in a million may shout a bit. Now and then, there's one with slight defects.
Considering Higgins shouts throughout these stanzas, how honest is the first line?
Ans:- The first line falls short of any honesty. The qualities described in this in can be seen in men and women
equally.
 How does Shaw use exaggerated statements here to ridicule Higgins? Pick two more instances from the
poem.
Ans:- In this lines Shaw uses exaggerated statement to ridicule Higgins by making him say that out of one million
men, just hardly one man may shout that too, not much, but a bit

when the truth is otherwise.

Two instances for exaggerated statements were to ridicule Higgins are:-

"One perhaps whose truthfulness you doubt a bit but by and large we are a marvelous sex".

8. Think and answer in about 150 words.

List the six specific questions that Professor Higgins asks Colonel Pickering. What qualities of the
Colonel does the Professor seek to highlight through these questions?
Ans:-The six specific questions that Professor Higgins asks Colonel Pickering are:-Would you be livid if I
had a drink or two? Would you be slighted if I didn't speak for hours? Would you be wounded if I never sent
you flowers. Well, why can't a woman be like you? If I were hours late for dinner, would you bellow? Would
you complain if I took out another fellow? In these lines the qualities of Colonel that Professor seeks to
highlight are that he is patient in listening, keeps his composure in annoying situations, does not feel irritated
for silly reasons, he has imitable character, does not lose temper for keeping waiting and not in the nature of
feeling jealousy.

9.Professor Higgins unwittingly reveals his bad behavior and terrible manners through his questions to
Colonel Pickering. Substantiate the statement with instances from the poem.
Ans:- Professor Higgins asks all these questions to Colonel Pickering because he is a male chauvinist. His aim is to
brag himself saying that man is superior to woman in all the human qualities. The very question 'why can't be
woman be more like a man' "sound so foolish as it is a known fact men and women have their own
distinctive qualities. If woman is like a man in character, approach to life became totally different". Higgins
question 'can't a woman learn to use her head' is absurd because it is a wise thought of a woman, his mother,
who enabled him to be born and of life, if not so there would not have been societies. His questions on man's
superiority over woman in the aspects of patience, calmness, irritability, nobility, temperament. etc are
ludicrous and terrible manners.

10. The last stanza contains a clue as to why Higgins is so up-set at women. What do you think the reason
is?
Ans:- These lines only reveal Higgins weakness. He must have tried to rely on a woman and expected from her the
qualities that he hoped to have in her and left hopeless unable to get these things from her. He miserably fails
to understand that there are many differences, especially emotional ones between a man and a woman by
nature. A woman must be what a woman must be. If not, it cannot be done to sweeter the life. Higgins have
expected that a woman should have been like a knight-at-arms, saving man from his distress and for every
problem he faced, she should have shown 1 him a way out. Instead of attending to her person in making
appearance charm, she must have careless about her appearance and approach things with a masculine energy
and vigor.
 11. Does Shaw believe that men are superior to women, or does he exaggerate Professor Higgins' dialogue
in order to high-light the idiocy of what he says?

masculine the stress is on the final syllable of the rhyme, sublime

words
feminine the stress is on the second-last syllable of picky, tricky
the words
dactylic the stress is on the third-last syllable cacophonies, Aristophanes
General Rhymes

syllabic the last syllable of each sounds the same, cleaver, silver
but does not necessarily contain the same
vowels
imperfect a rhyme between a stressed and an wing, caring
unstressed syllable
semi-rhyme a rhyme with an extra syllable on one bend, ending
word
oblique an imperfect match in sound green, fend; one, thumb

assonance matching vowels shake, hate

consonance matching consonants rabies, robbers

half, rhyme or sprung consists of matching final consonants bent, ant

rhyme
alliteration or head consists of matching initial consonants short, ship
rhyme
Ans:

Rhymes Words

Imperfect Square, fair

Half rhyme Pat, that

Masculine Please, ease

Masculine Kind, find

Syllabic Chaps, mishaps

Masculine Glum, chum

Halt rhyme Bail, all.

Ans:- Shaw does not believe that man are superior to women. He exaggerates Professor Higgins dialogue in order
to highlight his foolishness in what he believes. In fact men are very sensitive to status. They are concerned
about who is bigger, wealthier and smarter. Men value independence, self -sufficiency and expertise. They
look at the opposite of this as dependence. On the other hand, women value interdependence. Higgins version
of women type is sporadically. In many cases mothers are more understanding and concerned and her
concern is naturally un-conditional. It is nonsense to say that one cannot be at ease with women. This
contradicts the very concept of marriage. Shaw reveals Higgins idiocy in his six questions on man's quality.
But the truth is that all these qualities women to posses. As such Professor Higgins dialogue highlights his
idiocy.

C. Study the table on the different kinds of rhyme. Then pick out instances of as many kinds as possible,
from the poem. rhyme, rhythm)
Perfect Rhymes
 Chapter 7
The Verger
2. Answer these questions in 30-40 words. (factual and inferential questions)

a. How long had Albert Edward Foreman been verger at St Peter's when he was asked to step down?
Ans:- Albert Edward Foreman had been a verger at St Peter's, Neville Square far a great many years. He
had been there for sixteen years when he was asked to step down.

b. Why was the verger asked to step down? Do you think this was a fair decision? Give reasons for
your answer.
Ans:- The Verger asked to step down because he was an illiterate. He could neither read or write. It was
an unfair decision. His sixteen years of services speaks volumes for it. He had served the church sixteen
years to the situations of everybody without knowing reading or writing. Ac-cording to last Vicar,
knowing or not knowing these things did not make any difference as far as Verger was concerned.

c. What was Foreman's reply when the vicar asked him to learn to read and write? Ans:-When the
vicar asked Foreman to learn to read and write, he replied with an apology that it was of no good in
learning, reading and writing. He was too old a dog to learn new tricks. He had lived a good many years
without knowing to praise himself. He added by saying that self-praise was no recommendation. He
further said that he would not mind to say that he had done his duty satisfactorily enough to please the
merciful providence and so did not want learn reading and writing then.

d. Why had Foreman never learnt to read or write? How had he managed in life?
Ans:- Foreman had never learnt to read or write because he thought that he had no knack for it. Since he
was busy with one thing and another, he never seemed to have the time. He had never really found the
want of it. Also, he thought that learning these things are wasting of time, something useful might be done
instead. He man-aged in life with the help of his wife and pictures in the papers. Since his wife was quite
a scholar, she wrote his letters and for news, he made out from the pictures in the papers.

e. What did the verger do when he left the church after his meeting with the vicar?
Ans:- When he left the church after his meeting with the vicar, he strolled across the square. Having lost
in sad thoughts, he took the wrong turning and walked along slowly. He wanted to smoke, but found no
shop selling cigarettes. An idea struck him. The next day he found a shop to let in that street and that he
took and set up in business as tobacconist and newsagent.

What had Foreman done before he became a verger? Why did he not want to go back to that
employment?
Ans:-Foreman had been in service in very good houses. Starting as a page-boy in the household of a
merchant-price, he had risen by done degrees from the position of fourth to first footman, for a year he
had been single-handed butler to a widowed peeress and, till the vacancy occurred butler with two men at
St Peter's, with two men under him in the house of a retired ambassador. He did not want to go back to
domestic service because he had been his own master for so many years in the church. Going back to
domestic service was like demeaning himself by accepting a situation.

What happened in the course of ten years?

Ans:-In twenty four hours since his leaving from the St. Peter's, Neville square, Albert Edward Foreman
set up in business as a tobacconist and newsagent. He moved around looking for streets that hadn't got
tobacconist in them. We have found them he took shops to let to run his business. Thus in the course often
years he had acquired no less than ten shops and he was making money hand over first.
9. Think and answer in 100-150 words.
Albert Foreman became rich and successful despite not knowing how to read and write. Does this
disprove the importance of reading and writing? Explain with reasons.
Ans:- The story 'the verger' ends with a staggering twist. Mr. Foreman despite of being illiterate could
build up and important business I and a mass a fortune of thirty thousand pounds. He said if he knew
reading and writing, he would still be a poor verger in a church. When we count Foreman's success strong
we really feel like negating education. But if we analyze how he succeeded, we can very well see that it is
situations and circumstances which bring success. Foreman's ouster saddened him. While walking
depressed, he takes a wrong road. That is the turning point. Had he taken his usual road, his condition
would change from bad to worse. In the wrong road he takes, he finds the street having no shops selling
tobacco. It strikes his mind with, the idea of opening shops selling tobacco and his succeeds in life
because they are learned. The other one is just a coincidence. Most people below poverty live in the world
are unlearned ones.

Write a note on the character and appearance of Albert Foreman.

Ans:-Albert Foreman is a man of self-respect. He has confidence in his capabilities. He is not obsequious.
He is honest, truthful and polite but does not allow other to take him for a ride. He is hardworking and
true to his job. In any field he worked, that is, from domestic service to church service he did not work
appreciatively. He is more practical minded.
He doesn't undertake missions which he finds either useless or he cannot do it. His ingenuousness and
ingenuity work for his success. He knew how to gab opportunities. He was tall, spare, grave and dignified.
He looked, if not like a duke, at least like an actor of the old school who specialized in duke's parts. He
had tack, firmness and self-assurance. His character was unimpeachable.

C. The verger spoke English in the manner of domestics and poorer people of London, that is, with a
Cockney accent. Thus he dropped all his 'Hs. Rewrite these sentences in proper English.
(Cockney accent)

12. 'Don't 'e know I want my tea?'

Ans:-'Don't you know I want my tea?'

13. 'All this 'ustle. But give 'im time, he'll learn.'
Ans:- 'All this bustle. But give him time, he will learn.'

14. shall be 'appy to 'and in my resignation.'

Ans:-'I shall be happy hand in my resignation.'

15. 'It didn't make no difference. He always said there was a great deal too much education in the
world for 'is taste.'
Ans:- 'It didn't make no difference. He always said there was a great deal too much education in the world
for his taste.'

16. 'I didn't seem to 'ave the knack for it.'

Ans:- 'I didn't seem to have the knack for it.'

17. 'I'd 'ave to leave it all in your 'ands.'

Ans:- 'I have to leave it in your hands.'

18. 'But 'ow should I know what I was signing'?

Ans:-'But how should I know what I was signing?'
 Chapter a- 8
A Hunger for Books
10. Answer these questions in 30-40 words.

What is the reaction of 'idealistic' teachers to the 'schools' in Zimbabwe?

Ans:- The reaction of idealistic teachers to the 'school' in Zimbabwe is one of shock and depression to see the
staggering condition of the school in Zimbabwe. One idealistic teacher from England was rather ill after
seeing what the school was like. The absence of any teaching aid like atlas or globe, textbooks, notebooks
or pen in the school shocked them.

it is not possible to estimate this great waste of talent, of potential. What talent and waste is being
described?
Ans:- The talent and waste referred to here are the books that could never be written and thereby the voices
unheard for want of publishers. Even in the more privileged places like North Africa publishing scene is just
a dream of possibilities.

What determines the popularity of books in Zimbabwe? Name two popular books the author mentions.
Ans:- In Zimbabwe, the popularity of books is determined by the avail-ability of them. The villages do not know
what book is available. They just want to read the same kind of books that people in Europe want to read. A
book becomes popular simply because it just happens to be there. The two popular books the author
mentions are:- The Mayor o Casterbridge and Animal Farm.

What are some of the problems in getting books to the interior regions of Zimbabwe? Is the reaction of the
people worth it, however, once the books reach?
Ans:- Some of the problems in getting books to the interior regions of Zimbabwe are shortage of petrol and the
high price of the books. Once the books reach, the people greet them with tears. They arrange Planck on
bricks under a tree to make a library. Within a week literary classes are conducted and in remote village a
couple of lads write novels in Tonga language. So the reaction of the people worth it.

What is Lessing's opinion of the government?

Ans:- Lessing is critical of the government. She says that Zimbabwe government is not people's government.
Their respect and hunger for books come not from the government run by Mugabe but from the whites who
ruled Zimbabwe before. The government does nothing to satisfy the hunger of people for books and
education.

6. What is the importance of storytellers in a war-ravaged world?

Ans:- In a war - ravaged world, the story tellers revive the stories. They keep inspiring. It is the story tellers who
recreate the people, when they are torn, hurt, even destroyed. Story tellers are the dream-makers and the
myth-makers. They are the phoenix of the people. They represent the mass at their best, and their most
creative.

19. Think and answer in 100-150 words.

What is the great tradition Lessing talks about? Write a brief note.
Ans:- The great tradition that Lessing talks about is the tradition of story-telling which started before the written
form of language came into existence. It started as an oral tradition which has undergone transition into
printed stories at the present age. The story tellers are part of this tradition. They go back and back to the
time when people were primitive. It is dated back to the beginning of the human race which shaped the
human civilization and made the world what is it today.
How did ancient storytellers communicate their stories? How has that changed in the modern era?
Ans:- The ancient story tellers communicated their stories by bequeathing them to the posterity. They tell tales of
the way of man's life which began from the clearing in the forest-man's transition from jungle life to
civilized life. This heritage of stories began in fire, magic and the spirit world. The modem era has been
influenced by the ancient stories. These stories stand as an inspiration, a fire that ignites enthusiasm in
modem man and shapes his mind in the world of today.

20. Find the meanings of the words from the passage and make sentences.
(words in context)
G) wrested - Obtained with difficulty.
had to wrest from my friend the money I had lent him.

H) impoverished - Exhausted the strength.

good number of people in African countries are impoverished for want of food grains.

G. bequest - What is left by will to a person.

he is now enjoying life at his father's bequest.

H. heritage - Inherited benefits.

the Naga heritage is a story of great culture.
8. phenomenon - A remarkable thing.
The arrival of migratory birds annually is a great phenomenon.

9. sparse - Thinly scattered.

i am living at a village of sparse population.

10. discarded - Rejected.

He brought a discarded doll.

11. phoenix - That which comes back recognized.

The return of our erstwhile culture will be one phoenix.

Chapter - 10
The Importance of Being Earnest

A. Read the lines from the play and answer the questions.
C. Is marriage so demoralizing as that?
Who says these words, and to whom? Ans:-
Algernon says these words to Lane.

What is the context in which he says these words?

Ans:- The context is that Lane makes an observation that in married households the champagne is rarely of
a first-rate bread. He says this when Algernon questions him why at a bachelor's establishment
servants invariably drink the champagne.

What is the view of marriage that one derives from the characters in the play?
Ans:- According to the characters in the play, marriage is demoralizing, lax and problematic.

I may mention that I have always suspected you of being a confirmed and secret Bunburyist;
and I am quite sure of it now.
Who says these words, and to whom?
Ans:- Algernon says these words to Jack Worthing.

What is the context in which he says these words?

Ans:- He says these words in the context that says Jack assumed an imaginary name Earnest in town.

Is the person spoken to really a Bunburyist?

Ans:- Yes the person spoken to is really a Bunburyist which means assumption more than one name to
escape identity.

21. Answer the questions in 30-40 words.

What is the mystery of little Cecily? How is it cleared up?
Ans:- When Algernon asks Jack who Cecily is, he says that she is his aunt. Then he asks Jack why she
should write on the cigarette case "From little Cecily with her fondest love"? Jack replies that she is
called little Cecily because she is not tall. But Jack could not cook up more stories when Algernon
asks him why she should call him her uncle. It is Jack unfolds the mystery of. little Cecily. The
person who adopted Jack, old Mr. Thoman Cardew made him, when he was a little boy, in his
guardian to his grand-daughter, Miss Cecily Cardew. Cecily addresses Jack as her uncle out of
 respect and she lives in the country under the charge of her governess Miss Prism. That means Jack is
Cecily's guardian.

I) What is the comedy created around the cucumber sand-, wiches?

Ans:- Oscar Wilde weaves a very fine comedy around the cucumber sandwiches that is prepared for Lady
Bracknell at Algernon's home. Algernon makes the cucumber sandwiches ready for Lady Bracknell
who is expected to come to a tea. Meanwhile his friend Jack comes in. While the conversation
progresses between the duo, Algernon takes and eats the cucumber sandwiches. Seeing the cucumber
sandwich Jack comments that having cucumber sandwiches is a reckless extravagance when one is
young. But when Jack puts out his hand to take a sandwich, Algenon stops him saying that they were
ordered specially for Aunt Augusta Bracknell. The humour in the situation is that while saying so, he
takes one more sandwich and eats it. Jack points out that he has been eating them all the time. This
dialogue really creates comedy. As they keep talking Lady Bracknell arrives with Gwendollen. She
asks for the cucumber sandwich he has promised her. We cannot read the part without laughing when
we find Algernon picking up the empty plate in horror and asking Lame why there are no cucumber
sandwiches. He reminds her that he had ordered them specially. Out of politeness and her position as
the servant she does not say that it hap-pens because he has eaten all the cucumber sandwiches. There
is satire and comedy in this situation.

J) Who or what is a Sunbury? And why would a married manor his wife be glad to know him?
Ans:- Bunbury is an imaginary invalid invented by Algernon who is permanently invalid and in constant
need of attention. Algernon's main intention behind this is to escape from unwanted social gathering
making excuse of looking after Bunbury. According to Algernon, a married man would be glad to
know Bunbury because it would help him to escape from any boring engagement or responsibility in
the company of his wife or relations. All that he is required to do is make an excuse of meeting
Bunbury.

K) Why does Jack/Ernest have a double identity? When does he finally disclose it? Ans:- Ernest
defends his double identity in order to escape from his responsibility of being the guardian to Cecily
Cardius. He leaves the country to town on the pretext of meeting a sickly brother who resides in t
own and does things that he is interested in. In this way, he is able to maintain his pretentious
personality of a responsible guardian and do things that he desires. Ernest discloses his double
identity when he shares his intention to pro-pose Gwendolen for marriage to Algernon. He does so
because he wants to clear all doubts about him from Algernon's mind. He needs his support and
consent to make the approach.

C. Think and answer in about 150 words.

16. Discuss the characters of Algernon and Lane, and how they depict a peculiar aspect of society
and the relationship between the rich and their servants.
Ans:- In the play, 'The Importance of Being Earnest', the secondary hero, Algernon is a charming idle,
decorative bachelor. He is the best friend of Jack Worthing whom he has known for years as Earnest.
Algernon is brilliant, witty, selfish and given to making delightful and paradoxical pronouncements.
He has invented an imaginary friend 'Bunbury', an invalid whose frequent sudden relapses allow
Algernon to wriggle out of unpleasant or dull social obligations. Lane, Algemon's servant plays a
minor role in the play. But when-ever he appears he makes his presence felt with his witty and
prompt discourses. As with other characters, he sounds highly pretentious and hypocritic. Inspite of
being a servant, he seems to dominate his master with veiled expressions. When Algernon asks him
about the impact of his music on him, he replies that it is not polite to listen to his master's music.
 Later when his master raises questions on how consumption of Champaign exceeded his estimation,
he conquers his master the feathering answer that is because the wine is superior. This shows the
servant's ability to manipulate things to hoodwink his master. He is also humorous when he says his
marriage was the result of a misunder-standing. He knows the ins and outs of his master and saves
him from trouble in many occasions. This story thus shows that relationship between the rich and
their servants was hypocritic as well as situation saving.

17. The Importance of Being Earnest is a play that satirizes society, especially its etiquette and
behaviour, as well as love and marriage. Justify this statement with examples from Act 1, Scene
1.
Ans:- In the play, 'The Importance of Being Earnest', 'Comedy of manner' is a genre which satirizes the
manner and affectation of a social class or of multiple classes. It is represented by stereotypical stock
characters. The plot of this kind of comedy is often concerned with scandal and is generally less
important than its witty dialogue. This play is a comedy of manners which satirizes the lifestyle and
attitude of the aristocrats. The opening scene indicates elaborate satiric element of the play. In the
opening scene we are introduced to Algernon, the nephew of aristocrat Lady Bracknell. He is a clever
cynical bachelor. His main pastimes include dining with friends and avoiding family gatherings. His
servant Lane is a pretentious and equally cunning person. His behavior is in accordance with the
existing relation between masters and servants in an aristocratic society. As the play opens, Algernon
is paid a visit by his friend Jack Worthing. Then Lady Bracknell and cousin Gwendolen arrives. Jack
shares his intention to propose to Gwendolen.

Their conversation and behavior contain both comedy and satire. Jack and Algernon unravel how
they play double role to escape from responsibilities and do things as they like. Jack fabricated a
person named Mr. Bunbury. He pretends that Bunbury is a sickly friend in need of assistance, a
clever means of dodging unwanted social engagements. Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen are refined
and pompous. They represent aristocracy. The conversation among Algernon, Gwendolen and Jack is
just gossip and pretention.

**********************************************************